Hearts And Bones

This is a pop record which feels primarily soothing. I'm with Christgau: It never quite takes off. The string arrangements suggest it could have, too (at least for me). The writing seems solid overall with a hint of cuteness at points.

Farts & moans

Paul Simon is amazing. At least half the songs started out a little odd to me and by the end I was fully into it. He also seems to understand how sounds layer really well and he was willing to use different methods to make the exact right sound. A song writing genius, as ever.

Pretty unremarkable, especially considering Graceland exists. Cars are Cars is probably one of the dorkiest songs to ever be made

A fun album, lots of interesting tunes and sounds. Doesn't take itself to seriously, a good listen that I have no disagreements with. Grooves and can get down too, easy listening, easy dancing. Paul Simon is a music man. True feeling: 3.8/5

I felt like this album was really catchy and all round good vibes albeit inconsistent, however that “Cars Are Cars” song made me so frustrated and angry. what the fuck

I love Paul Simon, but I have not gotten to my heavy listening period with him yet. Probably will come in my 30s.

My favourite Paul Simon album, which says something given the company it has.

This is the third Paul Simon album I've been served in the span of two and a half months. Please make it stop. I'm really starting to resent the people who catapulted this man to such fame that he is considered so essential. He is about as fundamental to musical experience as the Barenaked Ladies.

This Paul Simon cover looks like a screenshot of a camera that caught him stealing in a convenience store. Maybe he was trying to steal a good song idea? And it obviously didn't work.

In which one half of the duo that gave us The Boxer and The Only Living Boy in New York released a lead single about allergies, and it wasn't even the worst song on the album. Did you know that cars are cars all over the world? An awful album only partially redeemed by an introspective reflection on the assassination of John Lennon. Best track: The Late Great Johnny Ace

Every story I've heard about Paul Simon breaking anti-Apartheid travel restrictions and going to South Africa involve tales of him being bored and disillusioned with his own music, and as this appears to be the album he released before traveling to meet decent musicians - I can fully empathise. This album is technically a very competent recording, but blimey o'reilly it is ditchwater dull. Who could fail to be inspired by "Song about the moon"? Let's not mention the staggering obviousness of "Cars are cars". Are they really, Paul? It takes some real lyrical genius to spot that. Simon is a great musician, but there is little that exemplifies writer's block and moribund, contract-fulfilling journeymanning more than this tepid, desperately dull album.

I hate this song Allergies, I think it's ridiculous. The 80s synth instrumentation kills me. I'm reminded of what I don't like about Paul Simon, the lyrics that go nowhere (in my opinion) except to a rhyme or pun. I don't feel a deep meaning, despite the songs hinting to it. No, Paul, in this case, you did not think too much.

Kinda boring, isn't it?

I haven’t listened to much Paul Simon in a long time, and was surprised there was an album from 1983 that I had never heard of nor could recall any songs from. I started off a little skeptical about a song called “Allergies” kicking things off, but I quite liked it. Nice guitar solo in the middle and I like the music and lyrics. This song was the most obviously from the 80s on this album. The 80’s elements made me like it more, overlaid as they were on what was unmistakably a Paul Simon song. Also as an allergy-sufferer I appreciated the odd subject matter. Settled in to “Hearts and Bones”, a really nice song, and knew I would be in Paul Simon’s capable hands for the rest of the listen. As the album progressed I found myself pretty much loving every song. Paul Simon has more unconventional subjects (“When Numbers Get Serious” is great, despite some questionable multiplication), all accompanied by interesting arrangements. There are two “Think Too Much” songs. Both are fantastic (although I give the edge to (A) as my favorite, but glad both are there). “Song About the Moon” is one of my favorite songs on the album. “Train in the Distance” seemed vaguely familiar to me, so I may have run across this at some point in the past. “Rene and Georgette Magritte After the War” is beautiful, Paul Simon is a wizard of taking a lyric like that and making it flow so naturally in the song. “Cars are Cars” was the first song that as it started I thought might be a miss for me… but by the end I had warmed up to it. Love the juxtaposition of styles between the chorus and the verses. “The Late Great Johnny Ace” has an unusual ending provided by none other than Philip Glass that I found was a nice ending to the album. I’m glad this album was on this list as I doubt I would ever have encountered this anywhere else. Great album I will listen to again and again!

ALLERGIES!

No. 220/1001 Allergies 3/5 Hearts and Bones 4/5 When Numbers Get Serious 3/5 Think Too Much 3/5 Song About The Moon 3/5 Think Too Much 3/5 Train in the Distance 3/5 René and Georgette 3/5 Cars Are Cars 3/5 The Late Great Johnny Ace 3/5 Average: 3,1 Good album, but nothing to hate or love on here.

Pretty average

Middle of the road. Especially for Paul Simon. He made way better albums and songs

I prefer Graceland to this. Ok I guess but probably won’t listen again

It starts with a weird \"is this Paul Simon trying to be an 80's pop star\" vibe and never quite loses it. Hearts and Bones is most enjoyable and Cars are Cars is the most silly. Gone at Last is a Simon-esque collab with a gospel groove. Overall, kind of a yawner and completely benign.

Very flaccid music. He sings about odd subjects and stories. Cars, trains, the brain, random thoughts he’s having I guess? Are we sure he isn’t a School House Rock singer? “Cars are Cars” could have easily been a hit. Unfortunately, that was the only song I liked. You can’t take this guy seriously, that’s the trick. I was happy when the album was over. 4/10

This is just bland and a bit twee at times. Disappointing

Oh. I guess Graceland isn't the only Paul Simon solo album I hope to never hear again. ZERO stars.

holy shit stop already

Cars are Cars is one of the most painfully stupid songs I’ve ever heard in my life.

Am I the only one who finds Paul Simon insufferable? "Hearts and Bones"? Nope, "Farts and Drones."

This album has the stupidest lyrics I’ve ever heard. “Allergies” and “Cars are Cars” too the list.

Painful

Opens with a song about having a rash, bold move. Loads of that huge 80s whoompy bass sound, possibly the whoompiest. The next song is more familiar: gentle acoustic guitar with a pitter-patter bongo percussion part and jazzy electric piano chords for a dash of schmaltz - his soft light vocals floating warmly over the mix. The rest of the songs settle somewhere between these 80s disco inflected synth pop and 70s folk singer sounds. It's all smooth and tasteful and pretty dull in a distinctly upper middle class upper middle brow way. Impossible to listen to this without picturing an arena full of Larry Davids vibing out to the musical equivalent of hotel art.

I’m not a Paul Simon fan

Paul Simon is singlehandedly responsible for some of the worst music of the 80s. Dude should have quit after accidentally knocking it out of the park with Sound of Silence. A boring dreadful listen that manages to straddle world music, cheesy 80s production and inexecrable singer-songwriter

This is Paul Simon's lesser known, but best album. Better than all of S&G and way better than Graceland in my opinion. I was lucky enough to grow up listening to this one a lot and know all the lyrics by heart. Every song on the album is an accomplishment, but for me it's The Late Great Johnny Ace. Still makes me well up every time I hear it thinking about what John Lennon may have achieved if he hadn't been stolen from us all.

Long-time fan of this underrated album. It's interesting that you can hear the transition from his 70s style (e.g., heavy use of the Fender Rhodes on songs like Train in the Distance) to his 80s world music style (e.g., use of marimba on Think Too Much (b). Even though version "a" is Paul Simon with Chic it also has more of that Graceland sound. Even the outro to Train in the Distance has vocals that make me think of his 80s world music style. Cars are Cars also). Then there are songs that are just beautiful and uniquely timeless like Hearts and Bones (about his relationship with Carrie Fisher), Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War (a surrealistic song written about a photograph of surrealist Magritte and his wife), and The Late Great Johnny Ace (about John Lennon's murder). Let's talk about that last one - I remember when Paul Simon debuted it during the Concert in Central Park and a crazy person ran on stage yelling "I need to talk to you!" just after Simon sang "A stranger came up and asked me if I'd heard John Lennon had died." That was an eerie moment. It's a captivating sad song, which ends with a gorgeous coda by Philip Glass. I've always loved this album and always will.

Wow. What a great record. There really isn't a duff track here. Superb.

Blown away. Every song was incredible and the production was weird as fuck but I liked it. Ending of last song was beautiful

One of the best songwriters of all time. If I hadnt mentioned.

Favorite Paul Simon album.

I just apparently really like Paul Simon. His music feel familiar yet unique. Even the songs with goofy lyrics are instrumentally still very very good.

Loved all of it!

As I mentioned before, I really appreciate albums that manage to be relaxing while not being dull. Paul Simon's tracks had interesting tricks to make sure each of them stood out in some way. Giving it the full rating as I gave it multiple listens across the day.

Favorite album so far. Really good and can see myself returning to the artist. Top marks.

Very nice!

Obviously, Simon is a genius songwriter, but why do all of the songs sound so sad? Even when the lyrics are funny and the melody a bit silly, they are melancholy at the same time. It's the '80s; music is supposed to be upbeat or at least more intense. I like this album, but I'll probably never listen to most of it again.

Been listening to this one all day. I really like almost every song. I’m feeling like a 4.5+ I really like Paul Simon.

I have developed such a soft spot for Paul Simon. This is sweet. Laid back, but also psychoanalytical, and it reminds me a little teeny bit of Daniel Lopatin's work. Cars are Cars is utter dogshit though.

gostei bastante, não conhecia.

Really good production, need to hear it again to see how replayable it is

I’ll be honest and tell you that my eyes rolled a little bit when I saw this album pop up and figured it was just the result of some Paul Simon fanboys on the editorial team for the book. After all, I consider myself a Paul Simon fan (though I stop short of being a fanboy) and I’d never even heard of it! It turns out I just don’t explore enough because this does in fact kick ass and even though it seems unfair for Paul Simon to have at least three albums on here (because surely Graceland at least is still coming up, right?), I agree you should listen to it before you die. The only thing that sucks about it is that it sounds like Paul was a dick to Art during the making of it and that the experience broke the Garfunkelian camel’s back, leaving all of us without the opportunity to hear what the two of them could have gone on to do together.

A hidden gem! I knew albums before and after but hadn’t heard this one…only a couple songs from it. Great album!

Wow I really really liked this album. I knew I was a fan of Simon and Garfunkel but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Simon on his own and I loved it. It sounded similar to his duo work and there wasn’t a part i didn’t like.

Probably my favourite PS album.

Think too much (a) is amazing. Cars are cars - good as well. 5. Excellent album.

You'll never see me give a Paul Simon album not a 5. That being said, this one is lower on the list of 5s for me, even though Hearts and Bones is one of his best songs. Enjoyed the acoustic versions at the end of the deluxe re-release, especially the Everybody Love the Sounds Of A Train In the Distance.

Always great!!

Man, Paul Simon, huh? Pretty great, this guy. Should have given Graceland a 5, but I didn't so I'll make up for that. Happily. Even with the Sesame Street skit. Music to feel good to.

Excellent album, a bit uneven, with some classic Simon songs.

Lovely album

my favorite paul simon album and one if my favorite albums all time. The Lat Great Johnny Ace, Renee and Georgie Magritte, Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance- some songs may not match up but i love the whole album

Really enjoyed this! I have always enjoyed his music...so calming and soothing.

I think Paul Simon is finally growing on me I really liked this one, except for the one about cars that was annoying asf

One of the best!

i grew up listening to him!

Love me some Paul Simon, fantastic lyricist and musician.

Excellent - did not recognize it when it came out. Only the later ones.

All of Paul Simon's music makes me feel good. Really enjoyed this.

Easiest 5 stars yet. Paul Simon is a genius and it’s an honour to get to listen to his work.

Great lyricism and calming music.

Hit a diamond in the rough with this one. Fantastic album front to back.

People should be beating off to Paul Simon the way they do to Bob Dylan. What a talent. Really pleasant album and better than Dylan in so many more ways. 8/10.

Considered a commercial flop, but as true fans of Simon know, this is among his best work. Personal and from the heart, exploring feelings we all have. Some great songs on here and his vocals are perfect. This album makes me feel something his biggest releases don’t even.

4.5

Standout Tracks: Allergies, Hearts And Bones, Think Too Much (a), René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War

Good stuff

So, this was a surprise. If you'd asked me about Paul Simon albums, I could have told you there was "the one from 1975" with all the good songs and then "Graceland" in 1986, which I owned, and listened to over and over and over back in the day. You then might have pointed out, "Late in the Evening" came from a 1980 album, and I'd say, "Oh yeah, I love that song, too." So for our first Paul Simon album to be this one from 1983, it was a surprise. But again, such a joyful surprise! There's not a song I didn't love. I love the sound of all these songs. I love the lyrics. "Allergies" is such a fun song! "René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War" is so lovely lovely lovely! The rest of the songs are all very fun ("Cars are Cars"), or painfully lovely, or both. "The smartest people in the world/Had gathered in Los Angeles/To analyze our love affair/And possibly unscramble us." !!! "Hearts and Bones" says SO much with just the lyric "the arc of a love affair." Man. Love this one. Love Paul Simon. Glad for this one.

Yep!

This album is not without some 80s cheese and some of the songs seem rather pedestrian in their themes (Allergies? Cars Are Cars? Write what you know, I guess). But Paul Simon is a poet and a prophet who can write a good melody and some great lyrics. (I also forget sometimes how freaking funny he can be.) I understand why I missed this album in 1983 --- it was a little grown-up for my 15-year-old tastes. But this sure appeals to me now. The title track, Song About the Moon, Think Too Much, and Rene and Georgette Magritte... are all really nice pieces of music. Train in the Distance and The Late Great Johnny Ace gave me chills.

Im giving it a 5 because I got it at a very fitting time,

I can't believe I haven't heard of any of these songs prior to this! Paul Simon is a genius.

Fantastic album full of Simon's trademark humor and creativity!

It's really good, I love rock and pop, this album actually combines them really good, nice

Loved this album.

One of my faves

Just such a naturally appealing voice.

Very low key, but soothing and interesting. "Train in the Distance" is incredible.

paul simon zenei mindig ugy megnyugtatnak, nagyon szeretem, bar van a tarsolyaban jobb album ezert csak a negy csillag:)

Kedvenc/Favourite: When Numbers Get Serious Kedves kis album, volt egy-két felejthető szám, de összességében tetszett. A szövegek szépeket mesélnek, a dallamok is fülbemászóak. Kéne még bele valami kis umpf, akkor még jobb lehetne. It was a nice little album, there were a couple of forgettable songs, but overall I liked it. The lyrics tell a nice story, the melodies are catchy. If it had a little more oomph, it could be even better.

Paul is a genius and has so much quality output through his career. Hearts And Bones is not my favourite of his solo albums but even a middling Paul Simon record is clear of much of the competition. Cars Are Cars seems to be the butt of a lot of jokes in other user reviews but I've always liked its commentary - it's not about cars at all but people - although it's not exactly a lesson in subtlety. It's one that I don't have many favourite tracks from but Paul weaves his poetry throughout and his ear for a melody is timeless. He's even able to turn 80s production into a thing of beauty, which takes some doing.

I wasn't expecting much but surprised....

Several songs intended for this album were previewed on tour, and Art Garfunkel worked on some of the songs with Simon in the studio, with an intention that the finished product would be an all-new Simon & Garfunkel studio album. Unfortunately, that was not to be as Paul Simon felt the album was too "personal". He decided to make it a solo album instead, and Garfunkel left. Paul Simon scrubbed all of this work from the album. I have to wonder if the album is on the list because of this, and the speculation as to what the album would have been. Because honestly, I don't see any other reason it's on here. Don't get me wrong, it's a good album. It's the album before his masterpiece "Graceland," which is on the list as well. And it has three of his classics: "Train In The The Distance," "Hearts and Bones," "The Late Great Johnny Ace." "René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War" I particularly liked. I think it would have been even more effective if that song and the closing song "Johnny Ace" had been switched. "The Late Great Johnny Ace" lacks finality for me. The strings just... stop playing. It gives the album more of an abrupt ending than I was expecting. Let's talk about the other songs, the ones that are NOT high in his repertoire. "Cars Are Cars"... what the heck was THAT about? I felt similar about "Allergies", but as an opening track that isn't terrible. But "Cars Are Cars" is just... yikes. I liked both versions of "Think Too Much," but (b) I probably liked slightly better. "When Numbers Get Serious" felt like it was trying to be a 'cute' song, and the novelty wore thin after a while. "Song About The Moon" is a solid b-side of a song. So we have 4 really good songs, the two versions of a song which were decent, and "Solid About The Moon". Three songs were just... poor, IMO. I still want to know why these album is as important as "Graceland" for them both be in the list. Otherwise, it's good enough for me to say a 3.5, rounded up to a 4. But it's no "Graceland"

I think can confidently say that I don't recognize a single song on this album. And I like Paul Simon and have listened to some of his stuff (some albums, lots of radio, streaming). Maybe not surprised that this album didn't fare as well - only because otherwise singles from it would've been all over the radio for years and years, like off his next album Graceland, and surely I'd recognize one. Still, I think it deserved better. I put this album on at the end of a long day while I was trying to finish something up and it was decent. But i knew I wasn't paying close attention. I got up early the next day and put this on first thing. And that's when you should listen to Paul Simon - when it's a bit dark but the sun is about to come up. It was just right. It's slick, it's melodic, it's upbeat, it's sometimes tender and sometimes goofy but always clever. Cars are Cars is a great example - an uplifting tune with what seem like silly lyrics until you realize one of the song's messages is if cars are the same wherever you go in the world, why do we/countries fight about other things? He is great at wordplay and matching his cadence to the beat, which you see in the quizzical Allergies and both Think Too Much songs, the tongue in cheek When Numbers Get Serious, and the sweetly arranged title track. Listen to this album a few times so it can grow on you; it will.

My first thought when I got this album was, does the list need yet another Paul Simon album, one that I don’t even know a single song from? Yes it does. Favorite song: allergies.

Once you realize most of these songs are about the breakdown of Simon’s marriage to Carrie Fisher, it adds a new layer of weariness and heartbreak. The John Lennon tribute is a nice closer.

Tiedän, mitä odottaa Paul Simonilta, mutta silti aina yllättää, kuinka Paul Simon Paul Simon on. Mitä nää sanoitukset on? Ja aina pehmeet kitarat päälle. Tykkään tästä, ei-ironisesti täydellä sydämellä.

Very underrated album.

Sorti en 1983, "Hearts and Bones" de Paul Simon est, bien qu'il soit un échec commercial, l'un des albums les plus personnels et ambitieux. Musicalement, l'album mélange les diverses influences de l'artiste, jazz fusion, doo-wop et rock & roll tout en incorporant des sons contemporains grâce à ses collaborations avec le producteur de musique de danse Nile Rodgers et le compositeur minimaliste Philip Glass. L'album le plus sous-estimé de Paul Simon, offre une exploration unique de la croissance personnelle et de l'expérimentation musicale de l'artiste. Un beau 4/5 pour un chef d'oeuvre sous-estimé.

chicken soup for the soul

So awesome, and I had never even seen this cover before! Love mr. Simon duh.

I'm not apologizing, I love Paul Simon. 4/5

Paul Simon goes contemporary on Hearts and Bones with all the "80s Steely Dan feat. Steve Gadd"-infused soft rock that entails. It's really not a suitable sound for him, and it desperately yearns for the African impressions that would drench the follow up, Graceland. That being said, Simon still stays true to his roots and at the core of every song is a strong sense of melody. The constant juxtaposition of sense and sensibility is intriguing - most notably on 'When Numbers Get Serious' and the beautiful 'Song About the Moon'. 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' is also a perfect closer. PS: did not expect the Nile Rodgers jump scare on 'Think Too Much (a)'