CD Reviews- Harper Simon- Harper Simon

The Background:
Right from the album’s opening reworking of a traditional gospel in “All To God” through the album’s exquisitely romantic closing song “Berkeley Girl,” Harper Simon represents a seamless yet wide-ranging whole. This is also a profoundly musical and poetic song cycle that reflects a deep love and abiding respect for the musical traditions of the past, yet one that nonetheless seems very much about making great music in the present tense. Simon recorded his new album in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles with the help of an altogether impressive and decidedly eclectic and multi-generational group of musical collaborators, including famed producer Bob Johnston, an all-star group of veteran first-call Nashville session players, an impressive group of contemporary young singer-songwriters and friends, and yes, even Harper’s own father, the legendary Paul Simon.

The Review:
Fair or not, the vocal comparisons between Harper and his father, Paul, are evident as soon as he opens his mouth. It’s really uncanny how similar his voice is with the layered echo-like lyrics- sounding a little like singing from the bottom of a well. Part folk, part country, many of the songs are obviously very heavily influenced by the humor and lyrical style of Simon and Garfunkel- albeit Simon and Garfunkel with a steel guitar. On the surface, that might seem like a strange or bitter combination- at once not original and original at the same time. The album transcends all of that with a uniqueness that is all its own. The finest track on the album is “Tennessee,” an autobiographical song telling his own story of being from New York but having a mom from Tennessee. It’s funny and introspective at the same time and the steel guitar is a welcome sound. “Shooting Star” is an outstanding story of the trials and tribulations of making it big with lyrics such as “Someday you’ll find out who you are.” He claims some social responsibility about the plight of the Navajo on “Cactus Flower Rag” and has a beautiful lyrical prose about how there are more “wishes than stars” on “Wishes And Stars.” (Another famous son, Sean Lennon plays on this latter song.) The negatives are minor: the album is rather short (barely 30 minutes long) and the artwork for the CD might be some of the blandest and uninspired I’ve ever seen. In this day and age, it’s difficult to have a sound that is unique- probably even more so when you’re in the shadow of a legendary performer like Harper’s father. But he uses that shadow incredibly well, even lengthens it out some, making it a Simon family legacy instead of just a Paul Simon legacy.

Sounds Like:
His father

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Tennessee
Wishes And Stars
Shooting Star
The Shine

The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five