I'm incredibly excited about my most recent album, "Western Reserve." It's very much a departure for me -- far less a folk album than my first two, with a bigger sound and more of a band feel -- and it rocks!I The album is a close collaboration with producer/engineer/musician Derek Bianchi (electric guitar, bass and drums) and Libby McLaren (keyboards and backing vocals). The album also features Shira Kammen on violin and vielle, and dear friend Paul Weiss on guitar. I play acoustic and electric six-string, 12-string and baritone guitars, and blow more harp than I have in decades! The songs differ, too. I've been trying to write more about the external and interior lives of characters -- people who are amalgams of folks I've known and and loved along the way. The centerpiece of the album is the "Western Reserve Suite" -- four related songs that explore an Ohio family that survives tragedy and challenges with resilience and defiance, but also resignation. After that comes "Tend the Fire" (the first single), a '70's-era singer-songwriter's song of love and loss; "Tuesday Girl" is my attempt at power pop; "Don't Keep Me Waiting" (the album's one cover and the second single), was written by Fran McKendree and recorded by McKendree Spring in 1972 (!) -- it's a beautiful song; "Photography" is a challenge to respond to the horrible things being done to children at the border by our government; "Good Book Blues" is randy fun; and "The Final Word," a tribute to Leonard Cohen, continues the story told by Leonard in his own "Going Home" (you'll just have to listen . . .) Thanks so much for listening, and I hope you enjoy hearing "Western Reserve" as much as I enjoyed making it! Please see http://www.howardsimonmusic.com for more information. -H
