Harper Simon

Even if Harper Simon had never picked up a pen or a guitar, he would be an important footnote in the annals of rock & roll. As Paul Simon's son, a young Harper served as the "traveling companion" in "Graceland" and provided the lens for his father's best song. And while it's impossible to listen to Simon's self-titled debut without trying to pick out traces of papa Paul — he even gets a few cowriting credits on the disc — it's a nice surprise that the album can stand on its own. Both father and son work in the folk tradition, but Harper's style leans more toward roots and country, and his double-tracked vocals show off a high, honeyed voice and easy way around a folksy shuffle.