Between Laurie Berkner, ex-Del Fuego Dan Zanes, and the veritable institution that is They Might Be Giants, New York City has become a hub for progressive, Barney-free original children''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s pop. The Laurie Berkner Band, which also boasts the talents of Susie Lampert and Adam Bernstein, has made a career out of not insulting kids (or their parents) with contrived baby talk and boring nursery rhymes. Berkner''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s gift for melody and genuine enthusiasm for both children and songwriting shine through on Rocketship Run, a 24-track Easter basket of quirky folk-pop songs with titles like "Mouse in My Toolbox," "Candy Cane Jane," and "Pigbasket" woven around an ongoing treasure-hunt narrative. These are textbook singalongs to be sure, but the production is top-notch, as are the performances, resulting in that rare "kids" collection that can be safely consumed by all ages, including adults.