Customer Reviews

Harper Simon

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe I am only the 2nd person to review this album. Yes, it may be highly derivative, but who better to be influenced by than Paul Simon, especially when he is your father. The album is chock full of melodies that will not leave your head easily, a sign of a truly great album. I find myself constantly humming songs from it. The guitar playing is great and Harper often employs the finger picking style of play that his father uses so effectively. His voice fits the music perfectly and at times, it sounds as if Paul himself is singing even though his involvement in this album was limited to co-writing three songs. While the lyrics may not be on par with his father's, whose is? My personal favorite song is "The Shine," but I cannot say enough great things about the album as a whole. "Berkeley Girl" is the only song that borrows a little too heavily from S&G in my opinion both with its lyrics and similarity to the great S&G song "The Dangling Conversation." Nevertheless, if this were a Simon and Garfunkel album, it would not only be a massive success, but would be a welcome addition to their body of work. As an additonal note, and I don't know if Amazon will print this, but the Itunes version of the album contains two excellent bonus tracks and is less expensive.

This is the first album by the first son of legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon. The baby boy that Simon sang to sleep in "St Judy's Comet" grew up to become an accomplished musician in his own right, and far from making his "famous daddy look so dumb" he has honored his father's musical legacy by crafting his own debut album with the kind of poetry, wit, and magnetic melodicism that is found in Paul Simon's best work. Harper Simon looks, sounds, and writes like Paul Simon just enough to make things interesting - the similarities add to and enhance his work rather than detract and distract. Family business indeed.

The album begins with a meditative prayer ("All to God") and ends with another sort of meditation - this time on a beautiful woman (Berkley Girl), effectively book-ending the ten-song cycle with matters of the spirit and matters of the flesh. In between Simon explores a range of topics, including loneliness, alienation, and life on a Native American reservation. He plays and sings through it all with the quiet confidence of a man who knows that at thirty-seven years of age and with songwriting in his blood, he has more than earned this chance to stand alone in the spotlight - the question is whether music lovers will turn toward that light.

I really like this album a lot. It must have been difficult for Harper to try to step out of his Dad's shadow, and I think he has done that with this endeavor. Some of the songs sound more like Simon and Garfunkel. It is a very melodic and beautifully recorded CD. It would be on my list for the "desert island".

I was most curious to see how Harper's efforts would compare with his famous father; to learn if he'd been able to meet the expected quality standards, yet put his own clear stamp on the music - and just what type of music had he chosen to make. He has done extremely well! The music constantly reminds me of the best of the 60's (Simon & Garfunkel, of course, but also Buffalo Springfield and others), with interesting and clearly understandable lyrics, yet has a strong contemporary sound. It's an interesting blend of folk, contemporary country, and intelligent rock. It's become our most frequently played CD! I've bought 3 copies - one for the home system, one for the car, and one for a friend, who is also quite positive about it.

Nearly every song on this album sounds like it was either written or sung by someone else. Many of the songs are obviously very heavily influenced by the humor and lyrical style of Paul Simon/Simon and Garfunkel (Wishes & Stars, Tennessee, Ha ha, Berkeley Girl), while the others could be Death Cab for Cutie (The Audit, Shine), Wilco (All I have Are Memories), or any one of many southern-fried folksters.

Normally that would make for a bad CD review, but somehow this album transcends its lack of originality and is actually really, really good.

The album is rather short (barely 30 minutes long) but I found myself listening to it multiple times without getting bored. You can definitely hear oblique resemblances to S&G tunes (chord structures, lyrics) but coming from Paul's son, they sound more like Harper paying homage rather than blatantly stealing.

Still, some of the similarities in the lyrics are kind of strange. ("she is crinoline and satin?" I haven't heard the word "crinoline" in a song since "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her." I mean seriously: do people even wear crinoline anymore???) One wonders why he didn't try a bit harder to fall farther from the tree, but all in all it's worth the ~$10-15 to put it in your CD/mp3 collection.

I first listened to Berkley Girl and I knew I had to learn it on guitar. I thought, damn this guy's picking is good and his voice is great...very folky, very Simon and Garfunkle influenced. Then I found out why. Finally got the album which isn't available in Canada. His first album! Man. The whole bloody thing is good. There's nothing to skip past. It's folk, then country, then laughing...then fingerstyle heaven. No, get this album. There's humility here. There's suffering and truth, there's lyrical sweetness. There's sun and laughter. Such a mixed genre, folk, heavy on the country, but leaning into bluegrass. Thank you so much Harper. Well worth driving to the US for and listening over and over on the way back. We love it.

What can I say...this is such a great album. Just like the senior Simon, not a dud on the disc, the whole album is spectacular. Harper has so many great musicians playing on this disc. Some of them also played with Simon & Garfunkel, and Bob Johnston the producer, produced S&G and Dylan and many other great artists. I had a chance to see Harper sing this CD in NYC last month and I must say, he is equally good on stage as he is on the CD. My favorite tracks are Berkeley Girl and Tennessee. Go out and buy this CD!!

I saw Harper Simon perform Wishes and Star on the Late Show and loved the song so much I bought this album. I have no regrets.

Although this album shows a heavy Simon/Garfunkfel influence it stands on its own. Sure the cd is short (a little over 30 minutes) but I find myself listening to it all the time which makes it a sound purchase in my book. What good is a cheap cd if you only listen to one song? This album can be listened to from start to end, multiple times without pause. Harper Simon has stated he wanted this album to be songs with a shared arc like other great albums (Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Sticky Fingers were mentioned) and although this one is not in the same league as those referenced, it is a good start.

After listening to this album many, many times, I will be on the look out for future music released by Harper Simon.

I have had this disc on my wish list for quite awhile, finally found it used and have not been disappointed. He sounds like early Paul. I especially love Berkely Girl. This album has wonderful melodies and interesting lyrics...very reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. I love it and give it 5 stars!

I will not lie - I bought this because I am a Paul Simon fan. That much said, Harper's music is different. I was surprise to like it because country is usually not my cup of tea. However, on repeated listen, this is an incredible debut and a very nice album to come back to. I do hope to hear more from Harper.