Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Let's just say that this is not the best complete S&G album However, it is a good one and has some great harmonies and several very special songs (America, Mrs. Robinson,...) 4 star at least
Very neat and beautiful texts, voices and pleasant arrangements. And of course Mrs. Robunson...
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: America, Mrs.Robinson
-Save the Life of My Child is a different sound than I’m used to from S&G -America is a great song -I recognize Old Friends, I find it very say and moving -Fakin It is another great song, reminds me of the Beatles -Mrs. Robinson LET’S GOOOO -A Hazy Shade of winter is also really good too, high energy -At the Zoo, another fun song I recognize Overall a great album and enjoyable listen. It was very short, which I don’t think is a positive or negative. Definitely an album I heard growing up.
A slightly mixed bag, has some unbelievably good songs and some that are good not great. Overall probably not where I’d start with Simon and Garfunkel but worth listening to anyway
Very interesting. Some I knew as classic. Very simple songs imo
This was interesting! Hadnt heard of them or seen this album cover. Released in 2009 definitely had me curious. Not really my style of music but overall I enjoyed it!
Classic. Jette bra!
i absolutely enjoyed this album through and through. personally, i wish they kept that sentimental and sorrow feeling that started in the beginning through the entire album. other than that, its an absolutely perfect album. 9/10
I was tempted to take a star off for a lyrics that refers to \"South California\" (Punky's Dilemma), though the album was very challenging to rate as I didn't expect the uneveness on the first half. Why \"Voices of Old People\"? And tracks like Overs and Old Friends are sleep inducing. However, America, Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade, and At the Zoo are monsters, with tracks like the Bookends Theme and Fakin' It showing strong support. When it hits it is beautiful, catchy, melodic pop with sweet choruses.
As much as I want to dislike S&G I just can't. They are too talented. This contains some of their most famous songs and very good they are too. A mid 4.
A concept album that only covers one side while the second side is random singles, kind of funny.
Amazing album
Una de las mejores bandas que lee escuchado, pero de este se rescatan América y Eleonor Rigby
No notes :)
Heard of the artist, not the album. 1968. Pretty chilled vibes. Low 4.
estupendo albúm, muy bonito
Solid classic S&G album. America, Overs, Mrs. Robinson, and At the Zoo are my favorites. The spoken word tracks are neat little intermissions and I always like when an album has a theme/reprise. Only note is that I wish it was longer than 29 minutes.
I enjoyed it! Funky in the beginning, but overall good.
Just lovely.
I could give this a 5 but I'm going 4.5 because of old people talking. Under half an hour and some great songs in that time though. Genius really.
Me gusta
Bookends reminds me of my dad who, to his eternal credit was a big Simon and Garfunkel fan. This album reminds me of my childhood, which is ironic as the concept behind this album is about youth and ageing. As I listen again as an older man I’m consumed by regret for my life but optimistic for the lives of my children. Perhaps I’ll play it to them?
Muy bueno
Some of this album wouldn't be out of place in a 21st century. The opening took me aback.
Good and mellow
About a 3.5. Some very strong songs. Was a lot funkier than I was expecting. Classics, also.
Tipo parte che sembra mega peso e anche la copertina non aiuta, ma; c'è un ma: non è così. Mrs. Robinson capolavoro giustamente valutato.
Good album. I knew several of the songs from their greatest hits album. The others were good. I’d give this 4 stars.
Haven't listened to Simon & Garfunkel in a very long time. I remember first hearing them in the mid 1960s. I had forgotten just how good of voice Art Garfunkel has. Very enjoyable.
Melody. Simplicity. Storytelling. Harmonizing. A bit of sentimentality but generally balanced with humor, irony, and some cynicism. Good song writing goes a long way.
I was not expecting such an interesting and experimental record, especially for its time… sometimes it felt like this could have been made in the 80s or 90s
4.5-5
good album. Some songs are an acquired taste. Music represents the decade well.
Intricate production techniques, incredible vocal performance and unique track listing
Muy bonito. América.
Songs are short and satisfying. Folk rock with some interesting bits. Chill
Interesting concept album with an intro and interludes giving the experience a "living in the city vibe." Nothing extremely standing out lyrically, but it had some solid moments.
It's Simon and Garfunkel, what more needs to be said? True classic.
Excellent mastering and use of voice as instruments. Opened up more music than just their most well known “mrs robinson” for me
Like soft rock
First time hearing this one. Not bad.
Super short - less than 30 mins. I was surprised I only knew 2 songs. Comforting and reminds me of my parents.
Pretty good stuff here. I know it's a great album. But I just wasn't in the mood for it.
"Bookends" by Simon & Garfunkel, released in 1968, is a masterful exploration of life's complexities through the lens of poetic lyricism and acoustic folk-rock. The album is a thematic journey that navigates through the various stages of existence, from the optimism of youth to the introspection of aging. The opening track, "Bookends Theme," sets the tone with its melancholic beauty, while iconic songs like "Mrs. Robinson" and "America" showcase the duo's storytelling prowess. The intricate harmonies and Paul Simon's introspective songwriting create a timeless and evocative listening experience. "Bookends" is a testament to Simon & Garfunkel's ability to craft profound narratives with musical elegance. Its enduring appeal and cultural significance earn it a solid 4/5 for its emotional depth and contribution to the folk-rock genre.
4 I’ve always been a Simon & Garfunkel fan, and this album just so happens to connect two of my favorite movies as well: The Graduate and 500 Days of Summer (ironic, if you’ve seen the latter). The song Mrs. Robinson here obviously was composed for and largely featured in The Graduate, and the Bookends Theme was used more subtly, but perfectly in one of 500 Days’ best scenes, aptly bookending a romantic period for our lovably toxic protagonist. I digress, this album is fantastic by its own merits and not just because of how its songs were used in movies, though admittedly, it’s a bit disjointed. Side A largely outshines Side B, mostly because the songs are connected as a sort of concept album, with Save the Life of My Child, America, Overs, and Voices of Old People/Old Friends illustrating youth, young adulthood, middle age, and old age, respectively, which are then literally bookended by the two Bookends tracks, which I assume refer to life and death. Side B is a compilation of songs that were written for or around the time as The Graduate, though only Mrs. Robinson ultimately made it into the film. The songs on this side are also much heavier than anything on Side A, but fortunately, they’re all pretty enjoyable as well, so it’s not a huge deal, though the shift is definitely noticeable. Going into this as a big fan of Mrs. Robinson and the Bookends Theme, I actually walked away with a newfound favorite in America. The song really resonated with me, probably partially because it’s supposed to embody my current stage in life, but it’s also hard not to relate to a song about a young man from Michigan leaving home to see the country as an ex-Michigander, newfound LA transplant myself. Old Friends was another one that really stuck out to me as well, both because it’s a great song and because it served as a bit of reminder of my own mortality, giving me a bit of existential dread in the process (“Can you imagine us years from today/Sharing a park bench quietly?/How terribly strange to be 70”). I really don’t have anything negative to say about any of the songs though - I even kind of like Voices of Old People as an interlude, though it could definitely stand to be a bit shorter than two full minutes. Really solid album and a nice reminder of what I like about these guys. Could probably be organized a bit better, but it’s still really enjoyable nonetheless.
p147. 1968. 4 stars. Quality 60s folk-pop, infused with melancholy and only let down by the amount of filler on it. When it's good it's very good indeed, and Paul Simon is an underrated guitarist.
Weird but not unpleasant album
Mrs. Robinson -- classic and delightful. America is covered by First Aid Kit and it's cool to see the origin story.
3.5/5
Didn’t feel like I was At the Zoo, more like A Hazy Shade of Winter with Old Friends with Voices of Old People in the background.
- Such a surprising album. I've always knew Simon & Garfunkel from songs that are a lot more melancholic. - The cacophony in "Save the life of my child" blew me away. I thought that there was something else playing on the background. - "Mrs. Robinson" is still as fun to hum as ever.
Mrs Robinson is super overrrated, but still a solid album. America is amazing. 3.5/5
A few great songs, america mrs robinson. A lot of the others pretty good with some interesting lyrics (at the zoo) and always melodic. Quite a few of the songs and the album itself a little dijointed.
Meistarastykki, ég segi nei. En vissulega mjög góð plata. Allt er ljúft en miseftirminnilegt þó. Mrs. Robinson er flott lag, en America er toppurinn á þessari plötu.
3.5/5
Never listened to this one before, a few surprises. Obviously it's Simon and Garfunkel and it's Mrs Robinson, but I found the album a curious listen. Being called a proto-concept album makes sense, in that it's slightly confusing, with old people talking in the middle, and someone walking into the tailors shop setting off the bell with a cheery "Good morning Mr Leach, have you had a busy day?" in the middle of a song. What's going on? So I can't give the album a perfect score. Hazy Shade of Winter is ace though, I always forget about that one. I will have the Bangles cover as well. That riff sounds equally good picked here with an acoustic sound as it does as a full electric lick.
01) Bookends Theme - 8,0 02) Save The Life Of My Child - 6,0 03) America - 8,5 04) Overs - 8,5 05) Voices of Old People - 1,0 06) Old Friends - 7,5 07) Bookends Theme - 8,0 08) Fakin' It - 9,0 09) Punky's Dilemma - 8,0 10) Mrs. Robinson - 10,0 11) A Hazy Shade of Winter - 9,5 12) At The Zoo - 8,5 TOTAL: 7,71 (77/100) I know it's a concept album, but I can see no point in track #5. On the other hand, "Mrs. Robinson" is a classic and my favorite. So, this is the first album that has lowest and highest mark on it. Oooh, and I know "A Hazy Shade Of Winter" too :-) I don't know why, but I kind of expected more.
Regarded by many as a classic album, I can’t deny that it does have some incredible songs that are still played regularly today. Personally added two more songs to my music collection. However feels like the mid section gets a bit ‘rambly’ and unfocused. 3.5/5.
Before going into this project, I’ve already listened to this record. I think its pretty damn great, and its a classic of course. Thoughts: Nice! Favorite Songs: Old Friends, Fakin’ It, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo
Encore le biais onomastique, mais au-delà de ça, un très bon disque de chansons douces-amères qu'on prend plaisir à réécouter. C'est cool.
I could probably listen to them sing a phone book. So calm, so peaceful. Not my favorite album from them but loved America.
actually quite interesting
A rare example of a B side better than an A side
i like the folk aspect and it was an easy listen & the story telling was good. fav songs (top 3): america, fakin it, mrs. robinson
Not my favorite album of theirs, but a solid outing that evokes self reflection.
Pretty darn good. Though there are a few more filler tracks than I remember. Maybe this is one where streaming/shuffle culture has damaged great albums as we expect wall-to-wall hits.
Simon and Garfunkel at their most interesting and experimental. I can see how this was an important record for them, and also the genre. This album is full of great songwriting and some tracks have brilliant messages and meditations. I throughly enjoyed it, though a few tracks pass me by a little.
<3
Some famous songs here. Most are good
With it's overall length and the length of many of the songs here, you can't help but feel like it's a little unfinished. With more time you might have a real classic here, but what you get is pretty great regardless. Mrs Robinson, America, Hazy Shade of Winter are serious highlights. The rest flows well, if being a little forgettable compared to those. At 29 minutes though you never get bored of it.
I, for one, was fascinated to learn that the pointless inter-song hip-hop skit actually originates with this album and their pointless skit Voices of Old People. Fascinating! This album starts off kinda slow, and then gets bogged down in the middle with that horrible skit or whatever you want to call it, but god damn does it finish strong. Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, and At the Zoo are all bangers. That, along with the good songs scattered earlier in the album make this a very strong album overall. Not my favorite S&G album on this list, but well worth a listen 4/5
Really enjoyed this.
i had a bunch of songs from this album already saved so i knew i was gonna like it. it was good but some songs were too noisy for me
Mrs Robinson is a banger
Beautiful. Melodic. Haunting. 4.5/5
10/30/23. Not crazy familiar with S&G’s work (obviously know the name). Very brief album with enjoyable acoustic tracks. Almost Beatles like with the production.
Yay! Also love Simon & Garfunkel. The transition from Bookends Theme to Save the Life of My Child made me jump! STLOMC is funky and fun. Lots going on. America is a great song and popular for a reason. I've mentioned on other reviews that I don't really like the random talking portions or ambient conversation additions to tracks. But Voices of Old People is certainly the way to charm me into it. Love the whistling in Punky's Dilemma. Similarly, great upbeat instrumentals in A Hazy Shade of Winter. Mrs. Robinson is classic and beloved. They do a lot with their music with minimal complexity. Simple sound. Simple stories. Pleasant listening.
Bookends Theme through the Reprise didn't seem to ever fully capture my attention even on a second listen through. I want to say it's slow but all their music is slow. It's good music, just not very catchy. America is probably my favorite part of the first half of the album. Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, and A Hazy Shade of Winter are my favorites from the second half. Good music but not their best album especially considering it followed Sounds of Silence, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, and The Graduate. And preceded Bridge Over Troubled Water. Still gets a 4/5.
Some top notch Simon and Garfunkel tunes. Not sure about the concept of the concept album. And it looks like they shoehorned in Mrs. Robinson (although it's the best song on the album). The hits are classics. The rest is pretty darn good. What would the genre be? Elevated folk?
Sweet and catchy
A peaceful, beautiful journey through life that ends up feeling a little disjointed with the second side
I can say I liked the second half of the album better than the first, which is funny since Paul Simon didn't like the second side as much and felt they were throwaway tracks. I feel bad for Simon & Garfunkel, this being their fourth album they were trying some new things. You can tell Paul Simon was becoming complacent. But this album really brought them out into the limelight with the big tunes "Mrs. Robinson" and "Hazy Shade of Winter". The whole idea of the concept on the first side... it doesn't seem as coherent as it should. And the "Voices of Old People" collage, what was THAT about? "At The Zoo"...the Bronx Zoo licensed the song for commercials in the late 70s. I distinctly remember seeing those ads as a child. Fast forward to a few years ago and I heard that the song for the first time in 45 years. It turned me back into that little child, watching TV on a huge Zenith technicolor TV. So that song really holds a place in my heart. Like I said, the second half of the album is better, has the songs we all know. The organ sound on the first side sounds a little too pipe-organy which sounded odd. I don't know if it would have even fit in "At The Zoo." Still in the strength of the second side I really enjoyed this album. I was surprised at its brevity, though.
Per Wikipedia, it is hotly debated whether this album or Bridge Over Troubled Waters is their best. To me, it's no contest - the latter and not this one. This one still has some great songs in America (lovely, but not as good BOTW the song or The Boxer), Mrs. Robinson (yes, top 2 S&G songs of all time), Hazy Shade of Winter (but third best of these three). And it has some nice musical / orchestral elements, but it just doesn't deliver as consistently as BOTW. The two Bookend Themes are sort of throwaways (they're incomplete, despite being beautiful) as is Voices of Old People. Paul and Art still harmonize like no one else and there's a lot to like. But love? Nah.
Happy songs mostly a bit of experimentations
I liked the faster-paced songs but the few slow ones were boring. Stand-out: Save the Life of My Child
Second half of this is much stronger than first, Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter are by far the best tracks from the album. Overall strong 4 stars, would listen to it again.
Very good album contains some real gems: Bookend Theme, America, Hazy Shade of Winter and Fakin it. The only forgettable song is Punky’s Dilemma. My only complaint is that I would like for Bookends Theme was a full length theme.
Om euhm, persoonlijke reden had ik altijd een haat-liefdeverhouding met Simon & Garfunkel. Het zal met die draak van een lied 'Bridge of over troubled water' te maken hebben, terwijl 'The sounds of silence' in heel Nederland door jongerenkoren (en de BBB) kapot is gezongen. En het ge-toetoetoetoetoedoe in Mrs. Robinson, mjah. Maar hier horen we ook het verstilde gitaarspel van Paul Simon, de creatieve nieuwe wegen, de toch niet onaardige samenzang. Zo'n nummer als 'Old friends' is toch prachtig, al hadden die valse violen niet gehoeven. Er zal nog wel meer langskomen van deze heren, ik denk dat ik nog wel 5 voor ze in m'n achterzak heb zitten.
7/10- included some classics I grew up listening to
Very good album, but I couldn’t get over a feeling the instruments were too loud and the voices too quiet
Lovely
Virkelig et godt album. Skal helt sikkert høre det igen
I love some of the songs on here Hazy Shade of Winter is maybe one of my favorite S and G songs, some of the slower songs bog down a bit for me.
Upbeat, poppy nearly. Will listen again.
No ha sido muy moñas para ser de Simon & Garfunkel...
Muy bonito. América.
Nice listen
My vinyl copy sounds way better than I remember it
Good album. Better songs at the end.
Way better than Bridge Over Troubled Water
First impression: "Boring. I don't get the hype." Yet, it got much better when listening on the headphones.
Loved the interludes
Really great album. A little short - I was surprised when it was over - but generally a very nice sound. America is a phenomenal song. High 4
ну здесь есть прям культовые вещи, а есть довольно нудные штуки за mrs robbinson ставлю 4
Great album. Awesome duo
Lovely album Hazy shade of winter! what a riff
More experimental than I thought it would be. I kinda assumed Simon and Garfunkel only wrote only mellow, folky stuff (....maybe because that's the most popular stuff?). Enjoyed
Acoustic led album. Some classics. Some nice sounds.
after i listened to the album i listened to "A Hazy Shade of Winter" like ten times looped, i cant get enough
We were driving with this on and the other person in the car made the observation that "this is later than that other album, yes?" (the herb album) And you can tell it is. And it's not quite got as much in the way of real S&G hit stuff on it: Mrs R, obviously, America, Old Friends, and A Hazy Shade of Winter, which on this version sounds like it could make an appearance on a Belle and Sebastian album (which, for me, is a Very Good Thing). Fakin' it was one I didn't know that might make the cut as well. Voice of Old People is clearly odd and I don't like it as much as 7 O'Clock News on the Herb Album. And I'm not 100% sure I'd have known that the first side was a concept, but that does at least explain the inclusion gf Voices. So, it's 3.5 stars. I guess it can have 4 because ultimately I would listen to it again.
Muy bonito. América.
I’m a sucker for Simon and Garfunkel, and this album has some really great songs on it. America has always been one of their best in my eyes, and Old Friends, A Hazy Shade of Winter, and the Bookends Theme are fantastic too.
The best S&G because it's the best balanced between tunefulness and depth. Any records with both "America" and "Mrs. Robinson" will be a strong one, of course.
classic album with the smooth soothing voices of art and paul and their unique take on folk music. highlights: “save the life of my child”, “mrs. robinson”, “a hazy shade of winter”.
Some of their best work.
Cool lyrically, singer songwriter duo I need not repeat what everyone else raves about them. Though personally I never really listened to their music much other than occasionally.
This is beautiful. I can’t believe I stayed off Si and the funk for so long! Awesome!
4.25
it's good, just like the other simon and garfunkel album, but it just didn't hit as hard. a little more forgettable.
this is weirder than expected, some punky dissonance and samples of codgers rambling accompanying the usual folky stuff. Y'all know the good bits backwards, esp. A Hazy Shade of Winter which is a total banger as good as the Bangles version. Generous 4
Pretty good
This is one of their best. Perhaps the height of their collaboration.
Somehow I never listened to this whole album before. It’s Simon & Garfunkel so it’s well written and well performed.
One of my dad's favourites, and the first time I've given it more than half a song of a listen. Some strong riffs, despite being more than 50 years old. When released, can see how would have been a breath of magic - still holds up fairly well.
Inte deras bästa platta men mycket väl godkänd.
7/10
Thought I was going to hate this, but it wasn't too bad. Hazy Shade of Winter is a great song and I honestly didn't even know it was Simon & Garfunkel who recorded it - I thought it was The Bangles. Some of the other songs were okay too. I was expecting a 1-2 star album, but this turned out to be a 3-4 star experience. I think there's definitely pleasure to be had listening to this again, so I'm going to give out a generous 4.
3.5/5 mostly good, has a lot of flaws
Lost one star for the “old people talking” song.
Chilled out vibe
thats one to shroom to
Délicat et ouvragé, mais grondant de révolte. Le point fort est les mélodies
Heard a lot of this before despite not having listened, they are fantastic together
Somehow have never listened to this album before. I knew and appreciated the hits, but the other songs are great too. Even the odd lyrics in songs like At The Zoo have a charm. And at 29mins, it doesn't overstay its welcome.
'Mrs Robinson' is a god-like song in popularity, and 'America' is a good song too.
While ‘Mrs. Robinson’ is the song everyone knows, it’s ‘America’ that’s the standout track for me. Other highlights include ‘Fakin’ It’ and ‘Hazy Shade Of Winter’, but there’s lots of other good stuff here to enjoy as well. A quite lovely album overall.
A large dose of Paul Simon is never a bad thing. But I’m in dire need of more Garfunkel after finishing Bookends. In many ways this could’ve been the first Paul Simon solo album.
Enjoyed the album, full of lovely song writing but just a bit too on the slow side for me.
day 30! I feel like this is once again another example of people labeling an album a concept album that is not really a concept album. On its surface I love the idea of an album progressing through the stages of life, but this is only half the album, and I don't feel like any songs really capture childhood/youth or even adolescence. It launches right into Save the Life of My Child, which is a great song, but it takes the viewpoint of adults looking at childhood (and heavy themes of suicide) rather than hearing from the child himself. Unless this is itself a commentary of how kids grow up too fast and we as adults are always looking elsewhere rather than listening to them, then I could see it .... to me, it still feels a little out of place with what is to come. as for the second half, I've never really loved Mrs. Robinson, and I rolled my eyes a bit at the heavy-handed breakfast food and zoo animal metaphors. Also felt like At the Zoo was a bit of a strange closer, it left an already short album feeling especially unfinished to me. despite these "complaints" I have, there are some really great songs on this album and I do love me some folk rock. It's a pleasant listen I could see myself coming back to, I just feel like there was a lot of potential here that wasn't fully realized. fave tracks- A Hazy Shade of Winter (A+), America, Overs, Fakin' It, Save the Life of My Child ... 3.5/5 rounded up to 4
Surprised by how varied and wonderfully odd this album gets, as well as occasional use of electronic texture and field recordings.
Quintessential Simon & Garfunkel but album is definitely not their best work. Hazy Shade of Winter and Mrs. Robinson are fantastic songs but everything else is rather forgettable.
Another pleasant walking album
Very good album with a really cool concept. Paul Simon is definitely one of my favorites. Rating: 3.8
I'm a sort of fan of S&G. Bridge Over Troubled Water is one of my favourite albums ever. I've never listened to this, though. I must admit the "concept" part of it didn't seem great to me. America is an astonishing song, but everything else that side left me a bit cold. The second side is far superior. And when it's good, it's really good.
A solid album that i wouldnt normally listen to
Old friends
Really great, and surprisingly riffy for acoustic guitar. Little experimental bits were unexpected but evocative.
Utvilsomt vakre tekster, med både ny og gammel kjærlighet. Musikken er gammel (1968) og høres ut deretter. Men det gjør ikke noe, det er behagelig å høre på. Det er utvilsomt musikk som passer bedre når du skal slappe av enn å gire deg opp for fest.
Not their best, but good.
This is a classic album. I always forget how unexpected and unobvious these compositions are. There is a lot more depth and darkness to them than one might expect. Really short and sweet as a whole, but a great and beautiful album to listen to.
Great album. I think that all S&G albums are a bit inconsistent but this one is my favorite of theirs.
Its highs are high
First time hearing the whole album, I was already a big fan of America and Ms Robinson but having heard the whole album I'm a fan of the complete experience as well, it does take you on a journey and I like where it led.
2023/04/10
I haven't listened to much Simon & Garfunkel besides the radio hits. This was a pleasant album and listening experience and I was impressed with how good the imagery was on the album, and how smooth the songs were when telling stories, instead of rhyming.
Every time I hear a complete Album by these soft-folky dudes I am totally astounded by their penchant for experiments. Very much inspiring but also easy to digest - this combined is so rare … 3.8
this was very much an album experience. I like when they go hmmmhmmhmmm
Solid four stars, probably four and a half. Not flawless, but with a fistful of undying classics.
I've enjoyed Simon and Garfunkel my whole life, but I don't think I've ever played Bookends. This is an odd collection. There are amazing songs that I'm familiar with, then there are some awful songs. So Garfunkel gets writing credit for Voices of Old People? So odd. As an album, I don't think it holds together, and we really have to stop calling this a concept album. It doesn't succeed there, barely tries. The half dozen great songs make it worthwhile as a collection, but I don't think I'll ever play this bookend to bookend again.
Good but not their best album. I love the second half of it and Mrs. Robinson is so good!
Shoutout Mrs. Robinson from the Graduate
Classic
Funky Garfunkel and Folky Simon.
It is a good feeling to look at my daily generated album and see Simon & Garfunkel. I’ve had two albums by them so far, so I’m excited to hear what Bookends has to offer. Songs I already knew: Mrs Robinson, A Hazy Shade Of Winter Favourites: Mrs Robinson, America Firstly, this album was very familiar at times but also very alien at others. There is a track which is simply old people speaking their thoughts with no music at all, and Save The Life Of My Child is really trippy at times and made me feel quite uncomfortable. I’ve no doubt that this was the intention with the song, but it’s definitely worth noting. Overall, the majority of this album was very good, but the psychedelic side wasn’t quite to my taste.
First two... Kinda weird.
Classic album, well deserved place on the list. Don’t know something missing for me for this to get the full 5 stars though.
The progression in this album is very interesting. At first, Mrs. Robinson sticks out, but it then sets up a much more lively ending than the beginning. Simon & Garfunkel have done it again. Favorite track: A Hazy Shade of Winter
This album points to greater aspirations for this duo in terms of themes and arrangements as compared to "Parsley, Sage..." The arrangements don't all work all the time, and the songwriting isn't as strong throughout, but this is another solid album from S&G, and the standouts ("America," Mrs. Robinson," and "Hazy Shade of Winter") are all-time classics.
I mean, c'mon. Classic Americana. Groovy. While all the Beatles and hippies were definitely doing some real thangs, these two...all Class. Also this cover with their handsome eyes and black turtleneck jumpers. C'mon! If I had some form of time synesthesia, "Faking It" would be spring 1968 in New York with these two.
Some good tunes. Great melodies, Mrs Robinson all time classico. America nice tune, overs lovely as well. Decent album, slightly missing the 5 stars tho, better luck next time buddy
ok
I have always loved Simon & Garfunkel. This album is no exception. It was recorded the year I was born. One of my favorite plays is “The Graduate”. So I’ve always loved the song “Mrs. Robinson”. A few other favs such as “America” & “A Hazy Shade of Winter”.
Paul and Art explore the journey from birth to death with their trademark sweet harmonies and Paul’s exquisitely crafted lyrics. And there’s some songs from The Graduate as a bonus!
Really enjoyed listening to the album. Lots of memorable songs like "Mrs Robinson".
It is impressive how impactful this record is when it comes in at just under a half hour. This blend of artistic experimentation and folk roots the album has not only several "big" songs ("Mrs. Robinson", "America") but also more gentle B-tracks like the "Bookends Theme". It's not the group's greatest effort, but it's a sign of what was to come and any band would welcome into their discography.
Strong album.
poor child amazing songwriting and playing, just wow they've all come to look for America old people are old haaazy shaade of winterr at the zoo seems quite out of place here but idk mmmm vibess
A legendary album, but a very few songs catch my attention. Might be the passive listening problem.
I like the harmonies of Paul and Art. Also a lot of unknown songs for me on this album, but I quite enjoyed this.
Love the multi voices going on all the time and Mrs Robinson is a brilliant song!
Very soothing
So, this is a 29 minute album. 2 minutes are taken up by a recording of old people talking (Voices of Old People), and another two minutes are taken up by the Bookends Theme and Bookends Theme - Reprise, which are basically just musical variations borrowed from Old Friends. That leaves 24 minutes of actual songs. Out of those 24 minutes, we have 2 absolute classics (America and Mrs. Robinson), 2 very good songs (A Hazy Shade of Winter and At the Zoo), and then a few, mostly pretentious, filler songs. So, what we have here is a very good HALF album. I'm not surprised to read in the Wikipedia entry that Paul Simon was having writer's block while trying to make this album. Even with all that, it's still a great (half) album. 4 stars.
The poetry of drugs and promiscuous sex. Honey, they're on pot.
Wonderful. Classic
This was a strangely wonderful album -- the concept of the first half showing a journey of aging was a bit on the experimental side but done masterfully. Then to be followed by some powerhouse S&G songs on side B -- I thoroughly enjoyed this listen!
I really enjoyed this album. Relaxing to listen to and I just really enjoy Simon & Garfunkel's sound
Hyvää S&G-poppistahan tämä levy on. America on todella kova biisi. 4/5.
A little haunted Solid showing from S&G Liked it
I like this a lot. Its has an enduring innocence. The first half is a proto concept album. It has Moog on the first (proper) track. Bookends seems to be a bridge from the 60s to the 70. Sparseness and ingenuity. Its also chock full of tunes despite being under 30 mins long. What a rambling shitshow of a review. Just take the 4.
good stuff, relax
notes - simon and garfunkel back again - this album is similar to their other releases in style - leans a little more into the experimental aspects - just like the other album, great melodies and chord progressions - pretty equal in terms of quality with the last one - i wish it was longer! but maybe thats a good thing, left me wanting more - loved that we heard more garfunkel too fav - fakin it - really cool song, great chorus least fav - a hazy shade of winter - i liked the song but had some mixing/recording issues imo 4.5/5
Honestly not the strongest album, but I love the sound of S&G and there are at least three SLAPS on this album that hold weight to this day.
5/11, 45%
Hazy shade of Winter & at the Zoo!!
Very good stuff but the whole album really kicks into 12th gear on the last 3 songs
Some great songs.
Great collection of classic songs!
This was weird, short, and confusing. Not in a bad way, just not what I was expecting. Still slaps.
Trevligt litet folk album. Riktigt bra låtskrivande
2/3 tracks are true masterpieces, the others are still good but not so memorable. So it is a great record but not their best.
emotivo
tykkään tästä levystä! Bookends themestä erityisesti. hyviä itsenäisiä kappaleita, jotka ehkä kolmea viimeistä lukuunottamatta ovat silti selkeösti yhtä (vikat jotenkin ilottelee liikaa?)
These guys are a vibe
the twee boiz strike again. cute as shit.
Wonderful, just not wonderfullest.
liked their other album better
This is a lovely album. S&G of course have terrific vocal harmonies, that's their calling card. But the songs on Bookends just have a super-lush sound overall. The orchestral additions on e.g. "America" and "Old Friends" just give them real depth. And this CD is also really short and finishes super-strong with "Mrs. Robinson" and "Hazy Shade of Winter", both of which are tremendously catchy (although I think I prefer the Bangles version of the latter). Catchy, short, pretty fast-paced, interesting sound- this isn't generally my style musically, but that's a four.
Niet helemaal mijn ding, iets te langzaam, maar wel een album die je gehoord moet hebben
"Bookends" by Simon & Garfunkel is a solid album and I can see why it helped rocket them to stardom. Out of all the songs, "Voices of Old People" followed by "Old Friends" I thought were a brilliant and unique addition that brought to life the album's theme of exploring a life journey. I guess what holds me back from giving the album a full five stars is I feel it should have been slightly longer. I feel there were stories left untold in covering the life journey.
A good album, my favourite so far! Not typically a Simon & Garfunkel fan but this was good all the same. Favourite was Mrs Robinson but shout-out to America and At The Zoo.
A banger
Pleasant
It's fitting that this album is called 'Bookends', except rather than bookending anything Simon and Garfunkel are responsible for, it seems to be bookending the end of The Beatle's golden era IMO (in sequence, sgt. peppers, Revolver, The white album, and abbey road) and the beginning of Pink Floyd's iconic sound development that begins with Atom Heart Mother in 1970. If you were to sequence these two iconic runs between two of the best bands of all time and inject a heavily folk infused lyricism in the space between, well... It's good, is what I'm saying. It's not perfect, but it falls in line with some fantastic company. 3.5/5
Lovely sound, excellent harmonies and storytelling in the songwriting.
very good, love that its a story about life with bookends
Album gentile, per persone gentili, scritto da due tizi che gentili non erano affatto.
Got this one on vinyl already. It's strange because all I remember hearing of this band growing up was making fun of garfunkel but I think their sound together has always been much more interesting that Simon alone. Songwriting is phenomenal but without the harmonies sometimes PS can fall flat. Love this album and can always come back to it and enjoy it on repeat listens.
Goed
Really good album, well-known tracks like Hazy Shades of Winter and Mrs. Robinson are great, but album tracks like Save the Life of My Child are great, I love the bass synth work on it specifically. Didn't really care for the sound collage Voices of Old People as it broke up the album in an unpleasing way. Despite that I would happily return to this album again.
Phenomenal album but for SURE wasn’t in the mood for it
classic 4/5
Nice listening
Some classic tracks on here.
Good album, but I wasn't surprised by that after the previous S&G albums. 3.75/5
Eclectic and soothing folk music with great vocal harmonies. "Old Friends" into the reprise was a standout to me, beautiful.
As much as I adore Simon & Garfunkel (had a serious S&G phase during my first year of community college), this isn’t one of their best albums. I still like it a lot, though. But too much of it is spent on tracks meant to explore the themes that have little value on their own, and others sound like obvious Graduate leftovers (because they were). But the two sound so good together that it really doesn’t matter. And it’s brief, but full enough to feel perfectly concise. B+
relaxing
Enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. Time to steal the vinyl from mom & dad.
folk, it's ok
Yet again Simon and Garfunkel made an album that is super easy and pleasant listening. Can't complain about any part of this album except that mrs. robinson got overplayed. fakin it and hazy shade of winter are the highlights
I'm a harsh judge, but when weighed up against other Simon and Garfunkel albums, this is the one I come back to least - yet still has three or so essential songs on it. It's just a bit too bleak this time round. Everything feels sadder.
Legendary folk album. It seems to have like a story telling also.
Great folk album, with some top notch songwriting from Paul Simon favourites are Mrs Robinson and Old friends
I mean it’s got one of my all time favorite songs on it
Beautiful stuff. Really nice mini suite on the front half (minus Voices of Old People); a ton of great singles in the back half. Misses 5 just because it’s a bit disjointed as an album, but tons of good stuff
It was alright.
4.5
I enjoyed this so much. Listened to it a few times. Depending on my mood, I could probably just listen on repeat all day.
This was a good one. Complex but approachable. It flowed well from song to song, which I always enjoy.
Bookends isn't as good as BOTW from recent to this but it's better than PSRT and it's quite beautiful at its best. I adored Old Friends, that plus some classics get it to a really impressive 4/5. Brilliant song crafting, how this is all done in under half an hour is staggering.
Nice Little album. First half is tiny snippets of a life, while the second half is kinda just random songs (and very random at times). I at the least *mildly* enjoyed every song so looking forward to coming back to this. 7/10
Toujours bien
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
two classics, one an all-timer, make the rest worth it
Have this in Vinyl and CD both. Listen to it 1 or 2 times a year since it was released. Many incredible songs on it beyond the overplayed ones.
Have always loved this album, even if they are on pot Mrs. Miller. I still love Bridge Over Troubled Water more but probably why I always listen to the greatest hits album as you get the best of both worlds. Bookends, America, Old Friends, but Save the Life of My Child always seems abrupt...nothing wrong with it but it's like a sharp slap after the nice intro from the title track. And Voices of Old People (no pun intended) has not aged well as a thematic piece. But America has always been one of those crazy magical tracks I listen to over and over and for that alone I would go 4 stars.
Really nice music, surprisingly progressive at times, wouldn't be surprised to hear some of the beats in modern music
who let these white boys freak it?
I am a fan of Simon & Garfunkel, but I had never listened to Bookends before. There were a few familiar tracks, and I didn't know that the Bangles were doing a cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter" from this album. The mix of kinds of music was surprising. Tracks like "Save the Life of My Child" included electronic sounds on top of the acoustic, and additional layers of voices and sound for the recording. Other tracks sounded like they could have been written by Burt Bacharach or Neil Diamond. "America" is one of my favorite tracks from Simon & Garfunkel. I like the storytelling, but I was first introduced to the song from the cover recorded by Yes. I could come back to this album.
Lovely album that will be listened to for years to come
Ja e störd på refrängen av mrs. Robinson de borde vara fyra upprepningar int två eller int upprepningar för dom säger int samma sak men liksom fyra gånger den där tunen istället för att sluta efter två med en liten trudelutt idk ja feelar att de sku vara bättre så men kanske de int sku vara så om man sku höra de så som ja vill
I love these lil fellas tbh
This was a very surprising and calming listen. It's interesting to see how well everything sticks together despite different recording periods. That said, that sequencing and the throwaway tracks at the end really do keep it away from greatness for me. My positives are that each track individually is amazing and I will return to this when I can.
Excellent, but short. Must of been one of the first recorded works by a major artist featuring a synthesiser.
pioneering synth-pop classic
A heartfelt rumination on the very thought of comes with living in America, Bookends finds Simon & Garfunkel at their reflective, pensive and innovative best. Scouring many lifetimes in under half an hour, Bookends accomplished more at that timespan in tugging at the minds and heartstrings of those looking for meaning in where their futures lie. Favorites: Save the Life of My Child, America, Overs, Old Friends, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo.
Clean, smooth, love the voices and guitars.
Not my favorite S & G album but it has Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade if Winter. Enuf said. 4 🌟
Fantastic songs, but I don't like the production. Paul Simon sounds way better without: a) Art Garfunkel b) Strings and various wacky sounds
8/10. Really picks up in the second half
Save The life Of My Child has cool synth sounds. Really solid album. America and Mrs Robinson are classics of course. I liked At the Zoo. Didn't have much time for Voices of the Old People this time..
America, Mrs. Robinson, one random song called old people's voices.
Preguiça.
Listened to on 4/5/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: Mrs. Robinson Odd combination of songs into one album with the theme song and movie soundtrack features. All in all very easy listening and would listen to it again
Has some great songs, but it's a strange choice to insert vocal clips with such a short runtime.
Yndisleg plata.
It really is very good from start to finish. Solid 4/5. Standouts: Mrs. Robinson, At the Zoo, America, Fakin' it, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Old Friends.
A very quiet album (well except Save the LIfe of my Child). Liked the theme track. Mrs. Robinson is of course a star but it's not this album introducing this song... hmmm.
Warm & wonderful. Wasn't bowled over by it, but thoroughly enjoyed listening.
I have been low on S&G, but this one is not bad at all :)
Brilliant. One of the finest songwriters ever.
Mrs. Robinson goes unreasonably hard
Fremragende folk-rock, god sangskrivning, harmosk guitar
simon got me garfunkin’ quite iconic
I much prefer solo africa-inspired Paul to the duo (Sorry, Art), but this is still a pretty undeniable album. So many toe tappers!
Paul Simon 2 days in a row. This came out the year I was born Many great songs. Not my favorite bit still good
Probably my least favorite S&G album but still very good. 8/10
Album que tem Mrs Robinson e America. Melhor música: Overs
This was a blast from the past. Definitely had some good sounds and songs. A couple songs had some really strange sound quality but I imagine that's because of the decade it was released.
Pretty cool soft sound. Enjoyed it a lot but the beginning was a bit out-there for me.
Comforting. Complete. Thoughtful themes. Could be a Sunday roast background for all ages?
Jaaaaag bli så ledsen men det är bra
Klockren, ren njutning. Konstig ljudmix inledningsvis men annars ap-mysig platta som osar behag
Very short, but full of good songs. Pretty much what I expected from them, although "At the zoo" was a lot more whimsical than I thought. That song, hazy shade of winter, America, and Save the life of My Child were my favourites, along with Mrs Robinson
An ashtray of cigarette butts. The splatter of slushy, dirty snow from a passing bus. A decrepit scrapbook. There’s a very unique sound on certain songs from the mid to late sixties, like 'California Dreamin,' by the Mamas and the Papas, or 'Get Together,' by the Youngbloods. And I heard it the minute the opening and title track of Bookends began to play. It’s the silent sound behind the music- a whisper of a hiss?, but not really- and it takes me right back to the latter half of the 1960s. I was 9 years old when this recording was released, still innocent, many confidences. Not looking back yet, as I would many years later, on my memories, preserved, ‘all that’s left of you.’ This is hardly an LP for a 9 year old kid. Nor is it completely for a 19 year old. Paul Simon himself was only in his mid-20s when it was released, somehow possessing a wisdom far beyond his years. I can understand how a 20 something in 1968 can write a song like 'America': ‘Kathy, I’m lost,’ I said. Though I knew she was asleep. ‘I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why.’ But how does the same age write and sing songs like 'Overs' and 'Old Friends'? By the way, this is only a review of the first side of Bookends. The second side contains unrelated and mostly unused material intended for the film, The Graduate. It’s fine. Paul Simon’s lessers are still better than a lot of song writer’s best. But the first side, conceptual in intent, is the real deal. Paul’s guitar playing often is overshadowed by his lyrics, but listen to 'Overs,' in particular. I wish I could play like that! And the arrangements throughout are splendid, including several surprising, dramatic changes in melody and tempo, not to mention the complete absence of any music at all on' Voices Of Old People' (the only ‘composition’ attributed to Art Garfunkel). But where that other concept LP from the same period, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, is described as ‘sonically colorful,’ Bookends is ‘starkly contrasted by moody black and white and gray sounds.’ I’ve always been a sucker for the minor keys. Night is falling here in Denver, CO, following a large snow storm. We are most definitely in a hazy shade in winter around here. And I’m now 62, more than familiar with disillusionment, loss, failure, bewilderment, despair, sorrow. The right age to receive what Paul has to share. I’m giving the first side 5 stars, the second side a 3, which still leaves an impressive 4. But I would’ve been just as satisfied to stop at the end of side one after a mere 15 minutes. A time it was…
Pire journée de ma vie mais l'album était bien Prefs: America, Old Friends, Bookends Theme - Reprise, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At The Zoo Moins Pref: Overs
So nice
I liked most the accoustict.
Feel like a monochromatic hippie with my acoustic guitar selling incense nearby a retirement house
Great album... Holds up well from 1968
Bookends comes in near the end of Simon & Garfunkel's career. Throughout the 60's, they would put out classics such as "Homeward Bound", "Scarborough Fair", and "The Sounds of Silence" (the last of which you can hear in "Save the Life of My Child"). Truly, Simon & Garfunkel had left their fingerprint in the folk world of music and beyond by this point. Being a concept album that explores a life from beginning to end, you would think that "Bookends" would also bookend their career as a duo, but as we would find out two years later, it's not quite so. Regardless, they would once again knock it out of the park with this record. Putting the odd "Voices of Old People" aside, this is a wonderful folk listen. Simon & Garfunkel harmonize so beautifully, so naturally, you'd think they were born to do it. Here, they are accompanied by occasional strings and brass, subtle in their ways that it enhances the song, instead of detracts. This album is deceptively short though, not even a full 30 minutes of songs on here. That can be forgiven though, given how nice the songs are. And how could I forget the bouncy Mrs. Robinson? Great song. I liked the album enough, but never get too excited or invested in it apart from Mrs. Robinson. Not bad at all, just not my cup of tea.
A great, weird, brief little album that includes a couple of their greatest songs, one of which is one of the great rock and roll songs of the 20th century, as well as the underappreciated gem that is Save the Life of My Child.
One of their best. Has a bit of filler though.
Known this album for years. Oft overlooked is Paul Simon's textural guitar playing.
Not quite a concept album, but there's a common emotion woven throughout. Wonderfully melancholic. 4.5/5
the zoo song rules. overall pretty good, but weirder and fewer jams that i expected
A lot less sleepy than I was expecting. Great tunes!
Bit of a revelation this - shows what I know - not a whole lot!!
A long time since I last heard this album all the way through. The song writing is strong and there is a degree of experimentation in the music. Overall an impressive piece of work.