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.

“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

i lost all melinin after listening to this

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.

random documentary in the middle?????

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Amazing from start to finish I loved every minute of it!!! Almost all the tracks are going onto my playlist. Save the Life of My Child was beautiful , then I really loved everything especially Old Friends and A Hazy Shade of Winter.

Just brilliant. A huge variety of music, all well produced and edited. I think the section of elders voices was too long, and it ruined the flow. Still, I wish I had heard this as a whole album years ago instead of just bits and pieces.

Simon and Garfunkel got back together just in time to remind us of their original glory.

Yaaaaaasss. And also slay…. This was so beautiful and fresh. A lot of the songs from here do not feel like they’re from as long ago as the sixties (that’s the second time I’ve said that in a review this week…maybe they were onto something back then). Specifically “Save the Life of My Child” and “Fakin’ It” felt much more recent, maybe because of the production or non-instrument effects. I love the interlude in the middle, and I imagine back then that was less common and would’ve been a really special thing to hear in the middle of a record. Truly the original SZA’s grandma on Ctrl. I think I’ll have to relisten to this again to really process the life stages narrative and pay more attention to the lyrics; I’m sure my appreciation for it will only grow because I already enjoyed which lyrics I was able to catch. “No good times, no bad times / there’s no times at all, just the New York Times” probably went crazy in 1969. Side note: I love that “Punkie’s Dilemma” provided another addition to the already vast Paul Simon Wishing He Was An Inanimate Object cinematic universe. I need someone to make a no-context super cut of him saying stuff like that. “Wish I was an English muffin” “I’d rather be a hammer than a nail” “Wish I was a Kellogg’s cornflake” literally this man is always wishing he was a little object. Paul I think you should just be yourself <3 Best tracks: Save the Life of My Child, Fakin’ It, Overs

Loved it, reminds me of listening to Gold 60’ Sundays on the radio with my mom. Wasn’t a bad song on the album but stands out for me were: Mrs Robinson (an all time favourite of mine), Save the Love of My Child is amazing and really enjoyed At the Zoo to finish it off.

Bookends has been my favourite album on this list so far, a brilliantly crafted album that encapsulates Simon and Garfunkel's unique ability to nibble playfully on your ears with their charming, folkish rock (not to mention how much Art Garfunkel's hair tickles). Whilst at the same time they slap you around the chops with lyricism, metaphors and imagery far more introspective and poignant than you expected at first glance. A bit of audial slap and tickle, that I'm absolutely on board with. From the effervescent youth and hopefulness you feel in "America", to the inescapable nostalgia and reflections that come with old age in "Old Friends"... to the abstractly whimsical and drug filled turmoil Punky is in, in "Punky's Dilemma", caught between having to decide to go to war.. or try and dodge the draft... and ultimately just wishing he could escape into the cereal bowl in front of him. The album, aptly named 'bookends', covers the inevitable good/bad, light/dark, youth/ageing that 'bookends' life. This to me felt a little bit like listening to the Beatles if they'd grown up a bit and packed some of the acid in.. the music and messaging is far more cohesive and yet still delivered in a way that I really enjoyed. The Beatles by comparison, make music akin to anal sex, novel.. experimentative maybe.. but ultimately a bit of a mess and frankly, not worth the hassle. S&G is by no means plain missionary... but I didn't get to the end of it and find myself thinking.. "This is shit". 5/5 will listen to this again.

Music.

Wow. This just has so much emotion to it. There’s a lot of variety in that aspect to be found here. Paul’s lyricism and Art’s vocal mix amazingly well together. The lyricism is just so moody and meaningful. There’s so many highlights on this album. The track that consists of old folks speaking even hits, I think that says a lot about this album. “America” is about Art’s trip across America with his girlfriend, it’s amazing and very heartfelt, like a lot of this album. “Mrs. Robinson” is just iconic. After watching The Graduate and revisiting this song, it helps me realize how great it really is. This album just sounds so great. The guitar arrangements just sound so moody and calming. “Bookends Theme” is a great example of that. The fact that all of this is just under thirty minutes is incredible. This album is just a classic, in folk music and music in general. Simon and Garfunkel really did hit it out of the ballpark here. This is some of the best that i’ve heard from them.

Just goes to show how much these 2 can make some excellent folk tunes. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 5. It is getting a little hard to praise Simon & Garfunkel after listening to three albums of theirs, but this is a pretty damn good album. The big highlight is obviously the first 7 tracks and the mini-narrative of the fragility of life at all ages, whether it’s at your youngest or your oldest. “Voices of Old People”, while less of a track and more of a documentary-esque look at the elderly, is a genuine standout to me here, if only for being a really strong example of a track built for “serving the narrative”, especially so for 1968. The way that leads right into Old Friends and the subsequent reprise of Bookends flows perfectly, and it really solidifies those first 7 tracks as something kinda special. If I have any “complaint” about the album, I guess I just wasn’t as engaged by everything else. None of the last 5 tracks are bad; Fakin’ It is pretty fun, with a great tempo and a good hook. Punky’s Dilemma is a goofy sort of Sesame Street-esque cut about avoiding the draft. Mrs. Robinson is obviously the big commercial standout of the back half, and it’s pretty catchy, even though I’ve never seen the movie it’s based on. A Hazy Shade of Winter is probably my favorite one there; it feels distinctly like Simon & Garfunkel’s style and production, even with the rock & roll stylizations thrown in. It could’ve totally fit into the “Bookends” part of the album without a hitch. At the Zoo is charming, if a bit cheesy, and a slightly odd choice to end the album on. They’re all great tracks, but as their own side, they just weren’t as compelling to me as their own set of songs as the Bookends half was. Either way though, it’s a great 30 minutes; Paul Simon’s songwriting chops are on full display here, and there’s really not a missed beat throughout. I do wish the “Bookends” portion of the album had a little more to it. Hell, it could’ve taken up the entire album and I wouldn’t have complained one bit. As it stands, I just enjoyed this a lot, and it’s another damn good Simon & Garfunkel album. No complaints giving this a 5.

:D!

This album is really good. Side 1 is a bit more experimental with "Voices of Old People" but it fits well within the context of the album. Side 2 is basically all excellent songs. The harmonies are fantastic as always from Simon & Garfunkel. The instrumentation is interesting as well. The only knock on this album might be that it's a bit short!

Save the Life of My Child // America // Old Friends // Mrs Robinson // A Hazy Shade of Winter // At the Zoo //

An easy 5? I’m not sure but I really liked life while listening to this album. This one made me remember the gift that exists within beautiful art. (5, but would like many more listens in this lifetime)

👍

Epic!!!

One of the greatest

my headphones died the minute i finished this album and i'm devastated because i was going to replay it all day :(

I liked it a lot

"Bookends" is the fourth studio albums by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. The first side is in the concept album format style exploring the life cycle journey from childhood to old age. The second side has songs which were previously singles or unused martial from the movie "The Graduate." The lyrics on side one deal with youth, disillusionment, relationships, old age and mortality. It did well commercially hitting #1 in both the US and UK. Critically, it was cited as their breakthrough moving them to the forefront of the 1960's counterculture movement (alongside others). The album begins with the short acoustic guitar instrumental "Bookends." This song leads to the pyschedelic "Save the Life of My Child." Electronic and a moog synthesizer. I wasn't expecting Pink Floyd and Sgt. Peppers but here it is. Youth and drugs, violence and suicide. A dark interesting song. They continue the Sgt. Peppers' theme with a very Beatle-esque drum beat in the wonderful "America." Acoustic guitar, a flute and an organ. Great lead and backing vocals by the duo as they describe two young lovers as they take a bus to physically see the country they feared has disappeared. Side one comes full circle or cycle and ends with "Bookends." This time with vocals. "Fakin' It" opens the singles-laden second side. Acoustic guitar and a handclap beat. They like the use of the handclap. Simon's mulling over his insecurities and shortcomings. Soaring vocals at the end. Acoustic guitar, bass and another handclap-shuffle beat musically anchor "Mrs. Robinson," written for "The Graduate." The "do-do- do's" and "da-da-da's" are an homage to the Beatles' '"I am Walrus." I do like the Lemonheads' punkish version. I also like the Bangles' version of "A Hazy Shade of Winter" but this original version is pretty great too. Great guitar riff and harmonization. Tambourine, congas, horns and strings. One of the better songs capturing the mood of the title. This may be my favorite Simon & Garfunkel. The first side is definitely influenced by the Beatles. They use strings, horns and synths but in no way is this baroque and they settle in to their unique folk-rock sound. There are are short, tight songs and I always appreciate the shorter albums doing this challenge. This one clocking in at 29 minutes. I didn't mind the disjointedness to some extent of the concept-album and single album sides. The quality of the songs stands out. A very strong recommendation from me.

Me gustó más de lo que creí, además hay algunos temas que me conocía de antes

Americas Mrs Robinson

Gehört zum Soundtrack meines Lebens!

I was loving it until we got to "Hazy Shade of Winter" and was disappointed to see it was the second last song. Guess we'll start from the beginning again....

With the sheer massive volume of the list, I feel a certain pressure to “keep up” with my listens. I want to listen to my new album every day. I want to stay on top of the process. In reality, I fall behind and the list stops. Many times it’s just from life, but sometimes it becomes I can’t get past an album. Bookends is that album. I absolutely love it. I keep listening over and over. I love the melodies. I love the lyrics. I love the old people talking. These men put out so much fantastic music, but as an album, it’s hard to surpass this. I’m awarding them the elusive 5 stars rating. Congratulations, Simon and Garfunkel! I think you two will make it!

"Honey - they're on pot." A personally-formative album (this one's for Cordie) - one of the ~5 or so records in my parents' collection that I learned to read from and love music all at once as a toddler. I still have little tinges of remembering how a few parts of songs scared me at age 2 (the voices, sound fx, something in "At The Zoo" that only would make sense to a 2yr old), this was the "freaky" S&G album - bonus points for that which help earn it a score of timeless utter perfection. Experimental, weirdly unpredictable for a "folk duo" and definitely a few echoes of Sgt. Pepper in terms of use of the studio as an instrument. I'll just leave it as perfect, including the quick running time. 10/10 5 stars

what a pair. one of the best songwriters ever and garfunkel.

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOLY HEAVENS

I had heard a number of the singles from this album but never in the album in its entirety. I really enjoyed it and listened to it twice

it was good

Classic album.

Easily one of my favorite albums.

Incredibly brief, but also efficient. The only thing that could be described as filler is when the old folks talk, but that track sets the mood to an extent. It’s not as good as Bridge Over Troubled Water, but it’s still very very good. With such a short playing time, every note and every word seems to have more meaning and intention. It’s powerful, it’s poignant.

old friends

Soft. Nice. I feel like the woman in an old Dove Soap advert.

My history with this album began in 1968 or 1969 at school in an end of term music lesson. This lesson was also responsible for a significant event involving a Jimi Hendrix album. That Hendrix album is also on this list so the story about that is for another time. However at this lesson I remember a teacher whose name I cannot recall introduced Bookends to the class. He also mentioned that he thought the cover photo of Paul Simon bore a resemblance to me. I did have a scissor home cut short fringe at the time but looking back I’m not sure what the exact motives that teacher had making that very ‘friendly’ comment to me! Anyhow nothing came of that apart from an unconscious seed of appreciation of this album being planted. Hendrix was more important at that time but with the release of Bridge Over Troubled Waters later on, Simon and Garfunkel really hit home. My love of that album naturally led me back to Bookends. It is now perhaps one of the most played albums I have and certainly in my all time top 10. Every track is exceptional. America and Mrs Robinson are classics. Overs is one of the best ‘break up’ songs ever. But it is the Bookends Theme and the song Old Friends which mean the most to me. Bookends theme is a beautiful melody and capable of bringing me to tears every time. As a 17 year old the lyric in Old Friends “How terribly strange to be 70” struck a chord as I could not imagine then been old but the words served as a warning of fleeting life. The lyric continued to haunt me throughout my life and was something I was aware of as the years progressed. Last year when 70 I played the song on my birthday as I always knew I would. It now gives me an intense feeling of nostalgia and lost time. Preserve your memories. They’re all that’s left you. Another poignant lyric from the album which means so much more now. Much more than an album. More a soundtrack to my life. Without doubt the best album on the list coming to me so far. 5+/5 23/8/24

This was beautiful

good

Probably my fourth favourite S&G album, but it's still incredible. Paul Simon GOAT songwriter 9/10

This is a really beautiful album, America and Old Friends are such lovely tracks. Perhaps a bit too shrill in other parts, and the old people voices a little too much. Depending on my mood this could be a 4 or 5 but I'm feeling happy to reconnect with it.

banger

Love this album.

So folky and a lot more whimsical and fun than what I expected! I hear Beatles all over this record I definitely go easier on more mellow material but this is a head above the likes of Cat Stephens

I like how they included the track of old people talking, as if to challenge the notion that everything they recorded was a work of genius. Well played, gentlemen. But the songwriting and harmonies are brilliant, and no level of kvetching will distract me from that. I mean, seriously. If anyone other than a children’s artist sang, “I wish I was an English muffin,” I would think them pretentious almost to the point of being asinine. But when these guys do it, I instead find myself agreeing that I, too, would like to make the most of my toaster.

I was thinking this one wasn’t going to be as good as the other two we’ve had, but then “Save the Life of My Child” began and I remembered how good this album is. “Fakin It” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter” are two of my favorites. While “Overs” through “Bookends Theme” are subdued, there is power in their message that gets more poignant to older I get. All the emotions are on display on this one.

America, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter - such amazing songs! It doesn’t matter that some of the other songs on the album don’t hold up. These do, and they’re genius.

Amazing

Simon and Garfunkel take LSD. I’m here for it.

Didn’t listen- will when I get home from glasto x

I own this one on vinyl, and I used to listen to just the first half of the album, "Bookends Theme" through "Bookend." I can't help but wonder, given the name of the album and songs, if this was an intended way to enjoy it. In any case, this is one of my favorite albums. It's heartfelt, mostly cohesive, and sweet. America is my favorite song from the duo, it always makes me nostalgic for road trips of yesteryear. Simon and Garfunkel were consistently good, but this is their best work in my opinion.

Excellent

This isn’t my favorite S&G album, but it still rocks.

Inventive and fascinating.

"Simon and Garfunkel's 'Bookends' is nothing short of a masterpiece. As someone who had never experienced this album before, I am utterly captivated. Each track unfolds like an Oscar-winning film, with vivid imagery conjured by the evocative lyrics. The production is outstanding, marked by bold and innovative choices that elevate the listening experience to new heights. This album is a testament to the duo's unparalleled artistry and vision."

wow. all the vibes i wanted right now

I always enjoy Simon and Garfunkel. Music that pulls in the heartstrings, interesting lyrics, but something so simple that you can have it in the background while you study and stay focused. I enjoyed the old people talking—a little slice of long forgotten life.

6/14/24 Rest In Peace Benedict, gonna miss you man that shit made me so sad. hope god is taking care of you. album wasn’t bad but when you find out news like that i’ll never forget it, love you man.

Holy shit