Peter Himmelman

Tune into the music and this sounds like almost any Himmelman release; check the lyric sheet and you'll find this singer-songwriter plumbs the goofy depths of children's discontent. He rails against the word "maybe" (a parent's escape valve) and praises the many functions of feet -- all while keeping the ghost of '50s rock 'n' roll alive and well. It's a clever, many-faceted release that verges on silly but usually rights itself through a combination of good musicianship and genuine curiosity. It was nominated for a Grammy in 2007.