Love Thinketh No Evil
Plagued by record company headaches, Peter Himmelman has released only one new collection of songs (a children's album calledMy Best Friend Is a Salamander) since 1992'sFlown This Acid Worldthreatened to explode his status as a cult songwriter of exceptional skill and insight. But this welcome album, by turns mature and typically playful, might yet do the trick. Though the jaunty pop opener "Eyeball" is tarted-up by "guest" producer/Nine Inch Nailspercussionist Chris Vrenna's de rigueur late-'90s alt.production drag, it's Himmelman's bright melodies and often cutting lyrics that carry the day throughout. Comparisons may be odious, but when they're toElvis Costello("Time Just Flew," "Coming Apart at the Dreams"),Randy Newman("Lifetime Too Late," the "hidden" bonus track "Angels over Brooklyn Skies"), or his own father-in-law,Bob Dylan("7 Circles"), Himmelman merely seems to find himself among his rightful peers. Rife with rare melodic gifts and performances often achingly wrought from the songwriter's spirit,Love Thinketh No Evilis a richly textured collection of songs that contains nary a false moment.--Jerry McCulley