Various Artists: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Music From The Movie And More

A deservedly hip movie (based on a deservedly hip TV show) requires a hip soundtrack, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie's CD oozes just-outside-the-mainstream credibility. Like the cartoon itself, the soundtrack veers just far enough afield to seem edgy, but not enough to provide any more shock value than the average World Café broadcast. Still, it pulls together an impressive array of names to take swings at that most difficult of tasks: Making kids' music that adults can appreciate, or that at least doesn't drive them insane.

After a weightless, minute-long introduction from Avril Lavigne—who turns in a Go-Go's-like version of the SpongeBob theme song—The Flaming Lips dive in with a song whose title wouldn't seem out of place on one of its recent albums: "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy" removes the strangest bits from the Lips' sound, though, replacing it with a cheery bounce that might convert future generations into fans. Wilco turns in another exclusive, "Just A Kid," that proves Jeff Tweedy hasn't lost the ability for joy—he just decided to leave it off A Ghost Is Born. Later, a contribution from The Shins feels oddly out of place: Though nice and Shins-y, its SpongeBob-centric lyrics prove a little embarrassing.

Those already predisposed to goofiness (like Ween, which didn't have to change a note of "Ocean Man" to make it work here) seem more comfortable: Hip-hop producer Prince Paul and rapper Wordsworth have fun with "Prince Paul's Bubble Party" without seeming to stretch, and Motörhead ("You Better Swim") has always used cheekiness to forward its gruff metal. But the songs that will delight the biggest percentage of the show's audience—little kids—feature SpongeBob SquarePants himself, voiced by former Mr. Show regular Tom Kenny with the nasal whine reserved for cartoon characters. Those with ages in the double digits may want to skip those few tracks, and instead find charm in their favorite bands stretching into strange places.