Cedar Rocks!

Cedar: This looks hysterical. (He pulls out Santana’s 1970...

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:19:48 -0500

Cedar: This looks hysterical. (He pulls out Santana’s 1970 release, “Abraxos”.)

Dad: Nice pick. Here look. (I fold out the cover.) The cover art wraps around to the back. On the other side is a picture of the band in concert. This band is called Santana.

Cedar: (He looks shocked) I have a new friend at school named Santana!

Dad: Cool. Boy or girl?

Cedar: Boy.

Dad: (I put the record on.) Why don’t you sit right here in the middle. You can hear it in stereo then.

Cedar: What’s that?

Dad: Listen. Hear how the instruments are going back and forth? They recorded the sounds and mixed it so that it would sound like the instruments were in different places when you are listening.

Cedar: Yeah! (He points to the right speaker.) Trombone!

Dad: Nope. That’s a guitar. The guitar player is named Carlos Santana. This is his band. He plays guitar really well. He can make all kind of sounds with it.

Cedar: Carlos! (He shakes his head and laughs. I have no idea why.)

(We listen for awhile.)

Dad: Hear that?

Cedar: Bass!

Dad: Yep. And that?

Cedar: Congas!

Dad: I think they are bongos.

Cedar: Bongos in Spanish is “congas”.

Dad: Um. I don’t think so.

Cedar: Yes!

Dad: Okay.

(we listen some more.)

Cedar: Sometimes I hear a guitar over hear (he points to the left speaker) and sometimes I hear it over hear (pointing to the right). And right now in both!

Dad: Yeah.

Cedar: Saxophone!

Dad: Nope. Guitar again. I told you he can make lots of sounds.

Cedar: Now that I’m 5 TV just seems boring.

Dad: Um, yeah. Not like listening records.

Cedar: YES! Listening to records and dancing (flips onto the bed). Can we take this off?

Dad: What? You don’t like it?

Cedar: No.

Dad: Not a ‘keep pile’ record?

Cedar: Trash.

Dad: Geez.

Cedar: Can we play a little record? Dad: A 45?...

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:16:00 -0500

Cedar: Can we play a little record?

Dad: A 45? Sure.

Cedar: Where’s that one I found before?

Dad: The one you picked out before? (“The Israelites” by Desmond Dekker)

Cedar: Yeah.

Dad: It’s in the front of the 45s.

Cedar: Here it is. Yes. (He pulls it out.)

Dad: You need help with the adapter?

Cedar: No, it’s already got one in it.

Dad: Oh, daddy must have forgot to take it out last time.

(I help him put record on. He listens for awhile.)

Dad: What do you like about this song?

Cedar: I don’t know. Just like it. (I give him some time)

Dad: Do you like the music?

Cedar: Yes. That sound right there (he mimics a sound he hears) That I bet is an organ.

(I nod yes. He grins and pumps his fist in the air.)

Cedar: Did you know there is an organ at church?

Dad: Yes. That one is huge. The one in this song is much smaller (I hold my arms out to approximate the size.)

Cedar: What?! (He looks flabergasted.) Cool.What if there was a tiny organ you could hang on a key chain and make sounds with it?

Dad: That would be cool.

Cedar: Like that little harmonica I have. You can just go “waaannnk waaannnnk” (imitating his harmonica sounds) anytime you want.

Dad: whoa.

(The record ends and we play the other side. After, I take it off and we look at the label.)

Dad: See this? That’s the logo for the record company, “Uni”. Cool swirls huh?

Cedar: Yeah. This looks kind of scratched up.

Dad: Yes, it’s kind of old, from when I was just born.

Cedar: But it is still good.

Dad: Yes.

(I take the 45 adapter out.)

Cedar: How do you put them in? Just pop ‘em?

Dad: Yes, kind of. Look if you squeeze them just a little, they get smaller and fit in. The edges have a groove that hugs the inside of the record so they don’t pop out.

Cedar: Like a hug machine…that hugs all day!

Dad: Um, sure.

Cedar: What are these? Dad: Those are box sets. I just found...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:35:30 -0400

Cedar: What are these?

Dad: Those are box sets. I just found this box in the attic that we forgot to unpack.

Cedar: Those are records?

Dad: Yep.

Cedar: No they aren’t! They’re just books.

Dad: Take one out. (I wait while he pulls one out.) Open it.

Cedar: See it’s not a record.

Dad: Open it. The records are inside.

Cedar: Ooh. Let’s put this one on.

Dad: Really? Okay. Not sure if you’ll like this.

Cedar: Is it punk rock?

Dad: No.

Cedar: Is it like opera then?

Dad: No, it’s country.

Cedar: What?

Dad: Country music. This is a box set of classic country music.

(I put on track 1 from the first record, “I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew” by Tom T. Hall from 1974)

(Cedar is nodding)

Cedar: Good.

Dad: You like this?

Cedar: Yes.

(we listen to the first couple of songs.

Cedar: This is a keep pile record.

Dad: Really? You liked it that much?

Cedar: Yes.

Dad: What does it sound like to you?

Cedar: I don’t know. Like nothing else.

Dad: What instruments do you hear?

Cedar: Just guitar. It’s just guitar.

Dad: Hm. I think there were some other instruments also. What would you call this music?

Cedar: I’d call it: “What is it’s name? music.”

Dad: Really. Cool.

Cedar: Hey, what is this? Dad: You tell me. Cedar: I like...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:43:00 -0400

Cedar: Hey, what is this?

Dad: You tell me.

Cedar: I like it.

Dad: What is it?

Cedar: I know…I’ve heard it before. Jamaica!

Dad: Yes it’s Jamaican, but who is it?

Cedar: Bob Marley!

Dad: Yes it is.

Cedar: (he is nodding his head to the music, eyes closed and grinning fiercely.)

Dad: You can hear all the instruments in this song. Hear the keyboard? And the drums?

Cedar: Yes. It’s slow. Like beach music.

Dad: Beach music? I guess so.

Cedar: Yeah like…(he start humming and dancing around slowing with his arms out.) Kind of slow and “beachy”. Beach music.

Dad: Nice. The way the keyboard sounds and the guitar, that’s how you can tell it’s reggae music.

Cedar: Oh. Did you known some wooden guitars can plug in?

Dad: Um, yeah.

Cedar: Did you know there are wooden guitars that are electric!? (he looks astounded.)

Dad: Yes I did.

Cedar: How do they do that?

Dad: What do you mean? If you can plug it in, it’s probably electric. Do you know what a guitar is called that isn’t electric?

Cedar: No, what?

Dad: Acoustic.

Cedar: Acoustic?

Dad: yep.

Cedar: When I’m older, like 10 years old, I’m going to play a bass guitar.

Dad: Oh, really? Cool.

Cedar: No…a trombone. I’m going to play a trombone. (he starts mimicking playing a trombone and laughs.)

Dad: Looks like you are shooting a bow and arrow.

Cedar: (He giggles.) What if you put corn cobs in a trombone an played it?! Steaming hot corn cobs. You could play the trombone and shoot them out at people.

Dad: Wow. That would be something. What would people say about that?

Cedar: They would say “yum” because they would love corn. Actually I would shoot milk jugs at them because they would be “firsty”.

Dad: Really?

Cedar: Yes, they would be “firsty” and would be happy because they would have milk. I’m so “firsty” my heart is going to fall apart.

Dad: Do you need a drink?

Cedar: One day in music/art class I thought maybe I could make a hole in the wall and escape…and come home. Actually I did. Mr. Patterson said, ”Where is Cedar? Maybe he had to go to the potty.”

Dad: Wow. Do you need a drink buddy? You said you were thirsty.

Cedar: (he ignores me and is playing a “trombone” again.)

Dad: Does Mr. Patterson have trombones in your music class?

Cedar: No. I’m not going to play a trombone, I’m going to play a tuba. With pillows stuffed in it I can shoot out.

(he starts playing a “tuba”.

Dad: Cool. So is this a “keep pile” record or not?

Cedar: Keep.

Shit Sandwich Records clearance sale

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:19:58 -0400

Shit Sandwich Records clearance sale

(Cora hands me Disney’s Snow White soundtrack.) Dad: Cora...

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:05:00 -0400

(Cora hands me Disney’s Snow White soundtrack.)

Dad: Cora you want to listen to this one?

Cora: Yesh (she has a pacifier in her mouth as it’s 6:45 in the morning.)

Dad: Okay

(I put on the album. Cedar’s busy organizing his “tool box”, a sticker-covered tackle box full of old keys, mardi gras beads, matchbox cars, plastic tools and a broken flashlight.)

(The music starts - a heavily scratched sweeping orchestral opening.)

Cedar: Ugh. No! Not this. I don’t want to listen to this!

Dad: Cora picked the first record today. You can pick the next one.

Cedar: It was my turn!

Dad: Actually, you picked Jawbreaker last time. I just took it off the turntable. See? (I hold up the record I was just returning to it’s sleeve.)

Cedar: No I didn’t!

Dad: Yes you did. Remember? Yesterday? We were listening to Jawbreaker, really, really loud?

Cedar: Oh. Yeah. But I don’t listen to baby records anymore!

Dad: Well dude, we take turns. It was her turn. We’ll listen for a bit and then we can play your record. Why don’t you pick something out.

(Cedar fumbles through the records.)

Cedar: I can’t find any punk rock.

Dad: Just look through the records until you see something you like.

Cedar: This one. (He pulls out the record I just refiled moments ago.)

Dad: I just took Jawbreaker off the turntable. Pick a new one.

Cedar: Help me.

(I just reach in and grab the first record my hand touches, which happens to be The Cult and their third album, Electric from 1987.) .

Dad: How about this one?

Cedar: Cool!

Dad: The Cult. This record is called Electric. I liked this one in college a lot. I have a huge poster in the attic that I had on my dorm room wall.

Cedar: Can we see it some time?

Dad: Yes. We’ll have to dig it out.

(I put the record on. Cora immediately starts shaking her head in mini head banger style. She knows what she likes.)

Cedar: (looking at the cover.) Which one is the singer?

Dad: The guy in the furry hat. His name is Ian Astbury.

Cedar: Because he looks like a bear?

Dad: What? Um, sure.

(We rock out for awhile playing drums on the bed. I flip the record over and play Love Removal Machine.)

Dad: This song was really popular at the time. (Cedar goes to get one of his toy guitars to play along with. Cora pulls out another kids record.)

Cora: This one!

Dad: Hold on honey. We’ll play your record next.

Cora: NO! THIS ONE! (She starts to cry, then starts fighting with Cedar over the guitar.)

Dad: Cedar. Come look at the record with me. Check out all these photos inside. (Cora drops the guitar and comes to look with us.)

Cedar: Why do they have bullets all around? (He’s pointing to the background photo on the inside of the gatefold album cover)

Dad: That’s just the photo they picked. What did you think of this record?

Cedar: I liked it. No…maybe not. Didn’t like it.

Dad: Didn’t like it? Why.

Cedar: I don’t know. “No-no pile”…No. “Yes pile”…No…”No-no pile.”

(He’s like a scratched record.)

Dad: What would call this music?

Cedar: I don’t know.

Dad: Punk rock?

Cedar: No. Maybe “baby punk rock”.

Dad: Baby punk rock?

Cedar: Like for Jared’s age.

Dad: But Jared’s 11?

Cedar: No dude. He’s 12. (Cedar walks out of the room with his guitar.)

Dad: Right.

Cedar Turns 5 today!

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Birthday my little music critic.

Cedar: What’s this one called? Dad: The Fun Boy...

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:39:00 -0400

Cedar: What’s this one called?

Dad: The Fun Boy Three.

Cedar: Why?

Dad: That’s what they decided to call their band.

Cedar: Why?

Dad: Guess they thought it was cool. Why did you call your band The Cucumbers?

Cedar: I changed the name. It’s not The Cucumbers.

Dad: No?

Cedar: We’re called The Awesome Friends now.

Dad: Cool. So you think we should play this record?

Cedar: Yeah.

Dad: What do you like about the way it looks?

Cedar: The guys look cool, with interesting hair.

Dad: Yeah they do.

Cedar: The guy in the middle has weird hair. Like it’s all sweaty and drooling down his face.

(I put on side 2 which starts with It Ain’t What You Do, their big hit.)

(Cedar starts nodding his head to the music. He must like it.)

Dad: Look at the other side of the cover. It says “The FUN BOY THREE” in big letters. Kind of like you’d have “Attack of the Zombies” from an old movie poster.

(He giggles, but can’t really know what I’m talking about now that I think of it. Cora looks worried at the mention of zombies.)

Dad: Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding. Those are the guys in the band. And down here are the back up singers. They are from another band called Bananarama.

Cedar: Ha! (He tries to say it) Bananarammer! Funny.

Dad: Yeah it’s pretty funny.

(song 2, The Telephone Always Rings starts)

Cedar: It sounds like little babies talking like a big, old man.

Dad: Yeah?

(Cedar is standing next to the bed, bending over and beating his face into the mattress. Hard, full-bodied pounding of his face into the comforter. Cora is giggling and trying to copy him.)

(…later…the record ends)

Dad: So what do you think? You were singing along to some of the songs. Did you like it?

Cedar: No. I didn’t like the other side.

Dad: We only listened to 1 side.

Cedar: Oh. I only liked the first song.

Dad: So, bad pile?

Cedar: Yep. Never play again pile.

Dad: Really? Okay.

Dad: Let’s play some records! Cedar: Yeah! Dad: Pick...

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:09:09 -0400

Dad: Let’s play some records!

Cedar: Yeah!

Dad: Pick something out.

Cedar: There’s too many. I can’t pick one.

Dad: Just walk over to the shelf, close your eyes and grab the first record your hand touches.

Cedar: Naa.

Dad: Okay. I’ll grab one. (I reach into the collection and pull something out.) Look here. I bought this record in high school. I heard it was good and I just went to the store and bought it without ever hearing it.

Cedar: Really?

Dad: Yep. That’s what we did back then. I knew after a few listens I’d know how much I liked it. I liked it after just 1 listen.

(He looks doubtful. I put on the record.)

Dad: It’s by a band called The Cure. It’s called The Head On The Door.

(He nods as he appraises the album cover. I put the record on and the kids start dancing.)

Dad: The lead singer is named Robert Smith. He had really crazy hair that stuck up all over the place. Kind of like when we put gel in your hair that one time. Remember?

(He smiles and nods.)

Cedar: Remember Jack Black and the Muppets?

Dad: Yes.

Cedar: Jack Black was funny. And the Muppets. (He giggles and falls on the carpet.)

Dad: Yeah he was. What reminded you of that?

Cedar: I don’t know.

(Still lying on the floor, he clamps his feet around his passing sister.)

Cedar: Dad can we get a monkey trap?

Dad: What are you talking about? What made you think of a monkey trap?

Cedar: My friends would think it was fun when they come over.

Dad: Sure. Let’s get a monkey trap. I’ll look for one next time we’re at the store.

Cedar: Cool!

Dad: Okay, let’s pick some records. How about a new...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:56:00 -0400

Dad: Okay, let’s pick some records. How about a new one?

Cedar: I want to listen to an old one.

Dad: How about 1 of each? A new one and an old one?

Cedar: Okay.

Dad: Cora can you pick a record?

Cora: Mm Hm. (She nods while picking out Yung Wu’s Shore Leave and handing it to me.)

Dad: Nice choice Cora! Yung Wu.

Cedar: I want this one!

(He hands me the Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66 album we play all the time now.)

Dad: Wow you really liked Sergio Mendes huh?

Cedar: Yes.

Dad: Okay. Let’s try the new one first and then the old one.

Cedar: Aw!

Dad: We’ll get to both buddy. Don’t you worry.

(I put on the record and 2 seconds in…)

Cedar: Keep pile!

Dad: Wow. It does sound good doesn’t it?

Cedar: Yes.

Dad: This band was really named, The Feelies. They would put out records sometimes using a different name.

Cedar: Why?

Dad: I don’t know. Maybe to mix things up a bit. They probably thought it was fun. Look at the photo on the cover. It’s an old picture of Japanese sailors harvesting sea weed. This guy looks really proud here. (Cedar looks confused.)

(We listen for awhile)

Dad: So what do you think of this record buddy?

Cedar: Why do you always ask me?! I don’t know! I’ve runned out of words!

Dad: What are you talking about? I just wondered if you thought this was good, or slow, or sounded kind of fun. You know plenty of words to describe this.

(He’s been getting lots of people telling him they like the blog and they like to read what he thinks about records. It’s finally setting in what I’m doing with our conversations and he’s getting self conscious I think.)

Cedar: It like you always ask me what I think and I runned out of words. You are making the words go out of my head!

Dad: Alright. Just thought you could tell me if you liked it or not.

Cedar: No, I can’t.

Dad: Cora, do you like this music?

Cora: Mm hm. (She nods, raises her hands and starts dancing.)

Dad: So Cedar, what do you think about the name of this band? The band The Feelies made a record and used a different name and put a picture of sailors harvesting sea weed on the cover. Why do you think they would do that?

Cedar: I think they were being tricky.

Dad: So have you heard of a kind of music called, heavy...

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:54:00 -0400

Dad: So have you heard of a kind of music called, heavy metal?

(I’m holding up a beat up copy of K-Tel Records Masters of Metal from 1984.)

Cedar: What? We listened to that before.

Dad: We did? (We definitely didn’t.) What did it sound like?

(long grinning pause and he is clearly thinking something up.)

Cedar: Like a heavy giant.

Dad: A giant?

Cedar: Daddy, did you know I can pick up a whole giant?

Dad: Really? How can you do that?

Cedar: Because I picked up all your weights a lot. Feel my muscles.

(feeling his arm)

Dad: Whoa. Huge dude.

(I put on track 1, Trashed by Black Sabbath)

Cedar: (looking bored) Kind of slow.

Dad: What? Listen to that guitar. (I do some air guitaring.) That is pretty fast.

Cedar: Not really. Not really punk rock.

Dad: No, not punk rock. Heavy metal.

(track 1 ends and track 2, Mean Streak by Y&T starts)

Cedar: Daddy. The front and the back of the record is kind of weird.

Dad: Weird?

Cedar: It’s not very punk rock.

Dad: No, it’s not punk rock. It’s Heavy metal.

Cedar: Yeah, the words and lasers and stuff aren’t punk rock (he is crossing his arms now)

Dad: Nope.

Cedar: This is still slow. I know what would make it faster.

Dad: (I know he’s about to change the speed to 45rpm) Really?

Cedar: Yeah. Changing it to Alvin speed. (he switches the record speed to 45rpm and laughs)

Cedar: Daddy, you know what would be funny?

Dad: What?

Cedar: One day when we have a play date with my friends, we could put this record on at Alvin speed and they would think it was Alvin. (he thinks this is a really funny idea.) They would think it is good and then we’d turn it to regular speed and they’d be so surprised (he sticks out his tongue and frowns.)

Dad: Hey listen to this song buddy. (I flip the record over) It’s called Dancing in the Streets by a band named Van Halen. Tell me what you think.

(we listen for awhile)

(he smiles, comes over and crawls into my lap and give me a hug.)

Cedar: Definitely “bad pile” Daddy.

Dad: Really?!

Cedar: Yes. (smiling) “Never play again” pile.

Cedar: What’s this one called? Dad: Luscious Jackson In...

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:57:16 -0400

Cedar: What’s this one called?

Dad: Luscious Jackson In Search of Manny.

Cedar: Oh. (He attempts to say “luscious” a few times and gives up.

(He puts on side 2 by accident. I just leave it.)

Dad: So you picked this one out. What do you think?

Cedar: Kind of boring.

Dad: How about we listen a little more?

Cedar: Daddy did you know this is actually Teenage Rock N’ Roll Machines?

Dad: What? No.

Cedar: Yeah it is.

Dad: You mean The Donnas?

Cedar: Yeah.

Dad: This isn’t the Donnas.

Cedar: Yes it is!

Dad: Dude. I bought the record. It’s not.

Cedar: But the singing is the same. Kind of.

Dad: (Keep On Rockin’ It ends) So you put this record on. What do you think?

(He doesn’t stop break dancing and meowing to our cat.)

Dad: You know this is actually Side 2? (I flip the record over and put on Let Yourself Get Down and let it play to the end.)

Dad: So what do you think of this song?

Cedar: Kind of boring.

Dad: Boring?

Cedar: Yeah, it’s not interesting to me. I just like kind of punk rock. This isn’t punk rock.

(He switches to 45rpm)

Cedar: Now it’s Alvin speed. (he starts the record again.)

Dad: You like it better now?

(he is grinning and spinning on his back on the floor nodding)

"I just like kind of punk rock. This isn’t punk rock."

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:59:01 -0400

“I just like kind of punk rock. This isn’t punk rock.”

- Cedar Joaquin Muñoz

drummer, music critic, 4-year-old

Cedar: Look at this one daddy. Dad: Whoa! The Donnas. Nice...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:55:43 -0400

Cedar: Look at this one daddy.

Dad: Whoa! The Donnas. Nice pick.

(I put on track 1, Rock N’ Roll Machine. The kids start dancing around like crazy.)

Cedar: Cora dance over there! Too smelly over here.

(Again! Insert a long break where I frantically try to deal with the mess.)

Cedar: Did you know some people aren’t real?

Dad: Really?

Cedar: Like Zombies. They aren’t real. Bad guys ARE real.

Dad: What made you think of that?

Cedar: I don’t know.

(I give up on containing the diaper blow out and ultimately just toss them both into the shower.)

(We start the record over.)

Dad: So why did you pick this one out?

Cedar: Because it’s got two ladies and two girls. With the same shirts (he points to each of the shirts) but that are different.

Dad: They are all named Donna. Donna C., Donna F., Donna A., and Donna R.

Cedar: Where are their feet?

Dad: (laughing) You can’t see them because they are up close.

Cedar: Why didn’t they draw them small like that one? (points to the Hall and Oates album that is still out.)

Dad: What? They aren’t drawn. This is a photograph. If I have a camera and I take a picture of you from far back, I can see all of you and all the things around you. If I come closer, then I can only see a part of you.

Cedar: “Up close” means only a part?

Dad: No. It means you are close to someone. Not far back. Make sense?

(He nods but he is clearly still processing everything.)

(later in the week, after he continually puts on this album)

Dad: So buddy, you keep playing this record. Do you like it?

Cedar: Yeah.

Dad: So it’s in the “play again pile”.

Cedar: Yes, play it again.

Dad: What does this music remind you of?

Cedar: Rock n’ roll machines.

Dad: Well I guess that makes sense.

Cedar: Is this a new record? Dad: Yes. Well no, it’s an...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:46:00 -0400

Cedar: Is this a new record?

Dad: Yes. Well no, it’s an old record that we got from the thrift store. Looks interesting doesn’t it? What do you think this guy is doing? Eating fire?

Cedar: No. Probably blowing it out.

Dad: Oh. Right. That would be safer wouldn’t it? What else do you see on the cover.

Cedar: Here’s some silly girls with flowers on their heads and leaf dresses.

Dad: They have big headdresses on. Cool.

Cedar: These guys are wearing dresses and holding sticks.

Dad: Yeah. Nice.

Cedar: The second guy has paint on his face and he’s wearing a dress. He is holding a stick with a dress on too!

(I put on track 1, Oteas and both of the kids sit on the bed and stare at the record player as the sound of conch shells being blown begins.)

Cora: Daddy. Daddy!

(I look at Cora and she’s pointing to the record player and they both look super surprised. Both kids have their mouths wide open. Then the drumming starts in and Cora jumps off the bed and begins dancing frantically for the remainder of the song.)

(track 2, Beautiful Kuuipo begins. It’s a traditional Hawaiian sounding song.)

Cedar: This sounds like the beginning part of Sponge Bob!

(we keep listening as the singer begins singing.)

Cedar: (Cedar laughs) He says, “I looooveee yoouuu.”

Dad: Yeah. You like that part?

Cedar: No. That’s super silly.

(they dance and play for awhile. track 4, Vahine Tahiti starts. It’s a Tahitian percussion song with nothing but Tahitian drumming.

Dad: Wow Cedar what do you think of this drumming? It’s not like your drums is it?

Cedar: No. It’s like a Japan drum.

Dad: A Japan drum? Where did you hear one of those?

Cedar: At a Japan restaurant. There was only a couple of them playing. Each one with one drum.

Dad: How many does this sound like.

Cedar: Like 200!

Dad: That would be cool to see.

Cedar: Yeah!

(we all air drum for a good long time.)

Dad: So what do you think of the record?

Cedar: Good

Dad: Yeah, what about it?

Cedar: I don’t know yet.

Dad: Oh. Do we need to give it a few more listens?

(I’ve found that either Cedar is more conscious now that I am writing everything down or he’s run out of adjectives. Either way it now takes multiple listens before he’s willing to tell me much more then a record is ”good” or “bad”.)

Cedar: Yeah.

Dad: But you liked it?

Cedar: Yes. Like Japan drumming.

(after our second listen the following day)

Dad: So what do you think?

Cedar: Good.

Dad: Just good?

Cedar: Yes.

Dad: If you had to make 2 piles of records, 1 that we would listen to again and 1 we wouldn’t listen to again, where would this one go?

Cedar: Not listen to.

Dad: Not listen to?

Cedar: Well, listen to again, but only on special days. Like Christmas.

Dad: How about you pick out a new record? Cedar: Look at this...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:50:00 -0400

Dad: How about you pick out a new record?

Cedar: Look at this one dad. (He pulls out the 1982 album H2O by Hall and Oates.)

Dad: You know what the cover is?

Cedar: No.

Dad: It’s a close up of skin with sweat on it.

(Looking incredulous and intently studying the cover)

Cedar: What?

Dad: You know when you run around and get all sweaty? (he nods) This is a picture of someone’s sweaty skin.

Cedar: (pointing at the large sweat droplet) Is that sweat?!

Dad: Yep.

Cedar: (Smiling broadly) Yuck. Let’s listen to this.

Dad: Okay, put it on.

Cora: I picking record! (Cora pulls out a copy of Handel’s Messiah with an illustration of an angel on it.) Butterfly! Butterfly! Butterfly!

Dad: Cora, let’s listen to this one first.

(Cedar puts on and track 1, Maneater. Cora drops Messiah on the floor and begins dancing.)

(Cedar gets really still and has a blank, slack-jawed expression. Half-way through the song I start singing the words and dancing with Cora. Cedar is barely moving, but his toes have started tapping a bit.)

Dad: Cora, do you like this?

Cora: (nodding and dancing. She yells, “CEDAR!” to get him to start dancing.)

Dad: So Cedar, what do you think?

(He nods but still has a pretty blank expression. He’s studying the paper dust cover with it’s photo of the band in a brightly painted factory interior.)

Cedar: Where are they?

Dad: Looks like they took the photo in a factory. Cool, huh?

Cedar: (nodding) What kind of factory is it?

Dad: I don’t know.

Cedar: I think it’s a chocolate factory. Yes.

Dad: Really?

Cedar: When I have a band we’re going to play in a chocolate factory. Then every kind of candy factory.

Dad: Wow. That sounds cool.

(Cedar goes on to tell me at length about a documentary he saw about how chocolate is made. He unsurprisingly remembers the entire process from harvesting cocoa beans to consumption.)

(track 2, Crime Pays starts)

Cedar: Dad, I don’t like this one that came after. It’s too slow.

Dad: Okay, why don’t you move to the next track and we’ll see what you think.

(Cedar carefully moves ahead to track 3, Art of Heartbreak.)

Cedar: What! This one is even slower! Daddy, look at Cora.

(Cora has taken my microfiber cloth I use to clean the dust off the records and turned it into a mini shawl. She is swaying around to the music, eyes closed and arms out stretched.)

Cedar: Cora, you want to hear Alvin?

Dad: Really buddy? Again?

Cora: Yeah!

Cedar: She really likes it.

Dad: (sigh) alright.

(cedar switches to 45rpm and Cora giggles and keeps dancing.)

Cedar: Even faster it’s still slow!

Dad: This is a slow song.

Cedar: Can I see the record cover again?

(Like a good brother he’s leaving the song playing for his sister, but he seems amazed that such a slow song would have a sweaty record cover.)

Dad: Sure, here. (I hand him the record cover) This band is called Hall and Oates. (pointing to the band photo in the factory.) It’s named for him and him (I point out Daryl and John.)

Cedar: Wait! What about those other guys?

Cora: (pointing at John Oates) Daddy.

Dad: What? No. That’s not daddy. That Oates.

Cora: (looking more sure of herself) Daddy!

(I have to laugh about Cora thinking John Oates is me. Cedar is still pointing to the rest of the people in the photo.)

Dad: This is their band. They play for Hall and Oates. G.E. Smith plays guitars. Charlie De Chant plays saxophone. Mickey Curry is the drummer and Tom “T. Bone” Wolk is on bass.

Cedar: T-Bone!?

Dad: Yeah.

Cedar: (Clifford) The Big Red Dog has a friend that is a little yellow dog that is from here (putting his hand next to the floor by my foot) to here, no here (putting his hand next to my calf, then a little bit higher.) His name is T-Bone!

Dad: That’s right. A “T-Bone” is a kind of steak. This guy is probably called T-Bone because his name is Tom. T for Tom. The dog is named T-Bone because dogs like steaks. You’d be C-Bone for Cedar.

Cedar: (laughing) Funny.

"Even faster it’s still slow!"

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:00:00 -0400

“Even faster it’s still slow!”

- Cedar Joaquin Muñoz

drummer, music critic, 4-year-old

(cedar is busy building ramps from my bed to the record shelves...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:00:00 -0400

(cedar is busy building ramps from my bed to the record shelves for his matchbox cars. I pull out the Misfits collection.)

Dad: Cedar look. (showing him the cover)

Cedar: Whoa! Can we listen to that?

Dad: Yes, of course. (I pull out the green vinyl record) Look buddy.

(his eyes go wide, he drops all of his cars, sprints over to the bed, jumps up and sits on the bed facing he record player.)

Cedar: Green! My favorite.

(track 1, We Are 138 begins. Cedar essentially looses his mind briefly. He starts speaking in tongues like a mini Glen Danzig on bath salts. Cora walks over and jams her doll’s bottle in his mouth which naturally turns into a full-on fight.)

Dad: Okay, hold on you two. Are we going to listen to this record or what?

(we start over)

(Cedar is dancing like mad. Cora is bopping up on the bed. After a few listens to the record.)

Dad: So what do you think Cedar?

Cedar: Good good good good good! (jumping up and down)

Dad: Really good huh? What do you like about it.

Cedar: Punk rock punk rock punk rock punk rock! (still jumping)

(cora is watching and laughing at him)

Dad: What does “Misfits” mean?

Cedar: I don’t know (he’s attempting to stand on his head)

(speaking at the same time)

Cedar: Fart!
Cora: Scairwee! (she just keeps repeating this, laughing the whole time.)

Cedar: MISS-F-F-F-Fits. “F” for farts. And Alvin.

Dad: (sigh) When you play it at 45rpm speed it does sound like Alvin and the chipmunks doesn’t it?

"MISS-F-F-F-Fits. “F” for farts. And Alvin."

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:00:00 -0400

“MISS-F-F-F-Fits. “F” for farts. And Alvin.”

- Cedar Joaquin Muñoz

drummer, music critic, 4-year-old

Dad: The name of this band is Rodan. Cedar: What? Dad:...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:54:24 -0400

Dad: The name of this band is Rodan.

Cedar: What?

Dad: That’s actually the name of a monster in old Japanese movies.

Cedar: What?

Dad: He was like a dinosaur monster.

Cedar: What?

Dad: Nevermind.

(song 1, Bible Silver Corner starts and we listen for a little while)

Dad: So do you like this music? It’s kind of got some nice guitars and…

Cedar: No. It’s boring.

Dad: What?

Cedar: It’s boring like when you go to work. That’s boring.

Dad: When I go to work it’s boring?

Cedar: Not you. Like homework. That’s boring.

Dad: You’ve never done any homework. You don’t even start kindergarten until the Fall.

Cedar: Nate (our neighbor who is 5) said it’s boring - numbers….letters…and farts. (starts cracking himself up with fart sounds)

Cedar: Dad can we wrestle?

Dad: Sure.

(song 2, Shiner kicks in and he forgets about wrestling and starts jumping all around doing some kind of break dancing like floor moves)

Dad: (the song ends) So was that better than the first song?

Cedar: Yep. More faster.

Dad: What about…

Cedar: Dad are you going to throw me on the bed or what?

Dad: Oh, sorry. Coming right up.