ALBUMS: There is No Calamity (2017); The Boat That Carries Us (2014); and, ‘The Mystery and the Hum; (2007)
MVC Rating: Calamity 5.0/? Boat. 4.5/?; Mystery: 4.5/ ?
Peter Himmelman is many things.
Very good singer-songwriter is one.
Overlooked in that regard is another.
His music is kind of like — and here I go with my sometimes inane, roll-em-up, comparisons — but he’s kind of like James Taylor, John Mellencamp and Tom Petty rolled into one. (I’ve seen Peter Case and Warren Zevon also in these comparisons.) Actually, in circumstance Joe Henry might be good comparisons in that both are outstanding and underrated. (I only have Henry on digital.)
And both have a famous family connection. Henry is married to Madonna’s sister. Peter is married to Bob Dylan’s adopted daughter.
But I digressl
Peter is Peter.
He’s a rock-and-roller from Minnesota whose lyrics are informed by his Orthodox Judaism, as the message and questions raised in his songs strike universal themes: life and death, pain and joy, war and peace — both globally and internally.
Peter is also a Grammy nominated children’s music maker and composer for TV and film (Judging Amy, Bones, among others).
For more about his story and how it is part of my story see the post I did last week for AL.com. In it I tell you how Peter came to send me three rare out of print vinyl records.
I need to live with these records for a while to give them their proper due, but I can tell you there are some strong songs.
The reason I have question marks on the price rating scale for these three albums is because they are no longer available in vinyl. And the only seller I could find online on several sites including Amazon had one copy of ‘There is no Calamity,’ for $198. It looks like you will have to go digital for any of these three records. I’m going to post links to two songs each off each he sent me and two other older songs. I’d urge you to listen.
There is no calamity
There’s two songs on this are so blunt both lyrically and musically and catchy I can’t believe they are not hits. Listen to them: Fear is our Undoing
He and his band rock Peace big time at the end in this live version. Studio version here..
The boat that carries us
Here’s two from ‘The boat that carries us: ‘boat’ title song and Too Afraid to Lose..
The Mystery and the Hum
I found “Hum’ to be the most rocking album.
Good Luck Charm is another one that should be on radio.
So should this one ‘Room in Davenport.’
Older favorites: Impermanent Things and This Too will Pass.
Like I said last time, pick any three Himmelman songs and listen all the way and then see if you aren’t hooked. I can’t say that about many artists.