Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Stellar. The first half is almost untouchable, though drifts a bit towards the end. The melodies and harmonies are S&G classics. Very enjoyable.
Beautiful stuff, stands out from the crowded 60's American folkpop
Just put together that this was Paul Simon. Good songs.
Childhood classic
I like the composition of the tracks, I’m a sucker for Paul Simon.
Classic stuff.
I've always been under the impression that, without knowing too many of their songs, Simon & Garfunkel were musical greats, and this album confirmed that for me (which was somewhat of a refreshing experience using this platform so far...). A nice set of varied tracks, all sounding quite polished.
It's good, but Bye Bye Love really doesn't help the score for this one. Would have been a much better album without it.
The hit songs on here alone push this to a 4. Truly a great record all around, though.
lovely and spare
Justifica-se pela música título iniciando o álbum,
This is a GREAT album (with a BAD cover photo)! It contains many of S&G's best-known songs: "Bridge Over Troubles Water", "El Condor Pasa", "Cecilia", "Keep The Customer Satisfied" and "The Boxer". These songs make the album worth anyone's time alone. The album is paced a bit unevenly, as all the big songs are to be found in the first half. The last couple of tracks fail to reach the same hights, but are a nice listen nonetheless. The track order is the problem here. BOTW would have worked much better as the final track. In it's place, The Boxer would have been a fitting opener. El Condor Pasa's ideal place would be the beginning of side two. And the weaker songs could have been mashed in between. I have seldom seen a running order that was just so wrong on multiple levels, but there it is. Oh, well, it's still a great album. 4/5
Knew some songs from before. Lazy morning 70s vibe. Beautiful.
Me first and gimme gimmes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGma3NrCFVA
goodddd
I didn't realize that DJ Shadow sampled from this album. Now I gotta go back and listen to some of his earlier stuff! I digress. These guys had an uncanny creative sensibility because this album is back-to-back earworms. The album doesn't seem to follow any particular theme as it bounces between subdue (i.e. 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright', and 'The Boxer') or bubbly and bright (i.e. 'Cecilia', 'Keep the Customer Satisfied', and 'Baby Driver') tracks, but they ultimately blend together nicely into a well rounded collection. It's a solid album from start to finish that has endured for 50 years, and I'm sure it will hold it's beloved status for another 50, and then some.
Very beautiful!
This was a big album back in my grade school days. Our babysitters were teenagers and would be listening on their portable transistor radios
Well done you 2 ! Loved the boxer, Troubled Water and Cecilia were great songs too. The had such calming music. Both were a bundle of talent.
Another great album! We've had a few from Simon sans Garfunkel, this is our first from the legendary duo. It's definitely one of their most acclaimed, and there are plenty of jams on here that I enjoyed, including ones I haven't heard before. But those I have are definite classics, like "The Boxer," the title track, and the cover of the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love." Great harmonies from these guys, and just excellent songwriting and instrumentation. Always a pleasant experience. Favorite tracks: Cecilia, The Boxer, Baby Driver, Bridge Over Troubled Water, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright. Album art: Iconic for sure, and I will never get over how funny Art's position behind Paul is. He looks like a shadow, a demon. Maybe he's just being cheeky, or maybe it's a metaphor for how often forgotten and left behind is as the world praises Paul Simon (let's be honest, we're probably not getting a solo Garfunkel record on this list). 4.5/5
Pierwsze 3 utwory złoto, dalej różnie. Słucha się bardzo przyjemnie. 4.5/5
Great album full of memorable tracks. The boxer being my favorite.
super schönes Album bzw. Klassiker auch halt, kann mir keiner was sagen
I like this album. A lot of very pleasant songs to listen to. The Frank Lloyd Wright one was pretty weird. My favorite song that I didn’t already know was The Only Living Boy In New York. They always make me think of IB film class because The Graduate was the first movie we ever watched.
4.5/5
Tonally, this album is a little strange, combining two of the most profound pop songs ever recorded with a hodgepodge of styles that sometimes work, and sometimes don't. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Boxer" are both such hauntingly beautiful songs, they practically bear the weight of the whole album. It almost doesn't matter what the other songs are. There are a few other solid songs on here though. "El Cóndor Pasa" and "Song for the Asking" are both incredibly pretty, and Cecilia is simply one of the most fun, exuberant songs ever put to record. The rest of the songs are a mixed bag, with some interesting creative excursions and some borderline hokey pop-rockers. The live "Bye Bye Love" cover is a head scratcher as to why they included it. Overall I really enjoyed the album, but it teeters on the line between being eclectic and being unfocused. It should come to no one's surprise that it was Simon & Garfunkel's last studio album, but what a way to go out. Fave Songs: Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Cecilia, Song for the Asking, El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could), Song for the Asking, The Only Living Boy in New York
Classic
An extremely solid album from beginning to end. The overall quality does ebb and flow, but the quality is never poor - you either have excellent tracks like 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'Cecilia', 'The Boxer', or 'The Only Living Boy in New York', or tracks that are thoroughly enjoyable.
Largely excellent
classic
Melancholy but good
This was different from my expectations 1. Less vocal harmonies overall than I would expect from S&G. 2. More orchestration as well, and variation in orchestration across songs. 3. Bridge over Troubled Water is just a decent song. I liked the rest of the album more. 4. Cecilia is a banger. 5. Why Don't You Write Me is also a banger, and I was surprised to see it the least-listened-to song on the album (according to Spotify). It reminded me of late Beatles output. Very good album. I'd give it a 3.7/5 if I could.
Definitely an album that is an important landmark among classics like Sgt. Pepper and Are You Experienced? Simon & Garfunkel isn't in my usual rotation but made me a fan. Definitely for fans of the Beatles, Beach Boys and The Zombies.
Love this album. A couple of bum tracks keep it from being a five star album, but the hits have been hits for 70 years for a reason. Love El Condor Pasa and Cecilia! What was it about those 60s/70s women, sleeping around?
1970. Cecilia, The Boxer
I can understand why S & G broke up, a folk duo can only do so much. This album kind of tells that. I mean, once you hear the fist song (the title track) there really isn't anywhere to go from there. I really think they should have put this as the last song, as it gives a bigger finish to the album. As an opener, it's like... great, NOW what? Most of the other songs are not on a level of that first one, although some do come close: "The Boxer" being one. "Cecilia" I have heard WAY too many times for some reason. So yeah, I had heard this album a good deal, I just think shooting your wad with the title track makes it tough to go on afterwards.
DJ Shadow In El Condor Pasa! Love little discoveries like this. https://youtu.be/x9lthDyKFb4?si=EAovIHg-FRqZNS-8 First listen reveals Cecilia, Living Boy and Baby Drive are top-notch. The others are a either too soft or features too much or basic harmonizing for my taste. Maybe I'm just confusing that with Paul Simon's ego. Good enough. My parents had this in their collection. A staple of the late 60's I suppose.
Clássico.
eldist vel
Great album!
buen disco. algo lento
4.2 - fantastic album. Some real “song’s songs” on it. “Boxer”, “Cecilia”, “only living boy in New York”… the listening experience holds up 50+ years after the original release.
Another classic album I’d never listened to. It’s really good and I quite enjoyed it. Fav: bridge over troubled water, quite a few others
aw pretty
Really great
Ceciiiiliia
Includes some of the classics like title song and America.
Hi-Cecilia, Keep the Customer Satisfied Lo-The Boxer It's the S&G you all know and love.
7/10
bangers, couple of weird ones in the middle to keep it interesting
Finally, reprive from the curse of the Spotify remasters! This is easy for me, grew up on this album. I love it. People used to dunk on Simo and G-funk for being twee, but after two decades of Mumford and Sons and Sigur Ross I find it much easier to situate these two dorks in some kind of post-psychedelic what-were-our-roots-again, maybe-sometimes-ringo-was-right tradition, like Harvey Nillson. Also, my Anna once went to a Halloween party as this album cover - she wore Paul's clothes and made a cutout of Art's head to wear like a headband. It was great. Happy memory (I went as Animals, with battersea headpiece and tiny pig on a wire). standout track - only living boy in new york
I found it hard to get into the right mood to properly enjoy this album - I eventually got there while staring at a troubled bridge over some disappointingly calm water, and it was only then I could properly appreciate the litany of hits this album has to offer. It didn't quite do enough to make it to one of my favourites, but it came close.
folk at its peak
A loved album for a long time.
Not flawless, but beautiful in many places.
I enjoyed this album. Was solid from start to finish, my favourite song from it being Cecelia. Some of the other tracks didn't really stand out to me, though.
Less cohesive than bookends or sounds of silence but interesting compositions (el condor, Cecilia, the boxer) and unique transitions (customer satisfied). These two love making music together and it’s always fun and interesting from soft melodies to large crescendos or cannons. Bridge over, el condor, the boxer,
good one
Classic.
Not the biggest fan of Simon & Garfunkel. 4 stars for Cecilia, my favorite song of theirs.
Good although over very quickly! Only one I’m not keen on is El Condor Pasa
This music is special, quietly. I like "El condor pasa", "Cecilia" and "The boxer".
A classic as everyone knows.
I mean, it’s good, but Simon and Garfunkel just aren’t up my alley. I think it had something to do with the timbre of their vocals or the instrumentation of their songs. 8/10
I'm not sure if I've heard this album all the way through or not. There are several tracks I can sing along with, and just as many that seemed like a first listen. I like Simon and Garfunkel. I would choose to listen to this album again.
the title track is amazing. for the most part the rest of the album is pretty good but its short plus there's two random live songs
Surprising how many of the "other" songs I recognised It's a good album
Classic alert!!
I know most of the songs. New ones to me: Keep the Customer Satisfied - actually quite nice, but not exactly a classic. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright - drippy. Baby Driver Why Don't You Write Me Bye Bye Love Song for the asking. The only living boy in new york and the boxer are amazing songs, of course.
Good album. These two have great harmonies and instrumentals. Their styles is not really my cup of tea but great overall album.
I didnt know the song BOTW had a second half. That song gave me shivers. The rest was great but not totally my cup of tea.
Jaunty, catchy, tender, undeniable. Love the big builds and orchestral climaxes. Can hear the origins of stomp-clap music, and AJR-slop. But this still has all its stitches and seams visible. Classic
Great album. Has my second favorite Simon & Garfunkel song on it: The Boxer. Highlights: Bridge Over Troubled Water, El Condor Pass, Cecilia
Love this album, it's wonderful.
Really liked this album!
very pleasant listen
I'm generally a fan, but probably haven't heard this album as much as their earlier ones, nor as much as Paul Simon's solo records. It's good. Less folk and more soft rock. Lots of stuff that Simon would develop later on his own. I don't think this is a high point of his career, and I definitely prefer "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" (which is also on the 1001 list). However, it's still got the S&G magic. I never understood how a live cover song made it onto this album. It doesn't belong at all.
Tiene canciones absolutamente arrebatadoras como toda la cara a. Pero algunas M.O.R. hacen que no pueda ser un disco perfecto. Las mejores: la titular, The Boxer, Cecilia.
Easy going catchy folk
Bye bye love feels like it was shoehorned in, plus I think Bridge Over Troubled Water should surely be at the end of the album (doesn't feel like an opening track). However this is an undeniable gem of an album.
Number of classics in here. The Boxer is one of my favs. Worth the 4 star alone.
Reminded me of Fleetwood Mac at times. Definitely high-quality songwriting, so rich in ideas. Mainly acoustic, but it also incorporates strings, flutes, brass. Bridge over troubled water is a masterpiece of a song.
Dit album heeft mijn beeld van Simon & Garfunkel fel verbeterd. Eindelijk nog eens een album met wat variatie.
Really enjoyed If I Could
Very calm, nice music
Recognized one song from a Mumford & Sons cover! Nice to hear the original. Lots of varied songs.
Great for a Monday!
Dit album is een echte klassieker, voor de liefhebbers, luister Bridge over the troubled water eens van Willie Nelson..
Two of my favourite songs of all time on this super album 👌
It's Simon and Garfunkel, what can I say?
Gran descubrimiento estos
Great album for the time period. 7/10.
Solid folk album, favorite track was The Boxer.
Folk
Eclectic album. Starts off with the slowest, most emotional song, and gets you comfortable with the idea that the rest of the album will carry that catharsis forward. It doesn't; it becomes largely cheery and folksy, dipping back down into more introspective territory occasionally as welcome breaks. It shouldn't work, but it does. Recommended season: Autumn
Every song on here is great
Yes please! Such a great record. Just classic.
Beste album van een geweldig duo, zitten zo veel hits op
Familiarity: 7/10 Notes: Acoustic joy and playful harmonies. This is the way Real Rating 7.5/10
Knew I liked this one already
Very good album. It had known hits and was rounded out with other catchy songs. Good time all around.
Also easy listening. Pretty folksy. I like it though. Had heard a couple of these prior
3.7
Beautiful smooth album. Lovely to work on homework with or chill on the couch
I love Simon and Garfunkel
I liked it a lot. But some songs not as much
There's a lot in this album. So many soft, sweet, sad songs interspersed with upbeat toe-tappers. Some of the best S&G songs are on this album, along with a few songs that easily could have been singles 4/5
Fantastic!
timeless classic
Maybe not the best album for surgery day....but good nonetheless.
Hieno levy täynnä klassikoita!
great album
4,5/5
Very gentle voice, almost hard to hear at times. Very easy to listen to and have on in the background. The album art is hilarious to me.
decent album, not my style, but there were a couple good songs like "bridge over troubled water", "cecilia", "the only living boy in new york". barely 3/5
Jamais écouté avant. Bridge Over Troubled Water est un monument aux excès du perfectionnisme en musique. Il ne viendrait à personne l'idée de contester le talent de songwriter de Paul Simon, qui ici comme ailleurs dans sa discographie, est entièrement perceptible. Mais à force de passer des dizaines, voire des centaines d'heure, à peaufiner le moindre morceau, à éliminer la moindre imperfection et à rajouter couche sur couche d'arrangements d'un goût pas toujours très affirmé, le résultat, c'est un disque certes brillant, mais lisse et ennuyeux au possible, tout en étant grandiloquent à en crever... Comme si, à force de vouloir emmener ses racines folk ailleurs, Paul Simon avait oublié que c'est dans la confrontation sans intermédiation ni coquetteries superflues entre un songwriter et l'auditeur que se loge toute la puissance émotionnelle de la folk. Sans oublier qu'à force de vouloir y injecter l'ensemble de ses inspirations du moment, l'album ressemble plus à une compilation un peu disjointe, de la musique traditionnelle péruvienne au gospel, du folk rock mélo au rockabilly acoustique, qu'à une véritable œuvre cohérente. Une vraie déception, donc. Top : The Boxer Flop : Bye Bye Love
It was good i liked it
The more chopped the artist, the better the music.
The boxer ! , the only living boy in new york, baby driver (not bad)
Not surprised this was some quality folk rock or whatever you want to call it. It is front loaded in quality but the rest is nice and mellow. This was very close to being a four if only I had liked more songs.
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" were my favorites. My only problem with these two is that some songs are sooo slow.
Vanskeleg merker eg, for eg har høyrt desse låtane så mange gonger at eg eigentleg vil «spole» vidare. Men, det er jo greit og fint. Ingen særskilte merknader.
Denne har jeg visst forandra mening om med åra. Likte den veldig godt for en del år siden, men akkurat nå er det ikke så mye her jeg fester meg ved. Alt her er jo bra, men det er liksom en avstand i det også som jeg ikke har lagt merke til tidligere. Der de første albumene føltes nære, ektefølte, og mer personlige føles denne mer planlagt og kald. Det gjør at alle de gode låtene bare blir gode låter og aldri et helstøpt album. 6/10
Eg lurer litt på kva eg skal bruka denne plata til etterkvart. Mykje av den treng eg aldri høyra igjen - tittelsporet, El Condor Pasa, Cecilia, The Boxer… Det ligg vel ein klassikartendens berre i det faktum. Og det seier sjølsagt sitt om låtskrivaren Paul Simon. Men der til dømes Creedence-originalane av like ihelspela låtar alltid gir meg ei “jøss, eg hadde gløymt kor fett dette faktisk er”-kjensle, vert eg sitjande noko meir passiv i dette gjenhøyret. Og om det skulle herska tvil: eg elskar Paul Simon! Aller mest elskar eg solokarriera hans. Når eg tenker meg om kan eg styra meg for større dosar Garfunkel. Og det kunne vel Simon òg. Produksjonen trekker plata ned. More is more, ingenting skal stå uprøvd, jo fleire sjangrar jo betre. Desse world music-tendensane likar eg også betre i solokarriera. Når alt dette er sagt sit eg ikkje her og slaktar plata. Det får vera grenser. Det ligg ein stor juvel på lur nett over halvvegs: The only living boy in New York. Herregud så flott!
Som en av de første anmeldelsene jeg finner på RYM sier: "a must for anyone with an appreciation for humanity, poetry and the Human experience!" Selve motsatsen til "Anti-Human, Anti-Life. True Norwegian Black Metal", der altså. Ikke rart det blir vanskelig for en stakkar å la seg fange helt av Paul og Art.
Pretty decent album from Simon and the Funk
it's been a while since we've had one of these but, this album feels like another case of "if you heard the singles, don't bother". to me at least. i feel like other than the title track, "cecelia", and "the boxer", all of which i'm familiar with already, i didn't really get much out of this. it's not bad but.... its just like. ok. yknow? that said. the tracks i mentioned do fuck. and they all have some really crazy sounding drums, "the boxer" especially. it takes balls to put so much reverb on drums but they sure pulled it off. they sound big as fuck. and its awesome. i'd come back for those drums alone..... but maybe not so much the rest of the album.
Fairplay some fucking cracking songwriting going on here. And beautiful singing. I prefer Cash’s take on the title track tbh. But it’s not all about that. What a fucking TUNE Cecilia is. 3.8/5.0 Best Song: Cecilia
Ah, the album that shows off Garfunkel’s impressive moustache on the cover. I actually listened to this over the summer, but am happy to do so again. The album has two absolutely amazing tracks- the titular Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Boxer - and a bunch of ok or even quite poor tracks. While the best deserve an unwarranted 5, and are among the best tracks ever recorded by anyone, those tracks alone don’t warrant the album getting top marks. Indeed, without those tracks I’d probably be looking at giving this a 1 or a 2. So, being generous because of the genius of two tracks and a comedy moustache cover, this is only getting a 3.
I figured this was a likely 5 - lots of tracks I remember being great, a classic act at their peak. Some of the songs are not as good as I remember but it's the crazy production that spoils a lot it. I never noticed that before.
Liked it. Folky and chill favorite song was “El cóndor pasa” apparently that song is a meme for Tara and her mom
The title track is so overblown and overplayed, but the rest of the album is perfectly pleasant. Very hummable, but not exactly essential.
Jeg liker tittelsangen og the boxer veldig bra. Syntes det skinner gjennom at gutta benyttet seg litt for mye av kunstnerisk frihet på noen sanger. The Only Living Boy In New York minner meg om God Help This Divorce av Miike Snow
Likte den.
My third Simon and Garfunkel album, and I’m sorry but I just done get it. Technically nice but yet again just so dull
I fw dem boys Simon and Garfunk
7/10
Can’t hate an album that properly uses flute
Må si dette var litt skuffende. The Boxer er jo en banger (til den grad S&G har skrevet "bangers") og de kunne la la la-et til evigheten & forbi, men er lite annet her som er i nærheten av det nivået. Eneste må være The Only Living Boy in New York. Tittelsporet (og avslutningssporet) synes jeg blir litt for rolig & lavmælt musikalsk til å egentlig fange meg. Den tar seg opp mot slutten, men blir liksom ikke et fortjent payoff...? Og hvis man skal lage en Beatles låt, kan man vel i det minste ape dem etter at de ble ordentlig bra? Baby Driver er veldig pre-Rubber Soul. Middelalder-LARPen El condor pasa grodde på meg da. Mulig det er tilfellet for flere spor her, men inntil videre er jeg ikke overbevist.
first and second song got on my fucking nerves and then the rest was ok
3/5 The first 3 tracks of this album were amazing. Troubled Over Water & Cecilia are amazing - BOTW's just beautiful, and Cecilia is hilarious The first half of this album is solid, but after that I just kind of lose interest. It's not bad, but I'm just not engaged. Again, not my primary genre of choice. But some songs are quite calming, like the final song. So for that reason I think 3/5 is pretty fair
Nice enough but too pop for me 2.6
Great
I liked the hits
Первые две песни прикольные, дальше мне не очень интересно было
It feels like a lot of other folk records on this list try (and fail) to emulate this record. Where others feel disingenuous, this record feels genuine. I can't say this is my genre, but I somewhat get why people enjoy folk music to begin with. The record is kinda all over the place, jumping from vibe to vibe. This makes it feel less like a record and more like a collection of songs made by Simon and Garfunkel over a period of time which is fine, but I like albums with a strong concept. All in all, I can't call it bad or good. It definetly had a strong influence on music and it's genre and I don't regret listening to it. Still I can't rate it higher than a 7.
Some good songs, not my favorite style. Didn’t feel very cohesive of an album.
good album, iconic. still not crazy about all the songs
Simppaa ja gaarfunkka, perus vanhahtavaa. Not good not bad.
Lepposaa Simon & Garfunkelia. Ei sinänsä itselle tee kovin paljoa, muttei ole luotaantyöntävää jos kuuntelee/kuuluu jossain.
To me this is definitive Simon and Garfunkel and would be the album I would put on the list. Much of this album was familiar to me, and the tracks that weren't were fine. If I was in the mood for S&G I'd throw this on.
J'ai trouvé ça mid au possible (apparement classique mais ça m'a vraiment pas parlé)
Bridge over Troubled Water
Klassiker men blir tråkigare mot de sista låtarna. Den första är bäst ❤️
Has some classics songs.
Great story telling top of the list. Not my type of music but I can truly appreciate how good they are. This album has some good bangers but mixing live with other studio songs is not right
it was a great experience the only living boy in new york is honestly a amazing song that i immediately added d into my playlist
This album certainly has it's great moments but a little too much production for my taste.
Honestly, I was not enthused to see this as our weekend listen. Contrary to what I understand to be popular opinion, I don't care for the title and opening track of Bridge Over Troubled water. With its direct command to the universal 'you' and Simon's arcane touches - 'lay me down' - it is too much like an Anglican hymn. There is the upright church piano that sounds less like the opening of a pop album than an invitation to stand to rigid attention, followed by a worthy alto warbling all the good will in the world, though it hardly sounds like she has any friends herself. It is only when Simon himself enters and the harmonic blend that we understand as Simon and Garfunkel comes together that the song begins to sound like anything. Unfortunately, the drums sound awful and the strings are too syrupy. In recording, they have mistaken a lovely, fluid melody for something viscous. And that is the rub of the album, for me. That other partnership of childhood friends whose names were joined by fame and success - Lennon and McCartney - also broke up acrimoniously in 1970. But where their partnership had benefited them both and raised their game, what does Art really do for Paul? When showcased, whether on this song or in Catch-22, the filming of which precipitated the break-up, he is revealed to have neither charm nor presence. He is a cotton-haired goon with a pleasant voice. A voice so pleasant that it is unbearable to listen to without Simon, whose voice is hardly gritty, to leaven it. The front cover says it all: Garfunkel should be mixed well to the back. Simon surely realised this and the beginnings of a solo career are showing. The Boxer needs no such accompaniment - although it gets that snare! Baby Driver sounds not unlike There Goes Rhymin' Simon. El Condor Pasa, while I don't care for the arrangement, touches the appropriation of world music styles that will become important to his work later. So he has to wrap up the relationship and kiss it goodbye. Bye Bye Love, a cover of one of the early songs that he and Garfunkel bonded over as kids, feels like a pointed conclusion, with sampled applause to usher them off the stage. While Keep the Customer Satisfied is a fond remembrance of the exploits of two young rent boys, a life Simon is too old, accomplished and single-minded to live now. Phenomenal. Cecilia, however, is central. The studio experimentation, with the indistinct clatter of percussion, sounds like a man on his own, searching for a sound, distinct from the two-piston engine of the Beatles spurring each other on in competition and camaraderie. Crucially, Simon recognises this. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of Music, essentially the composers' muse. You may romp and wrestle with her. You may find yourself cucked, when you get up to wash your face. But there's always the chance to get her back. However, the relationship between the artist and muse is singular. There are no collaborative three-ways. Not in Simon and Garfunkel anyway. Inspiration comes to one of them. Paul knows he is the creative force and, when he's good, as he is several times here, he is good enough without Art. If Paul Simon is the only living boy in New York, it's because Art Garfunkel is a dead fucking weight. 3 Paul Simon is a wonderful songwriter and whatever it is that’s wrong with Bridge Over Troubled Water he would probably be as fit to tell as anyone else. Something wrong with it there surely is and I feel churlish complaining when the truth is - Keep the Customer Satisfied, The Boxer, Only Living Boy in New York - I‘d give my big toe to have written some of those songs. But the truth is also that I almost never want to listen to this album; I‘d favour at least a couple of the other S&G albums over it if I happened to be in the mood for them. Bridge Over Troubled Water is an undeniably lovely song and, in my humble opinion, a real dog’s dinner of a recording. The strings are overbearing. The snare sounds like a biscuit tin down a well, and the cymbals like air being fired out of a compressor. But even if you kept it to solo piano it wouldn’t be good. That piano always sounds obnoxious to me - too busy, too showy, too arch with its little bluesy ornaments and chromatic bass. It sees its name in lights all the way while the lyrics call for intimacy, humility, and self-sacrifice. I can’t think of a more inappropriate arrangement and recording of a better song. However, that is still not the tale of what is wrong with this album because the very next track - El Condor Pasa - represents a sweet but slight song which is elevated by a terrific arrangement and recording. This to and fro keeps going; Cecilia is supremely annoying, Keep the Customer Satisfied is sublime - So Long… feels slight, then The Boxer just about the heaviest thing Paul Simon had written up to this stage (and that bastarding snare is back) - Baby Driver is candy floss then Only Living Boy… is very touching. I feel seasick by this point in the album - bearings gone altogether - Why Don’t You Write Me and Bye Bye Love turn up just in time for me to vomit all over them. When the intimate acoustic guitar of Song for the Asking sneaks in beneath the audience applause at the end of Bye Bye Love the album poses a final problem for me. Can I avoid thinking about the segue of Sgt Pepper’s Reprise into A Day in the Life? No, I much too weary by this stage to pull off that feat. The spectre of one of the definitive ‘Album’s has been summoned - one of those rare records that, to me anyway, is whole and even and invites you to listen all the way through. This is conclusively fatal for Bridge Over Troubled Water, an album much less than the sum of its parts. Brilliant songs it has - enough to embarrass many another artist’s Best Of compilation. But it lacks narrative shape and sonic identity (even among other S&G records) and the cover is an abysmal, washed out shot of two odd-looking cretuirs. 3.5/5
A lot of classics on here.
Whatever
The best album on this list from them. It has some of their most well-known songs and is overall a good listen. It's a good thing they were good at music, because the art direction for their album covers is consistently garbage.
I do like that this was a more versatile album than the other Simon & Garfunkel albums I've gotten, but I think ultimately this duo is one that I acknowledge their massive impact and influence on the musical landscape while also ackowledging that it just isn't really for me.
I enjoyed the vibe. Bridge Over Troubled Water is the most famous track on this album for a reason, IMO.
het is fine.. like gwn chill en bridge over troubled water is overrated.. like als ik zin heb in folk rock sure.
het was oke? ik vind zijn stem gwn mid en de muziek is mid
I really like this album but it doesnt stick out as much as I'd like. Kinda blends together, which is sweet.
fav songs: el condor pasa (if i could) why don't you write me melodic, nostalgic, folk 50/100
Great singing and lyrics but not a style I would ever seek out.
first listen of the initial song on the album, the music instrumentally is gorgeous and so nicely articulated, the voice of the person singing is very soothing, and the lyrics are so well written. i could see myself maybe listening to this, however im on the first song so maybe it'll change, but id rather not sit for the 37 minute long album and document everything about it. other than that, initial thoughts are wow! after listening to some of the other songs, some are not my taste but it's nice
Beautiful, with high highs and forgettable mids. Did Simon need Garfunkel? Did Garfunkel look like a cheese and jazz connessoir? Did I spell that right?
A bit quieter than I was expecting, but I still liked it
I could see where this album was foundational. Wasn't anything crazy for me, but did have a song I knew and definitely seems ahead of its time. Was an enjoyable listen, but no lasting impression on me. 3.25 ish?
Fine, but a little too slow and melancholy for me. 3/5.
It was an overall good album and I see the appeal! It starts off very nicely with the first track. It nailed just so so so well. However, there were many tracks that I considered too "samey" and didn't resonate with me as much as the first ones.
Low floor, High ceiling
Un álbum sobre el consuelo, la despedida, la búsqueda de un hogar interior y el paso de la juventud a la madurez. voces melancólicas y música intimista, especial para bajar revoluciones y dar un viaje al interior.
I'll put on my "I hate fun" hat and admit that I didn't like when this album got all clappy and funky. I did just about love the quiet folk stuff, so I figure I'm more suited for the solo stuff... or maybe some antidepressants, christ.
Okay music. Some songs I was familiar with, but I don't know if I heard them as covers or different versions but none sounded quite how I thought I remembered them
Enjoyed this quite a bit, although the songs I didn't like, I really hated...which were the cheesy / corny late 60's sounding songs. Of course, the big hits off the album are all timeless classics. This is one of those albums that is a 3.5. I'm probably going to drop this one to 3just because the number of skips for me was higher than I would like in a 4 star album.
This was good
Clearly highlights the schmaltz of Garfunkel, hints at the brilliance of Simon. Not an all time record, but the title track alone makes it worthwhile.
Very gloomy, but it was okay.. My fav song is "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Thx❤️
Folk is not my cup of tea but i do understand why people love the album
Not as good as Sounds of Silence or Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme but it should be standard fare if you're a fan of the pair.
An improvement from their other album. A lot of the songs wasnt something I would put on but I can still tell they sound good and are catchy
Oui, c’est sympa mais relativement
2.75 - I really like Cecilia. Other songs occasional grab me, but less so than I would like.
First listen of most songs from this album. I liked it, it's a classic (3.5)
Still not a huge fan of their mostly indistinguishable ballad style but liked this the most of any S & G album so far. Boxer and Cecilia both great, title track pretty disappointing
Had some good songs. I like gumboots better. Not really sure why this one doesn't do it for me
its alright and its got some good songs but not really for me
Mid folk rock. The only good track was "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)". The track "Bridge over Troubled Water" is okay. It's not the best rendition I've heard, but it gets a pass since it's the original. 2.5 stars.
soooo beatles vibes, especially "the only living boy in new york" and "why don't you write me". great album once I listened through the scope of the beatles lol
Rambling between genres, with many examples subpar and annoying; the opening title track is good.
Yeah it bangs tbh
Альбома не оказалось, послушала просто их песни. Все ещё из разряда вайбик, но целенаправленно включать я бы не стала
I’ve known this album for 50 years. It’s still a great listen, but sounds a little bland to e today,
the songs were a banger but it didn't really stand out to me that much maybe because i don't usually listen to folk but yeah it was ok-ish for me
elk nummer is meer van hetzelfde
Simon en Garfunkel hebben zo een vreemd niche gevonden, en dat niche is niets voor mij.
son gays?
Beautiful album, but i’m admittedly not head over heels for it. Standouts are the title track (obviously), The Boxer, Baby Driver and Why Don’t You Write Me.
Es bastante interesante y pegajoso
Estuvo bueno, qué loco que canten el Cóndor Pasa
Bellísimas baladas, tonadas animadas, folk sentido Tiene un poco de todo esté el último álbum de Simón y Garfunkel Voces muy armoniosas en conjunto, especialmente en Bridge Over Troubled Water se siente muchísimo pero muchísimo sentimiento Pero El Cóndor Pasa, The Only Living Voy un New York son otras canciones muy buenas dentro del álbum En general en el álbum te hacen sentir nostálgico, y transmiten muy bien también animosidad de vez en vez en canciones como Baby Drivers Disfrutable y hace ver que son más que The Sound of Silence, que yo muy erróneamente conceptualicé así
I don't dislike Simon and Garfunkel as much as I use to.
is pretty good 💥the boxer 💥baby driver 💥cecilia, i guess
It's not my favorite of theirs, but still a great example of how sonically adventurous they can be. "Cecilia" could be an Animal Collective song. To me, this album leans too much on the anthems and syrupy harmonies for me, which implies that maybe I don't love them for what they are best at.
Sooooo earnest
Meh. The harmonies are nice and Cecelia is a good song, but it's too soft and polished and polite and just sounds like a 5 year old tapping you on the leg and saying excuse me
I mean this album is fine. Has some great classic songs. Not really into it, a bit too mellow for my taste. I don't hate it but would probably never throw it on.
nice
Good enough folk music, but very much not to my personal taste. Nice acoustic guitar though.
Jag vill känna det men jag känner det inte :(
Song For The Asking
Really good background music... I don't know if i could devote full attention to this album. I do remember the boxer though!
Recognized a couple of these! Not really my speed, but pleasant enough. 6/10 Pretty Good
Música que dá nome ao álbum muito boa. Eu gostei num geral, não tinha explorado tanto esse estilo.
Definitely some great songs on this album, and there's something about the harmonising that's just a bit magic... but I don't think this album did enough besides that to really rate that highly for me. There was only one song that I actively disliked, which was "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright", the rest was all decent. Some hits here that I'll always be happy to listen to, but not going to revisit the whole album again. Going to fence-sit on a 3.
What an incredible first song, jeez. You certainly have my attention. Some of these songs are crazy crazy good and the rest are mid what do I rate thisssss Very high 3
Not my favorite but I appreciate how iconic the album was for its time and how it paved the way for other musicians. A couple of songs I liked on it are 'Why Don't You Write Me', 'Baby Driver' and 'The Boxer'.
I don't know, man, it's S&G. This brand of extremely accessible seminal music was huge in the 60s, so it seems a fairly safe bet for 1970. As an album I want to listen to today, I am just not a megafan. Totally fine album.
Overall: 3.07 (rounded to 3) Consistency: 3.27 Originality: 2.5 Enjoyment: 3 Virtuosity: 3.5 1. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 3 2. El Condor Pasa - 3 3. Cecilia - 4 4. Keep the Customer Satisfied - 3 5. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright - 2 6. The Boxer - 5 7. Baby Driver - 4 8. The Only Living Boy in New York - 4 9. Why Don't You Write Me - 3 10. Bye Bye Love - 2 11. Song for the Asking - 3
Way soft and crazy different but it won me over.
After reading some of the reviews I feel uncomfortable giving this a 6/10, but it was good, just like I think over hyped. Something i find really interesting is that like all of these male singers in this era had very similar vocal styles, maybe this was bc of the tech. Idk. I think it's kind of like how today a lot of female pop singers like Olivia Rodrigo sing very breathily. Kind of just interesting to me I guess.
11 songs Added to liked: -El Condor Pasa -The Boxer (knew the song)
Grand, not for me really
Not bad, not my cup of tea but it was uniquely different from song to song and was a trip.
6,5/10 Pros: - not necessarily my taste in music, but instrumentally catchy - Some heavy hitters song-wise + Song from Garden State (Only living boy in New York) Cons: - no real coherence in songs / no link between songs - big difference quality wise in heavy hitters and weaker songs on album
love it
Classic acoustic songs with a real kumbaya vibes. I respect the material and Bridge Over Troubled Water is such a fantastic song. 3.6/5.0
Doesn’t contain any of their famous, overly memed material, so that’s a plus. My dad had a couple of these songs on a cassette when I was a kid so I know a couple of them, like el condor and Cecilia. I particularly liked, in addition to those, their trademark soft, airy songs like the frank Lloyd wright one. This is a 3.5 rounded down because I just don’t love enough of the rest of it to give an all-around higher rating.
muy lindo, dale Benito ponete las pilas
Harmonies galore! Folk rock supremacy
At this point in my life I'm not really into folk rock. I see and hear the massive influence this album has had. I will surely revisit this album later in my life but for now I will leave it a strong 3/5. Just not now.
I like the more intimate, funny songs -- the gushing epics are a little overblown to me.
I’ve heard some of their hits and enjoyed them but a whole album doesn’t seem to hold up very well. It’s perhaps a bit too mellow and lacklustre for me which makes it harder to determine if these songs are well written or not. Most of this just doesn’t stand out here. Just a few things here and there. Likely need more listens to learn the lyrics and dig into the subtleties. Surprised to read that this album from 1970 is their last album. If this is their last album and assuming their career went upwards to ending on a high note, I’m not sure that I have much interest in listening to any of their other albums until I can click with their music. I’ll likely be looking more for a collection of their hits. So this doesn’t immediately stand out and probably has potential to click later but I’m not entirely sure about that.
sure
Sehr professionell produzierte Musik vornehmlich für zart besaitete Menschen.
Better than most of these
Never been that fussed on SiFunk. I enjoyed the recognisable songs but there wasn't much else to keep me coming back I reckon
This is a pretty sweet album, might give it another listen. I like 3 of the songs a lot, and the rest are mediocre. Decent album, good, but not 100% best album I've heard.
This is a dilema. This is. Very good album. Outstanding band. Some great songs, many of which i know without onowing the album. Emotive songwriting. Well balanced recording. Am i going to listen to it again? No.
The 60s music is really just not for me. I like the Boxer, not much else.
More classical but still introspective and very nostalgiques and with good and sad vive at the same time. The Boxer is my favorite. Very automn vibe.
extremely funny first pull. they really do sound like that one make some noise bit huh. really sounds like theyre doing every genre ever but them flavoured. which, good for them! cool pedal notes in the voice. really love the random sounds that come in occasionally. GOD that baritone sax. i need her highlights: The Boxer. Song for the Asking was also very sweet
Some of these songs would be considered indie today. I guess these are the proginitors? Minus a star. The Boxer might be one of the greatest songs out there. Definitely a star or two there. I like the diversity of songs on the album. It's not just one style.
The songs are good. The vibe is good. The album is… all over the place. El Condor Pasa to Cecilia to the orchestral title track — they were clearly pulling in different directions, and this was apparently their last album together, which explains a lot. It holds together emotionally but not stylistically. A great collection of songs more than a great album. More importantly: this album lives in my vinyl collection, currently held hostage in the dragon's den along with my vinyl player. When my daughter was two years old, the vinyl case happened to cover Paul Simon's face. She looked at the cover, looked at Garfunkel's hair, and yelled "Der Bart!" She was not wrong. It turns out this is a known phenomenon — people have been putting their thumbs over Paul's face for 56 years and discovering the same invisible moustache. vincetheprince sent me a review that rated the album: "5: The moustache. 5: The songs." My two-year-old daughter had apparently already written that review.
Simon & Garfunkel always walk a fine line between beauty and kitsch: the album's opener is an example of masterfully sensitive songwriting, slowly building into a sublime, angelic finale ... only to be ruined by the horrendous and cringeworthy "El Condor Pasa". The rest of the album follows a similar pattern ... all in all though, it is a rather pleasant listen.
2,6/5
Softly softly catchy gingles
Famous songs
I enjoyed it but it's not my favorite from them
Rating: 7/10 Went in with mild expectations and came out enjoying the album well enough. It's old fashioned folk pop but definitely still has a timeless feel. The description suggests that this is the end of their creative endeavors and the peak of the band, and I can see it. Better than their last album that I listened to with more interesting musical diversity. There are two clear highlights in the tracklist to me, the title track and The Boxer, with the rest maintaining 'pretty good' status. Maybe I'll become more of a fan of the duo in time
Ive heard good things abouth these guys. The title track and the boxer were really good. Most of the songs outside these two are prety mid. I dont think im a fan... I tought their sound was quieter. Its kinda the opposite. Not bad but definitively not for me.
Me encanto ceciliaaaaa
"Cecilia" and "Keep the Customer Satisfied" are an incredible one-two punch. This album cover is hilarious.
Much like the ~other~ BOTW, this album 1). is part of a wonderful lineage that I otherwise greatly enjoy; and 2). causes me to hiss like a cat at its mere mention. Let's explore why. I will tell you a story that at least some of you have probably heard 91 times because it's one of the only stories I actually enjoy telling. When I was in the 8th grade, there was a school talent show. This kid in my class named Nick, whose last name I don't remember, did an honestly really awesome performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," playing piano and everything. The school administration was so impressed that they asked Nick if he would like to perform at 8th grade graduation. He agreed. In the week leading up to graduation, we did rehearsals and this is where things go off the rails. We kept doing the walkthrough and every time we did it, they made poor Nick perform that whole song. They wouldn't just say "this is the part where Nick performs Bridge Over Troubled Water." They just kept making him play the song. Speaking CONSERVATIVELY, I would say we did 3 walkthroughs a day on the last week of school, which means I had to sit through this kid singing this song at least 15 fucking times in the span of a week. And it felt like they were hazing the kid at a certain point -- like, they didn't redo the Pledge of Allegiance or the prayer or any of that other stuff every time we did the rehearsal, but they made ol' Nick sit at the piano and sing his little heart out to the point of insanity. The song has never recovered for me. I hate it. I never want to hear it again. It's not the song's fault, it's James D. Adams Middle School's fault. According to US News and World Report, 25% of students at that school scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 38% scored at or above that level for reading. It's probably because when they should be in class they have to listen to their classmates sing Simon and Garfunkel songs. Luckily, after spending the first five minutes of the album gritting my teeth and going into a simulated flight or fight response, I get to hear the very good remainder of the album, which has "Cecilia" and "The Boxer" and "The Only Living Boy in New York."
Nice Album
I was like damn this album got fire but it was because Spotify played me something else
i’m super fucking white but simon and garfunkel have always felt a bit too white for me. def some bangers on here though.
I listened to Simon & Garfunkel for the first time about a year ago. It was the album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme" and I thought it was incredibly beautiful and soothing, so I had great expectations for this one. While this is also really wonderful and super smooth, it isn't really resonating with me. What makes this album so appealing are primarily the voice performances. They sound incredible delicate, gentle, emotional and catchy, making the album truly memorable. The instrumentation also sounds really great. It gives a nice and warm folk sound, with the use of acoustic guitars and some occasional horns and complementary strings. In additions, in songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Boxer" they use a loud drum to make the songs more striking. In general, I would describe this album as more sad than cheerful, due to its mellowness and lyrics, but there are a handful of tracks that are quite upbeat, those being "Cecilia", "Keep the Customer Satisfied", "Baby Driver" and "Why Don't You Write Me", which sound positive and playful thanks to their melodies and rhythms, even though the lyrics might not be as high spirited as the music. Regardless of its great quality and incredibly performances, I'm finding it hard to get the full experience. Maybe at this point I might be sounding like I'm contradicting myself with all the praise I gave them, but I think they deserved. I truly believe this album stands out as a folk rock record, is just that I'm not personally emotional connected to its sound, so the score is more of a representation of the appreciation for the skilled musicianship instead of how much I resonated with it.
did not finish the whole album; bridge over troubled water is wholesome but the individual songs were hit or miss. Lots of character but not all appealing to me "if I could be a hammer, I would" - WHAT
This record is "Very Good" but it's not "GREAT." The success of the record is driven by the immense success of the title track's single not on the particular strength of the other songs.
Noget nostalgi ved at have LP'en. Nogle fantastiske numre, men også et par fails.
This was much better than the previous Simon & Garfunkel album I got. Some songs were pretty good, but not enough to give the album as a whole a 4.
Not one for me. I just don’t like folk.
buen album tiene buenos temas mas que nada el 2,4 y 5 fueron los mejores temas la verdad es disfrutable, no es mi estilo yo le doy un 5/10
פחות הסגנון שלי 3⭐️
somewhat varied for a folk-rock album. i was expecting more intimate sentimental sad songs, but it's a testimony to how varied can be that genre, the way they made it.
Good album with some good songs
Added three songs to my favorites list! I think this album was big when I was BORN, but the Boxer and Bye Bye Love and even Cecilia remain great. The rest was way too slow and melancholy to hit a list. These two needed some SSRIs.
Not my personal taste, but I see why people like it.
Chock full of classics
A bit too soft for my liking, but I can hear the craftmanship.
Son realmente buenos. No me gusta el folk rock en general, pero ellos definitivamente tienen algo. 5/10
Lamentablemente no disfruto practicamente nada del folk y este disco no fue la excepcion. Si quiero rescatar las voces y la armonia de los instrumentos, a pesar de no gustarme el genero valoro lo suave de por lo menos este ejemplo.
Is necessary in society.
This is the second Simon and Garfunkel album I’ve had on here. I didn’t grow up in a family that listened to them; I’ve heard a lot of these songs before, but they don’t hold any special emotional weight for me. As compared to the first album of theirs I had, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (which I liked quite a bit), this has them branching out from their folk-influenced roots. It sounds great, their sense of melody is pretty much unmatched, but as a matter of taste, I very much prefer the more folky stuff.
Kinda boring, very deep and mellow good for like background music in a nighttime car ride very soothing
I liked it, but not my favorite. I especially enjoy the song Bridge Over Troubled.
Not usually my thing, but really enjoyed it
3/5 Paar mooie numbers Geen al te grote fan van de opname manier, alles lijkt opgenomen uit een blik
Je ne serais pas allée vers Simon and Garfunkel par moi même (à cause de The sound of scilence, la soundtrack de Girl Interrupted et leur manière de chanter mélancoliquement). Enfait, c'est une très bonne surprise!
First half was good, didn't enjoy 2nd as much. I think PSRT is better, there's not much Garfunkel here I feel.
There were like, one or two songs that really stood out, but otherwise, meeeeeh
I’ve mentioned this before on a Simon and Garfunkel release: I like the sonic experience. I enjoy the sound of the guitars and how they’re captured. The vocal harmonies are as well. Cecelia is a notable example of a well executed recording. This album also has snoozers like the opening track. The vibe of this album makes me uncomfortable. This is the sound of Ivy League college students. I don’t know if that’s true but it’s the feeling I get.
achei que seria tão chato quanto o último que recebi deles, mas tem músicas muito bacaninhas (cecilia, keep the costumes satisfied, baby driver...). gostei.
- Very pretty instrumentation - Vocals are very nice - Won album of the year/song of the year in 1970 - Liked 'The Boxer', 'Baby Driver', 'Why Don't You Write Me' - Songs don't stand out against each other too much
70s Flower Power
Ok
Bridge over troubled water - 5 out of 5 El condor pasa - 2 out of 5 Cecilia - 5 out of 5 Keep the customer satisfied - 2 out of 5 So long, Frank Lloyd Wright - 3 out of 5 The boxer - 2 out of 5 Baby driver - 3 out of 5 The only living boy in new york - 5 out of 5 Why don't you write me - 4 out of 5 Bye bye love - 4 out of 5 Song for the asking - 2 out of 5
Some forgettable tracks but decent overall. Not really what I'd typically listen to but I can appreciate why others would enjoy this more.
Fav song: why don’t you write me Album rating: 6.6
Classic
Going into this album, I expected it to be somewhat emotionally heavy, BOTW feels very carefully crafted and cinematic but as with many S&G songs they’re almost too nice or polished for me to properly enjoy. Production wise BOTW is incredibly balanced, it uses a full orchestra with loads of layering which gives it a sort of gospel sound, everything sits very beautifully in the mix but to the point it loses any grit. Vocally S&G are technically stunning, harmonies are perfect, too perfect? I think how nice everything sounded throughout made me disengaged at times, there are tracks which I love for example the Boxer but an entire album of this was somewhat boring to me. BOTW is a very mature and well crafted album, but for me the same qualities that make it “great” also make it less interesting.
For the tracks at the beginning and end, i couldn't come up with an activity were i would listen to them, except "listening to music". But in the middle there were some good classics.
love it, a classic, but yea not for me at this point in my life, you can only hear el condor pasa a couple of thousand times before it starts sounding like elevator music :P
*Some great songs but it loses steam at times