#1 -- Barenaked Ladies' Snacktime

Any aging hipster can attest to the fact that keeping your cool while listening to kids' music is hard. One can only take so much Wiggles/Raffi/Fred Penner. Oh sure, in theory this music should take you back to your own childhood, but in reality it's getting you one step closer to the grave.

So when a lovely publicist sent me Barenaked Ladies' first attempt at a kids' album, I was apprehensive. I'm not really a BNL fan (OK, maybe a closet fan. I've had my fair share of drunken nights rockin' out to "Enid".) and I couldn't see how it could live up to say... Johnny Cash or There Might Be Giants.

But then, on first listen to Snacktime, I was taken back to those days when "If I Had a Million Dollars" was so unique, so Canadian, and -- if we're splitting hairs -- so Scarborough! Their trademark, playful style of blending genres and throwing in random, quirky lyrics works perfectly for children and those who love them. My family was instantly hooked. (Even Ya-Ya.) My husband and I found ourselves saying, "What took them so long?" BNL were made to make music for kids.

"Raisins come from grapes, people come from apes, I come from Canada," Ed Robertson sings on "Raisins". As soon as my sage three-year-old heard raisins AND Canada, he could barely hide his huge grin. A song about things that he loves! His hands-down favourite is the track "Food Party," where the different tastes and textures party on the tongue in strange Star Wars voices. Like a true preschool junkie, he asks for it over and over.

Personally, I'm torn between "Eraser" and "I Don't Like," which features hilarious signature Ed Robertson/Steven Page back and forth chit chat. With 24 songs, this album is a treat start to finish. I cannot stop listening to it and giggling.

Comments

[Assertagirl]

I could probably handle this repeatedly at a reasonable volume, and that is what I consider the mark of a good kids album. thanks for the link to the first track! I've always loved BNL, again, in moderation.

[Don Mills Diva]

I am soooo buying this album! I am a BNL fan from way back and I can totally see that they would make a great kids albumn!

[kgirl]

i am so looking forward to this album. we need some new funky stuff - i'm actually starting to get sick of TMBG's NO!