New DVD/CD set "Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever" heats it up

I'm a newcomer to the awesomeness that is Gustafer Yellowgold. It's the brainchild of Morgan Taylor, a self-taught illustrator and long time musician who has played alongside artists such as WILCO, Matthew Sweet, Bob Dylan, The Breeders and The Polyphonic Spree. The world of Gustafer Yellowgold is filled with exploration, wonderment and friendship. Gustefer Yellowgold DVD/CDs have been described by Taylor as "Musical Moving Books."

And last week, lo and behold, their soon-to-be-released third album Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever made it's way onto my doorstep and now I just feel lame for waiting so long to check them out. Due out March 17th, this brand-spankin' new DVD/CD is chock-full of songs so stuffed with marshmellow-y goodness that I was instantly swept away into the endearing world of Gustafer Yellowgold.

Here's the deal: we learn the risk-taking extraterrestrial sun guy (Gustafer) leaves his home, the sun, and his family to venture out on a journey of exploration -- only to crash land in Minnesota where (due to his unfortunate accident) he's going to be staying for a long time. As the story progresses, Gustafer begins to unravel the mysteries of this chilly state by discovering ways to adapt to his new surroundings, like using his hot hands to transform corn kernels into a tasty popcorn treat for his buddy. Sharing and learning from each other, we meet some of his friends; Slim the Eel who takes our lil' sun-man on a tour of his aquatic swimming hole in "Underwater Stars;" Sisson the cutest pet worm ever; a pretty intense, love-stricken stalker-fan ferret named Wincey and a fancy pants wearing Pterodactyl named Forrest Applecrumbie and a few others.

Whew.

Usually it takes three or four (or five) hundred listenings before a kids' band grows on me, and some I just never get into no matter how many times I'm made to mash an imaginary banana between the palms of my hand. We do it for the kids. But the first time I listened to "Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever" on our car's CD player I was instantly drawn in by the melodic, ear-pleasing music and found myself wanting to dissect each morsel of every song in all of it's uber-coolness.

Oh yeah -- and the kids LOVE it. He'd kick my butt for saying this, but my 9 year old son actually teared up during "Sunpod." Yeah. Tears. That's when Gustafer leaves his family to come to Earth.

Plus--there's a cool little mockumentary, "Looking For... Gustafer Yellowgold." A total "In Search Of..." parody, for those parents over 35 years old :)

Bottom line -- Gustafer Yellowgold is a kid-pleasing multimedia experience. And it actually transcends kid music. In fact, if I hadn't already known this was a kid's band, I would have rocked it on the iPod anyway, probably in my "Mornings Become Eclectic" playlist.

Go Gustafer!