Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 12
Carly Simon Returns With First Original Album in Nearly 20 Years at 83
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 12

Carly Simon Returns With First Original Album in Nearly 20 Years at 83

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 12

Summary

  • Three-star review "Comes in Waves" marks Carly Simon’s first album of original songs in nearly 20 years, tracing love, loss and endurance across a set shaped by shifting moods.
  • Simon announced last month that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease while recording the album and also underwent surgery to remove a cancerous skin growth, giving the release added weight without making it feel like a farewell.
  • Songs revisit defining threads from her career and life — including her marriage to James Taylor, the death of her father Richard Simon, parenthood and romantic disillusion — with "Howl" leading the album’s arc from defiance to regret and resolve.
  • At 83, Simon no longer hits every note of her peak recordings, but the review says she retains her melodic instincts and emotional directness, making the album most rewarding for longtime fans.

Insights

Why did it take Carly Simon nearly twenty years to finally confront her turbulent marriage and family pain on record?
How does an 83-year-old legend turn a devastating Parkinson's diagnosis and past heartbreak into a triumphant comeback album?