Bookends

Amazing!

Paul Simon 2 days in a row. This came out the year I was born Many great songs. Not my favorite bit still good

Probably my least favorite S&G album but still very good. 8/10

I like many songs of Paul Simon but not familiar with this album. It actually sounds quite good, but also not as poppie as I would expect. Bit boring actually. ***

Classic songs are good

Sinatra and The Kinks had me insecure for a moment that there’s something broken in me that’s incapable of enjoying music below a certain bpm, but this was totally pleasant!

mislin da bi nakon još jednog slušanja bilo bolje

Pretty much what I expected. It’s Simon and Garfunkel noodling on acoustic guitars and reciting poetry. Great music, classics, but pretty bland.

Not bad

1st February 2022 Listened while working at the table. Went to watch Cheltenham at Wimbledon in the evening with Pates lot. Enjoyed the homely, down to earth comfort that S&G excel at. There’s a humanity and lived in recognition to their music. 3.5 if I could.

Album que tem Mrs Robinson e America. Melhor música: Overs

There are quite a few Simon & Garfunkel songs I truly love, so I'm a fan. I had not listened to this album before so was unfamiliar with most tracks. It's a mix for me. Some grab me, some don't. It occasionally gets a little similar-sounding to itself, you know? I do like that they wrote and produced this is as a concept album. They were talented enough to just keep churning out pop hits forever, so I'm glad they did some exploring.

Not my favourite Simon & Garfunkel album. I like some of the songs, but there were also a few I would have rather have not on the album. Favourite songs: - America - Fakin’ it - Mrs. Robinson

This was a blast from the past. Definitely had some good sounds and songs. A couple songs had some really strange sound quality but I imagine that's because of the decade it was released.

Pretty cool soft sound. Enjoyed it a lot but the beginning was a bit out-there for me.

Comforting. Complete. Thoughtful themes. Could be a Sunday roast background for all ages?

Love S&G, such a peaceful and beautiful album

This is fine, but, I dunno, maybe I’m not deep enough for this shit. Strong finish tho

Classic emo shit.

Disco tranquilo, agradable, lo escuché mientras me ocupaba en la cocina. Supongo que Belle and Sebastian le debe bastante a ellos (?). 7/10

A lot more interesting than I thought it would be! Very enjoyable, quick listen.

Jaaaaag bli så ledsen men det är bra

Klockren, ren njutning. Konstig ljudmix inledningsvis men annars ap-mysig platta som osar behag

Alltså det är ju helt okej? Men känns som att det är ett par bangers omgivna av en del låtar som är ”okej”. America är kanon, men Yes gör den bättre O:)

Fy bövelen vad dåligt det var. Av alla låtarna var det kanske en eller två låtar som var lyssningsbara. Annars var det bara experimentellt tönteri. Håll er till folk, losers!!

Its a bit gentle for my taste and a bit background

❤️

This starts off much more psychedelic than I expected. Some interesting effects with the synths, edits into other tracks and ‘field recordings’. It feels like there a concept in there, but I am not sure what it is. None of the tunes (beyond Mrs Robinson) really grabbed me. It does pick up a little after that and Winter is a bit more lively, but the album is generally bit bland for me.

I wasn't expecting this. It's almost a Dylan goes electric moment. A BONKERS start as Save the Life of My Child crackles in. It then goes back to more folk sensibilities. They have the melodies, for sure. America is a bit of an anthem. The spoken word segments don't quite work for me. I want music, not randoms recorded on the street. Nice strings on Old Friends. Mrs Robinson is annoyingly over familiar.

THis LP is interwoven into the tapestry of my sou. It was a hand me down. It was always there. This LP introduced me to o much. I mean 'Fakin It', did that sound collage pre date Strawberry Fields, or the drum solo fade out? An ESSENTIAL LP that should demonstrate quality n songwriting, production, modrnism and protest. A artefact of 1966 but one that resonantes, classically.

Classic, a little weird and art house-ish, but I love the folk.

Good album No skips more background music throughout Good vary of slow/upbeat Best song a hazy shade of winter. 5 songs added to liked songs

Dreamy rock with some catchy tunes

Average

Such a easy listen. Very enjoyable. 3/5

Very short, but full of good songs. Pretty much what I expected from them, although "At the zoo" was a lot more whimsical than I thought. That song, hazy shade of winter, America, and Save the life of My Child were my favourites, along with Mrs Robinson

I’ve always loved this duo but had never listened to this album in full. Beautiful harmonies and exquisite songwriting.

An ashtray of cigarette butts. The splatter of slushy, dirty snow from a passing bus. A decrepit scrapbook. There’s a very unique sound on certain songs from the mid to late sixties, like 'California Dreamin,' by the Mamas and the Papas, or 'Get Together,' by the Youngbloods. And I heard it the minute the opening and title track of Bookends began to play. It’s the silent sound behind the music- a whisper of a hiss?, but not really- and it takes me right back to the latter half of the 1960s. I was 9 years old when this recording was released, still innocent, many confidences. Not looking back yet, as I would many years later, on my memories, preserved, ‘all that’s left of you.’ This is hardly an LP for a 9 year old kid. Nor is it completely for a 19 year old. Paul Simon himself was only in his mid-20s when it was released, somehow possessing a wisdom far beyond his years. I can understand how a 20 something in 1968 can write a song like 'America': ‘Kathy, I’m lost,’ I said. Though I knew she was asleep. ‘I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why.’ But how does the same age write and sing songs like 'Overs' and 'Old Friends'? By the way, this is only a review of the first side of Bookends. The second side contains unrelated and mostly unused material intended for the film, The Graduate. It’s fine. Paul Simon’s lessers are still better than a lot of song writer’s best. But the first side, conceptual in intent, is the real deal. Paul’s guitar playing often is overshadowed by his lyrics, but listen to 'Overs,' in particular. I wish I could play like that! And the arrangements throughout are splendid, including several surprising, dramatic changes in melody and tempo, not to mention the complete absence of any music at all on' Voices Of Old People' (the only ‘composition’ attributed to Art Garfunkel). But where that other concept LP from the same period, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, is described as ‘sonically colorful,’ Bookends is ‘starkly contrasted by moody black and white and gray sounds.’ I’ve always been a sucker for the minor keys. Night is falling here in Denver, CO, following a large snow storm. We are most definitely in a hazy shade in winter around here. And I’m now 62, more than familiar with disillusionment, loss, failure, bewilderment, despair, sorrow. The right age to receive what Paul has to share. I’m giving the first side 5 stars, the second side a 3, which still leaves an impressive 4. But I would’ve been just as satisfied to stop at the end of side one after a mere 15 minutes. A time it was…

Pire journée de ma vie mais l'album était bien Prefs: America, Old Friends, Bookends Theme - Reprise, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At The Zoo Moins Pref: Overs

So nice

Taustamusaa parilla hyvällä kipaleella varustettuna. Kolmonen on vähän yläkanttiin, mutta menköön

Rauhallista ja hienoja melodioita, mut sellanen tietynlainen iskukyky puuttu, että osuis sieluun

Second album I'm hearing from these guys. First heard Bridge Over Troubled Water and was incredibly impressed. Needless to say, this one too delivered in the same way. Lot's of great variety, fantastic and catchy melodies. I know I'll be coming back to listen to this album again and again.

I liked most the accoustict.

Feel like a monochromatic hippie with my acoustic guitar selling incense nearby a retirement house

It's Simon and Garfunkel, so... you can expect Simon and Garfunkel music. To each their own, and for who likes it, it's rather good, I suppose. This album particularly I thought it was not very good, although.

Great album... Holds up well from 1968

Is it trite to call this seminal? Because it definitely feels that way

Bookends comes in near the end of Simon & Garfunkel's career. Throughout the 60's, they would put out classics such as "Homeward Bound", "Scarborough Fair", and "The Sounds of Silence" (the last of which you can hear in "Save the Life of My Child"). Truly, Simon & Garfunkel had left their fingerprint in the folk world of music and beyond by this point. Being a concept album that explores a life from beginning to end, you would think that "Bookends" would also bookend their career as a duo, but as we would find out two years later, it's not quite so. Regardless, they would once again knock it out of the park with this record. Putting the odd "Voices of Old People" aside, this is a wonderful folk listen. Simon & Garfunkel harmonize so beautifully, so naturally, you'd think they were born to do it. Here, they are accompanied by occasional strings and brass, subtle in their ways that it enhances the song, instead of detracts. This album is deceptively short though, not even a full 30 minutes of songs on here. That can be forgiven though, given how nice the songs are. And how could I forget the bouncy Mrs. Robinson? Great song. I liked the album enough, but never get too excited or invested in it apart from Mrs. Robinson. Not bad at all, just not my cup of tea.

A great, weird, brief little album that includes a couple of their greatest songs, one of which is one of the great rock and roll songs of the 20th century, as well as the underappreciated gem that is Save the Life of My Child.

Strikingly simple and playful lyrics covering some dark themes. Enjoyed the pleasant guitar and smooth voices of the duo. Would give 4.5 if I could. Would listen again, and I suspect it will grow on me each time I do. Maybe when I'm a bit older I'll give this a 5 after listening to "old friends" with an old friend :)

2 frægustu lögin fín... ekki fyrir mig America og Mrs Robinson

Everyone and their parents love Simon & Garfunkel. It didn't bridge the generation gap in my case though. I've always been left trying to work out the fervent levels of reverence. 'Save The Life of My Child' not being what I expected makes it really jarring and odd, more what you'd expect from some weird late 60s prog band. Similarly 'Voices of Old People' - which is exactly that, tape recordings of old people talking for two minutes - is just bizarre. Elsewhere its sounds like expected, acoustic and folky with some nice orchestration. The 'Mrs Robinson' and 'A Hazy Shade of Winter' singles are the most immediate of the 12 songs

Supposedly a concept album, but I can't discern the story because the shadow cast by the singles is too long. Yeah, it's about "age", I guess, but that's some broad brush strokes. Still, some excellent songwriting on display. Unsurprisingly, really.

The duo have undeniable pop chops, but this record is far from Bridge's heights. The songs are polished and precious stones, but so is the package they come in: Hits do not a transcendent work make.

One of their best. Has a bit of filler though.

Known this album for years. Oft overlooked is Paul Simon's textural guitar playing.

Sure, there are better S&G albums… Wednesday Morning 3am, The Sounds of Silence, Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme, Bridge Over Troubled Water…. but… I guess I’m not sure where I was going with that.

Meh

I surprisingly was not into this album at all.. I find it pretty boring, and aside from the singles, the songs just weren't that good..

Not quite a concept album, but there's a common emotion woven throughout. Wonderfully melancholic. 4.5/5

Meh.

Such a classic! 5/5

Um álbum agradável com musicas cativantes. Mas não é bem o meu estilo, deve ser da Mrs. Robinson, infelizmente não é o meu. Nota:6/10

An outstanding album, fully deserves 5 stars

Starts a bit experimental then turns into a great nostalgic album.

It's just ok. I almost feel guilty for not liking it more; people I respect rave about Simon & Garfunkel. I've tried, and I just don't get it. Even in their best songs there are awkward segments that just don't do it for me. The sweeping majesty of America pauses to add some woodwind noodling at one point. It's just not that impressive to me.

Really liked the song Fakin' It

The Sounds of Silence will forever be my favourite, but this is also stunning; wonderful songwriting and gorgeous harmonies throughout.

I enjoyed it.

the zoo song rules. overall pretty good, but weirder and fewer jams that i expected

Fav tracks: Old Friends, Bookends (reprise), A Hazy Shade of Winter, America, Overs Worst tracks: Fakin it Algunas canciones me recuerdan a los Beatles y Bowie. Ms. Robinson ya la había escuchado en el soundtrack de Once upon a Time de Tarantino (aún no lo perdono). A Hazy Shade of Winter fucking slaps

This is an okay album. Some recognizable classics. Probably won't seek it out to listen to.

A lot less sleepy than I was expecting. Great tunes!

Bit of a revelation this - shows what I know - not a whole lot!!

hello darkness my old friend

They could have called this Goosebumps. As wonderful from beginning to end as any album ever. Beautiful, a little weird, evocative, poignant. I have loved it most of my life, to the point that I don't put it on much any more for fear of getting tired of it. But I think I listened to it for the first time on a very good system, and it's even better than I remember. The drums in America. The french horns in Old Friends. The rattle in the voice of the guy who doesn't think it's an ordinary cold in Voices of Old People. The entirety of Hazy Shade of Winter. So beautiful it literally brought me to tears.

Honestly better than I expected. I was worried it would be a little bland and uninteresting at times, but it had a lot more feel than I expected. Head bopping was much more prevalent than I thought it would be, and I mostly enjoyed the slower parts as well. Overall really good.

A long time since I last heard this album all the way through. The song writing is strong and there is a degree of experimentation in the music. Overall an impressive piece of work.

I was not on enough drugs to fully enjoy this.

Too happy.

As good as you'd expect. Nice selection of tracks too. The hits are great and the album tracks often go to interesting and unexpected places. Rock solid start to finish.

Everybody always talks about "America" and "Mrs. Robinson" from this one, but this time listening the best song was "Hazy Shade of Winter" -- the lyrics, the changing rhythms, the exciting music. Also "At The Zoo" made me think of certain days in high school that I haven't thought about in years, and that was god.

Really enjoyed this. Mrs Robinson still sounds fresh. Was not expecting synths!

Definitely suffers from following up Revolver. I think S&G will always be a greatest hits band for me. America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade Of Winter are all fantastic, but some of the slower tracks just feel really insipid.

Interesting to learn about the history

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.

Done 4 out of 5

Pleasant to start then lost its way with atonal noodling in the middle!

Perfect example of songwriting and singing.

Great album, haven't listened start to finish in so long, great album

They're on pot.

"Fakin' It," "Hazy Shade of Winter," and "At The Zoo" are great tracks. The rest were kind of boring.

3.5

one good song

Not great

Mostly utter shite.

Fine folk

weird

its alright album, i guess it has a theme but the old people 'track' is a little bit odd

I'm torn on this one. Whilst not wanting to play it again, I did enjoy the second half quite a bit. The first half was certainly experimental, and unfortunately, some of those experiments didn't seem to work. Saying that, it was a lot better than the Simon solo album I had to listen to 2 days ago!

Good but also generic.

Buen disco, esperaba más

All of the classics are at the end of the album. One track is just recordings of old people. Basic stereo used and often feels unbalanced. I can understand why people take comfort from these songs and best of all they don't just sing about love.

Save The Life Of A Child is a cool way to start off. The production quality gives the album this sheen. Great dynamics on Old Friends. Punkys Dilemma gets overshadowed by the meteoric hit that is Mrs Robinson. a Hazy Shade of Winter has the sounds of a single that never took off.

Not good

4/5

While this is still definitively a S&G album, the wealth of influences it incorporates within their iconic sound pushes it well beyond their past output. The brash synths, upbeat orchestrations, and more sinister compositions here all build into an album that changes face with every track but maintains a coherent throughline.

Okayish. Probably worthy of a second listen with more attention to lyrics.

dit is genieten, ge hoort ook echt dat het een ouder album is love it.

Mooi rustig album

Very good!

Not really a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel. Mr Robinson is great and I recall liking some other stuff on the Graduate soundtrack but otherwise I find them kinda boring. I can understand why this record is important and probably loved by many but for me there are too many strings and things are generally just too sweet and meandering. Though it does get a bit more uptempo on side 2. Just my preference, but I prefer folk music (and music generally) with a bit more of an edge (regardless of tempo).

Classics \"America\" and \"Mrs. Robinson\". Hallmark of the hippy era.

Now and then, I listen to an album that I used to be familiar with and I get surprised. Bookends is one of those surprises and a lot of them are unpleasant. Punky's Dilemma is a cutesy trifle--it made me gag a little. At The Zoo's heavy handed whimsy is only slightly redeemed by the sprightly 50s rock 'n roll rhythms of the chorus. A Hazy Shade of Winter is the kind of clumsy on-the-nose folk rock that might have been on Wednesday Morning, 3 AM. Overs offers a preview of Paul Simon's ambitions and pretensions, which would reek by the time he started his solo career. Perhaps the worst offender is Save The Life Of My Child, which is simultaneously melodramatic and flippant, a nauseating combination. I had never thought of Paul Simon as much of an innovator, but he does two very interesting things on this track. He uses bold psychedelic production touches, especially in the background vocals, which are bizarre in the context of a folk rock tune. It doesn't really work all that well, but kudos for the effort. Even more amazing is Simon's use of a synthesizer in 1968! Too bad it's so ugly. Much better is the sustained synthesizer tone which introduces Fakin' It. Fortunately, some of the tunes are as good as I remembered. The aforementioned Fakin' It is a cleverly composed, hooky, folk rock tune. It has an unexpected and fun horn arrangement and the fade out, which combines synthesizer and percussion, is pretty neat. Mrs. Robinson is another solid folk pop tune, with grace notes of blues and rock 'n roll. Old Friends is a low key folk tune and earns its sentiment, with a gorgeous arrangement by Jimmy Haskell and subtle production touches that gently goose the winsome mood. But best of all is America. Paul Simon plays to his strengths lyrically with his sharply observed portrait of two young people on the road. And instead of being a smart ass, he goes for honesty and vulnerability. Musically, it's a winner, too. The melody is lovely and the song structure mirrors the episodic nature of the lyrics in clever ways. Yes, of all bands, did a wonderful cover of this tune. So, how to rate? I really want to give Bookends the benefit of a doubt and score it as a 3 because it has some legitimately classic tunes, but the stinkers are pretty awful. Sigh.

It’s a quirky album with some of Simon & Garfunkel's best songs. It starts w a short bookends teaser that segues into a very loud song, by Simon & Garfunkel standards. Old Friends is a beautiful song but I prefer the live versions without the orchestration. I find the orchestration added to that song is like putting a racing stripe on a Ferrari.  I’m a little surprised that Paul Simon didn't write much over the years that had a political message or social undertone. America has a little of that with the theme that the old America is gone but the message is very subtle and diluted.  Voices of Old People  is a little bizarre. It’s like he felt he needed to make it painfully obvious to the listeners that there was a theme to Side 1 so put this "song" before Old Friends to be sure everyone would realize there was a connection between the songs. In a way it's similar to when the play Glengarry Glen Ross was made into a movie and the director invented an additional character (played by Alec Baldwin) to make sure the average movie going knucklehead would get what the plot was.  Side 2 has one major gem in Mrs. Robinson. I've liked this song for a long time but never realized  it contained the words "put it in your pantry with your cupcakes." Trust me, I'm gonna start sliding that line into casual conversation. Side 2 is strong albeit most songs  aren't well known. Songs like Old Friends, Bookends, America and Mrs. Robinson are so well known they simply sound like Simon & Garfunkel songs more than sounding like songs from a particular time. Songs like A Hazy Shade of Winter and other Side 2 Songs besides Mrs. R sound like 60s songs - good 60s songs.  The combo of hits and fun less known 60s songs makes this album a winner.

These guys invented chill.

i lost all melinin after listening to this

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

Ja, ich mag Simon & Garfunkel!

Well, I like a lot of S&G hits, but this album doesn’t do it for me. Simon himself says that the second side is full of throwaway tracks and that seems obvious to me, even if I like them more than the first side. I like the two big singles America and Mrs. Robinson of course. Fakin it and A Hazy Shade of Winter are ok, but not enough. No better than a 3/5

Nice album but not great. 3 great songs ("America", "Mrs. Robinson", "A Hazy Shade of Winter") and the rest were ok. Can't really call this a good album even though I'm a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel.

Was instantly impressed with this, despite only really knowing the hits previously. Track 2 comes in with heavy synths, and some really incredible production that sounds much more modern than I expected. Fantastic use of reverbs to create a very dynamic feel of size and space. Choice of instruments, arrangements, and musicianship are top notch. And it goes without saying that Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter. I wouldn't usually consider giving an album that I am only hearing for the first time 5 stars, but I'm so blown away by this that I have to.

First track really nice. Second not so great. Then some good tracks. They're all pleasant to listen to, though maybe some somewhat repetitive.

Fun album, although not all the songs are winners for me. Favourite songs: Mrs. Robinson; Fakin' it; A Hazy Shade of Winter; At The Zoo.

3.5 | Se me hizo un disco muy extraño, primero lo escuche sin leer nada sobre él y me dejó dudoso sobre como inicia y termina lo que sería el lado 1 y como había una pista de gente hablando... leí y vi que la idea es el album concepto de una persona desde su nacimiento a la muerte. No creo que el concepto esté muy bien centrado o cuajado. Sí, tiene los Bookends, que son agradables y dan medio ambiente, esas pistas de personas hablando y todo... pero las canciones como tal se sienten desconectadas, inicia con una canción que por un lado suena refrescante a algo que no se espera de S&G mucho más fuerte y luego pasa y regresa a una balada tal cual de guitarra lo más clásico de ellos, y de ahí no sale mucho y algunas suenan bien otras normal... las letras al poner atención sí medio hablan de cuando nace... y cuando crece y muere pero la verdad nada espectacular. Como disco concepto no me convence nada. Ahora... el Lado B, ese lado que está de sobra y se supone es música de la película El Graduado... maravilloso, clásico con las verdaderas canciones grandes de ellos que vienen en el disco... El lado que pusieron como de extra para rellenar termina a mi gusto siendo el lado mucho más relevante y su lado de disco concepto podría saltarlo sin cuidado. “Mrs. Robinson”, “A Hazy Shade of Winter” y “At the Zoo” una tras otra, maravilloso. Lo mejor del disco eran las "sobras." Buenas canciones en ese lado, como disco se siente disparatado y sin cohesión.

Nunca he sido gran fan de Simon & Garfunkel, pero sí conocía (y me gusta mucho) Mrs. Robinson. Dado que todo el álbum tiene la misma energía que esa canción, me agradó bastante. El estilo es sesentero hippie, pero sin exagerar, y con un ligero toque de folk o country. Me atrevería a decir que incluso tiene un toque de Beatlesco en algunas canciones, como precisamente Mrs. Robinson.

Por qué querer hacer un disco conceptual sobre la vida, obra y muerte a los 25 años? Si siento que está bien el disco pero el lado B está mejor estructurado y pues era el relleno.

Es un disco lleno de buenas canciones (individualmente) pero que de alguna manera no siento tan cohesivas como Paul Simon las trata de vender. O sea, se me hace difícil que un tipo de 25 años logre escribir un disco conceptual acerca de qué es la vida, ser viejo, amistades largas, etc. Eso no quita que sean melodías muy muy buenas, letras que con todo y todo tienen algo de sentido y arreglos musicales que van más allá del folk que inicialmente trataba de vender. Casi cualquiera de las rolas, con excepción de las que son frases grabadas, podría gustarme para tener en mi librería musical, por eso: 4 estrellas.

2nd best S&G album

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.

Not my favorite S & G album but it has Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade if Winter. Enuf said. 4 🌟

Fun album, I realized I actually enjoy Simon & Garfunkel's music. Can't miss an opportunity to hear a song from The Graduate soundtrack also. "Voices of Old People" threw me off a little bit.

I went in not expecting much and I was right for most of the album. However, the last three songs were really good and unlike the rest of the album. Overall it wasn't the most interesting of albums, but the last three songs saved it for me. Favorite track: A Hazy Shade of Winter

Simon and Garfunkel? Sorta terrible?

Nice and chill, just not my thing.

love these dudes. album felt short, but I guess that means it didnt overstay its welcome.

Wonderful album 5/5

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.

I can't get enough of Simon and Garfunkel. Great stuff. Not a single bad track.

What a classic! So pretty, such good music, harmonies, lyrics, everything.

iconic

I’m not sure I initially liked this album as much as Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, but the more I’ve thought about it the more it strikes me that this album is just so well crafted and has such good songs on it and is just so *interesting* that I’m going to rate it just as high even if I wouldn’t just pick it up and listen to it whenever.

Only 29 minutes long, so might as well be an EP. Still it felt like there was too much filler. The first half is a concept 'suite' and is mostly twee folksy numbers. The second half is a collection of short folk pop, ending with Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter and At the Zoo, all of which are amazing. Good enough to bring my rating up to 3 star, just.

I think even hard core fans of the duo would struggle with this one. According to wiki it’s a ‘concept album’ so read whatever you like into that. The most remarkable thing about this album is that it topped the Billboard 200 in 1968. I can only guess that it was bought on the strength of their previous works particularly the graduate which was of the same year. I imagine the vast majority of those who bought it were greatly disappointed and immediately filled it at the back of their record collection, never to be played again. 1 star is too many.

Think I've drunk the kool-aid on this one

❤️❤️Simon and Garfunkel

beautiful, happy, mixture of mellow and energetic songs, concept album representing life

This album was good. Solid album from start to finish, although most of it didn't really stand out for me. 3.5-4/5 stars.

Obviously has some all time great songs on it; the interludes on an album that's barely half an hour seem kind of strange to me.

Some are good, some meh

An absolutely gorgeous album. Sensitive, beautiful, unique, it's everything!

Nevjerojatno kako je album kliknuo nakon drugog slušanja. Jednostavno album za tmurnije, kišne dane kao što je 13.04.21' bio, jesenski album, gdje je hladnije vrijeme i strijepiš kad ćeš doć svom toplom domu. Sve pjesme su dobre, drugi dio album je bolji za nijansu, ali da moram bar jednu pjesmu izbaciti to bi definitivno bila "Voices of Old People". Možda ima tu neku smisao, al jednostavno mi je nepotrebna tbh. 4.22/5, zaista fin album. Ne bih se čudio da album nabavim na vinylu u skorašnje vrijeme.

Alvin i Teodor >>> Simon ovdje

Best song: Save The Life Of My Child Worst “song”: voices of old people

Takes a while to get going (America aside) but there’s enough hits here to make it worthwhile.

the famous Mrs Robinson Song is on the album. besides: not my sound

The melodies are amazing, love this combination between rock and folk. I can feel really identified with some lyrics, which makes me love this album even more

Has a couple of classics and some dross.

pretty good, enjoyed Hazy shade of winter and America

Nice melodies

I don't think I like this album very much, too "artsy" for me. Liked a couple tracks tho.

*i love them and this album *a few short interludes of talking/everyday noises *love folklike sound

Its simon and Garfunkle

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!

Great. Not my favourite Simon & Garfunkel album though.

Some classics in this album.

The more I hear of Simon & Garfunkel the less that I like them. I won't deny they have some classics (Mrs. Robinson on here) that I like but the rest of their music is not for me

Great album!

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!

I love me a good concept album, and the A side delivered handily. The B-side was a little more hit-or-miss, but all of it likeable. Ultimately a quite good album, but not the greatest I have heard from either of the duo.

Concept album that sounds like a movie soundtrack. The familiar tracks are era-defining, but overall the whole didn't impress me. I guess you had to be there.

Not what I was expecting, a really nice range of songs with some lovely instruments

some classic songs - not totally convinced how it all hangs together as an album

Pas mal! Mrs Robinson At the zoo Save life of my child

While obviously very familiar w/ some of the songs here, I’ve never actually listened to this whole album. I plan explore it in greater depth as time goes on. There are definitely some surprises here for me based upon my previous knwoldfe of Simon & Garfunkel. This is an easy 4, probably hewing closer to 4.3 or so

POP en mayúsculas. Fantástico.

Surprisingly trippy for 1968 thought it would be pure folk but it was real interesting!

Honestly was expecting to really enjoy this one but I found the randomness of the lyrics annoying. Plus a track of old people talking? Hardly the stuff of genius.

Experimental, pesimistic tone combined with uplifting lyrics. Interesting album.

Excellent and incidentally my husband’s favourite album of all time.

A classic, but they have better albums

Timeless classic! Brings me back to early childhood and my parents listening to this! So good

4/5, really good album that has great song writing, creative music and deep lyrics. My favorite songs were Fakin It and A Hazy Shade of Winter. Most known song was definitely the Graduates "Mrs. Robinson", which I really need to see sometime

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Toffe nummers met fakin' it als uitschieter.

Niet zo gevarieerd album, maar wel aangenaam om naar te luisteren

Behalve Mrs. Robinson voor mij geen echte uitschieters; genietbaar album, maar ook niet veel meer dan dat.

Classic folk rock. Paul Simon steps up as a song writer. Best Tracks: America, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter

This one reminds me of what my older sisters were listening to when I was a kid

Rennon miellyttävää kuunneltavaa, vaikka minulle kappaleet oli Mrs. Robinsonia lukuunottamatta tuntemattomia. Sen verran lyhyt levy, että taisi neljäkin kertaa pyörähtää läpi. Toisaalta nelonen on paljon levylle, miltä ei tarttunut itselle mukaan kuin hitti Mrs. Robinson, minkä olisi voinut jo kuuntelematta lisätä.

Kinda weak, didn't care much for this

Dat was me iets te zij-ig

random documentary in the middle?????

Simon & Garfunkel zijn altijd wat zoutloos als je 't mij vraagt.

Klassieker! Ik vind dit echt heel tof, met als hoogtepunt mijn all time favorite 'America'!

{shrug}

Fine

Op 2 toffe nummers na vond ik het een erg rommelig album.

Zij weer. Best een paar goede nummers maar ook erg ziijg.

Sound of silence ja mrs Robinson tiesin heiltä entuudestaan. Levy oli yllättävän hyvä. Huolella tehtyä musiikkia ja vaikka ei voi välttyä hippifiiliksiltä, niin ei tämä haittaa. Levyä tuli kuunneltua useamman kerran.

Simon ja Garfunkel ja harmoniat, toimii! Näiden biisejä päässyt kuorovetoina vetämään, toimii myös siellä. Mukavaa settiä niin erikseen kuunneltavaksi kuin taustalle.

Nyt muistolles Urho Kekkonen / vielä yhden humpan vedämme / je-je-je / näin muistelee kerho ukkojen / juoden ampuen ja humpaten ja tanssaten! Tällä levyllä oli yllättävä englanninkielinen cover Eläkeläisten "Muistolles Urho Kekkosesta"! Muutenkin oli yllättävän hyvä levy, olin aina kuvitellut Simon & Garfunkelin mummojen ja pappojen lällärikamaksi, mutta eihän tää ollutkaan sellaista. Vai onko musta tullut lälläri-pappa? Puolen tunnin levyllä se parin minuutin puheraita oli vähän yllättävä veto.

7/10

Sympa et chillax

Se hace durillo el disco, soporífero por momentos

Album très « mou » et pas kiffant à mon goût.. j’ai du mal à apprécier les chansons de cette album même si tout n’est pas affreux. « voices of old people » j’ai pas compris le concept déjà que j’étais pas dans l’album..

a bit boring

sorta weird, had the hits but overall album was strange

nice, liked most of the stuff

Klasyczny material od duetu simonowo grafunkelowego, ale nie az tak klasyczny jak sounds of silence czy bridge over troubled water, jak ostatnie sluchowisko bylo 2 godzinnym maratonem, tak tutaj zaledwie 27 materialu, z czego jeszcze b side to resztki z soundtracka graduate, wiec motywy mlodosci, glupoty, rozczarowan, natomiast a side ma praktycznie tracki tylko z akustykiem bez zadnych fanaberii, ciekawy jest rowniez kawalek voices of people, ktory pelni role skitu wprowadzajacego do zakonczenia pierwszej czesci albumika, na plejke wrzucilem oczywiscie mrs robinson, jako jeden z najbardziej hitowych kawalkow duosa, oraz america, czyli liryczne poszukiwanie hameryki ktorej juz nie ma

Some good songs and some bad ones. Not very memorable on first listen

Bit meh really

4.4 - The epitome of short and sweet. A well-conceived New York timepiece, with tender attention to detail. Some luscious tracks, notably "America", "Old Friends", "At the Zoo." There's also the eponymous "Mrs. Robinson." Terrific as a concept album and just a wonderfully positive listen.

Good album

3.5

A hippie record, with such great songs and concept. A true classic.

Sounds like Simon & Garfunkel. Short album.

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

“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

Done JAN 15 2021

No ha sido muy moñas para ser de Simon & Garfunkel...

This is the first album by Simon & Garfunkel that I've ever listened to and it is also the shortest album rated so far on this list at just 29min. The sentimental counterculture movement of the late 60s can be felt within the semi-surreal lyrics that float on the confident melodies of these tracks. The duets and harmonies between Simon and Garfunkel pair well with the chord progressions and accoustic guitar riffs in each song as well as the occasional chorus or string arrangement. Add to this the fact that "Mrs. Robinson" is an undeniable classic in American psychadelic rock and the album sits comfortably within the 4-star category. Perfect for a cloudy afternoon trip or a quiet car ride. I look forward to listening to more of this group's work after hearing this album.

Somber, very humbling music. Whole albums about death.

Mrs. Robinson is on this. Folky and easy to listen to. 6/10.

Große Songs

I love them so much.

Tres bon album. J’ador S&G. Paul Simin est pour moi un des plus grand auteur-compositeur-interprete du 20e siecle. 5*

America, Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter are amazing songs. Definitely some weird stuff in the album as well like Voices of Old People. Overall, I liked the album.

Folk

I liked it! Some stuff was a lil too spoken word for me but overall not bad.

So this is the album where that song from \"The Graduate\" came from.

Mrs. Robinson is always fun, but the song that stood out to me listening to the album all the way through was A Hazy Shade of Winter with its foot-stomping energy. The Zoo was one that I hadn't heard before, but I enjoyed the lyrics a lot. Had a lot of similarities with Paul Simon's songs after he left. Had some duds though, I feel like this album is a good example of how the best songs from old artists trickle down through history while the less-than-great songs are pretty much forgotten. Would do 3.5/5 if I could for this variance in my enjoyment.

Prefer their other stuff. This felt like an odd mix.

Fantastic album, can't fault

4

Not my type of music

Lol, kind of sounded like pinball wizard

Sunday morning folk

great album, absolute classic

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

I mean, I knew I would like this one because I like Simon & Garfunkel. I have to say I was thrown by the electric sound at the beginning, but I liked it better after that.

Concept portion was kinda neat as a concept but I don’t need to hear it again. America is good the others totally forgettable. Side B has fun. I had no idea Hazy Shade of Winter was theirs, I only know the Bangles version.

They surprised me a little in a good way - more experimentation than I am used to thinking of them. For example I was NOT expecting for that synth to drop in Save the Life of My Child. Of course Mrs Robinson is an absolute classic. The end seemed abrupt, the way the last words of the album were "at the zoo..."

Just really well done. Full of stories

Classic. Loves in the zoo

Maravilhoso, apesar de não ser o melhor deles.

clássico

Good album, classic songs and songwriting.

Perhaps all the songs I like of S&G are in this album.

Very spacious.

Has some of their best songs on it. I can see why its a classic. But its less than 30 minutes, kind of jarring when it just ends so quickly.

obviously mrs robinson is a highlight but a few other good tracks in there

Zulke bunker goed muziek, vooral het nummer "mrs. robinson"

3.5/5 Good folksy rock sound, little disjointed

Absolutely beautiful, dynamic and nice overall.

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.

I remember Bookends (the theme), but the intro into a synth thing at 2nd track was quite a surprise. I know a lot of these tracks, and I find them some of the better Simon & Garfunkel tracks, there is a tender-sadness to them that I can appreciate. Things flow well into each other as well, it is definitely an "album".

When Paul Simon lost his mind, in the most glorious possible way. Conceptually rich, but not trite or pompous in the way that some concept albums can be. I'm not sure anyone has a command of melody quite like Paul Simon.

Nice and chill

Bit tepid at points but it's a nice piece of late 60s American innocence

Just a great album. And you can hear them trying to find their next stage.

For at the zoo.

Legendary folk album. Why does it appear twice on my list?

enjoyed

Is Simon and Garfunkel that good where I've had to listen to 4-5 albums out of 1001?

Mielikuva Simon & Garfunkelista oli hyvin akustispainotteista fiilistelyä, mutta tämähän olikin välillä aika rokkaavaakin menoa. Kakkosbiisin aikana oli tarkistettava että onkohan nyt ihan oikea levy soimassa. Tykkäsin, mutta en niin paljoa kuin ennen kuuntelua olin olettanut.

Pretty good. I really like the songs America and Mrs. Robinson. Not one I'd listen to repeatedly, but it's not bad.

Only knew a couple of songs going in, but I loved a lot of them! Bookends and Mrs. Robinson are classics of course. Fakin' It and A Hazy Shade of Winter are new faves.

This album was great, and then Mrs. Robinson one of the best songs ever, just shows up near the end. And then Hazy Shade of Winter? What a double-punch of great tracks. I also really loved America as well.

I've never heard this entire album

Solid album. Some so so songs but some great ones as well

Chill classic

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

Good ol S&G. Didnt really care for it. Not good, not bad. Just not my type. Didnt know any songs on this one but won't listen to it ever again 🤷‍♂️ 3 stars

Nice

Meh. Didn't expect any synth and Mrs. Robinson is always great, but overall not my cup of tea.

It was good thank you Simon and also Garfield

weird and folky

Was alright. Not my kind of music

Had a couple bangers but lots of filler/discordant shit too. Way better to tease out the good songs and not listen to the album.

Surprisingly unorthodox for S&G but still a great album with beautiful songwriting

By far my least favourite S&G album. Trying too hard to be weird.

Good album but not their most famous man. I like „sounds of silence“ better. But this music always puts me in a good mood.

Går inte att ge det här albumet något annat.

Not nice

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.

It has Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter

Amazing

Again, just not my thing.

Love some tracks but the album is a bit hard to listen because some songs are quite unusual

Standout Track: A Hazy Shade of Winter At The Zoo

Fairly good. Much preferred the B Side over A Side, namely because of ‘Mrs. Robinson’. Most of the album didn’t really grab my attention but that song and ‘A Hazy Shade of Winter’ were memorable.

boring but i get why people like it

Genuinely amazing calming vibes

Better than Bridge Over Troubled Water.

ugh I'm getting pretty bored of the US folk shit. Seems every second day I'm getting it atm. 2/5.

Otrolig avslutning på albumet med Mrs Robinson -> A Hazy Shade Of Winter -> At The Zoo