Sometimes the apple don't fall far from the tree, and thus seems to be with the case with Harper Simon, son of Paul Simon. Quite thankfully. There are hurdles enough in staking a claim as a singer songwriter in your own right without being the son of a living legend. It seems Simon has done his share of drifting in the past, but this was no easy vanity record dropped, just because he could. It wasn't all simple as a bee/as a melody in C as he sings in this song, but a long journey to this point for a man now in his late 30's and fresh from a tumultuous past. The first Simon's video for "Wishes and Stars," directed by Joshua Leonard, off his self-titled debut album, which is a study in contrasts, dropped at the end of last year on [PIAS] Recordings.Simon co-wrote this winning melancholy ballad "Wishes and Stars" with the poet Ben Okri. There are more wishes than stars. That's just a tremendous line and a hard truth more recognized today than it was back when Simon's pops released Graceland and we were all bopping around to "You Can Call Me Al" in our PJ's. All along, there were incidents and accidents, there were hints and allegations. But don't let it get you down. In the end, "Wishes and Stars" is just coming to terms with this as we all do, and we're all right. Just look at that old guy, the motel owner at the end. That's John Perry Barlow, who used to write lyrics for the Grateful Dead. Those are all various friends of Simon's you see, actors, artists, writers. The clown that looks like he might lose it any minute is Money Mark best known for his dope keyboard work on Beastie Boys records.
Between the spare acoustic ballads, psychedelic jazz ballads and country and western, it is the closest to the concept of Cosmic Americana. Simon emerges on the scene as a substantial new artist and one who possesses a sophisticated voice, seriousness of purpose and a boundless appreciation for American music. "Wishes And Stars" showcases Simon's inherent ability to pen beautiful lyrics and straightforward Americana tune. His songs are melodically and intimate in theme, yet, a study in form. Simon's debut is intriguing and fantastic. "The long playing album is the great artistic medium invented in the second half of the 20th century, [it's] not just ten songs thrown together randomly. It has an arc. It has a structure," Simon says. "It is the attempt to make ten songs that are all as good as each other, and fit together in a seamless whole. Long playing albums like Sgt Peppers, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Pet Sounds, Blonde On Blonde, Sticky Fingers -- these albums have helped define our culture."
I'm so pleased about that and his desire to craft an album, something those of us in our 30's (and 40's) tend to covet more than most. I'm only just stumbling across some of his stuff now, but it's all majorly fantastic. Simon has a soft, acoustic, almost vintage, folk sound. In fact, he sounds a lot like his dad, but he definitely manages to make this sounds his own. "Wishes And Stars" is a beautiful, pop-folk tune, and I think this album has the real potential to make an impact, Enjoy!
0 comments