Sylvie Simmons has finally returned with a brand-new album, "Blue on Blue."
It's the San Francisco singer-songwriter's follow-up to "Sylvie," the acclaimed 2014 debut that the Guardian dubbed "one of the most beautiful albums of the year" and fellow troubadour Devendra Banhart cheered as "fragile and fearless, direct and poetic, timeless and absolutely beautiful."
"Blue on Blue" is another winner, showcasing plenty of Leonard Cohen influence as well as a bit of Kristin Hersh-style edge. It's both literary and luxurious, built from Simmons' intriguing and restrained vocal delivery as well as plenty of ukulele work.
"I'd always thought of the uke as a toy ... a little handful of happiness. But not anymore," she says. "From the moment I picked it up, I fell in love. A ukulele has a sad, fractured sweetness, like a broken harp. And a modesty. It doesn't try to impress you, it almost apologizes for being there."
Besides being a musician, Simmons is also an accomplished music journalist, who once wrote for the legendary rock publication Creem and has had bylines in Mojo and other magazines.
Yet she's probably best known as an author who specializes in books about famous musicians, including "I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen," "Johnny Cash: Unearthed," "Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass" and "Serge Gainsbourg: A Fistful of Gitanes."
She also co-authored Debbie Harry's memoir "Face It," which hit shelves in 2019.
For more information about Simmons' music, books and other endeavors, visit sylviesimmons.com.
