Bookends

Very uneven album. The first half (the concept between the “bookends”) felt exceedingly average. It’s pretty much exactly what I think of when I hear Simon and Garfunkel: moderately pleasant and safe, but not very interesting. Not much from this side I’d queue up again. The B-side is much better. “Mrs. Robinson” is the centerpiece and an all-timer, but I thought “A Hazy Shade of Winter” was very enjoyable too. Together, I’m left with half an album I didn’t enjoy and half I’d come back to... The highs are high enough to pull it above average, but as a complete album it never really came together. 3/5

Good coffee shop album. Some classics on here

A short and sweet album. Enjoyed it, but have the feeling I'd like some of their other stuff a bit more. 3.4/5.

Thanks for this recommendation. Placing Punky’s Dilemma in front of Mrs Robinson, made me look at the two songs in a new light. That said, this is not Simon and Garfunkel’s best album.

Quite uneven tracklist. Few classics but also few fillers. Text's like "Wish i was a cornflake..." really proves the seriousness of Paul Simon's writer's block at the time.

Beatles without the copious amounts of LSD

Not as annoying as I often find S&G. I think the slight departure from a totally saccharine folk sound suits them and in this album its subtly done. It has a couple of iconic tracks, like "Mrs Robinson" which gets additional marks for being in the score of The Graduate. Production wise, the album sounds awesome. Really great instrumentation and isolation between all the different elements is superbly detailed. There is still too much sickly sweet tinkling for me to truly enjoy this album, as well as some really annoying cutesy lyrics in tracks like "In the Zoo" and "Punky's Dilemma" which I find a real turn off. Definitely an album worth listening to for its cultural relevance but not my cup of tea (with or without a toasted English muffin).

I’ve never really liked Paul Simon’s songwriting all that much. There are the hits from this record that have stood the test of time. But I thought a lot of this was filler. Also, much weirder and more experimental than I was expecting for 1968. I think the weirdness earns it some points from me, because a lot of the actual songwriting seemed half done outside of the hits. 3/5. Enjoyed Bridge over troubled water more.

Not my favorite of theirs, some good tunes, but also too much filler.

so chilly, was anxious that day and it helped

a ver tiene temas buenisimo (Mrs robinson tope de 6) un par medio falopa (bookened theme) seria un 2.5

A few good songs, but not my cup of tea. A few strange songs which just seem like noise.

Ме, слабенько, тупа ванхитвандеры

Two five star albums in a row. Cool. Nice work for a change #1001. One of two peaks (along with Graceland) in the brilliant career of Paul Simon. A national treasure.

Inte deras bästa album men jag älskar america så då blir det en 4. Utan den och mrs robinson är det definitivt 3.

Age 14, as I nudged into the dating world, I began dating a girl who used apple-scented shampoo. We were both quite smitten until she went to summer camp. I mooned around while she was away, gazing at her photo and counting the days until her return. When she finally got back it was awkward and weird and she cut me loose shortly after. The entire incident taught me a lot about dating, and the ineffective nature of me asking “but…why?” during a break up. Anyhow, this girl’s mother loved Simon and Garfunkel, and that mother had established enough of a family culture of loving Simon and Garfunkel that this girl I dated also loved Simon And Garfunkel. I listened to quite a bit of Simon and Garfunkel during and after our affair. I’ve both subconsciously and consciously associated S&G with that girl ever since, generally in an appreciative way. While Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water rank pretty high up, I’ve generally thought of Bookends as overrated. Not as catchy, too many duds…that sort of thing. This time though I would say the album really opened itself up to me. I found to arc of it to be melancholy and wistful in a way that came as a surprise. I had to revise my opinion upwards. Maybe, much like that girl who tormented my summer way back then, I’ve gotten older and wiser. Because she’s real old and wise now too.

What on earth did the mothers of my ex-girlfriends listen to? What were their hopes and dreams? Who were they really? Who are they now? Such worm cans shouldn’t be opened on such a forum. All I can remember is one unbecoming obsession with the sound of music, a more becoming Leonard Coen obsession, and another detesting Edith Piaf. All this will be linked with this mediocre S&G album in my brain from this point on. Christ. I just wanted to find some new records I like.

Very pretty, pastoral, folky album that tackles themes of ageing, life and death. The record flows very well, both topically and musically. While not their best record there is still so much quality in the arrangements. The overall vibe feels a bit more abstract, colder and distanced than usual, especially on the "death" side of the album. Old Friends for example has this beautiful chamber instrumentation that feels very unique for the duo. Mrs Robinson is obviously a standout, but I even prefer the beautiful layered sound on America. Overall there is not really a weak song tho and the album is a very nice listen.

I am a general lover of Simon and Garfunkel and expected this album to be a 10/10, top favs experience but I found myself a bit disappointed. While there are great tracks on this album, I don't think it is really their best work as a collections of songs. Still good and still a big fan

Did not grab me

Have listened before. Classic album.

Very good

This is a nice listen with 3 or 4 classic tracks, especially the wonderful America and Hazy Shade of Winter. The bits in between don’t excite so much though. 2.3/5

I love the final chorus of At The Zoo - I never trusted those giraffes! Very short album but a great example of what makes PS great. I think their next album is overall better but still a fab record.

Lots to enjoy on this album, particularly A Hazy Shade of Winter and Old Froends. Superb lyric writing and interesting melodies. Rating: 3.5

not as amazing as i thought it would be ngl

Honestly even though its super short, this album is very boring. You'd think it being short is better then, but instead its just forgettable. They literally have a song called Old People Talking and its just old people talking

I think what makes this album so timeless is S&G’s superb storytelling

Honestly? It was fine but not blowing my mind. Maybe I'll like their later stuff more.

- Bookends: nothing to note - Save the Life of my Child: bass yeah. Actually obsessed with this track. Lyrics and sound. - America: I've always hated this song in a sort of mindless way. It gains a lot reading the lyrics and really paying attention to it and considering it within the wider context of the album. - Overs: happy to not be able to relate as a person in love. Great song though. - Voices of Old People: fantastic placement. - Old Friends: the strings make this feel like the end of a movie. - Bookends Theme - reprise: Love a transition and love a reprise. - Fakin' It: more of a folky pop-rock sound, I really liked this. Very relatable. I love Paul Simon's moodiness. - Punky's Dilemma: my least favourite track so far, but still really good. - Mrs. Robinson: will always be a banger. Guitars are phenomenal and of course an iconic melody. Didn't know it was originally written about Eleanor Roosevelt. - A Hazy Shade of Winter: this is fucking amazing... note to self to listen to the Gerard Way & Ray Toro version. - At the Zoo: great album closer. I like how we finish with childhood. Overall: What are the odds of me getting Paul Simon's Graceland and this right after? I have always said I hate Simon & Garfunkel without reason. I was stupid - I have no notes. Save the Life of My Child is probably my favourite song in this because of its bass and experimental mixing. 4.49/5 instead of 4.5/5 because I only want to give 5 stars to albums that really move me. Might have to watch The Graduate as a companion piece.

Quite Boring. For me in particular only Mrs. Robinson was the stand out track. And yeah I know that's the most well known song of this album. But I didn't enjoyed the rest of it. I except more from the guys that once named after the most famous cat & mouse in history. So: 2/5

Ok

S&G are always a pleasure. This was an album I hadn’t heard before but I’m glad that has changed. I don’t think it hits the heights of their next one (BOTW) but that doesn’t take away from how good this is. 4/5

Very chill. Great to have playing while I work.

Another album that isn’t bad, I liked almost all the songs and 3-4 made the playlist. Very solid album especially for the time.

I think they're a bit goofy but I like them. This is dad music but dads really got this one right.

Great album. Mrs. Robinson and America are particular favorites of mine

I love this album but I thought it might be boring with a lot of similar sounding stuff, but the wild synth in the intro of “Save the life of my child” immediately subverted and exceeded my expectations

Haven't listened to much by Simon & Garfunkel, but I really enjoyed this one! It's also how I'm finding out that "America" Yes is actually a cover!

There is a track that is LITERALLY old people talking called ‘Voices of Old People’. That’s a first for me. Otherwise, as usual, S&G often sound like running through a field kissed by the sun.

Not my favorite S&G album

Oh yeah this one. I think of it as quirky, folky S&G, “Old Friends” and “At the Zoo.” I forget that it contains this sorta half baked concept album (not worth thinking about except it yielded a great photo for the album cover). But I also forget that mixed in there are also America, Mrs. Robinson, and A Hazy Shade of Winter. It might be a 3 for me if not for those hits… I think I’d give jr a 4 if it only had America and the rest or it was mediocre.

One classic song but generally quite dull and whimsical in an annoyingly Broadway kind of way

It was ok. Mostly just enjoyed the three songs I knew: America, Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter. But I quite liked Punky's Dilemma, which I had not heard before, I love the lyrics and the guitar playing.

(Strong 7/10) A solid record, containing some great songs from this iconic duo. Funny enough I prefer the Bangle's version of "Hazy Winter" lol, but "Mrs Robinson" and "America" are great tunes also. I also wish that old person track wasn't there. That was bizarre. Eh, still a good one!

This is my second Simon & Garfunkel album and this is lovely. Bookends is much stronger than Bridge Over Troubled Water- the instrumental and the lyrics are confident and varied as well. I obviously knew Mrs Robinson, one of my dad's favourite song. I kinda regret no digging into the duo discpgraphy as my dad told me to in my teenage years. This is right on my alley- good folk with pop sprinkles and good storytelling. 5/5

Favourite song was definitely hazy shade of winter, also really liked Mrs Robinson

Okay.

📖📖

This has more edge than I expected.

molto bello, Old friends traccia stupenda

Et bah finalement pas ouf

It was fine. Mrs Jackson is a banger.

Experimental, modern, suprising. Quirky humor. Soft for my tastes

Very solid album, probably my favorite Simon & Garfunkel from this list

By the time they reached their fourth record, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel had evidently grown tired of playing standard folk; they craved something more ambitious, so they decided to record a concept album. Only the first half turned out to be conceptual, and — despite lasting a mere fifteen minutes (the whole album is only half an hour long) — I could barely make it to the end. They intended to tell a story about different stages of life — a sort of "childhood, adolescence, youth" progression — but they failed to fully realize the concept, delivering instead some rather cryptic lyrics set to acoustic strumming. As for the decision to include a two-minute recording of random conversations between elderly people in nursing homes — well, I’ll leave that without comment. The album nearly landed in the "one-star" category, but the second half managed to pull it back from the brink. While the songs there aren’t exactly masterpieces, they at least didn’t make me want to turn the record off — and the penultimate two are actually good enough to warrant a repeat listen. So, as the saying goes: don’t take on a burden heavier than you can carry, lest you stumble while walking!

Eksperimentelt da - Var ikke like rolig som jeg forventet, "humøret" endret seg ganske mye ila. albumet. Noen sanger er bare snakking, noen er rolige, noen litt rocket.

Boring AF

Great album

Straight mid. Nothing much to say. Old friends was incredible. Aside from that not much to say. Paul Simon is supposed to be one of the best songwriters all time but the lyrics are just so bad on some of these songs. Just nothing here to keep my interest

Good music but won’t be relistening

Some great songs but also some weird stuff.

Very chill, did my accounting practice exam to the album and I was locked in

Listened in the park.

I think it's really great.

Just a great album

Enkele bekende nummers, ook wat 60-er jaren experimentele muziek

Such a few, different collection of songs. Was thinking more like 4.5 and then Hazy Shade of Winter started and I thought, who am I kidding?

Cozy little album that doesn’t do anything special, but is nice in its simplicity.

i felt it so hard

Back when I first heard this, I was excited as I anticipated it would become a new favourite. I loved a bunch of Simon and other guys' singles, and thus was the first complete album I'd heard by them. To say I was underwhlemed would be an underwhelming statement. Outside of Robinson and Hazy Shade it's a bit dull. Robinson is a banger, The Bangles version of Hazy is superior, and everything else here is well-intentioned by yawn provoking smart boy folk. You should hear it, sure, but there are thousands of better albums.

Always felt a bit slight but it’s very lovely!

hmm.. maybe my fav album of theirs. honestly the thing about music that's just nice... is that it's just nice

Not a fan of Simon and/or Garfunkel. Their music just does nothing for me. However, this album is not terrible and has a few of their more well-known songs. It is also mercifully short. So credit where it's due I guess.

good listen. enjoyed it

I can imagine that everyone's vinyl records are much more worn on Side B than Side A on this album. The first half of the album is a conceptual piece exploring the journey of life and - as is life - is pretty underwhelming and kid of a slog to get through and pay attention to. I guess they really nailed that vibe if that was the intention. Side B is banger after banger. Starting with the explosive "Fakin' It", into the jaunty and humorous "Punky's Dilemma", flowing into the band's most iconic tune "Mrs. Robinson", and winding down with the beautiful "A Hazy Shade of Winter" and the lively and allegoric "At the Zoo". Side B is a fantastic display of S&G's more upbeat and poppy musical skills. Side A is a 5/10 and Side B is a 10/10. My rating will be the average at 7.5/10 which rounds up to a 4/5 rating.

Great guitar. Awesome song writing- made me emotional.

Same sama as with previous Simon @ Garfunkel albums. I acknowledge the talent. Singing is just great. Still this just doesn't speak to me basically at all. One star is be rude but can't help.

#496 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ I'm going to say this before I listen; I'll try to power through, but I'm going to hate the folk they play. Indeed, I hate it. Through sheer perseverance I only skipped few tracks. 1/5

Great album! Not my favorite Simon & Garfunkel, and I don’t need a two minute track of old people talking in the middle of it, but still some classics here.

Cozy or something

Not my thing but Mrs Robinson is a banger 2/5

A good album but I found it maybe ever so slightly underwhelming compared to some of their other albums. Ultimately its personal preference but felt it lacked for punchier songs so while all very nice, less interesting overall. Maybe on further listens I would pick out more nuance.

Its the usual package of overly pleasant harmonic sound you’ve come to expect from them, but this time with a bite. "Old Friends" is quite haunting, especially towards the end with its shrill string section (not the only song to have that effect either). Quite cool, as it then links really well with "Bookends Theme" (Take 2), carrying on that feeling with a deliberate, slow guitar-picking section. I think the album has a flow which is unusual, with definite sections and recurring musical themes that I really like. It also ends on some strong fan favourites, which helps cement this album as a classic. I really enjoyed it and found it built nicely on repeated listens. I've always had a fond, nostalgic view of S&G, but they are in danger of becoming one of my genuine personal favourites. The strength and depth on here is insane, and the fact it stands up so well today is a credit in itself. Preferences aside, I think this is a masterpiece.

Mrs Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter rescued this album at the end!

An enjoyable and interesting concept album. I don't have much else to say other than that it was a consistently pleasing listen. Favs: America, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Mrs. Robinson

Mrs Robinson is a banger. Good, if a bit unexciting, but some good lyricism and good music.

Before now, all I'd heard from Simon & Garfunkel were the jams, the popular stuff. The album had more of a low-key, storytelling style than i was expecting, but absolutely enjoyed. America was a particular standout. The album is also savage with commentary if you have the ears to listen for it.

Now I see why these songs have been covered so many times.

It's obviously great.

It was like…. Okay…

realmente foi o melhorzinho deles que apareceu NA ULTIMA SEMANA (JA QUE TODOS APARECERAM DE UMA VEZ) achei mais equilibrado e a sonoridade muito mais pensada, legal tá

papo reto, tô surpreso. gostei bem desse aqui. queimei a língua positivamente!! bem mais encorpado que o album anterior deles que passou por aqui, hein. os arranjos são bem massas, na maior parte do tempo. bem decente e variado, na real. achei bão demais!

pretty good

They will tell you S&G's best album is Troubled Water...But it's this one by a mile.

“hey, art” “yeah, paul?” “how are we gonna get this album to 30 min?” “i dunno let’s go record some old folks saying stuff” “ok sounds good, now let’s go get high and go to the zoo”

Enjoyed the album. Side 1 definitely require more intentional listening with the theme of growing older.

I had hit a run of prog rock which I don't like. Got this and thought alright at least it will have proper songs and singing. The concept album worried me but only 30 mins. The good songs are great. The talking no idea. A bit hi nanny no but worth a listen

This is my first Simon & Garfunkel album. The music is folk/folk rock, which is a genre I generally like. The album itself is short and sweet, and the songs are simple but impactful, and sometimes the lyrics are whimsical and funny. "Voices of Old People" was just that, but it was interesting to listen to. I think my favorite song was "Mrs. Robinson" (I should really watch "The Graduate" sometime). "Old Friends" and both "Bookends Themes" are good, too.

#481/1001. I'm tempted to guide this album 5 stars for the voices of old people track. Also for America and Mrs. Robinson. But the rest just vaporise to an average.