Bookends

Frances McDormand used the album cover as a visual aid for young William Miller to suggest all rock stars were on dope, something obvious by simply looking at their eyes. Frankly, I don't see it. Paul is trying a little too hard for a look that a young David Schwimmer would perfect some 30 years later, and Artie was likely just caught in a moment scratching the back of his head, or maybe he was trying harder to hear out of his left ear. Second Simon and Garfunkel album I've had from the list so far. There are four solid classics on this album that alone could warrant a 5. The final rating comes down to your desire to be transformed into a Kellogg's Corn Flake, or your feelings on poor Artie being tasked with going out and recording voices of old folks just to get a song writing credit. The loud Moog/Clockwork Orange sound at the start of "Save The Life Of My Child" suggests maybe Frances McDormand was on to something. There are some folks who suggest the Bangles cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is better than the original. Others offer a similar opinion about the Lemonheads cover of "Mrs. Robinson". Both camps are wrong, but the popularity of those covers helps underscore how Paul Simon is one of our greatest songwriters. This is the album when Paul really took perfectionistic control of things, as if to leave no doubt as to who was Tom and who was Jerry. Somehow the closing song "At The Zoo" works for me. The only thing I ever want to see at the zoo is the exit sign. What I'm saying is I don't like the zoo, but I really like this album.

First off, I've no idea why I started this idiotic project when I've already got more things on the go than I have time for, but it was an impulsive click on a link from Popbitch that brought me here and before I knew what I was doing I'd signed up, so here we are. Right, first of 1,001 albums, hope it's something attention grabbing. Oh. A quick bit of background reading on Wikipedia confirms my worst fears: a Simon & Garfunkel concept album. Brilliant. Three hours of acoustic noodling about herbs and bridges. Better fire up Spotify and get on with it. Let's start with the positives: it's only half an hour long and the "concept" only stretches across side one, so it's a concept album in the same way that "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a concept album, ie only because people keep saying it is. The supposed concept is the human lifespan, so presumably the 30 seconds of "Bookends Theme" are supposed to represent conception or birth. All it conjures up in my mind is a "Schools programmes follow shortly" countdown clock. 30 seconds in and already we're tackling the subject of suicide. "Save the Life of My Child" is the most arresting track on the album, all honking Moogs, sinister choirs and snatches of "The Sound of Silence". Still unclear how suicide fits in with the life cycle concept, but still. Unfortunately it's all downhill from there. Acoustic strum-along follows acoustic strum-along, punctuated by "Voices of Old People" which is literally just that, some old people talking for two minutes, completely derailing the listening experience. Then more acoustic strumming augmented by easy listening orchestra, another bit of the "Bookends Theme" and that's your concept over and done with. Side two deals with an entirely different concept: that of how to pad out an album by the hottest act on your label when they've only delivered quarter of an hour of music. It's a mish-mash of non-album singles and unused tracks from the previous year's soundtrack album for "The Graduate", including, bafflingly, "Mrs Robinson" which wasn't on the soundtrack album - at least, bits of it were but not its familiar single version. So we're on slightly more familiar ground here with "A Hazy Shade of Winter" and "Fakin' It" raising the album above mediocrity. So, not a great start. Like "Sgt Pepper", you probably had to be there at the time. At least "Sgt Pepper" had came with cut-out medals.

i lost all melinin after listening to this

“Bookends” by Simon & Garfunkel (1968) Exhibit A in the art of album making, “Bookends” is a prototype of the ‘concept album’. Here we’re treated to a truly poetic treatment of life’s polarities, with images straining to burst through the bonds of beautifully unyielding metric structure. Paul Simon is a storytelling poetic genius (even if he’s a bit of a showoff). It’s too easy to love this album for the striking beauty of “Mrs. Robinson”, “Old Friends”, and “America” (which still makes me weep). But listen to the album from start to finish, and you’ll appreciate it as so much more than a collection of ‘tracks’. Simon’s performance on acoustic guitar is genre-defining, and Art Garfunkel’s tenor harmonies are angelic. Prepare yourself for shocks as you walk through this garden of delights, ending “At the Zoo”. This isn’t just a folk duo anymore. On this album, the excellence of S & G’s transition beyond their initial folk success surpasses Dylan’s. Those of you who know my love for Bob Dylan are welcome to pick yourselves up off the floor. And as an aside, the backing musicians, arrangements, engineering, and production on this album provide evidence for my reluctant acknowledgment that New York is indeed the greatest city in the world. Ever. Kleenex. 5/5

Really solid sound from these two assholes again. I hate myself more.

Fuck Simon and Garfunkel. A couple of low talent hacks. “Old people talking”!? Get the fuck out of here.

Look at them! They are high on pot! Great album!

A surprising forgettable album from Simon & Garfunkel. The concept of side A sounded interesting but is rushed and underdeveloped. 15 minutes worth of music cover an entire life cycle, with only one stand out track ("America") and 2 full minutes of no music at all. It might have been better if they'd fleshed out a full album for this idea. Side B is much stronger. "Mrs Robinson" and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" are the best two songs on the album. Unfortunately, there's really nothing new here, aside from one leftover track from The Graduate. The rest of side B are previously released singles. There's nothing wrong with that, but we're supposed to be rating the best albums ever made. A short concept for side A and a singles collection for side B is too low effort for artists of this level. It's fine for what it is, but hardly their best release in my opinion.

random documentary in the middle?????

A great surprise of an album. If "A Day In The Life" was an entire album, it would be Bookends. The instrumentation, lyrics, and songwriting on this album are phenomenal. All the songs here are highlights and I would highly recommend this album to anyone who hasn't heard it. I love the experimental nature that is incorporated into this album as well. What a pleasant surprise! Highlights: 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Prob would be a desert island album, what a unique brand these two had. Before all the fluff and fireworks of pop

Easiest 5 star so far. Continues to be a formative album for every generation. The longevity alone is incredible, all together the album is one of the greatest pieces of American culture ever. Perhaps most impressive of all is that this isn't even their best album!

Perhaps their best album. Like both sides of it. The side A song suite and the side B collection of looser and poppier material. Some incredibly iconic songs here. Grew up on this stuff.

4.5*, but I can't quite round up to 5. America and Mrs. Robinson are, of course, excellent. Great cover of Hazy Shade, too. Maybe my favorite version. Several other songs I hadn't heard before that were quite good, too. But Voices of Old People, while it might be poignant, isn't something I want to listen to very often. Punky's Dilemma seems a bit silly, too.

Always been a fan of Simon & Garfunkle, and there is definitely alot of goodness on this album… Not entirely sure about the whole “concept album” thing that a number of people have commented on… Perhaps it was an attempt – but certainly not what I think of when I think about concept albums, as TRUE concept albums run start to finish, so classic albums that would fit that bill, would be – “Tommy” – The Who “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” – Genesis “The Wall” – Pink Floyd Even if it was an attempt at a concept album, it seems like they only did one side – so what’s that??? I prefer to think of this a collection of individual songs – much like The Who’s album – “Who’s Next” that started off as a concept, but was abandoned somewhere along the way – but a stunningly good album regardless… Love the harmonies, and the unique sound on this album, and the best songs IMO are – “America” – 6-stars out of 7… “Fakin’ It” – 4-stars out of 7… “Mrs. Robinson” – 7-stars out of 7… “Hazy Shade Of Winter” – 5-stars out of 7… “At The Zoo” – 4-stars out of 7… Given how loaded Side 2 is, plus the fact that this album contains a couple of their most iconic songs in – “America” & “Mrs. Robinson” – this album clocks in at a solid 4 for me – and I would probably give it a 4.25 if I could…

Simon and Garfunkel is usually a little too twee, a little too choir-boy for me. This album avoids that, for the most part, for me. The arrangements are interesting without being bogged down with too much, and the songwriting is, as always, solid. Probably my favorite S&G, both solo and as a duo. Favorite tracks: "Overs", "Mrs. Robinson", "A Hazy Shade of Winter"

Honestly, I thought this album was overwrought. Too much instrumentation, too many odd sound effects, and so on. The couple of classic tunes on this record are tunes that don't have these distractions. Simon & Garfunkel are best when they are singer songwriters, not trying to be the next Jefferson Airplane acid freakout.

Yes, it's okay, I really don't see what the fuss is about

I do not wish I was a Kellogg's cornflake floating in my bowl. nor do I wish I was an English muffin.

Bookends This is on the same level BOTW as my favourite S&G album, even if it feels slightly more piecemeal than BOTW despite the concept, but it does have the imperiously magnificent America and the fantastic Save the Life of My Child, Overs, Fakin’ It, Mrs Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter and At the Zoo. The Moog on Save the Life of my Child is pretty interesting and must be one of the earliest examples on a major pop record? The song itself is great, and the Moog sounds more modern than other contemporaneous uses, I like the little Sound of Silence interpolations and the whole thing mixes melody and experimentalism in a fantastic way. And crossfades superbly into the majesty of America, brilliantly taking the specifics of the first song into the wider picture and open narrative of the latter. Overs is great, the bluesy folky intro building up to Art’s ethereal entrance at 1.16. Voices of Old People does it’s job in the context of the concept of the first side, and I like the ‘an old person without money is ‘ line, but it does slow down the momentum into the delicateness and melancholy of Old Friends and the plaintiveness of Bookends a little. I’ve always loved Fakin’ It, it has a little vibe of those S&G and Paul Simon uptempo acoustic songs like Baby Driver or Keep the Customer Satisfied or Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard, but with a more folky structure. Punky’s Dilemma is not a bad song, but does feel a little throwaway in comparison to the songs around it especially as its followed by Mrs Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter and At the Zoo. It’s an easy 5, some of their best songs, a concept done brilliantly on the first side and an overall sense of personal wistfulness and introspection against wider musings on contemporary society and culture, all tied together with Paul Simon’s slightly off kilter melodic brilliance and Art’s graceful and otherworldly vocals. 📚📚📚📚📚 Playlist submission: America

Замечательный и чувственный альбом. Очень лёгкий, приятный и простой, но в то же время и глубоко трогательный и личный. Тексты воспринимаются вполне легко, а в купе с таким же лёгким, но детальным инструменталом всё сливается в одну цельную и красивую картину. (9)

Really enjoyed it. S&G are very relaxing to listen to and at the same time I really enjoy the poetic and artsy quality of their music. I liked the first thematic half of the album (bookends), but liked the unthematic second half a bit better. For songs, Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade Of Winter are my clear favorites from this album. Great!

A collection of some of the most notable songs within the Simon & Garfunkel collection. Bookends, Old Friends, Overs, Fakin' It, At The Zoo, Hazy Shade of Winter, and Mrs. Robinson.

Nr. 175/1001 Bookends Theme NR Save The Life Of My Child 3/5 America 5/5 Overs 3/5 Voices of Old People 2/5 Old Friends 4/5 Bookends Themen - Reprise NR Fakin' It 4/5 Punky's Dilemma 4/5 Mrs. Robinson 5/5 A Hazy Shade of Winter 3/5 At the Zoo 4/5 Average: 3,7 More experimental than I would have expected from a Simon & Garfunkel album. I prefer their regular stuff.

Extremely modern sounding album for its time. Had to do a triple take that I wasn't listening to music in another tab for Save the Life of my Child, I can't believe this song was recorded in the 1960s, feels like it's a modern remix of an old S&G song. Incredible stuff. Voices of Old People is a skit that seems to set the template for contemplative skits on albums. I can't think of many skits from this era; I wouldn't be surprised if it was the first of its kind. Beautiful orchestral production on Old Friends; maybe my favourite song here? Second half lost me a bit despite the songs having more streams... interesting.

The sounds of a generation.

While I can appreciate the historical importance of this album and a tremendous side 2, side 1 doesn't quite reach up to the same heights. It tackles a fairly straightforward concept – ageing – and while it captures that idea pretty well, it's at the expense of the music's quality. The tracks on side 1 aren't very catchy, and musically they're very simple, often consisting of finger-picked guitars and odd, repeating melodies. America and Old Friends are my two favourites on this side. The Bookends Theme and its reprise are very forgettable, and Voices of Old People is obviously unnecessary. I will acknowledge that this would've been a pretty big stepping stone in the development of concept album culture. At least it's a more well-defined concept than Sgt Pepper (as another commenter pointed out). Side 2 is brilliant. Fakin' It, Punk's Dilemma, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo... All of them put a huge smile on my face because of how goofy and fun-packed their melody and lyrics are. Mrs. Robinson, in particular, is pure 60s pop, and it's a masterpiece. 4/5 Key tracks: Fakin' It, Punk's Dilemma, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter

Can't lie, actually quite enjoyed this. Was far more varied and interesting than I expected and felt like it was over too soon. 29 mins seems a bit too short to be considered an album! Actually, when you then consider that there's also 2 mins of old people talking it seems they are taking the mick a bit. But I'll gladly take quality over quantity and despite it not really being my thing I would listen again.

Bookend’s theme - 7/10 Save the Life of my Child - 8/10 America - 9/10 Overs - 8/10 Voices of Old people - 7/10 Old Friends - 6/10 Bookend’s Theme Reprised - 8/10 Faking It - 8/10 Punky’s Dilemma - 8/10 Mrs Robinson - 9/10 A Hazy Shade of Winter - 9/10 At the Zoo - 8/10 TOTAL -105 /120

Great songwriting and very beautiful voices. Mrs. Robinson is a classic. I didn't like the interludes that much, but overall a very nice album.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to, especially the A side. They were more experimental than I think I gave them credit for.

Why does Paul Simon get angry at me when I request Voices of Old People at his concerts?

A real mixed bag - Mrs Robinson remains one of my favorite songs ever - but other songs like Fakin it are very underwhelming.

Wholesome.

A side was hot garbage. B side pretty good. 2.5

Side A suite is excellent but the back half is hampered by its odds and ends nature. Simon had yet to find a lyrical voice that wasn’t bad college poetry (he wouldn’t get there until “Hearts and Bones”) and it really shows in those castoffs. Sometimes you have to kill your babies, even if it only leaves you with an EP’s worth of material.

Alvin, Simon, GARFUNKEL! Do, do, do, do, do, do

One of the surprising side-effects of this project has been my growing and active dislike of Paul Simon. Previously, I thought he was OK -- he wrote a bunch of pretty memorable songs both with S&G and solo (as showcased by his appearance on the Muppet Show), and Graceland was a great album, and he did occasional cameos in movies. But having sat through more than half a dozen of his records, I now find him an annoying and pretentious narcissist and unrepentant serial plagiarist. I am not inclined to give him a pass based on a few pretty tunes. Admittedly, there are some great tunes on this record (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter), but as a child of the 80s, I prefer the Lemonheads' version of Mrs Robinson and the Bangles' version of Hazy Shade. But there is also a lot of filler on this record, ranging from insipid and unmemorable songs through to Voices of Old People, which is the worst kind of time-wasting tape 'experiment'. Does anybody ever need to hear this more than once in their life? And the production choices on 'Save the Life of My Child' are not innovative and groundbreaking; they are just shitty. I would also like to discuss the ways in which _this specific album_ was a powerfully malign influence on the music industry. Simon & Garfunkel, realizing that their contract guaranteed that their record company would pick up all of their recording costs, disappeared into endless studio indulgence in the name of 'art'. Columbia Records, unhappy but reasonably confident of a big hit, indulged them. Not even the Beatles spent this amount of time and money recording their albums in 1967. But this high recording cost then justified increasing the album cost by $1 (over 20% of the usual retail price, to the equivalent of over $50 in today's money). For a 29 minute record! And they got away with it! It sold a bajillion copies while maintaining artistic cred, despite being artistic self-indulgence and a flagrant and merciless price gouge on the listening public. This price strategy was, unfortunately, successful and so helped establish the model of record companies screwing their customers at every opportunity, and for the ongoing indulgence of misguided artistic bloat. And I suggest that _this specific album_ is one of the first examples of record company greed being successfully leveraged against listeners. They happily did so for the next 35 years until file-sharing crashed the business model that delivered seemingly endless rivers of cash squeezed out of music fans. We all suffered as a result. Fuck you, Columbia Records, and fuck you, Simon & Garfunkel for being the record company's shills.

A pretentious mash of a half-baked concept record and leftovers from their score for The Graduate, not even the modular Moog on “Save the Life of My Child” can save Bookends from being ponderous and slothful throughout its 30 minutes.

Kind of boring, not bad voices, just hardly even noticed it was playing

Every time I get a S&G album on here, I think "this is the one that will get me into this band." I've come to the conclusion that I just don't like them. The first and second side of the album don't mesh at all. Other than "Mrs, Robinson," this album was a big miss.

The album mostly passed my by in a blur of nothingness

Given the subject matter of many of these songs, how does it still manage to feel so white and wimpy? I found this one a bit boring, they've gotta have better albums than this because they have a handful of good songs and they aren't on here. A Hazy Shade of Winter is good but is cancelled out by At the Zoo (elephants aren't even dumb). Not enough good ones to justify a higher rating or a relisten.

Definitely an album in the 60s.

Mrs Robinson was okay and the rest was incredibly boring

I'm glad this was short. The duo tries to explore some weirdness here like on the track old people talking...which quite literally is just that. Didn't get it. Seems like the studio threw on Mrs. Robinson, which is the only good song, after the fact to get people to buy it.

I wasn't expecting S & G to be quite as experimental as they can be on this record, but here they are quoting 'The Sound of Silence' on the second track and creating an audio collage of old home conversations on 'Voices of Old People.' Instrumentally too, this is far more than strumming a guitar. But the star of the show is Simon, who is simultaneously at his most playful and his most heartfelt, producing a stunning meditation on old age thruout: 'There's no times at all / Just the New York Times'; 'How terribly strange to be seventy'; 'Orangutans are skeptical / Of changes in their cages.' Mixed into the whole thing is the perennial 'Mrs. Robinson.' When encountered here, it's an iconic blast.

Paul Simon is a musical genius. He can do no wrong. This is a masterpiece. 500billion/5

I like most songs on this album though its not perfect. Moreover, some of them have real cultural significance, which is more than you can say about much of the garbage on this list. But I’m giving it a 5 just to counter the jerk reviewer who described Simon and Garfunkel as ‘low-talent hacks’ - and then rates Fiona Apple as one of his top albums. Seriously?

Excellent.

Beautiful album filled with some of their best work. Outside of Garfunkel's stupid sound collage

So many outstanding songs on this classic. So ahead of its time. I was raised on their greatest hits, so much of this is on my DNA.

I really enjoyed this and was pleasantly surprised by the songs I had not previously heard. The two standouts were Save The Life of My Child and Punky's Dilemma, in addition to the much loved songs America, Bookends Theme (Reprise), Mrs. Robinson, and A Hazy Shade of Winter.

Simon and G-Funk for the win!

These guys are the best.

So fucking amazing. Voices of old people gives me absolute chills. Wow. They r one of the goat American acts ever Paul Simon is such a good fucking songwriter

WOW. can't believe i've never heard this before today.

How can you’ve ate an album that has America and hazy shade of winter anything but a 5? This must have been massive when it was released. And book ends theme is still one of my favourites, despite its length (that’s what she said). What a time it was.

Very nice

I mean... Of course 5 Stars

Shockingly good

Best lyrics on this album: "Kathy, I'm lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping. Im empty and aching and I don't know why." this really got me Bookends Reprise is the best 1.50 minute song I can think of. "Time it was and what a time it was, it was." ugh love. I can't help but still love Mrs. Robinson. What's not to love about this song?

I actually like reading on the weekend.

I really enjoyed this album. So grateful for the generator for introducing me to Simon & Garfunkel!

Despite absolutely loving Simon & Garfunkel, I'm not sure I've ever listened to the full album of Bookends before. Just... wow. This album is completely ahead of it's time. "Save The Life Of My Child" sounds like something Paul Simon would have done in the 80s, but this came out in 1968. "Voices Of Old People" is just talking? In the middle of a pop record? Definitely something you don't hear everyday, but fits in perfectly with "Old Friends" right afterwards. The first half of the album tells its own unique story, and the second half is filled with great pop hits. "Punky's Dilemma" is such an interesting song to unpack. At first it seems like a pleasant ditty about breakfast food but then becomes a commentary on military service (all during the Vietnam War era). And "Mrs. Robinson" is just an absolutely perfect song, though in some ways I do prefer the version on The Graduate soundtrack, and "America" is one of the best Simon & Garfunkel songs of all time. On the outside this album is a nice pop record from Simon & Garfunkel, but when you really listen to the lyrics, take the production into account, the time period, and the varied themes, it becomes so much more than that and becomes a perfect commentary on the late 60s. I feel so privileged to have been able to see them in concert when they reunited when I was a teen. It makes me appreciate their music even more.

Great album and great storytelling! Loved it!

I’m such a sucker for Simon & Garfunkel. To me they ARE folk music, and this album is no exception. A wonderful listen all the way through. There’s some poppy ear worms like Mrs. Robinson, some contemplative songs like America, and some truly emotional work like Old Friends. This album builds you up and tears you down again and again. It’s magnificent, and I can’t recommend it enough.

I used to have a personal tradition where I would listen to this album on the first day of the year that felt like autumn. It's a bit out of season for me to listen to this, although I guess late February falls into the "hazy shade of winter" category. I love this album. It's one of my all-time favorites. It feels like a Beatles album in the way that every song has a unique style and character. The songs are playful and inventive. That opening synth on "Save the Life of My Child" is such a great surprise after the acoustic intro "Bookends Theme." The whole song has cool production details -- voices and effects! It's a quirky collection of tunes, with the classic "Mrs. Robinson" sitting alongside the airy "Punky's Dilemma" and the rocking "Hazy Shade of Winter." There's also the memorable and heartbreaking sound collage, "Voices of Old People." The closer, "At the Zoo," is one of my favorites. I love that they end the album on that note, and I love how you can hear Paul Simon laugh a bit at 1:04. It's such a joyful song. At just under 30 minutes, "Bookends" is a short album but it's rich with emotion and full of character. Simon & Garfunkel made a lot of incredible music, but this will always be the album of theirs that I hold closest to my heart.

The sound of Simon & Garfunkel is so inherently iconic, memorable, and nostalgic for me. I love all of their work and this album is no outlier. Mrs. Robinson is my favorite song of theirs, and here's my anecdote about it: Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big baseball fan, and I love the odd random mixes of baseball and music that tend to pop up more than one would think- like the Strokes song "Ode to the Mets", Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" having a verse about an old baseball teammate, "Centerfield" by John Fogerty, Mike Piazza (famous Mets catcher) shouting some growls on a Black Label Society song, etc. "Mrs. Robinson" on this album of course has a great ode to Joe DiMaggio and it's one of the better instances of these two things intersecting; even if it's not the big topic of the song. When Joe DiMaggio died shortly before the 1999 baseball season, the Yankees honored him by creating "DiMaggio Day", and had Paul Simon perform this song in the stadium outfield. When he got to the part "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you, what's that you say, Mrs. Robinson, Joltin' Joe has left and gone away", something hit me in the chest and I sobbed hard. There's a beautiful slowing down rubato by Paul Simon, with some extra time spent on these lyrics and the crowd goes wild. I'm not a Yankees fan, and DiMaggio was way before my time, but this moment felt so special and important for me. This might be one of the earlier moments in my life where a piece of music made me feel really strong emotions.

A few classics on here. I really enjoyed the production and the nice layers they have in their songs. Hazy shade of winter was a new pick up from this listen

They’re on pot…. Wish we got more of that synth in save the life of a child. Fucking love S&G. Also, props to Patrick for giving SY a shot. My frustration is misguided, I just wish the algorithm would space those out.

Another half concept album. Still works

Wow, first time through this cover to cover. My thoughts: This album doesnt have a clear arc — although most songs build into each other quite nicely. Bookends Theme being a major piece of glue. It feels like S & G tried to have their Sargent Pepper moment and go truly psychedelic with orchestral arrangements that are all over the place at times. Emotionally speaking, I felt the general theme of aging in the first half. The second half was sort of all over the place, but fun (like sargent pepper, the theme disappeared) I loved this. Incredibly spacey/vibey and easy listening without being boring. Psychedelic. Fun.

Super brown.

Fabulous

Quite an odd record really. Rather bitty and unsatisfying in a lot of ways but even the worst SImon and Garfunkel record beats a lot of people's best work. And it does have America and Hazy Shade of Winter, which are both glorious.

Too many certified bangers to not be perfect.

Brilliant

I always expect to find hidden album gems with S&G, and I found them aplenty on 'Parsley, Sage...' - but there just aren't any here. Having said that, there is absolutely no way an album with Hazy Shade, America, Old Friends, Bookends, At the Zoo and Mrs Robinson, comes in below a five. Even if the rest of the album was the duo farting it's a five for those alone.

Great album, an all time classic

Absolutely an incredible album that defined the 1960"s.

listened to this the other day. masterpiece

Old friends, punkys dilemma, mrs robinson are favourite songs.

bookends theme sehr cool, haha blah blah blah. america isch es meisterwerk vo storytwlling ind songwriting und d ufnahm isch de haaammmer ich lieb die beide. scheisse. kathy im lost i said though i knew she was sleepng. so guet so guuuet. und am garfunkel sini harmonies oh mein gooott. overs hani nonie ghört und isch au soooo schöön. sie mached de stop! mega geil. ultra schön am art sis engelsstimmli. voices of old people hahahah. cute. old friends so schöni choords su schöni strings, sie mached mega dynamik. uii und atonali passage. uuh wieder bookends theme immerno schön. fakin it mega groovy mega geile hall ufem schlagzüg uiii. und sie überrasched immer. wie han ich das album nie glost? punky's dilemma au wieder text so geil. und gloockenspiel mrs robinson perfekt iconic groovy no notes hammer. a hazy shade if winter isch etz meh afich a mir verbigange als die andere songs aber sobald mer biitz uf de text lost hittets eim. und s riff isch super. at the zio wieder meega feelgood meega schön.

The big breakout. So many great tunes on this one.

I am not looking for America anymore, but what a perfect album.

This morning I was debating whether America and Mrs Robinson alone could push this to 4 stars, but then the other songs hit too. 5

Stunningly beautiful

More experimental than I realized. Love it big fan

If the Beatles I fired george and used acoustic guitar

Perfection. There are some albums of a beauty that mocks the sincerest efforts to explain it.

SUCH A FIVE SUUUUUUUUUCCH A FIVE

Wow - rich textures

Is this the best Simon & Garfunkel album? I don't think I could gush about it enough. I love the soft acoustic intro that lulls you into a false sense of security and then jump scares you with that first synthesizer note on Save the Life of My Child. And how about the ghostly choir on that same track? It absolutely makes the song. And this is the album with America, which I believe is one of the greatest songs ever written. I wondered about how Voices of Old People was recorded, and loved what I found in the Wikipedia entry: "...this piece, which was taped at convalescent homes in Southern California, helps to underline the feeling of aging and the passage of time, themes that are indeed paramount." What a beautiful lead-in to the next song, Old Friends. This album has the feeling of being an old friend, really. Familiar and comforting, something you'll never grow tired of, but love and cherish forever. The latter part of the album has back to back bangers with Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter, then closes with the lighthearted At the Zoo. Just one pleasant surprise after another. Bookends is such a masterful exhibit of beautiful songwriting. Ahh, I could go on and on. This is a perfect album.

I can’t fault this album at all. It’s a perfect slice of 60’s Americana, perfectly framing the time.

true lyrical poetry. there was a reason why i was introduced to these guys in high school english. this album is based upon life, death, and existing... no doubt about it, this album would've probably broken me last year. it's a masterpiece, heavy but brilliantly written. not only are the lyrics great, but the whole mixdown as well... both men are quite possibly some of the greatest contributors in the singer-songwriter folk sphere. i'm in awe.

4.5/5

Another S+G mini-masterpiece with even bolder and more iconic front sleeve. First half is a wild rapidfire journey from the bookends of life with extremes such as crazy wailing synth, choir and space orchestra of Save The Life Of My Child and gushing sentimental, super-affecting strings n diced sound clip poignancy of Old Friends and Voice Of Old People plus a mission to find America along the way. Second half are just random songs plunked together with no real thread or connection but they’re all heavy hitters with indisputable classics such as Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade Of Winter. As well as being musically more daring and ambitious the lyrics are also very unique and memorable with songs about being a Kelloggs cornflake swimming in a bowl and elephants at a zoo that are kindly but dumb.

Classic

Exceptional. What it must have been like to listen to this when it came out with tracks of people speaking! Paul Simon is a true genius.