Fear says “away” and “not enough.”
But “better together” and “closer,” says Love
I’m 50 today, and the best experiences of my life were all defined by that second idea — that we’re better together.
There was a time when I said the world doesn’t need any more love songs. I was young and naive then, taking too narrow a view on what a love song is, because every song is a love song. You wouldn’t bother writing about an idea or a feeling unless there was something in it you loved and wanted to revisit over and over.
So the new record is called Closer, Says Love, and it’s out October 23. It’s love songs. The love of rock and roll, the love of family, the love of old houses, the love of mysteries, the love of the ocean, and of course, good old, romantic love.
There’s a book, too — Watch It Shine, out September 25. Paintings and drawings of places and people I wanted to stay a little longer with, and rhymed conversations I didn’t want to lose. The first section is every lyric from the new record. The rest of it is older songs, some as yet unrecorded songs, and about seventy pages of paintings that aren’t attached to any song at all.
Both are up for preorder starting today. The book is a signed hardcover, 176 pages, 11 by 8.5 inches. Ordered together with the album, the two ship in one box the week of September 25 — which puts the record in your hands about a month before it’s officially released. I’ll inscribe it to whoever you want.
Book + LP, $85 — or with the CD, $70. Vinyl and CD on their own are on that page too.
Fifty years of this and I sure can’t do any of it by myself. Love and thanks to the family, friends, collaborators, coaches, teachers, and heroes who got me here. Glad you’re here.
Owen