Review: Harper Simon-Division Street

Simon has traded in his country-folk flavored methodology for a more rough and tumble approach. Despite claims of emulating the Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground, these arrangements only sporadically serve up that level of soul-shattering impact, which still impresses. What they consistently deliver, instead, is a persistent ethereal quality that nestles underneath a crispy coating of rock & roll hum. His feel is dazzling, yet Simon’s sound doesn’t push past expectations. The disc’s worth inspecting for the sparkling menagerie of fellow travelers he’s enlisted, which includes Feist’s musical director, Elvis Costello’s drummer, the bassist for the Strokes, Wilco’s keyboardist and Bright Eyes’ Nate Walcott. Pretty boss. —Andy Kaufmann