Reviews (page 2 of 14)
Slow and kind of boring. Mrs robinson is a banger though
Eine bunt gemischte Folk-Tüte. Ein paar Songs auf der B-Seite sind richtig gut. Die Experimente auf der A-Seite gefallen mir allerdings weniger. Insgesamt noch ganz gut. 3/5
Album #212: Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends ⭐⭐⭐ I’ve never really listened to Simon & Garfunkel. The odd time that they have come up, they’ve never grabbed me. So I was kind of looking forward to getting into some of it with this list. And to be honest with you, this being my first album of theirs, it didn’t really grab me either. I’m going to give it three stars because I think it’s a very weird album. It’s an odd mix of different sounds, orchestrations and arrangements. Some of it is very strange. Example being the big blasting synth that comes out of nowhere on Save the Life of My Child, the second track on the album, is really jarring, and I liked that. It wasn’t your usual by-the-numbers singer-songwriter craic. That element of it is good. Apparently this is a concept album. I was kind of following the concept up until after the second song, and then it went clear over my head. Maybe I need to give it a few more listens, but I did feel like I was tuned into the lyrics a good bit, and it didn’t really come across. I do have an issue with a lot of the lyrics. It’s an album of whimsy in a lot of ways, and it’s a bit twee for me. It’s a bit soft. It’s very, very soft stuff in places. He’s talking about wanting to be an English muffin, he’s talking about a newspaper floating along the grass. That kind of imagery sums up how soft this album feels to me. But it is baroque pop in a lot of places, and I do really like baroque pop stuff. So I liked the sound of it. It’s capable of a lot of beauty. It’s only a 29-minute album, and I appreciate a bit of brevity, especially during a period of music where they were making big, big albums. This feels like there’s an awful lot in it for 29 minutes. So I would happily return to it and give it another shot. Funnily enough, my favourite song on the album wasn’t really a song. Voices of Old People I found genuinely touching, very moving, and just a powerful track. And it says something that that track doesn’t have Simon & Garfunkel on it. So maybe I’m not going to be a fan.
Mrs Robinson is a classic but the rest of the album largely forgettable. Voices of old people less forgettable but not in a good way
It was ok, one big hit only really
This album felt like a complete non-event
Too weird for me! Sorry!
Merkelig album. Med to monsterhits.
Brilliant stuff interspersed with some iffy experiments with synth and found voices. I think of this album as Paul's noodle-y notebook experiments, where he's still figuring what does and doesn't work. But, three great songs out of twelve, that's pretty good. Still zebra slander tho.
что-то теплое, но не слишком понятное определенно задает атмосферу осени есть хит, ничего не отталкивает переслушать даже можно 3.3
Brilll
Bookends — Simon & Garfunkel Pre-listening: I’ve listened to a lot of this album already in my life, but curious to see what I take away from a full album listen. Best: America. Runner-Up: Mrs. Robinson Third: At the Zoo Post-listening: Things I really loved about this full album were things I did not expect. I love their willingness to take chances and try something weird while maintaining a song’s beauty. Tracks like A Hazy Shade of Winter and Old Friends have such rhythmic beauty to them that it’s hard to imagine how all of this is on the same album. It’s a true audio experience. I get it. There is a time and place for Simon and Garfunkel, but to ever dismiss them from your listening rotation is a tragedy. Perhaps my favorite part of the album was the skit track Voices of Old People. An overlap of old, seemingly Jewish-Americans talking just like our loved ones speak at the twilight of their lives. It keeps an honesty in the album that remind you of the people you still cherish or wish you could cherish again. I could go on and on, and I already have. If you haven’t enjoyed this album lately, go back and do it again. It’s a half hour well spent. Rating: 10/10 Stars: 5/5
Sweet sounds. They seems more experimental than they were in 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', by when maybe they had more confidence in what they produced. That achieved far greater popularity. Interesting.
A really inconsistent album really. America and Mrs Robinson are all-timers but a lot of this feels like poorly hashed out concepts and weird asides. There aren't many songs here worth considering. But for the good songs, it works.
Of their type Simon & Garfunkel are right at the top of the tree, having the two key ingredients of perfect songwriting and perfect voices. If they hadn't followed it with Bridge Over Troubled Water this album would be thought of as one of the greatest of all time.
Perfect in every way.
I’ve always been a fan of Paul Simon, both his solo work and his stuff with Garfunkel. I hadn’t heard this album, and though it was roughly what I expected, there was a bit that I didn’t anticipate, which is why I liked this. Mrs. Robinson is a classic, one of the greatest of their catalog. America is very good as well. What I liked more were the surprises, like the sound of Save the Life of My Child, which sounded ahead of its time. Fakin It was anything but. Some good guitar work on this. What got me was hearing Hazy Shade of Winter on here, a song I have always liked ever since the Bangles made it popular. In fact, I had no idea that it was originally a S&G track. Very cool, and I think I might like the original even better. All in all, an excellent album. Really great song writing.
Some weird but beautiful string arrangements on 'Old Friends' or 'Bookends Theme (reprise)'. The last 4 tracks of the album (including the famous 'Mrs Robinson') are more upbeat but didn't really appeal to me, though I surprised myself to like 'A Hazy Shade of Winter'. I know Simon & Garfunkel are renowned for the lyrics of their songs but for this album they didn't really do it to me. Overall a nice fall/winter album but not what I like the most, 7/10.
Some great classics but a couple let downs.
Posiblemente de lo mejor que el folk puede dar. Sin ser un género que me guste, fue un álbum entretenido. 6/10
Zwei Jahre haben Simon & Garfunkel an diesem, ihrem vierten Album gebastelt, aufgenommen im Columbia Studio an der 52nd Street in New York, erschienen 1968 bei Columbia Records als Folk Rock mit deutlich mehr Studio-Ambition als ihre früheren Platten. Roy Halee soll für manche Spuren fünfzig Stunden gebraucht haben – ich höre das vor allem in den dichten Vokalarrangements, die nie zufällig wirken. Seite eins ist ein geschlossener Zyklus, der von der Kindheit bis ins Alter führt, eingerahmt von der kurzen Gitarrenfigur des Titelstücks. Seite zwei wirkt loser, fast wie ein Resteverwerter aus dem Soundtrack zu "Die Reifeprüfung" – mit "Mrs. Robinson" als klarem Ausreißer nach oben. "America" erzählt in wenigen Zeilen mehr über Entfremdung als manches Konzeptalbum in vierzig Minuten, "At the Zoo" dagegen ist fast albern leicht. Mich überzeugt weniger die Konzepthaftigkeit der ersten Seite als der Kontrast zwischen den nüchternen Field Recordings in "Voices of Old People" und den überproduzierten Vokalflächen woanders. Das Album hält diese Brüche aus, statt sie zu glätten. Ein Album, das seine Entstehungszeit nicht versteckt, sondern ausstellt.
I respect them. Does this mean I have to listen to them? No.
Voices of old people är ju ett speciellt avbrott i plattan som jag kanske inte helt ser poängen med. Annars var den väl bra. Funderar på 3 eller 4, men jag är på en riktig 4a streak så jag fortsätter väl på den
Lite för mycket fånerier och glättighet och för lite av den folkiga gåshudsfaktorn som man gillar med Simon & Garfunkel. Men absolut inte dåligt, det är det ju aldrig. Hyfsat stark 3a
Trodde inte den här skulle va med. Lär ju betyda att Paul Simon har hundra plattor med totalt?
America 100/5. Resten okej
Great album with some killer tracks that I’ve known pretty much my whole life. Maybe a couple of fillers and a bit of arty farty indulgence but all that is forgiven by the masterpiece that is America.
I had no idea they made music like this honestly. Bit shit until they drop their concept.
What a fantastic record. The hits are phenomenal and the lesser known tracks are subtle and beautiful. I don't love the theme and the interludes, so that's what lost this project a half star for me. But I'll be adding this to my heavy rotation for sure. 8/10
Expensive production.
I'm torn on this album. On one hand, there are some very beautiful songs on it; on the other hand, it's also underwhelming as an album. The first half is conceptual and depicts various moments in a life, like a first love, an inevitable breakup, the theme of growing old and what it means to a friendship. But individually, those songs don't quite manage to reach the highs you would expect from Simon & Garfunkel. I also find "Save the life of my child" annoying as hell, and have a hard time figuring out how the fuck it even relates to the other songs, both thematically and story-wise. And then there's the elephant in the room : that weird recording of old folks chit-chatting right in the middle of the first side. Jarring and unnecessary. Side B is also a mixed bag, being entirely composed of leftovers from the soundtrack they made for The Graduate, most famously "Mrs Robinson", the best song on the album. Even Paul Simon wasn't very fond of that second side. It's clear it was added a bit half-hazardly just to turn an EP into an LP, but the songs also have more standing than those on Side A. So yeah, it's good, it's Simon & Garfunkel, but it's not great Simon & Garfunkel. And the fact that this was chosen over the Sounds of Silence album is beyond me.
Not a fan of S & G. Boring as hell. Don’t get their huge stardom. One song saved a terrible album.
The hits were enjoyable but the rest was just a blur of songs that all sounded the same
I had always assumed that Bridge Over Troubled Water was the masterpiece from these guys but I had never listened to this all the way through. Simon shows off his range as a songwriter and there is much diversity and poignancy throughout. Love the life/relationship cycle of the first half closing with the beautiful "Old Friends/Bookends." Then, every song on the second half is fantastic with some of their best in "Faking It," "Mrs. Robinson," "Hazy Shade of Winter," and "At the Zoo." This is their other masterpiece.
To start with the few negatives, there's something that feels phony about the wistfulness of this record. Idk, I just dont buy a fully genuine Paul Simon at 27 singing songs like Old Friends. I really love a lot of Simon and Garfunkels stuff, and it's coming from a place of love when I say they put out some twee-ass bullshit like Punky's Dilemma. An easy song to point to when people put out the silly argument that Simon is a better songwriter than Dylan. That being said, this also has America on it, a toss up between this one and Only Living Boy for the best damn song they ever did. And Mrs Robinson of course, and a Hazy Shade of Winter. Bookends has the best and worst of these guys.
Ganz gut aber nicht mein Liebling
it was ok. not huge on this one
i thought i wouldn't like it and was offput by some parts but generally, surprisingly, enjoyed it. 3.5?
Nice harmonies. Just a bit too gentle for me for most of it.
Great album
A handful of beautiful tracks oddly followed by random off cuts (plus the divine Mrs Robinson cheekily doubling up)
This is a Simon & Garfunkel album, so you can expect excellent but overplayed hits and a couple of good album tracks in less than half an hour.
It's definitely not their best. There are 2 "greatest hits" songs on here, a couple of "pretty decent", several "meh", and nothing really terrible. probably a 3.5, and I feel like i need to round down
Inconsistent quality here.
nice, but kind of boring album. has some nice sounds. good for background. 3
me encantó, muy cinematográfico
Side A of this album was really not impressive (Yes improved on the song America, though it's not even that great when they play it). Side B was better: my wife sings the english muffin line off of Punky's Dilemma all the time, and Mrs. Robinson is pretty good. 2.6/5 -> 3/5
Wonderful. Maybe a bit arty
3 1/2 Stars: I'm not really hearing the concept in this concept album, but a pretty solid record overall with some really stellar writing and 2 outstanding tracks (America and Mrs. Robinson) in their catalog.
I think the concept is really interesting, it’s a great thing to try and explore. But I just don’t feel as though they succeeded with the theme, all the songs felt disjointed and muffled to me. None of it felt connected and I don’t feel as though a whole life was represented. The lyrics didn’t seem to unpack life at all. This is just my opinion I know they are talented but this was for me.
Not for me. 1/5
Soms moet je eens vooroordelen opzij schuiven. Dit was geen top plaat, ook geen flop plaat. Maar wel fijne en degelijke songs.
tdoet mij wel deugd dat ze een paar keer van het padje gaan
so good
8/10
Not my favorite Simon & Garfunkel album by a long shot. Two great songs, and a lot of filler (imho). America is one of my favorites, and Mrs Robinson is an iconic song. But the rest left me wanting to hear their better music. 2.5 stars
Weird album, but some great songs. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #234 (2003 version - dropped from recent lists) Best Songs America Bookends Theme - Reprise Mrs. Robinson - From "The Graduate" Soundtrack A Hazy Shade of Winter At the Zoo
No es su mejor album, pero hay que reconocer que Paul Simon es uno de los grandes. Este L.P. es muy irregular y sorprendetemente corto de duración.
Decent
Quite a mess of an album, but still with some great tracks. The first half is a cohesive mini concept album, but then they clearly needed to fill the other half of the record so just put a mish mash of songs on there. America, Mrs Robinson, Fakin it and Bookends Theme - Reprise were highlights for me. Not such a fan of Voices of Old People, which does exactly what it says on the tin.
Lotta Paul Simon on this list. And some of it arguably sucks. This one doesn't. For me, easily the best of the Simon and Garfunkel albums. Hazy Shade of Winter is pretty brilliant.
Aside from the synthy "Save the Life of My Child" and the spoken-word interlude of "Voices of Old People," this is pretty much what I expected. Which means it's not my thing. "Mrs. Robinson" is of course a classic, but I wish there were more like "Save the Life of My Child."
Great stuff!
Time to bust out your Kellogg's and your boysenberry for Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends, a record that might seem like bland noodling at first but actually has some solid folk merit. Who cares if there's recordings of old people and songs about English muffins? This came out of a country where most young men like these musicians could be set to the war-ridden jungles of Vietnam on any given day. Bookends showed me that you don't need to be flashy or complicated to produce some great music.
Magical
The songwriting is exceptional of course. But the production should also be noted. If you need to understand what a “lush” song is, listen to “America.” The placement (especially in a car or with headphones) and sound of the drums is so smart. It’s conceptual while the songs live on their own.
Review - looking this up and seeing it's held up with Bridge Over Troubled Water, then looking at the tracklisting... only song I really recognised was Hazy Shade Of Winter, which is a trash song. But actually there are a lot of great songs. America through Reprise are great (with the oddness of the When Harry Met Sally-esque Voices of Old People interlude in the mix). The second half is less strong, but obviously Mrs Robinson is great, and At The Zoo is a very strong closer. It's not Bridge Over Troubled Water but it's still a very good album. Just a shame to have a weaker half when it's not even half an hour long. Score - 7.5/10 Need to listen? YES
Mellow overall. Hazy shade of winter only keeper
Not my favorite album of theirs, but fine to listen to once in a while. I would skip over "Voices of Old People" though.
7.8
I just don’t know it’s so gay because it’s soft, or if it’s so soft that it’s so gay
Um disco bonito, embora inconsistente. Algumas faixas soam meio insignificantes, diante de clássicos como "America", "Fakin,It" e "Mrs. Robinson".
Maybe closer to a 3.5 but still a good album, the first half is a but more mellow and boring but the second half was funky and just a cool sound. Just a classic Simon and Garfunkel album.
I've heard of the album before this list but I still don't see what all the fuss is about. Just ok for me.
Knew it better than I thought I did.
Classic album with three great tracks, a couple of near-misses and some filler.
Other than the one enduring classic from this album and maybe one other recognisable song, of found this record a little weird and a tad disappointing for such a famous pairing.
Really enjoyed it, lot of variety for such a short album
Desperately shit album with nothing meaningful except for Mrs. Robinson.
I enjoyed this album a great deal. Four stars.
I’ve always loved the Vampire Weekend song Hannah Hunt. It's taken me this long to listen to properly listen to America for the first time and instantly draw comparison to it and make me appreciate it all the more. That said, it's obviously an utterly brilliant piece of songwriting in its own right, had to loop it twice the moment it finished. The opening two lines are poetic brilliance, tells you everything you need to know about these two broke lovers Interestingly the final scene of The Graduate (that S&G did the soundtrack for including Mrs Robinson) is almost a microcosm of this song, of a couple escaping their lives and running off together only to slowly realise it's not going to solve all their problems. Anyway, America aside, I really like the "Bookend" structure of side A starting and ending with Bookends Theme, then side B is a nice collection too, Mrs Robinson as mentioned earlier being a great tune and probably the definitive one vs the one used in The Graduate. But not enough great tunes for a 5 imo Also if we're off on a cinematic tangent, I can't look at the album cover now without thinking of Frances Mcdormand's character in Almost Famous saying they're clearly high, on the cover of some of the most harmless music ever recorded
Bit confusing, some really great songs on here but a lot of it just blends into the background May have to give it another listen Skits on a folk album is a bit odd 3
Mostly super boring.
A wonderful sleep aid (no disrespect to the music of this duo of wonderful men).
Save The Life Of My Child is incredible for 1968, it's so electric and synthy, I thought this had to be from the 1980s. Honestly blown away by how ahead of its time it is. Sadly that's the extent of my positive feelings for this album. I don't know what the intent of the self-explanatory track Voices Of Old People is. It's like a much worse version of the vox pops from Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. The other tracks are all softly sung and sappy, reverting to type for the two. Even Mrs Robinson is kind of limp.
Very strong start and finish but kinda weak middle
A sweet album that includes some of their best tracks. I am a little tired of Simon & Garfunkel at this point which I feel ashamed to say. Favourites: America Mrs Robinson A Hazy Shade of Winter
I really enjoyed this album, i already knew this artists bcs i had listened to two songs from their other album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" before and this album is just as good. 3/5 stars :3
fuckass bixie
I am going to pretend this album consists entirely of Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter, give it a confused three for being an album of two basically perfect songs, and go about my day Simon and Garfunkel is a band I really only know the singles from. I was excited to delve deeper but this was weird and boring, and not in any kind of real interesting way. Hazy Shade of Winter is so good and feels so out of place on this album. It’s like they made 20 minutes of time-wasting experimental nonsense and then put an album’s worth of good music into one single song. (I think I still like the cover The Bangles did better)
Very good album
Super soft, pretty bad album imo until "Mrs Robinson" and my favorite "A Hazy Shade of Winter" saved it. I hadn't thought about or heard Hazy for years and years. I'm so thankful to have grown up listening to Fox 97... good times, great oldies! haha
A lot of depth, you’ll discover something new every time. Very nostalgic, makes me think of my (partner’s) grandmother.
Better than I expected, some strong Dylan and Beatles influences in here but same old story with these two for me, technically great but feel a bit empty
Eh, nothing special. A bit annoying at some times and a bit boring at others.
Great storytelling. It plays really well. It's a cool folk record.
Fun fact:"Mrs. Robinson" was my parents' wedding song. This is a low 4
“All tracks are written by Paul Simon, except "Voices of Old People" by Art Garfunkel.”
Man, Simon & Garfunkel are just good for the soul. Their sound is both timeless and such a specific testament to the period of their writing. You can hear a lot of the influence that this album had on later writers in the 70s and 80s. I had no specific favorite, but will need to go back and give this another listen, as I'm sure there's a specific find that I'll like if I lean in a bit more.
peak of s&g's songwriting.
I liked the album, but it doesn't really feel like an integrated whole. It feels like half an album with some extras tacked on. The standout tracks are "America" and "Mrs Robinson' and I particularly liked "Hazy Shade Of Winter." When these guys get together there is a lovely chemistry between the two.
is this SG’s weirdest album? i don’t really know, but it’s so, so good. the synth on”save the life of my child” sound truly shocking for them
simon en garfunkle zijng wn mid
ik hou gwn niet van simon&garfunkel.
Another classic from Simon & Garfunkel
I've took a bit of a break. Part of me for a few albums was wondering if I was actually listening since so many albums were just fading into the background. But in my break I was listening to Dolly Parton (RIP) and I found a lot of songs I would take notice of them and they wouldn't fade into the background. So my gut instincts were right!! All that to say the second song of this album definitely pulled me out of work and made me listen. I'm not sure I quite understand this concept album on first listen, but I like the vibe. I like individual songs, but I don't think I get this as an album.
Good album but not my style.
yeah this was pretty dope, Mrs Robinson, America, Hazy Shade of Winter, few of the heavy hitters
I love it.
had never really listened to simon and garfunkel before this but was very pleasantly surprised. favorite songs: america, old friends, mrs. robinson
This is a very odd album really. I guess it’s a good example of a 3. The highs are very high: A Hazy Shade of Winter. The lows are pretty low: Punky’s Delima. 3 Boolean: True
That guys did make "The Sound of SIlence" and they do very well in this album. My favorite song in this album is: "America" My rating for this album is: 3.45
God, incredible. I should never again go this long without listening to this all the way through
Old friends has stunning strings omg I especially like the transitions from track to tracks This was good! I liked the first half concept album part the best though the latter half did have some good tracks like A Hazy Shade of Winter. I only wish the whole thing was more related to the concept album, I feel like it could’ve been more fleshed out, especially since it was only 15mins of a 30 min album. But yeah I liked it and would listen again, 3.75/5
The cover makes it look like Simon is regular and Garfunkel is tall but they’re 5’2” and 5’9”
No es mi estilo, pero reconozco que debió ser muy especial en la época
Album #143: Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel Genre (W): Folk rock Singles: Mrs. Robinson I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: I loved the production and Paul Simon’s songwriting the most! Side Two is amazing from track to track. I wish Side One had some more consistency however. Favorite tracks: Save the Life of a Child, America, Old Friends/Bookends Theme, Side Two
Amazing songwriters for sure. This felt so different from earlier Simon and Garfunkel records, but I'm not sure it's one 1001 albums I must hear.
Love S&G's stuff. This is a very good one. In addition to some classics with Mrs. Robinson, America, and Hazy Shade of Winter, there are lots of good other tracks on here, including Old Friends and Save the Life of My Child.
Pretty fun album, a lot of variety. I love a short album
This was real nice. (Although, I still think The Bangles Hazy Shade of Winter is superior).
3.5
Several absolute classics on this one, and most of the others are descent, too. But then there's a few tracks that make you just wonder what they were thinking. Overall not bad, but not a 5 star either. 3 1/2 stars.
This album is a bit all over the place.
.Save the life of my child - 8/10 .America - 2/10 (a week song that had a good start but became a little repetitive) .Overs - 9/10 ( a beautiful ballad especially in the second half of the song) .Voices of old people 4/10 (just people ranting a interesting intermission) .Old friends - 7/10 (love the violin, lyrics are a just not there but the end is beautiful) .Bookends them-reprise -5/10 (not to much a say to be honest) .Fakin' it - 6/10 ( a good rocker but a bit repetitive) .Punky's dilemma - 3/10 ( to much like early beach boys witch isn't bad just not my thing) .Mis. Robinson - 10/10 ( what more can i say its one of the best songs written and what is the guitar work just like music to my ears ;) .A hazy shade of winter - 10/10 (such a catchy riff and not the most technical song but works to well might be better then Mis. Robinson on this album) . At the zoo -2/10 (a really week ender of a really good album a shame to end it on this insted of A hazy shade of winter) .Conclusion -8.5/10 (song really great song on here but a couple let them down sadly but the great tracks really shine and the instrumentals have a certain something about them witch is special to this album
Kinda bland, picked up a bit on the second half
Classic!
2.5
3,5 stars
I’ve always liked Simon and Garfunkel. Hadn’t heard this one in its entirety until now. A lot like the first three and I love the acoustic style, but not quite the height of Bridge Over Troubled Water. Bridge is a 5 for me, this a 3.5.
Not my favorite album from them but Mrs. Robinson is just soooo good (4/5)
I felt like old friends, sat on the bench just like bookends
My favorite Simon and Garfunkel album. No bad songs here
I'm not really into the sort of slice-of-life lyrics, but it's pretty good overall.
It's Simon & Garfunkel, what else is there to say. Some classics, some great vocal harmonies
music is love
Probably some of their best work. It doesn't really do it for me as much as Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme though. The vocals aren't as creative and I feel like that's kinda their thing. But they almost make up for it with some much more interesting songwriting and production choices. Mrs. Robinson is such a banger. Hazy Shade of Winter is my favorite. It's fun to hear Simon and Garfunkel do some upbeat jams.
doesn't feel as short as it is, and it's kinda all wheat no chaff. my biggest problem with simo and garf has always been "too sleepy and subtle", but here they save that energy for just a few songs, and make them count. i think there's a theming problem where the front half is this moving meditation on aging and nostalgia and the back half abandons the premise a little, but the sound is consistent enough that they get away with it. some strange musical choices that turn out very cool, like the wails of mourning on Save the Life of My Child. i didn't have time to get bored, and all in all there's a lot to love here. favorite song is Fakin' It or Old Friends, maybe At the Zoo
Rating: 8/10 I do believe Bridge Over Troubled Water might be the better Album as a complete work (I may have underrated this one by a point-it happens) but Bookends also did it for me as a solid entry to the S&G discography for some good straightforward folk with an oddball touch. Its problems, if you can call them that, are that it's short and sparse as an album, there are really only nine real tracks and a lot of them are quite short, but those tracks all retain a pretty high quality. Besides Overs and Punky's Dilemma, which I don't regard as highly, I overall enjoyed them. It makes it so the slightly lesser moments and interludes are few and far between an otherwise great work. Also these songs weren't even bad, just didn't enjoy them quite as much. I also don't really Get the concept it's going for. Makes for a very relaxing and soothing morning listen, I'm starting to become a fan. America sure is a good song
Not sure if it works as a concept album and some weird production but a fine selection of songs wonderfully sung.
A journey. Brief but cohesive, great narrative. Sonically buttery smooth.
I have heard these songs many times. The additional voices and sounds of the album as a whole is something I hadn't noticed before during the few times listening to the album decades ago. A good one.
Hugljúf plata hjá strákunum. Þetta er classic for a reason. Afar góð tónsmíði og flottir textar. Folk music legends.
Hugljúft og fínt. Klassík.
6/10 was nice sounds really like the beatles
Bookends is a small, bite-sized album. Certainly nowhere near S&G's best but it doesn't have to be. It doesn't overstay its welcome and thus has you yearning for more. Can't go wrong with Mrs. Robinson. America is another great track here. Punky's Dilemma is an underrated one, the title track too.
FUCK YES FUCK YOU FUCK EVERYTHING THIS ALBUM IS SO FUCKING GOOD HOLY FUCK. I just got back from a weekend over at my dear grandparents’ house, and they’re real huge Simon and Garfunkel fans. And it’s easy to see why. I mean, two Jewish guys, an amazing mind and an amazing voice, met in grammar school, come together to create some of the most incredible music ever put to tape. And this is, believe me, some of the most incredible music ever put to tape. I know most people love “Mrs. Robinson,” and while that song’s so good it makes me want to double over and sob, “America” is the clear favorite for me. How many times I must have listened to this song, played this song, sung this song… it’s a song of my childhood, of my adolescence, of every fragment of my life. It’s a mindblowing, breathtaking piece of music, perhaps S&G’s best. But this album itself is also a wonderful work of art. Bookends is, strangely, timeless in a way: it is a musical portrait of a transition of times, seen in “Mrs. Robinson” and its topic having been originally that exact feeling, of the changing of times, but it’s also present in songs such as “Hazy Shade of Winter,” in which the seasons of real life blend with the “seasons of life,” the idea of stages of life as you get older and all that. Of course, the most obvious instance of this is the sequence of “Voices of Old People” into “Old Friends,” the idea of always being meant to be an old man, and comparing yourself and your friend to two older friends, in a later stage of life. But then, in that same breath, the album is reminiscent of a time previous to now, which makes the experience of listening to this album, dealing in the passing of time and aging of others, at almost sixty years of age, incredibly fascinating. Suuuuuuch an interesting, strange, and beautiful album, and easily S&G’s best. 10/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: Influence, quality, overall experience, and cultural relevance
America and Mrs. Robinson are classics, but otherwise I didn't really connect with this album. Yes, the harmonies are beautiful, but the songs don't move me in any meaningful way.
It absolutely feels a little rushed, with all the new material being a 15 minute “concept album” on side A about the stages of life which means it’s actually like 4 songs of varying tone and quality, two small musical pieces and one two-minute track of old people talking, with side B then just being selected cuts from The Graduate soundtrack. But the thing is if you’re still pulling out stuff like America in a rush, and you can still pair it with stuff like Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter and At The Zoo out of the catalogue, then you’re hardly suffering for material really even when the album is short and slight.
The best songs--America, Fakin' It, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Mrs. Robinson--are classics for a reason. But to me, there's a big dropoff to the second tier songs. Save the Life of My Child's attempts at light psychedelia just sound mushy; Overs, Old Friends, and Punky's Dilemma sound gushy; The attempts at a conceptual suite with the Bookends theme and Voices of Old People sound pretentious. But man, the highs are very high!
tem algumas músicas que eu gostei, mas, no geral, um album estranho
This album felt like being trapped forever in a retirement home. It smells of sadness, sun-bleached floral wallpaper and long forgotten hard candy. I swear I even heard a wheelchair creaking somewhere in the distance. Or maybe it was just the souls of old people screaming in despair. A terrible, terrible experience. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re over 80 and easily frightened by loud noises and young people. Bonus negative points for the creepy album cover. 1/10
A concept album that ends up being wildly uneven, frankly unexciting and pretty damn pompous, ultimately leaving only two or three acceptable tracks for Greenwich Village folk snobs and my mother. Still not reconciled with the genre.
3/6
First listen
Meh.
a classic and such a fun listen - more little nuances and experimentation than i remembered and some songs i'd heard less that grew on me
I find Simon & Garfunkel to be tedious at times. I’ll blame that on my mother really loving them. However - Bookends is probably the one record of theirs I will throw on and listen to. America and Mrs. Robinson are great. Also Bookends is devastatingly beautiful.
my fucking goats right here
Artistic, fresh and worthwhile, slow section in the middle, maybe that gives the album a unique flow but it felt like a bit of a lull. The album's still good, though
Pretty good album 👍
Listened with James driving
Skön musik med några hits. 3,5 av 5 avrundar upp till 4.
Mysigt album från 1968.
Really great classic American album! I think underrated compared to other albums of its era and genre. I wish I had heard of it sooner - I fully enjoyed it. Mrs Robinson goated af
A solid one from the boys. A little weird than their others. I do tend to find their strength tends to be in the deep cuts/specific songs over album experiences but this has a generally good feel to it. Voices of Old People prevents this from being a five (not actually but sort of)
This is a really weird album. This one bounces around in 3 or 4 territory. I mean it has substantial hits on its less than 30 minutes. 3 substantial hits. And then it has Voices of Old People- which idk, yeah, that kind of filler on a 30 minute album? Really? And then Punky’s Dilemma. My dilemma? Does THAT little ditty bring everything down so much that not even A Hazy Shade of Winter can bring it back? Today I think so. Sorry Paul, but this album is a mess. You may be a great song writer. But this album IS a mess. 3 Boolean: True
Can you call 15 mins a "concept" album? Idk, but Simon hitting his stride here as a songwriter. When the Moog hit, i had to check spotify that i was still listening to S&G. America, might be one of the most beautiful songs ever written and Mrs. Robinson deserving so - is a classic. It feels hard to truly call this an album and not collection of songs - but what timeless songs they are.
This album should have stopped at track 7 and not bothered with the tracks and covers thereafter. I went in with preconceived ideas of what this will sound like - dull lyrics and boring folk guitar. But it's actually interesting to listen to and the inclusion of moog synth early on got my attention, adding depth to acoustic ramblings
This album was really cool, all the acoustic guitars and pretty, charming lyrics were nice to listen to. A hazy shade of winter is one of my favorites. This album was a good one to start with, good energy to this one.
Not my thing
Naw.
..
Always love their sound.
no me gustó tanto como pensé
Wow! What a weird album! Never heard this album before. I’m super familiar with America, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, of course. And yeah, whatever people want to say about Paul Simon, he’s amazing at song craft. So different from Dylan but so ubiquitous. Like Dylan, covered again and again, with covers of his songs often more famous than the originals. And I know Paul was a bit salty about Dylan. I mean he never faked who he was. He might have been inspired by the sounds around him in NY, the sounds of Muscle Shoals, etc, and he’s accused of cultural appropriation even in his early days, but he never tried to hide his Jewishness. As he said himself, Simon and Garfunkel sounds like a law firm or haberdashery. But Bob Dylan? Robert Zimmerman wanted to make himself out to be a beat poet hobo bard riding the rails of life with his harmonica and notebook. Not the similarly inspired/ culturally appropriating compatriot of Paul. And I have to say - I respect Paul Simon for being his weird self, wishing he was an English muffin, making the most of a toaster oven. 4 Boolean: True, absolutely- you can’t make this stuff up
4.4/5 - Pleasant. Nothing more to be said.
I basically liked every track.
12 songs A rushed and bizzare side A, with a pretty standard Simon & Garfunkel side B. Mrs. Robinson is definitely the highlight of the album.
Turns out I knew not only Mrs. Robinson but the title track Bookends from the movie soundtrack 100 Days of Summer 😂 this was a beautiful album to listen too. Might be an S&G fan after all.
The great songs are very great
Good album with soft and viscous sound. The conceptual environmental breaks were refreshing. It was pleasant to hear, but the album lacks overall variability - melodically too simple for my ears.
It was okay.
Number: 216 Familiarity: Moderate (3) Rating: 4 Before: ======= Hmm, Psychedelic Rock? I don't think I'm familiar with that side of them. Of course I know the song Mrs. Robinson, but I don't recognize any of the other titles, except for maybe America, as apparently I have "liked" it. I'm sure I have skimmed through the album at least once before. During: ======= 3 Bookends Theme (Instrumental) 4 Save The Life Of My Child 4 America 3 Overs 3 Voices Of Old People 4 Old Friends 4 Bookends Theme 4 Fakin' It 4 Punky's Dilemma 5 Mrs. Robinson 3 A Hazy Shade Of Winter 4 At The Zoo After : ======= Surprisingly this was pretty good. Favorite track is still Mrs. Robinson Most surprising track: Save The Life Of My Child.
Not as good as sound of silence, some good tracks but old people talking really doesn't add anything
Back to our usual service. A good album - short and sweet (just like me). Favourite track: A Hazy Shade of Winter
Classic
fine!
Love how simultaneously dreamy and eerie this album is. Ngl I thought Simon and Garfunkel made comedy songs all this time…
Gaan we weer, nog een album uit de late jaren 60… Ik snap dat er toen veel WMvMLmuziek werd gemaakt… Maar kom op, er is toch meer dan enkel muziek uit dat era… Eerste paar liedjes voelt niet als Simon en Garfunkel, cool gedaan.
ik kende deze nog niet heel goed. Wel "America" en Bookends, Hazy shade of winter en old friends. Ik luisterde liever naar Paul Simon zonder Art Garfunkel. Juist ook om de mooie taal in combinatie met de mooie muziek. Hij gebruikt woorden en zinnen, heeft over onderwerpen die je bij veel andere muzikanten niet tegenkomt. Maar wat is dit ook een mooi album. Prachtige teksten, mooie melodieën en zo muzikaal.
Aangenaam verrast door dit album. Het is niet zo zoetsappig als bridge over troubledwater en niet zo poppy als paul simon solo. In 1968 waren er veel artiesten die veel dingen overnamen van the beatles. Ze wouden een rock en roll band of hippies zijn, omdat het cool was. Wat simon en garfunkel hadden overgenomen is het gebruik van de studio als muziekinstrument op zichzelf. Daardoor voelt deze plaat veel meer experimenteel. Het gitaarspel van paul simon os fenomenaal op dit album. De harmoniën zijn fantastisch. De baslijn kon ik vaak ook echt van genieten. Zeker bij het album America. De teksten van Paul Simon zijn ook weer heel goed. Ze doen heel veel dingen eigenlijk precies goed. Ik vind dit een hoge 4 sterren.
Ik heb eerder op de dag Paul Simon geluisterd. Ik loop behoorlijk achter met mijn albums door de zomervakantie, maar het voordeel hiervan is dat ik bij het inhalen wat albums bij elkaar kan linken. Ik had verwacht dat Bookends wat gladder en "natter" zou zijn dan Simon solo, maar ik ben positief verrast. Muzikaal gezien is het best experimenteel en een stuk vreemder dan Bridge Over Troubled Water. Vooral de eerste helft voelt echt als een album en niet alleen als een verzameling mooie liedjes. De harmonieën vullen elkaar goed aan, maar ze passen op een goede manier toch niet helemaal bij elkaar. Het tegenwicht dat de engelstem van Garfunkel biedt, maakt het voor mij uiteindelijk niet gladder, maar juist gelaagder. Het geeft een interessant contrast met de melancholische en soms ongemakkelijke muziek en teksten van Simon. Dat contrast houdt mijn aandacht beter vast dan Simon solo.
Ik prijs Paul Simon voor alle muziek die hij heeft gemaakt en ik weet dat Simon en Garfunkel iconen zijn in de muziekgeschiedenis. Toch ben ik er zelf minder fan van. Hun muziek geeft me een beetje brave-schooljongensvibes. Alles is heel netjes, verzorgd en melodieus, maar het mist voor mij wat rauwheid en spanning. Ik snap waarom zoveel mensen ervan houden, alleen raakt het mij minder.
I don't like the idea of "Best of" or "Greatest Hits" compilations. Ripping songs from their context usually seems like a cheap attempt to satisfy people who prioritize quick melodic payoffs over coherent artistic statements. But in the case of Simon & Garfunkel, the concept kinda makes sense. They have so many immortal songs, but - regrettably - not one perfect album. But if one album at least comes close to that category, it would be Bookends. It finds Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel at their most musically playful, inventive and outwardly "joyful" execution of their artistic vision. Just my two cents. Also, that black & white photo makes for an iconic cover artwork.
Simon and Garfunkel remain one of my favorite bands - the harmonies are just outrageously nice. America, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter. There's some weird stuff in this album (Old People Talking????) But i'm a Simon and Garfunkel truther so it gets a 5 even though that's very very generous I think
i did not want to like this. oh my god.
Musica muy clásica para mi gusto, en general 5/10
Hits & filler
This album is like going to your parents house for dinner in your late 30s, and having them ask you about old school friends. It makes you feel nostalgic for those halcyon days of school, but then th realisation sweeps over you that you used to get so worked up about things back then, only to see now that none of it was worth the stress. Your remember thinking those friendships, relationships and rivalries would last your entire life, and now you look back at them as if you were reading someone else's life story. You used to hate Paul so much, thinking that you were destined to butt heads until your final days. 25 years later, you have almost forgotten why you didn't like him. You remember fawning over Christine, and knowing that you could never feel the same way about any other woman. But now you don't even follow her on instagram, but you are happily married to the love of your life. You and Tom were always hanging out, and you assumed it would be like that forever. But last month you didn't even write on his facebook wall to wish him happy birthday. He never RSVP'd to your wedding invitation, and you weren't surprised. You're not sure how to feel. Part of you laughs at yourself for getting so worked up about minor relationships at such a young age. But also you feel disappointed in yourself for letting those relationships fall by the wayside. You and Tom got on so well, and now you don't speak. Even if your relationship with Christine didn't last, there is no reason a friendship couldn't have. It makes you wonder about your current situation. 25 years from now, will you look back at your current friends, and lament the fact that you lost touch with them?
Mrs Roberston, sure. Great tune. Old people.juat randomly talking, no. Waste of my time. This album is all and everything inbetween.
I dunno man maybe they have lost some of their spark but I found this so boring. My first DNF in a while
I think listening to a full album helped me understand how weird and interesting these guys were. Hearing just their hits in isolation distracts from the unusual choices they made and what (to my ear) made their music unique. Solid album.
Enjoyed some of the lesser known tracks
Okay, but not great. Mrs. Robinson carried it, and that was so late in the album that I had mostly lost interest.
I like it so much ! It reminds me of the Beatles. Great
Maybe a bit too tame nowadays, but still an enjoyable folky listen.
Comfortable, mellow.
I did not like this at all. I got two Simon and Garfunkel albums in a row. First was Parsley, Sage and that was great. This seemed like some kind of experiment gone wrong. The only song worth listening to is Mrs Robinson. And you MUST be able to find that somewhere else, where the rest of the vinyl is mot being wasted.
Very calming and reassuring
A pabulum of music.
So like - I sometimes call Simon and Garfunkel one of my all-time favorite groups. And that is all based on their other albums - Parsley, 3 a.m., Bridge - and while I obvio know America and the famous songs from Bookends, I never bought it. And it's fucking weird. A "concept album" indeed. I mostly ignored the weird mumbling and just sang stuff.
Фолк дуэт Саймона и Гарфанкеля мне симпатичен их главными хитами типа Sound Of Silence или Bridge Of The Trouble Water. Мне кажется их творческий дуэт хорош и без концептуально-психоделических номеров коим является Bookends. Отдельными треками это все те же добрые и атмосферные 60е, но со второй стороны они пытаюсь быть чуть большим, чуть более масштабным чем просто умные и литературные фолк песни. Мне кажется это им не идет и из за таких вот вставок и филеров типа «Voices Of Old People” альбом начинает разваливаться. Но отдельные треки типа “America”, “Save The Life of My Child” и “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” действительно хороши.
I used to think I really loved Simon and Garfunkle. Turns out I just really love the covers of their songs and solo Paul Simon. Bookends is not bad at all, but not my favorite.
Interesting album - enjoyed it
I enjoyed this one. A couple of odd tracks but a few good ones.
Tracklist: A1 - Bookends Theme (Instrumental introduction) A2 - Save the Life of My Child A3 - America A4 - Overs A5 - Voices of Old People (A sound collage of audio field recordings from retirement homes created by Art Garfunkel) A6 - Old Friends A7 - Bookends Theme (Vocal reprise) B1 - Fakin' It B2 - Punky's Dilemma B3 - Mrs. Robinson (The massive #1 hit single from The Graduate soundtrack) B4 - A Hazy Shade of Winter B5 - At the Zoo Bookends is considered a landmark masterpiece because it captured both the peak of Simon & Garfunkel’s artistic collaboration and the turbulent sociological landscape of late-1960s America. The record is famously structured as a concept album on Side One, exploring a lifecycle journey from childhood to old age. Side Two consists largely of individual tracks, including songs initially intended for or used in Mike Nichols' classic 1967 film, The Graduate. Produced by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Roy Halee, the album hit No. 1 on both the US Billboard Pop Albums chart and the UK charts. It is widely considered one of the duo's definitive masterpieces, showcasing intricate acoustic fingerpicking, complex vocal harmonies, and ambitious studio experimentation. Though it was entertaining, it is really not my cup of tea.
I can appreciate it, but it's not exactly my cup of tea. A bit too much on the soft side.
There are a few odd choices on here, but I think it’s a beautiful album. It maybe doesn’t command a lot of attention, but I love the way their voices work together. There are a few songs on here I already knew very well, but some I didn’t. One that stood out to me was Overs which just felt like such a lovely sad song about a failing relationship. I thought the singing was gorgeous and the softness of it really added to the heartbreak of the song. I’m a big Paul Simon fan so I’m obviously biased, but I loved this album. I maybe wouldn’t listen to Voices of Old People again, but I can understand why it is there. If I’m being harsh, I think if you’re going for this journey from childhood to old age thing, then make the whole album about it. But I really like some of the songs on the second side so I’m not that mad about it. Fav song: America Least fav: Punky’s Dilemma – if I’m picking a full song. If not, Voices of Old People
Didn’t really clock how awful Paul Simon’s haircut was. Disappointing album really, some odd choices of songs. Old people talking was especially weird. Who wants that. Specific rating - 3.7 Fav song - Mrs Robinson Least fav-
The second side is definitely better than the first. I'm always disappointed when albums claim to be concept albums but don't put any effort into actually sticking to the concept. It's not as good as I was hoping from a Simon & Garfunkel album but I still really enjoyed it. Favourite song: Fakin' It Least: Old Friends
Fine, it’s weird their biggest song is about how an old women is loved by Jesus. Are they super religious ?. Lots of Beatles influence, soft voices.
I mean... it's fine...
Bookends Theme - X/10. Save the Life of My Child - 5/10. Mix is off. Otherwise pretty solid. America - 9/10. Not my favorite version of this song (I like the Yes cover better), but it's still outstanding. the open harmony on the lyric "And the moon rose over an open field" has always given me goosebumps. Overs - 8/10. Very good. Voices of Old People - X/10. Skit, unrated. Old Friends - 8/10. Very good. Bookends Theme (Reprise) - 8/10. Sweet and simple. Fakin' It - 8/10. Really fun. We're all fakin' it, Paul. Punky's Dilemma - 7/10. Mrs. Robinson - 10/10. Awesome from beginning to end. Plastics?!? A Hazy Shade of Winter - 10/10. Very different in feel from the typical S&G song, but it's a great, high-tempo, change of pace that I fully support. At the Zoo - 8/10. Interesting effects. Fun, but not up to the two prior tracks. More of the simple, singer/songwriter vibe that we expect from S&G, though. Overall Rating - 4.05/5 (8.10/10). Other than the really awkward mixing on Save the Life of My Child, this is a great and well made album, typical of Simon and Garfunkel's Greenwich Village period, in the classic singer/songwriter style. Mrs. Robinson, America, and Hazy Shade of Winter are all straight bangers.
Horrible
Great listen, the skits and sound effects throughout were unexpected. I like the album. I’m not sure I would listen frequently or often.
Neat
mag die 2. Seite deutlich mehr als die erste, fühlt sich generell chaotisch an fav tracks: A hazy shade of winter, Mrs. Robinson, Fakin' It
Too slow and boring for me.
Really impressed with the variety on this album. And, sure, it's a little over-produced -- not something I would expect on a Simon & Garfunkel album. But I like good, interesting production even if it occasionally makes a routine out swinging for the fences. Really love that The Bangles saw the rocking potential inherent in "Hazy Shade of Winter."
Ok. Nice harmonies.
Really enjoyed this...beautiful sound throughout
Enjoyed the album and themes explored throughout. At the Zoo was a fun new find besides the already known America and Mrs. Robinson for me.
One of my favorite childhood road trip albums!
I am always left wanting by S&G. I think I should love this, but I often finding myself wishing they'd just get on with it. Sadly low score from me on this album, which I've tried many times to love.
These two goobers set back musical duos by decades.
Not my favorite S&G but I love love love this album. “America” is the highlight for me. I will always prefer these two to any of Paul Simon’s solo work, which is probably what I said when we rolled Bridge Over Troubled Water
Didn’t do much for me 2.5
Man, ‘The Graduate’ is such a good movie. “Mrs Robinson” is one of the best songs ever written hands down. The rest of the album was pretty forgettable.
Sheeeeeeesh "America" is perfect.
i gotta watch the graduate
I love S&G. I liked the overall feeling of this album.
I was worried this wouldn't live up to my pre conceived notions, but dang it's really good. 2 songs that are ok, the rest are bangers!
Bookends is Simon & Garfunkel's most ambitious record and the one that pushes hardest against the ceiling the duo format consistently imposes. The first side functions as a genuine concept suite — the arc of life from youth to old age, bookended by a recurring theme that gives the whole thing a structural coherence their earlier records didn't attempt. "America" is the peak, a road trip song that expands what Simon was capable of as a writer into something genuinely cinematic, the kind of track that makes you understand why the solo fives were inevitable. "Mrs. Robinson" arrives with all its Graduate cultural weight and earns it, and Roy Halee's production throughout gives the record a sonic richness that distinguishes it from the more straightforward folk recordings that preceded it. The first side in particular holds together as a unified statement that justifies the concept without feeling forced. The second side is where the ambition loosens — tracks recorded separately from the main sessions that sit less comfortably against the first side's thematic arc. The ceiling is real and this is where it becomes audible. A strong four that the first side earns and the second side honestly limits. The two Paul Simon solo fives in this project suggest the constraint was always the partnership rather than the songwriter, which Bookends confirms without quite transcending.
Clearly influential on many albums that came after it in the Western rock scene. Really good melodies and some surprisingly interesting soundscapes at times, but never necessarily pushed the limits of songwriting. I giggled at Paul Simon declaring that he’d wanna be an English muffin though. I think I could come back to this record over & over again & never get turned off by it, albeit maybe with a little boredom after a while. Four stars! STAND-OUT SONG: “America” HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Mrs. Robinson”, “Save The Life Of My Child”, “A Hazy Shade of Winter”
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 (rounded down for sparseness, but had the potential to be rounded up for quality) Unlike much of my musical bigotry, I didn’t inherit my parents’ Simon & Garfunkel skepticism—it came to me entirely separately, although thankfully in a much milder strain. I would always wonder why my mom rolled her eyes at Paul Simon (although, probably, the solo namedrop probably explains exactly why) when I heard songs like “The Sounds of Silence” or “A Hazy Shade of Winter,” but after listening to both of those songs separately a good amount, I came to realize they had burnt out fast. Simon & Garfunkel songs, for me, wear thin quite quickly, but I can’t even justify why, and that’s the worst part! Bigotry needs receipts! Is it that they’re insincere? Too sincere? They don’t read as either to me. Their instrumentation is a little dated sometimes, but I don’t hold that against people usually. They become irritating in a similar way Harry Nilsson becomes irritating, feeling-wise, but they don’t really have his cheese. More study is needed. As for Bookends, I gave this one a shot because I already knew “A Hazy Shade of Winter” and “America” (and, I guess, Mrs. Robinson, which I think I already found to be overplayed before I could even really give it a chance), but I ended up feeling pretty similarly about it. I was blursed with seeing the reviews beforehand and learning that a) Bookends is a concept album and b) Bookends is really bad at being a concept album. I don’t know if I’d evaluate it that harshly, but it definitely feels phoned in in that department, especially since a bunch of random singles are on the second side. I almost feel like it could’ve worked better if they were interspersed throughout and the topic was something touched upon intermittently. Of course, “America” makes me misty, as did “Old Friends,” though musically, I’m not sure it’s something I’d come back to on its own. Also, fuck everyone who said fuck “Voices of Old People.” Would you be happy if the spectrum of human expression was hydraulic pressed into a 2x2 cube of four-chord, three-minute ditty that got stolen and performed more arrogantly by Oasis? Fucking guy. Anyways, yea, lyrically great, but musically a little sparse for me, which is emphasized by the overall disorganization of the album. Even so, I ended up saving “Save the Life of My Child,” “Fakin’ it,” and “At the Zoo,” which constitutes about half the album, and my rule typically is that if I save half the album, I might as well save the whole album. Maybe a reevaluation is incoming. Finally, but such an outstanding misstep that it’s my most important takeaway: most of the animals in “At the Zoo” are grossly mischaracterized, but not ALL of the animals, so it’s not like it’s supposed to be subversive, so what the fuck was the point? Like, Zebras really are reactionaries, but “Monkeys Stand for Honesty?” “The elephants are kindly / but they’re dumb?” Have either of these idiots even been to the zoo? 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
Hoo boy do S&G know how to write a good song. I will be returning to this!
I liked it :) Fav track: America
Didn't enjoy this at all.
Heaven Or Las Vegas Cocteau Twins
it's pretty damn good, have to give it up Will I listen to again: 90%
Album is a weird mix of songs that don't really work well. Can't deny the standout classic songs at the end of 2nd side though
Kind of a strange album... Ends on a bang though
Not a bad album, pretty cohesive and with some classic tracks. Just not very exciting - sorry!
I enjoyed it. It was cute, light, and heartfelt. I particularly liked how each song was around 2-3 minutes, and were almost like snippets of different “stories” throughout the album. Also, that transition from the opening song to the second song? Didn’t expect that. But I really liked that one! (Save The Life Of My Child)
I may not have given this a fair listen, but I thought it was an okay album. I should have maybe given this another listen, but I just didn't have the time. I thought the themes/lyrics were nice, but my biases towards folk music put it down. If you like folk music, this may be a 4-5.
this was pretty nice, there were a few songs i didn't like but overall I had a nice time listening to it
Solid album. Kind of sounded like the Beatles, and i don't hate that.
Beautiful folky guitar arrangements/tunings
I like Simon and Garfunkel. I don't love them. Their good songs are absolutely stellar. Their less than good songs are stinkers. This album was clearly a moment where Paul Simon was doing acid or something. Some good songs on here. Some very strange moments too. Very strange.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - This album shows S&G at their most progressive. The huge synth at the start of Save The Life Of My Child sounds like nothing else they ever did. The songs here are uniformly excellent. A very different prospect to what came before and after and yet one of the duo's finest moments.
226. not bad
I was certainly unique and held a lot of old culture and times but was really nice the classical parts were very fluent and emotional
Only one song I cared for. S&G are good if you’re into that genre.
Цих знаю, з задоволенням послухаю. Mrs. Robinson - бенґер. Я десь раніше вже чув цю пісню. Досить класний альбом. Мені подобається, що там є якісь експерементальні електронні моменти, хоч альбом 1968 року.
6/10
I like the cycle of life segment on the first half or what would be side 1. A lot of the songs sound the same, however.
consistently good
One of my favorite records. The first side of this is flawless and never fails to move me. 10/10. The second side is a bit shaky, but still has some great tunes. 7/10 Over all: 9/10
A bit under par for me, not at the level as some of S & Gs other records
gehört während ich mit Leni Kreuzworträtsel gemacht habe, bin mit schlechter Einstellung reingegangen weil ich die eigentlich als sehr fad wahrgenommen hab, aber das Album war kurz, Old Friends, A hazy shade of winter und natürlich Mrs Robinson haben mir gut gefallen. Also nicht so fad wie ich dachte, aber schon bissl.
7/10
Incredibly biased - Paul Simon is a god-like musician
Мои слоняры Не без филлеров, но как же хороши некоторые песни
Топ
Вери хорошая музыка
приятный, интересный альбом, до сих пор звучит свежо - 4
7.5/10
New to reviewing albums! So not totally sure what to list. Very beatles-inspired, but more gentle and folksy. Simple but iconic.
Ik ben niet zo'n grote fan van Simon & Garfunkel. Een aantal nummers, zoals "save the life of my child" verraste me wel. Een aantal andere nummers op het album, zoals "voices of old people" (wat eigenlijk ook geen nummer was) spraken me absoluut niet aan. Ik voel niet de behoefte om hier vaker naar te luisteren.
Most of the album felt like beautifully made background music—pleasant while it was playing, but difficult to remember once it was over. The lyrics also didn't resonate with me. Many of the songs felt abstract, and even after three complete listens, I struggled to connect with what Simon was trying to communicate. The folk sound was pleasant but rarely memorable, and aside from "A Hazy Shade of Winter," very little stayed with me after the album ended. I only saved one of the twelve tracks, and I don't see myself returning to the album. It's a respected classic, but not one that speaks to my tastes. 2/5
Great
Meh
It was alright. I do not think it holds up in 2026. Becuase I already heard albums like these many times. Will I listen to the album again? Probably no
Una obra maestra, íntimo y preciosista. Una pequeña joya musical, con unos arreglos de guitarra que no necesitarían ni voces que lo acompañasen para ser una maravilla. Las voces de Simon y Garfunkel se entremezclan en armonía y flotan sobre los instrumentos, contando historias ricas e inteligentes. Una grandiosa sorpresa.
this is a really pretty album but i’d rather listen to america on repeat for half an hour, what a beautiful song
Not my favorite album (of Simon & Garfunkel themselves, or as a 'concept' album). The lyrical poetry is hit-or-miss, though I tend lean to the 'hit' side of the equation. The problem I have is the lyrics/spoken word doesn't always vibe- which is the easiest way to phrase it- with the musical arrangements. I've always enjoyed "America," and "Save the Life of My Child" is a great first track (ignoring the Bookends theme). I do actually enjoy "Voices of Old People" for what it adds to the 'concept' they were going for, though it's easy to see why many would react negatively. "Fakin' It" has nostalgia attached to it, as my dad would sing it when I was a kid. Aside from those, the rest of Bookends is completely skip-able for me. I don't care how much "Mrs. Robinson" is considered a classic, I've never been a fan. By no means is this album Simon & Garfunkel's best work. I'm not sure I'd ever recommend it as an introductory album, and if you are recommending it to someone, do them a favor and provide a disclaimer so they know what they're in for.
Slightly pretentious and silly but also had a lot of positivr aspects and good songs
This was interesting. Some of it was very much what I expected from the little I knew of Simon and Garfunkel (guitar driven, mellow, sweet harmonies). Some of it was a lot more experimental! There were very weird lyrics. I was entertained.
Good songs
instrumentação incrível me senti em uma orquestra, ótimas composições, letras lindas, me surpreendeu em cada música
Kannte weder Album noch die Künstler vorher, mit Mrs. Robinson gab es aber doch einen Song darauf den ich kannte. Nach erstmaligen anhören konnte ich es noch nicht richtig einschätzen, klang für mich relativ monoton und gleichförmig. Erinnert mich an Ambient oder Filmmusik. Die Skits und Samples find ich aber cool. Nach zweiten hören, stechen ein paar bessere Songs raus: - Save the Life of my Child - Fakin' it - Mrs. Robinson natürlich - A Hazy Shade of Winter Generell zu wenig Dynamik für meinen Geschmack.
This is my second, maybe third, Simon and Garfunkel album on here. Despite them being pretty much the most boomery of the boomery groups, I generally have enjoyed what I’ve heard. Their sense of melody is exceptional. This album has them branching out sonically, and it largely falls flat. The synths on “Save The Life of My Child” feel like they’re there just because it was new technology at the time, so why not use them. It’s not an interesting use of the instrument and it doesn’t bring anything to the song either. Simon and Garfunkel had incorporated sound collage into their songs prior of this, such as on “7 O’Clock News” on their previous album; “Voices of Old People” does the same but without the music and brings nothing to the album. At thirty minutes this album is too short for throwaways. This isn’t exactly the experimentalism of The Beatles, though I’m sure it was in response to it. When they stick to their more folky roots there are some high moments. “America” is a brilliant song, as is “Mrs. Robinson”. Overall though this wouldn’t make my personal 1001 albums list.
- structure of the first half seems weird - 2nd half is a way better experience - Nice record but lacks (besides Mrs. Robinson) on outstanding, remarkable tracks - runtime is fine, feels like the story of the album is completely told after 30 minutes
Really enjoyed this, transports you back to 60's America
Real great, too short. Forgot how sick hazy shade of winter is. And save the life of my child was AMAZING!
Noia mortale
Loved the journey we went on.
While I don't think this hits the same highs that something like Bridge Over Troubled Water does, this is still a really consistently solid album. It's their shortest, but there's a lot of really great music packed into it. It's a shame that they can't really work together anymore, it would've been really interesting to see what they would've made later into their career. Favorites: Save the Life of My Child, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson
Man, I really wanted to like this more than I did. Outside of America and Mrs. Robinson, I did not care for this album.