Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Jamais écouté avant. En écoutant Hearts and Bones, on comprend mieux le besoin qu'a eu Paul Simon d'aller se ressourcer et se réinventer musicalement auprès des musiciens sud-africains. Dans l'ensemble, l'album manque singulièrement d'inspiration, que ce soit au niveau des textes ou sur le plan mélodique, malgré la présence d'une armada de top musiciens. Le résultat, c'est une pop sans saveur, aux textures 80's datée, de laquelle ne surnagent que quelques morceaux de bravoure, pour nous rappeler quand même que Paul Simon reste un songwriter talentueux. Sans connaître sa discographie, j'ai du mal à croire qu'il n'ai pas fait mille fois mieux ailleurs... Top : Hearts and Bones Flop : Cars Are Cars
It isn't Graceland but it's a damn fine album.
Unc still got it. Musical equivalent of a cozy blanket on a rainy New York afternoon.
Comfort album <3
The title track on this really sounds like vintage 60s Simon & Garfunkel. When Numbers Get Serious is pure cheese. Think too Much (b) is good. Cars are Cars is even worse than the numbers song. The whole album seems like pretty standard Paul Simon, with some great songs, some filler and some utter crap. Where Garfunkel at? 3/5
Favorite Track: Song About the Moon
Can't help but think "who'd he rip off for this one?" whenever I listen to a Paul Simon album. The track "Think Too Much" kinda stood out for me and then I found out why- Nile Rodgers is responsible for the groove and feel of that song. Most of this registers as somewhat interesting background music for me. Simon does use harmony in really cool ways in a lot of his writing but there's nothing here that really gets the blood flowing. So many above the A-list names on this one, they did their best to make Simon's maudlin songs interesting.
One can hear some hints to the style of music of his next album, Graceland. Besides that, there isn't much to this album. The songwriting is ok, but it doesn't go anywhere, no real purpose, if that makes even sense.
Felt like calm and boring. I liked allergies and the work in progress track. It was nice but meh.
I have not heard this before. I like some Simon and Garfunkel songs but I don’t know much of Paul Simon’s solo music, and what I’ve heard I haven’t liked very much. It’s been a while since I’ve heard any of that (probably 30 or 35 years even) so I’ll go into this with an open mind. My first impression is it has really bad 80s production where the drums are all drenched in gated reverb, and the overall sound has an almost uncanny valley feel of being overly crisp and plastic. As the record goes on, this adds to the saccharine nature of the songs so that it’s just saturated with treacly crap. I don’t know much about Paul Simon’s personality but the lyrics give me the sense he’s a bit of a self important prick, which is funny given his wiener voice and his haircut that looks like his mom trimmed it with her salad bowl as a guide. Every song in here is weak and sappy while having an air of “I’m smarter than you” that completely puts me off. On top of that, the version I pulled up has 4 bonus tracks that add an extra 15 minutes to it, and I listened to two and a half of them before realizing the actual album was done. Rotten stinking garbage with sugar on top.
Just a bit ass Cars are Cars is actually so fucking funny. It had me hooked - why did he write this
good songs.....but i think the album doesn't really fit in the 80s....
Cars are cars Cars are cars Cars are cars
I wish 0 was an option
Synth and Paul Simon- would you like Mayo on your PB&J? You can though really see the building blocks of what would become Graceland but 0 reason this should be on this list.
More easy listening Paul Simon tunes. Nothing really stood out as particularly good or bad, it just played as I drove. They can’t all be home runs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
After listening to this record, I've further confirmed I really don't like Paul Simon, as a musician, that much. His voice is distinct, the music is gentle and easy, but the songwriting is just elementary and corny most of the time (see "Cars are Cars"). There's just not enough depth on this record for me to really enjoy it. It's not bad in a sonic perspective, it's just not for me.
Where's Garfunkel? A housemate at uni loved Paul Simon but I've never given him a spin. Let's give it a go. ------------------- Opening with a song about allergies is certainly a choice. As the album goes on it feels like he's writing about whatever is outside the window. Cars are cars indeed. Moving away from the lyrics - this is an album of really well constructed guitar pop with gentle rhythm sections and "world music" vibes. It's not offensive, but does feel like it's holding back. There are some good tracks here, the title track being one of the standouts. Or maybe I think too much. 2
Always cool but not my favorite genre. Great writer and storyteller.
Not a Paul Simon fan, but after listening to this album...still not a fan.
First listen
not interesting Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: no 2.0
Solid but not my top Paul Simon album.
680/1001 2026.08.14 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
I don't care
80/100. Such a pretty and well-written album, well, that's expected from Paul Simon to be fair. Outside of Cars Are Cars I really enjoyed everything on here. So many good songs, Allergies, Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance and René and Georgette Magritte are worth checking out for sure!
I like Paul Simon, but not when he’s too Paul Simon. When he leans into his words a bit too much and the delivery becomes a bit too smug and there are moments on here like Cars are cars where it strays into that territory but in others like the title track it’s simple and heartfelt. As 3 out of 5 as anything could possibly be
It's got some good tunes but never finds it's groove
I gave Graceland five stars, and other Simon albums four stars. I was actually pretty curious to hear what the album before Graceland sounded like, possibly an undiscovered gem? Nope. Cars are Cars is the worst Simon song I've ever heard, and glad to see Rolling Stone backs me up - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/22-terrible-songs-by-great-artists-20368/paul-simon-cars-are-cars-1983-35314/
I hate this.
If this project has proven anything, it's that I truly dislike Paul Simon.
Buddy sounded like Donny Gary on the self titled track
lots of borrowed sounds from peter gabriel i'd say... I guess you sorta see how this album would have led to Graceland... but was pretty unessential and not really that interesting of an album... am i crazy cuz i think it didnt really seem like paul simon was that excited about any of these trax? soulless and boring album
Catchy Catchy
This album is a hot mess but contains some really beautiful gems (eg. Title track).
Hearts And bones
This album is adorable. I wish I was there with Paul Simon to watch how he comes up with those songs and lyrics. It's all both intimate and ficctional, which reminds me a lot of James Clayton style of writing, and in many ways also reminds me of how Hideo Kojima comes up with ideas to enrich his games. I don't believe the melodies are catchy by themselves, I thorougly felt like the album wanted me to pay attetion to the stories it was unveiling, which is the complete opposite to what Bryter Layter made me feel haha
Graceland is cool. This is almost offensively dull.
Never heard it. Good as always
Just a mundane bore of a record. It felt like the songs were going somewhere but then just left me wanting more. The ol cock tease, Pauly.
I wasn't really feeling this album. It was okay, but there were some annoying tracks. Favourite Track(s): Train in the Distance Least Favourite Track(s): Cars are Cars
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Stinklangweilig.
Not bad. Train in the Distance and Rene and Georgette Margritte with Their Dog After the War were really good.
I am very sure this, amongst other work of mr. Simon, but oh man, how badly have these 80's style albums aged.
Average, OK, ordinary etc. Nothing amazing, but nothing terrible.... well, apart from "Cars Are Cars", what the fuck was that? Sounded like a parody, or joke track.
Really liked this smooth album.
Beautiful! Very Paul Simon.
Okay
Surprised this is on here. Some very run of the mill songs with some woeful lyrics. Cars are just cars. Ok then.
Listenable.
Not a Paul Simon kind of fellow.
I wrote something pithy about old mate's sixth album being on here. Only to realise that Graceland came out after this one. Only Graceland belongs here. Lol, there are 3 Paul Simon albums on this list. I hate this Dimery guy more each day. Perhaps this should be included if only to help people realise that without colonialist thievery, Paul Simon would have gone on to continue sucking. At least there are two Fela albums on this list.
I like Paul Simon who in my view is one of the best ever songwriters. But this is not anywhere near his finest hour. The album is just a blip in an otherwise catalogue of great music. OK for background soothing music but not classic. Should be replaced by 7 psalms which is. 3/5 23/7/26
I've never been a big Paul Simon fan. I know his hits because they were everywhere in the late '60s and '70s, but this album did nothing for me. I nearly turned it off during the first song, what possessed someone to write a track about allergies?
kinda sad bc this was just okay
Cute, mellow, nothing crazy. I wouldn’t mind it playing in the background while cooking or cleaning but I don’t love it
This has too be someone trolling, there is no way this is something that you should give any of your dedicated music listening time to It’s terrible…never heard it before and will never listen to this again. From what I read about the history of the making of this album it looks like Garfunkel dodged a bullet here.
What a waste of time. The title song “Hearts and Bones” was lovely, but the rest of the album ranged from boring to laughably silly. “Allergies,” “Song About the Moon,” “Cars are Cars”… the same person who wrote that drivel wrote “The Boxer”? “Bridge over Troubled Water”? Knowing what Paul Simon is capable of takes this album from bad to truly disappointing.
some very sweet songs, just not at the level that he was on at other parts of his career. still a massive soft spot for his work
5/10
It's what makes all of us.
Het is idee na idee na idee, en het is niet allemaal even best (wth is Cars Are Cars), maar tegelijkertijd zitten er ook best lekkere liedjes tussen. Concludeer ik toch weer dat het een 3 wordt.
Het is geen Graceland maar ik hou toch wel van Paul Simon. Leuke popliedjes, grote highlights, vooral Allergies, Song About the Moon en Think Too Much (a).
Too personal an album for Garfunkel and the song is Cars are Cars.
BEFORE: Fine. I don't love Paul Simon's music but more as matter of personal preference - he's obviously an incredibly talented guy. Outside of greatest hits collections, I can honestly say I've never listened to an entire Paul Simon or even a Simon & Garfunkel album. AFTER: This was a weird one. There are a couple of tracks on here that are experimental in a good way, some that are more traditional Paul Simon and some that just sound incredibly dated. HIGHLIGHTS: Allergies and Think Too Much (a) are pleasingly weird but catchy with Talking Heads vibes. Hearts and Bones is a lovely song and the orchestral section of The Late Great Johnny Ace is also great (but also not Paul Simon's). LOWLIGHTS: Cars are Cars shits the bed pretty aggressively. One of the most irritating songs I've heard in recent memory. The reggae-yacht rock hybrid of When Numbers Get Serious and the baby goat noise on Think Too Much (b) are also pretty bad. Some of the ballads are just kind of there and the sprinkling of "world" percussion, fretless bass and nearly blues guitar evokes the incidental music from Weekend At Bernie's 2. VERDICT: The high points are few and far between and, if I'm being honest, just OK. The lows are very low indeed. I honestly don't know why this album is on this list. 2 stars.
I had no idea this record existed until today. Had never seen the cover, possibly never heard any of the songs. Not sure if I’m better off today than yesterday.
underrated as hell i can’t lie, some great tunes on this like the title track and Think too Much
Didn't get to listen to this yesterday so checking it out now. Ooh I like how that first song opened up after the intro. Allergies though?? lol hm cool little guitar solo in there too! Interesting first song. I like the pretty guitar in the beginning of Hearts and Bones. This was okay. 3 stars
Kinda boring rehash of much better albums also on this list.
This was pleasant, and I appreciate the Magritte song ever since I saw it live, but Graceland is already on this list and may be a perfect album so what is the reason this is here?
A very questionable pick on this list. Nothing overtly wrong but considering all the snubs on the list, this album has no business being here. Very boring and not nearly to the level of Simon and Garfunkel or even some of his other solo work
539/1089 - Pleasant with some slight hints of Yacht Rock. I like Graceland a bit better overall.
Klingt wie Paul Simon ...
I don’t know. I don’t want to be harsh but I just didn’t find any of it memorable or remarkable.
lame
How narrow the line between poignant & mawkish. With Art Garfunkel he combined to create something subtle & beautiful. This is neither. The acoustic version of Train in the Distance comes close eg to America, but nothing else does.
I will not include the bonus tracks for the 2004 CD reissue in this review. Alright, this is the last Paul Simon solo record for my album journey. Weirdly, I haven't gotten any Simon & Garfunkel records yet. Funny enough, Hearts and Bones was intended to be a Simon & Garfunkel album, following the success of their first live album, The Concert in Central Park. But in the end, Paul decided the material being written was too personal, and turned it into a solo album. This annoyed Art to the point where he never wanted to work on another album with Paul again. So, was it worth it for Paul to make this into a solo record? Well.... Let me start by saying there are moments on this record that truly reflect the deep introspection Paul was going for. It is rather apparent in the text that Paul was affected by his past relationships. The reference to Kathleen Mary Chitty on "The Late Great Johnny Ace" in relation to what was going on in 1964, the detailed fallout with his first wife, Peggy Harper, as laid bare in "Train in the Distance", the on-and-off relationship he had with actress Carrie Fisher, chronicled in the title track, his musings on the photographed couple outlined in "René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War". Even when there isn't a romantic angle, as with the tributes to R&B singer Johnny Ace, president John F. Kennedy, and singer-songwriter John Lennon on "The Late Johnny Ace", there are some profoundly poetic observations Paul makes on the people he either knew or was inspired by, with such a vibrant quiet-storm intimacy as he strummed away on his guitar. He even gets away with being self-referential on "Think Too Much" and "Song About the Moon", highlighting the struggles with songwriting that he endured in trying to get his words across. It's moments like these that make me think this album was on the cusp of greatness. Yet, there are missteps throughout this record that don't mesh well with the deeply personal moments. The opening track, "Allergies," does touch upon his relationship with Carrie Fisher, but it's admittedly hokey in using allergies as a metaphor for his hesitations to commit to his partner, even if that song does have an impressive guitar solo from Al Di Meola amidst the sweeping synthetic drums. Then there's "When Numbers Get Serious", with Paul showcasing an obsession with numbers that comes off too vague in its messaging. Circling back to "Think Too Much", there are two different versions on the original album, where part A is notable for being a funk romp with Nile Rodgers on guitar. I would have preferred if they had just kept the gentler marimba-driven part B, though admittedly without what sounded like the sampled recording of a bleating sheep in the background. Finally, the racism metaphor on "Cars Are Cars" was genuinely ham-fisted without making much of a point. Overall, there's enough merit with Hearts and Bones to say it was worth making into a Paul Simon solo record. The styling on this record certainly predates what would come with Graceland, while still having a few gems worth digging up.
Allergies opens up the album with super infectious groove that gets under your skin and makes you move. Unfortunately l, the rest of the album does not deliver.
Era partito un po' scarico, poco promettente. Invece al suo interno presenta alcune gemme che ho apprezzato molto. Non un album memorabile, ma è stato bello scoprirlo.
Sorry, Paul Simon.
eh
3.5
Meh
Ah c’est Simon de Simon et garfunkel ! Un peu chiant et pauvre. Les paroles sont cons aussi The late great : bonne guitare Les dernières chansons en acoustique sont pas mal 5/10
Unmistakably Paul Simon doing Paul Simon things. It’s very good but doesn’t elevate itself past his other highlights.
Somehow, I have never come across this album before. How refreshing it is.
Obviously not his best, but this was a great listen. Very chill and lofi.
Y'know, Peter Gabriel was really good at making Peter Gabriel-sounding albums so all the people like Paul Simon didn't have to.
It continues the smooth, almost yacht-rock vibe of Simon’s “Still Crazy” era, mixes it with state-of-the-art 80s production and feels pretty squishy in the end. “Think Too Much” and “Cars Are Cars” are both cringe, though I did enjoy what I think were snippets of an electric word processor(?) in the former. I can imagine this playing softly overhead above the salad bar at the local Sizzler. Not enough here to really bring me back as a time-traveling visitor from 2026.
Sorry pauly
I know I didnt love Graceland but at least it had impact. As consequential as those 80s Dylan LPs where Joker man is the only song I remember, and not in a good way.
I have loved Paul Simon since before I could speak. But really, this is terrible. You should only listen to this if you need to remember that your heroes are also human and fallible.
He's not a cool chap is he? And very shit at math. Great vibe for the first few but then long and repetitive
I think that Paul Simon is absolutely a talented artist. Especially as a songwriter. His genre of music isn't my fav though.
I know Paul Simon is a great songwriter but this album just felt overly soft and wimpy. Got old kind of fast
I love Paul but this pretty average for him
My initial read was "meh, not as good as the top Simon & Garfunkel albums". But after a couple of listens it's grown on me, especially the acoustic tracks at the end.
I thinkbI just fail to see what this brings to the conversation that Graceland or his work with Garfunkel say better.
You know, you can always choose *not* to release music when your writing well has run dry. One sign this might be the case is when you're forced to *open* an album - you know, the entry point to your latest creative endeavor - with a song about allergies.
I really liked it. need to listen to more of him
как обычно слишком сладко; без многих лет экспожера ничего не осознала и не запомнила)
I feel very basic but I love Paul Simon
No hits on, but very catchy. Strong three stars. 3,5
Glimmers of what would be Graceland but just not there yet
Why do I need to listen to this album? Didn't hate it but why's it on the list? Mediocre at best. Cars are cars indeed.
Ihan ok levy, mutta ei kuitenkaan ihan niin hyvä kuin odotin. Ehkä Paul Simonin muut soololevyt ovat iskevämpiä.
Not overly serious but still has attention to detail, some groovy songs in between well thought out soft rock. A nice little sample of everything Paul Simon does
This is a nothingburger if ever a nothingburger existed. Just a whole lot of nothing. Not bad and yet not particularly good. Downloaded the Hearts and Bones song itself but nothing else. Big S&G fan so I expected to like it more but truly nothing was happening here!
My second Paul Simon- fewer hits and very much a "singer songwriter" album, still found myself enjoying it. Lots of folk-influence, lots of soft guitar and wistful lyrics Overall- 3.5/5
Heard of the guy I think, didn't enjoy anything off the album though.
Not as bad as I was expecting after the first couple songs. Stuck between 2 and 3.
calm and cool
They Al DiMeola solo in the first track hits like a ton of bricks. Wow completely unexpected. Acoustic version of train in the distance is beautiful and heartbreaking.
Not my favorite of his, bit too breezy
A 2.5 I'm bumping to a 3, because I just love this man
Definitely post-peak Paul Simon, but it has a few nice songs, including the title track. Cool way to process breaking up with Princess Leia for sure.
Cars are cars?? Some of these sound like Weird Al parodies of Paul Simon. Not close to the best PS album.
Every time I think I don’t like Paul Simon, he breaks my brain. This rules, with the requisite exceptions of a few terrible songs.
This is my first serious listen to a Paul Simon album for quite some time. My parents had Bridge Over Troubled Water, the songs on which are etched deep in me. Much later I listened many times to Graceland - which I thought good, then cooled on. I had some suspicion of Paul Simon's craft, the easy flow of words, what was his relation to the stylish South African music he was putting his words on top of. But, before starting to listen to this album, I read about it and its themes, I read some more about Simon generally, and his approach to songwriting, and I found myself positively disposed to hearing some poetic songs. I was not put off by the smoothness of the music created by the long roster of musicians called in to play these tracks - it's inoffensive (does deserve to be called middle of the road), but I found it entertaining, even without surprises. Simon is very American, an archetype of an upper middle class New York music industry fixture, but I can kinda get past that. I can handle songs about songwriting - Song About the Moon is actually neatly done. I realise I actually quite like "René and Georgette Magritte with their Dog After the War" - I am comfortable with the idea that Simon's songwriting (ie drafting iteratively by feeling for what words match the music) is somewhat surrealist in its approach - I feel warmly about the invocation of "the deep, forbidden music" - I feel at the moment that this is quite okay as a way to accept and enjoy this album. There are weak spots eg Allergies (Al Di Meola solo a bit too much for the song), Cars Are Cars is poor. But he does have a really nice voice. After re-listening to songs I initially flagged as my favourites, and reflecting on the album in context of the world as a whole - I think it's Good, 7/10.
Why would Top Gear pick an Allman Brothers song for their theme when "Cars are Cars" by Paul Simon was right there the whole time??
Excellent
Fine, not the best Paul Simon album
It's alright—nothing special. It somehow had an unintentional Caribbean feel to it that just felt out of place.
Musical equivalent of a tropical-scented wet wipe. Soft, tepid, bit of an exotic touch (particularly in the bears). Some silly lyrics, even the supposed highlight songs are just bit forgettable. Scouse voiceover in the absurd cars are cars gives an extra point. 2/5.
kinda disappointed, he didn’t come close to capturing the agony of allergies. rash is nothing, try anaphylaxis. similarly, cars are cars could’ve been a deep critique of our car dependent hell hole. maybe i should get into songwriting, im feeling inspired. otherwise really enjoyed a couple of songs, while some drifted by without my noticing. standouts include Song About the Moon, Train in the Distance
Wtf are these kids song? Cars are cars all over the world? Allergies?
This was bland beyond belief, the one exception being the Niles Rogers/Bernard Edwards collab, which at least had a great bass line
Just very very boring
Anything with Paul Simon in it always has touches of magic but this was a frustrating and (in places) daft listen. Reminded me of listening to a late-period Belle and Sebastian album where the quality fluctuates wildly from track to track.
Dear god no…I think this is actually the worst album I have ever heard. Quite how anything manages to be more unpleasant than Iron Maiden, Tears For Fears, Michael Jackson, Petty, ZZ Top, Nine Inch Nails, The Police, Rush, Genesis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Metallica is a mystery and I am always curious about a mystery… Tom.
Some interesting things going on here, I especially liked the strings that were present on many tracks, but I found most of the album to be fairly forgettable, and there were a couple major duds (Cars Are Cars being the obvious example). An average album overall.
Definitely not for me. And much worse than earlier stuff.
A tad long but some good songs here
The music was great, but the lyrics. . .I really didn't think someone of Simon's caliber could write such dumb songs. There's some good ones here, too, but damn.
So he opens the album with a song about allergies? What am I listening to, Weird Al? This album really doesn't do anything for me.
It’s Paul Simon but it’s not the best Paul simon
Well they can’t all be winners. This album is noticeably weaker than the other two Paul Simon albums on the list. Probably not one I would go back to. Cars Are Cars is a stupid song. Favorite songs were Think Too Much (a) and The Late Great Johnny Ace.
Imagine you've done Bridge Over Troubled Water and Sound of Silence with this Paul guy, and you start working on a new album but he decides it's too personal and cuts you out. You're gutted. You two had the top album of all time when it came out. Then you get over it and play this 'personal album' that needed to be a solo work. And you hear god damn Cars Are Cars. I want a side by side of Paul Simon doing this stuff and Garfunkel just walking across America without talking to anyone.
I don't think that I've heard a single song from this before. As always Paul Simon's song craft elevates this, but this sounds kind of corny. Some of that 1980s stink. Think Too Much (b) is a strong song, and winning me over. Think Too Much (a) also not too bad, good mixing. René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War, was okay. This is a fine album, a little odd. I wouldn't call it required listening, but I could see wanting to dig into Paul Simon's works.
it's definitely music fave track: allergies
I can understand someone who loves Paul Simon being really into this album, as it's kinda him just doing little explorations. But I found it disjointed and feeling unfinished. Lyrically, it's 50/50 songs taking themselves too seriously (rene and margarite, Jonny ace) or not seriously at all (allergies, cars are cars). 2.5 rounded down bc I can't imagine choosing to listen to it again.
Paul Simon is an all time top artist for me....if theres such thing as an "objective" rating of this album, it probably maxes out at a 3.5, but I love it because I had the CD when I was getting deep into him. Has some really typically excellent songs - "The Late Great Johnny Ace", "Hearts and Bones", "Rene and Georgette Magritte..." but also some goofy 80s sounds. He seems to have been a little creatively adrift during the making of this one..."Cars are Cars" sounds like Paul Simon doing a Talking Heads song, and thats not really what you go to either of those artists for. But I'm going to go 4 because I want to do justice to who I think is one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.
Nice and groovy rock, simple as. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 4.5 that I'll bump down to a 4. I mean, look, for as much as I’d love to put it all on “Cars Are Cars” as one of the silliest metaphors ever put to tape about how people are different from region to region, I actually think it’s not that bad. I liked the vast majority of these tracks, honestly. The only one that didn’t really click was “Think Too Much (a)”, but it’s just because it feels a little too hokey after the (b) version clicked well. If they had flipped in order, I think it would’ve flowed more naturally. If I tended to enjoy all 10 tracks here, why exactly am I not at a 5? It’s just a bunch of compounding things, really. For one, I just don’t think Paul Simon’s songwriting hits a consistently strong tone here. Yes, “Cars Are Cars” isn’t great, but neither is “When Numbers Get Serious”. Hell, this album opens up on “Allergies”, which looks like a Weird Al song from the lyricism alone. This album’s strength is entirely in Paul Simon’s earnest vocal performance & the instrumentation that surrounds it. Paul’s voice has genuinely never sounded better to me, and he provides a lot of gravitas here. That said, when you treat something like “Cars Are Cars” with the same gravitas as something as lovely as “Hearts and Bones” or “Train in the Distance”, it does feel a bit goofy. I think the instrumentation is great here; yes, it does feel like the most early ‘80s album to ever exist, and I’m sure that “Graceland” won’t beat those allegations either when we get to it, but while some people would see that as a negative, I see it as a positive, if only because it shows he could blend in the production of the time while retaining his own voice. That said, this album’s instrumentation occasionally fails to meet some of the gravitas Paul Simon’s vocals give off, holding this album back from soaring in a more potent way. “Train in the Distance” does a great job of building up the metaphor of an inevitability that you can envision coming to home roost, but it falls short of delivering that inevitability instrumentally. It’s the most notable on “The Late Great Johnny Ace”, which ends the album with strings that seemingly want to go somewhere, but just sort of meander after the 3 decades worth of emotional build up. Realistically, I think the biggest issue holding me back from a 5 is that the album’s overall tone just feels unrealized, or at the very least, it doesn’t feel as consistent as it’s trying to be. For an album that’s seemingly so personal to Paul that he actually canned the idea of this being a Simon & Garfunkel reunion album, it just doesn’t reflect that way. Sure, Paul Simon might think too much, but the two versions of the track here portray that inconsistent tone in the most obvious way. This album cannot decide if it wants to be a poppier ‘80s album with Paul’s folksy insights behind it, or if it wants to be a folksy ‘80s album with pop influences underneath it, and while it does generally mesh the best of both approaches, it just doesn’t feel as tonally or emotionally consistent as a result. Hence, a 4.5 that I’ll bump up down to a 4. Yes, I’ve once again spent 4 paragraphs on an album that I liked to explain a bump by half a point, but I’m just a sucker for explaining where I think good projects can tighten up to become great ones. I’m also certain that all of this album’s little issues will be tightened up by “Graceland”, so it’s good to get those thoughts down for whenever we get it. Overall, everything I mentioned is probably the reason this is at a 3 on the site, as it boils down to tolerance of all those things & for the incredibly plain percussion on each verse on “Cars Are Cars”. It is not Paul Simon’s best work, but I think its lesser tracks are nowhere near as bad as they’re made out to be. They just stick out a bit more. I happened to enjoy it, and while I wish it were a little better, it’s still good enough to warrant a 4. I do think it’s worth being on the list.
bit boring
Boring. Where’s the hook? Any hook? When do I get to hear You Can Call Me Al?
I love 80's cheese but not Paul Simons 80's cheese. To my ears, the music is out of place with the songs. Rene and Gerogette is a wicked story thought.
Just because you can write a song doesn’t mean you should write a song.
Inessential
By the early 80s, Paul Simon had firmly set his sights on the destination that would become Graceland, and the pit stop before that later album fully tapped into the sound and aesthetic of southern Africa, he had to meet it halfway with his former folk pop sensibilities. This album is the result of that. It's by and large a transitional piece in Simon's discography, one that would take him to pop superstardom in the mid to late 80s but, as a standalone piece of music, is generally unexceptional. The more upbeat numbers are serviceable pieces of 80s pop, but the slow ballads are just completely listless and sap any and all warmth or energy out of this album. I find this album kind of confused; I can only compare it to standing on a bridge in the dead center with one foot on either side while you stand there stumped, unsure of whether to turn back or cross to the other side. All it does is bore the people watching you out of their mind unfortunately.
An album with a handful of very nice songs. I had heard Cars are Cars before, but I had never heard about the actual album. Allergies is not a good opener, but after that the songs get better
Paul Simon is a special artist. This isn’t his best work, but it’s damn good. Allergies is annoying but the rest of the album is shiny.
Paul Simon me va gustando más a medida que cumplo años. No considero este disco de los mejores, aunque hay 4 canciones muy buenas.
Best Song: Heart and Bones. There's a lot going on here, but it is woven together into a really nice song that sounds full and cohesive. Worst Song: Cars Are Cars. Musically, this song is fine. Lyrically, it sounds like something from children's television trying to teach what a car is. Overall: He's got a sweet, lovely little voice. It is at times so soft that it feels very much like background music to me, but it is still compelling enough that it provides a pleasant beach or brunch vibe. Music for mornings.
Moderate to poor
Good album. I enjoy listening to Paul Simon.
Much like Graceland, but without Africans.
I dont like paul Simon so im gonna give him a one
bit boring
This was pretty good. I can appreciate how in each of Paul Simons songs you can tell that he's making an effort to introduce a new interesting sound or progression to keep the attention. I think that he largely achieves that. No hits on this one and that's fine, still a cohesive piece front to back.
Paul Simon macht mich happy
Paul Simon in the 80's! Overall, Simon's songwriting comes through and the album's best tracks sound a little bit relaxed (though, if you read a little, the recording process was not). 'Song About The Moon' in particular sounds like it emerged from a jam, in the way that great Springsteen songs do. Don't be fooled: this album was recorded, re-recorded, edited and dubbed within an inch of its life. It's no wonder it was nearly titled "Think Too Much." It even had Art Garfunkel's vocals on a bunch of tracks before Simon decided it was too personal to be a group album -- a decision credited as the final straw in Simon & Garfunkel's deteriorating relationship. There's a bit too much synth and chime and digital reverb on here. The faux accordion on 'Think Too Much (a)' really sets it (or else, there's way too much 'verb on it to sound real). At some points, Simon harmonizes beautifully with himself only to have some studio chorus or harmonizer effects come in that undermine the whole thing. I'd love a re-recording of this without the 80's schmaltz. You can really tell when someone spent a lot of studio money in the 80's and it usually isn't for the better. With that said, this is still a very good album. Simon's songwriting is wonderful. You can totally miss what a song was about and still get the feeling of it. He meanders with a precision that doesn't make any sense but works every time. And some of that studio money was well-spent: there's a chugging, bowed cello or bass towards the end of 'Train In The Distance' that really works. There's an Al Di Meola solo in the first track! Hearts and Bones is certainly a flawed record. It was bruised by conflict, undermined by overthinking and generally sullied by the bullshit of the 80's. On the other hand, the core of a great album remains. There's groove, there's pathos, there's lovely melody, harmony and stories. It's a bit like having a beautiful piece of steak that's been smothered in too much sauce. We could've just had the steak, Paul. 3/5
No me gustó, un poco raro, tiene sus chipasos buenos en las canciones, pero no fue de mi gusto
Track one starts with a reminder that the 80s tried to ruin everything you loved. Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War is a top 10 Paul Simon song but the whiplash in quality between that song and the next (Cars Are Cars) is astounding. totally a 1 album but with a 10/10 song on it saves it.
There was always something so organic about Paul Simon...
This is a very melodic and poetic album. While listening I felt a smooth, warm, and reflective mood from start to finish. It has this gentle sophistication that feels mature and thoughtful. The album is really diverse — it moves between soft folk, light pop, jazz touches, and even some subtle world music influences without ever feeling messy. Paul Simon’s songwriting is at its most poetic here, exploring love, relationships, memory, aging, and the small moments that define life. The lyrics are intelligent and emotionally nuanced. What stands out most is how smooth and graceful the whole record feels. The instrumentation is tasteful, the melodies are beautiful, and everything flows together with a calm elegance. It’s never in a rush, but it never gets boring either. Hearts and Bones might be one of Paul Simon’s most underrated albums. It’s not flashy, but it’s rich, intelligent, and deeply satisfying if you’re in the mood for something warm and thoughtful.
A true gift! I did not recall hearing thi on the radio when released. and "Graceland" his follow up, knocked it out of the box. So lucky me! One of a handful of albums that surprised me on this list at 884/1,001.
Cars are cars, three stars are three stars 3/5
It's a very pleasant listen - very MOR. Some catchy tunes and nice moments but generally very vanilla and a bit basic. Cars are Cars is exceedingly naff and unfortunately this is was the track that stuck in my head the most...
Hearts and Bones I’ve not really listened to this properly before, but as you get older you find yourself starting to appreciate Paul Simon’s sardonic ruminations on life and relationships on albums that aren’t Graceland or his first 3 solo albums. His melodic facility really is remarkable, as we’ve often said, up there with Macca for moments of seemingly casually tossed off melodic brilliance. Allergies is a great opener, a classic Paul Simon bit of sideways observation and melody, akin to The Boy in the Bubble or Wristband from Stranger to Stranger a few years ago. Hearts and Bones is a beautiful song, great lyrics and has a bit of proto-Graceland to its sound and backing vocals. Actually I think you can hear Graceland coming in a lot of the songs, the bouncing bass and keyboards of When Numbers Get Serious. Think Too Much (b) is a great song, I love the marimba pattern. Song About the Moon is also rather lovely, one of those melancholic Paul Simon gems. Think Too Much (a) is pure 80s movie closing credits music, and is therefore great, particularly with Nile and Bernard on board. Train in the Distance is another great song, recalling some of the bluesy- jazzy keyboard sound of Still Crazy. I love the imagery of Rene and Georgette, as fans of doo-wop strolling around New York. Cars are Cars seems to get a lot of opprobrium, but if Think Too Much (a) is pure 80s movie credit music, this uber pure 80s movie credit music - and it's also great. I really like how The Late Great Johnny Ace manages to walk the line between tender and sentimental, and it's a lovely song. Through multiple listens I thought this would be a rock solid 4, but looking back I can’t really see a weak track. However I do think it’s a slightly odd choice over There Goes Rhymin’ Simon or Still Crazy or even Rhythm of the Saints, as it sits just below those, as well as Graceland and Paul Simon, so I’ll stick with a 4. ❤️🦴❤️🦴 Playlist submission: Hearts and Bones
You can definitely hear the Graceland title track in the Hearts and Bones title track. A feeling of moving, suspended chords, and invoking open landscapes. Whilst it doesn't have the full atmospheric impact of Graceland, it's a mini classic in its own right. Whatever it's shortcomings, the melodies are consistently excellent. 'Train in the Distance' and 'René and George Magritte' are amongst the best, the latter one of his fine portraitures. The most interesting track is 'The Late Great Johnny Ace', my understanding and liking of which has developed over time. I'd assumed the end orchestration was a nod to the Beatles but it's actually Phillip Glass's composition and a fitting one at that, giving the song a grand ending, like a requiem. Continuously good to great, with a couple of too MoR or too 80s misfires, it has to be a four.
Boring
I am consistently unimpressed with his song writing. It's novel, but too frequently it comes across as lazy or like another hour of workshopping some of the word choice would've significantly improved the song.
I have extremely mixed feelings about this thing. It's generally pleasing sounds, and the lyrics have some fun to them (Numbers and Cars Are Cars are standouts for just how dumb fun they are). But there isn't anything necessarily exciting or standout about it in any particular way. So, this is the three-star because it is so middle of the road.
Enjoyed it. Pretty average but one of those that there’s nothing really to dislike but it doesn’t blow you away. Solid work, but nothing more than that really.
Pari ihan mukavaakin biisiä mutta taas jää todella kädenlämpöiseksi
Taas tätä, eikä parempaan suuntaan ole menty.
Taas vaihteeks pääsee nautiskeleen Paulia ihan Simona. Ei jaksa kauheesti innostua. Helppoo kuunneltavaa, mut ei sit muuta.
Vähän kehnompaa Paul Simonia kyllä tämä. Ei ollut itseasiassa yksikään biisi entuudestaan tuttu, vaikka artistia toki paljon olenkin kuullut. Muutama ihan ok biisi, mutta kokonaisuus kyllä aika hajuton ja mauton.
I have no complaints getting to enjoy another Paul Simon album. This is certainly not as much of an African album than the last one we listen to, but you can still hear the African influence in the bass tone and bass lines, the percussion, the harmony, etc. I think the fact that he leans into those elements and incorporates many different styles, and is and enjoyer of African music, speaks to how well he understands and worships the joy of music and creation. Many of the arrangements were kind of minimal while still grooving super hard with many groovy details. My favorite songs were "trains in the distance" and "a song about the moon." light three to a strong floor.
This one's a little difficult to rate. This album came along at a funny time (for me), since I mostly wasn't living at home anymore (except summers and Christmas), but didn't yet have money to buy that much music. But I was taping music, and Mombo & Granddad had this album. ;) But, the funny thing is, I didn't tape the whole album, just a few songs (maybe I didn't have room on the tape, but - more likely? - maybe I thought some songs were better than others. And, I guess, I still think that. Although I guess you could argue that the songs I taped had an unfair advantage. But I've listened to this twice through, and I still think the first 3 songs are sub-par Paul Simon. The songs that I taped, which I still think are the best, are "Song About the Moon," "Train in the Distance," and (especially!) the (GREAT) "Late Great Johnny Ace," with that brilliant Philip Glass finish (which I love). "Think Too Much" is good, too, especially the one that's listed as (a), but, confusingly, comes after the (b) version. This version - (a) - has the great Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, from Chic, on guitar and bass. Track 8 (Magritte) is pretty good, too, while Track 9 (Cars Are Cars) is kinda forgettable. So, like I said, a sub-par Paul Simon album, so can't do 5. A little unsure about a 4, too (I wouldn't argue much, with a 3 vote), but I think I'll go with a low 4.
not the most powerful music in Simon's discography, kind of a quirky random assortment. I'm glad I listened and I'm glad songs about thinking too much exist. was thinking light 3 but there aren't any songs I recall loving so I'm thinking strong 2
Enjoyable in the way I’ll enjoy all Paul Simon but far from his best and fairly unmemorable. RYM: N Saved a song: N
Nah not a fan. I thought Cars Are Cars was quite funny though. But yeah, nothing really peaking my interest at all.
Big Paul Simon fan, not a huge fan of this album tho, some songs weren’t that good. I liked allergies and hearts and bones.
Actually pretty good!
Cars is Cars was excruciating, but the album was ok
Very boring
i've been pretty cool on all things simon and/or garfunkel throughout the 1001, but hey, i really enjoyed this
Didn't like this one as much as Graceland but was more good stuff from Paul Simon, nice. Favorite Track: Rene and Georgette Margritte with Their Dog After the War
I liked this a lot more than Graceland
Plz never play Allergies for me again. Otherwise, standard Paul Simon album with no hits.
Liked bits of it, some of the slower stuff bored me a little
An early version of Graceland that doesn't work quite as well. I don't mind it too much - I think the best parts are the ones that lean most heavily into World music, like "Think Too Much (b)" - and "Song about the Moon" is excellent! But "Think Too Much (a)" is just kind of silly. It's dated, and the songs aren't super strong. It has to be - THREE STARS
#941. Oof. This is not very good. 2/5: stop
allergies -- achei esquisitissimo (1.5 / 5) heart and bones -- top (4.2/5) when numbers get serious -- isso eles sempre são né (3.4/5) think too much (b) -- gostei q o B vem antes do A (++0.3) (4.5/5) song about the moon -- love the moon! love the heart (4.8/5) think too much (a) -- 3.0/5 train in the distance -- não sei se eu gosto do som do trem a distância (3.3/5)
This is a very good album to play during a rainy day
Ok
I gotta hand it to him—cars ARE cars.
interesting history behind this album, I might listen again. cars are cars all over the world
Chill
My favourites were the title track and Think Too Much (b). Cool outro on The Late Great Johnny Ace.
Ehhh. It’s inoffensive.
math dont add up
This grew on me as I listened. Not a lot but a little. Seemed pretty relaxing and original.
Starts ok and the drifts badly
Not my favorite album of Simon's (who, I have said previously, I've come to realize I quite like) but it's still got plenty of bright spots, like "René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War." Favorite lyric of the album: "But my heart is allergic to the women I love / And it's changing the shape of my face." In reading about this album I learned that Paul Simon was married to actress Carrie Fisher ("Hearts and Bones" is about their relationship). Wow. Luckily I was already sitting down. I must've heard that at some point before, but evidently the knowledge didn't stick.
Not a huge fan. The songs are weird and pointless.
I feel like every music from this genre/time sounds exactly the same to me.
What the hell is that cars are cars song
Pretty good
just a delight
This is somehow number 3 from Paul Simon for me on this list in addition to a handful of Simon and Garfunkel albums. Surely that's too much. I mean Paul Simon was a (mostly) great songwriter but I don't feel like having a measurable percentage of this list feature his music is really called for. And the Simon and Garfunkel records are all better than anything he did solo anyway, the list should have stuck to those. That said I haven't heard most of this album. Dude wtf? it starts off with a song about allergies that includes a really great guitar part from Al Di Meola? How did that come about? _______________________ Paul Simon: Hey Al, want to play a solo on my new record? Al Di Meola: I don't know Paul, what's the song about? PS: Oh, you know, allergies and stuff. ADM: Is this like for a Benadryl ad? PS: No. Just a normal song on my album that's gonna have a totally normal cover photo. ADM: That sounds weird Paul. Will I be on the rest of the record? PS: No, just the allergy song. ADM: I'm confused about this. PS: Aren't we all? ADM: Yeah I guess I'll do it. But I'm only doing one take. PS: Ok thanks. Want to go get some lunch? ADM: No. PS: Oh. Ok. _________________________ There are two notable things about this record - the aforementioned Al Di Meola feature, and the fact that Cars Are Cars is probably one of the worst songs ever written to make it on a major release album. Other than those two things, this album is super dull and boring. 2/5
and today we have an overrated paul simon album when graceland and rhythm of the saints exist. 3/5
Aside from a couple of gems, overall not his best work. But even so, better than most!
Evidence of the gap between the brilliance of S and G and Graceland. Fine, but not great.
Simon certainly has a unique sound, especially at this time. Enjoyable. High 2s.
7 / 10
This album was fine. It didn't wow me.
Apparently this was going to be a Simon & Garfunkel album, but Paul Simon (being Paul Simon) decided it should be a solo album instead, which basically ended Simon & Garfunkel. Not sure how any of these would sound with Art singing along, but as it is, these are mostly solid songs. A few are a little too experimental for their own good, but the title track and "René and Georgette Magritte..." are great.
Make sure your Allergies aren’t flaring up before you listen to this one. Oh and don’t Think Too Much
Insanely dull 1980s pop-rock with apropos production. It feels like this album picks up where Steely Dan left off when the seventies ended. The one exception is the car song which reminds me of Bruce Springsteen since it's yet another song about a damn car with a sax honking for no reason.
Ok
Paul simon has really done some fine contributions to music history. This wasnt one of them.
Fav- Rene and Georgette Margarette with their dog after the war 4/5
Classic!
Yep. Sounds like Paul Simon.
Not a huge Paul Simon fan. Read how this was supposed to be a Simon & Garfunkel album, but then they had a falling out, and Garfunkel was scrubbed from the album. I think he dodged a bullet. This album is kind of terrible. Lyrics are dumb on several songs, and the music sounds so incredibly dated.
I listened to this a week ago, and completely forgot to log it or what I found of it. That sums it up, I think.
Nice from a legend
I've never heard this album before but it's great! The magic of Paul Simon. What a great storyteller.
Boring
Enjoyed Allergies, but didn't love the rest
Si doux, parfois drole, des guitares maitrisées dans leur son, les textures, leur role leur place, qu'elles soient acoustiques ou electriques, en fingerstle, rythique ou solo, c'est beau. Hearts and Bones et Train in a Distance (acoustic)
Ehhhh, idk why this is on here but it sounds like Graceland but it aint. 1980s mediocre from Paul Simon and I would rather listen to other stuff. It's alright but not 3 stars alright.
Paul Simon sounds like Paul Simon, no matter the decade or genre, and that's never a bad thing.
That guitar solo in Allergies?? Cars are cars was weird tho... still a 4/10
I love Paul Simon and Train in the Distance is my favorite tune of his. The rest of the album Is really good, but not great. Strong 4.1
Fun but a bit forgettable. 6/10 Pretty Good
MEh
Anything Paul Simon is welcomed in this household
René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War The Late Great Johnny Ace
it was a great listen but nothing remarkable either. I enjoyed a few notable songs but nothing extraordinary. Renee and Georgette was possibly the standout track. 3.5 stars
Paul’s got a knack and Paul’s got a style. Both undeniable things that set him apart from a lot of songwriters, especially in this era. But that being said, this isn’t his best. There are a couple classics, Paul Simon greatest here, but there are some snoozers too and A Car Is A Car. It’s been said, but someone should have said “that song is bad dude.” Interesting to know that Garfunkel was involved then scrapped. The influence is a clear shadow across the album once you’re aware. Wonder why this would have sounded like as a full Simon & Garfunkel project?
Neat! I enjoyed this more than expected. Ultimately, it's very forgettable music.
Haven't heard this one before but Paul's always a chill hang. I like "The Late Great Johnny Ace."
Final Paul Simon album. I didn't like Graceland all that much, though I can admit on a baseline level that it was a competent listen with a pleasing, mellow-tempered sound. It is kind of the definitive album for the racially-oblivious boomers who were content to relinquish everything their ancestors fought and bled for to resentful foreigners, however. A poisonous message relayed once again by a delegate of God's chosen. Anyways, enough politisperging. Let's get into it. Yeah, another folky Paul Simon album. I got little out of this - much less than his usual offerings. Folk just isn't my style, particularly the stripped back stuff like this. The songwriting isn't strong enough to carry the muted, minimal approach of the album, though I can admit that it did have some decent moments. I generally like the rumbling, warm bass on many of the songs, and some of the chord progressions and vocal performances were decent, too. Nothing about this album really hooked me or held my attention, but the competence fortunately elevates this album above being something which irritates me. Overall this was a fine, if unengaging listen. Book time. Released after his previous album bombed and was "...critically lambasted." Originally intended to be a Simon & Garfunkel album after the two reunited for a tour in the early 80s, but their relationship deteriorated once again and only the Simon songs were salvaged for this album. "Hearts And Bones is at its best when it shows Simon's age." "Conversely, the record slips when it dates not Simon but itself...", whatever that may mean. The book gives "Allergies" as an example of such self-love, being engulfed by the blown-out drums. The album bombed, selling even less than the preceding album. Wikipedia says this album was received modestly by the critics and that the chart performances weren't as bad as the book lets on. It didn't make it on any of the year-end charts, but it peaked at around the 30s all across the West and Europe. Let's get down to the brass tax. Paul Simon has had his fair share of successes, but I don't think he's anywhere near prominent enough to have his solo career be equal to that of his work with Simon & Garfunkel. Of his three included albums, this is definitely the weak link, so I think it can do with being snubbed. In place of this album, I humbly submit Hats by The Blue Nile for inclusion on the list.
First time listen! Loved it, so many gems on this album (and the unreleased Shelter of Your Arms). Will definetely listen to revisit the soft songs, energetic songs, poetic songs and the stories they tell. 1. Train in the Distance 2. Song About the Moon 3. René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War
Gentle folksy pop, with "world music" leanings
Not a big Paul Simon fan, this album ok…
It’s Paul Simon. It’s fine. A little boring. Easy to listen to
My spouse, a huge Paul Simon fan, was baffled by the inclusion of this album on the list. And after listening to it, I am too! There are no major hits on this album, a few major clunkers, and some straight up weird tracks. In doing research, this album was originally conceived as (and partially recorded as) a new Simon and Garfunkel album after their Central Park Concert and tour, but that was abandoned when Simon offended Garfunkel. Interesting story, but not a good enough reason to be included on the list. My spouse is convinced that literally every Paul Simon album should be on this list if this one is.
He's such a talented lyric'ist and his instrument choices are so unique.
Easy listening but I like his other albums
Hearts and Bones was not at all what I was expecting going into this listen. "Allergies" really sets a pumping, drum machine and guitar solo filled 80s tone. It would have been great to continue like that, but alas it's a one-off. "Hearts and Bones" brings it back more to the Paul Simon sound I'm used to. It bounces all around after that before settling into a typical Simon lullabye on the back half of the album. Standout tracks on this listen were "Allergies" "Hearts and Bones" and "Think Too Much (b)" I like Simon's voice. Songs were interesting and didn't drag too much. The vibe was weird on this album though. It hopped genres a lot, the second half was a little slow. This one gets a solid 3/5.
This is a really mellow, calming album. Paul Simon's voice lulls you into a sweet sleep throughout this album. There's some songs I didn't vibe with (looking at you, "Cars are Cars"), but overall a good album.
I love Paul Simon
Feels like a decent balance of his og songwriting style with his graceland world influence.
Was that a goat in the marimba song?
Catchy and smooth, I am a fan of Simon’s voice. Now… Cars are Cars actively made me wanna blow my brains out. Genuinely what the fuck. Other than that I kinda love that the album never takes itself too seriously.
The title track is pretty good, but the rest of it is just okay and the two goofy songs — Allergies and Cars are Cars — almost bring this down to a two.
Decent for Paul Simon, which means its a pretty good album
3.5
3.5
*❤️s➕ 🦴s* I'm not as high on this one as most. It's probably my second least favorite of his solo albums up to *Saints*. But tbh that run of albums is pretty great. This album four songs really stand out the title track. "Song About the Moon", "Think Too Much (a)" and "Train in the Distance" all kinda hearken back to his 70s swagger. I liked the bonus acoustic version of "René and Georgette" better than the saccharin production of the album version. And "The Late Great Johnny Ace" just kinda meanders to me. Again another song of the lore (the 1981 Central Park incident) is more interesting than the song itself. Interesting that the worst song on the album "Cars Are Cars", I can her the bones of "You Can Call Me Al" (just not the heart, lol). 8.75 ★★★★
Some really good songs, but some uneven ones as well, and I don't enjoy the production that much. 3.5 stars
I'm not crazy about this Paul Simon. I'm not as big on Paul as others here, but I'm glad he went in the Graceland direction after hearing this. I just found it a bit too 80s soft rock for my tastes and nothing really blew me away. 3 stars.
Sharts and Groans. Still Crazy After All These Years scorned in favour of this? Bad 80s production values and a real iffy songlist - Allergies and Cars Are Cars in particular. An album that flunked so Graceland could soar.
Not crazy about his solo stuff
Wings + Simon and/or Garfunkel have been my biggest surprises doing this. Consistently surprise by being great. 2000s era metalhead me would be aghast. 3.5 rounded up
I don't hate this but I think I'd enjoy these songs more if someone other than Paul Simon was performing them. I get that this a very personal and introspective album, and the best parts of his performance are where you feel that, BUT I just find his instincts in regards to arraignment and production to be annoying. And his voice is so twerpy and smug. It's hard to appreciate how clever he can be when I can hear in his voice how clever he already finds himself.
2.4+1 for meeting notability guidelines.
One day, when I'm weathered down by age and time, my achy breaky heart will open to the palliative tones of Paul Simon—his songcraft, storytelling, and dulcet voice. Anyway, can't wait for that. Great title track.
Ugh. 2.51 rounded up for a couple classic songs. Cars Are Cars might be one of the five worst somgs I’ve ever heard.
Folksy and fun! Reminds me of the back half of TTPD.
It's fine. I can't say I disliked anything but nothing really jumps off the record for me.
Hearts and Bones was pretty nice. I learned that Cars are Cars all over the world. Not Paul Simon's best effort but it was ok.
This isn't good but isn't bad. 2.5 rounded to 3 I guess
Boring AF
i haven’t heard this one yet, but my friend loves graceland. first paul simon album on the list. this thing is pretty gorgeous. goddamn there’s a lot of people on this album. very pleasant way to start easter morning.
See i expected really great things from this, I like some of Paul Simon's music and I have heard great things about him. This was so dull. It felt like 2 hours. It felt a bit too classically 80s, like it was trying too hard to sound like an 80s album
Nice voice
Too much Simon on the list, whether solo or with his buddy. Boring man with boring music that even he apparently doesn't like. I don't have to either.
Que fait cette bouse dans la liste ?
I really think I just dont like 80s music
Dull and uneventful. I like Simon as a part of a duo, but I don’t care for this at all
Look I can't really hold it against Paul that this album was included on this list, but it does seem like an incredibly odd inclusion. There are plenty of albums in his own discography, as well as the discography of Simon & Garfunkel that showcase that Paul Simon a fucking genius songwriter, and as far as I'm aware they are included extensively on this list, so having this on here as well really seems a bit excessive. It's an enjoyable enough album, but not quite as memorable as his other work, so what purpose does it serve being on this list? To be clear I am asking this as a massive fan of Paul Simon. But Robert Dimery needs to figure his shit out. OKAY moving into the actual album itself, as I said it's enjoyable enough. There's definitely some great tracks on here, and I was shocked to find that I didn't have Train in the Distance on my Paul Simon playlist already, it is a really great song, and some other tracks like Rene and Georgette, and the title track I quite enjoyed. But then you have a track like Cars are Cars, which is truly just fucking awful, as well as some other fairly uninteresting songs, and it all comes together into a pretty middling album. Some enjoyable moments, but not an album you must listen to, and not the one to represent Paul Simon's body of work. Fav Track: 7 - Train in the Distance Best Three Track Run: 6, 7, 8
Calm, pleasant music, quality arrangements — what more could you need? Then again, maybe I'm just getting old...
Being a huge fan of Simon & Garfunkel, never got into their individual work, other than Graceland. This album reinstates why that is still true. Although I loved the album, it is purely a pop record, lacks the laidback and breezy sound by the duo. Wish the album opener was better. Favourite song on the album - Train in the distance.
ну уе ваще...шось нц ваще ахахаха
Lyrically this album screams, "I have absolutely know idea what to write about" ... Allergies man, yeah know? Dang, cars... are... Like, cars. Kinda dull, never gets off the ground for me
2.5 stars. His voice is nice to listen to but the style of music (pop/doo-wop/rock) is not my taste at all. Prefer most anything else he put out.
Really really good
I don’t think this one was necessary
9/10
What a shit album considering some of the music this dude has put out. He has some awesome offerings but this is certainly not one of them. Listen to ‘cars are cars’ if you need evidence. Shit.
Funny how you can think you like an artist because of one of their other albums (Graceland), then you feel really let down when you listen to something else from their catalogue (Heart and Bones).
Fucking '80s toms, AS SOON AS I HEARD THEM BA DA DUMDumDumDUMBS. They're so annoying. The overall '80s production isn't on the worst, but it's obvious immediately and can find itself tedious. Musically often tolerable, sometimes on the beautiful side, but it's also trying to annoy me. To some extent I can appreciate the way this project was produced. I'm not liking the additional reissue acoustic demos on the listen, it ended perfectly at the 40 minute mark with that studio composition. I appreciate the songwriting as an art, but not the ideas or the means to express them. Cars? Allergies? The vocals don't make up for the cheesy uncle energy here. 2.4/5
Parfaite musique pour une ptite siesta, j’en cognais des clous 🥱💤💤
Not one of his better albums.