Much like Adam Sandler's attempt to fill in the gap in holiday music, the LeeVees, a duo of indie pop folks, put together a collection of mostly silly Hanukkah songs. The sound is decidedly indie pop, much in the vein of a more relaxed Presidents of the United States of America or Barenaked Ladies, but with a Jewish cultural themes and jokes. The album opens with a Beatlesque tribute to the latke, followed by a more thumping debate on latke condiments. A Christmas song (in which the band promises to march on with Chinese food) and a tribute to the timeshares of Boca and the elderly Jews who love them keep a rolling feel to the proceedings. The pace picks up a bit for a song built around the multiple spellings of Hanukkah and gelt-giving, moving almost into a Yardbirds sound for a bit. Semi-trippy, semi-psychedelic pop takes over for a bit. Eventually the groove slows back down, almost to a Jan & Dean sound. There's some very nice versatility shown off here, but the focus is really on the happy, self-deprecating humor inherent in the lyrics and an ability to laugh at the details of the culture and the world beyond by proxy. There aren't too many Hanukkah albums to begin with, and non-traditional ones tend toward the humorous (the aforementioned Sandler, the Klezmonauts). This one fits in just fine -- give it a spin at the next Hanukkah party you hear of. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Latke Clan
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:51)
Applesauce vs. Sour Cream
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:10)
Goyim Friends
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(3:16)
At the Timeshare
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:46)
How Do You Spell Channukkahh?
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(4:54)
Kugel
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:46)
Jewish Girls (At the Matzoh Ball)
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(3:47)
Gelt Melts
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:09)
Nun Gimmel Heh Shin
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(2:51)
[Untitled Track]
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(0:48)
[Untitled Track]
David Schneider, Adam Gardner
The Leevees
(1:47)
Credits
David Schneider (Guitar), David Schneider (Vocals), David Schneider (Group Member), Rob Schwimmer (Piano), Rob Schwimmer (Organ (Hammond)), Rob Schwimmer (Stylophone), Rob Schwimmer (Claviola), Marc Donahue (Mastering), Adam Gardner (Guitar), Adam Gardner (Vocals), Adam Gardner (Instrumentation), Adam Gardner (Group Member), Peter Katis (Guitar), Peter Katis (Drums), Peter Katis (Vocals (Background)), Peter Katis (Producer), Peter Katis (Engineer), Peter Katis (Fender Rhodes), Peter Katis (Mixing), Michael Azerrad (Drums), Ted Kawalerski (Photography), Melissa Bisagni (Vocals (Background)), Greg Giorgio (Engineer)
