Hearts And Bones

cars are cars all over the world

Simon somehow makes personally intimate and lofty sounds ebb and flow throughout.

Top Three Songs: 1) Train in the Distance 2) Rene and Georgette with Their Dog After the War 3) Think Too Much (b) Bottom Three Songs: 1) The Late Great Johnny Ace 2) Allergies 3) Think Too Much (a)

Annoying singing, mid songs 2

Cars Are Cars sounds like a kids book narrated over a drum machine.

Never heard any of this. I liked it

Again, I am not a big fan of Paul Simon. This album isn't bad but it is not very memorable for me. It's ok.

Not Paul Simon's best. So sleepy that I struggled to get through it. I'm a Simon fan, but sometimes the deepcuts just aren't that good I guess. Sure, it's not horrible, but it's certainly not remarkable.

The first few tracks were dull but I gave it a chance. It improved slightly throughout but still not that enjoyable. There was nothing that stood out really. Only the lyrics, and not in a good way. Cars are cars?

Paul Simon does what he does best and brilliantly captures that into an ‘80s sound. This thing is Graceland without the African influences. Not quite as good as that follow-up, but it for sure pumps blood from the same heart.

Fett trevligt album, Paul Simon e legend, detta e dock inte hans bästa grejer Bästa låt: Hearts and bones

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

Good album with some interesting songs Standout songs: Allergies Think to Much Train in the Distance

Generally I like Paul Simon but some of this is just silly; allergies! And did you know cars are cars all over the world?

Pretty average

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

gostei bastante, não conhecia.

Kind of an exhausting Paul Simon album. So many words just to say nothing important or relevant or thoughtful. Also he’s a wife beater

It’s almost as if I asked GenAI to generate a boring Paul Simon album

Less boring than the last Paul Simon album I got.

Album 470 of 1001 Paul Simon - Hearts And Bones Rating : 3.75 / 5 This wasn't my favorite from Paul Simon but it started to grow on me by the time it was over. It made me think of a '70s Paul Simon looking to find his footing in the 80s, which he did a few years later with Graceland. Was familiar with 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' but I think the other tracks were new to me. This could possibly rate a bit higher for me after a few more listens.

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

3.5

Sounds more like a weird Al album

é um folk agradável que parece uma trilha sonora de filme da disney.... Não é ruim, mas tbm não tem muita graça.

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

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

I loathe this man and his music. What a load of puerile, corny, self-important dreck. On top of his rampant sense of self importance, Paul Simon is an exceptionally petty human being, as evidenced by his erasure of Art Garfunkel’s work on this album, which started off as a Simon and Garfunkel reunion album and then “became” a Paul Simon solo-record. (…and just you case you think I’m some kind of weird Art Garfunkel defender/apologist…first of all, why would you even think that’s even a thing? No one on earth cares that much about Art Garfunkel’s musical career to passionately defend it. The dude might as well just change his first name to “And” (as in “And Garfunkel”). Second of all, fuck him too. He’s just as guilty in all this, for enabling and abetting Paul Simon. He’s just not my primary focus here today and, frankly, Paul Simon probably did him a favor when he erased his contributions from this record…One less albatross around Art’s neck, you know what I mean?) This is music to facilitate the propagation of Yuppies. Yuppies play it for their Yuppie kids, who, in turn, play it for their kids, thus creating another generation of Yuppies: A never ending cycle of Young, Upwardly-Mobile Professionals, hellbent on the celebration of abject mediocrity. Fuck Paul Simon.

ganz cute, aber gibt bessere alben von ihm

An ok album, easy listening

Just some of the goofiest lyrics I've ever heard but also some interesting music. The acoustic songs Shelter In Your Arms and Train In The Distance are closer to what I expected out of Paul Simon, not songs of cars and allergies. Two stars for two cool funky and different music.

Fan of Paul Simon, but this is not one of his better albums

what's up with car songs? -1 for that

bit shit tbh especially compared to graceland. some of the lyrics in this were dreadful

Hearts and Bones is the sixth studio album by Paul Simon, originally released in 1983. I'd consider myself a fan of Paul Simon's solo work. He's not really someone I actively seek out to listen to, but when one of his songs comes on I usually vibe with it. That being said, I have never heard of this album before, and there's probably a reason why. Not only was it the album before his monster hit of "Graceland", but it is also not his best work. This thing is littered with 80s slick production. Just listen to those drums. Gross. There are also weird sound effects littered throughout some songs? I think I heard sheep noises at some point. And what the hell is that "Cars Are Cars" track? This is rivaling Neil Young's mid 80s output. Just strange. There are some OK moments on here, like the second track, "Hearts and Bones". Unfortunately that doesn't redeem the entire album. Largely forgettable.

I want to give it 4.5 stars - it has three of the best songs ever written - but the quality isn't consistent enough for 5 stars. It's still great, though.

I'm sure that there is more to this if you really dig, but I'm not that bothered and this sounded perfectly reasonable if a little bland.

This album has one or two good songs, but the rest of the tracks are too mellow, and a bit boring.

Strong one two with Allergies and Hearts And Bones. Rene and Georgette is such a tender song and its followed by the absolute bullshit garbage song Cars Are Cars. The Late Great Johnny Ace is such a weird tune sonically.

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

Приятная музыка. Второй раз слушать я бы это не стал, но если будет играть на фоне, то вполне приемлемо.

A nice Paul Simon album that is moving on from S&A and feels like it's on it's way to Graceland, which was 2-3 years later. Some lovely story songs. Some songs that are purest filler. Cars are Cars. Really Paul? You pushed past demo with that?

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

Almost time for Graceland

The guy's a good singer, but I felt like this was just more of the same as the previous album I heard from him. And I suppose that's what some people want.

3.4 made me a bit bored

holy shit stop already

2.5

Graceland’s rough draft. Decent music, but lacking cohesion.

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

Overall, really good Paul Simon album (have a copy of it on cd but must have been many years since the last time I listened to it). Not all the music / lyrics are equally strong, but several songs are 5* especially Think Too Much, obviously a blueprint to Iron & Wine.

Lovely sounding album. Surprised I didn't recognise any of the songs, but they were all pretty decent nevertheless.

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

6/14/24 this one didn’t really hold my attention. didn’t finish it. might have to revisit it

Lovely bits of meloncoly woven together.

This is a solid folk album. I haven't listened to much Paul Simon outside of Simon & Garfunkel and "Graceland." However, I can say I'm a fan of this album, and I do want to listen to some of his other stuff to see how much more I like that isn't "Call Me Al" type stuff...

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

Yeah, this is sub Randy Newman nonsense, or signposting the objectionable culture theft of Graceland. Someone should really have been harsher when he presented these songs - Cars are Cars all over the world?

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.

Loved it. Better than s& g

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.

Not as good as graceland

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.

So many albums on this list are just kind of bland. It sounds like a generic folk, rock album for the time period it was conceived. Boring. Next.

9/10 welp, the chorus to Cars Are Cars is gonna be stuck in my head for an annoyingly long time

p509. 1983. 2 stars. Pales in comparison to his best work. Average at best, and there is a LOT of filler. Bonus point for "Johnny Ace".

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.

Started listening to the album and switched to Rhythms of the Saints after three songs. I just like it better

this one is pretty nice. generally soft rock this time. i wanna say there's a bit of a tribal, sometimes disco influence in a few of the tracks... it's a very quiet yet notable and animated album. obviously i prefer the more beat heavy songs when compared to the slowwww tracks.

Not great. Like he was under contract with the label to produce another one and started writing nonsense songs just to get out of it. Musically decent, if fairly boring. Not for me, although not actually offensive to my ears.

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.

01) Allergies - 8,0 02) Hearts and Bones - 8,5 03) When Numbers Get Serious - 7,5 04) Think Too Much (b) - 8,0 05) Song About the Moon - 7,5 06) Think Too Much (a) - 7,5 07) Train in the Distance - 8,0 08) Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War - 7,5 09) Cars Are Cars - 7,0 10) The Late Great Johnny Ace - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,70 (77/100) Current ranking: 92/192 First of all, a song about allergies... Who would have thought to sing about allergies. Best of all, the song is actually quite good. Then we have a song about numbers. Two times two is twenty-two, four times four is forty-four. Sounds legit to me. Then there's a song about the moon, a song about a train in the distance, and a song about cars, which are supposedly cars around the world. Let's not forget the late Johnny Ace, as well as Rene and Georgette Magritte with their dog. After the war. Maybe I'm thinking too much, but: a) I think the best song on the album is the title song Hearts and Bones. b) I think Graceland is a better album (23/192).

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

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

Cantautor. Leeeento. Un 2.

Un poco rollo.

Nice album - very calm

Uninteresting, boring topics, seems like he grabbed a random bunch of songs and put them all on an album

tough one for me. in danger of really enjoying a Paul Simon album

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.

whiney and boring. Hard to flaw musically. Two or three.

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

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.

Probably my favourite PS album.

3+ Train in the Distance The Late Great Johnny Ace

Hearing to this album for the first time, I'm realizing that I've slept on Paul Simon for years. I know he has the reputation of being the quintessential doctor's office waiting room artist, but for good reason, because this album is a masterclass of putting listeners at ease. Countless soft-rock gems on this album, including "Think Too Much", "Heart & Bones", "The Late Great Johnny Ace", and my favorite on the record "Train in the Distance". Also the wicked guitar solo on "Allergies" is nothing to sneeze at - pun very much intended. Paul Simon has made it into the rotation for those cozy days with this easy listening masterclass. 9/10

So, the "Simon and Garfunkel breakup album." I was worried when the album started -- afraid that this was going to be a massive sea of twee during "Allergies." But things rapidly improved from there. It's certainly easy to listen to -- and Simon's poetry is his usual blend of observational, horny, and dreamy. Goes down smooth. Unexpected bangers: Song About the Moon, Train in the Distance.

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

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.

There's definitely something unique and timeless about Paul Simon's music, and I respect him a lot. The vocally-driven melodies are just not what I would pick, so gonna stick with my default two stars.

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

It's chill easy listening for a sleepy me at 8:00am in a hotel room. So it gets a solid passing grade from me!

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.

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

2024-04-25...

Dit was wel cute en chill

nice, good mood, good songs. good friend

Not great. Why in the world would this be on a list of albums to hear before you die? 2/5

joa, ganz ok; a bisserl ruhig

This softly plods along and ultimately goes nowhere. This is typical of Paul Simon. As much as I love Simon and Garfunkel, his solo work is pretty weak.

Another example of a middle of the road album on this list when Paul Simon has so many albums that are phenomenal end to end. Maybe those will be on this list too? Hopefully? It was interesting to learn this was intended to be a Simon and Garfunkel reunion album and Garfunkel even recorded but then pulled out of the project so Paul wiped all Art’s vocals. But still, no tracks jump out on this one.

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

Simple Fav songs: Heart and bones +_+

Always great!!

I liked Sam's idea of adding the context of when you listened, so here is that. Environment: In the car on the way back from a shoot in Marin. Mood: Slightly better than neutral. My dad was a big Paul Simon fan, including his less known stuff so I grew up around this sound but didn't know this album. I love his voice and storytelling in his lyrics, but I just didn't really like most of the songs. There was some very cool guitar stuff happening, and I was intrigued by the production. Allergies was cool. Care are Cars was much less cool. My end verdict is a swing and a miss by ol' Paul, but a very interesting swing. Album cover: B-

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.

just wasn't feel it

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

Hearts and Bones is the highlight of the album. Soft background music, folk style, and a nice, melancholic melody and rythm. Think too much (b) is also cool.

Pretty relaxing to listen to mid-day.

Nja, det här var nog lite trist.

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

Enjoyed

What happened to Paul Simon? I enjoyed the other album of his - the self titled one. This album just sounds like he lost all passion for his music. "Cars are cars all over the world" - that's the best he could come up with? What is that?

I'd say this record is painfully bland, but sadly I cannot do that because Cars Are Cars exists. "Cars are cars all over the world". Indeed.

I think of Paul Simon as embodying an unobtainable kind of cool while being completely uncool at the same time. A walking paradox. I grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel, but I didn’t know this album at all. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy anything PS puts his stamp on. A good listen!

This sounds like it was forced for the label. It wasn’t terrible but he obviously has better.

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

Boring

There are two great songs on this album, "Hearts and Bones" and "Train in the Distance." The rest are forgettable or borderline obnoxious ("Cars Are Cars").

Like his voice but album was sort of weird.

Pleasant

Painful

I generally like Paul Simon but this was not his best. Was like listening to a bad book of poems with silly metaphors put to music. Could rename the album Paul Simon “Songs about Things”.

Some dated production aside, this is excellent. 4.5

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.

High 4

Absolut ok!

A rather lackluster album, "Hearts and Bones" was intended to be a Simon & Garfunkel album which was converted into a Simon solo album. Perhaps folky pop rock, this album leaves much to be desired.

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.

It's as though someone bet him he couldn't make a truly bad album and he made an effort to prove them wrong (a hypothetical that's consistent with his quirky sense of humor) by turning to yacht rock and pop synths. The man is responsible for at least two and legit 5-star albums (Bridge Over Troubled Water and Graceland) and four more that are in the running (Bookends, Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme, There Goes Rhymin' Simon', and Still Crazy After All These Years). This ain't one of 'em. Some albums are lost gems, some get lost for a reason...

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.

Aural celery. The moment it ended, I forgot everything about it and hungered for real food.

Got off to a slow start but came around.

Paul Simon er frábær sögumaður. Það skín gegnum alla þessa plötu. Mjög gott stöff.

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

Tranquilito

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoyable listen. Some of the songs were a bit goofy but there were some beautiful tracks as well. Paul Simon has a very smooth and soothing voice. I'll definitely explore more of his work.

Really good album with some great songs. They're not all equally great, unfortunately.

Classic. Excellent voice

After a rough start to the 80s, Paul Simon began to look back to the drawing board. Hearts and Bones was what came of it. While not exactly perfect, it does contain hints of what would happen a few years down the road for Paul musically. From what could have been (a Simon & Garfunkel reunion album) to what it eventually became, Hearts and Bones stands as one of the more intriguing, and little known, albums in Paul's discography and it is worthy of another consideration. Favorites: Hearts and Bones, When Numbers Get Serious, Think Too Much (b), Think Too Much (a), René and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War, Cars Are Cars, The Late Great Johnny Ace.

Good but he has better. Some chill stuff that would be played in a dark smokey bar with wood paneling.

Really very good!

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.

It's amazing to hear a whole album by Paul Simon and not recognize one song, because he's everywhere. His songwriting is so intimate and specific. This album is 50 years old and still sounds fresh.

4.1 - Simon’s warm and gentle songcraft is fully realized on this record and he spins compelling slice-of-life vignettes that often draw on heady influences (see “René and Georgette Magritte…”). At times Simon channels an inner Larry David and describes middle-aged afflictions like “Allergies” and overthinking and divorce lawyers. But songs like “Cars are Cars” ensure that Simon (and us listeners) never take him too seriously, and he maintains a playful flow. The record closes us out with a sincere and loving eulogy to Johnny Ace.

I don't have much to write because it wasn't bad and I also didn't really enjoy it. It was just music. It wasn't much more than that. First track was good and Think Too Much (a) is pretty good too. 2.5/5

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.

This is Sunday morning listening. Not controversial in the slightest. Not bad, not moving. Lemmy: do you want to rock?! Crowd: ehh Paul Simon: I got this

This album is so forgettable. It's not bad. It's not good. I didn't hate it. I didn't like it. Feels like the musical equivalent of overprescribed Prozac, just emotionless and flat.

PThis album put me on a fence. 80s soft rock hasn't classically been something I listen to or enjoy. But every song on this album was good and fit the album. Paul experimented with styles outside of his typical Simon & Garfunkel wheelhouse and I appreciate that. Some lyrics are definitely cheesy and haven't aged well, and some songs are less interesting than others, but overall I'm leaning closer to a 4 than a 3. 3.6/5 -> 4/5.

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)

Boring album with literally no memorable songs. The best I can say is that his voice sounds pretty good, and the instruments don't sound bad either.

2/5. Paul sings so well, it's hard to notice when the songs are boring but this one manages to help me out. Some are sweet for sure but just not great songwriting in others straight up. "Cars are cars"? Yeah, I mean like let's be serious. Someone must have heard this and thought something right? Maybe saying No to Simon was not possible. It's hard to say 1 just cause some songs are okay but it's a low 2 at best.

It is weird and different. But good. I can see to like it after a few listens.

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.

Listened to this late in bed with the volume turned low. Perfect conditions to listening to this relaxing chilled out album.

Fun, solid album. Enjoyed the listen.

It was nice enough

Alright! I haven't gotten very many solo albums from former members of iconic groups so far, so getting a Paul Simon solo album is neat. While I hadn't heard much about this album in comparison to something like Graceland, Hearts and Bones is actually pretty good. The sound is varied. One complaint (if you can call it that) that I have is that the final three songs give us one of the funniest tonal shifts I have ever heard in an album. You have two mostly serious songs with historical ties to tragedy with a funny car song in between them. That's just hilarious. Anyway, I still like Paul Simon's singing. The writing is pretty solid. Overall, while this might be a somewhat redundant pick for this list, I can see why some people have called this his most underrated album. I'd go so far as to say I liked it more than S&G's "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme", but not as much as Bridge Over Troubled Water. I'm feeling generous, so I'll give this album a light 4/5.

Ungewöhnlich - was gut ist. Simon ist sonst immer dasselbe, finde ich. Sogar ein wenig Bob Marley im Gesang.

Think too much

Pretty darn good

Cars are cars? Thanks for that insight Paul. No, no really. Great stuff there.

I gave the first two songs a solid listen. I skipped around through the tracks. I picked random points of songs to listen to. I finally accepted, this is not my thing and I will not make it all the way through. a couple lyrical sweet spots, but that's about it. (maybe it would've been better if he hadn't erased Garfunkel's contributions? just sayin...)

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.

Lovely album

Beetje saai. Je hoort dat het ouderwetse muziek is

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?

sommige nummers klonken echt als liftmuziek Cars are cars is een raar nummer Nee deze vond ik nie zo

Some of the production is dated, and Cars Are Cars is just an odd choice in an otherwise very personal set of lyrics, but when Paul Simon is on he is on and he’s on for a good amount of this record. Train In The Distance and The Late Great Johnny Ace are two of the best songs he ever wrote

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

Snooze

the first track is lowkey hitting… i didnt trust this at first but im kinda rocking with it ngl 😭😭 but im not really into folk rock i think it has to be certain songs 🤔 i dont think im gonna finish it (maybe) but i might come back to it sometime.. i just dont think it will stick. the second song on it is pretty good (title track) i actually dont know how to feel about it like i wanna skip thru it but i dont bc i wont listen to it again think too much a is good 😩 ok done with the album … its okay to me personally. i give it 4.5/10

Missing the soul it seems (2.5/5)

So this is what happens when '80s synthpop infects Paul Simon's sound.

I had never heard of this album but a great listen!

Not Paul simons best stuff by a long way but not terrible.

could i write poetry to this? n

More great songwriting, singing, and playing by an American treasure. This list probably includes several more of Paul Simon's assorted works. Most would agree that "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and (my favorite) "Still Crazy After All These Years" could easily be included. It's not like he made many (if any) "bad" albums. Four and one-half stars. Dinged a half-star for the occasional flourishes of cheesy 80's production (drum machines, synths, and shred guitar solos) that make it sound a bit dated.

Relaxed and easy going - nice listening without much excitement

Wow, I expected way more...

3.8 took me by surprise

I’m not a Paul Simon fan

Just because it says Paul Simon doesn’t mean it’s any good

Good

the cars are cars song...

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

Interesting listen since I only knew Simon's 1972 solo debut and 1986's *Graceland*. A couple of moments in this LP foretell the "global sounds" of the latter, but *Hearts And Bones* is still very much a transitional effort. Worse, its "lively" cuts are plagued by the usual shameful eighties production shenanigans (gated drums, weird synths, disgraceful overproduced arrangements...) Fortunately, the intimate ballads mostly enhanced by Simon's delicate playing on his acoustic guitar (ballads such as the title track, "Train In The Distance" or "René And Georgette Magritte...") aged far better. No surprise here. That being said, the overall construction of this LP is utterly strange and pretty unconvincing, even with these good cuts in mind. The second half of the first side is a huge letdown, for instance, with its emphasis on the two-part song "Think Too Much": by the time you reach the synth-heavy "a)" section of this composition (inexplicably placed *after* "b)" AND another short track between the two), you feel like Simon is hammering some sort of obfuscated point home without ever justifying why said point should be so important for the listener. And the repetition of the mantra giving its title to the two songs even becomes grating. Don't think too much? Yeah, I've heard you the first times, Paul. Apply your own advice and don't overthink it, please! Don't get me wrong, I understand the "thematic" concerns about the opposition between heart and mind Simon feels so concerned about... Yet musically speaking, the whole thing is sort of a cheesy borefest, to be honest. I've just read that Art Garfunkel was supposed to sing with Simon on those tunes, initially, thus marking an umpteenth attempt to reunite the cantakerous old couple again. Seems like the two men's deep-seated resentment (and even hatred) for each other ruined everything before Simon ever had a chance to set his original plans into motion. Yet one can't help feeling that maybe Garfunkel was right not to associate his singing skills to this project. Compared to the two boys' heyday in the sixties, this thing would have probably sounded ridiculous if it had been released as a "Simon and Garfunkel" record. An interestion curio closes this LP, "The Late Great Johhny Ace". This song is interesting for lyrical reasons, because Simon here weaves a tapestry starting with Kennedy's assassination and ending with the one of John Lennon, turning the songwriter into a chronicler of the demise of the sixties' utopias (just like Bob Dylan recently was when he released his own "Murder Most Foul" epic). And it's interesting for musical reasons since Philip Glass composed the orchestral piece ending this song (and album), with his unmistakable flourishes--sweeping, repetitve and hypnotic for sure. Yet that's it. This record is never thrilling, only "interesting". And its flaws are too obvious today to make it an essential one anyway. As of now, it seems to me that only the 1972 solo album and *Graceland* can apply for that much-coveted position. So, next please... 2/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, which translates to a 7/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 294 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 311 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 169 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 229 (including this one)

ne mogu, cars are cars me dokrajcio jesus

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.

Mehhh

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.

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

Some of his songs felt like he was running out of ideas for lyrics but musically it was pretty good

This didn't do it for me. Too easy listening for my taste.

Okay for a Sunday morning listening, otherwise too soft & quiet for me.

I loved his Graceland album so much it's basically one of my "desert island" picks. This is nowhere near as good.

So mellow to be quite gentle in effect and easily and fully listenable. Graceland is the better record, obviously, and one is loath to overpraise given the size of Simon's ego and his reputation for being an awful human being. But one will separate artist from art here, while hastening to point out what a very stupid song is "Cars Are Cars."

Pretty good

Oh fuck yes. Hearts and Bones and Train in the Distance are so beautiful that it hardly matters what the rest of the album sounds like. There are some real clunkers. Overall it’s unfocused, or like he was trying out contemporary styles that just don’t suit him. But what is good, is fucking amazing.

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.

maybe he does think too much (part b). A nice listen but not my favorite from him

I did enjoy this album but it’s just not my favorite of his.

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.

Was ok.

Cantautor. Leeeento. Un 2.

If I want to fall asleep to an album, I might pick this one.

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

no major stand outs for me, but not bad

Some decent stuff but other things I just couldn't take.

Pretty chill. Pretty 80s. Pretty good. 3.5/5

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

Não me pegou muito, talvez deva dar outra chance algum dia

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

One of the best!

i grew up listening to him!

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.

I was curious why this album was among those chosen from Paul Simon's catalog, seemed an odd choice. I ended up reading a couple of reviews that referred to this as his most underrated album. I don't hear it. First off, while some bands thrived, even depended on the '80s production aesthetic to define them, so many others — particularly legacy artists from decades before — didn't know what to make of the '80s sounds. That's certainly the case here. The production (those awful drums) does not help this album. But beyond that, the whole affair seems rather aimless. I don't know how many Paul Simon albums are on the list, but I don't get the inclusion of this one. I was thoroughly underwhelmed.

I'd never heard any of these songs before today, and I was surprised at how many of them I liked. (I wouldn't say I a Paul Simon fan, per se, but he's all right.) Things got off to a bit of a rough start with the lyrics on that Allergies song, but after that, I enjoyed myself. A few songs were a little too easy listening for my tastes, but the others were playful and/or thought-provoking. So yeah. Nice job. Maybe I am a Paul Simon fan after all.

I'm a fan of Paul Simon but completely unfamiliar with this album. The album felt like an effort to churn out the Paul Simon product without heart and soul. Today I might say it was like using a LLM to generate a Paul Simon album. Maybe he needed to produce this so he could get to Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints. Cars are Cars got me downright mad!

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

This was bad he is talented just the album content was lacking

Definitely not on part with his work in Simon & Garfunkel. This was not for me in the slightest. Almost shut it off by the ridiculousness of Cars are Cars. Yes Paul, cars ARE cars, now please stop singing! 1/5

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

Nothing was bad but it was strange. I don’t know. Meta music?? I don’t get it.

Love me some Paul Simon, fantastic lyricist and musician.

- First time listening to this - Thought it was very good but not quite as good as some of his other stuff - Kind of weird topics for song lyrics - Fav songs: Think Too Much, When Numbers Get Serious, The Late Great Johnny Ace

Great

I was hoping for so much more than what I got out of this one.

Great! I really enjoyed it. The title track is my fav song on here.

Allergies ist nett, aufgewertet durch die perlenden Läufe von Al Di Meola. Der bestimmt kein Album unter den 1001 hat. Der Rest ist eher gepflegte Langeweile.

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.

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

Some okay songs but also some... really bad ones. Particularly "Allergies" and "Cars are Cars"

Not sure how this made the 1,001 albums list. Solid but not up with his best. Docked a star for a few throwaway songs.

4.25

Farts & Boners lol gotem

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

It’s really good. Missing a big hit, but so constant and an easy listen. Every time I’m about to lose interest it does something silly to draw me back in. I could be talked into a 5, but for feels more fair

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

okayish for a singer songwriter

Nice easy going music, enjoyable listen

2/5 - good voice but I dont think this is a good album

Nice enough to listen to but it doesn't really wow you at any point, possibly outstays it's welcome a little too. High 2.

Viktor tsoj.. think too much a...hyvät wibes... JA SE ONKIN ALBUMIN SUUR ONGELMA.. wibes,,,, just wibes,, not good album..

Meh.

I love the title track from this album; it's beautifully melancholic. Similarly "Train In The Distance". Not so keen on "When Numbers Get Serious", and who allowed "Cars Are Cars" onto the record? 3.5 (there are better Paul Simon albums) but rounding up to 4.

I love Paul Simon, but I didn’t love this album. Better than neutral, but a bit too goofy at times for my liking.

Some great songs. Overall album ok

Kind of an in-between album with echoes of the tight creative work of his earlier solo albums and what's to come in Graceland, with complex rhythms and bass. Much of it, too, is marred by the production trends of the 80s: overuse of synth, echo-y drums, and sanitized guitar solos. In the end, every song is good, none are great -- well, maybe "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War."

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.

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

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.

I'm a fan of Paul Simon in general, but I think the choice of this album for the list might actually be doing him a disservice, especially for anyone looking for an inroads to his solo material. I mean I enjoy this for all its 80s zaniness, and there are some real standout tracks, but as an album it's highly inconsistent, and more for hardcore fans who are already sold/willing to go for the ride. Some of these lyrics are just bonkers in a way I find amusing, but I can see how they'd be off-putting to others. I mean the dude was on top of the world at this point after the Simon and Garfunkel reunion concert, and I think he gave zero fucks what people thought about his output - he was gonna do what he wanted to do no matter what. I respect that to a certain degree, and think that sort of hubris can actually lead to some interesting and entertaining material, as it did here. The standout tracks to me are the title track, Train in the Distance, and The Late Great Johnny Ace. That last one, with it's sudden turn into an almost Philip Glass like minimal piece is simply haunting, but quite an unexpected tone shift after such a motley assortment of songs. Since it's Paul Simon, I'll go with it and respect it. Too bad he pissed Garfunkel off so bad during the recording of this that he burned his bridge over troubled water.

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.

Well, after the past few albums, this sounded like liquid gold. It’s a little sleepy, but definitely soothing. Paul Simon is a great storyteller.

Very good album, enjoyed the song about allergies.

Great lyricism and calming music.