Bookends

No thanks

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.

Amazing

Doesn't match my taste in music

Mrs. Robinson ein Klassiker.

I really enjoyed this album!

Very peaceful. 3/5

This is not a good Simon and Garfunkel album. Honestly probably their worst. Mrs Robinson is of course a stone cold classic. But that's all there is to see here. 7/10 Disappointing

Finally a group I know.

Great songs, but the weird "remix/spoken word" songs from the first half really affect the overall experience.

3.5-4, I love S&G, and some of the greatest hits are on here, though it doesn't feel quite as consistent as an album as I expected

Some iconic tracks.

old friends

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

Had not listened to this album in its entirety previous to this project. In its entirety it feels uneven, but songs like "America" and "Hazy Shade of Winter" make it impossible to give a rating less than 4.

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

Sorry but I cringe when I hear some of their songs...while Mrs Robinson is an all time fav. It's hard to be in the right state of mind to find all of this album enjoyable. 2.5 & they are some lucky dudes to get a 3 out of me.

Odd production by a couple of strange dudes. Paul Simon is a treasure, but his Simon and Garfunkel days were musically all over the place. What’s with the bizarre talking set break on a 30 minute album? Some of the songs are magic while others are a snooze fest. This 2.5 of a compilation gets a 4 because the few songs that are enjoyable truly shine brightly.

LP

yippee yahoo type music for a Thursday morning 4/5

Man that was excruciatingly boring...

Nice archival audio

This was beautiful

Overall solid album. A bit bizarre to have a 'concept album' for 15 mins of it but enjoyed both sides.

Really liked this one. 4/5

good

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

Better than I thought it be.

Not a fan really.

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.

3.5

Simon & Garfunkel having interludes in their albums, do they think they’re the Wu-Tang Clan or something?

Mrs robinson

banger

Very chill and instruments played beautifully. Emotional. However it was also a bit boring. It’s short enough for it to not be too annoying. I can appreciate it to an extent though. Highlights: Fakin' It Mrs. Robinson

An odd album--side 1 is like a concept album with the songs flowing together, side 2 is previously released material and songs recorded for (but not used in) The Graduate. Highlights: "America" (a more traditional S&G song), "Fakin' It" (nice fingerpicked guitar, harmonies, and horn riffs), "A Hazy Shade of Winter" Notable: "Save the Life of My Child" (wow, this is a mess of Renaissance flavored Dylan, psychedelia, and weirdness. *This* is the song opening of the album‽

Simon & Garfunkel seemed to evolve from fairly simple folk numbers to the big, grandiose songs and it’s interesting to see the progression as they got a bit more experimental and veered from the folk tradition. Not all experiments work out and while this is an interesting listen throughout, the more ‘concept’ elements are less compelling on repeat listens. But the genius of Paul Simon’s songwriting comes to the fore on the album’s best moments (America and Mrs Robinson are some of music’s best moments, period) and make it a classic nonetheless.

I could, and possibly should, have stopped listening after the first 5 or 6 tracks. The track of old people just talking - what the fuck is that all about? The last couple of tracks were better though. I've never really understood the love for Simon and Garfunkel, and this album has done nothing to help in that regard.

I appreciate what they were attempting with this album... but there are better S&G albums for sure.

Lidt kort men hyggelig

I was expecting to know and like most of these songs, but this album was pretty underwhelming

I've always enjoyed this duo, so probably going to inflate this score, but I like the Mrs. Robinson track enough to give this a good score. Would listen again many times.

America and Mrs. Robinson are absolute monsters. A Hazy Shade of Winter was wonderful as well. But WTF was Voices of Old People? The rest was ok to good, but not as great as I was expecting.

I keep forgetting most of this album. It's not bad but I much prefer their followup, Bridge Over Troubled Water. Like all of their albums though, there are some amazing songs to be found here.

It's crazy how these guys sucks individually, but together they make such magic they could cure world hunger.

When these two guys are together, they reach the magic touch for writing amazing folkish/pop songs. How can someone dislike that?

Idk I see a lot of people hating on this, and some of their criticisms made me burst out laughing like: “this record made me lose all the melanin in my skin” which there is something to be said for. But I was going in thinking it would be a bit more of a straightforward folk album than it was. When the synth bass blasts in on “Save the Life of My Child” I was immediately hooked into the psychedelic and adventurous instrumentation and ambitious concept idea. Sounds like the first side of the record could have come out today from a modern folk rocker. It’s not perfect, the last few songs on the second side were a little looser and less tied into the concept but easy listens. The whole thing doesn’t even run over a half an hour so there’s not enough self-indulgence to get annoyed over haha. Solid listen and changed my mind a bit about what simon and Garfunkel’s sound really is :)

Tunes: America, Faking it and mrs robinson. Mrs R is a classic obviously. I didnt really dig the album. It was OK but i was expecting more out of my first S&G album.

I think the way the album sounds as a whole is not good. I think bookends theme, an hazy shade of winter, and Fakin it are the most decent songs of the album yet they are still very forgettable. It’s a shame I wish the album pacing was not so poor and overall it ends up sounding messy. I don’t think i would revisit this album especially with save the life of my child and the voices of old people which were hard to listen to.

Solid folk rock

Favourite tracks: America; faking it; Mrs robinson

# 291 : One classic song does not make a good album. Very ordinary. Best song on here for me was Mrs Robinson.

It was alright. I like Paul Simon’s music , even though if this genre is not really my style, and I found this album to still be just okay. Besides Mrs Robinson, maybe 2 other songs stood out for me

Good album. Mrs. Robinson is a great track.

Mostly enjoyed this but there are a few lows that bring it down - the old people chatting bit is weird, and the song about wanting to be a muffin is a bit of an oddity. Some good songs (Mrs Robinson of course is a classic) and some less good so 3* feels fair

It's okay. Good even, I think I enjoyed the other album more and as always I prefer solo paul simon America is an amazing tune It's somewhere in the 3 range

Mrs. Robinson (the Lemonheads' version is better) and Hazy Shade of Winter (I prefer the Bangles' version) are the only songs I enjoy on this album. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for depressing lyrics and slow acoustic guitar, but I'm not a fan of this album.

Bunch of dorks from New York thinking they can make music (they can). Need to rewatch the Graduate.

Simon & Garfunkel had higher highs than this. Perhaps it's unfair to judge them against themselves, but the songwriting just seems a bit weaker here. Still quite good, though; my favorite track may be "A Hazy Shade of Winter."

A great American pop record. Beautiful vocals and arrangements. A few classic songs. Solid! 4/5

Boring

pretty good... voices of old people was the best song hands down

got this album on the filter last time hazy shade of winter was a banger

Love this album.

Good old Simon Garfunkel. 3.5

6/10 Not my choice

track 3 america is so good

Better than Dylan

This is an oddity and an album that I have never heard before. It has three classics (America, Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter), quirky songs about zoo animals and extended sound clips of old people talking. Not what I would pick for a great album, especially one less than half an hour in length.

I generally love Simon & Garfunkel, but this album is a bit disappointing: very short and really too much fillers for such a short album. It is saved by its hits, but I was expecting better from them.

Pretty classic and a solid album for sure. Some timeless songs on this one.

More of a complex album from the folk duo. Not too bad. “Hazy Shade of Winter” was a favorite song from this album.

5.5/10 Nije moj đir, ali dosta dobro funkcionira kao pozadinska glazba scene kako sjedim na prozoru, gledam vjetar kako puše i pijem topli kakao. Favs: Fakin' it, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Mrs. Robinson

As of the last S and G appearance on this list, I love it. I gave the last album a five star rating, but I was pretty drunk when I listened, so I’m comfortable with a sober 4 here.

I like it enough.

More of what you'd expect from these two, their formula works for me and there were a couple of standout tracks on this one

Shorty but punchy album with some good songs. Probably a 3.5 but will tilt it to the 4 side.

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

great vibe - reminds me of my mum and thats nice just a chill time happy with it

A great album. Brilliant

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.

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.

Наверное, один из лучших их альбомов.

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.

Fairly solid but not very cohesive

Not their best album.

Phew. Uhm. Not sure how this is really an album, to be honest. One vinyl side of concept, followed by a collection of non-album singles and miscellaneous songs. Liked it more than I thought I would, but it's still Simon & Garfunkel, a duo that certainly earned its place, albeit not necessarily in my frequently played artists playlist.

Sounds very familiar of course. Great songwriting, great vocal harmonies. Just not for me. Too goody-goody and too reminiscent of priests.

Paul brings the library, Art haunts it, a unique recording.

Old Friends. They truly built a piece of art. I’m not a major fan or anything but this is undeniable. Truly a case study in a nice sized bite of a melodic, flowing album production

was good nice and humble

Amazing

An Oldie, but Goodie.

Pretty trippy!

Bangers: Mrs. Robinson (of course) Really like Mrs. Robinson and a few more of the singles on side 2 but it didn't grab me as a whole. Which is weird. I thought it would have grabbed me more knowing their stuff.

Distinctive mood, atmospheric album. Surprisingly short.

I’ve only ever heard one Simon and Garfunkel song. It’s not really my thing the songs are a bit weird.

Not fond of it.

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

Second Simon and Garfunkel album. This one is not as good as Bridge but shows signs of their greatness. 4/5

Toca por primera vez escuchar un disco de Simon & Garfunkel. Desde el comienzo se lo nota diferente a las canciones sueltas que ya ubicaba. Se plantea como reflexivo desde su concepto y su música folk pero con algo de experimentación. Cargado de sonidos sesentosos desde sus guitarras, voces y teclados (particularmente en Fakin' It), además del clasicón eterno que es "Mrs. Robinson". Lindo disco.

lovely lads and lovely songs

A classic album though it’s got some filler (spoken word recording of old folks, Voices of Old People is a drag). Still, Bookends contains some of the greatest songs in S&G’s discography. I’d argue America is one of the best songs of the 20th century, period. I was impressed by the Moog synth and electronic textures of Save the Life of My Child—atypical for S&G’s sound and pretty out there for 1968 as well.

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

I love them, but I didn’t love this. Only really 2 amazing tracks and the rest of some of it feels a bit lazy or silly.

If you take the Bookends tracks away, and don’t count the song that is just a lot of talking, there aren't too many actual songs here. Those that are there are average to great.

3 stars

As I turn 50 tomorrow, listening to a concept album about aging seems appropriate today. It taps into the melancholy of aging. As I listen to some songs, I can see the piles of memories already tossed in a pile to sort through later. It’s an interesting hodgepodge. Voices of old people, theme songs, and huge hits. Sometimes, I’m not sure they all fit together, but it was a nice ride.

I must admit - I have heard plenty of Simon and Garfunkel over the years going back as far as I can remember - but I don't think I have ever heard an actual S&G album. My experience has always been either on the radio or through the lens of a greatest hits collection. A much different way to experience them. While I know half the songs on the album they feel different when presented as they are in a song cycle about aging (at least the first half of the album) and this all kicks off - after the bookends theme - with Save the Life of My Child. Let's just say - not what I have come to expect from S&G. And that trend continues with the aptly titled voice collage Voices of Old People. Ultimately this plays a bit like two sides - the first side song cycle and the what feels more like a hodgepodge on side two. A good hodgepodge - Hazy Shade..., Mrs Robinson and At the Zoo - all great tracks. But I may go back to the greatest hits...

Some real all-timers on this. The concept album parts of this are a bit clunky (and stupid) even if the idea itself is nice.

Bit of a mish mash

Didn’t enjoy this one - much better albums by these two out there

My least favourite S&G album. Apart from the main well known hits, the rest is a bit dull.

mm...fine ok i;ll listen to it! but they are NOT my style band.....

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.

I listened to this twice through and was rather intrigued by its composition as an album. The first side of the album is the bookends concept album, while side two is already released singles and unused material for the graduate. I'm not sure if this sort of thing was common at the time, but I do find it odd, and I wish there was more of the concept album personally. That being said, I found myself a lot more satisfied with the first side of this album compared to PSRT. They knit together the songs well, and I felt like they went a little more experimental with side one, which really pays me off for me. The opening track has some stunning synth in it that surprised me with how well it sets the tone of the rest of the album. I'm an absolute sucker for sound collages, and "Voices of Old People" is so heartfelt and fits right in with the theme of the album. Side one as a whole really flows well and every song is satisfying. I'm realizing more and more how important it is to me to feel like an album isn't just a collection of singles. PSRT kinda gave me that feeling, and so, it was hard to give it a four. This album does better, but the second side feels far more like PSRT than the first side. After reading about this album a bit on Wikipedia, it seems that Simon himself didn't really think much of the second side either. Regardless of how strongly or weakly I consider the composition of the second side, I can still see myself coming back to this album, at least for the first side. A slightly weak 4 for this one.

Little to slow and mellow for me.

Excellent

It was definitely not their greatest hits. Some good stuff, some stuff I didn't care for.

I could probably listen to “Bookends Theme” on repeat. The transition from it to “Save the Life of My Child” was pretty cool. I like the sound of “Save The Life of My Child” but the sound coupled with the story is surprising. I’m not a huge Simon and Garfunkel person but I do prefer this over Bridge Over Troubles Water. I like the experimentation and the production of this one.

OK. Prefer their later stuff

The songs I knew are classics. The others are not.

Folksy.Hello Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter. 3/5

Another household name in music history I know nearly nothing about and I wonder how this could be. Absolutely great album. Without the sleeper songs this would've been the perfect score

This is my second Simon & Garfunkel album to review, after Bridge Over Troubled Water, which I absolutely loved. I have high expectations for this album, and can't wait to dive into it. I was immediately surprised and hooked in by the synthesizer parts on "Save the Life of My Child." This was not a sound I was expecting on this album, but I really loved it. The lyrics were great too, and this song was a great addition to the Bookends theme. The rest of the first side of the album was more in line with what I'd expect from Simon & Garfunkel. The songs were beautiful musically, and the songwriting was great, but nothing else really stood out to me. "Voices of Old People" fit with the theme of the album, but was certainly an odd choice. I enjoyed the second side of the album a bit more than the first side. "Mrs. Robinson" might be one of the best songs ever written. The guitar melody, Paul Simon's vocals, and the light percussion have made this song such a staple for over fifty years now. The lyrics are fantastic as well, and every time I hear it, I feel the emotions that I associate with The Graduate. It's just a perfect song in every way. Heading into this album, I wasn't a big fan of the original version of "Hazy Shade of Winter," but I've now been won over to see how great it is. I'm pretty sure I heard The Bangles' version first, which I absolutely loved, with it's nervous dread portrayed through the alternating pounding of the drums and blistering guitar melody. Simon & Garfunkel's version conveys dread as well, but it's not so much a nervous dread, but more of a sense of a fate that can't be avoided, like a criminal awaiting sentencing. The tambourine getting a bigger role in the percussion really adds to the mood, and the less frantic guitar playing puts more emphasis on each note, which I really enjoyed. The rest of the songs on side 2 were really good too, and I felt like this side of the album didn't feel as one-dimensional. I didn't enjoy Bookends as much as I enjoyed Bridge Over Troubled Water, but I still really liked it, and I think it's a great album. I used to listen to a lot of classic rock when I was younger, and I regret that I didn't spend more time listening to these two.

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

boring

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."

Really like the guitar in this one. Otherwise it was pretty nice but nothing to write home about.

This is very good but I don't think it's their best album - there's a cobbled-together feel to side 2.

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.

Half a concept album, half a collection of killer singles, a similar dynamic to The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" record. Funny enough, just like on that one, there is barely any filler on here. Paul Simon's songwriting is magnific, songs like "Old Friends" have some of the best lyrics i've heard in a while. I'll say that this, to today's standards at least, is far from a grand concept album, but i really like how the first side depicts coming of age with each subsequent song dealing on topics relevant to an older age than the previous one. Cute record, i really like it.

Good album but I have heard for so long its one of the best ever that it just doesnt live up to the hype. I lime it dont get me wrong and the last stretch is amazing with mrs robinson and hazy shades (which the bangles covered and made it better.) Great songwriting and pretty innovative stuff for the time.

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.

Note really interested in grown men whispering to me. 2.18

Never heard this start to finish- lotsa hits! Enjoy

it's okay, couple of good songs, rest is meh

The last three tracks are great (i.e., Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, and At the Zoo). The rest I found boring. 3.3 stars rounded down.

Holy shit

But why are the giraffes insincere?

Not something I'd probably go out of my way to listen to, but not an unpleasant listen. Not a bad background to have for 30 minutes.

-such a calm album -great songwriting -good concept -the concept is used really well throughout side A -for a folk (rock) album, it can increase pace and make the songs more rhythmic, especially on side B -definitely an album I would spin again from time to time -favorite songs: America, Overs, Old Friends (<3), Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson (<3), A Hazy Shade of Winter (<3), At The Zoo -least favorite song: Voices Of Old People

This is a weird album. I read it it was supposed to be, fractured, schizophrenic. Doesn’t lend itself to repeat listening imo.

A little strange with the text part in the middle but overall good.

Real good

This sounded a lot more like the Beatles than I was expecting. Some slow parts weren't great but everything else was pretty good. The Sound of Silence sample was interesting. Low 4.

love this. also im always confusing Paul Simon w/ Peter Gabriel I dont really know why.

Kinda weirdly wavery but still good 7/10

7/10 - It was quite a good album. I really like Paul Simon so I had a feeling I would enjoy it but the songs were just nice to listen to and pretty relaxing.

I always thought these dudes just made boring shit for old people. This was kinda that, but it was good, and I liked it way more than I was expecting to

not my thing

Everyone knows the tracks America, Mrs Robinson, and Hazy Shade of Winter from this album, but Save the Life of My Child was the surprise favorite on the album for me, especially having never heard it before. Voices of Old People felt a little out of place with the rest of the album, especially being in the middle of it.

Really enjoyed this! Wasn't really paying attention to the lyrics, but there were some really cool melody lines or other surprises that kept the album interesting. 4/5

A 3rd S&G album! I like it, not as solid as the other 2.

Two good tracks and a load of sixties badness.

Brilliant!

Annoying. EMR: 3/5

Em sap greu perquè aquest àlbum té dues de les meves cançons preferides, però alhora crec que no funciona tan bé com hauria

Pretty and mellow. A quick listen

Melancholy

Amazing songwriting and storytelling. But the Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter will always be my favorite!

I have never really been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel. I find the music slow with no build overall. This album was different and all over the place, save the life of a child was different from what I was expecting, and Mrs Robinson is clearly a classic. Voices of old people was not really needed but I guess it led into old friends nicely. Favourite song: Mrs Robinson feels like an easier answer to this but it’s the right answer!! Least favourite: Voices of old people and old friends Album artwork: Great cover

For the first time in my life, I put on a Bangles album today. I needed to hear their cover of Hazy Shade of Winter because it is so much better than the version on Bookends (those tiny trumpets!). This album cover is a classic I would love to parody sometime. The material here is a bit uneven and gets pretty random after a bit and the production feels haphazard and dated in many respects. The highs are quite high (America) and the lows are low (whatever the name of the second tune is).

Listening to this album makes me realize the only Simon & Garfunkel I've ever really listened to has been their hits (and everything from "Sounds of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water"), so it's really nice to hear something new (to me) and (occasionally) different from a great vocal duo. And a concept album to boot! (Well, side A, at least; "Voices of Old People" is a hoot) I'm not sure how much new ground they covered in this album, musically or lyrically, but I enjoyed it. And now I know where the full-length version of "Mrs. Robinson" first appeared! (And to be honest, this album would have been a 3-star rating without "Mrs. Robinson")

Sometimes a little too "concept" heavy (eg Voices of Old People and Old Friends in particular). Bookends the song / theme is beautiful, and throughout they punch up their folksy acoustic sound with bright electric bursts of great pop. Hazy Shade of Winter is so so good, it alone warrants the 5

Wasn't into the beginning half of this album but the latter half was amazing. 4/5. Saved 5 out of 12 songs

I enjoyed it. I thought the length is good I didn’t get tired of it. I think the mixing on the first few songs could have been vastly improved though.

relisten. do I even have to say anything? It's a classic for a reason.

It’s fine. It might’ve been better if I listen when I was a kid

Much richer, composition, moods, and lyrics than I expected. Overall highly recommend.

I knew about half of this album already, and "America" is one of my favorite S&G songs. On the first listen it dragged a bit for me and the interlude of recorded voices was strange, but the album is only 28 minutes long so I jumped right into round 2 and it came together better for me. Wish I was an English muffin 'Bout to make the most out of a toaster

I've enjoyed the odd S&G track over the years, but for me, this album was a mixture of mainly uninspiring songs interspersed with some nice musical moments. The big Moog moments in track 2 did make me sit up for a minute. Punky's Dilemma made me want to punch someone; were they on drugs? - bit funnier if so. Mrs Robinson is a bit of a tune. I'm boring myself writing this. Meh.

Curate’s egg.

Very cool, mellow music with a great energy. The Old People's Voices track was weird and off-putting, but otherwise a nice listen. Mrs. Robinson of course was great, and I forgot that S&G did Hazy Shade of Winter, which is a great song. Four stars.

This is their best work in my opinion - they do a great job of making you feel deep emotions

Mrs. Robinson carried wel

Kinda feel like this album is carried by how good Mrs. Robinson is. The rest isn’t nearly as memorable.

Warm., beautiful, and well, mostly dull. I dig S&G overall, though I preferred the 8 track that was in my childhood home, Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Short and sweet - feels a little like a holding album with odd snippets and random tracks (despite being conceived as a concept album of sorts) and some interesting psych influenced production; certainly not their best work when the duo would return strongly with their follow up and final album Bridge over Troubled Water, but hard to quibble with singalong classics Mrs Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter. I could do without the cornflake analogy but I kind of goofed on the zoo stuff.

10/10 damn, I wasn’t expecting Simon & Garfunkel to go psychedelic, but it sounds so fucking good

oh what a time it was...

I swear, I do really enjoy Simon and Garfunkel, I just think their best moments are individual songs and not full projects (outside of Bridge). This album hosts two of my favorites from them, the ever-popular Mrs. Robinson and the underappreciated A Hazy Shade of Winter. Besides that, though, nothing ever hooked me here. It's just a bit too slow for my taste.

It's not a popular opinion, but this is not one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel albums. However, it is very good; and it does contain my favorite Simon & Garfunkel song: America.

You can start to see how experimental Paul is staring to get with some of these tracks. What a gift he is to the music world. America is a top 50 song of all-time for me.

Only few songs a like on this album

Dull, Mrs Robinson stuck out. Second half got better.

Would go great with a bowl of unflavored undercooked oatmeal

Eh

Conveniently timed

Not every song on this album is a 10/10 but the ones that are really shine. The not 10/10s are still great songs but the songwriting doesn't feel as fleshed.

Short flowing songs that keep the momentum upbeat and everything very cohesive

It was boring. I liked Fakin' It and Mrs. Robinson. But 2 of 12 songs? Nah...

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was A time of innocence, A time of confidences Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you .

Listened to this a ton as a kid. Surprised by how much I did NOT like Fakin It and Punky’s Dilemma listening to it as an adult. America is still one of my all time favorite songs tho.

Know it well. America is a choon.

Simón and Garfunkel using synths!? In 1968?!? That 2nd track really surprised me. This is a group where I know the hits, but never listed to an album. This album is a masterpiece so far.

classic!

Some real bangers on here but also some songs that today sound like a parody of silly folk music.

Some classic songs, some writing that's a little too fond of its own cleverness.

Such a beautiful album

Its a lovely album with everything that makes S&G a mainstay of Americana. Tracks 9, 10, & 11 are the standouts and singles for a reason. The rest, while listenable and perfectly enjoyable weren't exactly bangers. Would slide this into rotation on my 5-stack CD player for sure, though.

Expected to love it but kind of didn't. America and Mrs. R are classics of course, the rest of it I found pretty forgettable.

Really liked the album, many of the songs seemed timeless. I lost track of songs and got immersed into the album as a whole.

Great album (if you like that kind of stuff) with some classics as well as some stuff I hadn't heard before...

Listened Before? Y One album short of their prime, this one is pretty good. These guys captured talent-lightning in a bottle for a few years and this is one of their best albums. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: America

Medio down y aburrido. Anticuado.

The transitions, everything about this album goes perfectly. A golden era for music

Pinnacle of Simon & Garfunkel’s talents, what a fantastic album! 4.6 stars

Absolute classic! 5 big stars a lot of awesome memories for me during this time of my life

A goddamn CLASSIC. Best S&G album, in my opinion. “America” is incredible and one of my favorite songs of all time. And damn, I fucking love how they drop the album title in “Old Friends” but not in the 2 (!) songs titled “Bookend Theme.” “Save the Life of My Child” is a fun and unique song for the duo, which is a contrast to the morbid lyrics. And man, man oh man, “Hazy Shade of Winter?” Get the hell outta here, it’s a masterpiece! A+ album.

We talked about it all day!! Epic!!

One of my favorite albums of all time. I sincerely enjoy ever minute of this album and it is a masterpiece of 60s folk rock. Even the weaker songs on the album are beautiful.

Listen, I've got to get blood work in the morning for my physical and I don't need all this sugar and estrogen skewing my results. I don't loathe these Yankee homos, but their "talent" has always been lost on a cement head Rebel such as myself. Its most redeeming virtue is that the wife enjoyed it.

i really enjoyed this one, Paul Simon’s guitar playing and lyrics were excellent. Of course the harmonies are very nice.

I've heard several of these tracks countless times, and many are among my favorite songs from this era. I don't know that I had ever listened to this album straight through, though, and it was surprising at times. The synth sounds on "Save the Life of My Child", and the cohesion of the Side A tracks compared to the relative disjointedness of Side B was unexpected.

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.

Quite a wild and daring project from these folk boys. Didn't dig it that mich I'm afraid

Mostly weird songs however I appreciate it was a short album.

Can never go wrong with “Mrs. Robinson” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter”.

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.

Das waren noch Zeiten

There's something about S&G that I can't stand. But every 15th song or so hits me in the right way. This album isn't terrible, but I still hate most of it.

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

America was our first dance song. I love it. Top 10 song of all time for me. Fakin it, hazy shade of winter, Mrs Robinson… I don’t know how you could hate this album.

It's a great album. If I didn't have to skip Voices of Old People every time, it'd be a 5.

literally laughed out loud with the backgroud noises Punky's Dilemma

Best song: Mrs Robinson Vibes: introspection, upbeat or mellow, Themes: growth

5 stars, don’t even have to listen hehe

If you want the best Simon and Garfunkel album, head straight to Bridge Over Troubled Water

I didn’t like Paul Simon’s solo album for all the reasons I LOVE this album. Great lyrics, a story from beginning to end. All around Beautiful. I really loved everything about it. Perfect little package for a sunny spring day ☀️

Mrs Robinson is 5 stars, rest is just ok

Objectively great songwriting and performance, but personally, the songs really hit or really miss.

Wow!

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.

An easy 5. Always had a soft spot for Simon & Garfunkel - melancholy might be my favourite "genre". The highlights: America, Old Friends, Mrs. Robinson, At the Zoo The lowlights: Voices of Old People Special mention to A Hazy Shade of Winter. I have no idea how many times I've listened to this song, potentially top 5 ever. It drives forward, the melody is brilliant. Tight and focused writing complementing an excellent rhythm pattern. Not wasteful - I always enjoy the sudden ending. Sublime.

Not as good as bridge over troubled water, but inoffensive enough. Mrs Robinson is obviously a classic. I quite enjoyed "At the zoo" too. Calling it 2.5, mostly because i gave bridge over troubled water a 3 and it's better than this

propaganda prop a gander proper banter is this a 5? im not sure, but it is beautiful and delightful and frail like snow, a frivolous home of wonder.

I enjoyed it 4/5 stars

Had some nice songs, but I felt like most were pretty forgettable

What an album that is still worth listening in its entirety.

A few gems but overall not their best. I imagine it won’t be their only album on this list.

i'm not sure why this Simon and Garfunkel album is on this list. several of their albums are better than this one.

Strange but unique album, crazy for 1968. Carried by Mrs. Robinson

I had quite high hopes with this since S&G are quite iconic. I get the sense they might have better albums than this, but I thought there was some good songs on this one. Notable mentions to Old Friends, Fakin’ It and Punky’s Dilemma.

I thought I knew a little more on this album, but many tracks were new to me. The big hits are the only ones I'd return to.

I don't like these guys. Not for me. Give me Simon, leave Garfunkel at home.

I’m not sure I own enough turtlenecks to like this enough to give it a five, but Mrs Robinson is an all time great and the rest of the album is fairly inoffensive and blessedly short so it snatches a four from the jaws of three.

So I love Simon and Garfunkel. But I’m learning that perhaps I love Bridge Over Troubled Water and a few of the singles and just quite like everything else. This just does quite hit as much as BOTW does. Simpsons: Yes

Found this pretty boring, despite Mrs Robinson being a tune. ⭐️⭐️

It was ok

I just love this album. America might just be the best song ever written. I never know how I feel about Voices of Old People. This whole album just feels like a vibe I’m here for. Just a bit emotional and cathartic. Would recommend

I didn't really like this album at all - felt it was silly, jarring and unsatisfying. I guess to get an appreciation of it I would need to listen to it a lot and at this stage I really don't feel like doing that.

They got the Funk(el)

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…

I really expected to enjoy this more than I did (I’ve never listened to a full Simon & Garfunkel album before, but I like their songs I’m familiar with). It was a little too scattered, a little too overwrought, and a little too poppy. Not a bad album, but a little disappointing regardless. Favorite tracks: Bookends, Old Friends, Hazy Shade of Winter (but The Bangles cover is better)

Yeah it’s pretty great. This is the music that I was raised on and I’ve always had a reverence for S&G. Listening to this music is how I learned to sing harmony. And despite the fact that this duo is deeply uncool, they remain cool in their own very specific kind of way. Have and will listen to this album frequently.

60's folk. Simon and Garfunkel are well-known to just about everybody -- I knew most of the songs on this album already. Simon's a genius as a songwriter and this is some of his finest early work.

Didn’t realise this album goes as hard as it does until this day wow

Genuinely surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. There’s some very good song writing here- I was honestly expecting some knock off Jim Croce vibes, but they give me a bit of that at times, but more so singer songwriter Beatles vibes. I don’t think the conceptual aspect of the album lands for me IMO, but this is some really chill music to throw on and vibe out to. I will deff be revisiting, I’d say this is a solid 78-79. 3.5/5

This is folky and its soft boy hall and oates. This is way different than anything. I think i just love the diversity of this record so beautiful and Hazy Shade of Winter is such a fun and interesting track. I love mrs robinson too just cause I wanna watch the graduate so bad. I knew the record was iconic but I did not realize that they touched so many genres and it really feels like the beatles in some instances. I like the bookends theme as a whole its a great motif as well :)

I’m a huge fan of S&G and have never heard this album through. It was a treat.

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.

I liked about 4 songs on this album. I found the rest to be boring and one track was just people talking in the background.

I love Simon and Garfunkel. The album Co twins some of their biggest hits. The lyrics are beautiful, especially on America. It could have been a 5 based on the quality of songs alone. However, I thought that this doesn’t really work as an album. The first side follows an interesting concept, however there’s barely any time to elaborate. The concept is abruptly ended after just 15mins and the second side is just a mix of various songs that couldn’t fit anywhere else (still, amazing songs). I wish the entire album would follow side a’s ideas instead. 4/5

Alri yeah

Love the lyricism and concept. Was more of a fan of the second half than first. A classic album but really gotta be in the mood for folk rock.

It's okay... not my jam though

It’s a damn shame these two hate each other now. Because together they were such a force of songwriting and harmony. This album displays some of their most creative and whimsical ideas alongside some of their most sincere lyrics and instrumentals. And this isn’t even their best album. Incredible! Maybe it’s just the constant harmonization but there’s something so natural about a good Simon & Garfunkel song

This was a huge surprise. I’m typically not into folk-y stuff but this album is so much more than that. Obviously knew the hits, the rest of the album is just as good if not better.

Favourites: save the life of my child, America, old friends (sounds like it's from an old Disney movie), fakin it, Mrs. Robinson. Overall pleasant, not super catchy though. High 3, low 4. I'll pick 4 because the length was very reasonable and the vibes were chill. 4/5

Got jumpscared by track 2 lol I was having a sublime time listening to Bookends Theme and they caught my ass lacking. Don't really like artists who half-speak half-sing during a melodic part of the song because if u cant sing just admit it and do rap or something. Except they can sing so idk why they do it. Way too many fadeouts for my tastes, but at least it sort of flows into the next song lol. Not my favourite Simon & Garfunkel album but it wasn't bad at all. 3/5 i guess. Favourites: VOICES OF OLD PEOPLE YESSSSSS PLEASEEEEEE MORE BRO YESSSSSS I LOVEEEEED IT YESSSSSS, America, Mrs. Robinson

I feel like Simon & Garfunkel is an artist where I'm always surprised by the fact that I like their music, but I really do enjoy their work. This album had a very nice calming sound with some happy melodies and folk-y instrumentals. Cool songs overall, except for the one that one "song" in the middle that took its title way too literally and kinda ruined the vibe. It was a sweet but I'm generally not a fan of hearing non-music interludes or skits on an album, so it honestly brought my rating down to 4 stars. Big fan of the 29 minute runtime though. Favourite songs were Save the Life of My Child, America, Old Friends, Mrs. Robinson, and A Hazy Shade of Winter

Staan niet de leukste nummer van Simon & Garfunkel op, maar nog steeds wel goed. Mrs. Robinson blijft een banger

simon en Art, toppertjes

Prima, vind Simon & Garfunkel altijd beetje saai America is wel mooi ofzo, en Mrs Robinson is een klassiekertje Maar voor de rest niet heel bijzonder

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

Mrs Robinson was okay and the rest was incredibly boring

Enjoyed this a lot - very soothing

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.

I am irrationally bothered by the fact that this is referred to as a concept album when it feels like they gave up on the concept half way through a 30 minute runtime. I won't go below a 3 because neither side is bad and I love A Hazy Shade of Winter but I was close.

Just alright

Good

Great album 3 stars

The album mostly passed my by in a blur of nothingness

A quirky little album. "Voices of Old People" is certainly not a banger, but it did force me to stop and listen to what the voices had to say. "Old Friends" is a really beautiful song. I guess "Mrs. Robinson" is the big hit from this, and it definitely has that Simon and Garfunkel sound, but it doesn't blow me away compared to the other songs.

yeah

Except for Mrs. Robinson, this was unforgettable to me.

The first half was like an english project but then the second half of the album was completely different. Seems like they had a 15 minute art installation then threw in some songs at the end, although it was a peaceful easy listen. America and At the Zoo are the same song, change my mind.

Another great S&G album. "Save the Life of My Child" is a pretty strange song for the duo, I wonder if they caught a whiff of the psychedelia prevalent in the music of the time. There's nothing that sounds like this on "Bridge Over Troubled Water". "America," "A Hazy Shade of Winter," and "At the Zoo" are such bops. "Old Friends" is a beautiful folk ballad. "Mrs. Robinson" is a classic and probably the first S&G song I got into after watching The Graduate in English class in high school. I think "Bridge" is more consistent than this one, but it's still a great time.

I like this album more than a bridge over troubled water, and I think I rated that unfairly last time, Cecilia has been in my head for a while. I did think it was a little back loaded, all of my favorites are in the second half. Very fun and a lot of unique elements, old people talking is great. Favorite: Punky's Dilemma 8/10

A very good Simon & Garfunkel album. Adding Mrs. Robinson to the rotation, the song is undeniably a banger.

I fell asleep listening to Simon and Garfunkel last night, happy to listen to another album. I can't describe how emotional some of these songs make me, it makes my stomach swell. They are so good at flipping between soft and crescendo. I prefer the later album, but this one is still great. Top songs: America Old friends Mrs. Robinson

Love this album. Bridge over troubled waters always hits perfectly. Probably won't come back to it for all the songs, but since it's pretty short would def give it another listen through

Not quite as impressive as Bridge Over Troubled Water, but S&G are still fantastic song writers. Light 4 Fav Songs America Fakin It Mrs Robinson

I don’t know if Simon & Garfunkel ever made a flawless album together, but Bookends is as close as they got. There’s a real sense of an Album-with-a-capital-A going on, with the orchestration and seamless transitions, with the concept narrative and high production value. The issue is that Capital-A-Albums mean songs/interludes that work in context, but not on their own. Plus, personally, I think this swooning version of S&G isn’t my preferred version of the boys; I like them quainter, a bit closer to their roots in the scene, and a little less purposefully shooting for high-brow. Still, I just love these two pretentious, precious boys dearly, so yeah, I’m a fan of Bookends.

A better album than a collection of songs, but I still prefer Sounds of Silence.