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Editorial Reviews
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Craig
Format:Audio CD
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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".
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sounds just like Paul, but more countrified
Too bad the album is only half an hour long. My favorite track is "Tennessee," a funky, funny autobiography that I challenge anyone to dislike. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Adam Laceky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy!
This CD is wonderful. While he shares some similarities with his father Paul, Harper Simon offers a album of sublime tunes with a sound engineered in Nashville, but a heart that... Read more
Published 2 months ago by michael
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommend!
This debut album has got to be one of the best I've heard. I was handed this CD to review for a newspaper and it was one of the best I've had to critique. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ivi K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
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... Read more
Published 15 months ago by das grob
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING
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. Read more
Published on June 7, 2010 by Margaux Paschke
3.0 out of 5 stars
This can't be the same Harper Simon
"First Album" is, well, very different from "Heavy Circles". Diversity is swell but I'd like to hear less of the former and more of the latter. Read more
Published on April 25, 2010 by P. L. Svendsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Debut!
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. Read more
Published on April 4, 2010 by Bicycle Bum
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harper Simon
You can tell who his daddy is. Great first effort, can't wait for more.
Published on March 20, 2010 by Charles R. Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasing
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. Read more
Published on February 5, 2010 by Jan Strojil
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant Surprise of the Year Award
It hasn't left my player since receiving it two weeks ago. A solid debut with great songwriting, singing and musicianship. Read more
Published on December 22, 2009 by p. michaels
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