Doctor Noize

We had so much fun at your little show at The Learning Game. Claire has done nothing but talk about you and listen to that great CD. And now Phineas McBoof has become our “secret password”! Oh…..guess it’s not so secret anymore. Anyway, we can’t wait to see you again!

NOTEWORTHY: THE BEST IN RECENT KIDS’ CDS… Pity Phineas McBoof. Exhausted by his fame and fans, the “musical King Kong” has disappeared, and only his International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses knows how to find the iconic monkey. It’s a familiar tabloid tale, as seen through the lens of a kaleidoscope rather than a paparazzo’s camera. Loaded with witty narration and some creatively impressive tunes, the CD has launched a book by the same title and a sequel is due. Recipient of a 2007 Parents’ Choice Award, it goes without saying that the album also wins the prize for best title of the year.

Honorable Mention award: “Don’t Be Silly,” from Doctor Noize’s The Ballad Of Phineas McBoof.

Thank you so much for the wonderful show. I think your performance was great. We hope that you enjoyed our non-shy Turkish kids:-) I am glad that we were able to leave a good impression on you so that we have the face to invite you again :-).

My nephews in Tennessee LOVE the CD and the book.

Cory is a fab dad based near Denver, and he has risen to the top as a nationally acclaimed recording artist almost overnight.

You’re an inspiration, and I mean that very honestly. It’s so awesome to see someone doing what they really want to do in life and succeeding at it.

Keep up the good music.

My son Ethan (age 4) cannot get enough of the book, The Ballad Of Phineas McBoof… as well as its companion CD. Through the crazy adventures of Phineas the rock star monkey and his International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses, he’s able to discover the wonder and joy of making music with friends. The story is fun to read. The illustrations are wonderful. And the music is a treat for both of us.

The book really comes together, works great for our family. (Our son) laughs at the musical bottom every time… the one in your book that is.

Cory! I’m so glad my friend forwarded you on to me!! Great to see you have found your calling, you were always WAY talented (I still listen to Oyster). I am going to check out the schedule and see you play!!! I have two kids…a 9mo old and 2 1/2 year old, my 2 1/2 year old will LOVE you!!

If you are looking for a great music experience for your young children… Cory Cullinan (Doctor Noize) is a super funny, spectacular musician. It’s hard to describe him - you have to experience it.

5 out of 5 stars! This CD tells the story of a musical monkey on a quest to write the world’s most perfectest song. As he travels he collects new members for his International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses. Song tracks alternate with narrative tracks. Tracks that stand on their own are numbers 3, 8 (an XM Kids #1 hit), 10, 12, and 14. But really you’ll want to get the whole thing. Every moment of this CD is packed with music, interesting voices, sound effects, humor, and cultural references. You’ll find something new to notice and appreciate even after 100 listens. The tunes are infectious and kids will love the wacky characters and situations.

In a just world, talent and its exercise should be duly rewarded, though Phineas professes to pursue the aims of art (the perfect song) over fame and fortune. Even the most cursory of listenings to this CD reveals how rich the author’s invention is, and one could be forgiven for jumping to the conclusion that the monkey is Cullinan’s alter ego. One hopes that the dumbo ears of Disney have not grown dumb to a genius of this caliber. Will the free market reward Cullinan for raising us up rather than dumbing things down? It rarely happens that way. But with compelling characters, glittering musical riches, and an abundant joy in song and dance, The Ballad of Phineas McBoof is the perfect gift, a CD whose covert mission is to educate children in music’s ethical and recreational powers and to do so with unbounded imagination and pleasure. Forget the banal Beethoven for Babies. The Ballad of Phineas McBoof is the musical primer of our times.

Cullinan brings 20 bags of instruments to each performance and invites the audience to join in making music. Through his Macintosh Powerbook, he records different instruments and loops the sounds over each other. Cullinan moves quickly between the saxophone, keyboard, guitar and vocals during performances. Kids learn to recognize the different instrument sounds and are invited to add their own sound to the track.

Cory Cullinan has every reason to smile. His song “Banana,” the pièce de résistance of his debut children’s album The Ballad of Phineas McBoof, clinched the No. 1 spot on XM Radio’s Kids Chart last fall. Zany as it sounds, his music isn’t just for kids… His concept, “rock-opera for kids,” combined with high-level musicianship (the album features artists who have worked with Santana and Huey Lewis, as well as opera singer Nathan Gunn) appeals to a more mature set… The hidden payoff? “I get to work with people of my maturity level, which is the 2-to-11 set.”

In his music for children, he creates layers and loops and invites his young audience members to help make multi-track songs. Seeing and hearing how each contribution, from percussion and bass to melody and harmony, adds to the whole, audience members get a new appreciation for a song’s structure…

Don’t miss Doctor Noize.

There’s a lot more to a children’s CD than just the music itself… “The Ballad of Phineas McBoof,” which chronicles the formation of a band, is full of characters whose stories “encourage kids to follow their muse.” Doctor Noize… believes children find more meaning in something when it’s attached to a figure they care about. “Every single character on the CD … is somebody who decided to do his own thing despite the fact that people don’t understand,” he said.

Dr. Noize, I loved your CD! I listen to it almost every day. I got your CD for my 8th birthday… We live in Ithaca, New York. Do you think you will come to Ithaca sometime for a concert? If you come, I will be there!

You talented sweetie!! (The boys’) Grandmother called last week from Washington. She emoted about the hit of their party…your books and thoughtful personalized inscriptions. They were thrilled and most impressed with your ingenuity. So much so she called from the car while going from one party venue to another. Thank you for giving them such a memorable memory and gift.

On first listening I thought you were great. On second listening I thought you were brilliant. Now that I can’t force myself to take your CD out of my CD player I just think you’re a genius. This is one of the best kid CDs I’ve ever heard. My wife and I are now in the process of adopting a whole orphanage of kids just so we can have an excuse to listen to your CD…

Doctor Noize (Cory Cullinan) brings his unique brand of musical storytelling to this collection. Fifteen vignettes, presented like a rock opera, tell the story of the rock star monkey, Phineas McBoof, who has grown tired of his super stardom and leaves his home on the Island of Thelonius for an adventure… Listeners learn about a variety of musical instruments and different styles of music. Children will especially enjoy the catchy tune that is an ode to McBoof’s favorite food, “Bananas.” A fun addition for public libraries.

(My daughter) really likes the book. Your creativity is amazing and inspiring.

Lone Tree resident Cory Cullinan, also known as Doctor Noize, is as passionate as he is creative. Cullinan has successfully merged his enthusiasm for educating kids and producing music… Throughout the duration of the CD, kids learn to match the sound of the instrument with each character and are able to pick out instruments in songs. The story is similar to the Beatles, and Phineas McBoof has the same initials as the basis of his character, Paul McCartney.

In a category of all his own is Doctor Noize, a.k.a. Cory Cullinan, a Los Altos native who has drawn on a love of electronic music and studio technology to create a fresh, modern pop style for little ones.

The kids were so delighted that they were singing “Banana” this morning… How many people can capture the attention of 20 kindies and keep their undivided attention for an hour? I don’t even think most working teachers can do that. You are such a talent!!!

Agenda Recommends –> This enormously silly CD is perfect for little ones… But it’s also educational! Like Peter and the Wolf but more fun, this wildly danceable story-album introduces kids to musical instruments, styles, and composition.

Like the best of children’s literature and music, the CD operates on many levels simultaneously: beneath the bubbling surface of pure kiddy appeal runs an undercurrent of musical and lyric allusion aimed at delighting the parents of the young. I defy you to find me another children’s album with any piece in seven.

Kick start 2008 with a few of lil’s favorite finds… Got cabin fever? Get the kids in an outside state of mind with Doctor Noize’s musical adventure. The Ballad of Phineas McBoof will entertain your tots with an imaginative excursion where they will encounter bass-playing hippopotamuses and yodeling lizards.

The recent album by the Denver-based Doctor (a.k.a. Cory Cullinan), “The Ballad of Phineas McBoof,” follows the story of Phineas, a rock-star monkey who explores the world of music. He hears everything from jazz to classical to country, prompting one reviewer to call the disc “the musical primer for our times.” And it’s fun, too!

Dear Dr. Noize… Thank you so much for coming to my school for my birthday to share your new book and music with my kindergarten class. It really meant a lot to me that you could be part of my special day! My friends & I all went totally “Bananas” over “Phineas” & the “Bunch”! I hope you can come back to school again sometime soon.

Cory - Wish you could have seen the smile on (my son’s) face when I surprised him with the Phineas book tonight. It was like Bono walked in the room or something. We read it before bed and he was in a trance. Congrats on such a great book - mad props to both you and Christian. I wanted to say that now before I feel differently after the 199th reading.

5 stars (out of 5)… Great storytelling and fun music! The Ballad of Phineas McBoof is really more of a children’s story than a collection of family music. It deserves to be listened to as a complete album so you can follow along with the travels of Phineas and the introductions to the various characters that he meets along the way during his adventures. The story is mostly fun, but there is a positive message for kids (and adults?) about change and chasing your dreams… The musicianship is surprisingly good for this type of album. If you’re a fan of real musicians playing real instruments, you’ll get that on this album…

Did your octopus lady-friend tell you we read the book multiple times a day and usually the CD once a day? You are a big hit w/ the kids. (They) love the book!

I do have to tell you how much of a positive impact you and your music have had on (my son). He knows every song word for word and we’ve listened to it every day in the car since we bought the CD. He sings your songs ALL the time.

Thanks… The book’s great. Great illustrations and some great rhymes. I especially like the ending. Kudos.

Bless you, Cory! The books arrived last Thursday and I adore them. I will be so proud to give them to 3 families with each an older bro and younger sis. Thank you for Dr. N.’s autograph!

Thank you so much for everything! You made the event super spectacular! Your energy rocked and I would love to see you back at the Museum!

You were terrific. When and where are you - Dr. Noize - playing next? I would love to take my girls.

Dr. Noize rocks! The kids and I went to see our good friend Dr. Noize today, and he was mega-fantastic. This bootleg video of the concert doesn’t do him justice (sorry), but it does give you a sense of the kind of energy he puts into his shows. One of my favorite things about Dr. N (yes - we’re actually that close) is that he seamlessly weaves music education into his concerts. You can’t help but walk away feeling more musically inclined, and he even let’s the kids rock-out with his equipment at the end of the show. We predict that Dr. Noize is going to be B-I-G, BIG! And we hope everyone spreads the word. Rock on, Dr.

The Ballad of Phineas McBoof CD has been named one of the Top 100 Toys of the year… imaginative family music. A musical odyssey about a rock star monkey from the Island of Thelonious who explores a world of music, from rock to classical, to country-western and jazz… features top flight vocal and instrumental talent. Doctor Noize (aka Cory Cullinan), is a musical Renaissance man who sings and plays keyboards, guitar, percussion, saxophone, and a kazoo and is a former high school music teacher…

Join Doctor Noize and a pantheon of musical talent for one of the most imaginative family music releases you’ll ever hear.

I have been meaning to email you and let you know that my boys have NOT STOPPED listening to your cd. They just LOVE IT! They walk around the house with their guitar and imitate you. It is really cute. Great show… Let us know when you are in town again…

You had the audience’s FULL attention! We had a great time. Our three year old was especially engaged. The six year old said she really liked it… She was impressed that you talked to her.

I’d just clicked on your Dr Noize web page to tell you how much my 3 kids love your CD (it’s the current fave for all car rides and last night they were singing “Banana, Banana” at the top of their lungs)…

Great stocking stuffers… Doctor Noize presents a rock opera for kids, featuring a hip little monkey and his band of Misunderstood Geniuses. This is smart techno-pop to make kids think.

I am already a great fan. I again drove to the French Atlantic coast for summer vacation. It is a very long drive and a good opportunity to listen to a new album over and over again. What I like in particular about the CD is that even after having listened to it several times, you always find new little interesting things. Just two examples: At the end of track 10 before the scene in the symphony hall starts, you take up the “my parents..”-melody and transform it into a classic concert piece. At the end of track 13, one can already hear the instrumental version of the monster dance of track 14.

You should know that you made it into (my daughter’s) bedtime prayers. She goes through a long list of “god blesses” and she recently added to the list… (her pediatrician) and “that funny doctor that sings” (you). It took me a while to figure out who she was talking about, but then she mentioned Phineas McBoof and that cleared things up.

Please thank Cory again for me - he is absolutely delightful. I loved how he made the kids laugh and completely engaged them for nearly an hour. There aren’t too many entertainers who can do that. And the staff here loved having live music while they worked!

Last week my small elementary school in San Bruno, California had the rich experience of a Dr. Noize assembly. From the onset of the program to its conclusion the students were engaged, delighted, and involved… It is one week later and the students continue to ask when Dr. Noize will return.

I’m telling you dude, you’re spectacular!! This is what you should be doing for the kids and the adults, and of course foe yourself. I just believe that what you have to offer the world is a tremendous gift.

He has a wonderful sense of humor and great empathy for children… and great creativity / imagination.

We’ve been going “bananas” in our house since seeing you perform yesterday. (My son) has been roaming the house singing “Phineas McBook” and “Bananas” and saying “Doctor Noize” in a deep low voice. It’s quite funny. All he wants to do besides play football is to put a concert on which consists of him playing his golf club like a guitar and singing along to your songs. Anyhow, we really had a great time and (my son) can’t get enough of your CD…

Thank YOU (and the Noizy Band) so much for performing for us Saturday. I got a lot of great feedback from visitors and members. I was amazed at how you could give 100% of your energy from start to finish. You guys rock!

Great job and awesome crowd yesterday! Congrats- your passion for what you do is obvious! Cheers!

Thanks for participating in the Passport to Culture series. Good work!

I would like to introduce you to our favorite kids musician in the galaxy - Dr. Noize. Cory (aka Dr. Noize) has finished his first children’s CD and is now touring and putting on amazing shows. Let me just tell you, this guy was born to entertain kids!! He’s got such incredible energy and passion for what he does. He truly gets so much joy out of hanging with the kids - he is literally one of those lucky people in this world who absolutely loves what he does (and is great at it!)!! He plays tons of different instruments and even gets the kids involved making their own music! The kids (and adults) love it and have a great time!

The Doctor is In The Groove… “You can’t fake the mojo.” The Ballad of Phineas McBoof is a high-production affair featuring crafty lyrics that tell the story of a journey to strange lands. This cartoon-colored Odyssey shows how Phineas learns about other creatures’ love of music. This all serves to bring him back to his senses and start playing again, as he realizes we each have a song to contribute to the great symphony of life. Doctor Noize, a.k.a. Cory Cullinan, is adept at composing complex, layered songs that use music to reinforce the emotional theme. All in all, this is a fun audio story that your kids will enjoy over and again.

Editor’s Choice — Recommended.

Congratulations on the success. The genre is a perfect outlet for your talent with music, wit, and charisma.

It’s always a treat when someone as appealingly childlike as Cory Cullinan (a.k.a. Doctor Noize, and the voice/musician behind musical monkey protégé Phineas McBoof) puts together an album for children. There’s a lot packed into this fifteen-track CD, a rock opera that follows the adventures of the eponymous monkey… What follows is a fun romp through various types of music (funk, jive, country, classical, futuristic) as Phineas puts together a band, one member at a time, featuring all four corners of the world: The International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses.

The title character is a simian rock superstar who flees his life of fame to seek his musical roots. His journey of self-discovery is told in a clever combination of acted dialogue and genre-spanning music—everything from rollicking ska beats to jazz kazoo.

Taking a page out of his high school teaching method (“make every lesson an adventure, not a seminar”), Cullinan introduces various musical instruments and styles as each band member joins the band. Cullinan is careful in the orchestration of each song to use only the instruments and voices available to the band at that specific point in the story… Yes, this CD does all that Cullinan says it does and yet it does much more than that. From the very beginning of the very first track, your child will be entertained by a story that is witty and funny and executed with finesse and humor. This band of creatures will make you laugh and hang on their every word and every bit of music they make…

Every time I work with Cory Cullinan on a project, I expect to be entertained by a new and different musical vision. His ability to use music to enlighten the listener shows through in every one of his albums. It was particularly exciting to work with Dr. Noize and a studio-full of the most talented and enjoyable musicians, since everyone involved had so much fun while imparting their virtuosity to the project. We all learned something from Dr. Noize: it is possible to teach others about the music we love while entertaining them (and ourselves) at the same time. And no one left a mess on the floor…

This truly imaginative project offers more than just fun music. Young listeners are treated to an interwoven story between tunes about a guitar-playing monkey named Phineas McBoof and his travels around the globe putting together the wildest band imaginable. With friends like Backbone the Octopus (the eight-legged drummer), the bass-playing Bottomus the Hip Hippopotomus, a yodeling lizard and even a robot, little tikes are sure to sing along with the catchy tunes. A particular nod goes to opera star Nathan Gunn performing the role of Placido Flamingo. Chris Isaak’s guitarist, Hershel Yatovitz, lends his six-string skills as well. Pack your bananas and enjoy the ride!..

This fictitious tale of a wayward musical genius, who also happens to be a monkey, is as original as children’s entertainment gets… The dialogue and interplay between the characters is charming and funny. The story, in addition to being extremely clever, also teaches listeners about the instruments being played, the sounds each makes and the variety of musical genres employed by the Misunderstood Geniuses. Oh, and there are terrific songs as well! The story is so endearing and funny… You will enjoy the musical adventure of The Ballad of Phineas McBoof as much as the story itself… One can envision Dr. Noize’s creation becoming as adored as Morgan Taylor’s Gustafer Yellowgold…

Cory Cullinan, AKA Doctor Noize, is the freshest new face & sound in kindie rock today…but don’t let the rookie status fool you. His first release, The Ballad of Phineas McBoof, is no flavor of the week. It’s a musical & narrative rock opera that is surprisingly one of the best children’s CD’s of 2007! (Mind you, I don’t make that sort of claim lightly…)

Your Phineas McBoof is really great. You have combined a family focused career with doing something meaningful. Lately I have been inspired by many people who live their life in search of meaning, they say they live longer, smile more often, and add joy to the world. You are definitely doing that!!!!…

My kids LOVE Phineas McBoof. It’s their favorite CD right now!.

Thanks for a cool rock opera for the kids! It’s going to sound awesome on the air!

Congratulations on the incredible production… Wow, I love that you cover the entire gamut of musical genres and the inventiveness of everything that you do.

What a fun album! Kinda like a Sergeant Peppers for kids. I really enjoyed how eclectic it is in terms of styles and format… It’s unique, well-written and produced, and it just sounds like you’re having fun.

I’ve been meaning to tell you: the CD rocks! What a fun thing. Can’t wait to hear the next installment and, perchance, be a part of it…

We’ve been listening to Dr. Noize a lot. My son loves the Banana song.

Your record is special. Way above the norm. It’s so creative and fresh and thoughtful! It’s like a Sgt. Pepper for kids…

Congratulations on your album! It really showcases the diversity of your talent, and the production value is really high. I also thought the songs were really wonderful. In some cases I had wished that there were several albums containing entirely reggae/klezmer, funk, or country, etc because I enjoyed listening to the songs so much that I was disappointed when a particular genre was over. I also especially loved the song where you and Janette sing the percussion. Janette is absolutely fantastic on the album by the way. I can only imagine all the work that you must have put into this. I look forward to hearing the performances! Bravo!..

The cd is great! I would love to record again, just let me know…

Just finished listening to the CD. Brilliant. I love it. I want more. I was blown away by all the layers of sounds and just how incredibly slick and polished everything sounds. I love all the vocal performances you do along with the supporting characters. Janette rocks as Backbone. At the moment I think my favorite songs are “Don’t Monkey with My Heart” (because I’m a sucker for Beatlesque pop which you totally nailed) and “What My Robot Said” (I dig the fiddle, and I love the whole upbeat country vibe — very contagious.) You rock. I couldn’t be more impressed…

Congratulations not only on this latest accomplishment, but also on your consistently fine work of the past.

Can’t stop singing it myself! My extremely active 4 year old has spent the last couple weeks sitting (ok, many times dancing) in his room listening to this album. Now I can’t stop singing the songs. They are so catchy & enjoyable. I find myself taking it in the car for my son, but also so I can hear the story myself. I can’t believe how attentive my very inattentive son can be when listening to this CD. Thrilled we found this & have been recommending it to all our friends…

CONGRATULATIONS, WOW!!! what an amazing performance. The boys are so pumped up and have been singing and eating Bananas ever since we got home. So, if you ever decide to write a song about prunes, we may have problems. Today, I finally burned the CD from my itunes library onto a disc-Now we can jam to it in the car. Thanks so much for a really fun day…

What’s up Doc? I am not sure whether to thank you or curse you – my daughter loves the Phineas McBoof CD but I can not get Banana and My Parents Think They’re Very Important out of my head!!! All day and all night it’s all I hear – driving me crazy. It’s like you were spying on us when you wrote My Parents. Seriously though, great CD. Lots of fun for her and us. I love the story line and I can’t wait for the book and hopefully a DVD / cartoon…

Amazing entertainment for kids. I bought this for my son, who will turn 4 this summer. He has basically been playing it non-stop for about a week now. He adores it, and has a special robot dance he does everytime Riley is on. He dances, he sings, he laughs, and he constantly requests to hear it in the car when we go places. It’s very listenable for adults as well– the Beatles/general rock references are intriguing and, like Sesame Street or The Muppet Show, many of the jokes are targeted at adults/parents. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone with young kids…

Hi Doctor Noize. I like Phineas McBoof. My favorite song is Banana Banana. I like Riley the Robot. Bye-bye…

I am so excited about his wonderful news with XM Radio! I have to say that I am in total agreement with the XM Radio lady. I absolutely loved listening to it, and I have listened to it many times since and shared it with my friend, who also thought it was great! I am looking forward to getting copies for friends of mine… When we were listening to it, I couldn’t help but imagine it as a Disney movie or a Broadway Musical. I thought that it was so clever. The music was great, and it has an appeal that people of all ages can appreciate! I would love to help in whatever way that I can to spread the word about his wonderful project! (Although it seems that word it getting out quite well!)…

Awesome! My son loves Phineas. His favorite song is banana, but ours is the Parents song. You should be super proud…