Myles McDonnell

But it’s the album itself, which features both the Mayor himself and songs by kids’ musician Doctor Noize, that is delighting our seven-year-old most right now. The good Doctor — known in real life (I assume) as Cory Cullinan — proves quickly to be a master of pastiche rivaling the creators of the classic Schoolhouse Rock bits (he even tosses in a few sly references to them — e.g., a repeated “hallelujah” in the backing vocals to a techno-tinged sing about interjections). Cullinan is also an alarmingly accomplished musician, not only writing and arranging the clever songs in a multitude of styles (everything from classic silent-movie-accompaniment piano to a Steely Dan homage) but also playing nearly every instrument you hear — keyboards, guitars, horns, you name it.