Bookends

Album 5/1001. Listened 1/12/2026. So many songs I know by heart. Can't say I love every single one of them; I never ever need to hear Voices of Old People again - like listening to Congress.

easy listening melancholic yet happy and gentle folk album. amazing musicality and instrumentals -love the aggressive and shocking transition from 1st to second track from soft, acoustic melancholic feel to electrical dramatic feel of the second track. save the life of my child: -not like previous songs by them ive heard -love the percussion and timpani use aswell as the gospel choir in the back america: -beautiful harmonies and soft angelic voice -feels like starting a new chapter Overs: -first part feels lullaby ish -love the build up and climax at the end old friends: -love the string accompaniment -double bass gives eerie feel and is then cancelled out by the violins

Potentiell 5

Track 2 damn near threw me out of my seat. That synth came out of nowhere. The rest of the album is also a nice listen

It's my first album starting this. I really liked, I don't really know how to analyze an album, but the sonority is cool.

I mean they’re all just great songs. Not sure about the concept idea, it’s a bit of a loose one and changes in the second half anyway but the actual songs are awesome. They’ve obviously already showed how great they are on the folk side if things from their previous albums so it was cool to hear some experimentation on some of the songs like the bass synth on the second song (first after the intro) and some strings on old friends for instance. Mrs Robinson is a classic on here as well. Favourites: all but the old people interlude. Overall, 8/10.

hermoso. me gustó todo

Love a quickie. Mrs Robinson is the obvious standout here. To me nothing comes close to bridge over troubled water though. Still, this sounded nice and I appreciate the attempt at a concept on side a. Light 4.

There are some fantastic songs on here ("America" and "Old Friend") but as a whole I just cant get to 5. The old people talking was quite unpleasant and for only 30 minutes there felt like lots of filler.

Lowkey reflective.

07/10 05.01.2026

It was a great experience to listen this album, definitely goes into my music library. 4/5

3.5

This was a pleasant listen. I’m not versed in S&G - and I often thought of their songs to be acoustic driven folk songs. But this record had that and a bit more. Some interestingly creative decisions that made an impact. Lyrics can be goofy at times but it didn’t take you out of the songs.

Great album! Well composed, soft and calming. My favorite song was Punkys Dilemma

You can hear the shift into the more psychedelic wall of sound and such but also the older more folksy tracks. I remember some of these from high school.

Had to skip the people taking but i already loved this album

This album is only 29 minutes long but is full of surprises. It has a few of my favorites--America, A Hazy Shade of Winter--and also surprises. The beginning of the first full song, Save the Life of My Child, is more electric than I was expecting, and the Voices of Old People was new to me. It really is just old people talking. :) This album came out the year I was born and it was fun to think about people in that year putting this LP on the turntable for the first time and giving it a spin.

country music album. i love "take me home, country roads" by john denver as a classic so it's common sense that i love this album too.

I like this album. I think it was quirky and nostalgic. I loved the lyric “I wish I was a Kellogg’s cornflake floating in my bowl.” I would definitely listen to this album again if I was on a road trip to the mountains

i surprisingly LOVED it!!! such fun songs, not per se to dance to or sing along to but great chill soft songs

Good but not their best...

I didn’t fall in love with this one as quickly as Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, but I still enjoyed it. Bookends definitely has a clearer and well-defined narrative throughout, which I can appreciate. When I listen to this again, I think I will enjoy it a lot more as I dive deeper into its themes.

Calm and poetic

We listened to these two a lot growing up. Sadly, my mom leaned toward the folky Ren faire stuff that never resonated with me. About half of this album is surprising and aiming for something far left of their center. I found those tracks something of a revelation. The rest of them I could take or leave, though I leaned towards take. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.

Starts off with a beautiful and calming instrumental that leads into the second song "Save the life of my child" which has a grand start. This song seems to explore the suicide of a young boy and looks into the affection of the women around and the inaffection of the men, mainly the police officer who has a lack of remorse saying that the boy does not respect the law. It's a overwhelming song with much going on but it matches the topic explored. The overwhelming situation, the panic of the people, matches the different sounds going on all at once in the song. We are then lead into "America." I hear the faint sound of a woman's voice. A calmer song than the last. There's a surprising amount of dialogue in the song, snippets of conversations or even simple shared words between lovers. Simon and his girlfriend of the time (which I found out by looking up) are on a road trip to America, and while there Simon keeps looking for the America he's been promised, the "American Dream." This song is an exploration on Simon's existential crisis over what he was taught to believe America is and what it actually is. We are then taken into "Overs." This song seems to explore a seemingly short relationship. A relationship on it's last legs, it's last run. These lovers seem to be separating from one another but can't seem to make any true commitment to a separation. Not happy but comfortable and leaving the comfort of a relationship lost of any real emotions is less frightening than being on their own. Next we are taken into "Voices of Old People." This song is a mixing of snippets of conversations from elderly people at the United home for aged Hebrews and the old home for age Reseda. An interesting look on what elderly people are thinking and feeling. "Old Friends" has a stunning beginning. Something that feels a little melancholic but also peaceful and calm. Like coming to terms with something that offers sadness but feels relieving in one way or another. I don't quite know what to make of this song, all I could truly focus on was the deep sadness I felt while listening. A beautiful song I must say. " Bookends Theme- Reprise" is a repeat of the intro. It seems to look back on a memory from when you were younger, a child or teenager. Moments that at the time don't seem that big but as you grow older you can't help but look back on with fondness. "Fakin' It" has a more upbeat sound. The subject is less sad then the others mostly because it is an extremely common feeling among most everyone. The feeling of insecurity and shortcomings and doing your best to hide them. "Punky's Dilemma" This song contains quite silly lyrics. Dreaming of being serial or a form of bread. But it has some deep political meanings. After doing some research it seems that Simon is critiquing the way society seems to quickly jump into groups and constantly politicizing small or trivial things. Making groups with fervor. A silly song contains deep meanings when you really look at it. " Mrs. Robinson" is a song featured the "The Graduate" soundtrack. This song was originally called "Mrs. Roosevelt" but Simon was asked if he could write a song for a movie. He said he was too busy touring but was working on a song which then became "Mrs.Robinson." I don't quite know what it is fully exploring but it isn't as sad as the other songs on the album have been. A nice break from the sadness I've so far indured. " A Hazy Shade of Winter" is a look on the journey of life and what your life has now become, what it now is. "At the Zoo" could stand for a collection of different people, how they may all come together in one place but are still separated by their differences. I think the album was an exploration of different relationships in life and I think it's an album that I enjoyed but the more I listen the more I'll love it and the more I'll understand it.

introduced me to a whole new genre, loved it

Great album

hay una canción que se llama Punky's dilemma, y le agrega mil puntos más a un muy buen disco, tranqui, medio chill, no estoy tan tan segura si he escuchado canciones antes, pero algunas siento que son conocidas Replayability: 9/10 Fav: Punky's dilemma / Mrs. Robinson Vibe: de fondo en alguna cena, en una tarde media otoñal, en juntas mas reducidas, que se pierda la musica sobre las conversaciones que se tienen

America, Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter, are just great songs, easily 4 stars here.

This album was surprising. The inclusion of synthesizers caught me off guard. The songwriting is fantastic. The track that is literally just field recordings of old people talking is the low-point of the album, but it does at least fit with the "concept" going on for the first half of the album. Overall, this is a great album. 4 stars

Probably my favorite S&G album, and not for Mrs. Robinson. America is a much better track.

Someone quipped that Bookends is like the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” played out over an entire album. That seems right. I can feel the influence and vibe of Sgt Pepper here, even though the acoustic presentation provides misdirection. Along with Mrs Robinson, there are some great counter culture gems here ("Save the Life of My Child," "Fakin’ It," "Hazy Shade of Winter"). And “America” is a Simon and Garfunkel classic. Yet there are low points. "Overs," "Voices of Old People," and "Old Friends" form a skippable trilogy. A song about Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and another about the Zoo probably contain profound insight…somewhere…but feel like filler. I think the Beatles had the right idea in keeping it to one song. But man, the great songs here are really deserving. Put the best songs on a playlist and that playlist should indeed be heard (a few times) before you die.

Very airy, slow,

Not my favorite album of theirs solely because of a few sound effect storytelling devices used that I would cut out. Otherwise, another killer album.

I knew A Hazy Shade of Winter

I didn't know they were so weird! Cameron Crowe's mom was right.

Very chill and pleasant

I seem to harp on how I can’t appreciate an album fully because it’s not in my folky wheelhouse. This seems like a cop out as most of what I listen to can’t be called folky. So now, I am confronted with undeniable folkiness. What to do? Despite my folky roots and to echo something I’ve said everyday, I’ve never listened to this album. I know Paul Simon as really one of the best acoustic guitarists of his era—his work on sound of silence solidifies that—and a more than worthy songwriter (his work on sound of silence solidifies that). But my criticism of Simon (and Garfunkel!) is that he (they!) are a little soft. They are very pleasant to listen to, but they are a little too pleasant to listen to. A little too much polish, seemingly lacking a certain authenticity that is absolutely essential in his genre. There are Paul Simon songs that have become standards, and deservedly so, but he isn’t on my Rushmore of folk singers, he and Dylan are at the kids table for opposing reasons. The beginning of this album was entirely unexpected and so welcomed. Hell yeah. Paul Simon is relentlessly gifted at playing the guitar and the rest of the band is fervent here. I am just shocked by the statement that save the life of my child is—I might have to listen to this five more times before moving on to the rest of the album. The bass is unrelenting and the tone of the crashing cymbals adds so much to this song. It just feels so unexpected from Simon and it’s executed so well. I did not expect this album to start so aggressively and it works so well. And it just keeps going. America is so different from its predecessor, but it’s a banger as well. We get to dive into Simon’s ability as a storyteller, where few can compete. The rest of the band, the production on this album take this from some good songs to a stellar album. Simon can play truly beautiful acoustic lines that occupy so much space as he is wont to do, but the bass forces the issue in a way Simon’s guitar can’t and the (Hammond? Whatever keys) play a beautiful accent. It also makes it that much more poignant when you do get situated in songs like Overs or old friends that absolutely showcase Simon’s voice and playing, both of which are impeccable as ever here. And we must talk about voices of old people. This album is stuffed with the unexpected, and I did not expect field recordings of elderly Americans used as a framing device for the song’s accompanying it, but wow does it work. This is an album that seems shockingly considerate in its arrangement, between having (and reprising) a theme and including a recording like voices of old people. This album is so strong and cohesively resonant that, while Mrs. Robinson is probably the most listenable standalone track, the album would be just as good without it. It’s a classic that I don’t much care for, and it doesn’t really belong here (I wonder what the conversation was to put the song on the album as obviously it wasn’t recorded for this release). I walked into this listen fully expecting to go against type and criticize a folk album. I walked out not even positive this is a folk album. It’s certainly not perfect or remotely close to contending for my favorite album, but what a stellar album front to back. I think I would’ve liked to see another reprise of the theme to tie the whole piece together, having the reprise appear fairly early in the album and disappear was something of a disappointment. I also think Mrs. Robinson, while a standout track, should’ve been left off. In such a conceptually driven album, I think a nonsequitur track like that detracts more than it should. But, while far from perfect, it deserves its flowers and then some.

I don't think I know this album, let's go. The singles are just so damn good: America, Mrs Robinson. Some strong 60s sounds in here, a little more than usual for Simon. A Hazy Shade of Winter is giving crazy 60s energy. I don't think I knew this song was theirs originally! Fun little folksy album that I would def listen to again. 3.9/5

I've grown up listening to Simon and Garfunkel. My parents loved them, my wife loves them and I was lucky enough to see Art Garfunkel live a few years ago. Bookends contains a few of the classics, in Mrs Robinson, America and Hazy Shade of Winter. Old Friends and Punky's Dilemma are also warm, comfortable songs. Save the Life of my Child doesn't really fit with the rest of the album, and feels a bit jarring, while Overs and Fakin' It, while not unpleasant, just seem to be going through the motions. A low 4 stars.

Lots of Highlights.

Genre: Folk Pop One of the more pleasant listening experiences found in this book, Simon & Garfunkel made themselves a very solid, very long-living pop record that has stood the test of time. From the big hits (Mrs. Robinson) to the deep cuts (At the Zoo), this is a great album any way you slice it. Can’t believe this came out in 1968. Folk Pop music would sound like this for a long time. I listened to this on a snowy drive. Probably made it that much better. 4/5

Greit. De skal få denne TIL TROSS for gamle folk som prater...

Lovely

Old favourite - original release pilfered from mum and dad’s collection. A great chill album with oddities (Voices Of Old People/Old Friends) blended with classics (America, Hazy Shade of Winter, At The Zoo), and a best ever filler (Mrs. Robinson (From The Motion Picture "The Graduate")).

I knew like half the songs already. Classic, hard to go wrong with Simon and Garfunkel. Only bit I didn't care for was the old people talking filler track

3.8/5 Pretty good album overall, but not my favourite. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" heightened my expectations too much honestly. And although there's nothing on "Bookends" that I'd call bad or boring, only the last 3 songs were actually catching my attention.

Love S&G, great tracks on here, America, and Mrs R, great singalong tunes

Hard to be mad at those folksy harmonies. Some absolute classics here (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter). I can trace a through line from Dylan to this to The Kinks ‘Village Green…’

At The Zoo

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel was an interesting experience. It has nostalgic folk roots and iconic guitar riffs. At times it was slow and boring, but other times it's groovy. -Sean

I appreciate the genius, it’s just not my thing.

Beautiful

Very good album. Kept wanting to hear it again and relisten.

Certified classic. The duo executes the life end-to-end concept really well, and the music is, as always, fantastic.

Nice album for a sunday morning drive

Really enjoyed the variety of songs and harmonies on this one. My favorite of theirs thus far.

Some lovely songs, very nostalgic. America is top song for me on this album. Prefer “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

it's k

I’ll never get over that soft and beautiful opening acoustic number going straight into Paul Simon discovering Moog synthesizers. It’s awesome.

Interesting, essential listening. I had forgotten that Simon & Garfunkel performed "Hazy Shade of Winter", and the Bangles only punched it up a little to be honest. This is fairly crucial 70's listening. I can't find any nits to pick, but I wouldn't pull it again unless it's to listen to "Hazy Shade of Winter" or "Mrs. Robinson" again.

Usage of instruments, sounds and effects makes this recording very pleasurable to listen to. Vocals are emotional, warm and so eager to tell stories. Mastering is impeccable, very spacious, clean and dimensional. All albums should sound like this one. Favourites: Old Friends; A Hazy Shade of Winter; Mrs. Robinson

While I wish that some of the stranger songs were left off this album and replaced by, you know, songs, I just don't know how you can give one that includes songs like America and Mrs Robinson less than a 4. I mean, I get it, but I don't agree with it.

Some of their absolute classics interspersed with some very quirky songs. Loved it.

I sure didn't expect that rock opening! While the rest of this album plays as I'd expected, when that first crash hits, I honestly thought I'd hit a button and somehow played another album. Then of course, the album settles down into the S&G you'd expect. Mellow, singer-songwriter tunes. "America" is a nice song I'd heard before, but didn't recognize until a third of the way through. Why the hell would you add "Voices of Old people" to a music recording? Not just a sample or two in a song, but 2 minutes of people griping. Crazy "Old Friends" is weak and treacle-y. Why would you have some 20-year-olds singing about what it's like being 70 accompanied by music that sounds like it's from the 40s? The rest of the songs are pretty good. Obviously "Mrs. Robinson" is a great listen. Classic tune. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is winner that a lot of people have covered. A little more rocking than you'd expect from these two. When I see or hear the words "Simon and Garfunkel" I think, "Oh, yah. folky, light acoustic, background music". But then I listen to a whole album and like them much more than expected. It's happened more than once. I want to give this a 4.5, but with the couple of real clunkers in there, I've got to go with a 4.

Great albums with a few classics! Short and sweet.

That first track sounds so weird to modern ears

A classic, the 4 heavy hitters on this make it an enjoyable listen. The rest is average but it’s a short album so the hits make it pack a punch. It’s probably a solid 3.5 for me but I’ll give it the round up since I remember it from an early age in my living room on the console turntable.

I’ll have to check with my mom, but fairly sure this is at/near peak S&G. At 29m (with that odd Voices of Old People inclusion…), it’d be easy to think there’s not enough meat here. But this has undoubtedly their biggest song and a few of their other fan faves. As a sucker for a song with a shoutout of any lesser known Michigan city, have always liked “America”.

I came thinking this was a 4 easy. But man, I didn’t love as much as I thought I would. Mrs. Robinson = greatness. A hazy shade of winter = greatness. Both also with great covers as well. American is another good one. Voices of old peeps is unnecessary. This is a 3.5 for me but I gotta round up for the aforementioned songs. Also, why are these homeys dressing up like Steve Jobs?

Simon & Garfunkel are the undisputed corniest motherfuckers to ever do it. And I'm here for it. A song about various breakfast foods? Brilliant! America may be my favorite song of theirs and of course Mrs. Robinson. I don't think it rises to the level of Bridge of Troubled Water, but still a solid album (and yay only 30 minutes!). 4/5

When an album is so good that it even got me to like folk music for a bit, I gotta give it at least a 4. Shoutout Mrs. Robinson

Love love love this album, but knowing Bridge Over Troubled Water and Paul Simon's solo work, I don't think they were on a 5 level yet. The front half of this album is a little weak for me, especially compared to the fantastic back half. However, this is still head and shoulders above most other albums from this time period. I wish I was an English muffin about to make the most out of the toaster *falling down stairs noises*

Don’t see why this made the cut of the 1000, personally

Really effective concept album, felt very personal without being so literal. The instrumentation is always on point with this duo. Best Track: Old Friends

Nice album.

Yep. Like that one.

A mixed bag of genius and gentle shrugs.

Peaceful Rainy day music Couple of iconic songs on there

This was good and has some amazing classics on it but not on the level of future Paul Simon solo albums. I love the synth sound on Save The Life of My Child and Side B was mostly great but I just don’t fully get most of Side A.

Simon & Garfunkel, perhaps simply because of saturation and over-familiarity, might be the exception to my general disposition that folk is boring. Only *a little* of this album is boring ("Overs" and "Voices of Old People" really). The rest is pretty excellent. Obviously, some of these songs I've heard a million times ("America" "Mrs. Robinson") but they're classics for a reason. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" and "At the Zoo" sound archetypally like S&G, but have a pep and verve they don't always show. I'm still not a straight-up folk guy, but this is a pleasure to listen to. Great voices, great lyricists, great album.

Probably the best album I’ve personally heard by the duo

More magic from the late 60’s

I liked this but I like Bridge Over Troubled Water better

I’ve listened to a fair amount of Simon and Garfunkel but the only two songs I’ve heard from Bookends are America and Mrs. Robinson. I get it because the rest of the album isn’t really filled with hits. Although the other songs are absolutely beautiful. Paul Simon has a way of evoking vivid images and deep emotions in only a line or two. Very good album, except for Voices of Old People. That was a pretty weird one

As I expected from Simon & Garfunkel. Although the jump between track 1 and 2 took me by surprise.

The acoustic sound is great . A classic

I wish I lived in a wholesome enough society to have more examples of close harmony pop duos. Its a powerful and direct way to perform music. I am more familiar with Simon & Garfunkel's solo works (with a strong emphasis on Paul Simon) so it was exciting to hear them in this iconic original form. Bookends is enjoyable throughout but has a particularly strong ending. The epic A Hazy Shade of Winter stood out positively to me.

Bookends gets a solid to high 4 from me, I love the concept of side A, but love the singles on side B, unfortunately they don’t integrate into a satisfying enough full picture to push into the low 5s, not far off though

I love Simon and Garfunkel, so I wanted to rate this 5 stars, but there were a couple of strange choices (Voices of Old People and Punky’s Dilemma, mainly), which made me pull it back. However there are some gorgeous songs like America, Old Friends, the Bookends Theme reprise, Mrs Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter which I could play over and over again.

I liked this a lot but didn't love it - very short and a little too background-y in places.

Old people talking vs Hazy shade of winter is the original Coughing Baby vs Hydrogen Bomb. It gives the album one hell of a split personality feel.

"I wish I was a kellogg's cornflake" ??? Ok?? I don't?? As is rote for Simon and Garfunkel, there are some great parts, some deep parts, and some just straight up bizarre. I never know how to feel about them. In the end the album is fine but it doesn't stop the dread I feel at the prospect of listening to them - at least at half an hour long this one manages to stave off boredom. I will give them an extra star just for the way they committed to singing hazy shade of WINTERRR

Do yourself a favor and only listen to side 2 of Bookends, i.e. songs 8-12.

Beautiful album and songs. Easily accessible for everyone. I can listen to this over and over

Beautiful

this album had a strong moments with the most wellness song being this Robinson, but it also hurts to familiar entertaining moments despite that I think add this album is very good and then looking at time when this was released, it is really really ahead of its time, that’s why I give you a seven out of 10

Album bellissimo

Beaucoup de fun dans les arrangements, production top. 4.49 étoiles

Pretty kickass but I suspect I heard it too much 3.7

Amazing from start to finish, wonderful lyrics, one of the best albums of all time. Timeless, I could listen to it over and over at any point in my life and still enjoy it and feel different emotions.

Hazy Shade of Winter is one of the best guitar riffs OAT

Banging so close to a 5. America is one of the best songs I’ve heard

Very good album; flowed great and had good songs.

A very easy listen with some lovely guitar work, lead vocals and harmonies. Definitely worth 29 minutes of your time.

I really need to remember to look at some basic info on each album before I put it on. I listened once, and while some of the songs were enjoyable enough, the whole thing was pretty incoherent and the choice to put some of the best stuff at the end baffled me. Once I realised side A was a concept thing and side B was just individual songs I knew I had to listen again. Thankfully it's one of the shorter albums on this list, but I'm very glad I did! Understanding what it was supposed to be opened me up to enjoying it more. Side A was interesting, if a little weird. "Save the Life of My Child" was a standout, but I felt pretty neutral about the rest of it - it was fine, but nothing I really loved. Side B is full of bangers. I'd listen to just side B any day. Having read some of these reviews, I know this album seems to be pretty polarising... Half the listeners think Paul Simon is a genius (which on some level I can't deny), and the other half think he's pretentious (which is also hard to deny) and the album is rubbish. I personally think the album as a whole struggles because it's trying to be too clever... but when they're just doing good music, it's really good music. This places my rating somewhere between the coveted 5/5 and a lousy 2. Also I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but this version of "Mrs. Robinson" is way better than The Lemonheads' cover. Sorry. The Lemonheads' version is fine, but it just doesn't live up to the original. On the other hand, The Bangles' cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is an absolute banger and far outstrips the original - although that's not to say the original isn't good.

album gostosinho de ouvir parece com a vibe dos beatles, e eu amo os beatles... so que esse album saiu mais como um beatles americanizado.

приятная музычка, без негатива.

Another brilliant album by S&G. Has enough all-time classics to be automatically given a 5*, (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade, Save the Life of my Child) but i'm going to be harsh and rate it as a 4*, as it's not quite as consistent as some of their other efforts, and Old People Voices takes me right out of it. Still a lovely listen, and an album that would be particularly nice to listen to on a cold day, with a cup of tea and a book. 8/10

Lit

Lyrically and musically masterful. This has never been my style of music though. With a few exceptions, this is the kind of music that, if I were taking a nap and woke up to this, I would fall asleep again immediately. But it’s clear why they were at the top of their game when this music was dominant. Geniuses in their own field.

Pleasant and enjoyable - 4/5

4 ou 5 ... tem pelo menos dois megahits ...banda de apoio do wrecking crew..

Beautiful work

A classic

Excellent

I picked this up for a quid from a charity shop back when vinyl was gathering dust and nobody cared. I remembered it cropping up in Almost Famous, that scene where music feels like salvation. But I didn’t give it the time it deserved back then. Listening now, Bookends feels like a quiet revelation. It’s nostalgic without being sentimental, poetic without being pretentious. Tracks like “America” and “Old Friends” hit differently with a bit more life lived. It’s short, but it lingers. Like a photo album you didn’t realise meant so much until years later.

Funkier bass lines than I expected

150925 17:32 4

#2 - 12.09.25

Whatever, Mrs Robinson

A couple of certified bangers on here, and then a couple of things i could’ve done without (the old people? Maybe that’s critical to the album and I’m just too dumb but i didn’t like it). Anywho, nice job Art and Paul.

4/5

I was disappointed by the lack of funk, despite the bandname.

I like Simon & Garfunkel quite a bit, and this album was a pleasant listen. Many of the songs, I knew and loved.

J’ai écouté les cinq albums de Simon & Garfunkel cet après-midi (le vendredi 10 octobre 2025). Je ne les connaissais que pour un best-of avant ça. Beaucoup de bonnes chansons sur ces albums (qui sont, pour la plupart, assez courts) ! Les deux premiers sont assez classiques : le duo qui chante et s’accompagne à la guitare. Le troisième est très intéressant, plein de belles mélodies et une plus grande panoplie d’instruments est impliquée. Le quatrième (Bookends) est probablement le plus expérimental, mais je ne suis pas certain que ça convient à leur son. Le cinquième est leur plus fort, je dirais. On sent que Paul Simon a énormément évolué comme compositeur et qu’ensemble ils ont grandi comme interprètes. Aussi, plus d’instruments et de belles instrumentations. Un groupe à réécouter. Cinq albums à réécouter.

Moro moro :D Nautin tästä levystä todella paljon. Muutama tuttu biisi josta aiemmin kuullut coverin. Ihan huippu mut muutama heikompi biisi mukana.

This is a hard one because I really like so much of the back half of the album, America and Hazy Shade of Winter are so good, and yet the first part of the album drags so much for me.

Classic

Aiempi arvostelu tulikin vahingossa musiikkikirjakerhon nimellä, kun satuin avaamaan väärän sivun sivuhistoriasta... :) Miellyttävä, ja tuli samalla täytettyä jonkinlainen aukko sivistyksessä, kun en suosiosta huolimatta ollut aiemmin juuri tutustunut kyseiseen duoon.

Onhan tämä lähestulkoon mestariteos. A-puoli ehkä vähän epätasainen, sieltä löytyy yksi Simon & Garfunkelin parhaista biiseistä (America), mutta myös kyllä suoraan sanottuna vähän täytettäkin. B-puoli onkin sitten ihan pelkkää greatest hits -ilotulitusta. Hienoa tarinankerrontaa, upeita melodioita ja viimeisen päälle kauniita stemmoja. Kai tämä folkiksi nykypäivänäkin vielä niputetaan, mutta itse aina ajatellut että tässä ollaan tosi vahvasti americanan juurilla - sillain hyvällä tavalla. Vaikka tässä onkin kahden käden sormilla laskettava määrä viiden tähden biisejä, niin silti kokonaisuus ei kuitenkaan ole niin ehjä että koko levy ansaitsisi viisi tähteä.

Vahinkoarvio :)

I've never questioned the sincerity of giraffes until now. A real life altering album.

Classic Little Rock action. Most songs were enjoyable but with Mrs Robinson as a standout.

Feels like background music, not invasive, not bad, not remarkable, ms robinson is great tho 4

Another older classic album. Liked most of the songs

Mrs. Robinson is an objectively great song that hits whatever the opposite of a sweet spot is. I can't stand it. I do enjoy the rest of this album though! It's a bit too quirky and mellow for me to listen to all the time, but America is a tremendous song, and I can always appreciate their incredible melodies and harmonies.

Really beautiful album, but it’s too short. For an album that’s less than 30 minutes, I’m amazed they devoted time to literal old people talking. That being said, it’s a nice segue into the song that comes after. Great vocal harmonies throughout. All of the songs felt very distinct with their own stories. I enjoyed this one, but I just have a few minor gripes here and there.

i discovered even more good song through the spotify radio of this album 3.5/5

They really do make it seem effortless eh? Just dropping perfect harmonies. The old people track weird but somehow endearing. The cornflake line was weird but nah it was just weird but what a smooth bass line on that track. 4 stars

Solid S&G album here. I keep having to remind myself that people listened to these on vinyl records and there was a side 1 and side 2, because the weird intermission part with "Voices of Old People" just thrown in there was ending the first side of the album, and Fakin' It starts side 2. Overall I liked it. 3.5 / 5 stars

This album is an experience. A whole story of life. Not bad

Interesting to hear the album on which "Mrs. Robinson" appears. Some of it is very experimental (looking at you, "Voices of old people"), but overall I liked it.

Not as coherent as bridge over troubled water but the harmony is still beyond compare

I liked this one! Old people talking was silly and not really in the vein of the rest of the album, but the album was full enough otherwise so it was just a fun inclusion, imo. Some classics, the rest were so good but not notable

I prefer Bridge Over Troubled Winter to Bookends and I really don't know how it can be considered that close. The first half of this album, absent America is experimentation and some bizarre attempt to have a concept album. There was clearly some drug use during the making of this album, as some of the songs are the trippiest that Paul Simon ever wrote. The last six songs are incredibly strong, and though they don't have a "theme" they are just better than the first six songs. It makes it difficult to rate this album, as I would give it five stars if there were 8 songs on the album. Unfortunately, there are 12 songs and one of the songs is just old people talking (for some reason). There are quite a few great songs on here and I think there is a place for the album in the book, as this is the album where they shed some of their folk-duo persona and stretched out their sound a bit. My favorite tracks: Bookends (combined into one) Save the Life of My Child (I think I like it) America Fakin' It A Hazy Shade of Winter Mrs. Robinson At the Zoo

« We smoked the last one an hour ago… » is a beautiful line! I got lost on the electronic instrumentation. A little jumbled song sequence but some real gems in there

Hört sich ganz cool an

I’ve gotten 3 Paul Simon solo records and I am of the belief that Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters pop music ever had. His music has this charm and fun while also being excellent actual written works. This album was the third consecutive album Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel had that struck gold. This one better even than their previous. I love the light integration of some psychedelic elements. I love the urgency on the vocals to “Save The Life Of My Child” the harmonies and power in “America” make it one of the greatest in their catalog. I’m a huge fan of “Overs”. “Old Friends” is great, “Punky’s Dilemma” is a fun one that feels different than the average S&G song. I of course love the classic “Mrs. Robinson” one of the songs of my childhood and one of the earliest songs I loved as a child. I also love the closer “At The Zoo”, though not quite the finest moment (that would come two years later with their subsequent album) it’s a somewhat close second place

A very artful and creative expression of life’s simplicities: mundane yet profound. The references through much of the album center around the New York and the stories feel like they could have inspired the Humans of New York project. The music serenades the soul through visual stories of the human journey. From the joyous innocence and playfulness of youth, to the spring of life, on through changing of leaves, and finally the quiet winter - the beauty remains present at each stage. Simon certainly had a way of weaving a colorful tapestries of story, creating collective experience both honest and deeply connected. I thought about my grandparents during two tracks and felt a bit emotional. I have to admit, at age 19, I had a major crush on Garfunkel. Sure, he was more the ‘looks’ of the two and not the songwriter but I dunno … the beatnik turtleneck and curly hair were totally my jam.

These fellas pop up in some important memories of my Gen X life. The first time I heard Simon and Garfunkel was when I was a pre-adolescent kid hanging out in my grandpa's garage. It had that rich warm gasoline smell of old cars and machine grease that only garages of a certain era smelled like. I seek to recreate that aroma in my garage today; sometimes running my vintage Triumph motorcycle a little rich so that that smell soaks into the bare studs somehow. Anyhow, gramps was listening to The Sounds of Silence. I remember thinking how haunting all the songs sounded, especially the eponymous track and "Scarborough Fair".  Another time, many years later, I watched The Graduate for the first time with my mom during the pandemic, (some 20-odd years after it was recommended to me when I myself graduated). I've never sat down to actually listen to Paul and Art, but they've been on the hi-fi in a room I've been in several times throughout my life; and when they have been, they are moments I remember. Today it's soundtracking my day while I scan photos of my grandfather and my mom, who are gone now. I'll remember today, too. In an era of singles, it was quite the move for this duo to release a concept album. The material here is definitely a measure more upbeat and rockin' and rollin' than the haunting sounds I grew up with. There are a few that stuck out to me. "Save the Life of My Child" has evocative, Dylanesque lyrics and vocal phrasing; well at least until we get to the chorus. "America" has tones and words that lend to it being a classic anthem of a time. These guys were writing music for what seemed to be everyone. When we get to "Old Friends" I was struck at how much it sounds like the closing music on a Wes Anderson film. Of course, "Mrs Robinson" and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" are essential tracks here, nothing more needs to really be said. They have become a permanent part of the American book of popular song of the last 100 years. What struck me by the record's end is how much "At the Zoo" sounds like any indie rock single from the mid 2000s. I never put that together but I can see a connection now that I didn't before. These boys are hugely influential. Huh. The album cover art is seriously tasteful. So clean. I can see how Apple's whole design aesthetic might be inspired by this album art alone. The cover photo looks like a professional silver-gelatin portrait of two Eurotrash lesbians with an electro-clash project, and I love it. Then we have a modern, simple, small, typographic element in the ever so slightly Art Deco typeface Venus tucked neatly at the bottom (where it would likely be invisible as a masthead in record bins - what a total flex). Put all together, we see an example of a layout that proves the theory that oftentimes, less is more. 

Vibes of that whimsical surreal Beatles/PF/Kinks - love the idea of the concept on the first half of the album. The non rhyming lyrics show just how insanely melodic and well produced this album as they never seem out of place or too abstract. Also the second part of the first half of the album is just immensely sad

The Good: We know how the story ends… The Bad: We aren’t always sure where the story started… The Ugly: Paul Simons haircut… 30 minutes… that’s what this album lasts, and technically speaking, just for that, it should get an additional star ranking, because the fear that enters me when I see an album I don’t know with a runtime of around 1+ hour, mainly product released post 1995… This album serves to make several points; don’t judge a book by its cover, being the main one! I did NOT know that the song America was them performing it, and I’ve heard that song countless times. And it’s not that I don’t like the song, it’s just that I had placed it away in the folder labelled “pantsy hippy shit”… Then you are forced to sit down and listen, and I actually tried to pay attention to the lyrics (for which I deserve an extra star rating)… Before reaching the much known Mrs Robinson, we are treated to sonic delight… what the fuck? And reading about how, when one would be listening to the album, side one starts and ends with the aptly named bookend… fuckers are just giggling while my mind starts to understand a little bit more… And then comes the hammer… A Hazy Shade of Winter, one of the greatest songs ever performed by The Bangles, turns out to be a cover! Fuck me! I spend some time trying to see if I can get the movie “Less Than Zero” on any of my streaming services, but alas, just like the movie “Under the Cherrymoon”, this ‘80s gem will be denied, for the moment… I am struggling as to which score to give the album… it is nice, and it is special… I am just not certain if I wan’t it to have 5*… why can’t we rate to 10???

Really enjoyable listen. Not mind blowing but very good. Strong 4

Yeah not bad needs another listen

Very nice

a little uneven, but there are some amazing tracks on here.

Just great harmonies and melodies.

Classic S&G

Quite a nice album, more varied than some of their others. Quite progressive use of synth/sampling that I didnt know they used

I thought I knew what I was getting with a Simon & Garfunkel album, but I was wrong. When Save the Life of My Child started, I briefly thought I'd put the wrong album on. Then there's the sheer oddity of Voices of Old People, and the ghostly way Art's voice floats in on Overs. I liked it though. Maybe they should have got weird more often.

Clear to see the influence they had on elliot smith Really enjoyable album

Ortega y Gasset si hicieran musica

The first side is amazing. The second is pretty good (Mrs Robinson being the standout). But seriously, the Bookends melody returning at the end of Old Friends made me ascend.

Just incredible stuff from these little nerds, love em!

Classic album! Good songs!

Pleasant and enjoyable.

This album surprised me. I can see now what my mom saw in Simon & Garfunkel back when this album came out. I liked all of the tunes on this one and want to go back and listen more closely. This is one I'll definitely be returning to.

very calming, feels like a novel expressed through music.

Hazy Shade of Winter is a metal song.

Absolute classic

"Mrs. Robinson" and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" elevate this album from 2 to 4 stars; otherwise, forgettable.

Just such a vibe.

With some of Simon & Garfunkel's finest songs and some of my favourites, this album will not disappoint. Easy listening and always enjoyable.

Minus one whole star because we have already reviewed other Simon & Garfunkel albums and the redundancy is obvious. Just pick one and let's go.

This album is fantastic. Knocked down for “Voices of Old People”

Some nostalgic songs and some weird ones I do not remember at all!

Silly folk songs are good

Thoughts before listening: I like pretty much everything by Simon and Garfunkel, so I feel confident that this will be no different. Should be some solid 60s folk with memorable melodies and vocal harmonies. I'm sure there will be some classics on this as well. Review: The first real song on this album is "Save the Life of a Child" and it sets the stage for what seems like a bit more of an experimental sound for Simon and Garfunkel. Lots of bass in the mix on this one and I'm rather enjoying it. Next comes "America" which is one of my favorite songs of all time so it's inclusion as the 3rd song on this album is an immediate win in my book. They lose me a bit with some slow tunes and an entire track of old people talking, but then bring it back with "Fakin' It" and of course "Mrs. Robinson". I'll give this 4 stars with the high points being very high.

so so good. any album with America on it is an automatic favourite in my book , but I was pleasantly surprised by the b-sides/'filler'. Save the life of my child was kind of awesome. Also Mrs. Robinson gets a lot of play but it's really that good.

Some classics on here

I mean, you can't deny there are some incredible singles on here. 29 mins is a great shout for this project too. 'A hazy shade of winter' did a great job pf packing in a lot for less than 2 and a half minutes. Top track. Bridge over troubled water was always my favourite probably still is, but this is close.

Some bangers on here like Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, and America... but also did we need an entire track of old people talking? It's more like a 3.5 but I'll be generous because the standouts are such classics, but still it's not even close to Bridge Over Troubled Water.

I like how weird and kinda loud this gets. Didn't know they had it in them, honestly. Full Mrs Robinson is all american anthem. Woo woo woo.

Short and sweet album. Favourite Track(s): America, Hazy Shade of Winter Least Favourite Track(s): Save the Life Of My Child

at the zoo is my favourite song of all time

Such a mixed bag. Best of times, worst of times. I read up on this album on Wikipedia after listening to it. The modern format doesn't suit the album. Originally this would have had side A and B on a record, which would have given it a coherent theme. As it is, it's a thematic jumble with some fantastic songs and some that really don't work.

Was really the start of something big for them.

Have seen the cover for years, never put it on before. Definitely wasn't expecting the synth and crash at the beginning of 'Save the Life of My Child', but everything after that pretty much eased into standard S&G sound. I'm good with it, and don't have the complaints that others seem to have about the concept album A side and the inclusion of Mrs Robinson on the B side - this was the first full length album after it was in the Graduate - why wouldn't they include it?

First Simon & Garfunkel album in this journey. Have definitely heard a few of these songs but not all together. Enjoyed the idea and the music. Definitely lose the goal of 2 separate sides with streaming!

America and A Hazy Shade of Winter only just nudge it up one star, but this really wasn't as good as expected.

8/10 Love America, although the low sax is detrimental to it. Also Mrs Robinson is obviously excellent. Just a bit too much is meh to lift it to 5 stars, but it is very good.

It’s one of those ‘nice/pleasant’ albums isn’t it, but it’s hard not to really like its chilled nature. Enjoyed that.

This was great! moved very quickly, sounds perfect, felt like the whole thing was over in an instant. Wonderful!

Some very surprising songs

Beautiful and harmonic, I love the sound of this and the warmth it gives me. Best song: America Worst song: Voices of Old People Cover check: Singer-songwriter duo looking thoughtful at you

Classic - was nice to hear some of these tracks I never heard before, in addition to the heavy hitters. Some Paul Simon melodies just make you tingle and think about your life. America is a personal top track for me - I feel like it speaks to the state of the country and the people in it so well. Timeless. Save The Life of My Child is too Bob Dylan ripoff for me, but everything else is great.

liked songs: America, Fakin' It, A Hazy Shade of Winter Look, I liked this better than I expected. The flow of the album is very good, as is the production and songwriting. I find it interesting that the "concept album" side is only 15 minutes long, but the conciseness is definitely a positive. I still like the Yes cover of America better than this original. 3.75

Favorite Track: Mrs. Robinson

Good but not my kind of thing

Pretty album

Haven’t listened to too much Simon and Garfunkel prior to this, but it’s not quite what I expected. I was in for a ride that was more stripped down and minimalist compared to the full, cinematic and sometimes harmonically interesting record I got. After a quick listen it seems to be a nice cross-section of American life and changing culture of the time, and in that way it’s true to the folk music roots that the artists pull through their work. Old friends, Overs and America were all tracks that I haven’t heard previous and really liked. Would pick this one up if I saw it in the store.

Some classics on this, but pretty uneven. Bookends theme had some interesting ahead-of-times electronic vibes.

There is just something about the soothing sounds and harmonies of S&G. This isn't their best album, but a generational classic none-the-less

Classic. Much better than I thought it would be. Had nit listened to it sinc the mid eighties

Довольно интересный альбом. Правда, это больше относится ко второй части, нежели к первой. Первая половина альбома для меня пока непонятна. Посему лишь 7 из 10.

Timeless...wonderful harmony

Bookends is one of those rare albums that feels like it’s speaking directly to you, even decades later. I’ve always found something so comforting in the way Simon & Garfunkel balance melancholy with melody, and here they absolutely nail that mix. The first half flows almost like a short film, touching on themes of youth, aging, and memory the “Bookends Theme” in particular has this gentle, wistful quality that really gets to me. It’s simple, but it feels timeless. For me, the real emotional punch comes from “America” and “Old Friends.” “America” builds slowly and beautifully into this soaring blend of longing and hope, while “Old Friends” is quietly devastating in its stillness. You can practically see the park bench and the worn faces. And then there’s the second half songs like “Mrs. Robinson” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter” still sound so sharp and smart, adding just the right jolt of energy to the album’s reflective tone. What makes Bookends such a standout is how personal it feels, even when the lyrics are abstract or poetic. It’s an album about growing up, losing people, and holding on to fleeting moments. I come back to it whenever I need something familiar, something human.

Voices of old people

This is a gorgeous album. America will forever take my mind right to the scene in Almost Famous where the sister leaves home. The Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter is better, but it is a damn well written song here. Mrs. Robinson is a timeless classic. Some of the other songs sound so delicate that they may break. There’s a comfortable cinematic calmness throughout this record that now feels lost to time.

Enjoyed this a lot. The concept on side 1 is moving and emotional, especially on a day when we buried our uncle. Especially loved America on that side, and the sound bites from all the older people, though I wish some of them were more audible. And side 2 is a lot of fun! Mrs Robinson is great of course, I had no idea they did Hazy Shade of Winter, and At the Zoo was a goofy good time. They packed a lot into 29 minutes!

Nice album but not my taste. Best number mrs Robinson.

Score. Simon (Pronounced as if he’s from northern Québec) and Garfield’s uncle himself, Big Art. I’m excited about this. I always enjoy the output of this musical duo. Expect the words “lush” and “beautiful” to appear en masse. For my birthday in 8 months, I would like a thesaurus. Don’t pester me about this internet. I can barely use the internet at this point without having to wrestle with the question “did a robot produce this on behalf of a corporation to sell me something at great expense to real nature?” The answer to that is almost always, yes. Anyway. Harken me back to a simpler time. When men were sensitive songwriters, and the only intelligence that was artificial was that of an in over his head scientist. Bookends Theme - Meh. Save the Life of my Child - This is pretty dense musically. Dense in the way a forest is dense, not the skull of a boy wearing the dunce cap. Echoey, lush, and not what I expected. Beautiful vocals underneath a strange, psychedelic musical output. Very cool. America - This is the lyrical and songwriting content I come for. Cigarettes in raincoats sung as softly as anything possibly could. I don’t know what culture it’s conveying, but damn if it doesn’t speak to me. I yearn for the ethical coffee shops. As ethical as it can be to ship a tropically grown bean from the tropics, to frigid Canada. Only for me to complain about the price. Overs - That falsetto interjection is incredibly beautiful. I’m sure “beautiful” is one of those words that this site keys in on for this album review. Fantastic set of songs so far, and this may be the the king up to this point. Voices of Old People - As much as I would like for underprivileged/underrepresented groups to have more of a say, I feel like society is still run by people this age. If it gives you any comfort, i believe all of these people are dead. That’s just kind sad. Anyway. Out of the retirement home and into the uhh fire. Poor choice of phrase. Old Friends - He said bookends! Huge news for fans of album titles everywhere. This song was ok. Bookends Theme Reprise - Meh Part Deux Fakin’ It - Never would I expect these two upstanding gentlemen to use a conjunction!! At least it’s an impression of being folksy and relatable. This is not as much what I want from a duo like Simon & Garfunkel. More bombast and electricity than I appreciate from these two. Sing more about old men and park benches. That’s your wheelhouse. Punky’s Dilemma - See? “I wish I was cereal.”That’s where you guys need to be. Even though in this day and age, I’d point at product placement, this just shows the effortless songwriting ability of this duo. Write a song that is as listenable and enjoyable as this whilst being about waking up a sentient breakfast. The magic of the 60’s. Mrs. Robinson (From the Motion Picture “The Graduate”) - The smash hit. For real this time. It is so pretty and is a rare deserving member of the hit parade Hall of fame. You know what I mean. If a song lingers in the cultural zeitgeist, it’s a rare thing that it is this level of quality. A special song. Saying Joe DiMaggio will always be funny to me, but a nation turning its lonely eyes to him? A symbol of a nation building an identity and outgrowing it, despite a desire for the nostalgic comforts of a seemingly simpler past? It still rings loud and clear today. A Hazy Shade of Winter - Whoa this brings the energy WAY up. I typically like when this band stays in their calm beauty, but this felt urgent and the right time to come alive. Hell yeah. At the Zoo - Ooh I want to see the hippos. I don’t care about the political affiliations of the zebras. I’d think with their mixed race, they would be far more moderate and less reactionary. Boy do I have egg on my face. This album was so very interesting. It wasn’t what I expected for the most part and deked me out at every corner. From the harder rocking moments to the lyrical content, all the way to the prog leanings of the first track. Simon and Garfunkel continue to cement their legacy as one of my favourite folk pop duos and really one of my favourite mainstream acts of all time. A great way to spend some time. Transported to New York in the formerly brisk winters that they once experienced. But st least a robot can tell me my 7/11 order with 48% accuracy. That sure beats having seasons. Great job fellas. 4 HIGHLIGHTS - Save the Life of My Child, America, Overs, Mrs. Robinson (From the Motion Picture “The Graduate”)

Dug it more than I anticipated

Not super Nirvana fan, but favorite songs from album: - Heart-Shaped Box - Dumb

#ВидатнийАльбомЩодня Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968) Це все ще не Sounds Of Silence, але все ще дуже крутий класичний фолковий альбом в якому відчувається якась студентська романтика, що є універсальною напевно, що для будь-якого часу. Не дарма саме Simon & Garfunkel звучать у саундтреку оскароносного «Випускника» Майкла Ніколса. Певно, що режисер також відчував в них цей самий вайб. Та у кожного та кожну з вас хто послухає альбом зараз також обовʼязково просочиться цей бунтівний дух юнацької романтики. Музично його можна розділити на дві частини, а якщо слухати на платівці, то вона вже це зробить за вас. Адже саме на першій стороні можна почути усі меланхолійні, тендітні, а часом навіть трохи «темні» треки, що більш епічні та «оркестрові» за розмахом, та що закінчуються наче резюмуючою репризою. В той час як на другій (починаючи з Fakin’ It) зібрані більш веселі та оптимістичні речі. Серед яких всім відомі хіти Mrs.Robinson та A Hazy Shade Of Winter. Альбом відмінно передає настрій та уособлює собою трохи наївну, оптимістичну та пристрасну природу молодості, коли увесь світ перевертається у твоїй голові «з ніг на голову».

Not quite as good as "Bridge Over Troubled Water" but still a good album. I knew three tracks and those are the ones I like the most: "Mrs Robinson", "Hazy Shade of Winter", and "America". But some of the other tracks grew on me too. I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't know Simon and Garfunkel did the original "Hazy Shade of Winter" (I thought it was a Bangles song).

i love this guy, paul simon

A very fine album. Some of these songs are even more well-known or popular in different versions, illustrating the song-writing capabilities of Paul Simon. It's very nicely arranged too, maybe just a little too soft on the ears.

Two of my fave Simon & Garfunkel songs are on this album. Have listened to this one before, and will listen to it again.

Some good stuff then literal random old voices

3.9/a lil sad

Oväntat bra! Poppigare än jag trodde!

"Short and sweet," is probably the best description of the album. Not even a full half hour, but it does so much in that half hour. The classic hit "Mrs. Robinson" is great as always, but "America" and "Old Friends" are such good songs too.

Side B was better than Side A. Overall it was good, but, the "song" Voices of Old People was utterly pointless. I understand what they were going for conceptually, however I don't feel like they pulled it off. If they had pulled that off it would have been significantly better.

I never heard the entire album before. I should have. It has Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter, two songs I knew before. They’re some of my favorite songs, but not even my favorites on the album. But it also has Old People talking, so it’s not 5 star. Favorite song: old friends.

> The Beatles

Okay, yeah. I liked this.

Goed, niet geweldig, maar wel gewoon goed

this album has some great songs and could have been legendary if they had not bothered with the failed concept attempt and made it more consistent. 4+. Mrs robinson alone made it a 4 already.

Sounds dated, but very pleasant sounding overall.

A beautiful album: Warm and inviting, and full of charm. The stories on this album are a bit corny and dated. But it’s wholesome, and doesn’t feel like it’s trying to cater to a particular listening group. Songs like Bookends are genuinely touching (and alarming from a couple of 20-somethings). S&G’s songs play heavily on emotion, and while those emotions are subdued on this album compared to the grandness of the superior Bridge Over Troubled Water, it still hits its target. Hazy Shade of Winter is the peak for me, delivering some much needed urgency and excitement to the album’s closing tracks. Really love this album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8/10 honestly mostly bangers except for the first couple of songs and voices of old people was odd

mrs robinson

8.3/10 I’m Simon and Jeremy is Garphonkel

I really enjoyed listening to this over the weekend. Filled with classic songs, beautiful melodies, and poetic lyrics. They sound like the American Beatles. This vinyl is sitting on our shelf but I’ve never listened to it - gotta get our record player hooked back up. Also, The Lemonheads’ cover of Mrs. Robinson is really good (I had that on a mislabelled mp3 so believed it was a cover by Guster until approximately 2 years ago). Also also, The Bangles’ cover of Hazy Shade of Winter is pretty fun.

This is another album that meant a lot to me when I was younger... I think I discovered it at 20? Bookends was on the 500 days of summer soundtrack and The Graduate was directly referenced in the film. That ofcourse lead me to Simon and Garfunkel... and this album. It was fun revisiting this one... it's still great. Not sure it's the 5/5 it was to me 10 years ago, but it still means a lot to me now. My main knock against it is that It feels less like one cohesive album and more like two EPs stuck together. The first half is this concept EP about time and memory and aging. And the second side is just a collection of fun, light classic singles. I think if they were releasing it now, with the freedom of digital releases, the 2 sides would be separated. I love both halves for different reasons. But together they don't feel like one cohesive album. The first half is dramatic, cinematic, intense at points.... emotional. It makes me contemplate my own aging. Bookends is beautiful... "preserve your memories, they're all that's left you." America just has this massive, high drama chorus. Overs is lazy, reflective, sweet (i kind of think its about their friendship and not a romantic relationship). Old Friends feels like a folk song at war with the orchestra... and in the end orchestra wins in this epic, crecendo that turns sour (much like the relationship of Simon and Art). The second half is just a good time that brings a smile to my face. It's proof of how incredible Pual Simon was at writing catchy folk rock bangers. Punky' Dilemma makes me feel like I'm relaxing by the pool owned by a glamorous 60s starlet, sipping a decade appropriate cocktail. Mrs. Robinson... is just one of the greatest folk rock songs ever written. I'm not ashamed to put in writing that I enjoy it. Hazy Shade of winter is pure momentum and has this strange moody vibe. I love it. Reminds me of April come she will. Simon is the best at using seasons and weather to contemplate the passage of time. At the Zoo is just a really fun song about the animals at the zoo. Anyone trying to get their kids into Simon and garfunkel, start here. 4.5 stars?

I don’t think this holds together quite as well as bridge over troubled Waters, but still of course giving it a four.

Love this version of S&G!

3.5

Really bums me out that these guys are as good as their reputation because wimpy acoustic guitar music pisses me off in theory - but not here. The fuzz on track 2 took me pleasantly by surprise. The experimentation doesn't always pay off, but they don't seem particularly cynical about some of their earnest cynicism/saudade so I mostly give it a pass. Punky's dilemma, however, is everything I hate about this kind of stuff - it feels like one of those bubblegum songs from Scooby Doo, but uses its cutesy facade for an adult theme. Dogshit. But Mrs. Robinson is an all-timer.

Strange album very strange not bad though

Definitely an above average album. Paul Simon is one of the greats. The harmonization does sound a bit dated/silly but you have to respect it for what it is. 7.75/10 (3.875/5)

Høres ut akkurat som forventa, det e fint og æ likte det og æ kommer neppe til å høre på det igjen, for det va ingenting som satt sæ fast i øran mine.

I like Simon and Garfunkel in a surface level way. Whatever has been offered I’ve liked. One time I karaoke’d me and Julio at rays happy birthday bar in Philly and it’s the best I’ve ever karaoke’d anything ever. At 29 minutes I can afford to give this the recommended 2-3 listens. First listen through I only heard the songs I knew. America. Ms. Robinson. Good stuff. Next listen I’m only doing the ones I don’t know. Opening of child is rad. Thought it might be something different. Is Paul Simon a theatre guy? Musicals? I like it alright. Kind of interesting now that I’m paying attention. No idea what he’s singing about and the orchestration is all over the place. 4th listen and it’s really growing on me. It’s a reallly dark song with some haunting stuff in the background but a catchy chorus. Never noticed that humming at the beginning of America. Skipped because the point is to hear the other ones. Overs - what a snooze of a song. I’m struck by the utter lack of sympathy this song inspires in me. I’m just an irritated friend tired of his complaining. Fucking break up already. old people talking. Sets up old friends. That orchestration again. Strings. So sentimental. It’s hard to listen to. Am I going to find out this was a soundtrack? Or maybe there’s some conflict in the songwriting I’ll learn about later? Paul Simon wanted to write pop songs and Arbuckle Garfunkel wanted to make music from the previous decade? Bookends reprise was cool but not really a song. What is the concept that I’m missing on this album. Fakin it is good. I’ll listen to this again. Pinky’s dilemma makes me think of The Beach Boys. Intentional? Hazy shade of winter sounds like the Zombies. I like it Zoo makes me realize that Paul Simon s musical gift is writing what sounds like narratively driven songs that don’t have a clear narrative structure when you listen to them too closely. I think zoo might grow on me. It’s so weird. Going back to Punky again to see if there’s something there too. Some good songs. A couple new ones I liked. Some snoozers. I don’t know that I would tell anyone this was an album that they had to listen to before they die. Just read the wiki. It is a concept album and I’m just dense. Not sure that it rehabilitates the snoozers. I don’t understand what made this such a breakthrough album. Wonder what else I’m missing. This one is really hard to rate. I think 4 because every song grew on me the more I listened to it. Even overs.

Two solid jump scares in this album, it it’s almost comical. First track is all whimsical here we go again, and then all of a sudden bam hitting the face with his low ass synth. Pretty cool way to set the tone for the album definitely took me off guard. I was almost about to skip this one. Glad I didn’t very experimental which is cool. I thought I’ve heard all the Simon & Garfunkel songs but I guess I’ve only heard a handful of these on this album or maybe I’ve skipped through it Being a captive audience to it. I can definitely appreciate the artistry. Voices of old people was so lovely that’s cool that they are carving out little moments like that in the album. I think it’s hilarious. Also, that after the other book end reprise they smack you in the face again with the loud noise like the album just kind of repeats itself. Both of their voices are heavenly. I’ve always been a fan sometimes I’m just not in the mood to be lulled and rocked. Miss Robinson is definitely a stand out. Radio hit here. The rest of the songs are just kind of pretty compositions and interesting takes on what you would expect from a Simon & Garfunkel song. Their instrumentation has always been so interesting. Save the life of my child. Does a similar thing that they do in the boxer. Using a lower register instrument and exploring the deep bottom so unique to them on this song it’s a lower active synthesizer, but on the boxer they’re using a bass harmonica which never even knew existed but it rattles your chest keeps you wondering what’s around the next turn? Overall solid album I don’t know if I put it on often but certain moods for sure.

This could reach a 5 depending on the mood I think. Really clean folk singer/songwriter guitar with gorgeous lyrics. Old friends is one of the most contemplative songs I've heard. Simon and Garfunkel don't really miss

4/5

So many of the songs you know are on this album. The opening song was an pleasant surprise.

7.5/10. This is a pleasant folk album.

Side one is a masterpiece of memory and mortality; side two trades the concept for a hit parade. The brilliance never fully fades, and when it lands, it’s timeless.

Insulting to elephants but more people should write songs about going to the zoo

old friends ❤️

Classic LP.

I was expecting a straight forward folk album but this blew my expectations away. A really enjoyable listen.

A tough one to rate. It contains three of the all-time S&G tracks - (America, Mrs. Robinson, and Hazy Shade of Winter). Some of the material is OK - some is just plain awful. Pretty adventurous for the time so I am going to bump it to a 4. But, BTW, the Bangles follow-on version of Hazy Shade beats the original hands down....

Very solid album. I do like Simon & Garfunkel's style of music.

Great

Starts off weird (great) and just continually gets better. Need this on vinyl so I can throw it on during a sunny spring day with the windows open.

Very soothing

It's Simon & Garfunkel, where you'll find classic compositions constructed to intrigue your ear and invite your contemplation. For me it's America, Old Friends, Mrs. Robinson, and Hazy Shade of Winter that stand tall amongst the Bookends. But like every Simon & Garfunkel album I've ever listened to, there will be songs less satisfying and choices I puzzle over. Great but not perfect, maybe that's where they'd rather be.

Packs a ton into 29 minutes. Part musical, part folk rock. "Mrs. Robinson" will always, to some extent, explain the 60s. Worth a listen. And always funny to remember its cameo in "Almost Famous".

Dope

The balance between the vocals and instrumentals so interesting, makes the vocals kind of ambient which I love

I thought for sure I’d heard this before. Glad I finally took a listen.

Great album

Still very easily recognizable with their sometimes sudden use of sample hits. This sounds like a soundtrack, which I'm going to assume it is.

I was blown away surprised with this album. Obviously I have heard all the classic songs from this duo before, but never did I really give much thought to their full albums. That was clearly a mistake. This is a fantastic blend of experimental sound with classic 60's pop structure. I will be revisiting again in the future.

Immediately, my fav songs were fakin' it and a hazy shade of winter. the only song i knew was mrs robinson. i was def expecting hello darkness my old friend to be on this album but i guess they have multiple albums that have permeated pop culture even half a century later.

America is an amazing song. Mrs. Robinson is a classic— the rest are not inspiring

Bookend themes and Hazy shade are awesome songs. Some interesting things going on in this, not what I expected.

Not a big fan of filler on albums. Some classics here, but who wants to hear old people talking? At least talk about something interesting.

More misses than hits... But the hits are soooooo good.

Side one is perfect, side two is pretty good.

Great hits plus hidden gems. Good album

Wow very interesting

Bookends is the fourth studio album from Simon & Garfunkel. It was created as a concept album, exploring the journey from youth to old age. Bookends was released during the same year as the duo's soundtrack to the movie the Graduate; together, the releases made Simon & Garfunkel among the most popular acts in the world. The album includes some of their biggest hits, like "America," "Mrs. Robinson," and "At the Zoo." Some of the "concept album additions" - like "Voices of Old People" - are not as strong as the singles.

Definitely a classic!

Some terrifically beautiful moments here!

A little surprising. Some classic acoustic harmony stuff I associate with them but also some discordant and electronic elements I didn’t expect.

Last 3 songs. Really good

Fantastic album. Simon and Garfunkel can go from this slow and whispering almost haunting vibe in songs like Old Friends to explosive sing-alongs in mrs. Robinson. Lots to explore here. Notable song: Fakin’ it

This was solid, though not quite my cup of tea. Good instrumentals and decent vocal work. 'Mrs. Robinson' was my fave and hard carries this album for me.

Beautiful album. I haven’t albums so much with simon and Garfunkel, I’ve more songed with Simon with these in the mix. Fantastic album with such a feeling of the time and place and evolving style and harmonies (if that was Garfunkel doing harmonies on the last bit of ‘America’ I can more fully understand why Simon kept him around for as long as he did). People, including me, often refer to duos as the ‘current/next S&G’ (presently I’ve used that for the Milk Carton Kids’) but there Will never be another S&G.

Concept albums are funny to me and that's probably the only thing that drags this one down from a 5 to a 4. Giving it a theme and having that weird Voices of Old People track. Otherwise, enjoyed listening to Simon and Garfunkel at the height of their powers.

7/10.

Awesome folk/pop album! Short and sweet with no filler.

America and Mrs. Robinson the obvious highlights. Actually surprised the album mostly dragged otherwise. 60s...

4 - pretty good album. Side a was good but side b wasn’t as strong

pleased to hear it again. Sounds very modern

It’s sooooo close to a 5, but the “song” with old people talking holds me back.

Simon and Garfunkel are great. Brings back fond memories. Some songs I didn't enjoy, so it gets a 4.

Good music with a few bangers

As much as I love Simon & Garfunkel, they’re definitely a “best of” group. Every full album I’ve listened to in this project has just had a couple major stinkers.

The early tracks are mostly unpleasant noise, but there are some real bangers on here.

I haven’t heard much Simon & Garfunkel before but I really enjoyed this album. This was really pleasant to listen to

Surprised at how much I liked this. I really enjoyed the concept on the front side of the album, it was really easy to follow but you still felt the emotions captured by each song in each “stage” of life depicted (also America is just such a beautiful tune). Voices of old people probably cost it a 5. The rest of the album was pretty good too, with a bunch of previously unreleased singles that were mostly pretty catchy, especially Mrs Robinson. Overall, 4.1/5. Fav song: America

Good album. Was a little underwhelmed by the first couple, but I thought it finished really strong. 3.6/5

1968. Folk Rock. 8.5/10 Save the Life of My Child / America / Overs / Voices of Old People / Old Friends / Bookends Theme / Fakin' It /Punky's Dilemma / Mrs. Robinson / A Hazy Shade of Winter / At the Zoo"