It's a question seemingly as old as the story of Judah Macabee: Why, oh why, can't we Jews have some hip music to help us get into the spirit of the Hanukkah season? I'm not talking "Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel" or anything sappy like that, but something upbeat and poppy to groove to as we wrap presents, gobble down some gelt or fry up some latkes.

Already, I hear the cynics yelling: There's no good modern music for Hanukkah because it's not a major holiday for us! It is NOT the Jewish Christmas, and we shouldn't treat it as such. I would agree with these naysayers, but would ask, if we as Diaspora Jews are going to be subjected to months and months of tunes in the mall and the grocery store about the coming of the Baby Jesus, can't we at least get one or two jams of our own?

This year, The LeeVees attempt to solve this very problem with their just released CD "Hanukkah Rocks" on Reprise Records.

Comprised of Adam Gardner and Dave Schneider, the duo is perhaps better known for their work with the bands Guster and The Zambonis, respectively. The story of their hookup is fairly unmiraculous by Hanukkah standards: Adam was chillin' on the tour bus with Dave when the two struck up a conversation about Judaism. Soon, the talk led to a discussion of Hanukkah music (or the lack thereof). Adam proposed the idea of creating an album of original Hanukkah tunes, and eight days later...The LeeVees were born!

I must confess I was a little nervous when I heard the first single off the album, called "Latke Clan." True, it was a catchy little ditty, and I liked the chorus a lot ("The sun is setting/get home as fast as you can/and put the oil into the pan/so come and join our latke clan/cause we are latke fans."). But, it sounded like a Christmas song...with Jewish lyrics. It literally felt like something you would expect to hear blaring at the Gap on December 5th or so.

My mind was put at ease by the next track, however. At once both humorous and poptastic, "Apple Sauce vs. Sour Cream," gets at the heart of one of the biggest decisions facing every Jew each Hanukkah season. "Life has many decisions, it moves in many directions," the LeeVees croon over a driving beat, "This is just one huge, enormous, big decision, you have to make." How true, I thought, it is a big decision. (Personally, I choose not to choose - I do some latkes with sour cream and some with apple sauce).

And then there's the perennial question of just how one goes about spelling the actual holiday. Reminiscent of some of the Police's earlier dance-pop, "How do You Spell Channukkah" attempts to help us solve that quandary. Sadly, the song does not help us decide, but it does perhaps make us laugh and dance.

This album is not really intended for the serious, studious set. Instead, the LeeVees are trying to hook into the happier, lighter side of Hanukkah. And on many levels, it works. This CD actually put me into the Hanukkah spirit, and helped me get fired up for starting on the gift list.

"The lyrics are definitely cheeky," says Adam, "but the album stands on its own musically."

"We take our Hanukkah music very seriously," echoes Dave. "But the record is full of humor."

We tend to agree. The LeeVees are seriously funny, and for that reason this CD is worthy of your holiday collection.

Josh Eagle would give up his right arm for the chance to travel back in time and see Bob Marley live. He is also former senior editor of JVibe.