Music Review: Carly Simon’s ‘Comes in Waves’ is a journey through love and loss
On her first album with original songs in nearly 20 years, Carly Simon is still working on some old demons and still determined to outlast them. “Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did / I married you, we had a kid,” she sings in a ballad you could…
Carly Simon’s latest album, "Comes in Waves," offers a captivating journey through the themes of love and loss, crafted in her first set of original songs in nearly two decades. Released by Iris Records, the album cover illustrates the emotional depth of the music within.
On her first album featuring original compositions since 2006, Simon grapples with lingering demons and remains resolute in her determination to overcome them. In one poignant ballad, she sings about a past relationship, questioning whether she genuinely loved her ex-husband James Taylor. In a powerful moment, she reflects on their marriage, a union that bore a child.
During the recording process, Simon disclosed a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease alongside the surgical removal of a cancerous skin growth. Despite these challenges, "Comes in Waves" appears to be less of an ending and more of a continuation of the themes and experiences that have shaped her career. From yearning and discontent to desire and uncertainty, the album reflects the highs and lows of her personal life, including her marriage to Taylor and the loss of her father, Richard Simon, who passed away when she was a teenager.
The lead track, "Howl," serves as an engaging opener and the album's first single. With a midtempo rock tempo, the song addresses a heartbroken friend or, potentially, Simon herself, urging them to "Get it out of your system / Bang your fists and beat your brow." The remaining songs narrate Simon's emotional journey, oscillating between defiance, regret, melancholy, and ultimately, a willingness to try again.
The production and arrangements, overseen by David Spencer, Frank Filipetti, and Simon's son Ben Taylor, lend a grounded, literal feel to the album.
Among the standout tracks, "Share the End," a remastered version of Simon's politically charged early hit, and "Maybe I Never Loved You," inspired by the late playwright Tim Mayer, stand out. The latter bears a resemblance to Simon's rendition of the Hoagy Carmichael standard "I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)," originally featured on her 1981 "Torch" album.
"The Father-Daughter Dance" captures the pain of loss within a father-daughter relationship, echoing the themes of her early 1970s ballad "Embrace Me, You Child." Other tracks like "Peaches" and "Mother of Pearl" celebrate the joys of courtship and parenthood, while "Love the Way I Do" pays homage to life's unpredictable nature.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
