Bookends

old friends

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

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

This was beautiful

good

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

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

banger

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

Love this album.

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

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

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

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

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

Amazing

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

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

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

Excellent

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

Inventive and fascinating.

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

wow. all the vibes i wanted right now

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

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

Holy shit

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

Brilliant!

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

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

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

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

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

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

classic!

Such a beautiful album

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

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

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

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

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

We talked about it all day!! Epic!!

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

Das waren noch Zeiten

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

5 stars, don’t even have to listen hehe

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

Wow!

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

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

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

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

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

yeah

genuinely insane experience

4stars

I miss this type of music!

I'm a bit biased so this isn't an objective review. My auntie emigrated in the early 70s and left a stack of LPS that I kidnapped and devoured as a kid. They included Abbey Road, The Stones first album, Cat Stevens and amongst the others....this. I've now played this album so so many times and it's been a friend to me over the years when I'm happy and when I've been sad. Beautiful poetry superbly executed- poignant and sad, funny and bold. I know it inside and out and I guess by now it's part of me.

4.8 - loved this album a lot. Listened to Simon and Garfunkel a lot when I was young because of parents but never this album in full.

I was prepared to complain about this being their second best album. But three listens through... I still think it's their second best, but it's pretty damn great.

Beautiful music, with beautiful lyrics. The songwriting, the harmonies, the melodies its all almost perfect. Every song checking in at under 3 minutes makes feel so modern too. I couldn't help but sg along to the bit hits we all know too. Easy to see why it is in the 1001.albuns you must hear list.

My favorite album by one of my favorite artists. Themes of growing older—“how terribly strange to be seventy”—that feel meaningful when you are young, and continue to resonate as you grown older. Some of their best songs are on this album: “Mrs Robinson,” “Punky’s Dilemma,” “Overs.” My favorite is “America,” which features one of the greatest lyrics ever written: “‘Kathy, I’m lost,’’ / I said, though I knew she was sleeping, / I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why… / Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike, / they’ve all come to look for America.”

Truly a classic. It's been a long time since I listened to the whole album. Great stuff.

„Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you“. Diese Zeile bringt die knapp 30 Musikgenuss auf den Punkt. Tolle Songs „Hauy Shame of Winter“, „America“ und „Mrs. Robinson“ integriert in musikalisch und lyrisches Gesamtkunstwerk, das einen Lebenszyklus beschreibt und schon 1969 die Frage stellte … warum sind wir hier. Danke Ihr zwei für dieses Album 😊.

Album 346 of 1001 Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends Rating : 5/ 5 Favorite Tracks :America / Old Friends A simply beautiful album. I'm being blessed with some favorites, lately. I used to wear out some Simon & Garfunkel on vinyl back in the day. Loved all of their older stuff and then they came out with the Concert in Central Park album, which is still an all time favorite. Can't go wrong with them.

Great story telling in music

Enjoyed this album so much

This is a brilliant work by one the great writers of his generation. This is the album that made me want to write poetry, that made me question the fictions I was being sold, that showed me music as a serious art form.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant. Every song is perfection (ok, maybe not "At the Zoo," but that song reminds me of old commercials for The Bronx Zoo, back in the 70s.)

This is a classic, of it’s time, really S&G in their prime. Also the first blast of synthesizer on an album. How can not recognize that fat Moog bass? Spawned two of my favourite songs of all time.

Really enjoyed that. The lyrics and harmonies are gold.

My favorite boys. It’s not even close. They make me so happy and so sad, forever and always looking for an excuse to listen to them

Random extra sounds Harsh track changes Overall lots of Great songs that I thought of in a different way.

Simon & Garfunkel are more or less lifetime favourites of mine. I already knew this album and have listened to it many times.

I wasn't sure I understood or liked folk and folk rock until I heard this record. A brave concept record on Side 1 about the cycle of life. Love the "Voices of Old People", so much audio verite to relate to there. The bookends them breaks my heart every time. The album deserves a 5 just for "Bookends", "America", "Mrs. Robinson", "and "A Hazy Shade of Winter". Still not sure if this or BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER is their most complete album. All I know is that those two albums are easily in the top 5 of folk records for me. I've always enjoyed Simon's albums more than Bob Dylan's, and today's listen through just calcifies that thought for me. Brilliant songwriting. Excellent acoustic guitar. Amazing harmonies. Stories you can relate to. It is all here!

iconic

Their harmonies are fantastic, as are their lyric writing creativity. And, of course, this album evokes memories of that time in my life, making me feel nostalgic.

An all-time favorite. Such an amazing album.

Just as I remember...great.

I love Simon & Garfunkel so much. This album is fantastic. The two hits (America and Mrs. Robinson) are undeniable and certainly the two highlights of the album, but the other tracks create a deeply vivid and melancholy image of life in the United States. Relistening to this album I formed a new appreciation for Save the Life of My Child - it’s a great tune with a great story penned by Simon (somehow underrated as a songwriter in American music). Also a weird observation - “America” reminds me much of Vampire Weekend’s “Hannah Hunt”, like an older relative of that great song. It sounds like a product of its time, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t relevant today, anything but that. It doesn’t quite have the end-to-end perfection of Bridge Over Troubled Water, but it’s an incredible album from an important duo.

meh. another fourth studio album. where does this end? I'm not sure that I've heard their version of Hazy Shade of Winter. The Bangle's version is just sooo good!. But I suppose if there's a song that follows Mrs Robinson, many people would rightly forget about that song. I'm almost tempted to give this album one star for including Voice of Old People. How dare they include me without my permission? Was there ever an obituary that said, "He performed on Bookends"... that would have been fitting.

Great songs, beautifully sung.

I have listened to this album more times than I can count

39 and listening to this in full for the first time. Lyrics hit me like a hammer.

Excelente!

When I listened to this album for the first time a few years back, it didn’t really make much of an impression on me (except for Mrs Robinson, a song which I love) Looking back I don’t really know what I was thinking, and upon revisiting this album I have found it to be incredible

Right in my wheelhouse....soft rock, great lyrics with a heavy dose of folk to complete the set. One of the best ever duos.

One of my favorite musical duos of all time, but I've never actually listened to this whole album. They're just so incredibly talented, and every song is at minimum interesting to listen to, if not a certified banger. The guitar work paired with their harmonies and *also* great lyrics? Just an all-timer. I don't think it replaces my favorite album from them though.

Having only listened to “Mrs Robinson” before taking on this album, I thought this would just be another classic Simon & Garfunkel album with only acoustic guitars and signing. But as soon as “Save the Life of My Child” started, I realised that this would be an entirely different affair than I presumed. A lot of that classic folk sound is still here (“America” and “Old Friends”, for example), but this is probably the group’s most psychedelic effort, which makes for a vibrant and almost cosmic experience Favourite tracks: Save the Life of My Child, America, Old Friends, Fakin’ It, Mrs Robinson

***** Ingrained in my childhood. Gentle melodies and superb lyrics for everyone.

Big fan of these two. what's not to like? They never fail to put me in the best mood. harmonies are great, songwriting is great. no notes. Great from start to finish

Timeless

I have to listen to more S&G, Old Friends made me cry damn

I've always made an assumption that Simon & Garfunkel were just average 60s folk musicians, but they are so much more than that. I think I just heard a synthesizer which blows my mind for a record from 1968.

I love "Cecilia" and "The Only Living Boy in New York" as much as anyone but Bookends is far and away the peak of Simon and Garfunkel's time together. A daring, emotional, conceptual A-side about life and aging backed with a B-side full of the finest singles they ever put together. Just fantastic.

Groaned when I got this one and surprisingly loved it.

Like it

There are not many songwriters better than Paul Simon. One of my top three.

Classic, what can I say?

It's just a bit funny to me that these guys were the biggest rockstars in the country for a while, but I get it, this is great. It's really short at just 29 minutes and does not waste any time in there (one might argue that "Voices of Old People" does, but I think it's an interesting choice as an interlude). This is the album after Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Thyme, and I think it's a bit more uneven but has a tighter narrative and higher highs. There are a few songs I don't love on here, but the best moments on here are truly great ("America", "Mrs. Robinson"). I could possibly see this coming across as a bit uninteresting or pretentious even. I like a more positive spin, and think it works as a beautiful, simple reflection on living and aging. Fun fact I learned here is that "Mrs. Robinson" was the first rock song to win Record of the Year at the Grammys (1969). Favorite song: America Other: Overs, Old Friends, Bookends Theme - Reprise, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo 12/27/23

A true classic. I saw „The Graduate“ at least five times because of this music!

At some point in early 2013, “Save The Life Of My Child” was played to me through tinny earphones by a wide-eyed fellow music enthusiast. “Listen to THIS!” he enthused with his wide eyes, in disbelief that the blaring Moog intro came from a Simon & Garfunkel record in 1968. I didn’t appreciate what he was trying to tell me at the time and was a little nonplussed, but re-listening now it does take me aback coming after the featherweight “Bookends Intro”. The point is, here are Simon & Garfunkel beginning to shift and expand the edges of their fields of experience. It was 1968 and concept albums were as popular as dope, peaceful protests and armpit hair. The first side of “Bookends” cycles through various stages of life, from youthful anxiety into blossoming romance and sliding despair, to somber estrangement and finally ruminations on aging. It’s bookended by, duh, “Bookends Theme”. “Save the Life of My Child” is indeed unlike any other Simon & Garfunkel track I know: bold and brilliant. Also pushing the envelope to lesser effect, “Voices of Old People” is some recorded audio of… well, voices of old people. It’s Art Garfunkel’s only writing credit on the album, bless him. “Old Friends” is a beautiful vignette, all romantic strings and deft character portrait by Simon: “the sounds of the city sifting through trees; settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends”. Poignant, beyond-his-years stuff. And in between it all is my favourite Simon & Garfunkel song of all time. “America” is absolutely stunning: a symphony, a Great American novel in under four minutes, “‘Kathy, I’m lost’, I said, though I knew she was sleeping; I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why” is such an amazing slide into despair at the end of a gently hopeful couple of verses. By the time the duo are in soaring harmony, counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike, I have shivers all over: a truly amazing moment. Following such a thematically satisfying first side, we move into a more disjointed second half, but with stronger individual songs. Four of the album’s five singles are here, showcasing Simon & Garfunkel at their most accessible. I’d never been too familiar with “Fakin’ It” until now, but it’s a great catchy reflection on impostor syndrome, striking a lovely balance between pithy singalong and profound introspection. “Punky’s Dilemma” is the best song with “cornflake” in its opening line until a certain Tori Amos track twenty-something years later: it’s a surface-level feelgood ditty with the horror of the Vietnam War lurking just underneath. “Mrs. Robinson” is an effortless hit, one of the poppiest numbers the duo ever made and one of the first I ever associated them with. “A Hazy Shade of Winter”, first released in 1966, ups the energy for a very biting rock-leaning number, and “At the Zoo” is some lovely light relief coming at the end: I love the way it builds up along with the central swinging hook. It’s a shame the duo didn’t commit to making a full album from the “Bookends” concept, but the songwriting is so incredible across the board that it can only be a five-star record (yes, even with “Voices of Old People”.) Bravo.

Truly beautiful album and quite a few songs I was previously unaware of. Fakin It was a standout.

Des bangers que je connaissais (Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter), d'autres que je ne connaissais pas (Save the life of my child, Overs), mais de façon générale un excellent album.

A timeless classic from one of the greatest folk duos of all time. There's nothing to say about this that hasn't already been say. It's gorgeous and introspective. Delicate and pointed. If you don't like this album, you may not have a pulse because you clearly don't have a heart. Standout Tracks: Honestly? All of them. Just listen to the whole thing. It's a masterpiece.

Perfect lazy Sunday vibes

Fantastic album. I thought I had listened to this in full before, but a few of the songs sounded new to me. I found the strange bass/synth(?) instrumentation on "Save the Life of My Child" very interesting. Seems like it would have been very ahead of its time in 1968.

absolute comfort album

OK, agree that nobody needed to randomly listen to some OAPs. But those harmonies, THE HARMONIES. I'm not even American and "America" is so beautiful it makes me feel like someone is trying to remove my kidneys via my ears. IN A GOOD WAY.

We watched the graduate in my 9th grade English class. This album (and the sound of silence) both captured me. Old Friends is still one of my favorite songs.

Interesting album, I've heard track off this but never the album in its entirety. The opening track Bookends left me very confused, I didn't think I was listening to the right album, it sounded much more modern, the sounds were not what I expected of a Simon and Garfunkel song. America is a classic song. Voices of Old People was strange, it is exactly as the title suggests, but this is a concept album, so experimentation is expected. Faking It, Mrs Robinson, and Hazy Shade of Winter are also great songs.

Sterk van begin tot eind. Heerlijk rustige sound. Mrs. Robinson maakt het van een 4 een 5.

A fantastic album, I enjoyed listening to every song. I actually really liked the addition of "Old People Talking". It sets the mood and atmosphere for the next 30 minutes. There are a few talking / story telling parts of songs which are a happy addition. This album does not have their most popular songs on it, but I think it is Simon and Garfunkel's best album when listened start to finish. I was hearing this static / white noise throughout the entire album which I found really pleasant too. Save the life of my Child is really interesting, for a minute I didn't think it was even S&G but I really liked it. The forlorn yearning / screaming turned gospel with seamlessly hits you with "Hello darkness my old friend" was really something else. The synth is SICK too. I've had "America" favorited for years now, I have always liked this melody. It feels like I am in a storybook, and the journey is wonderful. That wind instrument in it (Clarinet?) is great. I have too many compliments to give this album but I will summarize them here: The vocals are so soothing, wonderful acoustic instruments all tied together with some very well placed woodwinds and brass (especially at the last half of "Old Friends" There are also many songs that are much more Beatles esque like "Fakin' it" and "Mrs. Robinson" are also fantastic. These songs are what I would play for almost anyone. A last note, "A Hazy Shade of Winter" has such a sick guitar riff, this should be in the hall of fame of riffs, even though it's not electric.

Old Friends was such a hit for me. Never heard this album before and haven’t been so touched by emotion from music in a long while. How they captured the optimism and desolate nature of living in NYC was masterful. Perfect demonstration of a duo exploring the depths of their creativity and the feeling of all the possibility ahead of them.

I started listening to this album casually while doing my makeup. I had to take a break from anything midway through Old Friends, because I started sobbing uncontrollably. Simon & Garfunkel have such a way to make you feel several emotions all at once, to the point where it's almost unbearable. And then it starts getting upbeat again, you almost feel like you're getting a break. Then Fakin' It comes along and it's the most relatable thing for anybody that's ever been even slightly depressed. Even the song Mrs. Robinson, which until now I almost saw as just a nice, upbeat song, took a darker, more nostalgic meaning in the context of the album. "That's an easy thing to say, but if your hopes shall pass away, simply pretend, that you can build them again". I think I needed this today. What a masterpiece. "Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you"

I fondly remember this album on dad’s shelf as a kid. God these guys turned out to be assholes, huh?

I mean. What can you say? An all time classic that I’ll never get tired of. Just beautiful songwriting and harmonies.

Classic

Iets minder goed dan hun andere albums, maar nog steeds echt super goed. Gewoon 5 sterren.

As we approach our 30th wedding anniversary on Monday, that park bench is waiting for us to reminisce on our Greyhound bus journey down the A46 turnpike, now with our bag full of real estate. What a time it was, and is!

torkahdin about kolmannen biisin jälkeen ja heräsin just ku Mrs. Robinson alko. täydellistä.

Very good! Loved Mrs. Robinson and Save the Life of My Child

Classic. Orchestral at times

What a first album for it to recommend me, I love Simon and Garfunkel

Sublime. Another top scorer.

I’m wondering why I like this so much. I think it’s because it’s so overtly sentimental. I can hear a bit of Beatles influence in some songs, and I like the overall sound. But mostly it’s the sentimentality—from Bookends to Voices of Old People. It all tugs mercilessly at your heartstrings. Like when he turns to Kathy in America and tells her he’s lost, in the context of the youthful banter that precedes it. It just grips you emotionally. Going in, I knew America, Mrs. Robinson, Bookends Reprise and At the Zoo (from ads for the zoo on local tv when I was a kid). Bookends is so poignant — I’ve sung it for years but didn’t know it was from this album. Mrs. Robinson is so familiar, I had to make myself listen to it again, and the guitar work is better than I remember. The whole thing just sounds good. Deep emotions and great sound is a good combination.

Bookends is my songwriter album *and* my 60’s album. I think that Paul Simon was one of the few people who listened to what the Beatles were doing around Pepper and actually sat up and took notes. Because this album doesn’t have many of the trappings of the psychedelic, wacky, unnerving sound that seems to pervade 60’s post-Pepper soundalikes, and even more far-afield hippie musicians like Donovan. But it is nonetheless a boldly *cinematic* album, and its identity is distinctly American. It’s a Simon and Garfunkel take on this new art form, proudly tackling this new demand that an album be more than it once was. But it’s their take! And that’s what puts it above the rest. I am such a sucker for some of Paul Simon’s best lines. “wish I was a Kellogg’s cornflake,” has got to be one of the best openers of a song. And when I first heard “America,” and really understood what he’s doing, it was nearly transcendent. The telephoto lens on the subtle details, little passing phrases that make the mundane parts of life more livable— only to zoom out in the most dramatic way, the lens goes wide on the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike, everyone looking for America. Utterly brilliant. It’s the closest thing music has to a Norman Rockwell portrait. I could just go on and on… this one has Mrs. Robinson on it too?? And the exceptionally touching Old Friends, with the setup of Old People Talking that brings the message to focus much more. Somehow matches the sentimentalism of a McCartney song without ever seeming sappy. Maybe that’s what makes them a little different than the rest. A legendary album which I will put with the best of them. 5/5

Нихуя тут навалили гипнотизма... в какой-то мере даже психодела. А, окей, это только второй трек такой. Или нет... очень удивил меня альбом конечно. Слушайте, вот это работа вообще шикарная. Наверное пока лучшее что мы слушали у Симона и Гарфанкеля. Очень музыкальная работа. Невероятная. Не знаю, кому она показалась нужной. Идеальная по длительности, связанная какой-то линией насквозь.

Beautiful pop/folk album. These guys were legendary and wrote absolute stellar songs. Beautiful compositions sung by two great voices, what else is there to say! 9 out of 10

a staple of the folk rock scene. lovely album from start to finish.

Wow. What an album. Beautiful songwriting and deeply touching, poetic and rich lyricism

Stunning and striking.

Oh dit was echt heel goed. Had dit saaier verwacht, maar muziek was top, en de teksten ook. Mooie diverse nummers.

A seminal album

Though not quite at the level of Bridge Over Troubled Water, this is still a five star album for me. America is beautifully melancholic, the bass in Punky's dilemma bounces along, and At The Zoo is sweetly silly.

N/A

As S&F albums go, not really their strongest offering, but the songwriting is still top notch.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5, in part because I have a soft spot for this funny duo and in part because I have a soft spot for concept albums.

Can't tell you how surprised I was by that weird deep synth sound blasting through my speakers the first time I listened to the first seconds of "Save The Life Of My Child". Funny to think that not so far from that New York studio, where this LP was recorded, young misfits named Silver Apples also experimented with synthesizers at the time--even if they did way, way MORE experimentation with this new instrument, ha ha. Trying very hard (too hard?) to find a connection between two acts no one has ever made before, apart from their common home in the Big Apple. Probably because everyone else in here has already explained how this album pans out, and I feel I have nothing else original to add. To be honest, I was never fully sold on the supposed "concept" behind said album, but who cares? As topsy-turvy as the tracklisting is, a lot of those tracks are still iconic songs ("America", "Mrs. Robinson" , "A Hazy Shade Of Winter", " At The Zoo"...), just like the ones in *Sounds Of Silence* or *Bridge Over Troubled Water*. And those three LPs I've just mentioned sure deserve to be in this list. Life's simple sometimes. Even if it's short and bittersweet, as this LP suggests once in a while. 4,5 stars, rounded up to 5. Number of albums left to review: 486 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 244 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 115 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 153.

A good opening side, followed by an amazing collection of "discarded" songs. The crown princes of melancholy.

Beautiful & magical... There were a few songs that I really liked.

I mean, America alone is 5 stars.

Love this

Great album

An absolutely wonderful record, where Simon truly makes his guitar sound like a full orchestra. More of a solo album than a truly Simon & Garfunkel one, Bookends contains some of the best lyrics and melodies ever put on record. 'America', 'Old Friends', 'Fakin' It' are all intriguing - simultaneously deeply intimate while exploring the American consciousness of the late 60s - but it's the closing trio on the record that truly elevates it to a masterpiece. 'Mrs. Robinson' is iconic and is somehow upstaged by the incredibly addictive melodies of 'A Hazy Shade of Winter' and 'At the Zoo'. I still remember listening to the album for the first time and spending the rest of the week listening to the two final tracks on repeat.

A beautiful piece of work. Some lovely instrumentation, lilting harmonies and a handful of stone cold classics. 30 minutes long. How albums should be - here's some great songs, that's enough.

A classic. It has a lot of their hits and also the the tracks I did not know where great.

Gran album, lo ame

I’ve been debating myself if this deserves a five as the album is a bit uneven. Missed it when it came up and had plenty of time to listen again. And again and again. I just keep want to come back to this terribly silly but wonderful album. It just feels like they’re having a blast exploring different ways of writing songs. Beautiful stuff.

Save the Life of My Child - A wonderfully avant garde track America - Sound defining Simon & Garfunkel song Overs - Jazzy little song with lyrical wordplay "an old person without money is pathetic" Mrs Robinson - Another sound defining song

Top tier album and the length is perfect for what it is. Would listen to again.

I feel like I am going to like this album. I've seen this album many times and I put off listening to them. 1. save the Life and Bookends theme- woah! I did not expect that intro. WOAH! What is this album about? I love the vocals and the synth bass? in the back. I give this song a 7/10 2. AMERICA- oh my! let us be lovers... IT REMINDS ME OF PIANO MAN BY BILLY JOEL. 8.5/10 3. OVERS- 6/10 4. OLD FREINDS- I can see myself listening to this in the fall or winter. Those string instruments make this piece sound sad. I love it so much. "How terribly strange to be 70" Wahh wahh! 10/10 the last seconds of this song are phenomenal. 5. REPRISE 7/10 6. FAKIN' IT - I try to imagine myself as a 20-year-old in the late 60s listening to this album for the first time. 8/10 7. PUNKY'S DILEMMA- 10/10 8. MRS. ROBINSON - 10/10 JESUS LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL KNOW!!!! 9. A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - 7/10 10. AT THE ZOO - 10/10 love it <3 I give this album an 8.35/10 I added all of my scores and divided them by 10 ^^ I think that my first listen was wonderful. I'm sure that if I keep listening to this album my rating will change. I wish to know the meaning behind all of the songs. I honestly thought this album was released mid-70s or late. It was released in 1968 and I also wish to know the impact they have in modern pop culture. Love the last song so much. I will be listening to this album after this.

Yk what I surprisingly loved this album: it was filled with emotional pieces but also balanced with an upbeat guitar. Felt like a short but sweet journey with the duo and the album as a whole was unexpectedly enjoyed it.

A wonderful record - quirky but solid - perfectly paced and just the right length. A lot of classics here and while there is a lot of borrowing from their contemporaries, Beatles, Beach Boys - they make it their own and now with the benefit of hindsight it’s just a sprinkle of influence in the end. With every listen I found myself liking this record more and more.

"Mrs. Robinson" is an instant classic, and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" gets stuck in my head constantly. But this album is so much more than that. Music at its most poetic and creative. A worthwhile listen for all.

The first album was fucking awesome.

Gods of folk.

Tog tid att komma över att ens föräldrar sjöng med till flera låtar. Men Mrs Robinson och Hazy Shade efter varann är ju bara mumma.

‘Voices of Old People’ sucks, but otherwise the first side is great, telling a life story. Seriously, though, ‘Old Friends’ is good enough for that to not be on the album. The second side is amazing, though; ‘Mrs. Robinson’, ‘A Hazy Shade of Winter’, and ‘At the Zoo’ are all classics.

A masterful album

Beautiful! Every song a classic! I never grow tired of these songs.

awesome

Magiskt. Under en halvtimme hinner jag känna mig vilsen, trygg, åldrande, äventyrlig, och sorgsen. Paul Simon och Art Garfunkels sedvanligt hemsökande harmonier och melodier har verkligen en alldeles säregen sårbarhet. Bookends bjuder utöver det på lite annorlunda kreativa grepp i form av spår som "Voices of Old People" som flyger oväntat högt och bryter upp albumet på ett bra sätt. När halvtimmens sista 10 minuter stundar är jag nästan matt av berg- och dalbanan. Men då första ackorden till Mrs. Robinson bränns av spritter det i benen och man vill instinktivt dra på smilbanden. Känslan som skivan förmedlar är som sagt mångfacetterad, men äventyret summeras bäst i den oerhört vackra textraden: "Kathy i'm lost, i said though i knew she was sleeping." Bäst: America

Truely magical song writing chops. Not sure how they do it with such simple constraints. Gorgeous

Love this album (ignoring the Art Garfunkel field recording experiment). Was in constant rotation on my parent's car tape player when I was a kid.

I absolutely loved it. Exactly my kinda album - interesting lyrics, great music, absolute raw talent! Definitely a keeper.

I'm realizing I've become a fan. Very much enjoyed the album & hope for more from this duo.

Feels like the troubled water under the bridge. Adventurous and risky. Best track: Mrs. Robinson

A perfect folk record in every way. Charming, subtle and full of life while contemplating the value of it. A record sure to continue standing the test of time and one modern acts surely use as influence.

time it was, and what a time it was...

4/5

Name

Loved it!

references to their own songs is always fun for me. I love America dearly, feels so nostalgic and grand and sad and informative. I've already had a simon and garfunkel album come up on this journey and mentioned that it reminds me of my mom and my childhood. maybe america is important due to the whole american dream correlation and association that i have with it. the transitions into each song are so great. albums don't sound as pure as this anymore. the lick in a hazy shade of winter goes hard. a great listen, short and sweet and magical

Very good album, with a subtle and striking sound. Some absolute classic songs.

Unfortunately this is the only of Simon & Garfunkel's studio albums I don't own on vinyl and it's the first of the three on this list that I have gotten. The second I see it in a record store I will certainly be buying it. This is not my favorite of their album, but it is still a 5 star album. "Bookends Theme" - A intro that is short and simple and sounds like a S&G instrumental track. (Reprise) - The way the note from the last song fades in. This is the instrumental at the start with the lyrics you'd expect to be there. Great way to do a reprise. "Save the Life of My Child" - This sounds like somebody covering a S&G song. By that I mean it feels like a S&G song in the lyrics and rhythm, but after that it sounds like a psych band got their hands on it. I like it but it throws me off every time how little it feels like it belongs. "America" - One of my favorite all time S&G tracks. Truly an all time classic and a example of perfect lyrical storytelling. I could write an essay on this song alone, but I will leave it simple and call it one of the most beautiful songs that has ever been written. "Overs" - Definitely a deep cut in the S&G discography, a good chill out song. The guitar drives the track in the most beautifully subtle way. "Voices of Old People" - Yeah....could have done without this one if I'm being honest. Just disconcerting. I could see this one being the reason it drops a star for some people. "Old Friends" - Wow! I don't know that I have listened to this song with as much focus before. The strings tell a story within a story. They start more elegant and in tune with the story and lyrics and as the song goes on they become more chaotic. I also love how that last high note fades into the Theme Reprise. "Fakin' It" - Another somewhat disconcerting start of a song. A bridge into the psychedelic folk world. It's a genre I as a folk head should like more than I do. I like psych music too which is why that confuses me even more. That aside it is still a good song. "Punky's Dilemma" - I too wish I was Kellogg's Cornflake Paul. Not sure about the English Muffin though. I love the bass on this track. A different type of deepcut still a good one. "Mrs. Robinson" - This song speaks for itself and is one of the greatest songs of all time. The guitar on this song is fantastic and I love trying to dissect it. Lyrically fantastic as well of course, no surprise there. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" - The one S&G song that I think you can argue the cover version is better. The Bangles made this song their own. This is still a great version of it and yes the original, but it belongs to The Bangles. "At the Zoo" - The walking bass line does a great job of driving the song from the background. There is so much going on that grabs your attention. The bass pokes through that haze but doesn't overpower any of it. An immaculate album indeed. Not their best, but contains some of their best songs. An all time classic and certainly a must hear.

Album essenziale. Bookends contiene alcuni tra i pezzi più belli di Simon and Garfunkel: America, Fakin’ It, A Hazy Shade of Winter e, ovviamente, Mrs. Robinson.

First off, let me just say wow! I saw this one come up and felt so triumphant because FINALLY I'm being served a real heavy-hitter worthy of a critical listen that actually meets the key MUST HEAR criteria that is the reason for this list's existence. This is magnum opus stuff right here. This is the album that pushed Simon over the top creatively into musical genius and icon territory. I know he struggled with writer's block a lot throughout the recording, but he persevered and the end result is something truly spectacular. Voices of Old People is a track that can go suck an egg, and we're stuck with it to support the whole album concept, but otherwise, this is a flawless record from one of the greatest singer-songwriters to ever do the damn thing.

Brilliant. Timeless. As soon as “America” started playing, I knew it was going to be a classic.

5 star

As much as I have always enjoyed Simon & Garfunkel, I have never listened to their albums. This one is great! So glad to listen to it several times today.

Another case of being familiar with compilation/best of albums, but not much more. Happy to be expanding my horizons . I really enjoyed this one!

Well, this album contains one of my favorite songs (America) with some of my favorite lyrics ("Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping. "I'm empty and aching and I don't know why."). So already that's a 5. But then there's also Mrs. Robinson, Save the Life of My Child, Old Friends, Hazy Shade, and At the Zoo. And more. So good. So very good.

Interesting album for sure! Nice conceptual theme on side one, and packed with great songs throughout. Mrs. Robinson is one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs, and I love Hazy Share of Winter. Not to mention America. Save the Life of My Child is a great album opener too! Excellent!

5, very nice experience

Hard not to love this album

Another classic!

If anyone gets close to peak McCartney, is it Paul Simon in this period. Such a strange but wonderful album with some of the best songs they ever produced, and some very unusual other elements

Classic

14/08/2022 Simon and Garfunkel – Bookends 5/5 I’m starting to become a fan of Simon and Garfunkel. I already listened to Sounds of Silence, with a more classical and even “old” music, this is a total step up in the quality of their sound and song writing. I love indie and pop folk, so there were no doubts I was going to love this album. Masterful acoustic guitar skills, and lovely vocal harmonies, accompanied by genius lyrics. However, I’m a bit more of a fan of the A side of the album (slower, more emotional) than the B side (upbeat, more pop). Bookends Theme / Save the Life of My Child --> 4/5 Great “experimental” song, very original for being from the 60’s-70’s. Love the bit with the “The Sound of Silence” sample. America --> 5/5 I firstly discovered this song thanks to the First Aid Kid cover, and I love it. I really like it both musically and its lyrics and rhyme, they create a very nostalgic and sentimental song. And it’s a great example of how Paul and Art voices complement each other and create wonderful melodies. Overs --> 5/5 Very simple slow and acoustic song, but its brilliance comes from that in my opinion. I’m a very simple man that loves simple guitar folky mawkish ballads. Voices of Old People --> ?/5 Voices of old people, just that. Old Friend/Bookends Theme (Reprise) --> 5/5 How can I not love this album with these songs? Very emotional, connecting with the theme of Voices of Old People. Great string arrangement that gives even more chills at the end. Fakin’ It --> 4/5 Here the B side of the album starts, with a more “upbeat” sound. Good song, with a more 60’s pop sound, maybe more commercial too. It lacks something, I don’t know what, for me to like it completely. Punky’s Dilemma --> 5/5 A very cheerful song, with some funny lyrics. Very catchy, and again, very simple, but no more is needed. Mrs. Robinson --> 5/5 Probably the most famous Simon and Garfunkel song (with permission of The Sound of Silence and the memes). Very catchy, and good. A Hazy Shade of Winter --> 4.5/5 Here comes the most rock-tinged song of the album. A surprise, but very well executed. At the Zoo --> 4/5 Again, a cheerful and original song, perfectly composed for the children's book they would later publish.

Wonderful album, listened in full several times over the weekend. Favorite song: America

I was excited to see this album pop up. I love Simon and Garfunkel.

My day 1 was simon and Garfunkel… The album opens with the bookends theme It’s not great but brilliant for a short opener. After there is save the life of my child, an amazing song really ahead of it’s time ( sounds at lest late 70’s) also the throwback to the sound of silence works perfectly! America is more of what I imagined from this album it’s an amazingly written acoustic song yeah this could’ve went perfectly on bridge over troubled water with no problem which is what I love! Overs is alright, I don’t think that Simon and Garfunkel can write a bad song but this isn’t as good as the others. Voices of old people= self explanatory I like old friends it’s an innocent enough slow yet sad sounding folk tune; is it worth having the last track to introduce it ( no) but is it good ( yes). A longer reprise of bookends theme ends side one, literally what I said last time round but the lyrics are nice. Side two starts with faking it it’s one of the more typical s and g songs so far but it’s still great I love the exploding chorus also when the orchestral sounding bits come in it just fits perfectly. Punky’s dilemma is nice, breezy and childish, the lyrics are hilariously stupid but I like it still. If I were to take all of this group’s big hits ( Cecilia, the boxer, the sound of silence etc…) mrs Robinson would probably be my least favourite I mean I don’t hate it but I just don’t think it’s of that epic quality that even some random album tracks can beat. The album’s penultimate track a hazy shade of winter is short and more epic sounding, this is honestly the song I will take from this first listen! The album closes with the song at the zoo, ,I much prefer it to the something of nothing song for the asking, it’s slow but long and has this gravitas that can lack in this duo’s weaker songs, still great here! This makes me really wanna change my bridge over troubled water score to a 5, as this is definitely a 5 and I view them as very similar quality!!!

Fantastic record! Simon and Garfunkel at their finest.

epic

I had no clue that ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’ was written and originally performed by S&G. Mind blown.

Folk’in good.

Garfunkel used to fuck my wife behind my back. She paid him $400 an hour for his huge pipe. That daily hot beef injection from young Art cost me a lot of money in the divorce. She had such a massive bucket cunt by then though. It was like throwing a hotdog down an alleyway, but with more genital warts.

Really good. 9/10

Such a good album! Obviously a precursor to Bridge but Bookends holds its own.

Je suis jaloux des talents de compositeur de Paul Simon.

Paul Simon is one of the all time greats and he really shines on this album. Beautiful poetic lyrics, wonderful acoustic guitar licks and picks with a nice mixture of experimentation - moog/horns/strings. It feels as accomplished as the best Beatles’ albums but pretty much all written by one genius.

Another classic 5 star album from Simon & Garfunkel except for "America", but that song is easily compensated by the other tracks.

I love how this album is split into two parts. There's the first side which gives a loose chronicle of life from childhood/adolescence, 20s love, middle-aged divorce, and the autumn years all bookended ;) by the title track. Then there's the second side which is a loose selection of quality singles and deep cuts dating back a year or two. I also like the emotional music balance of melancholy/despair (Old Friends/Bookends, Fakin It) and genuine feel good/happy too (Mrs Robinson, At The Zoo) throughout the album. Guess it helps having a talented songwriter like Paul Simon and having the angelic vocal talents of Art Garfunkel.

This album steps away from the folk revival aesthetic while sounding unmistakably like Simon & Garfunkel. Bookends centers thematically around a cycle of life exploring themes such as youth, old age, and insecurity. The album is grounded thematically by the Bookend Theme which quite literally bookends side one. The sound montages further set this album apart as a conceptual work, but it is still undergirded by Paul Simon's distinctive lyrics and the lush vocal harmonies for which Simon & Garfunkel became famous.

They did it again. 5

næsten ik set bedre

Amazing!

Love S&G, such a peaceful and beautiful album

Classic emo shit.

❤️

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.

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

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.

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

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 :)

Such a classic! 5/5

An outstanding album, fully deserves 5 stars

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

I enjoyed it.

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.

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.

Perfect example of songwriting and singing.

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

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.

2nd best S&G album

Wonderful album 5/5

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

iconic

❤️❤️Simon and Garfunkel

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

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

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

POP en mayúsculas. Fantástico.

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

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

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

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

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*

Fantastic album, can't fault

Sunday morning folk

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.

Classic. Loves in the zoo

Maravilhoso, apesar de não ser o melhor deles.

clássico

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

Absolutely beautiful, dynamic and nice overall.

Nice and chill

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.

I've never heard this entire album

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

Går inte att ge det här albumet något annat.

Amazing

Genuinely amazing calming vibes

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!

Hot fire. I love the vibes and their voice. Wonderful

Side A is a masterpiece, side B is uneven and ends with the limpest song in their discography.

It was like beatles

Harmonious

Album jest dość spokojny w porównaniu do poprzednich. Bardzo mi sie posoba użycie głosów starszych osób. Jest tam kilka piosenek które mi się podobają i są one dość spokojne. Coraz częściej zaczynam rozróżniać piosenki.

It's good. There's parts to it that I find weird and annoying (Old People Talking....wtf lol) but overall it has great songs. America was my fav song of the album. Save the Life of My Child and Fakin' It (my fav first listen) were my other highlights

FINALLY something i actually wanted to listen to. love "a hazy shade of winter".

A simultaneously soothing and moody album. Probably not their strongest, but a pretty inspired take on the realities on life's journeys.

Mainly for America, Mrs. Robinson, and Hazy Shade, but Save the Life of My Child and Fakin' It were fun, and new to me. Overall, tonally way more varied and interesting than I'd come to think of S&G. There's an unfortunate lull after America for several songs, but forgivable.

4/5 - Mrs Robinson and America are two of the best songs of this era. The rest is solid except for Voices of Old People. The songwriting here is really, really good.

Love : - theme - America - overs - old friends

I can’t describe the experience

Nice one, Art & Paul. Way to sing and strum it. And a surprise synth blast or two. Great stuff overall, but another group I never dug deeper into for whatever reason.

This is an easy 4, but: Simon and Garfunkel’s melodramatic angst does it for me less and less as I get older Voices of Old People is so indulgent and full of melodramatic angst Mrs Robinson is a good song, but I don’t think it’s that special Punky’s Dilemma is absolute horseshit. Maybe my least favorite song he’s ever written? I really think that Bridge Over troubled Water is leagues better than this album. Paul’s writing is way more sophisticated in that album.

very good

Simon et garfunkel c’est quand même quelque chose ! Je connaissais déjà Willow tree mais qui est d’un autre album (bcp plus doux et triste). C’est super bien construit : on a un début un milieu avec plusieurs actions et une fin, vraiment un album à écouter en une seule fois. C’est quand même un peu frustrant de par sa durée (30min)

Good album with some bangers. 7.4/10

8/10

Like this.

Chill, great songs

B side apologist

Great side B. Love these guys

strange but soft

An excellent and soothing listen

It is almost impossible to have not heard a few of Simon & Garfunkel. Unfortunately, most of what I heard or think about is sitting in a barber's chair as an eight year old and listening to classics radio with orchestral bits and the occasional tune like something from these guys. Turns out I was wrong. There are a few noisy pieces on here. Yes, there is also some of that sickly sweet stuff that makes lunch with the ladies easier but there are quite a few cutting lines elsewhere. Save the Life of My Child was one of those and strangely, speaking about old folks, Voices of Old People. In fact, the whole first part of this album which is basically a lifetime in less than half an hour, is largely lovely. I do love the original Hazy Shade of Winter but the Bangles bang it out too. Sure, those harmonies are nice but the other stuff is nicer. I'd give this a 4.

This is a tight little album. I can't quite give it a 5 due to the random track with the old people talking...but I really liked it. So, yeah, it drags a bit in the middle but the highs are outstanding, the harmonies are great, Hazy Shade of Winter slaps, America is outstanding and Old Friends is great, too.

Brilliant album, loses a star for this odd spoken word thing in the middle. Maybe I don't get it but utterly pointless. America is utterly superb though.

Simone and fuck knuckler

Full of classics, lovely chill morning vibes 4

ach.... milf anthem of the century

For as lauded as they are for their peerless work in the folk idiom, Simon and Garfunkel are underrated as a pop rock group. This album has bangers. Songs that are short, sharp and catchy as hell. This is overflowing with gorgeous melodies, wise and wry lyrics and, of course, those famous harmonies. The work of a seriously talented songwriter.

I’ll start by saying S&G are amongst the greatest singer songwriters of our time. (I guess really Simon). The first half of the record listens kinda like a book and feels cohesive (the songs between the Bookends Themes). It works as storytelling and America is an all time great. What a song. Voices of Old People is interesting interlude and, although not a song, it enhances the themes and storytelling. Then I’m not sure what happens. Fakin’ It and Punky’s Dilemma just plain suck. As does At the Zoo. WTF? Didn’t know they could write such crap (maybe those were Garfunkel songs? Haha). Of course Mrs. Robinson and a Hazy Shade of Winter are both phenomenal. So overall, mostly an excellent record, but one that loses its way here and there on the second side. Coulda been a contender for a 5, but the misses downgrade this one.

Today was another trip to my childhood. My dad loved this album. Every time we heard Mrs. Robinson I was once again reminded that their original name was ‘Tom & Jerry’ and that in the movie the graduate, “Mrs Robinson” Anne Bancroft was only six years older than Dustin Hoffman for whom she was the mother of his fiancé, among other facts. My older sister also loved the Bangles remake of “Hazy Shade” which prompted constant arguments and stereo battles between the generation as to who did the best version. I got to enjoy them both. There are some other classics on her such as America and Faking It. In my life this is a classic. That said, S&G also sound exhausted. The writing is admittedly weaker than the previous two albums, and their harmonies are not as rich, suggesting that fame, drugs, lifestyle and creative differences were beginning to take their toll. But they also had been friends for 15 years and contractually inseparable for the previous four years, having toured non stop to support a new album every year. It was understandable. Still a great album, just not my personal favorite.

Beautiful album. Gentle harmonies & lyrics, with the highlight being the poignant America (not Mrs Robinson). I think BOTW maybe better, but not by much, and they’re also beautiful back to back.

soundtrack to my rainy day

More goodness from S&G, I’ve enjoyed all their albums in a breezy, throwaway kind of way. They all have one song that justifiably has stood the test of time, and here it’s Mrs Robinson, banger.

Some of this stuff was kind of bleh, i.e Voices of Old People Talking, but for the most part I enjoyed this one; it's easy listening. I know A Hazy Shade of Winter is a cover, but I still enjoy this version and I don't know why, but I adore At the Zoo.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Some amazing songs in this one. The atmosphere of the album is solid and it is short. I’m digging it.

nice,

Me encantó igual en un momento pensé que eran canciones de iglesia