Reviews (page 10 of 14)
ok
Got a little weird after African Skies. This is a take it or leave it album for me. Very much a 3. 3/5
Oh man, here we go. The album which contains arguably the worst song of all time. I say arguably, because there's always one dick who will be all like 'but it is very well recorded and produced, with sublime if quirky lyrics and ear-opening instrumentation'. No no - it's just shit. But maybe the rest of the album is good? Well, who am I to say what's good? Objectively sure, there's good stuff here. Culturally, it seems you can fall into two camps - foul appropriation which he should be shamed for, or shining a spotlight on artistry which he should be praised for. Me? I don't care. I can admit that musicically, lyrically, vocally it is 'good' . But musically, lyrically, vocally, it was mostly painful for me. I don't like Simon's vocal approach, his intonation and the repetitive talky rhythm which rarely changes from song to song. It evokes an absense of feeling and a lack of melody. The African singers...I've never understood the appeal. Every time I've heard that group perform I don't understand the worship and applause they receive. The bass sound is terrible - Call Me Al is not the exception. Lyrically, it's the usual storytelling malarkey which is fine but goes in one ear and out the other for me. Musically, there is plenty packed in but it still all comes out sounding like Call Me Al. Several songs follow a suspiciously similar set of chords and root notes. But the band plays well and you know it's a talented bunch. Outside of a couple of songs though, all of that talent doesn't add up to anything on a personal level. I'm bewildered that the album sold so well more than the fact that it is still held in such high regard. I get that Boomers eat this sort of thing up and that it was an important album by an important dude. It's more interesting than his debut, but the style and the vocals don't do it for me.
"You Can Call Me Al" is the most famous track from this album, but Ladysmith Black Mambazo stole the show for me. I really liked the South African influence in this album. "Under African Skies" is a lot of fun. The vocal harmonies on "Homeless" elevated the listening experience dramatically for me.
11 songs Added to liked: -The Boy In the Bubble (knew the song) -You Can Call Me Al (knew the song)
Awin mawe awin mawe awin mawe awin mawe Me agarro medio en contramano la verdad, se me hace admirable la mezcla de folk anglogermánico con el sudáfricano. Dicho esto no me veo escuchándolo. No queda guardado pero awin mawe awin mawe
Havent fully listened
parecía música d animación de pixar por partes
Overraskende pent.
Good, nice energy and interesting themes - but felt somewhat twee and samey after a while.
It's like when a reggae fan wants to do reggae music. It sometimes slaps though
Rv
This album was pretty fun. I like hearing all the different styles.
Afrikkalaista perinnemusiikkia yhdistettynä länsimaalaiseen folkkiin ja poppiin. Ja muutama muu johonkin haitarimusiikkiim sekoitettu biisi. Taas yllättäen (eli ei) hyväntuulista. Parhaat: Graceland, You Can Call Me Al
You mentioned yesterday that there is a great pleasure in writing a negative review. It is easier to articulate and challenge the mistakes than it is to isolate and garland the achievements. It is a hard to describe art. Clearly, then there is a potentially greater pleasure in making a moral argument against something that you find aesthetically displeasing: more and bigger mistakes, less messy nuance. Grand dismissal is theatrically more satisfying than the snide, detailed takedown. It eats into your time less as well. You can get on about your day. When the target is an 80s, multi-hit mega-seller that everyone likes, the pleasure is even more immense. And, so, I know what I'll be doing when we generate Thriller by predatory paedophile, Michael Jackson. I like Graceland. The songs are all sweet and catchy. The collaborations are clearly successful on record, if not elsewhere. Paul Simon remains as oblique as Bob Dylan, but with a bit more effort. 3.5 These are very pretty songs with nice Paul Simony lyrics. What else is there to say? 2.5/5
The music was great, especially the Afrobeat and Zydeco tracks. I just kinda hate his voice. If he'd shut up it would have been a better album.
All in all it's not bad but not my vibe, not my style.
Some songs carry the album more than others. More enjoyable blended genre than I expected.
Destacados del album: 1- The boy in the bubble: linda letra y abre de forma muy linda el album. Aborda temas como la violencia la decepcion ante los impulsos, la embriaguez y la violencia de la crianza que caracterizaban esos años ". 2-All around the world or the myth of fingerprints: Lo pongo como destacado ya que contiene referencias de un tema de charly garcia y ademas la letra esta buena señalando a las camaras, presentadores de television y haciendo un juego de palabras nombrando a brad pit implicitamente, "on the black pit town". Resumen del álbum: Claramente es un álbum atravesado por la cultura africana, como se puede ver en "homeless" y otros albums. Contiene artistas compañeros de allá mismo también y varias frases en idioma suajili por lo que pude averiguar. Me parece lindo el concepto y lo que representa pero siento que no se ha exprimido la idea al máximo de lo que podría haber dado. Hay temas que son de aquellos los cuales uno ya parece haber escuchado alguna vez, obvio son de los 80s así que mas o menos la mayoría mantiene esa acústica y efectos tanto en guitarras y voz. Observaciones: "All around the world or the myth of fingerprints" repite ritmo y cierta melodia de "no me dejan salir" de Charly garcia. No se bien si se conocen estos dos musicos o paul simon era su oyente o algo asi pero se hace un dato extravagante de oir. En sintesis: A este album le doy un 6, disfrute escucharlo pero no lo volveria a escuchar completo
wowwww the song graceland is just stuck in my head now hahahaaa.
Good
Upbeat, happy and not bad at all
I actually wrote a decent review for once, but then the site fucking died. Alas, the album was actually not too bad and somewhat enjoyable until we started hitting the middle of the album where the Lion King/breathing bullshit starts.
Im surprised that I liked this more than his other albums on this list.. but he still sounds like raisins in potato salad
funky, folk/country tyylinen levy. haitari kuulostaa hyvältä ensimmäisessä biisissä. miksaus kuulostaa selkeältä. kolmanessa kappalessa on hyvät choir/tribal voksut jotka ovat kertosäkeen päällä. Taustakuorosta ei oikeen saa selvää. neljännessä kappaleessa harmonikan kyytiin tulee myös saksofoni. tässä kappalessa voisi lisätä vocalseihin lisää kaikua. tulee myös bob dylan fiilis vocalsien rytmityksestä. vitosbiisissä hyvä maailmanmusiikki fiilis 6 biisi vaihtuu suoraan 80 luvulle ja se kuuluu taustalla soivista syntheistä.. mikä vittu tää on tää snare tässä vikassa biisissä???
Love the African and texmex vibes
Ritmos tribales, muy rítmico, creo que lo habia escuchado en su dia, pero es alegre y con motivación
So I love Paul Simon, even though I find his writing a bit pretentious. For 1986, I think it's kind of brave to try an African themed album mixed with folk/pop. I think Graceland is a masterpiece of writing in my opinion and carries the entire album. I do find the rest of the album overrated and somewhat annoying. Again, another album with incredible musicianship. Especially the bass. I dig the African vibe though in small doses.
Ouf... Where to even start. The highs are high but the lows are just beyond more low. I don't care about the lack of credit Paul Simon have to the South African artists (I do but not in the context of how I feel about the music), I don't think it's cultural appropriation, and I don't think it was wrong of him to record in Johannesburg during the apartheid embargo. His voice is just so muted and soft and kind of twee. The mid range is really muffled. I have good memories wrapped up in this album and it was hard to decide if this were a 3 or a 4. Either way, it just doesn't resonate like it used to.
Cute for a rode trip but i dont think ive have achieved this level of happiness and joy in my heart quite yet
80s rockers had a strange but common symptom of a midlife crisis: they began drawing inspiration for new songs from Africa. Paul Simon even went so far as to dig so deep that he actually went to South Africa to record with local artists, prompting a howl from the leftist morality police, because of apartheid. This howl continues to this day, this time on the topic of "cultural appropriation" (which, by the way, doesn't exist), which doesn't prevent the album from being quite positive and danceable. But what does Africa have to do with it? No, there are some of their folk music here, but it starts around the middle of the album and are expressed through bongos and folk chants. There's a much stronger influence of country, rockabilly, and classic rock 'n' roll here, and the African theme was explored long before this album's release by Talking Heads, and not long ago by Peter Gabriel. And they did a much better job.
I couldn’t care less about supposed cultural appropriation. This is just a boring album. It’s not bad, just not very good either.
it was ok i suppose, not to the level of the other album though
This record had a very poppy feel to it. Very easy to listen to and unoffensive. Favourite Track(s): Gumboots, That Was Your Mother Least Favourite Track(s): Diamonds on The Soles of Her Shoes
Recognized one song, the rest was new to me. Wasn't crazy about it
I really enjoyed this album. I liked all the African and German influences on it. This album really used all the features well. I also think that the time period can really be herd on Graceland because of the 80 system production. I'll give it a 5 or6.
a few good songs, nothing spectacular.
The whitest man who ever whited taking “inspiration” from African music to make an absolute fortune? A story as old as Elvis. At least Paul Simon doesn’t touch kids.
Incredibly well produced and nicely performed. Every song sounds the same to me.
80s folk rock. Features eclectic mixture of genres, including pop, rock, a cappella, zydeco, isicathamiya and mbaqanga. South African influence. His most successful album. Style does not do it for me, couple of hits.
the simon with no garfunkel. this one is weird. simultaneously i have a lot of thoughts on it but am struggling for things to say about it. the songs are like, fine? there's a lot of good sounds in em but they're honestly a little samey and as there's not really much of a structure to the album as a whole i have trouble telling the songs apart. this makes "homeless" my favourite almost by default since it's the only track different enough to catch my attention. which feels a little unfair cos it is genuinely a good song. but its shining brighter against its blurred surroundings, yknow? having said this, it's not that other songs didn't catch my attention, but in most other cases what i was noticing was that the lyrics are kind of fucking bad. paul simon's vocal style is fine but i'm not a fan of the "i said, he said, i said, she said" loop he repeatedly falls into throughout this album. it got so severe in "i know what i know" that it legitimately pissed me off and i had to go take a shower. i don't need a blow by blow account of a conversation you had one time dude. gimme a break.. ultimately my feelings on this one are complicated. i think i like it, but the bad lyrics keep taking me out of it, but i don't think it would be better as an instrumental album cos i enjoy the quality of the vocals as an instrument. i feel like vampire weekend did a much better job with the same musical ideas, but i don't think this album is worse for it even if contra is kind of just the same album but better. and i'm not even gonna get into the political context this was made in. probably not the wisest move? idk. ....i'm tired of thinking about this album.
Divorce albums are sometimes something special. It's hard to rate this specific one in a vacuum considering the politics of it, but it's undeniably a continuous jam with a great variety of instruments and vocalists. While it's not something that draws me in enough to listen to it again, I bet it makes a pretty good neutral roadtrip pick. "That Was Your Mother" is not great. Simon's voice hits such a dissonant tone with the rest of the song and it does not meld at all. But this is the only standout offender.
Sympa !
From a technical standpoint, this album is AMAZING. There is about 4 different genres all put together, usually within the same song! Rock, country, funk, folk, etc. Pretty amazing. Each song is beautifully and articulately crafted. I love the crisp bass. The lyrics are incredible. The challenge for me is the sound is very dated, sounds EXACTLY like 1986. Also, Paul is clearly a one-truck pony on this album. Every single song is just stream of consciousness almost spoken word verses. It gets old after a while. Artistically this is a 5, but I struggle getting into it from an actual listening standpoint.
I agree 100% with Chris.
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes hat mir am besten gefallen! You can call me Al kannte ich. Insgesamt gute Stimmung. Sehr rhythmisch.
ya tellement de trucs différents quesaco
A pretty excellent album. I liked it enough, but it has that scent of the kind of music that would benefit greatly from re-listening: like it asks of you a warm familiarity. I feel like I only half-grokked onto it, when it's the kind of album that you're meant to nostalgically remember playing in the car on a hot road trip in your childhood. Maybe I need to listen to this again while cradling a beer on the verandah or something. Thankfully, it's got some groovy-as-hell basslines and Afro sound peppering an album that would suffer from being yet another folk-infused cheesy 80s popfest. I like it a lot, and I think it has some enormous potential to be a subtle favourite, but for now it's not blowing my socks off. Fav tracks: I Know What I Know, Homeless
You can certainly call me Al but I don’t know if the rest of it left much of an impact for me personally!
Not as good as I'd expected. The other one was better
Some very familiar songs.
2.6/5 I love the vibe of this album. I could just see myself listening to this while on holiday looking over the beach having a few drinks. In saying that, a few songs that I didn't really like but I'm sure if I listened to this more I'd rate it higher.
Yeah it’s ok I only saved to songs impressive variation and sound but it a bit bland and the most listened to song was not the best I didn’t comprehend probably gonna be a 3-4/10
Tonttumusiikkia. Afrikkalainen musiikin tyylilaji mbaqanga on inspiroinut albumia.
good. 6/10
Pretty good album, mixes African sounds with Paul Simon’s folk stand our songs: the boy in yhe bubble Graceland You can call me Al
Not my style
7.5/10 No es mi estilo, pero es bueno
Estuvo bien, pero me aburrió.
I like the lyrics, but the music, way less. I dindt expect this album to sound like that. At the same time I know almost nothing abouth Simon and Garfunkel. Or just Paul Simon in general.o Disapointed with this one, I expected to like it more :/
Very interesting album. Did not expect the large amount of African music influence and features from African artists including Lady Black Mambazo whose album I listened to from this list. Still not that captivating, some really boring, plain 80s pop songs, but unique album
255/1089 oooh it’s simon as in garfunkel. i’m liking the mix of genres here, it’s very peaceful and harmonious it was a nice album to listen to, probably above average and i think i’d listen again faves: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland 56/100
3/5 I completely understand the innovation and the art behind the album and concept, I like Simon as an artist and definitely there is incredible talent behind each song. But is not my cup of tea.
3 stars
I can appreciate the plethora of influences in here and the collaborations. I disliked the recording and production quality was very inconsistent across tracks. Some sounding great, some with questionable mixing decisions being made. All in all, not a bad record. I wouldn't listen again, but I'm glad I did once.
Mostly recorded in South Africa iirc. The SA jazz and jive influence is very present and adds quite a lot to the album imo.
3.5⭐️/5 03.28.2026
It was ok. 3/5
Call me Al got stuck with me for two days. Talented guy.
Distinto a lo que suelo escuchar, pero me gustó. Sobre todo el estilo country y la voz del cantante. Me guarde algunos temas que fueron mis favoritos. Uno de ellos " graceland"
Me gustó pero no es lo que suelo escuchar
Paul Simon is an all-timer for a reason. Although I think I may prefer his dark and brooding “bridge over troubled water” era
Has an upbeat vibe. I very much liked the first track.
while i was listening to the title track my girlfriend messaged me to say that it sucks. i can see the argument for that! especially given how this is the poster child of slicked up, westernized, white-savior "world music". what a gross term. "world music". is the anglosphere not part of the world? lord knows this list is guilty as hell of ignoring everything outside of it. but i digress. this is pretty light and definitely keeps the bounce of the Southern African music inspiring it. pretty decent listen overall; does a good job too at standing up to the very 80s production style. deserves to be one of the 1001? yea, but like. add in some shit from the scenes that inspired it, ok?
Easy
Great 80’s album from 60’s icon
I'm not as hyped as some others on here. It's quite good fun. I think the different musical influences and collaborations bring a bit of a different flavour to it. You Can Call Me Al is the most famous song on here and is the standout.
Enjoyable album with some classics
i feel like theres nothing crazy special about this album. like its definitely something but nothing really stood out to me personally. also i didnt finish listening to it
Fun, but not much my vibe.
No. 134 liked it. good background music
This is a solid album and I enjoyed it more than i thought I would after the first song. Paul Simon does this talk sing thing that I wasn’t really a fan of when the album started and then it started to grow on me as the album went on. I think a strong point of the album is the sonics and all of the cultural inspiration that can be heard. The album really grew on me in the second half and I found myself bopping around to it.
Better than i thought it would be....
Love the fretless bass. There is some interesting resources, but overall this country-funk style isn't really my thing.
I had this CD way back in the day and listened to it quite a bit for a while. It was unique and fun at the time but it's not something I kept going back to. Certainly not as good and rich as some of the old Simon and Garfunkel tunes.
One classic song that I knew, which was joyful to hear. A pleasant listen.
nvm not my taste but ehh
I mean it's ok.
Mid at best with come catchy songs for sure. But, the people on here crying about cultural appropriation are hilarious - ship has sailed schmohawks, we're all tired of hearing it.
Cool fusion of styles... grew on me more as it went along.
At first I tried to place where I’ve heard his voice before and then you can call me Al started playing and I knew!! This album was goid
Alright easy listening (?). Sounds like other Paul Simon to me but with a heavy dose of African music as well. I've nothing bad to say about his music, but it's never grabbed my attention.
Not my type of music, but it made me feel I was inside a movie
interesting African sounds
Message in a Bottle is classic!! I didn’t think I’d like this album though but was pleasantly surprised. Definitely would listen again.
pov you are racist white boy on the tropical island of joy and whimsey and cultural appropriation
Fin album, smešno mi što ima neku random pesmu iz kralja lavova. Idalje, album nije nešto specijalan, ima jednu jaku pesmu i to je to. Svako jutro mi je lagaanoo prošlo uz ovaj album tkd ocena je 3,75/5 aliii neću ostaviti 4 :'(
I like it, but don't love it
Vampire Weekend influence?
Props to PS for so effectively shaking off the 60's folk vibe Quite enjoyed listening to this again - not my usual style, but it has a fun energy
my parents would enjoy this
Hm. Really want to like it. A 3-4.
Sfeerig. Veel liedjes die ik kende eigenlijk. Maar niet allemaal bangers. Diamonds on the sole of her shoe was de beste
Not my style, but I always enjoy Paul Simon
Easy to listen to, a couple of classics but not something I’d play regularly
I've been meaning to listen to this for a while. I've always liked You Can Call Me Al and there are a few Paul Simon songs that I've liked over the years. He's a great musician with a diverse range of influences which come across clearly in this album. It's just a little too upbeat for me, but great nonetheless. 3/5 You Can Call Me Al is a fun track and it's an easy listen, but just a little too upbeat for me.
It lost me on some song, it gain me on others
I appreciated this but feel like Paul could have put a bit more welly in it. Like how about some more expression and variation in the vocals? I do just wanna shoutout the bass in You Can Call Me Al, like a minute before the end because that little groove gave me life.
With some africans
This is the kind of album that feels like it was over in 33 minutes. You think I just put this on, how can it be over already. Very cool album. Will always remind of 2nd grade because my teacher played you can call me al and dont worry be happy all the time.
Hmmm, I really like Paul Simon's lyrics and his tunes are great, I just don't really get on with the feel of this album, there are a few songs that are alright, but a lot of it just is there. I keep getting told by everyone that this is a classic etc etc, but I just don't love it. It's ok at best (beyond those few tracks). Part of wants to understand the hype, part of me wants to be contrary and hate it. Most of me is indifferent to a lot of it. It popularised the idea of world music which I find to be a bit of a naff term and made me sit through hours of music I wasn't too fond of on jools Holland. Meh.
I think it's I great album. I know it since childhood. As a less experienced listener, I tend to focus on the "world music" side of it. Going back to it today makes me realize that the power of this album is the quality of the songs themselves. The moments where the songwriting isn't great and relay on the African production are quite weak. But most of the album is written very well. Under African skies is more beautiful than I remembered. Less strong tracks are homeless, gumboots and that was your mother. Almost all others are between good and great. If a younger me was reviewing this album, it would get I 5. But I'm rating it now, knowing there are better projects in Paul's catalog. A 3.5
ALBUM #2 🤠 02/01/26 folk is deffo not my genre, the only songs i really liked here were: The Boy In the Bubble You Can Call Me Al its too american im sorry
It was good
Having seen this live there is something slightly flat about the recording that doesn't quite capture it properly 3.5*
Not really my jam. I thought a lot of the African influence was neat, some good bass solos. I can see my mom liking this as a teenager.
Less bad than I remember but I still think it’s a bombastic vanity project. Some tracks are great, others are fine, but I won’t revisit this on purpose.
Great music for dancing with your baby
I'm so very mixed here. On one hand, I love something about these bright sounds with burbling bass and plucked guitar that make me think of some of the world entries in this list (e.g., Songhoy Blues). On the other, there is something distinctively cheesy feeling about this all that makes me feel like it lacks a certain genuine nature. Like even the bass burble feels like a caricature in many cases (especially on You Can Call Me Al). But then You Can Call Me Al actually plays and I can't help but love this song. I could see where someone could love this record, but for me it is just fine. 3
Paul Simon albums are funny cause it's mostly just him talking with instruments playing behind him. This one was mostly nothing special for me although an easy listen. You Can Call Me Al will never not get me going though. And the last song was a big ol' bop.
This was just alright... He got pretty quirky and while some people can pull it off I don't feel like this does. Pretty meh 3.
segundo album desse mano aqui o.O FAVS (top 3): graceland, you can call me al, under african skies mençoes honrosas: the boy in the bubble, that was your mother, homeless ah, legalzinho nota final: 3.5/5
Not my favorite
A jolly vacation vibe overall 6.8/10
not my vibe
The album is alright. It's nice background music, but nothing more for me.
3.5/5 Good, but not for me. Clearly a direct ancestor of Vampire Weekend. Drum recordings are some of the worst I've ever heard put to vinyl
It was fine. Probably won't listen to this album again. Has some songs that are nostalgic that I was glad to listen to again.
Toe tapping. Easy listening. Multi-hit.
Fun album, a few good songs, but overall just average musical entertainment.
up beat could dance and laugh to
I wanted to hate, but You Can Call Me Al is seriously a bopper. The rest of it is fine.
Sorryyyy er jo ganske fan
Not really for me but consistent in its quality. Would be a good soundtrack for going on an adventure with someone I love but idk when I'd throw this on otherwise.
After reading the wiki I think I feel both sides of the argument. It’s good that he worked with all these South African musicians and shined a lil light on that part of the world but also he made hugggge commercial successes by appropriating music that white western audiences were not comfortable with if it had come from a Black person. THATS MY TAKE!
A complicated album to review. Some magnificent instrumentation, especially in the rhythms and fretless bass playing. But Simon's twee storytelling and thin voice just doesn't mesh well overall and hinders more tracks than it compliments (You Can Call Me Al and Diamonds... being clear exceptions).
You Can Call Me Al, I Know What I Know, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. It was alright, it didn't stand out to me that much. Worth a relisten in the future since I feel like my opinion could change.
Like it 3/5
Good solid album, great songwriting split between a 3 and a 4. Worth another listen
160626 23:50 3.5
The fuck is this dude on about?
Perfectly pleasant
some good tunes. better than i thought
Look, it is not bad, but if I'd rather listen to South African artists than Paul Simon's cheap imitation.
Pas vraiment mon truc
meh
yea
enjoyable listen, but didn't stand out to me
the songs were long asf lol 😂 but I enjoy listening to it as background music !
Graceland was a perfectly fine album, I enjoyed most of the tracks. I like Simon & Garfunkel so I figured I’d enjoy this album but it was a lot different in sound than them as a group. Nothing particularly jumped out at me but I did like it.
very folk-y song, i hear some synth action going on, i didnt know the synth was even invented back then, lots of instruments and also surprisingly prominent bass, vocals sound as if i'm listening to the lion king or something
Paul took it to the limit the "USA for Africa" idea, recording the full album embedded with african spirits in the air (and music)
80er, teils Country Style, gute Laune, .. You can call me Al (..if you be my bodyguard).. Afrikanische Einflüsse, Gospel, Chor
Wasn't feeling this one at first, but it grew on me a lot by the end. I think my appreciation for Vampire Weekend helped me out here.
summer album def was good at the start and the end the African refs were rlly good to just kinda random lol
I liked the African collaboration. Call Me Al in the middle of it through me off. A solid album but not something I would come back to regularly
Normalde dinlemediğim bi tarzdı ama dinlerken sıkılmadım
i like diamonds on the sole of her shoes
- mukava pehmeä soundi tällä levyllä - you can call me al on sarjassamme biisi jonka nimeä kukaan ei tiedä mutta jonka kaikki on kuullu - kasari kuuluu tällä levyllä vahvasti, hyvällä tavalla - on tää paree ku simon & garfunkelin levyt mitä on tullu vastaan
It was alright, better towards the end of the album but overall an Alright listen.
Im 50/50 on this one here. Simon is a great writer and vocalist but half of this feels like white guy kumbaya. Like hes using funk slap bass and traditional drums and it all feels out of place. It just doesnt fit in my head. Oil and water type. You can call me al and Graceland are the standouts. Shout out to the boomwhacker on al. What a weird instrument that i never would have thought id see beyond the 2nd grade. It has it in some respects and its wildly off base in others. Thats the short and long of it.
- The appropriation and entering apartheid SA is problematic, especially given that the album isn’t meant to be a political FU to apartheid - it’s just supposed to “bring this music to light” - so that feels weak, at best. The possible plagiarism is also concerning. - Why would anyone use that bass sound? - I like a handful of songs on here despite the annoying bass, lol, and repeated listens helped me like the album more. - That said, the chorus of Graceland really irritates me - the verses are nice, but it’s ruined by the chorus. Honestly, this is how I feel about a bunch of the songs on the album - super busy with instrumental/vocal elements that I find chaotic and/or annoying (e.g.,The screeching vocals on I Know What I Know and horns on Gumboots and The Boy In The Bubble, the sudden oomba oomba in Under African Skies that’s not sung by a South African, but Linda Ronstadt, lol, the honkey tonk guitar on the final song, the entire That Was Your Mother). Also, what’s with the weird fade out ending on Gumboots?
Liked Boy in the Bubble and Crazy Love well enough but it felt a little forced when Simon leaned more heavily into the African influences
I first listened to this album on a road trip with Sarah and Katie Watson as we were coming back from Leavenworth in December 2025. It was much more upbeat and understandable that the previous album we just listened to by Bruce Springsteen. This album is upbeat and has a variety of collaborations with harmonies from Ladysmith Black Mambazo providing a good variety which kept me interested. Anytime accordion is included in a major album is a win for all the polka enthusiasts. Some songs actually sounded like a polka tune.
i couldnt get into it thef rist song jsut really wasnt for me. It maybe couldve been amazing but i couldnt see it to the end
This reminds of getting ready in high school. Not normally my kind of music but this is pretty good. Not sure if it’s better than the Black Album.
This is such a okay album. Totally washed over me and inoffensive in quite an offensive way.
2 and a half
Perfectly fine. But I think it's overrated
I want to love Paul Simon, but something about the upbeat sound of the album just leaves me at a remove, I can’t seem yo get past the jingly-jangly sound. I know it’s supposed to be a phenomenal album
This is ok but I've pretty much have decided that I don't need to have any Paul Simon solo albums in my collection.
I use some of these songs on yoga Playlist. I liked listening to the album all the way through. Mellow easy listening
Eh, it was fine but honestly I think it's kind of overrated.
The whole album felt like each track was leading up to You Can Call Me Al, then just wound down.
With how classic "You Can Call Me Al" is, I was figuring to find a lot more to sink my teeth into on this album. There was a cohesive strand running through, and I found the experimentation to be quite intriguing, but ultimately I was left disappointed more than anything. On a scale of 1-5, with the mid-point being absolute balanced neither exceptional nor useless, I found it to be a safe 2.5/5.
A good album that didn’t particularly resonate with me
Good album. Probably couldn’t be made today.
Cool African-inspired rhythms; interesting lyrics; it's one of those background, easy-listening albums; could be a bit boring at times
I feel like it wasn’t Paul Simon’s best. A lot of the songs were nice, but never hit that head-bobbing hook that his other tracks will. I mean, I’m inflating the score because “You Can Call Me Al” is one of the greatest songs of all time and I feel comfortable with that, but I think this will be my lowest Paul Simon rating.
Dzisiaj oficjalnie zakonczylam staz, zaczyna sie weekend, jest piatek godzina 13 i jest finito, gumboots calkowicie pasuje do takiego moodu az chce sie usmiechac, i know what i know daje ten sam klimacik i w sumie jak tak slucham to wszytkie daja bardzo pozytywny 80’s vibe takiej imprezy collage girls, ogolnie nie jest zly ale mnie nudzi, kazda piosenka brzmi bardzo podbnie ma podobny vibe i po prostu czuje ze zadna do mnie nie przemawia na tyle zeby dodac ja do polubionych utworow
Vissa mer catchy låtar som ”The boy in the bubble” och ”You can call me al”. Snygga features på resterande låtar och fångar upp en stor del av kulturen från tredje världen. Dock inte riktigt min smak, men uppskattar innovationen
stick to folk bro please. i don't even think this is cultural appropriation, its just fucking boring.
good album just not my taste
It’s very catchy, some songs more than others but, that guitar makes me want to drive for a very long time in the daytime when the weather is just right and the sun feels good in the breeze.
So far, I've liked the song "I know what I know" the most. But I also really enjoyed the musicals and I think the drums(?) in the song "... diamonds on the sole of her shoes." Also really liked "Under African Skies." that definitely has to be my favourite from this album. It's beautiful. Currently listening to homeless. The vocals are ethereal and angelic. This one is good too.
An album that got better as it went along. The synth bass tones in the beginning really didn’t work for me, but the rhythms in the second half of the album redeemed it.
S'ok. Not my thing, but tunes from when I was a teen so some recollections there
the boy in the bubble- 5 graceland- 5 i know what i know- 5 gumboots- 6 or 7 diamonds on the soles of her shoes- 5 you can call me al- never knew the name of this song. 5 or 6 under african skies- 5 homeless- 5 crazy love vol ii- 5 that was your mother- 5 all around the world or the myth of fingerprints- 5
Not as good as Still Crazy After All These Years.
Dodododo
It was fun music, but it's just not my jam.
i'm so sorry, but the story behind this album and the musicianship involved is much more interesting to me than the album itself. this feels kind of bizarre to say-- and i didn't think i'd find myself saying it for our first paul simon record-- i think he really did need art garfunkel. i know he's an asshole, but those two together wrote music that so much better (to me; i am but one person) than paul simon's original stuff. this album got soooo much recognition, but minus a couple of songs, i just don't see the staying power in my own personal library. i like paul simon as a moody, mystical songwriter with an occasional upbeat track, but this whole album sounds like it could be played at the beginning of a late 80s romcom where the quirky girl and the stuffy guy haven't found each other yet but it's obvious that their lives are less fulfilling than they will be when they connect. it just isn't for me, cool history besides.
His only solo effort I liked, Greta album of the time, but hasn’t aged well
Second Paul Simon album and the last in his included discography. It's been a while since the last Paul Simon - 130 albums, to be precise. I've been busy since then, however, as I've rolled two Simon & Garfunkel albums in the wait for his return. Can't say I'm sold on Simon's band or his solo career, to be honest. Bridge Over Troubled Water and Bookends had some decent moments, though I can't say the same for his self-titled debut album - I remember nothing of it. Maybe. Maybemaybemaybemaybe this album will be the one to win me over, though I must admit that the odds aren't in his favour. That being said, I am favourable to these late-career albums because of their relative scarcity on the list, so there's that going for it. Uh oh, this was pretty alright. I'm having a faith crisis right now. I couldn't have been wrong about the previous albums, could I? The African sound was a big surprise. It wasn't immediately evident to me while I was listening to the first two tracks, though it really smacks you over the head with the third track and onwards. I never thought I'd care for African music, but it works pretty alright here. Simon's sensitive vocals are paired nicely with the laid-back sound, making for a soothing listen. There wasn't anything in here which really hooked me and I thought the gimmick lost it's luster as it went on, though to be generally alright is a huge compliment in my book. "The Boy in the Bubble" is decent. I like the bassy sound, and Paul Simon's vocals are well-matched with the flow of the song. That music video sure is something else, however. The title track is decent, too. It's impressive how laid-back the song is while also having a frenetic energy coming from the bass guitar. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" has a good bassline, and I especially like the flittering guitars that appear intermittently. Book time. Created during the apartheid controversy. Blends African music with Simon's own sensibilities. Nothing else in there besides that. Wikipedia says that this album is Simon's most successful release, won a Grammy, was a critical slam dunk and helped to popularise African music in the West. Yeah, this is a strong pick if I've ever seen one. I cosign this inclusion.
This is a very Paul Simon album. Like all his solo work sounds similar to me so this is just like, yeah it's a Paul Simon album. I prefer him with Garfunkel personally.
I'm going to ignore the political, racist and cultural appropriating hullabaloo surrounding this album. Tricky, I agree. That leaves the question of whether I am enjoying what I hear. I don't think I do, particularly. I don't hate it much either. A middling 3/5 then.
I like it more every time I listen to it.
Yllättävänkin mukavan kuuloinen levy tämä Simonin soololevy. Ei oo tullu sen duohommien ulkopuolelle hirveesti vilkuiltua, mutta kelpo platta. Mielenkiintoisia soitin viritelmiä ja jopa etnisiä fiboja. Ei kuitenkaan ihan neloseen nosteta
Ihan letkeää meininkiä ja poljentaa.
Joo ihan letkeetä ja hyvää saundia. Parit tutut hitit jotka tietty saattaa tulla vähän korvista ulos. Pauli Simo on hakenut innoissaan maailmanmusiikin kaikuja mukaan ja matkaan. Ei tätä kyl montaa kertaa jaksa, mut on hetkensä. Kepu.
As a listening experience it veers from very listenable to a feeling of having your head patted. Paul simon knows more than you and lyrically is never shy of showing it. 2 thirds of a good album but the last third is as dull as ditchwater.
Bit all over the place, few out there tracks but overall a good listen Fave track: You can call me Al, a given. Just get Chevy Chase tf outta the music video
A pleasant listening experience, certainly. I had no idea of the controversy surrounding this albums creation until now. Has ‘You Can Call Me Al” on it too. Much to consider. 3/5
This was less my style than other Paul Simon albums, but still very well written pop
A couple of really strong singles, but just average overall IMO
What truly makes this album special and interesting is the blend of the singer-songwriter style and the various styles coming from the south african music. The rhythms, the voices and the melodies taken from these genres add a lot of personality, charm and energy to the overall sound. However, after multiple listens, I'm not that interested anymore. I think Paul Simon takes a lot of energy brought by the abroad sounds, with his calm voice. And his lyrics also didn't do anything for me. Either way, still a good album and I wasn't really bored at any moment.
Nice and calm album, Me and Julio is definetly the best song, no other standout songs.
Sorry, I don’t get it. Take a guy who’s at least a decade past his prime, and mix in tribal rhythms, and we’re all supposed to oh and ah over an album that produced exactly 1 top 5 single? And that only did as well as it did because of the MTV video and Simon having the smart idea to laugh at himself. He may have been a legend but we’re it not for the political BS this album doesn’t get (or deserve) all the accolades.
good album
This album is primarily an 80s pop album with some African music elements. It is somewhat inconsistent; while some songs are excellent, others are mediocre or terrible. Lyrics are often trite and lack the poetic nature of Simon's older work. Plagiarism controversies only serve to worsen the album's contents, but it's not bad in its entirety. In the end, I don't think it was anything life changing, but it certainly wasn't a bad album.
he does a great job taking "world music" and making it feel-good dad rock, but why do i always see allegations of plagiarism when i read about an album he was part of? hmmm. it's clear that if he didn't have the spice of his collaborators, he would be left with something bland.
I wish this album was more exciting - in one direction or another. But I listened to it, and then immediately forgot nearly everything about it. My three star rating isn't an endorsement of this album, it's an acknowledgement that I am neutral on it.
Every opportunity to hear fretless bass is a gift, so for that reason I legally can’t rate this any lower
not my cup of tea
Fine
Cool album that I can definitely see inspired vampires weekend! Good album all together but no crazy standout tracks for me!
#123 - This is very funny because it's very of it's time. Good, easy listening. Not a lot of substance to it I feel.
I remember when this one came out and was such a huge hit, no one saw that coming, he was on MTV with Bon Jovi, Madonna, Ratt, etc - it didn't make sense because he was from the previous generation and someone our parents listened too. "You Can Call Me Al", was everywhere, you couldn't avoid it in 1986. It's super catchy, stands up well today and is an 80's classic. "Graceland" was a sizeable hit too. "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" was a midsized hit and still gets a bunch of airplay today. The final single, "The Boy In The Bubble" got some air and video play. No song on the album has fewer than 11M listens and "Al" tops out at over 750M listens. His use of African singers to enhance his sound helped highlight the careers of a few notable bands from the continent. Their presence really changes and enhances songs like "Diamonds...", "Gumboots", "Under African Skies", "Homeless" & "That Was Your Mother". It's a well crafted album with a few large hits and a ton of radio play. It stands up well today, it has influence and notoriety, it's an amazing blend of American pop and African influences and it deserves a spot in the Top 1001.
Standouts Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes You Can Call Me Al That Was Your Mother
I enjoyed listening (especially the zydeco vibes), but is it exploitation/appropriation? Probably... Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, That Was Your Mother ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved some tracks.
I already liked 'You can call me Al', and noted an upwards trend in my enjoyment of this album heading towards that song, and a rapid decline afterwards. So that was odd. Fun album overall though.
this did not age well
I really enjoy the variety and creativity on this project, especially the inclusion of the African artists. Honestly I wish I liked it more, for whatever reason the overall sound just does not click for me. It's almost as though it's a touch too.. whimsical? Like something I'd expect to hear in a movie soundtrack (I also recognize that this bias could stem from how many Paul Simon songs ARE in movies..). Either way, genuine "I liked it".
This album is in my collection, though I think only because I got it from one of those record clubs prevalent in the 80s and 90s where you get multiple albums for free and then get lumbered with ‘album of the month’ for the next 12 months unless you actively cancel it. At the time I probably thought it was ok - I certainly remember all the tracks when listening to it today - but I got tired of it pretty quickly (as I also did today) and it then most likely rattled, boxless, around my car for years being ignored and discounted as ‘boring’. It’s all just a bit too ethnic and samey. 35 years later… it was pleasant to reacquaint myself with it, but I think if it was to be another 35 years before I hear it again I’d be comfortable with that. 2½
1. Didn’t realize the Simon from Simon & Garfunkel made his own music 2. Didn’t realize Call Me Al was from this album 3. Interesting how “pop” back in the 80s had way more folk vibes 4. Surprisingly short album, feels like it was barely getting started and suddenly it ended 5. Gumboots had most similar vibes to Call Me Al, 2nd fav song in the album
Felt apropos of my recent trip to New Orleans. A few songs I enjoyed but I felt like I wasn't really connecting with the lyrics. At an album a day I may not be sufficiently digesting this. Might revisit once I get in the swing of it.
Clearly has 80s influence. I like the way the lyrics are kind of like a casual conversation. The singer seems to be living a mildly meloncholy life like me.
Nonplussed. Some cool sounds. Not my style.
This was a jolly old album. I admire that it somehow knits Paul Simon’s vocals with so many other artists from other cultures but didn’t (to me anyway) seem to appropriate or patronise. It’s maybe not to my normal taste but enjoyed it.
Really nice feel good vibes in a great sounding album. The album really stands out as a well crafted piece of art. It's really well recorded and produced, it's all easy to listen to and is infused with African sounds without ever sounding contrived or exploitative. A respectful cultural fusion. I have listened to the album multiple times in an effort to form my opinion. I can hear greatness in the album but the question I have been wrestling with is: would I include this in my own personal collection? I think, maybe controversially, the answer is no. If I did, I would be including it pretentiously because its well known as a "great" album, rather than that it means anything to me personally. I have no interest in curating classics for the sake of it so, as much as I can appreciate it's influence, it doesn't quite make the bar for me personally.
This album was everywhere when I was a kid. Despite that I’d never listened to it until now. Don’t feel like I’ve missed out. Meh.
Boppy and surprisingly fun, expected much squarer.
I didn't expect so many African influences. Pretty fun, boppy album for being experimental. I feel neutral towards it. I won't listen again, but I wouldn't be upset if someone else put it on.
Meh... I'll be honest. I didn't give it a good listen. It was on in the background while cleaning house today. It just didn't strike me. I might have to go back to it. I know the musicianship is top notch. But as it played, it didn't grab me at any point other than Al because it's so memorable and that baddass baseline
Its definitely a niche, but i like it. I must have been mood music as I smoked like half a pack of cigarettes through this album. Gross, but it feels it matched the decade.
It was good i enjoyed it
Didn't grab me the first time and it doesn't now either.
Ehhh... I know "everybody" loves this album, but it feels like safe music for Boomers that were finding out that being a rich 30 or 40 something was way cooler than being a poor artist in a shitty apartment, but they didn't want to admit it so they got a cool artist from their youth to record something new with the trendy international '80's sounds.
Maybe if I had heard this when it came out and it was my first interaction with 'world' music, I would have been very excited. I like the fusion of African styles and rhythms with pop and folk, but today it just feels dated. All controversies aside, it still has great lyrical and production quality. Favorite tracks: Graceland You can call me Al Homeless
At first, I thought I like this a lot. As it progressed and started to lean more heavily into the African choral arrangements, it really lost it's way. The album sounds a little too "white man discovers another culture" instead of properly celebrating and exploring this style. Favorite Song: Graceland, You Can Call Me Al
When this album came out, it was playing a lot on the music video channels of the 80's, mainly Sky Trax and later MusicTV. Lot's of weird instruments and unusual rhythms from around the world. Never made much of an impact on me, except for the humour in some of them.
Ah, solo album van DE Simon van dat bekende duo. En wat horen we dan in ene als 2e nummer op dit album? Graceland! No clue dat ie van hem was. Lekker nummer. Tsja, ik moet zeggen dat het verder gewoon een typisch simon and garfunkel album is. Lekker om naar te luisteren maar niet echt bijzonder. Op de afrikaanse rythms na, die aan het eind in eens naar voren komen. 3reten
Not a huge Paul Simon fan but liked a couple of his songs on this album
I am glad that the bumpy bass tone that features in the opening tracks is not a constant throughout the album. I could hear the South African influence in the instrumentation before realising/looking up what it was. I see a lot of the reviews mentioning cultural appropriation but I'm not sure it's anything other than a musician taking interest in other corners of the musical world. Regardless of intentions, I'm not keen on the lack of variety or expression in Simon's voice which is a shame because some of the tunes are okay. But just okay.
You Can Call Me Al is a real classic and a yacht-rock staple, but this album just doesn't do it for me. I appreciate the experimentation and I can see how this was probably pretty groundbreaking for the time, but it just doesn't resonate with me. Most of the songs just kind of sound like less catchy versions of You Can Call Me Al. There is fantastic fretless bass all over the place and I enjoy the horns and African rhythms, it just doesn't combine into something that really grabs my ear or my attention. I don't see myself playing this album in full again, but I really can't give it a 2 ("did not enjoy" in my rating system). A mostly-neutral 3 it is.
Paul Simon is one of those artists, like Phil Collins, that I have a knee jerk dislike of. I am not sure why I find him so palatable when you mix him with Garfunkel, but as his own separate human entity not so much, I strongly feel You can call me Al and that stupid video has a lot to do with it. I was given his first solo album by the generator a while ago, but even that You can Call Me Al lacking album left me cold. Ultimately this was okay but faintly irritating.
Decent overall. You Can Call Me Al is a banger, but a few songs I could take or leave. Interesting vibe, not sure I'd listen to the whole album again.
Solid solo effort Paul. Not quite rhythm of the saints but some crackers
this has some bangers but wouldn’t really listen to the songs i don’t like
good, liked it but nothing too special to me
Like his last album, this is neither particularly painful nor provocative. A safe 3. P.S. Holy shit, are there some overly sensitive reviewers on here. Cringe.
Sadly no surprises, good coherent album 3/5
OneWorld Simon without Garfunkel.
A handful of these songs sound like “You Can Call Me Al”. I guess when you have a successful formula you stick with it as much as possible. Though, he would have had no idea “Al” was going to be his biggest song off of this album. Paul’s delivery on this album makes him come off as a family friendly Bob Dylan. Less poetic of course. I will hand it to him, this album does not sound like an 80’s album. He could have released this now and no one would know the difference. On that note though, there isn’t anything all that good about said album. It’s soft rock. Bordering on yacht rock. Bordering on elevator music. It’s produced well. The songs flow together. There are no chances taken with this one. Choice cut. You Can Call Me Al
Vrolijke zomerse deuntjes en ik vind Paul een erg fijne stem hebben. Toen ik bij you can call me Al kwam begreep ik pas waar het me aan deed denken. Solide 3 sterren.
1. Graceland 2. Diamonds on the sole of her shoes 3. I know what I know
cute cover. cute tunes. couldn’t be forced to care about more than 45 seconds of each song but very nice and sort of similar to joni mitchell!
don’t hate it, don’t love it. “call me al” is iconic.
Ok. Nice to hear some old songs again. ★★★
Middling Paul Simon album with some mildly interesting songs *but* with the added novelty value that he was backed up by someone other that the usual crew of jaded LA/NY studio hotshots. Most of Simon's vocal melodies on the record are fairly loose and lack the punch of his best work.
Fun
You Can Call Me Al is still a great song. The rest of it was okay, just didn’t resonate with me.
6/10 - a nice change of pace, pop/folky, would never had thought that it's the Simon in Simon & Garfunkel, but the recording is poor and cheap unfortunately
Não é o tipo de música que costumo ouvir ou que goste. No entanto, tem músicas que gostei muito mas outras que nem por isso. Dou um 3 porque senti altos e baixos naquilo que gostei e não gostei. Adorei “Graceland”, “Homeless” e o clássico ”You can call me AI”
Eclectic mix of styles. Middle third of the album is a highlight. Top track: Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
I had never listened to this album before, though I was very aware of it in the mid-80s when it was popular. Controversy aside, I enjoyed listening to it today, even if I doubt I'll ever return to it. Standout track: You Can Call Me Al (by far the catchiest and most memorable tune on the album, but also beloved for its classic video with Chevy Chase)
I have some memories of this record being played in the car, on our way to holidays destinations. That said, most of the tracks ring no bells whatsoever. It's interesting, and the songs go all over the place, but they maintain a sense of unity. I like it, overall.
not bad
nisam očekivao da će mi se ovo toliko dopasti :) baš je fora
It was alright from what I heard.
Good record, seems very dated by today's standards. Typical electronic sounds from the 80s. Overall I enjoy it.
I remember this record being huge among adults. I don’t know much about Paul Simon’s discography but insuspect this record was an evolution for him at a time when infusing world music into American pop was all the rage. Between this, Bobby Mcferrin and even Peter Gabriel it was everywhere in the mid 80’s. Quirky is the best word to describe this record.
This is an interesting album. The production is definitely unique, the songs kind of feel like a mix of folk, rock and funk. The guitar tone is very jangly and funky, the bass tone is super cool, but I don't like the drums because they sound very electronic and I feel like it doesn't match the vibe. I enjoy his vocal approach as it's very relaxed and the lyrics are interesting. Overall only a few songs really stick out to me and the rest is quite forgettable.
Album has a global vibe. Couple of big hits.
Mind numbingly happy but undeniably good. Fave song: Graceland
Solid pop and world.
Debo admitir que en un comienzo el álbum no me despertó demasiado interés. Pero a medida que iba avanzando se empezó a hacer más presente la presencia de elementos de música africana, que se combina con el estilo folk pop de Paul Simon, y la verdad es que me resultó mucho más llamativo e interesante. Tal vez no sea un disco que me guste mucho, pero al menos intentó hacer algo diferente y más original.
Without doubt, this is one of those "game-changing" albums, not only to revive the career of Paul Simon, but also the collaboration of African and American musicians with the introduction of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to mainstream American audiences. This album was huge and songs from the album flooded radio-waves back in the day. Simon's tour for the album attracted people of all ages (etc.), including my parents who actually ventured out to a crowded hockey arena to see a concert. I can't say I was a fan of the record (too commercial, was listening to a lot of punk at the time) and I have tried to avoid exposure of the music since the 80's. Hearing it again now was enjoyable enough, though I still prefer his early solo albums, but when you realize Graceland was released almost 40 years ago, it makes me question everything he's released since then. I suggest, next year playing a 40th anniversary Graceland show, then gracefully retire. Please.
😁
Haven't listened to this album much since '86 but it was fun dusting it off. Still remember the Chevy Chase video for Al. Nice mix of rhythms and sounds with so great bass and even a touch of zydeco. Brave experimental album with some nice tracks.
Graceland, You can call me Al, Weltmusik & gute Laune. Idealerweise zur Strandparty.
There's a whole rang of music from this time period that I just kind of roll my eyes at and can't really meet on its own merits -- this, Bobby McFerrin, "Kokomo." The whole thing feels inseparable from Chevy Chase mugging for the camera in the 'Al' video. That said, it's hard to hate on this album. Everything is fun and poppy, and there's clever Simon-y wordplay on most songs. Mbaqanga music is fun. But Graceland is so old fashioned, and the lyrics so rarely fit the music in any meaningful way, that it feels like Paul Simon wrote some catchy pop melodies and pasted a layer of mbaqanga music on top of it. I think I can understand why this all felt dynamic and new in 1986, and I guess pop artists get to be inspired by stuff (it seems like he at least tried to create some level of equity for the musicians he brought in to help him create this) so I shouldn't just cynically yell 'Appropriation!' like someone yelling 'Bomb!' on an airplane, but also it doesn't really inspire me to go any deeper into its influences, which … ideally it would? Also, why is this called Graceland?
1. The Boy In The Bubble - 9 Wasn't sold on the intro but the song builds so well. Simon's vocals sound incredible and the instruments, while odd, work so well in harmony together. Absolutely fantastic beat on it as well. Solid track. 2. Graceland - 8 Solid song. Really great beat and tempo that will have you tapping your feet without knowing it. Simon's vocals again deliver a wondrous performance here. Bass sounds really great on this track as well. 3. I Know What I Know - 6 Not a bad song but lyrically it falls in and out of tempo and they are not as strong as the opening two track. 4. Gumboots - 3 Not a great opening and not great overall. Instruments are okay but the loud and leading instruments don't really do anything great for the track. Choruses aren't particularly too good either. 5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes - 5 Could do without the barbershop quartet on this track and quite frankly without the entire opening minute of the track before this random tempo and pace change into the actual part of the song. "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes" is repeated way too much in the song. "As if everyone here knew what I was talking about" belts out Simon. I don't. I think that's the problem here. 6. You Can Call Me Al - 6 Sounds brilliant outside of the lyrics. Verses are again in and out of tempo and tone. Choruses are solid but the absolutely woeful verses ruin the experience for me. 7. Under African Skies - 8 Much better track. Really wonderful sounding vocals with a wonderful assortment of guitars and strings. Very very enjoyable. 8. Homeless - 2 It's not the nature of the chanting I find an issue with because the chanting sounds very nice; it's just that I don't see a need on the album. It's such a gear change from the rest of the album that the track feels out of place. That's not to say songs need to be the same on an album either but it's just a random chanting track on what's been a folk/tropical/acoustic sounding album. 9. Crazy Love, Vol II - 6 Sound is excellent but the choruses are completely uninspired with how insanely repetitive. Verses are good but as is much the theme with the album some lines have too many words and it makes them feel like they're rushing to catch the end of the instruments playing before moving into the next line. Becomes hard to really follow along when that happens. 10. That Was Your Mother - 9 BRILLIANT sax on this track. Verses again feel rushed but what an amazing sound between the drums and the sax which masterfully falls into a background octave after it's awesome solo. 11. All Around The World or the Myth Of Fingerprints - 5 Lyrics make absolutely no sense for half the track but the signing is lovely and the instruments give this almost a Caribbean vibe. Overall, not a bad track to end with. Average Rating: 6.09 Adjusted To A 5-Point Scale: 3.05 Rounded Down: 3 Stars
Better than expected
Good ol folk rock
Hot take, but I think this album is overrated.
I remember owning and enjoying this album back when it was released. It was something different and interesting from a well known artist. I haven't listened to this in decades and with this listening, it ran a bit hot and cold. Still, a pretty solid 3/5.
a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
Strangely, according to my Last FM stats, I've never spun this album in full before. I thought I would have. Considering it's one of the all-time greats, I was a tad underwhelmed. Its hit singles are fantastic but I couldn't help but think "filler?" on Gumboots and Crazy Love Vol II. Was this due to lack of exposure in the past? Maybe. On first listen it's only deserving of a 3; perhaps subsequent listens with more familiarity will raise it to a 4.
Very unique, fun sound for Paul Simon. One of the songs has very screamy background vocals, but the rest are very enjoyable.
Lion king ahh album. Always thought its been kinda overrated and this relisten confirmed for me
Good album. Not really my speed but enjoyable
Some fun stuff Would not listen again
Not my favourite. Listened many times and know the singles from classic rock radio . I can respect that it is ground breaking but sonically just doesn’t do it for me.
Every song sounds like every other Paul Simon song I’ve heard… so not bad? Up to par.
Of it's time. Boy In The Bubble a good single. Over slick production. 3 stars.
A white guy singing about black people struggle? This couldn't be done today.
Feels sanitized and packaged, even for pop. That said, I didn't dislike it. It was catchy enough, just pretty thin, thematically and lyrically.
Probably a good record to contemplate what we think of when we think about solo musicians and authorship. I’m guessing most people hear Paul Simon doing his folky thing with non-Western musicians and just...that’s as far as the thought process goes. Maybe it evokes some sense of wonder or mystery, what’s this maybe the most white guy ever doing here? Or a fish out of water relatability? I’d say, like other singer-songwriter types, Simon has an incredibly approachable, personable voice. There’s nothing virtuosic when you hear him sing. Do we care about the other musicians present beyond their ability to perform? “Oh man did you hear that the Beatles got Billy Preston or Eric Clapton? Those guys can play!” My parents, my mom, weirdly, is a huge fan of James Taylor to the extent she knows the names of his touring band and really celebrates what they do when they play, whereas I’m like “cool, steady gig” for several pro musicians; they are sidemen. I’ve spent the past day instead thinking about authorship. Simon probably wrote the genesis of a few songs here, but he’s squirrelly about it all, no one can say for sure (except for the few folks who could afford to say). He (and Roy Halee) definitely took them to finish, which is no small thing, but who came up with the basics for Call Me Al? Doesn’t seem like it was Paul Simon, guitarist. Graceland’s various riffs and bass runs? Probably not Paul Simon. At least 3 of the songs are definitely works other groups brought up during “jamming with Paul” sessions, be that in South Africa or the States. Entire. Songs. My initial crack at writing about this was to compare it to the loose licence-ship hip hop had/has with samples. Take a song an audience will know well enough to recognize on some level, but not so much that all they can think about is the original work. Rhyme over it well enough and no one cares about the source. Is that what Simon did when he went to Africa and later, to Brazil? Or is this more like what Aretha Franklin (and countless others) did in the 60s, rewriting others’ material (usually by changing the words, maybe a slight emphasis or deemphasis of elements in the music) to fit their own thing? There’s a song she did called Save Me, which was a rewrite of a song her session sax player did a year earlier, which was *itself* a wholesale rewrite of a Them song. Led Zep and the Stones maybe aren’t household names without doing the same over and over. I can’t decide if any of that is wrong per se. I love listening to the song Graceland. It’s deeply moving. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - the change to the horn section? It just doesn’t feel right. And much like with Vampire Weekend, at the centre of it we have a white guy, wealthy, privileged beyond comprehension. Maybe at best just a tourist. At worst, something else. But maybe this is how someone discovers this music and nearly 40 years later with music itself cheaper than since recorded or sheet music copyright became a thing, you can spend years only enjoying music by artists from countries you’ll never chance to visit. I want to say it's a sublime miracle of a record. Could be 5 stars. Or 1.
Is this near Greenland?