Pitchfork

See, not all indie kids are shy, insular, socially-awkward basement-dwellers. A few of them get out from time to time, even talk to one another, and on exceptionally rare occasions, fall in love. And then: they make babies. Babies who aren't quite ready yet for Joy Division, or latter-day Scott Walker, or even undiluted Beatles songs.

Fortunately for these lovebirds, new V2 offshoot Little Monster Records has just the thing to ease little bundles of joy into the magical mystery world of the Beatles. It's called All Together Now, and like Kidz Bop's significantly less obnoxious step-sibling, Baby Rock Records' non-narcoleptic playmate, or See You on the Moon!'s more straight-and-narrow cousin, the disc takes a kid-friendly approach to some grown-up favorites. In this case, all Beatles songs, as sung by kids-- with a little help from some very special friends.

These friends include ex-Grandaddy mastermind Jason Lytle, Chicago-bred piano-pop chanteuse Rachael Yamagata, 80s Egyptian-walkers the Bangles, mainstay Marshall Crenshaw, and New York Dolls guitarist/Contes dude Steve Conte. Hear Lytle join some youngins for a tasteful rendition of "All You Need Is Love" by clicking the mp3 link below.

Not simply kid-friendly on the ears, All Together Now also comes joyously bundled with a colorful storybook full of poems and illustrations. The whole kit and caboodle arrives everywhere in May 2007, but savvy moms and dads may purchase it now exclusively at Barnes & Noble.

Little Monster Records launched early last month and has quite a few kid-tested, mother-approved releases in the works, including a Medeski, Martin & Wood disc to help prepare your little ones for middle age, and a record by Robert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine-- aka Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo.

All Together Now:

01 Magical Mystery Tour [ft. Steve Conte]
02 Hello, Goodbye [backup vocals by Steve Conte]
03 Love Me Do [ft. Marshall Crenshaw]
04 All You Need Is Love [ft. Jason Lytle]
05 Good Day Sunshine [ft. the Bangles]
06 All Together Now [ft. Chris Maxwell]
07 I Want to Hold Your Hand [ft. Chris Maxwell]
08 Birthday
09 And Your Bird Can Sing [ft. Steve Conte]
10 Here Comes the Sun [ft. Rachael Yamagata]
11 Yellow Submarine