The Muppets (Original Soundtrack)

Not only are The Muppets back in fine felt form, but this soundtrack to their 2011 movie proves that they still have a knack for keeping kids entertained while throwing in jokes for the parents in tow. Indie harpist Joanna Newsom makes a small vocal contribution on an opening, note-perfect rendition of “The Muppet Show Theme Song.” Hearing Feist lend her silky inflections to the Mickey Rooney–sung “Life’s a Happy Song” (penned by Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie) is just as endearingly random and smile-inducing. It’s impossible not to laugh out loud while hearing the Muppet-assembled barbershop quartet’s hilarious cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Actor Jason Segel sings the sidesplitting “Man or Muppet,” briefly recalling his work with similarly spongy characters on the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. There are also a few non-Muppet household hits in the mix, like Paul Simon’s playful “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and Starship’s “We Built This City.”