Victor Vito
Laurie Berkner'sVictor Vitois a 22-song giggle-fest for the under-7 crowd. Witness "The Goldfish," one of 16 originals on the former educator's third album, in which a bunch of fishies find themselves lathering up in the shower and pedaling furiously on bicycles until it dawns on them that their species doesn't do that sort of thing. And there's the title tune, which finds Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco snacking on a burrito with Tabasco and then tipping the hot stuff on their rice and beans and rutabagas and collard greens before Victor dives into a plate of spaghetti with Freddie. Loopy takes on classics like "O Susannah" round out the acoustic-guitar-driven drollery, and after both "Shakin' Down the Sugar" and an ode to feeling crazy enough to jump in the soup, the last cut, "Goodnight," is a welcome wind down. Berkner blurs the way too distinct line between goofiness and hipness with major aplomb, and this album's simple production, combined with her playful singing voice, seals the deal.Victor Vitois unwaveringly victorious in its friendly, laugh-a-minute mission.--Tammy La Gorce