Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Are there sheep bleating in the intro to Think Too Much? Song About the Moon was nice. Album was very meh for me.
Not remarkable but I did feel that the vibe was there
Musically and lyrically well thought-out album that I can appreciate as such but that does not grab me.
Not one of his best but still very listenable
Nada especial, recuerda a algunos músicos y estilo de los años 80. Me parece agradable de oir y es relajante, pero no he llegado realmente a sentir nada especial, por lo que para mi queda en terreno neutro.
I mean it's fine...I like his lyrics but for me it's pairing it with the 80s rock that just doesn't mesh. He is a poet and a great one, but it doesn't jive with the 80s rock vibe that others do so well.
I’ve become a fan of Paul Simon through this project but this album was just ok. I’m surprised this one made the list. Cars are Cars and Allergies were particularly silly songs.
It was certainly enjoyable if a little samey sounding by the end. Not my favourite of his albums perhaps but still a 3*
Yeah was nice.
A straightforward album I suppose. Paul Simon's solo work generally sounds quite relaxed and laidback. However, whilst there are some catchy tunes, there are some less than interesting tunes. For example, Cars are Cars is just about how cars are the same everywhere. Is it a metaphor? Who knows, but it's too annoying to think of a deeper meaning.
Pretty solid. Easy to listen to. Lyrics are creative and unique, a bit odd sometimes. But a great voice
Too cheesy for me, though somewhat charming. Just okay on the whole. Favorite track: Hearts and Bones
It's a good, but inconsistent, album. Simon is a brilliant songwriter. His songs are deceptively complicated, yet they sound simple. I think he's also an underrated guitar player. Liked songs added: - Hearts and Bones - Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War - The Late Great Johnny Ace.
Un poco rollo.
Nice album - very calm
Aunque fue un desastre comercial, con el paso del tiempo Hearts and Bones se ha convertido en una de las grabaciones más valoradas de Paul Simon. En sus canciones aborda una mirada al mundo y al amor desde la madurez cuando cumplía los 42 años. Tras una notable apertura con "Allergies", pura ironía sobre el amor y el deterioro físico, sigue la canción que da título al disco en la que nos habla de su relación con la actriz Carrie Fisher en el muy personal estilo del compositor. Además de estos dos temas, me gusta bastante su reflexión sobre la creación de mitos en la música popular en "The Late Great Johnny Ace", así como la brillante "Think Too Much (A)". Musicalmente Heart and Bones es un auténtico disco de Paul Simon, en el que experimenta con algunos sonidos contemporáneos, partiendo del jazz fusión y regresando a sus antiguas querencias por el doo wop y el rock & roll.
One is his best. Not really a fan.
Doesn't happen often but I have absolutely zero recollection of this album's release or mere existence; even if Paul Simon wasn't necessarily on my immediate radar at that point in my young life (i.e. didn't Def Leppard release Pyromania around this time??) ....still, it's Paul Simon. Wondering if any of this will suddenly sound familiar... My single biggest generic problem with solo Paul Simon is how overly-wordy he can get (e.g. Graceland which apparently I'm alone in really disliking). I'm always extremely partial to Simon & Garfunkel and letting Art take the gentle melodies rather than a 2000 word treatise on a man walking down the street and bumping into his ex-wife while eating an ice cream cone that makes him feel nostalgic or wistful and eager to mend his ways.... A bit unfair, all that, because his best songs are some of the greatest of all-time. OK I suppose I should get to *this* album which does immediately precede Graceland which is a bit of the crystallization of the "enough already" aspect of his work... .... 2 songs in and I'm already loving this - why did/do I even write the above, live-blogging my brain. I think I like going back and reading if/when I change my mind on something. So these first two cuts are really nice - *not* overly wordy and sound like classic Simon with letting the songs breathe a bit. A few songs (e.g. "When Numbers Get Serious" and "Think Too Much (a)") can be just a touch too bouncy and beginning to approach 80s production but this is a nice surprise - nothing rang a bell at all with me. Apparently I was too wrapped up at the time in early 80s UK hard rock... TL;DR: not a game-changer (and "Cars Are Cars" is just dumb) but mostly just a nice Paul Simon album and nothing negative about that. Not sure I'd go out of my way for this one but not gonna complain if I hear it again. 6/10 3 stars.
Nice, chill, enjoyable to have on in the background.
3+ Train in the Distance The Late Great Johnny Ace
Another head scratcher on this list. I've been a Paul Simon fan since hearing him on the radio as a kid and I've owned lots of his albums. The Di Meola guitar solo on track 1 is the highlight. 3 stars because his voice is relaxing and makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Decent record but doesn't belong on this list.
BL: Big Paul Simon fan, love a lot of his tracks but I've never actually listened to an album the whole way though, apart from his debut solo which was one of the first albums I received on the generator - so will be interested to hear how this one sounds, and how he progressed from there, I like the cover a lot. AL: The issue with this album is it will always be overshadowed by what came after, as "Graceland" is considered his magnum opus, and while it is definitely a better record than this, this album has been underated in the scheme of things as it deserves discussion and yet is one of the lesser mentioned albums on the generator. FT: "Hearts and Bones", "Song About the Moon", "The Late Great Johnny Ace" 3/5
I like the first couple of songs. Creative.
Decent but not very memorable. I doubt I'll ever come back to this one.
Dit was wel cute en chill
joa, ganz ok; a bisserl ruhig
Boring. It wasn't offensive to listen to in any way and if it was on in the background you wouldn't complain, but it certainly didn't hook me at all. Mood when starting: Neutral Setting: Walking to get a burrito then eating said burrito then realizing I have an unwatched episode of Shogun which will surely be way more interesting than this and bailing on the album.
Allergies was a strange song. Update: The songs have not gotten less strange. Cars are cars indeed, Paul. No part of this album really grabbed me. The songs were all a little boring and it totally lacked the power of Graceland, which is one of my favorite albums. I don't have too much to say here, I likely wouldn't put any of these tracks on again. Yesterday the Beastie Boy's album was super interesting and diverse, but hard to listen to for some ways. Today's album was easy to listen to, but uninteresting and felt same-y. 5/10
Pretty relaxing to listen to mid-day.
So far all the previous Paul Simon and Simon and Garfunkel records have been quite surprisingly wonderful to me - always more than expected. This, although it has a lot of the sweet earnestness of Simon’s usual songwriting style - is not as strong as his other ones on this list in my opinion. I felt it a little forgettable
Pleasant
Music by which to eat Panera. It’s satisfying without ever delighting, some interesting flavors but determinedly tailored to moderate tastes that demand frissons of exoticism (red wine vinegar pickled onions, usually). That’s Paul Simon’s entire ouvre.
Very nice listen. Paul Simon is such an incredible writer. It's shocking how relatable some of lyrics are. I especially loved how all off the songs kind of tied together.
Not sure about this one, I guess I expected something different going in. It definitely seemed smaller in theme and scope, everything on a much more personal scale. Everything was good with a couple great moments thrown in.
Simon and Garfunkel made some of my favorite music. I like this album, but I don't like it the same way that I like Simon and Garfunkel. Paul is clearly very talented and, because of Graceland, I thought he just did religious music. I'm happy to see that he's not all about that all the time, but it's very apparent in many of the tracks. I don't know much about Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel individually, but I think Simon's "solo" stuff isn't for me. It's good and I like it, but it feels ethereal, like it exists in a world that turns without me.
Got off to a slow start but came around.
The 80’s sound even found Paul Simon. Like most people my age who have heard anything from Paul Simon, I’ve most heard his stuff he did with Art Garfunkel. I’ve heard a few solo tracks of Simon’s but that’s about it. This was good. Occasionally compelling but mostly lacking, at least to me. He certainly takes some chances here, both musically and lyrically. After knowing him mostly for the acoustic or lower-fi stuff he did in the 60’s, it’s surprising to hear such a full sound behind his voice. And I don’t know if I feel like it suits him. Maybe I just wanted this to be a Simon and Garfunkel album… The lyrics feel pretty literal, like he’s talking directly to the listener. Which does make feel more personal. That said, I don’t think some of these songs are as clever as he thinks they are. “Cars Are Cars” felt like he was trying to be David Byrne in terms of writing about everyday things in a way that makes them sound interesting or new. But it doesn’t work. This was fine. I do not need to listen again, and I honestly don’t really see why this is here. I have to assume he’s done better. 2.5 stars, rounded to 3 for benefit of the doubt. Standout tracks: Allergies, Think Too Much (b), The Late Great Johnny Ace
tangled wires in my heart, im just looking for my seat. the bumps in the road set me back like the heat. i bounce and try not to fall off my feet. i get off the bus, im tired and beat. i walk to the station, the rain tastes so sweet. i wait there for hours and a stranger there asks me if she can sit there beside me. i know ill be late if the train wont arrive. the air hugs tenderly my withering sigh. if i have to call it to make it in time, the price of the ticket wont be just a dime. i call the train, but im too tired to try. i call the train, i might let it pass me by. i call the train, but i just stand by. i call the train and she leaves me behind idk i might return to this one
I should listen to Paul Simon more, I enjoy his style and voice. This album is not his best work but I still enjoyed it. Favourite songs: - Allergies - Train in the distance
Several songs have an island vibe that hints at what’s to come on Graceland. I found the opening track “Allergies” lyrically stupid (perhaps it was a metaphor, but it sounded pretty literal to me). It improved from there, thankfully. I hear some Talking Heads influences at times. There are some moments that feel stale (like the Seinfeld bass tones and some of the melodic choices) but I liked it overall. 3.6
One can hear precursors to Graceland, but also some clumsy attempts at a more modern sound -- a couple songs don't really fit here. "Hearts and Bones" may be the highlight for me. Great songwriter, pretty good album. 3.7
Smooth Simon - I’d never heard this record, and I’m sure its chock full of tasteful treasure; but all I got out of it upon my first and so far only listen was how to properly pronounce “Magritte” which I’ve been saying incorrectly all my adult life.
Some nice souns
I consider myself a Paul Simon fan but a lazy fan, as this list has done the bulk of the work for me in deciding which of his albums to listen to. While Graceland continues to be one of the best albums I've had, this one left a lot to be desired. It just kind of sleepily moves along without much heart...or bone.
I love Paul Simon but I’m woefully behind on his less acclaimed albums. First track immediately reminds me of older stuff but it’s not corny, even with the synthy drum sounds. This man knows what’s up with percussion! I got a bit bored by track 4 which clearly seemed to influence Under The Sea from the animated Little Mermaid movie. It also feels like each track was a practice track for better songs? Cars Are Cars seems like a throwaway track with its icky 80’s clap sound too. Definitely not a bad record but he’s got a predictable sound which is better done on other records.
dreamy highs with some admittedly jarring lows (cars are cars, allergies) but this captures an interesting moment for simon and the title track, think too much b, song about the moon, magritte, and johnny ace are a nice ride. also full circle moment this is the record in the book next to the first record i started this project w/ (time after time)
Un poco rollo.
3 it was good but far from his best
Paul Simon is a great musician who does his best work in collaboration. Otherwise he gets a little pretentious & in his own head. This one's a 3 - lovely to hear, nothing great. Best song is The Late Great Johnny Acen it's the only one I'll listen to again.
Ungewöhnlich - was gut ist. Simon ist sonst immer dasselbe, finde ich. Sogar ein wenig Bob Marley im Gesang.
Rene and Georgette Magritte with their Dog after the War saved my marriage. No joke. My then girlfriend and I were on holiday and it had not been good. We were in bad mood all the time, and I had got to the point where I just didn't see the point in the relationship and was going to end it when we got home. And then one night neither of us could sleep, and we just sat there on the balcony in the middle of the French Alpine summer night, listening to our iPods, being with each other - and that song came on. I listened to it over and over, loving the story of two people deeply in love and living their own life as the world around them did its thing, and I realised that I could have that with the woman I was sitting next to, and that that was what I wanted. We've been married now for 11 years. Cars Are Cars is one of the shittest things I've ever heard though, and the fact that it is the next song on the album is a fucking insult. What's that you're saying Paul? Cars are the same all over the world, but people are different? Well, fuck me up the bum with a cat's paw but aren't we quite the philosopher! Idiot.
Wel oké, vond ‘m heel erg saai. Cars Are Cars is ook echt een heel slecht nummer, vanaf daar de rest niet meer geluisterd :^)
Een ander Paul Simon album wat ik ook niet ken. Niet heel leuk.
Ik heb deze op singel, voor de rest niet hel geweldig paul simon album, ken leukere. Staat ook niet echt 1 banger op. Cars are Cars?
3.5
Pleasant to listen to like all of Paul Simon's works but not overwhelmingly good enough to add to the shuffle on my phone; I will however add it to a folder called Simon and Garfunkel on my computer
Missing the soul it seems (2.5/5)
So this is what happens when '80s synthpop infects Paul Simon's sound.
Not Paul simons best stuff by a long way but not terrible.
could i write poetry to this? n
Relaxed and easy going - nice listening without much excitement
3.8 took me by surprise
the cars are cars song...
Jacques Houdek i Klinci s Ribnjaka vol. 2. Garfunkel je bio Art dio Simon & Garfunkela. Cak i ne hejtam tolko album jer sam se barem izurlao. Cars & cars najbolja pjesma.
Hailed as one of the great break-up albums, after initially underwhelming reviews on its release in 1982, regarding Simon's relationship with Carrie Fisher, this is a perfectly nice set of songs (Sounds dismissive, I know!) but never really takes off, in my opinion.
Love Paul Simon. Never heard this album. No major hits and some stinkers but undeniably talented and some decent song writing. Was ok at best.
Some of his songs felt like he was running out of ideas for lyrics but musically it was pretty good
Okay for a Sunday morning listening, otherwise too soft & quiet for me.
Pretty good
Never been a Simon and/or Garfunkel fan, and this is quite 80s as well so doesn't massively appeal, but I can recognise that it's quality musicianship, songs put together in a stylish and compelling way, everything just balanced right between emotions, production is great, nice and concise 41 minutes. I'll give it a 3 on balance because it's not appealing to me but I respect it.
This is perfectly pleasant, but not a patch on some of his other work. Production comes across as pretty 80s in places, which dates it, and there's nothing that captures the imagination in the same way that something like Graceland does. 3/5, not essential listening.
This was a pretty okay album in my opinion, I like some of his other stuff better. Still good though. Top tracks: Train in the Distance, Shelter of Your Arms
meh lol
I like Paul Simon enough. I think this was ok, interesting this came before Graceland and he blows up again. Otherwise I didn’t think this offered much beyond being solid work.
no major stand outs for me, but not bad
Pretty chill. Pretty 80s. Pretty good. 3.5/5
Go off short king. Due to Garfunkel's pulling out of the album, it sounds like a fusion between the duo and Simon's solo work: an introverted Paul Simon album. Though this album lacks the big splashes and drama, it is charming and captures different sides of Paul Simon. I didn't know any of the songs inherently and it was a fun opportunity for exploration
I liked this album better than his self-titled one we got a few months back. Still, it doesn't make that great impression on me, but it's also not bad. Not sure why it doesn't hit harder, maybe it isn't my jam completely. I didn't find any particular song that stood out as being particularly good, but most of them were pretty decent and held an even bar so it was a nice listening anyways. One song that I didn't like very much was 'Cars Are Cars'. It should be liberating that every song doesn't have to be about love or something serious, but it just feels silly when you get nonsensical lyrics like this. I remember I had the same feeling about some songs on his self-titled album as well. Feels very low effort. In summary it was a decent even album where nothing stood out very much. Solid 3.
A fun Paul Simon album which feels like it's caught in the transition between his old style and his newer "Graceland" style. It was ok but he has way better albums. Favourite song was "Hearts and Bones" which felt very old school Paul Simon. What the fuck is "Cars are Cars"?! Weirdest car song since "I'm in love with my car"? Were cars really that interesting? I guess you get a brownie point for being odd.
I feel like this is Paul Simon in a holding pattern. It was the transition from Simon and Garfunkel to just Simon. I love the early period when they were together and I loved the later period, a few years after this. I feel like he was hitting refresh here. It’s perfectly pleasant but nothing to write home about. It’s a 2.5 down the middle for me, but I’ll give him credit for starting afresh.
This definitely isn’t his best album or strongest work, and if this is the only one of his albums that is represented on this list, I will be very sad. I don’t think I had ever heard any of the songs on this album before, and I really wanted to give it a two, but even his weaker stuff is pretty good.
Up and down (what the hell was “cars are cars”), but the man can write some chunes.
Nothing special. It’s definitely serviceable as an album, but it wasn’t my style. There’s just not a lot to like, but also not a lot to dislike. It’s perfectly at the middle of the road.
Nice grooves
Was a lot more playful and colorful than I expected based on the Wikipedia article. 5/10
Nothing was bad but it was strange. I don’t know. Meta music?? I don’t get it.
If you like the soundtrack of any 80’s romantic comedy. This is the album for you.
2.8 - meh
It's fine. There's some good tracks and some stinkers.
This verged on a 2 but it’s not so bad I’d turn it off. But Cars and Cars comes close.
To me, this is a replacement-level Paul Simon album. Smooth as hell, easy to listen to, but not particularly spectacular. Certainly don’t mind having it on though. Top tracks: Allergies, Hearts And Bones, Song About The Moon, Think Too Much (a)
Theres way better paul simon out there
okayish for a singer songwriter
Viktor tsoj.. think too much a...hyvät wibes... JA SE ONKIN ALBUMIN SUUR ONGELMA.. wibes,,,, just wibes,, not good album..
Meh.
Some great songs. Overall album ok
Thoughts before listening: I'm surprised to see a mid-career Paul Simon album. Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints are both great as is his early stuff post-Simon and Garfunkel, but this is one I'm not familiar with. I generally enjoy Paul Simon so I'm interested to hear this one. Review: So doing a little research it appears that this came out right before Paul Simon released Graceland...that's a superior album with this one being a bit of a mixed bag. Some songs suffer the same fate of a lot of 60s and 70s artists in the 80s...It's overproduced with unnecessary synths and other sound effects bogging down the songs. There are also silly lyrics in some songs like Allergies and Cars Are Cars that make this album as a whole come off as an afterthought likely thrown together to meet a record contract obligation. That being said, there are some really nice tracks on here. The title song, Song About the Moon, and The Late Great Johnny Ace in particular standout as classic examples of Paul Simons' strengths. Well written with nice melodies and strong lyrics. Overall this is an enjoyable albeit lesser known entry in Paul Simon's catalog that I'm glad I got to hear..although I am a bit surprised it made this list considering how many truly essential albums he has released.
I normally don't like bonus tracks but in this instance they were revealing. The acoustic versions, with just his voice and a guitar, hit harder than the album versions, which tells me the production was getting in the way of the songwriting instead of enhancing it.
Listened to the acoustic tracks at the end on a note by another reviewer and yeah... these are better than the fully produced versions, for sure. I'd much rather just have it be Paul and a guitar. Overall it's a bit meh, too much. Keep it simple.
I think this is between a 3 and a 4. Maybe with a few more listens it might grow on me but I'm busy today tbh. I found most of the songs 'nice' without being compelling. I'll go with 3 because I prefer some of his other work to this
Overall, it’s a fine album. The lyrics are cheesy but the album was nice for background music.
Very good album, enjoyed the song about allergies.
I liked this one less than Graceland. Still got some bangers but felt more monotonous
It’s fine, I’ll take it
That cars are cars song is kinda dumb but the album is pretty good.
Pretty laid back, decent stuff
The album before Graceland and which suggests his musical approach needed a shake up. Some dry and witty tracks and some engaging but a treading water feel.
Ci sta, non mi ha entusiasmato personalmente ma è abbastanza ben fatto
Melancholy and smooth. A little on the nose in spots, but enjoyable.
Zacalo to extremne pofiderne, no niektore boli nakoniec velmi pekne (aj) balady
An album that doesn't take itself too seriously. I can admire that. The tracks are generally light-hearted and full of life. The instrumentation is fantastic and Paul's vocal is, of course, strong. The lyrics sometimes leave a lot to be desired (Allergies, When Numbers Get Serious) but I can't get too annoyed at that given the circumstances. The problem is, the album never really wows me. Like, at all. It plays it incredibly safe, especially for Paul Simon. Also, the song Cars Are Cars exists when it has no right to do so. For these reasons, I cannot in good conscience give it more (or less) than 3 stars.
It’s very much what you’d expect from Paul Simon in the 80s. If you like his stuff you’ll probably really enjoy this; otherwise it’s just ok.
While I like most of the songs here, they don’t really do much. They are one note and don’t have much to offer. Goodness, Cars are Cars is annoying and is probably the worst example of this. This isn’t to say the album is bad. It’s ok. Probably my least favorite outing with Paul Simon this far.
although bright i find the lyrics on this paul simon album to be kinda silly. the album is good overall, but i dont know how its influential, since it sticks right before one of his more revolutionary albums.
It was nice, enjoyable.. kind of sounded like elevator music, reminiscent of sitting in the dentist’s office as a kid or something. Not my personal taste, but it also didn’t make me want to pull my hair out.
It's alright, has some catchy tunes, Train in the Distance was lovely, but if I never hear Cars are Cars again it will be too soon. Write what you like to write I guess :p
Kannte die Platte noch nicht, gefällt mir!
It ain’t Graceland, but anything from Simon is going to be solid listening.
Strong 3
Always struck by how different Paul Simon's albums sound from one another yet maintain a very distinct Paul Simon-ness. Cars ARE cars!
Goofy album, hoge hoogtepunten, laaaaage dieptepunten (cars are cars all over the world engine in the front Jack in the back)
I definitely think too much about these ratings.
it's good. I preferred these tracks on the Live Concert in the Park album more.
A nice album but not what I was looking for.
Good song writer, not a solid singer...
A regular, feel-good album from Paul Simon. The guy comes out of the gate showing his humour in a topical song. Up tempo and fun. Low 3
Leave it to Paul Simon to make a song about allergies that makes you feel good, the opposite of what allergies actually do. The titular song of the album is just delightful. A wide range of sounds on this album all complemented by Simon’s pleasing vocals. I really enjoyed the first three songs then didn’t really enjoy the remaining songs. Cars are cars is one of the dumbest songs I have ever heard. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. 5/10
Good, Graceland is better
Very Chill
This was not my favorite Paul Simon stuff but it was still okay.
Kind of reminds me of some of the music we listen to at Glenna's yard rock, folk rock. A couple songs are catchy on this album, but not preferably my cup of tea.
I've always liked his sound. Never heard this album. Enjoyable but no classic, memorable moments.
Bit 80s in it's production
Paul Simon is one of the premier songwriters of the 20th century. More McCartney than Dylan, he is a very gifted and unique writer. This album is done at somewhat of a low point for him with no really strong songs except maybe the title track and Rene and georgette magritte with their dog after the war. Having said that, any of them written by anyone else would see that person building a career from them. He is that good. It’s a 3 star album at best. Probably a 2.5 but I’ll round it up. He had done better. And he was to do better.
Only gave this a quick skim, but I’m really not sure why this is on the list. It seems to sit awkwardly in between his early work and the outstanding album Graceland.
paul simon albums are better than simon and garfunkel because he just sings about fucking whatever here. also more energy
None of the songs drew me in but I suspect this is an album that would benefit from multiple listens.
Good Paul Simon album. Everything you’d expect. Nothing particularly special but catchy!
Mellow, literate and quirky music from a true poet.
It’s not the worst thing ever but did we really need this on the list, like the three simon and garfunkel albums, graceland and his self titled aren’t enough. Like I love all of those albums but this isn’t nearly as good 3/5
So, Paul Simon is a genius. His best ranks with Dylan, Cohen, whoever in the songwriting pantheon you want to name. This is pretty lightweight stuff. He still hits some gold just because, but this doesn’t come close to his heights.
what the heck are these wacko lyrics
They are all kind of interesting singer-songwriter pieces that represent the Paul Simon sound. The lyrics are intentional and very introspective. It is polished and well produced. But this set really lacks hooks. I like Hearts and Bones and Songs About the Moon the most, the rest of solid but not exceptional.
meh
Not bad but didn’t do much for me. The song writing is good but his soft voice gets tiresome. Kind of felt like he was phoning it in with the song about cars.
Outside of The Late Great Johnny Ace, nothing on this album stands out to me. It’s certainly fine, but not at the level of Paul Simon’s best songwriting.
Not my fav from Simon
Not my favorite by him but it is Paul Simon. Hard to go wrong
What stood out the most to me about this album is the fairly unique instrumentation. I couldn't help but listen in for all the musical tidbits that are in this album, leaving me thinking "huh, what an interesting sound!". You can tell where this album would be the predecessor both chronologically and spiritually to Graceland; the music is slightly out of the norm, a little bit experimental, and probably fairly risky for pop music at this time. The instrumentation is definitely what keeps this album from flatlining, but even then, the album really struggles to find any soaring moments. It's not bad by any means, but it's also not outstanding. Probably almost a 3, so I guess I'll round up.
nice enough , doesn't thrill me 2.9
Very average sounding late 70s / early 80s music, but gets bumped up to a 3 because it’s Paul Simon
3/5
Belle découverte. J'aime le mood et le style. Curieux de savoir si je vais préférer Simon and Garfunkel à cela.
An album for people with ADHD
https://youtu.be/v0sMJEk95gE?si=bnB7kN4WkZP7oWLz
not bad
I liked this a lot more than I thought when the record began. It opens inoffensively and then some of the tracks on here are the kind that actually end up stopping you in your tracks. I was delighted.
It's pleasant enough- I like Paul Simon but there better albums by him.
Had some weird ass songs mixed with some really good ones. Hearts & Bones was a great track.
Enjoyable yet nothing really stood out to me as great.
I find Paul Simon's voice to be kind of strange, but I can't put a finger on why. Allergies is a strange one -- kind of dubby and spacious with plenty of markers of the time period. The guitar work here is surprisingly slick -- unexpected jam. Rest of the album has gone in and out of my focus. Most of this really isn't my speed, but some moments are better than others. Cars Are Cars had me laughing. Maybe this is some extended metaphor, but the chorus is silly and he really leaned into it. His ballads are probably the strongest parts of this album (The Late Great Johnny Ace, being my favorite with the way it shifted around). This is a spotty 3 / 5 for me. Not something I would pull out for myself, but the songs at the bookends were fantastic so I'm skewed.
This isn't as strong as his other albums on this list, but even while not being as strong, it still has a few songs on it that are really good. I won't have any problem putting this album in on an easy listening playlist.
Paul Simon has done better and the juxtaposition between this album and his greater work is noticeable. The writing is down considerably. Cars Are Cars? Still not a bad album, enjoyed most songs, just not his best. 3/5
I like PS. His voice is soothing and the music is not bland. His lyrics are always a bit quirky though the "Cars" song is a bit of a stinker.
The album is just there. It does not have really any high or low points. The lyrics are not that great especially with songs such as Allergies and Cars are Cars. It is better than a two not really a three. I will round up.
Didn't know this album, not his best.
Very just OK album.
I don’t know man, this was weird… was it supposed to be funny? I don’t think I really get it, I didn’t hate it, I actually liked some of it but I’m not gonna try again. I don’t know man… 3 stars
I got the Second Paul Simon solo album on the 1001 list, and I enjoyed "Graceland" much more, but this is not a bad album for my taste—a solid three stars, even if not the exact music style I usually enjoy.
El disc previ a la transformació de Paul Simon en defensor de la world music al revolucionari 'Graceland'. Aquí no hi ha traça del que hauria de venir 4 anys després. Més aviat és una continuació del cançoner històric de l'artista. Cançons agradables d'escoltar, amb el savoir faire habitual de Simon, però res especial. Curiós que s'hagi fet lloc a la llista
Pleasant
Didn't pay as much attention as I would have liked. Lot of songs having the same vibe, bittersweet and laid back. No You Can Call Me Al Though! + Hearts And Bones
ну это приятненько начало было очень плотное, особенно понравилась гитарка в Hearts and Bones но в остальном просто хорошо, без фанатизма
Ну кста не супер скучно даже получилось. Вряд ли это хоть куда-то в моей памяти отложится, так что нейтральное 3. Могу на записи отойти поссать, ничего не изменится, ибо мнения ровно 0
I don’t know what I was expecting but that was nice. Just so, so, so tired and this felt like the baby’s lullaby I needed
This kinda just washed over me. No strong feelings
I found this to be quite a nice singer-songwriter album with some occasional uplifting beats that drove the record for the most part however that’s about it I didn’t think so much of it in general, it was decent but might take a bit longer for me to properly digest it if I I’m going to see it in a more positive light.
Solid & soothing!
I love Paul Simon...but this was not, in my opinion, his best work.
A profound voice singing interesting songs.
Okay, doesn’t take off compared to his other incredible stuff
I love Paul Simon and think he has a really unique voice. This album has a banger or two but wasn’t enough for 4 stars. Paul will always have a nostalgic place in my heart babyy
Out of all of the albums I have listened to that was definitely one of them. Nice to listen to but nothing special. Simon needs Garfunkel Think too much (a) is a jam
Paul Simon has such a calm and soothing voice on this record. Which is a good and bad thing to me. The songs feel super personal which I like. I really like Train in the distance. Wonder if he was doing copious amounts of blow with Carrie Fisher during this. A bit too normie for me. Cars are Cars kinda pisses me off for some reason.
Dude can songwrite and sing.
Not Paul's best, a bit too much sax, but a few very good songs, including his semi- Lennon tribute.
highs and lows throughout even in the same song looking at Cars are Cars 3.5
Sounded familiar even though I had never heard any of the songs before. Think too much (b) and The late great Johnny Ace were my favourite songs 3 ⭐
A strange one for me - I didn't mind, though I am not a Paul Simon fan generally
Genres: Pop, Rock Formed: New York in 1970 Run time: 14 songs, 54 min 13 sec The album is elegant in its simplicity, and it is unmistakably Paul Simon from start to finish. Great story telling throughout. I enjoyed the album, but I probably would not listen again. He have created some fantastic songs over the years, but not on this album. My Rating: ***
Ehh, it’s fine. He’s fine. Can’t say I’ll be revisiting this often, but there were enjoyable bits.
Toffe muziekjes, maar geen blijvers
The highs are high and the lows are low.
When compared to Graceland, Rhythm or There Goes Rhymin Simon, I'm not sure why this album is here? It's good, but not up there with his greats. I kind of love that it was meant to be a Simon and Garfunkel album bit then he cut all the Garfunkel out, the meanie!
Paul simon se encamina a Graceland en algunos de los tracks, los juegos rítmicos y de guitarras dan esas sensaciones. A pesar de tener indicios de la excelencia de Graceland, ni se asoma a ese trabajo, los altos son muy altos y los bajos son muy bajos. La voz de paul encuentra un lugar, mientras que las melodías juegan de manera libre en las instrumentales. Infelizmente, hay algunos fragmentos escasos en los que las letras y la experiencia roza lo inescuchable, como lo es en la primera canción y alguna de las del cuerpo. La energía y lo romanticón cumplen y es por eso que Paul es Paul. Un disco que no se hace pasar por algo que no es, que muestra indicios que se sacian y cumplen con lo que prometen en Graceland, por eso digo que no es tan loco ni un clasico, un sólido y disfrutable 6,50/10.
Ook erg nice, Paul Simon heeft peer goede hits gemaakt
Lekker albumpie van Paul. Kende eigenlijk geen een nummer, maar klonk wel lekker, maar wat ik van hem kende vind ik wel beter dus vandaar drie sterren
Eigenlijk een 2,5 maar ik geef ‘m het voordeel van de twijfel!! Prima om naar te luisteren maar dat nummer cars are cars was een dieptepunt
Rustig simpel albumpje, luisterde lekker weg.
7/10
Not his best album
I mean, it’s not bad at all. I would even give it a 3 but no one song caught me right. It was just a really good listen. I will use this opportunity to ask why in my 1st 125 albums is this my third Paul Simon album, but there is no chance of me seeing a Rammstein album to pop up!? There are many blind spots the further you go on this journey. Sorry this was the album I had to take this stand. I would not have the gull to write a book telling people these are the albums to listen to before you die, and sometimes I feel my diversity of appreciation is deeper than the author… No playlist adds.
Nice bunch of songs. Couldn’t really get into Paul Simons ‘vibe’ enough to say I loved it but it’s fun.
Not the best Paul Simon imo, comes off a little cornier. Still fine.
While I've never really dived into the solo career of either Simon or Garfunkel, I do have some songs from both of their times apart from each other, mostly Simon, so I was cautiously optimistic of this album, and while this does indeed sound like Paul Simon, I don't fully understand what makes this more notable than any of his other work. Perhaps because it sounds more folky than most stuff releasing in '83? I just didn't see too much from this to be more than a three star.
Pop acústico agradável.
Un poco rollo.
Paul Simon is a great songwriter but here not at his best
Minor album in his career, you can hear some snippets of what he would become Graceland but otherwise AM radio fodder (after FM became the dominant medium) and Sesame Street-sounding tunes.
I'm a casual fan but this is really good. Very beautiful and upbeat but still with some melancholy to it.
Pretty mid
Pretty good. Not life changing but found myself humming along to some tracks.
Pretty much the same review as for the other Paul Simon album we had. Simon by himself is nowhere near his collaborative work with Art Garfunkel. An OK but completely unremarkable album - 3.5 rounded down.
Though a tad dated instrumentally, this LP has enough strong songwriting and melodic variation to keep things interesting until the end. 'Cars are Cars' is an absolute bop and you cannot convince me otherwise.
Song “Hearts and Bones” is very peaceful, acoustics are great. Reminds me of Jim Croce. Some songs have reggae influences which is interesting with the acoustics. Album is very peaceful and lyrics are light and insightful. Did not finish
3.75
On the surface marred by the 80s production, very evident in the first few tracks. But Johnny Ace is a great track, the others are solid, and props to persuading Philip Glass to do a little orchestration for your album closer.
Soft. Singer songwriter
3.5 HL: The Late Great Johnny Ace, Think Too Much B/A, Rene & Georgette…
Not Simons best work but an admirable singer-songwriter blend. 80s Simon is always divisive. I think this album furthers that divide.
Ok album, some nice storytelling, but that’s about it
Paul Simon is always a good listen. I didn’t get a chance to rate this before ragbrai but I enjoyed listening to it on the way to sergeant bluff
Crazy that “Sound of Silence” and “Cars are cars all over the world” were written by the same person
Pleasant. Probably won't revisit
Paul Simon est, vous le savez, l'un de mes chouchous dans le générateur. Malheureusement, la fin de cet album est pour moi extrêmement floue puisque il me semble m'être endormi dans l'herbe pendant l'une des dernières pistes. Je me réveillai en panique, pensant que Robert allait invalider mon écoute avant de recevoir un appel de celui-ci m'expliquant que tout était bon pour lui et que je n'avais aucun soucis à me faire. Quel soulagement...
Paul Simon ne s'est pas foutu de notre gueule et ça, ça me fait plaisir.
I enjoy me some Paul Simon and had never heard this album before. It was... interesting? Knowing that Graceland comes next, which is such a great record, you can feel this is the step towards that at times. At other times it just is very 80s schlock... I mean he writes a song about allergies.
I'm not a fan of Paul Simon, but this was better than expected. I'm pretty impressed with the crack musicians that he was able to recruit for this album: its like a who's who... Nile Rodgers, Al Dimeola, Eric Gale, Airto Moriera, Steve Gadd, Marcus Miller, so he gets an extra point for that.
Some decent songs and some utter nonsense
Nice but not that essential
Inte lika bra som Graceland men ändå fint. Men också, vi fattar, du har haft flickvänner Paul.
Bro who did this de va sådär… gafflar! Du äter me dem, de finns överallt å e gjorda av metall… gafflar!! De e hu de här albumet lät Idk ja gilla int de så mycke de va quirked up men de funka int rikit imo
Keep it up Paul
Meh!
Nearly gave this a 4/5 but it’s not quite there. Stand out track - Think to much (b)
He kind of needs Garfunkel for me to really dig it. It's not bad by any means though.
Eh, it's ok. I guess it's on here because Garfunkel was deleted. Fave: The Late Great Johnny Ace
As I listened a lot of the songs were familiar, I don't know where I heard this before but I feel like it must have been one that my dad played in the car.
Eh, his self titled album is already on the list, and presumably "Graceland" is too, so this feels a bit superfluous. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The vaguely ska song was pretty cringe, as was "Cars Are Cars" - what was that, an attempt to be a bit Talking Heads? ಠ_ಠ Fave track - the title track I guess. "The Late Great Johnny Ace" had its moments, but also a lot of cringe...
This was a tough one to rate. On the one hand, it's a Paul Simon album, and the man knows music and has a beautiful and distinctive voice. On the other hand, none of these songs are particularly memorable. They're just good because they're Paul Simon songs. However, none of these songs are in the top 20 Paul Simon songs in my opinion. The issue, then, is whether I judge this album as it sounds or within the context of Paul Simon's career. If this was a band that I'd never heard of, I would certainly rank it as 4/5 stars. Within the context of his career, I'd consider this mediocre, 3/5 stars. Ultimately, I choose the later. I try not to bring prejudice into my reviews, but I also just don't get why this album is on here. I'm sure there are plenty of other Simon records on this list, so it's tough to see why this album deserves any special merit 3/5
I enjoy Paul Simon’s smooth and simple sound, and I enjoy the variety of instrumentation through this album. However none of these songs I really loved, it was just fine to me.
Dit album heeft niet de bekende nummers van Paul Simon en ik kan me voorstellen dat het niet gezien wordt als een van zijn betere werken. Toch staan er wel leuke nummers op. Ik zie de humor wel van "Thank Too Much" waarin hij twee keer zingt over dat hij teveel denkt. Dat is op zich alweer teveel :-). Dat is dan ook een van mijn favorieten. Voor de rest een gewoon aardig album van een goede zanger. ***
Lepposasti pyöri kertaalleen läpi. Ei tarjonnut ihmeitä hyvässä eikä pahassa.
Very good soft sounding album, easy listening with some very nice songs. But doesn’t reach the heights of his best work.
Introspective and sometimes melancholy Paul Simon. It's fine but not his best by a long way. For me the better versions of some of the tracks are on the bonus edition and not on the original release. Simon articulates his lyrics beautifully, other artists could learn from his clarity. Cover art 3/5
Classic PS. Would I listen again? Probably not.
Interesting sound - unique from what I've heard. Song about the moon is my favorite so far
So much more fun once he dropped that weird as fuck mate of his. i mean, garfunkel really looks like he's part of liverpools scouting network.
Better than Ed Sheeran.
Team Garfunkel here ✋️, better hair.
As you’d expect from Paul Simon. Some decent tracks, but most is middle of the road stuff. Definitely dated by the 80s sound.
We moeten stoppen met over auto's te zingen
This was okay, but didn't quite capture my attention. "Think Too Much (a)" was the stand out track for me.
Quite enjoyable. I know who he is of course but I didn't recognize the bit hit on this album. Not bad though.
-”Allergies” is pretty got dang catchy and has some splendid guitar fiddly-ness -In “When Numbers Get Serious” he is seriously lackadaisical with his arithmetic. 2×2=22? 4×4=44? These are severe mathematical errors. -”Cars Are Cars” is not only straight facts but also a nice little tune -”Think Too Much (a)” has at least 2 cool basslines, and like a typewriter sound effect that is an interesting percussive element. -A couple catchy songs, but not much that really piqued my interest to make me want to go back to listen. Still overall quality music, just not really in my wheelhouse
Nice pop album.
The titular song is so beautiful. The soft picking of the guitar, the melody of ooo's backing up Paul Simon, the lovely rise and fall of the song's dynamics, it's everything. The rest of the album, I'm afraid, never quite reaches that same level. The songs are still good, but never as great. Standouts include "Train in the Distance" and "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War". In fact, if "Hearts and Bones" and "Cars Are Cars" swapped places on the album, Side B would easily outweigh Side A. Seems like Simon had a few superb songs and then wrote a handful of filler to make the album.
Not a huge Simon fan and this isnt even my preferred album but still good.
I enjoyed this album way more that I thought I would. While it was very folksy in a way, Paul felt very inspirational to a lot of similar artists down the line. Some of these songs felt current in their design but the lyrics were insane. A whole song about cars in other countries? I'm sure he was going through something.
Album number 2 from Paul. Feels a lot more showy than the last, I much prefer the simple singer/songwriter style. There's a good bit of that on here, but some more energized and complex production as well. But the songs I did enjoy were fantastic, especially the acoustic bonus tracks. Not an album I was impressed with as a whole, but still good. Favorite tracks: Hearts and Bones, Rene and Georgette Magritte, Train in the Distance & Late Great Johnny Ace (Acoustic). Album art: Not much to say about this one. Cool guy Paul Simon, watch out. 3.5/5
Good but a some of the songs read a little cutesy- like allergies or the car one. Not sure I loved it.
8th December 2021 Listened in bits on the living room speaker before seb, justo and Charlie came for dinner. Very fine Everyman songwriting. Personal and warm, I didn't realise he was married to Carrie Fisher which a lot of this album is about. You can hear elements of the African styles he would come to bring in in later albums.
nice. Not spectacular
I like Paul Simon, and I have listened to other albums and songs from Simon. Hearts and Bones was new music for me. All of the album was okay. I didn't know what to do with "Cars are Cars", which feeling hung on with me by the end of this album. It was interesting to hear this album, but I'm not sure which tracks I would come back to. (¿"Hearts and Bones", "Think Too Much", "Train in the Distance"?)
Doesn't have the magic of Simon and Garfunkel but there's still some nice tunes in there
Pretty simple Paul Simon album. Think this album combines everything of his past albums along with a sense of ability to veer off with different styles and instruments. It’s not bad at all but it’s kind of middling between Graceland and his older hits. 5.7/10
An ok Paul Simon album, but no idea why it is on this list. Mostly harmless and not bad.
Sounded familiar even though I had never heard any of the songs before. Think too much (b) and The late great Johnny Ace were my favourite songs
I want really drawn into this album. It was just kind of on the stereo.
A bit creepy and melancholy, Paul! You okay? The storytelling is brilliant as always, but it's not quite as dynamic and fun as his other work.
A good three stars… finding his stuff a bit samey, but this is ok I suppose!
I wasn't expecting to like this, considering this is the only pre-Graceland Simon album I never heard any songs from, and I always considered Graceland to be his turnaround. It's a pretty great pop rock album with great songwriting and good use of synths. Most songs are soft, but you have some funky dance tracks like "When Numbers Get Serious" and "Think Too Much (a)". A mix of great, ok, and bad tracks, but nothing outstanding. Haunting way to close the album. Favorite tracks: Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance, The Late Great Johnny Ace
Pretty average, honesty not what I really expected for Paul Simon. Easy listening for sure.
Twijfelgeval. Soms drijft hij me tot waanzin (cars are cars) en soms vind ik het mooi.
Hearts and Bones is the sixth solo studio album by Paul Simon. It was released in 1983. Originally meant to be a Simon and Garfunkel album, Garfunkel left the project and Simon erased all his vocals. It was a commercial failure, but has been reviewed favorably in retrospective reviews.
I don't care what people say. Graceland is a stone cold classic. Parts of this album sound almost like a prototype of what was to follow. I enjoyed it..... but the followup is the genuine classic. not this one.
Very smooth and easy to listen to. I almost wrote that this is easy listening music, but to me that has connotations of being somewhat devoid of artistic interest and merit, which is very much not the case here. Nice melodies and pleasant instrumentation. Enjoyable. 3/5.
I love Paul simons voice and the rhythm in his music. Still feel like something about it is missing for me though.
I love Paul Simon, but this 1983 record is a weird choice for the list. His self-titled album (1972) and masterpiece Graceland (1986) both made the list. 1965's "Paul Simon Songbook" would have showed another side of his work. "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" (1973) is a great and celebrated album. Even 1980's "One-Trick Pony" is stronger than this one, imho. Anyway, it has some good songs ("Song About the Moon", "Cars are Cars") and it is still a thing of quality craftmanship, because it's Paul fuckin Simon. 3.5*
heart and bones
This album was so fucking dumb but the songs were so well written and enjoyable. Truly a confusing listen but I loved it.
Easy listening, background music that's not overbearing and you don't really need to listen to that closely.
This is a curious album, kind of a bridge between 70s Paul Simon and 80s Paul Simon. It's mostly a very pleasant listen, with several standout tracks. Lyrics are always the star in Paul Simon's work, and the lyrics here are lovely, sometimes surprisingly personal. The collection overall I think lacks a certain cohesiveness, like he decided to throw a bunch of ideas at the wall that don't always connect. "Cars are Cars" is a bit silly viewed against the sweetness of "Rene and Georgette Magritte" and "Train in the Distance." But I've been listening to Paul Simon long enough to know he has a natural silly streak, so he gets a pass here. "Johnny Ace" is oddly bright given the subject, but the strings unexpectedly turn it to something richer and more thoughtful as the song and album draw to a close. Favorite songs: Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance, Rene and Georgette Magritte, Think Too Much (a)
I'm not a great fan of Paul Simon (especially his world music based songs), but this album was a nice surprise. I didn't know it and it's great when you want some quiet listening. Nicely crafted
I like Paul Simon. But, this one Isn't one I would listen to again. Some decent songs, but not worthy of this list.
Very very very of its time but good. Maladies Melodies Allergies symphonies etc like a lot of these albums the music is carrying the singer/lyrics. Quite dated at times, "One and one-half wandering Jews Free to wander wherever they choose" although I get why and it fits with what he wants to get across just seems odd nowadays. Very easy listening. I really like "Think Too Much (B)" for reasons I don't quite know. I also like "Think Too Much (A)" also for similar reasons, very odd. very funky and quite nonsensical "The thought that life could be better Is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" is a great lyric but one of very few in this album. Cars Are Cars is another odd song but catchy. probably closer to a 4 but giving it a 3.
Have a soft spot for Paul Simon. Some nice tracks on this and some cool grooves. Will listen to it again. Was hanging from a roof when listening so was more worried my AirPods falling out than focusing on the album. Cars are Cars is a weird song. Think too much (a) is musically very vulfpeck. Vocally no, but the instrumental arrangement and mix is quite similar.
Pretty interesting, was good
I enjoyed this one. easy listening, road trip through the mountains energy. 7/10
Standard 80s pop - though some are catchy
I'm a big Paul Simon fan and even I found this a bit of a weird addition to this list cause it's probably not close to the top half of his discography. There are a few stellar track sure (the album's namesake in particular), and I did enjoy him starting to experiment with the sounds that led to Graceland. However, the album otherwise falls flat. Maybe because I enjoy other albums/projects by him more but it lacked the catchy hooks and charm that I've grown to appreciate from this artist.
nice!
OK
Meh
Usually a fan of his, but this album wasn't great at all
Um álbum que começa bastante bem, passado duas músicas começa a descambar, mas muito. A canção dos carros parece ter uma parte muito semelhante ao absolute beginners do Bowie. No geral não apreciei muito mas não é mau de todo. Nota:5/10
Pop de canciones amables, fácil de escuchar. Ya aparecen reminiscencias africanas.
Acho que eu estou ficando velho porque Paul Simon eh maneirinho.
Typically Paul simon
Thoroughly enjoyed Paul Simon singing about mundane things like cars and allergies.