I could not let this week go by without mentioning the new release from Trout Fishing in America. And with so many new releases lately, I’m feeling more than a tiny bit guilty for not yet covering a few summer releases that are definitely worth bringing to your attention. So following this review will be several other mini-reviews as part of a big Weekend Music Extravaganza.

But for now, let’s start with Trout Fishing in America and their brand new release, My Best Day. I’ve posted before about my lukewarm response to TFA, the duo of Ezra Idlet (guitar) and Keith Grimwood (bass). I must give them credit, though, for their longevity in the family music genre – they have been at this for 30 years and have released 12 CD’s (seven of which are for kids and families). And they are the grand-daddys of the “Goofy Dad” sub-genre of family and children’s music, which now includes the likes of Daddy-a-Go-Go, Eric Herman (coming right up as part of the Weekend Music Extravaganza), and several others.

The “Goofy Dads” are trying as hard to make kids laugh as they are trying to make kids sing and dance. They have high-energy, laugh-a-minute approach to music, and sometimes push the boundaries of appropriateness. For example….TFA’s “I’ve Got an Alien in My Nose” is funny when they sing it, but less funny when a five-year-old re-enacts the song/story at the neighborhood barbecue.

A New York Times review of Trout Fishing in America referred to this quality as “a kind of goofball gestalt” which is counter to the “sugary sweet format” of other children’s music. The Times description is troubling to me, as it implies that these two are mutually exclusive – I would argue they are not. In fact, there are many hybrids of goofiness and sugary sweetness, as well as numerous other approaches to kids’ music. As an aside: the anti-sugary-sweet sentiment, which, I believe could be better described these days as anti-Wiggles, has led many artists (again, this is an “aside” and not directed at TFA) to try to show how “un-sweet” they can be, and they sometimes end up seeming crude and/or shallow. But I digress….

There are lots of dedicated TFA fans out there, and probably a good number of people who just don’t “get” them. I would imagine this is similar to Jimmy Buffet fans – there are Parrot Heads and there are those who just don’t appreciate or enjoy Buffet. As Stefan explained in his recent review at Zooglobble, TFA fans will very likely enjoy My Best Day, and TFA newcomers may find it a good point of entry. Although I am not much of a Trout fan, this album did move me a bit further toward an appreciation of them.

My Best Day is a live album, which is unique in kids’ music, and it includes both old and new songs. The performance was recorded at the University of Central Arkansas, and the audience is as much a part of the show as Idlet and Grimwood. The TFA duo is joined by “multi-instrumentalist” Fred Bogert on guitar, piano, accordion, and more. Bogert also masterfully edited and mixed My Best Day – not an easy job with a live album.

What I most enjoyed about My Best Day were the Grateful Dead-sounding guitar tones and the Austin City Limits story-telling feel that came from the live performance. This was more enjoyable to me than TFA’s studio recordings, but I still feel like somewhat of an outsider when it comes to this duo, like I’m not quite in on the joke.