Bookends

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

That one track which was literally just random old people talking was. So bad. And the rest of the album was mid. Bonus star because I really like The Graduate.

Look, my taste in Western music is whiter than the freshest of virgin snow, and I love Simon & Garfunkel. But the pretentious interview on side A and the random mishmash of previously released songs on side B is not what I came for. Give me one of their actual albums.

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

Now this a worthwhile boomer rock rec. the confidence they had to keep Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter for the end of the album!!

This album sounds like the sort of thing someone born in the 40s or 50s would go crazy for. Proper grandparent vibes. ‘Mrs Robinson’ and ‘a hazy shade of winter’ absolutely save this album from a 1 star review. There were only 3 or 4 tracks that actually sounded like songs. Apart from those two songs, not a fan.

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

These guys are fucking dorks but god damn can they make a song about being a boysenberry jam sound good.

boring

Loved it

Okish, but too similar for me. I bet the lyrics must be great but I did not gave the tiem they deserve. Mrs Robinson a hit of course 3/5.

Growing up with a dad born in the early 50's - we always had AM radio on at home, (4KQ for those in Australia) and I always have nostalgia when these kinds of bands come on that were on high rotation. Usually it was the hits (rarely a deep track or a B side) And for bands like S&G I never went deep like I did with bands like Eagles, or The Doors for example. It was nice to get one under my belt. I read this was a concept album, didn't seem like the whole album landed that. Save the Life of My Child was wild, I had to check if it was a remix, incredibly original and must have sounded like nothing else back then. I added America to my playlist, A Hazy Shae of Winter (love the Bangles version more tho) and Mrs Robinson which I already had in my liked songs. It was ok, wouldn't likely listen to the whole thing again due to the filler.

Unbelievable voices and lyrics but a bit on the easy listening side for me

Not what I expected. Paul Simon is a genius, but this is lower on the list of his works for me.

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.

The double whammy of Voices of Old People and Old Friends is heart wrenching and beautiful. Everything around it feels like it doesn’t fit. Wish I was a Kellogg’s Cornflake? How deep.

Fell asleep within 5secs.

Would not buy.

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

It is good, but not something I would listen all the time

Мені сподобався. Є хіти, матеріал досить різноманітний, хороший рівень пісень. Альбом коротенький, тому сьогодні прогнав із задоволенням два рази

Цей альбом ніколи не слухав повністю. Тут є мегахіт звісно (саундтрек до чудового фільму graduate з Дастіном Хоффманом), але в цілому якось не дуже мені сподобалось, при всій повазі до обох сонграйтерів.

This was maybe my least favorite Simon and Garfunkel album I’ve heard. Mrs. Robinson is a banger, but other than that I struggled. I also dislike hearing unintelligible lo-fi audio in the middle of recordings. Should I know what’s going on? Should I guess?

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

Ska skriva en mening ändå om alla. Gillade några låtar, poetiskt och lugnt, försökte spela på jobbet men där fall rösterna bort.

Love these guys so much. They can do no wrong for me.

Good shit

« 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

Meh

Not for me

Eeeh it wasn't really my thing. Not bad but forgettablr honestly

Very energetic album! Well written and smooth. Catchy and fun

I liked it a reasonable amount. I think the Beatles kinda took this style in some of their songs. Paul Simon has a specific sound that I enjoy, but I don't think I would have enjoyed this as much if I hadn't already heard Graceland. Ms. Robinson can land in my regular rotation, but not much else.

Oh wow. Everything I've gotten so far that is Paul Simon or Simon & Garfunkel has been okay at best or a total snooze-fest, was totally expecting to find this a bore and put it off while working partly because I figured it wouldn't be that good. But I found myself liking pretty much every song. This is genuinely excellent. Really stands out from everything else I've heard from them, what great songwriting.

Hört sich ganz cool an

Absolute classic, reminds me of hazy, late night adventures on Waldeck Road

Człowiek słucha i nie wierzy ile może się zadziać w 30 minut

hey i know some of these ones 3/5

fine album

angenehm zu hören, aber ein bisschen langweilig

Meh, Simon and Garfunkel. Boring.

1. Bookends Theme - N/A The song is too short to be rated. The Reprise will also not be rated. 2. Save the Live of My Child - 2 The background vocals are too loud and the background instruments are too loud as well. Vocals are drowned out on almost the entire track. 3. America - 5 Decent track that's a staple sound for Simon & Garfunkel. Great guitar with light vocals. Nothing phenomenal about the track but it's not poor by any stretch. 4. Overs - 4 The opening verse is poor but then the song improves from there. Not much too it outside of the lyrics and one guitar. 5. Voices of Old People - N/A It's not a song. 6. Old Friends - 4 Average song. Not enough to it lyrically and the strings are overpowering at times without being orchestral or moving enough. They just hold onto notes too long. 7. Bookends Theme (Reprise) - N/A 8. Fakin' It - 6 More in line with the traditional Simon & Garfunkel sound that's stood the test of time. Solid vocals with great instrumentals. More of an upbeat song as well. 9. Punky's Dilemma - 4 Lyrics are good but the track could do without the random sound effects. Before you brush off their annoyance the track fades out. 10. Mrs. Robinson (From "The Graduate" Soundtrack) - 10 An all time classic. Great guitar sound with excellent lyrics. Vocals sound great. By far and away the best track on the album. 11. A Hazy Shade of Winter - 8 Reminds of a song you'd hear from The Mamas & The Papas. Solid beat and guitars with decent lyrics and a solid pace and flow. Decent track. 12. At The Zoo - 6 Lyrics are okay. Instrumentally it's good. It's just a very strange topic and song to end the album with. Nothing bad and it is enjoyable in its overall sound. Just a bit strange. Average Rating: 5.44 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 2.72 Rounded Up: 3 Stars

-Roller coaster of emotions and vibes here I fear -I'm kinda vibing with the album bc it reminds me of david bowie and some other artists -But also not really my style as a whole -Some songs hit tho

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

Finally, an amazing album to end the week. I enjoyed it as much as "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Every song on "Bookends" is marvellous. There's an early Moog bassline on one of the songs. I thought "Old People's Voices" would just be a song, but the title was right after all. 5 stars for "Bookends".

I like these quirked up white boys

Really sweet and whimsical. Feels like they’re giving you a nice bedtime story.

Aside from the synthy "Save the Life of My Child" and the spoken-word interlude of "Voices of Old People," this is pretty much what I expected. Which means it's not my thing. "Mrs. Robinson" is of course a classic, but I wish there were more like "Save the Life of My Child."

I'm getting pretty used to being disappointed by albums from the 60s on this list which sound dated and cheesy to me. This is pretty brilliant from start to finish. Hazy Shade of Winter - which like a good Gen X'er I associate with the Bangles - is underrated and amazing. I'm still not exactly sure what Art Garfunkel brought to the table, but it's undeniable that Simon and Garfunkel's music is so much more iconic than a lot of Paul Simon's later solo work.

Paul tried too hard on this. „Musical integrity“ my ass. They try too much to be the big guys, the Beatles, particularly A Day in the Life. The drums. The way of singing. It‘s overproduced. But where are the ideas? No song sticks out (except Mrs Robinson of course) I prefer Wednesday 3AM. My parents owned this record and I like it’s energy and simplicity. But for whatever reason it never got famous and instead some overpolished slob found its way onto this list.

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. 

Unfortunately, for me, "Hazy Shade of Winter" is the only remarkable song on this album.

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

This is simply one of the best albums of all time. Incredible songwriting and vocal performances.

Paul Simon is one of the most unique and prolific songwriters, the perfect balance of being a great singer and instrumentalist along with his compositions. These songs have such great layers, the rhythm and melody is excellent and then paired with their vocal harmonies makes this record such a warm and enjoyable listen.

Great album, a fun listen cause tbh I don’t usually play this one start to finish. Love America, maybe one of my most favorite songs ever?

Good

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

this album was overwrought. Too much instrumentation, too many odd sound effects, and so on. The couple of classic tunes on this record are tunes that don't have these distractions.

Yeah not bad needs another listen

Very nice

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

It just sounded like some noise to me so I really didnt enjoy it.

It’s not awful, but it’s a Simon and Garfunkel album. They’re all the same. All easily allow you to gloss over the whole thing.

Wasn't expecting something so varied. Pleasant all the way through, engaging, doesn't overstay it's welcome. Animal Collective used to be one of my favourite bands - seems like they were clearly inspired by this.

Just great harmonies and melodies.

Classic S&G

Typ ganska tråkigt men blev bättre mot slutet

Bit random

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

"I prefer boysenberry more than any ordinary jam I'm a "Citizens for Boysenberry Jam" fan" The defence rests, your honour.

3.5 rounded down it’s like. fine but there’s just something a bit off about it …. maybe it feels like they’re trying too hard. idk. don’t really see myself revisiting this one highlights: save the life of my child, old friends, mrs. robinson, at the zoo (mar 13 2026)

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

A mysterious album, full of whispery vocals, mild instrumentation, and strange lyrics that seem to finish stories you can’t even guess the beginnings of. I’m not a huge fan of it, but it is memorable and has lots of great harmonies. Best song: Mrs. Robinson

Brilliance.

Ortega y Gasset si hicieran musica

didn’t like some cause i found them boring only really liked one song also ms robinson

Nos anos 60 fazia-se boa música…. Não oiço Simon&Garfulkel com frequência, mas fiquei com vontade de ouvir em loop este álbum. Mrs. Robinson, um grande clássico, mas Voices of Old People apanhou-se desprevenida e achei muito especial! Que bom!!!

Do we really need the Voices of Old People track?? Mrs Robinson is a classic but I'm not sure it was ever really that good anyway.

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.

7/10

Just incredible stuff from these little nerds, love em!

enjoyable

all I really knew was Mrs. Robinson. Which is still my favorite on here. I expected more from it, but it was alright.

Some songs are great, others are boring or disgustingly happy 3/5

Mrs. Robinson is great.. the rest was a little sleepy for me.

esta pasable, empieza flojo, y al final se aliviana

- insgesamt ein entspanntes, kurzweiliges Album, ohne große Überraschungen - Mr. Robinson natürlich bekannt und ein absoluter Banger 3 – War okay / Interessant 👌 Solides Album, einige gute Momente oder Ideen. Vielleicht nichts, was ich nochmal hören würde, aber spannend zu kennen.

I wept. From boredom And pretentious pretendings of depth.

A couple classic songs, but not so much overall

Classic album! Good songs!

Side 2 is definitely superior

eeeeeeeeeeeee

Pleasant and enjoyable.

I grew up with this album, so it’s hard to be subjective. I can understand not liking this album if you didn’t grow up in that era. I’ve heard it since I was ten and know all the songs very well so Im not sure if I should base my rating on listening to it now when I was young. Then it’s a five, now it’s a three. The album hasn’t aged well and I don’t think it’s relevant for a younger listener.

Stor 3. Jeg kan bedst lide når S&G holder det simpelt, og synes første halvdel er lidt prætentiøs. Anden halvdel er virkelig god

S&G hørte at alle andre bands eksperimenterede med mærkelig produktion i slut-60erne og tænkte at de også ville prøve. Det lykkedes for dem! Rigtig godt! Klart deres mest ambitiøse (og prætentiøse) album, jeg er vild med det.

very quiet record

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

not many songs that caught my attention although I like Simon & Garfunkel

4 good tracks. Rest is junk.

Wasn't really expecting to like this so much, but it's just a really great album of folk songwriting. Chord progressions are interesting. Words are full enunciated, almost like ASMR. Vocal harmonies are so well blended. These guys are masters. I can't decide if the parts of the album that aren't music are worth docking a star. I guess if I'm deliberating, it's fine. They blend into the songs well enough, and contextually.

Niet helemaal mijn ding

Something about the specificity of the lyrics is so moving to me, particularly in America. Obviously the harmonies are a highlight. Somehow I'd never heard Hazy Shade of Winter and added it to the roster of liked songs. A nice tight 32 mins, but I wasn't blown away. 3.5 rounded down.

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

This is a 'concept' album. Here's a concept...Make an album that's not totally forgettable. If it wasn't for the fact that The Graduate was an Oscar nominated movie, we wouldn't know this album even exists.

I was excited to listen to this album, but was pretty disappointed. It was boring and weird. I am only giving it a 3 because it ended good.

I thought this was a very interesting album. I am indifferent. Wish I was a Kellogg’s Cornflake, floating in a bowl.

I thought it was going to like Simon and Garfunkel more. It was fine. A slower, less raspy Jim Croce maybe? It just dragged on until the last few songs. "Voices of Old People" really made it onto this album? Come on, man

Easily a contender for my top ten of all time. People can pick apart the "unfinished concept album with lightweight filler on the B-side" argument as much as they like - for me, Bookends is loaded with beautiful melodies and harmonies, and some of Simon's most poignant lyrics, all with an experimental edge and an attention to detail regardless of any perceived flaws in presentation. Beautiful stuff.

Rolig, litt for kjedelig for min smak

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.

Not super familiar with their catalogue other than the main hits. Given that was a bit surprised with what they were doing sonically in some of the songs on this record (not in a bad way). Had a couple songs that i felt were quite good, but a few where i felt the production was a bit harsh (could just be the speakers i was listening on). Overall decent album with some highlights, but unlikely to come back to it much i think. Another 3/5.

Solid album overall. Never been a huge fan of them, but the duo did create some great & iconic songs, several of which are on this record. Standout tracks: Save the Life of My Child, America, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter

could i write poetry to this? n closer to 4 probably?

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!

It was a cool singer-songwriter album. It came out in 1968, but sounds much newer. They were way ahead of their time! So good. Good songwriting and instrumentations.

‘America’ is a top tier tune. The rest of the album is good but doesn’t reach the same heights.

okay after getting past the atrocity that is "save the life of a child", america is a welcomed addition its a very short album though, is there a need for a "voices of old people" interlude?? idk, this album just screamed pretentious to be and while i enjoyed some of the songs in isolation, i can already hear some knobhead telling me i dont "get it"

Silly folk songs are good

I only wish this were longer. I never think of this as one of my favourites, but it’s hard to argue that it is one of the best folk albums of all time.

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.

ah yes

Interesting. Didn’t listen to a lot of Simon and Garfunkel outside of their hits. The old people talking song was a bit weird but everything else was pretty good.

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.

Cool

You think you know someone... So many songs on this album I'd never heard before. "Save the Life of My Child" is wild. Sounds like something off Quadrophenia. And, generally, the production on this album is incredible.

I really prefer the Bangles version of "A Hazy Shade Of Winter" but the original here is o.k. too. And no doubt "Mrs. Robinson" is an all-time masterpiece. An album containing only two remarkable songs is a disappointing effort for such a prominent duo! 2,5

Some classics on here

I love being introduced to this album of Simon and Garfunkel. Of course, I really only recognized Mrs. Robinson which has been in numerous movies, but was written for The Graduate. Cecelia is the song I know by this duo. I found the Voices of Old People track very interesting. I believe our seniors hold so much valuable information, but sometimes trying to receive it during their final years is tricky. My heart grieves for those on the album who have passed as it is now 57 years later.

This albums has some undeniable all-time great bangers on it, including "America", "Mrs. Robinson", and "Hazy Shade Of Winter". But it also has some truly trash filler, and it's a strange record in that it starts as what appears to be a high concept album ("Bookends") complete with a narrative, opening, and symphonic orchestration - but it bails on that midway through and then simply pastes a bunch of (admittedly great) singles on the back end. As such, it's a bit of an incoherent listen, and doesn't strike me as a fully realized album.

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.

I honestly thought Simon & Garfunkel would give me more than this. Their songs are quite pretty at times ('Overs', 'Punky's Dilemma' and 'Old Friends' are the best offerings here) but I thought they would be more beautiful more often. Like they'd give me goosebumps more often than not. The rest of these tracks sound like early Beatles stuff, which is fine. But just fine, no better no worse. Even 'Mrs Robinson' - which I don't think is a particularly amazing track - has a "coo-coo-ca-choo" in it straight from 'I Am The Walrus'. (I looked it up and The Beatles did it first). Right in the middle of the album is a track called 'Voices Of Old People' and it literally is just that. I don't know if it's genius or crap. I suppose it depends on whether you like the album or not. I think it's decent at times but nothing more.

Interesting mix of songs. Mrs Robinson made famous by the movie but this seems like an album for its time rather than one that endures so I wasn't that taken with it.

it’s giving a bike ride but it was kinda mid

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.

A little slow for me

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.

Ein tolles Album mit den Highlights "Mrs. Robinson" und "A Hazy Shade of Winter". Aber auch der Rest hat mich begeistert, eines der wenigen Alben, die in meiner Sammlung fehlen. 5/5

This is both frustrating and brilliant: it’s uneven, but when it hits, it really hits.It opens with such gravity and beauty—tracks like “Bookends Theme,” “Save the Life of My Child,” and “America” promise a deeply reflective, even existential experience.Then you hit something like “Punky’s Dilemma,” and it’s… a guy imagining he’s a soft-boiled egg. There are some great tracks here though, “Old Friends” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter” still carry a lot of weight and musical sophistication, but some of the "filler" tracks stop it from being great. Between the "Bookends" you have a great album, after that there are a couple of great tracks.

america's a great song

This album feels like if the Beatles, Beach boys and pink Floyd were all fighting for creative control of an album. There are some tracks which feel like they don’t mesh together properly and some are too abstract

I really like Simon & Garfunkel, but this album isn't one that I listen to often apart from one song. "America" is one of my favourite songs from them. This album has some pretty weird sounds being from the 60s. There's some some drums and synths on a few tracks that would be more common decades later.

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

Was looking forward to this especially based on the intro but it doesn't have as many soft melancholic melodies as I was expecting. Old Friends hits the mark. Side 2 is too poppy/not great

Me parece un álbum interesante pero no creo que lo escuchase por mi cuenta, un género que no suelo consumir, solo hubo un par de canciones que llamasen mi atencion

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.

Not a lot of structure, found most the songs boring but I can understand how some would enjoy this kind of art. Not for me.

No es su mejor disco, pero es un disco excelente. como cualquiera de su discografía (o la de gran parte de Simon). Aquí destacna clásicos como America, y la triada final: Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo. Save the of my child es todo un viaje, con un acertado uso de sintetizadores Moog –supervisados por Robert Moog en persona. Overs es delicada y hermosa. Voices of old people es un claro precedente de Revolution 9 pero mejor ejecutado. Old friends es otra gema. Fakin´it (que podría estra en Forever changes), en el disco sale con duración de 2.74 para poder ser emitida en radio (tenía que durar menos de 3 minutos para ello). Este disco está a la altura de maravillas como el Forever Changes de Love (uno de mis discos favoritos de todos los tiempos). Maestros, en todo.

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?

This is #day333 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I'm ticking off another artist as it's my final Simon & Garfunkel album. To be honest, I'm not sure I could tell the difference between the three if I were to, but I remember that I somehow liked Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme the most (rated it a 3). I might change my opinion if I had revisited it now, though. As far as Bookends go, I like the psychedelic undertones, but I'm not sure the presence of Mrs. Robinson should be saving me from giving it a 2, so... Looking forward to #day334.

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!

Some gems on here but also a lot of other random stuff...

Utterly wonderful. Worth listening beginning to end rather than aiming for any famous individual songs.

A couple of really good ones. Interesting to hear what I know as a Bangles riff in its original (acoustic!) form. Not all the songs were great. 3.5/5

This is a strange album, spoken word, instrumentals and pop songs.

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.

I do quite like S&G but didn’t really think this was one of their better efforts. Some of it was pleasant enough though in their usual gentle style. Just not enough songs that really grabbed you.

A few recognisable songs that elevate this album, but nothing of much interest in the rest of it.

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

I really enjoyed this and saved a few songs. I really like “Hazy Shade of Winter” which MCR and The Bangles also have versions of. I also liked “At The Zoo”. And of course “Mrs. Robinson”

Ett snodig album med noen skikkelige knallerter, men også mange unødvendige lydeffekter som gjør dette litt for rart

I don’t know how much I have to say about Simon and Garfunkel. I love the way they harmonize, and they’re great musicians, but the songs themselves, at least on this record, don’t do a whole lot for me. I know, I know, that’s damn near sacrilege to say. I’d probably spend some time with their greatest hits, but this record is legit pretty boring up until the last three tracks. 2.5/5 - and I’m probably only rating it this high for the last three tracks…though I’m rounding down to 2 stars. I’m really disappointed with this record, to be honest.

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.

track 1: mellow-peaceful instrumental for the record intro track 2: This track is full of life, and the storytelling is also great track 3: OKAYY TRANSITION!! A sweet track with great lyricism track 4: ART GARFUNKEL!!!!!!! YOUR VOICE IS SOOOOO BEAUTIFULLLLL ARGHHHHHH, I LOVE THIS TRACK SO MUCH THE COMBO OF THESE TWO IS IMMACULATE track 5: interlude (I guess), but I like when an interlude has good storytelling, like a narrative pieces like this one track 6: OMG THIS TRACK MADE ME WEAKK IT IS SO BEAUTIFULL WTFF I'M CRYINGGG, MY FAV SO FARRR THE ENDING IS SO MAGNIFICENTTT track 7: THE TRANSITION!!!!!! HARMONIZEEEE!!! THIS IS A CERTIFIED LULLABYY track 8: this track is so dense and dynamic, full of life. A great track track 9: This track is a vibeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee track 10: I LOVE THIS TRACK, excuse me, THIS "GRAMMY-WINNING" TRACK SO MUCHHH track 11: OKAYY UPBEATTT TRACKK, ONE OF MY FAVV track 12: What a great ending track, my least fav among the other track but still great (10/10) Whatt a great record. Paul and Art is a combination of greatness. I still can't move on with the 6th track "Old Friends" that is one of the most beautiful track I had heard in my life

This album is so boring. It is HEAVILY carried by "America" and the extra bonus tracks. I don't understand the "concept." "A Hazy Shade of Winter" and "Mrs. Robinson" are obviously bangers tho. What the fuck was "Voices of Old People" ???? Actual rating is a 2.5. It is kinda just boring but it has moments. Liked Songs: "America" , "Fakin' It" , "Old Friends" , "Mrs. Robinson" , "A Hazy Shade of Winter" , "At the Zoo"

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

Wonderful, wonderful. I'd forgotten about this album so it was good to revisit.

163/1089 - Man it's nice to see folk musicians who can actually write melodies. I wonder if they could've fit Side B within the concept album and had it make sense as a whole album instead of Side A being a concept and Side B being soundtrack outtakes. That doesn't stop this from being a really well made and recorded album with super intriguing songs though.

Favorite Track: Mrs. Robinson

Some good songs on here. Pretty solid album.

5-

Honestly a lot weirder than I expected. I like weird, but it was pretty weird

Good but not my kind of thing

Pretty album

3.

Loved it,

A cup of green tea. I don't necessarily hate it, and sometimes I enjoy it. I prefer sweet tea, and could never hate on those who like green tea. It's healthier anyways.

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.

Super short, but it does have Mrs. Robinson

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

I remember liking Simon and Garfunkel but this was pretty painful.

Always up there in my fave albums.

Misses Robinsooon.. 3.5

yep

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

Good storytelling but nothing Special about the album.

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.

Non male, slow pop classico che non mi ha ucciso

2,4/5

Норм

Has some classic songs on it, I can live without the others. Decent album

Can an otherwise forgettable album be redeemed based on the strength of one or two songs? In the case of Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel, the answer is no. There's nothing more pretentious than people in their mid-20s writing and singing songs as if they're in their 70s, and then to put in "voices of old people" in is just boring and trite. Two stars, one star for Mrs. Robinson and one star for A Hazy Shade of Winter.

Decent album

Timeless...wonderful harmony

First half was quite a compelling narrative, if not my type of sound, it still carried the emotion i look for in music. Second half (the b-sides) were fine.

How disappointing!! Bridge Over Troubled Water was such a nice album - and then you have this?! To think Mrs Robinson is on the same album as a song where he's pretending to be an english muffin in a toaster. Shambles 2 ⭐️

I do not like Simon and Garfunkel

Super great album, includes the absolutely beautiful masterpiece Mrs Robinson

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

Damn, è forse l’album meno forte del duo, e di loro ho chiara tutta la discografia Spiace dargli un voto un po’ basso, ma davvero a parte Mrs Robinson nessuna mi ha fatto gridare al miracolo La prima è curiosa però

There's a good reason "Greatest Hits" albums exist, and it's so you don't have to listen to entire albums like this. In other words, the singles are good and everything else is pure shit.

Fucking love. Perfect rainy day album and At the Zoo is one of the biggest bangers ever

It started as a performance art piece and somehow ended with a pop/folk/rock album. The last three songs were great, but the first part was just wonky to me.

It's our old friends, Garfunkel and Simon. This is okay. Mrs. Robinson is great and I like Garfunkel and Simon's better than The Lemonheads. The Lemonheads isn't bad. They rock it out. But when it comes to Hazy Shade of Winter, I think I like The Bangles better. I don't know wuzzup with mumbling old people. I didn't like this album enough to research why Garfunkel & Simon decided to put mumbling old people on their album.

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!

Not my favorite but a few classics in there

Amazing album

Thematically sound if you like the sound of Simon & Garfunkel. Only have heard one song it is arguably their biggest and best song. 6/10

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

Belter with some of my favourite ever songs.

Bit disjointed of a concept album. But America, Mrs Robinson. Makes any album great. Plus, everything else is really good anyway. 4.5 stars

First half of this album is a bit of a slog. "America" is the only winner on the A side. The second half of this album is where the money is. Mrs. Robinson is the clear winner for the 1001 playlist. ~ 3 stars.

I don't know what to say about this album... The Side 1 concept album is kind of a drag. Side 2 is more interesting, but it's not great. Meh.

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

Stabilt och hyfsat mångsidigt album

#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).

The singles hold their own, but beyond that this feels a little too slight to feel truly great.

Like the other Simon & Garfunkel albums we've had, this is ultimately just so self-serious and also somehow so incredibly twee, that I just can't enjoy it. I kind of liked the poignancy of 'Old Friends' (I blame being older) but not enough to add to any playlists. & the Bangles cover is better.

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.

I was shocked how little I remembered of side one when I remembered pretty much all of side two. I went into this thinking its not their best album. The highs are high enough to praise as their best.

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

album is a little short to have an entire track dedicated to old people talking Mrs. Robinson is a great track but most of the other songs--while good-- could've been written/performed by any dorm room folk duo in America

This is a great album.

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.

Not at all what I expected. A rich tapestry of musical styles and ideas. Snappy and bristling with creativity and detail.

Mrs Robinson redeems an otherwise dull album. What a classic! Hazy Shade of Winter is good, too. And At the Zoo. Really picks up near the end of the album.

Honestly not sure if I like this one more than the Parsley Sage album, both were great! Oh no I might have to listen to them both again... what a shame that would be! :)

I can appreciate the music and their abilities but this is just not my style of music.

I'm very surprised how different every Simon & Garfunkel album from this list sounds from one another. You'd think, because most of their songs are based on the two voices and acoustic guitar, everything would sound somewhat similar. But no, all three albums have a different mood. This is the short and sweet one, with touches of strings here and there, perfectly suited for a quiet summer evening. Very cozy. Key tracks: America Old Friends Mrs. Robinson

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.

Great record from the kings of acoustic pop duos.

Not the best from them

Good, but Bridge Over Troubled Water is better.

I think this album is remembered mainly due to the names attached to it rather than the actual songs. “A Hazy Shade of Winter” goes crazy though.

> The Beatles

I don’t know what to say. Some good, some not so good.

Okay, yeah. I liked this.

Now.... is this an album or an EP? It is under 30 mins, so nowadays it would be classed as an EP, right? As a whole? I think the record is overrated. Some good songs, but most of them are not great. That's just my thoughts

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.

Boring

There is a level of twee I can appreciate and then there's a level of twee that I find unbearable: this skirts the line between the two. You've got to grind through some gallingly sentimental tracks - weepy junk like 'Old Friends' and the Bookends reprise - to get to the palate cleansing power of 'Mrs Robinson' and 'A Hazy Shade of Winter'. I don't think it adds up to a good album, but it's not bad either. Mid 2*.

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dated, moreso than other major albums from the late sixties, but their best was transcendent like the Beatles

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 46 Bookends…loose ends 📚 The acclaimed duo of Simon & Garfunkel deliver an intriguing concept album of sorts, albeit mashed up with previously unfinished material. These guys were well before my time and although I consider them as overrated as most fawned over acts of this era, I try to put into perspective the cultural impact and influence they had on the aspiring songwriters that followed. From the albums opening theme I settled in relaxingly for what I assumed was going to be a nice comforting acoustic experience, and then WHAM! Enter ‘Save The Life of My Child’…such a jarring unexpected powerful surprise of a song, if only the rest of the album lived up to its promise. The subsequent tracks return to favor of S & G’s far less interesting trademark sound, well performed, just feels very let down afrer being teased with such a banger of a start. 🎧 Classic Track: Mrs. Robinson 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Overs 🎧 Personal Favorite: Save The Life of My Child 🚫 Skip Track: Voices of Old People I really don’t understand how this record could be considered anywhere near as accomplished as Bridge Over Troubled Water, save for the clear standout here which should’ve been confined to The Graduate soundtrack. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Double take, is that David Schwimmer & Will Ferrell?!? Certainly not worthy of 5 singles (as I stated Mrs. Robinson should’ve even be present here), although the talented chemistry between these musicians along with the artful ambition (at least on the A dude) and beautiful melodies salvages it’s respect. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

I did not use a private session for one. I used to have this on CD, but I gave it away as it is too folksy for me. I love Paul Simon's work, but Simon and Garfunkel is just to mellow, though I can not deny that some of the songs are classic.

Interesting album. It didn't make sense the whole time but when it did, it was great.

America is one of my favorite songs of all time, and thankfully the rest of the album matches its beauty if not transcends it.

This is such a classic. It was one of my late mother’s favorites… which makes it one of my favorites.

Bookends Theme was not what I expected of Simon and Garfunkel, with some loud percussions and synths. But it was a good way to start the album. America is a nice folksy change of pace, with Faking It a nice upbeat and catchy song as well. Punky’s Dilemma is delightfully weird. Mrs. Robinson is a classic. A Hazy Shade of Winter has a very satisfying composition of the bass, drums, and guitar.

It was chill and short

I was a bit disappointed by this. I don't know much about Simon and Garfunkel but my impression was: "Acoustic guitar, Garfunkel is a bit redundant, Simon is a great songwriter." But the only song I really genuinely enjoyed was "Mrs Robinson" which I new already. I wasn't expecting some of the prog rock voice samples and sounds of doors shutting either. Meh.

It’s S&G innit, like Derek and Clive without the smutty humour and more lyrical. What’s not to like.

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

mrs robinson

6/10 i guessss Better than smash these three songs were bangers but rest were kinda misses 1) Mrs. Robinson 2) Fakin’ it 3) A Hazy Shade of Winter

8.3/10 I’m Simon and Jeremy is Garphonkel

10/10 I loved every song

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?

Enjoyed most of this but not as much as their other work. Classic hits include “America” and “Mrs. Robinson” but I also liked “At the Zoo” and “Punky’s Dilemma”. A bit too try hard at times. Eg. Voices of old people.

No

Classic folk album

Great album.

Ok

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!

I liked this album, but I can see why some wouldn’t. If you don’t particularly appreciate Paul Simon’s writing style or their voices and harmonies then I can see where this album could be super annoying for someone. I like all that stuff and so I enjoyed most of the songs. America is a favorite Simon and Garfunkel song of mine, and I like Bookends and A Hazy Shade of Winter too.

3.5