Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Generally not as upbeat or in your face as I prefer, but I enjoyed it very much for what it is. I'm not sure where I fall on the appreciation vs. appropriation debate (and whether/how intent plays into it), but generally speaking I think I'll read the Wiki on more albums going forward. Having defined the contexts of an album definitely makes for a more interesting listening experience. I usually prefer musical complexity somewhere between folk and jazz. Given that, Paul Simon does a great job telling a story musically and I liked how several songs used rhythmically interesting sections to mix things up. A couple times I got genuinely surprised by guitar riffs that I would expect 1:1 in a lot of 2010s indie rock (Gumboots intro, Crazy Love, Vol. II). Favorite track: You Can Call Me Al
This is really cute. Inoffensive and sounds good. It didn’t do much for me and I felt pretty neutral about it but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again
Very nice.
“You Can Call Me Al” is a banger, but on the whole this world music exploration by Paul Simon feels like the work of an artist who is running short on original ideas. Whether it amounts to “cultural appropriation” or homage, getting Simon’s watered down interpretation is a pretty safe and suburban way in which to scratch the world music itch. Simon is a tier one songwriter and that shines through on more than one occasion, but in the end the gimmick wears a bit thin.
Good I just expected more
Ahh - one of the pillars of a CD collection in the 80s! I’ve never been the biggest fan as I’ve always found Paul’s voice sounds whinier than usual on top of the amazing lush backdrops created by the supporting musicians. I get the cultural appropriation problem (and it’s a big problem), but the irony is that I’d probably have never heard these musicians without Paul Simon fronting it. It’s still well worth a listen and it’s also an exceptional recording. Solid 3. Was never more than that and I’ve not changed my mind over the years.
Good, but not my thing though.
It’s fine
First big world music thing. I don't like world music, not anybody's fault
It was fine.
"Graceland" é um dos discos mais famosos da world music. Pelo menos de artistas já consagrados. A mistura é interessante, mas falta coesão pro álbum, que atira pra tudo que é lado. A inclusão de ritmos e músicos africanos enriquece a experiência, mas a estética oitentista prejudica um pouco a apreciação. É legal se for considerado o que o Paul Simon fazia antes e pela experimentação contida aqui.
Not my style of music, definitely a toe-tapper though, some familiar sound, easy to listen to, didn’t grab my attention enough to recall much content of the songs however.
I wanted to dislike this album at first but then I realized it's just an 80s vampire weekend album.
I liked the uniqueness of the songs and the overall vibe of the album.
I couldn’t get into it. Much like the last Paul Simon album, he’s best with Garfunkel. 3 stars for the quality of the songs but losing stars for the lack of someone in the room saying “hmmm maybe not”
Not a Paul Simon fan. Hate S & G stuff. This is an interesting album that dominated a period of my youth. I applaud the crossing streams with the African music. But it’s still Paul Simon. I’ll be super generous with a 3. But don’t care if I don’t hear again.
Not my fav Paul Simon but entertaining
I enjoy listening to this album when I do, but it's usually one I seek out intentionally. Can't deny Paul Simon's songwriting abilities!
Pretty solid all around.
Not sure why, but I have never really been a Paul Simon fan.
I can appreciate why this is on the list, but it's not for me
Nice and I remember it being exciting to see and hear global musicians and sounds when it was released. All these years later, it’s just nice nothing remarkable.
Good, had not heard artist bwfore
I had to double check to see if this Simon was the same as Simon & Garfunkel, the atmosphere of this and their collaborative work being so different. Things in this album are nice (collaboration with South African black artists and so on), it was overall pleasant but I don't think I'll come back to it; moreover, some production choices (as the drums) didn't age well and once again, you don't have to check the release date to know when this was out.
Meeste nummers leken een beetje op elkaar
sounds like the intro to arthur
3.5/4 Interesting and fun
high 3.
I had a friend who played this album every single time you were with her, as fun as it is, it’s just overplayed for me and ruined a bit. Listened to this on the way to the beach with my girlfriend and we sang along
Good, but not fully my jam
Listened late at night yesterday. Was okay. Can't think of anything interesting to say. Maybe I think it sounded a little too 80's for me.
Not bad, but not the best.
this list needs more african music but this ain't the way to do it
[[1001 - 2 Paul Simon - Graceland]] Is todays album, released a year before I was born, not quite to my style but definitely reminds me of sitting in a bar that plays all the classic rock/Americana sorta stuff which definitely isn't a bad thing now! Graceland is instantly recognisable, wonder if there will be any other tracks that ill recognise. Diamonds on the soles of her shoes is a bop but it wont be getting added to the big playlist. AHAHA And there it is I never knew what this track was called, I always thought of it as bodyguard, turns out You Can Call Me Al, it is getting added to the big playlist.
Probably better at the time. You Can Call Me Al might be one of my least favorite retail songs ever created, not helping my enjoyment of this one.
Some catchy songs. Light listening
Mediocre, but pleasant enough. Unfortunately has a cheesy 80's vibe to the instruments/quality.
pretty unique considering the african influence, falls kinda flat in the second half 7.2/10
Not a huge fan of this specific body of work, but Paul Simon is a legend. Dare I say this bordered on yacht rock at times....
Lk
5/10
Disclaimer, I barely listened to Paul Simon before this but I can understand why this particular album is worth listening to. It's South African and American fusion paired with Simons particularly fantastic story telling creates something completely unique (at the time) that needs to be listened to from beginning to end. "You Can Call Me Al" is by far the best track but the self titled track "Graceland" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" are not far behind. This is one of those albums where I can see bands like Vampire Weekend were influenced by and while I did just praise this album, I don't see myself coming back to it all that often. However, I have found a new appreciation for Paul Simons and will look into his other work. 7/10 (I don't know. I'll figure out a rating system at some point.)
Solid story telling, fun melodies. Sounds I’m not familiar with, but can groove to. Finally know who made that one hit I hear on the radio all these years. (You can call me Al)
Paul Simon’s comeback album features multiple genres and quirky lyrics that we all know and love him for since his days with Simon & Garfunkel. There are a few tracks that I’ll always love (You Can Call Me Al) but this album never really drew me in as much as the critics praise it. An enjoyable listen. 3/5
Not a big,big Paul Simon fan but he sounded very good in this album
Some tracks leaning towards singer songwriter pop and som more towards folk rock. I found the first group more enjoyable than the last, but none of them was particularly interesting to me.
Remember when in the music course back in school, all the talented kids got to play the few actual instruments and the rest of us musically challenged kids with basic motor function got handed the claves, knowing that this isn't an instrument anyone actually uses, but a low-cost inclusion measure? Well, Paul Simon is one of those talented kids who actually uses claves in his music, and it doesn't sound half bad. 3.5/5
Big fan of Simon and Garfunkel but haven't really checked out Paul solo. It's pretty good. Easy to listen to and he stuck to the theme very well. The African sounds are what make it interesting and Paul's vocals are soft on the ears. It does start to blend together in my opinion. Nothing groundbreaking, he was just using another culture for inspiration after all. I could be wrong but it was also a little funny to hear the tinge of bitterness from a divorced man come through. RIP Carrie you're a queen
I haven't listened to this album all the way through in a long time and it doesn't feel like it has aged very well. I like "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" a lot still but overall I didn't seem to enjoy this as much as I used to. It's not a terrible album but it isn't something I am likely to put on again any time soon.
A bit unusual to put my feelings into words here. In general I definitely found this album to be enjoyable for me, the instrumentation to be intriguing and Paul Simon’s partial singing/talking to fit perfectly in many cases. Although I can’t say that it resonated with me completely, I still felt compelled to come back to this album right after listening to it and relistening some of the songs. Only after listening to the album (and I really liked the influence of South African music) I found out about its controversy. Although it definitely is part of this albums history, I won’t let it influence my opinion too much here. I definitely think that I will be coming back to this and do feel that I want to listen to more of his music as this album definitely felt artistic in the best way possible. But I can’t quite give it 4 stars as I want to reserve that rating for albums that I definitely love. So it’s about a 3,7 for me.
to this day i’m still not sure what you can call me al is about
some rly good songs
This is a very har rating. I like the collaboration and merging of genres, and Mr. Simon makes exellent music.
Paul Simon really explores the limits of his own creativity. This doesn't sound overly original, but it's not bad. 3/5.
Interesting thought I wouldn't like it at first but it's quite alright to be fair
There were some really lovely songs on this album but also some really annoying ones
cool n all
2.5
This was very different from his other albums, and has clear African influences. I liked the guitar+bass riff in Graceland but Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes was the standout to me. It was an interesting listen but not something that's going to be on regular rotation.
Paul Simon's Graceland is light-hearted and breezy, thanks to Simon's folk background with South African mbaqanga influence. The rambling vocal style combined with lively mbaqanga instrumentation, along with flamboyant 80's production, give the album motion and makes it feel like a great road-trip record. Despite the wealth of musical styles and instrumentation at play here, there is so little variety from Simon's vocal performances that "You Can Call Me Al" stand head and shoulders above the other songs on the record.
A little too folksy/twee for me, but I must acknowledge the beautifully crafted melodies.
Enjoyable and easy listen but didn't really do a whole lot for me. Favorite song off the album was Gumboots.
Musica tribaleggiante e folk. Non un brutto album, anzi ha molti punti un sacco interessanti ma non top.
Good
This album is awesome musically. The music is very interesting, but I found myself wishing for a different singer. 1001 album worthy: yes - 66/123
Meh
2nd Paul Simon album. It has his hit in it, cool. I just think it’s just so so so stock standard 😭😭😭😭 Nothing bad but nothing good either
a pleasant twist of afrobeat world music and the soft singing and lyricism of half of Simon & Garfunkel. though it all has this kind of beige vibe like I'm listening to 80s mall montage though... 3.5/5
Okie dokie. 3/4
the singles are catchy! very.... of the time
I'd heard so many great things about this album so went in expecting to be blown away. It was just fine. You Can Call Me Al is such a bop and is definitely my favourite from the album. Overall, it just didn't really do much for me.
Decent enough album, probably won't rush to listen to it again
Weird how the algorithm decides to recommend this: a) Just a few days after Shaka Zulu, the music that inspired Graceland, and b) Just days after I left for college, and by extension, my record collection at home, which had this LP Anywho, this album was my father's childhood, and he often told me the story of how he worked on local fields (omladinske radne akcije, za moje balkance) whilst listening to this cassette on the deck, so I always felt obliged to write at least SOMETHING about this one, yet it never materialized until now, partly because it came and went so many times and I just had to sit down and write something. Obvious historical snippets aside, this is a nice pop album that's very easy on the ears. Combining something that's relatively boring like indigenous South African folk with Paul's ability to create some worthwhile and timeless melodies is a recipe for success. Probably a weird analogy, but this one feels like the process of urbanization of a once rural outback area, where the body of modernization is rampant, but the rural spirit is still among the brick and the mortar. ⭐⭐⭐
I don't know, man. I enjoy listening to this record a lot. But there are things about it that worry me. I've always wondered how the African musicians felt.
några fina poplåtar, ah typ det
3/5 Muito agradável. Tenho ele em LP e é a versao que recomendo, facinho de achar e sempre bem baratinho. A pegada sul-africana tem seus momentos que fica um pouco cartunesca, mas as faixas mais tradicionais são maravilhosas. Também preciso dar créditos a história fascinante por trás da produção do disco, história essa que é inclusa na contracapa da edição de vinil. Toda a controversia por trás definitamente adiciona muita coisa a experiencia do album. Minhas favoritas: You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds On The Sole of Her Shoes e Graceland.
321/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Nice songs and a super fun fat bass sound.
fun sounds, but cant rate it as one of the goats
The album that saved Paul Simon.
Tuney
good overall but is he a bit soulless or what for what hes working with…
Would make the perfect soundtrack to an early 2000s movie that would make you cry (if it isnt already). Vaguely like if Bob Dylan was given country fairground backing tracks. Missing a little garfunkel in the mix. You Can Call Me Al is an all-time for good reason. Honestly some godly mixing done on this one too wow. Overall not for me musically but the peaks peak.
favorite track: you can call me al. Overall score: 6.5/10
Pretty good.
Very nice but where’s the Garfunkel!
What was it about the 80s and white people trying to do 'Africa' things.. the style of it just feels dated and a bit wrong at times. When it doesn't nick from other cultures it is far more tolerable.
honestamente, fue una nueva experiencia para mi. no suelo escuchar este tipo de música, tampoco siento que sea para mí en particular, pero reconozco la carrera de Paul Simon y admito que algunas canciones como You Can Call Me Al o Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes fueron una grata sorpresa. estoy seguro que alguien que sigue más de cerca este género le daría un puntaje mucho más alto, pero para mí es un álbum normal al cual quizás solo vuelva para escuchar algún que otro tema de vuelta.
This is a weird one. There are undoubtedly some great vocals on this album, but they’re not Paul’s. Great instrument playing, not Paul’s. Great songwriting, some of which is allegedly not Paul’s. The lyrics are definitely Paul’s, but they’re completely separate from the influences apparent in the music. In short this sounds like a normal Paul Simon album with a lot of heavy lifting from a lot of other people.
Great horn section and that goofy whistle thing is cool
This one didn’t blow me away, but there’s a good amount of fun tunes on this record. “You Can Call Me Al” is the strongest standout and I love hearing it over and over.
kinda enjoyed some bangers
Enjoyed it
Good album. There are quite a few musical influences on here and it comes across well. Simon's voice is pleasant but thin. He is a good song writer. I know that this is supposed to be his masterpiece and the album generated a few singles but I feel like there is quite a bit of hype over the album because he had South African artists on the album. That's all well and good but I am betting outside of a few critics and Simon super fans that there weren't many consumers that said "boy, I have to get this album because there are musicians from different countries on here."
You can call me Al unlocked a core memory
Interesting but no saves. Didn't feel it in my balls or my heart
6/10
soooo liberal white guy and not as good as remember but still has high highs
Mostly calm, some nice bits to it but nothing really hooking me
I am not sure this album holds up over the years, but it is great to hear Paul Simon when he is creatively flourishing. The tracks are strong, if a little dated, and I found myself smiling a little more than I thought as I revisited them.
I own this album and like it. However, it's very hard to ignore that Paul Simon "played Sun City" making this album. I like to think that he helped some artists, South African and otherwise, get some exposure they wouldn't have gotten otherwise, but stories of improper attribution of credit and/or payment for work on the album are troubling. The more I read the more troubling it gets. Based solely on the music, this is at least a 4, but I have to take 1 off. Regardless, You Can Call Me Al is a great song.
Singles are still great especially title song, but others are a bit dated now.
There is a lot of talent on this album, but I'm not sure that the content has aged well.
Expected to enjoy it more. Not bad and some tracks that stood out. Probably preferred his debut solo album if I had to choose.
Some fun songs on the album. Great instrumentals, but his voice isn't my favorite. Overall a pretty good album. Favorite Songs: Gumboots, Graceland, You Can Call Me Al, That Was Your Mother Least Favorite: I Know What I Know
Fun sound, nice classic feel. Some songs are familiar. :)
Three really great songs and a bunch of meh.
I like Paul Simon. This record has some great kinda African inspiration and it’s whimsical. Still wish people didn’t use the harsh static/explosion percussion sound rampant in Michael Jackson’s Bad. But this album is a lot of meh but happy. Lost track of my ratings so we’re gonna go with 3.4? I dunno. It’s funny.
was pretty good, didn’t enjoy the end as much as the beginning. appreciate the african influence and the wide variation of instrumentation but i can’t see myself returning to the album as a whole — or really any individual tracks — very much. i like it a lot more in theory than i do in practice, that said it’s overall a good project, maybe just not my cup of tea
Pauls Simon is to me the Spielberg of singer-songwriters, if that makes any sense. I mean that a little bit derisively. Nonetheless, this album is pleasant and well put together. I don't have too strong opinions on it either way, honestly.
Just not a big Paul Simon guy. I saw him live at Outsidelands and he was awesome, just........ boring. I find everything about him and his music and this album just to be boring Best Song: You Can Call Me Al Rating: 5.0/10 3 Stars
This album has a very interesting combination of influences and styles, such as african music and features (for this context) unusual sounds like the accordion. However the overall sounds is very reminiscent of the 80s, therefore not timeless like other works where Paul Simon was involved.
Graceland is an album I'm pretty mixed as it has some things that i like about it but has others that i think could have been handled better. This album used quite a lot of elements of South African Street music which i find interesting and it is handled alright but not all too greatly which is a big reason as to why i prefer both Simon's self titled album and Hearts and Bones over this one. Some of the singles which did not use world elements were pretty good though with songs like You Can Call Me Al being pretty fun tracks. This isn't a bad album but in my opinion, it is a lot more rough than the other two Paul Simon albums i have listened to. Best Song: You Can Call Me Al Worst Song: Homeless Side note: Since i have done all of Paul Simon's solo albums, i might as well put my ranking of them here: 1. Hearts And Bones 2. Paul Simon 3. Graceland
did not like too much
Zaskakująco przyjemny album. Wciągający, chwytliwy, z kilkoma naprawdę sympatycznymi utworami (tytułowe "Graceland", "I Know What I Know", "You Can Call Me Al" i chyba zwłaszcza "That Was Your Mother". Zaskoczyło mnie tak bogate czerpanie z kultury afrykańskiej na albumie nowojorskiego białego piosenkarza żydowskiego pochodzenia, w ogóle nie spodziewałem się takich aranżacji i wokali. Choć szczerze mówiąc akurat te utwory, które najmocniej czerpały z tego instrumentarium i wokali najmniej przypadły mi do gustu. To wciąż były w porządku utwory, ale mniej mnie interesowały. Skoro o tym mowa, album był dla mnie dosyć nierówny w kwestiach stylu i tempa utworów. Jeden kawałek mnie porywał, a następny dosyć nudził. Myślę, że gdyby wszystkie utwory były w stylu tych wymienionych przeze mnie powyżej, to mógłbym dać wyższą ocenę (zresztą wczoraj o tym myślałem, ale dałem sobie czas, żeby posłuchać tego dzisiaj po raz drugi i trzeci). Podobają mi się momenty, kiedy poszczególne piosenki wpadają w silny vibe lat 80-tych, z mocną perkusją i brzmieniem, który jakoś jednoznacznie kojarzy mi się z tym, co najfajniejsze w tym okresie. Nie przytoczę teraz z głowy konkretnych utworów tho. All in all całkiem spoko album, ale trochę zbyt nierówny stylistycznie i "fajnościowo", żebym do niego wrócił. 3,5/5
Two Graces in the row? What is it? A penance after Confession? Did I steal this joke? Yes. Did I write it in a Mr Peanutbutter voice? Also yes. But nobody can stop me. Also nobody can stop me from giving this album its' deserved 3. The story behind recording is far more intresting than what you can hear in music. Wide variety of artist Mr Graceland cooperated with resulted in very mixed final product or maybe he is the weakest link in all of that.
Can't say I gave this one a fair listen. It was more background music. But I enjoyed the overall vibes and the songs I recognized.
I get it, we can call him Al.
Not that bad
Пол Саймон — ½ того самого дуэта, где второй парень вечно напоминал грустного спаниеля — в какой-то момент решил стать Индианой Джонсом от музыки и отправился в Африку за сокровищами. Нашёл. Привёз. Только не золото и бриллианты, а целый чемодан… этнических мотивов. Саймон в своё время был очень большим популяризатором того, что сегодня принято называть World Music. Во многом именно благодаря ему мир узнал, что Африка — это не только слоны и носороги, но очень самобытные ритмы. Вот только сам альбом получился… как пресное блюдо в дорогом ресторане: вроде бы вкусно и ругать не за что, но и восторгаться тоже нечем. «Graceland» очень ровненький, гладенький, без всплесков и падений. Как кардиограмма покойника. Ни одной запоминающейся мелодии. Хотя этническую музыку можно записывать и продюсировать очень круто, послушать хотя бы тот же «Big Blue Ball» Питера Гэбриэла — там разве что черти в ступе не летают. А у Саймона как-то скучновато это всё получилось.
Feels like its missing so many of the elements which made Simon and Garfunkel great, I like the influences from around the world, but overall I'm not too keen on this upbeat pop style. Favourite songs: Diamonds on the soles of her shoes, under African skies. Overall around 5/10
Soothing record, killer mixing & mastering The vocals becomes a bit monotone after a while
Never really got this album. A Few decent tracks.
I thought it was a good album for listening on a roadtrip. "You can call me Al" is a classic of my childhood family roadtrips. It's upbeat, but a bit too folksy for me. Also the African influences felt a bit questionable at times
Understandably controversial and unfortunately really nostalgic for me (summer 05 baby!). Musically, I find it pleasing, but not overly so. Favorite songs: Boy in the Bubble, Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes; you can call me Al.
I was kind of expecting this to be some revelation despite knowing who Paul Simon is. I know what his music sounds like, yet somehow I expected an album this highly regarded to be some sort of departure. Regardless, the sound is good and the African influences are nice to see.
Litt folk, litt Afrika, litt Tavern, litt cunt
Torn between 3 and 4 for this. an immediate pleasure on the first few listens, but eventually all but the strongest 4 or 5 songs lose their luster. Still a lot to like here though
weird!
There are nice elements in this album(specially the backing vocals) , but the reverb at some points is too much for my liking. Maybe it would've been revelating to listen when it was released, but as it is right now it's just a palate cleanser
the album blends Simon’s introspective songwriting with South African musical influences, resulting in a hybrid of styles that was as controversial as it was lauded. As someone who isn’t a devoted fan of the album but appreciates its significance, I have mixed feelings about it. While it’s undeniable that Graceland showcases incredible artistry and cultural exchange, there are aspects of the record that leave me less than enamoured One of the most remarkable aspects of Graceland is its innovative blending of musical styles. Simon worked with South African musicians. Tracks like “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and “Homeless” showcase this collaboration beautifully, with rich harmonies and intricate rhythms that feel vibrant and alive. For someone like me, who enjoys punk rock and rawer musical forms, the polished and layered production here was intriguing, if not immediately gripping. Paul Simon has always been a master lyricist, and Graceland is no exception. The title track, for instance, weaves a personal narrative of loss and redemption while also evoking a sense of travel and discovery. The imagery in songs like “The Boy in the Bubble” is vivid and thought-provoking, touching on themes of technological advancement and global interconnectedness. Even if the music didn’t always connect with me on a visceral level, I found myself drawn to the storytelling and wordplay. For all its high points, Graceland isn’t a consistently engaging listen for me. Some tracks, like “All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints,” feel like filler compared to the album’s stronger moments. The pacing of the album also felt uneven; the energetic tracks and slower, introspective pieces didn’t always flow seamlessly. This inconsistency made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the album as a whole While the polished production is part of what makes Graceland stand out, it also detracts from the raw emotionality that I personally connect with in music. The intricate layers and studio sheen can feel overwhelming at times, making the album feel more like a technical showcase than an emotional journey While the album's blending of South African rhythms with Western pop is musically innovative, and Simon’s lyrical craftsmanship shines. Some tracks don’t hold my attention, and the overproduction feels too polished for my taste, lacking the rawness I prefer in music. Though important, it’s not an album I’ll revisit often.
I did not realize how many songs exactly on here were 'classics', incredibly experimental at times, enjoyed but want to sit with longer.
Paul Simon has always intrigued me as a songwriter and singer. Simon and Garfunkel have become one of my go-to listens over the past year or so. Interested to dive into the solo career of a guy who my mostly lasting memory of is a clip of him in a turkey outfit on SNL. What the sweet Jesus is this. Holy hell this RULES. A beautiful Paul Simon song accompanied by an uhh accordion and driving bass is a weird experience. It’s such an odd juxtaposition. It’s pretty fun though. P Simon talking turnaround jumpshots as well. It was a warm summers evening ON A TRAIN BOUND FOR NOWHERE. Man. Makes me want to listen to the gambler. Or make a gambler remix with my immense ability to jockey a disc. I think Living Colour covered it interpolated this. That’s cool. Seriously though, the lyrics are fantastic, and the song shows amazing restraint. The quietude in the face of what could break into an embarrassing impression of a spiritual revival is heartwarming. The features are coming on strong now. The Gaza Sisters and of course the good doctor, General MD Shiranda. Decent song. More fantastic lyrics and delivery. Absolutely loving the vocal performances here. There’s a slight reggae vibe here and the accordion is not my favourite at this juncture but I have to say the song is pretty good. Oh whoa. Sweet background vocals. Or Vo-Kills as I’ve seen on the back of the most cringeworthy of metal records. Uh this song fades for me. Gets a little cringeworthy itself. Cool bass tone, but way too beach-y. Oh this is the hit. What move is this in? All of them? I hate the instruments here. The horns are so lame but god damn I love Paul Simon’s lyrics/vocals. But yeah, other than that and the bass solo, this one sucks. Hmm. No. Not as good either. Come on Paul we were on an early 5 star watch alert. Ladysmith Black Mombazo feature. Big news for Mombazo heads. This is fine. Interesting departure. Fat Charlie the Archangel is up there for lyric of the week. Fun song. Great lyrics. Ugh. This one is cringe. Marci Gras music. Nooo Paul. This is death. Why has he abandoned the quiet and beautiful tones? It’s like some dumbass pop producer was coaching him to act like Huey Lewis and the News. He sounds so uncomfortable. New York White guy gets gifted Daishiki by black friend and makes an album about Africa. Sounds about right. Listen, I love this guy. He’s great. The lyrics are fun and thought provoking and the delivery is typically so gentle and interesting. A true bastion of folk adjacent rock for the mainstream pleb like myself who uses the phrase “bastion of folk adjacent rock.” Maybe I coined that phrase. Read it and weep music reviewers. Anyway, an album that was completely exhilarating to start became a little trite and poppy leaving me somewhere in the middle. Keep the Paul Simon coming but let’s keep it closer to the Sound of Silence and further away from the soundtrack for Jerry Maguire or whatever. 3-3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland, Crazy Love Vol. II
I think everyone knows Paul Simon, but I wasn’t extremely familiar with this album. This turned out to be another album I liked more than I expected. It made for good background music, lots of poppy toe tapping moments.
I know I'll probably be out of step on this one, but I find Mr. Simon to be a bit pretentious. Also, the production on this album is so mid 80s that I was cringing the entire time I was listening to it. Boy in the Bubble is a good song, that's probably my favorite on the album. Random thoughts - the zydeco song was good, I did enjoy that too. Why hasn't any DJ taken the "I'm going to Graceland" sample and spliced in "bass-land" instead? Seriously Z-Trip get on that now. And while you're at it, take the accordion/bass from Boy In the Bubble and do something with that.
I loathe Simon and Garfunkel. I don’t mind Paul Simon and I liked this album well enough.
First in my 1001 journey. Didn’t expect to enjoy a mainstream 80’s album made by a legacy folk artist going solo… boy was a wrong. Some of the tracks don’t quite hit, but Paul seemed to have a lot of fun making this album. Highlights are definitely his lyricism and the African music elements. 3.5/5
Decent
Good, but not someone I would listen to outside of his bigger hits.
Interesting
A respectful nod or cultural appropriation?
1001: I had taken a several month break from the journey before this album, so my context and comparisons have been reset a bit. I'm not sure if it was just that I wasn't fully awake, or what but I was struggling to follow the stories of these songs. They sound nice enough, but following the lyrics is a bit tough today. I swear in "I know what I know" they are honking along to geese. I'm glad "you can call me Al" is on here because that is the song I kept hearing in the tracks before and couldn't put a name to it. I kept thinking it was some animated movie soundtrack song. Overall this was a nice album even if it is a bit of a chaotic mess of culture and nonsense. Not sure if ever pick it up and say I want to hear this today, but it isn't objectionable. 3/5
Interesting - was on the verge of really enjoying this one the whole way through, but never quite got there.
This album was everywhere and caused a stir back in the day so I see why it’s on the list. But apart from 2 or 3 tracks, it doesn’t move me the way I had expected.
It was kinda nice Will I listen to again: 1%
I've heard of this album, at least, but I've never listened to it. Paul Simon is a likeable guy. I like his voice and the general vibe of these songs. Highlight: Oh, this has 'You Can Call Me Al'! That's one of the first songs I downloaded when I first got my own computer some 20 years ago :D 'Homeless' has Zulu in it, which is cool. There are clicks!
You're not African m8. Some belters on here though.
Qquiet
Absolutely an album you need to hear before you die, but you don't have to like it. Which I don't. I don't quite hate it the way some people do, and Paul Simon is obviously talented, but this shit is so fucking twee coming from a 45 year old man. A something of a developmentally-arrested manchild myself, I can relate to Not Growing Up, but something here leaves a bad taste in my mouth in much the same way K records albums do. I liked the self-titled album, so why not this? I mean, it contextualizes You Can Call Me Al in a way that I hadn't heard before that somehow makes me respect it less? Maybe it's how much it informed Vampire Weekend, a band I also think is talented but annoying. Also, the intro to Northern Exposure. It's hooky and catchy and I bet it would've found purchase in my brain if it had been associated with some Proustian element that makes me look back on it with fondness. Contextuality, the theme of this album. Anyway, this is the first time I've listened all the way through and probably the last.
You Can Call Me Al is a banger (great video too) but the rest of the record is just odd, not digging the Afrobeat crossover
I feel like you can call me Al will haunt me for the rest of my days
If you'll be my bodyguard...
A true classic! With African flavor. I've loved this album for years and it's a delightful surprise to have it pop on my listening queue today.
80-tal
Pretty decent. I would want to be on a beach somewhere to listen to this again. Chill and warming
If nothing else, this album is versatile. Every song sounds as if it's performed by a different artist. Nothing blew me away, but there wasn't much that was unbearable noise either. Favorite Song: "You Can Call Me Al"
I know Paul Simon, only song I know is Call me Al. But other than that not much else. Interested to see what this sounds like. 2 Tracks through and it's pretty interesting. Very funky.
Pros Nice use of medieval sounding instruments African influences are cool "The boy in the Bubble" is probably my favorite song "You can call me Al" is also very good Cons Rest of the album is decent, but not great Slower songs are a bit boring Not as good as I expected it to be
Couple good songs. mostly comes across as white guy trying to make world music
pretty good. self titled track is near perfect. "that was your mother" was a bit dookie.
Not for me but cool production
Pretty unique album that blends a lot of different international sounds into one stage, but doesn’t have the punch that some of the upper echilon bums have. 7/10
Okay so not much to say on this one. Do I like it? Are the criticisms labelled at Paul Simon now and at the time important in ranking this album? I like some of the songs a lot ('You Can Call Me Al', 'Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes'), and I think that if you were given this on cassette for Christmas when you were 8 years old on the year it came out, you would treasure it forever and it'd be one of your favourite albums. Seems absurd to come back to this and give it the same mark as Pantera, but it's not really for me. A subjective 3 (an objective 4, and a music critic's 5)
Kinda boring, sorry Paul
Idk I liked the vision of some of the songs, but others I thought were kind of weird. When he wasn't being experimental for no reason it was super nice Fav Songs: You Can Call Me Al, Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Paul is in a career rut. He comes out of left field with a collaboration with African artists. Two singles that move the charts. But his voice. His lyrics. Sing-talking babble gets into my bones and makes me squirm. It's no wonder I saw him and Dylan on a tour together. This album introduced me to Ladysmith Black Mombazo as a kid, so I'm grateful for that. And an ex of mine was obsessed with "Graceland" so I drove her to Tennessee to see the cultural phenomenon that is Elvis' home. That was also a thing that happened. I bet it was a dream come true for Los Lobos to have the chance to work with the legend, Paul Simon. But Los Lobos is better without Paul Simon. This whole album repeats that formula. Take talented artists in their own right and have them alternately make space for and have to get out of the way of a mumble-talk-singing Simon slinging his obtuse lyrics around the recording studio so the Americans buying the CDs can call it art.
I'm relatively familiar with this album, the songwriting is so good, something about the production of it sounds so "80s" to me. I'm not quite sure what it is, because it's pretty eclectic, and I guess the 80s-ness of it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes is so damn good, such a cool combination of genres. I think overall my biggest problem with this album is that everything sounds really major, it all is almost too happy sounding in my opinion, I think that's what contributes to it sounding really 80s to me.
My mum would like this album.
Interesting stories behind this album. PS had had a couple of bad albums before it, and was supposed to produce an album for a singer songwriter called Heidi Berg. She gave him a tape of South African music that she wanted her album to sound a bit like. PS then took the tape and made an album based on it himself with SA musicians, breaking the cultural boycott against apartheid in the process. Obviously a hugely significant album and there are some really nice tracks on it, but it ends up sounding a little middle of the road to me and also has this vibe of something fairly insipid and white leaning heavily on the contribution coming from another culture for all the innovation. Net positive tho, it's a good album.
Well ... I wasn't excited about listening to this, but it was a good listen, better than I thought it would be. And I love reading the reviews. Everything from 5 star, best album ever, to If I could give it a minus, I would - hated it. And appropriation is mentioned often. People, if we don't share ideas and learn things from each other ... how we gonna grow? Sit back and listen to it, geez!
Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes is really good. The album seems to have been influenced strongly by African artists (obviously such as Under African Skies, but in other songs like Homeless too). Overall, it kind of reminds me a bit of Johnny Clegg at times. Overall, I like it. Not sure I'd listen again. Clegg does it better.
Recognized a couple tracks but a bit too hokey for me (2.5/5)
3/4
I really liked this album. It's not my favorite album in the world but I love Paul Simon's voice, the beats are fun, and the instrumentation and scores are creative. I think it is more like a 3.75 Liked Songs: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland, You Can Call Me Al, Under African Skies, That Was Your Mother
liked songs: Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, Homeless disliked songs: I Know What I Know (this is one of the most annoying songs I've heard in a long time), That Was Your Mother I really don't like Paul Simon's lyric choices. The album is very well produced and mixed. 2.5
"No we're not getting Bob Dylan at the store! We have Bob Dylan at home."
Wait, why did I actually really like this.
Some good some boring. Typical Simon.
I know I'm supposed to rave over Paul Simon's genius, and there is some very original material here but overall I just did not enjoy listening to it. A lot of it was a little cheesy and the spoken word lyrics were a turn off.
Call Me Al is unlistenable but it was ok overall.
Ok album overall. Paul Simon just doesn't do anything for me. You can Call me Al is awesome just because Chevy Chase was in the music video. Go listen to Justin Townes cover of Graceland.
2.75
The crossover component of this album is nice but a lot of the songs had a similar hokey feel to them
Дон Симон переживает за судьбинушку Африканскую... п.с. а у Гомункула сольники будут ? а то он пока отстаёт от братишки
Not for me
3 out of 5. It's alright, I liked the African influence this album has, but nothing else for me to write home about.
I get why people love it (and it’s definitely his best album), but just not my jam.
2.9 3x while i was working kept this playing.. a little soft
This album is held back significantly by just how awful the bass sounds. The other instruments sound a little dated but fine for the time, but that bass is another level of bad. His lyrics are really good and I like his voice and how he often drags lines onto the next musical phrase. Favorite songs were Graceland, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, and You Can Call Me Al.
"Graceland" y "You can call me Al" están por encima del resto. Solo por esas canciones merece la pena el disco.
this album makes me feel like im on a beach drinking cocktails
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I've heard it so many times that it's charm has worn off.
Lots of 70s pop, can only handle in small doses
Good album, just not my genre
It was fine? I listened to it but don’t have any strong feelings. You Can Call Me Al is catchy as hell and it makes sense why that song became huge. It was the most memorable in my eyes. It’s really fascinating how controversial this album is though.
Enjoyed Graceland, You Can Call Me, Under African Skies, and Crazy Love Vol. II. I think the others were just a little out there with me in terms of instrumentals. I liked when there was a harmony with a woman singing like on African Skies, and also really liked the flute. Not used to folk so I think this was a good introduction.
Didn’t grab me but was pleased to see the South African connection. Will probably give it another listen.
Pretty decent world music
This album shouldn’t have been made. Breaking the cultural boycott of South Africa is an unpardonable faux pas from Simon, but the record he produced still has its merits nonetheless. I was first told about Graceland my a music teacher in high school, who told me to focus on the bass playing. Back then, I was gobsmacked by the fretless slapping on this record, but to my ear now it sounds a bit… well, shit. That’s more of a production quibble, but it’s far from minor. This album has aged a lot, both in its concept and its execution. Simon is a songwriting powerhouse, but you’d be better off going to the source of Graceland’s influences directly, rather than his bastardised brand of African soukous. Still, for all its many flaws when heard from a contemporary perspective, there are a couple of Simon’s trademark bangers to be found. Altogether, Graceland is less an album you should listen to before you die, than it is a record that you should listen to before the passing of time kills off any of its appeal.
Two minds on this. It was definitely noteworthy when released. However, I don’t think I need to listen again. 3 stars for the memories.
this was fine, a bit bland in my opinion
Not as good as his other albums You can call me Al is still one of his best songs.
Really good album but it doesn't really hit my personal tastes to really be in love with it
Man, I’d never heard Graceland but I’d heard all about it. The bar was high, and at least on first listen, not really met.
To paraphrase Ian Malcolm, Paul Simon was so caught up in seeing if he COULD culturally appropriate African music, that he didn't stop to think if he SHOULD. Some catchy tunes but an overall feeling of being annoying.
It's alright. Definitely an interesting listen, but nothing really stuck out besides the hit songs I already knew. Average.
I liked the upbeat African influences. Didn't enjoy the repetitiveness. The goofy lyrics and cadence is charming at first but gets old.
Wait, Paul Simon was married to Carrie Fisher? No way! Anyhow... I think "You Can Call Me Al" is the first song I knew from Paul Simon, and it's still awesome. Otherwise I didn't really know this album. The Boy in the Bubble sounds like it could be a Bob Dylan song. The album is OK but I don't like it nearly as much as some of the Simon/Garfunkel albums, especially Bridge Over Troubled Water.
In a vacuum, I'd probably give this 4 stars. There's a lot I like about it, musically. But, going to knock it 1 star for some problematic politics surrounding its creation.
Paul Simon on his own just doesn't hit the same. Still a pretty good listen.
I like the idea of Paul Simon more than I actually like listening to Paul Simon. Some awesome standout tracks but as a whole, I want to like it more than I actually do.
Remember buying it. Good solid album.
Interesting mix of sounds and influences.
This is like a weird folk/post punk child. The instrumentation didn't really work for me. Going from sweet south african drumming to a drum machine was jarring.
Album a bit all over the place. Couple of decent tracks, and 'You can call me Al' is obviously a banger.
Always pleasant and uplifting 7/10
Oh my god Paul Simon what the hell was this. On one hand, I have to give this album some props for how damn joyful it feels. If this is his most popular solo album (which I think it is), I can see why. It has some catchy stuff and it just feels like a really happy album. But I gotta be honest… I never really believed this version of Paul Simon. It’s really difficult to detach myself from his folky origins with Art Garfunkel and that beautiful sound. I know he’s done way more work outside of that pairing than he has as part of it, but I just don’t buy it. I can’t picture him as some pop artist like this. I had the same problem on the other album of his I listened to, “Hearts and Bones.” He just isn’t that guy to me, so anything other than his folk work feels like a farce to me. Throw in the fact that this sounds so dated and I just can’t buy in. I know people love it and they espouse its greatness but I just can’t get there. Thematically it’s unfocused. The inclusion of African musical elements and musicians, while probably a huge part of why it feels so joyful, feels out of left field and a little forced. After some reading, I see that he was criticized for breaking a cultural boycott with apartheid South Africa by working with these artists. He claims it was a political statement and he was following his instincts…yeah ok I guess. But the accusations of cultural appropriation do kind of ring true, but I do feel like the inclusion of genuine African artists on this record does take some of the wind out of the sails of that accusation. But I don’t really have a strong opinion on this. Someone explain to me the greatness I’m missing here because I don’t see it. Three stars. I do feel like this could've been an influence on Vampire Weekend though. And it definitely has some Talking Heads/New Wave influence in there, too. Standout Tracks: Gumboots, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Homeless, That Was Your Mother, All Around the World or the Myth of
3/5
I have memories of my dad playing this in the car occasionally when I was a kid and I wasn't particularly impressed by it then and I'm not now. There's nothing wrong with it per se, but there's nothing that draws me in or excites me. The only song that I would go out of my way to listen to is Call Me Al and even that I'd be perfectly happy to never hear again. Threeth Kens out of Val.
Na mijn enthousiasme voor alle Simon en Garfunkel albums die ik heb gehad tot nu toe spring ik natuurlijk een gat in de lucht voor zn solo werk! Maar ik probeer hier neutraal in te gaan, misschien is het solo werk minder saai en zaaddodend dan waneer ze samen muziek maken? Mwah, niet echt. Er zitten wat Afrikaanse invloeden in de muziek heb ik het idee? En er staat een hit op, waarvan ik eigenlijk niet eens wist dat ie van Paul Simon was, sorry! Maar verder, klinkt het grotendeels toch gewoon als Simon en Garfunkel; een beetje saaiig en allemaal hetzelfde. Had liever gehad dat Paul nog verder de Afrikaanse invloeden op zou gaan. Of nog beter; gewoon een Afrikaans album op deze lijst?? Daar had ik best een Paul Simon of Simon en Garfunkel album voor opgegeven... Wel moet ik toegeven dat sommige nummers me wel echt beter pakken! Crazy Love vol 2 is instrumentaal gewoon echt leuk! Mag ook gezegd worden hoor. Album in zn geheel is gewoon een beetje saaiig voor te veel nummers, met een paar hoogtepuntjes, waarvan Crazy Love vol 2 het beste is voor mij. Alles bij elkaar; wederom een ok album van Simon en/of Garfunkel FAVO: Graceland, You can call me Al, Homeless, Crazy Love vol 2
Nice and inventive, i liked the african? elements
Apua miten söpö kansi :D Tykkään a-puolen humpasta (avausbiisi). Miks tuo Afrikka-biisi on keskellä… no, herättää huomion. Hymyilin levyn aikana muutaman kerran, joten positiivisen puolella ehdottomasti ollaan. Ei liian vakavaa, vaikka leikkimään ei varsinaisesti lähdetäkään. Söpöjä stemmoja. B-puoli kyl tylsempi.
Olisi epäoikeudenmukaista kiistää artistin taito säveltää pop-musiikkia vain koska hänen esteettinen makunsa tuntuu vähän kornilta. "Omimista vai arvostusta"-debatissakin olen enemmän jälkimmäisellä puolella, koska musiikki on riittävän laadukasta. Mutta omaa esteettistä makuaan ei voi paetakaan: siinä missä vierailu Bob Marleyn maailmassa tuntuu seduktiiviselta, Simonin universumissa pakaroilleen ei löydä koskaan ihan sopivaa asentoa. 3,5
I really appreciate Paul Simon. I think he's original, takes risks, brings energy and perspective, but not super timeless in that I feel like he's very much of his time and playing to a pretty specific generation (not mine). With all due respect, he can tend to feel pretty corny haha. The African influence/collaboration here is super cool though.
Fint nok. Call me Al er en klassiker, resten var undervældende og ville ikke rigtig frem. Homeless var ret god til lige at fange min opmærksomhed igen.
Started playing You Can Call Me Al while I was about to call my friend Al, 10/10 timing
Not sure I like this as much as S+G work. Good for him for branching out. Backing vocals in Diamonds on the soles reminded me of the Nickelodeon theme song. The songs I enjoyed the most here were the more african-influenced ones. 3* Highlights: gumboots, homeless
Pretty decent album.
I liked it. I’ll need to return to it and listen to the lyrics more.
Fun, eclectic album. You Can Call Me All is a fun song.
This one was interesting, not at all what I was expecting.
The first half is quite strong, but I find it kind of falls away after that, making for an inconsistent record overall which is a shame, because as a whole, I wanted to like ‘Graceland’ more than I did.
I’ve know about the reputation of this album for a while. So maybe my expectations were too high. I thought it was solid. There are a few songs I’d consider great. But as a whole I wasn’t blown away. 3.5/5
Easy 3 - I liked a few songs, but wouldn't choose to listen to this. Felt very generic Paul Simon. Bloody loved call me al though.
The best parts were the African musicians. The worst parts were Paul Simon. I don’t dislike him in general, or at least, conceptually (come to think of it, maybe he’s one of those artists who I feel I “should” like without actually being that familiar with) but this album - which I expected to enjoy - strikes me as cheesy and ersatz. Favorite track: Homeless
Not of my personal taste, but nice nonetheless, lots of african sound throughout the record which can be nice for lots of people.
This album was politically controversial when released. Apartheid was in the news, the South African music vibe was new to the States. Never heard the entire album til 1001, but knew it would show up, and rightfully so. The album has a wide variety of sounds, some totally different styles, and some good songs. Crazy Love Vol II is the best song, Homeless could have been left off the album. L felt the vocals were all too much like he’s talking or reading and very similar - rated the album at (1.8*s). Difference of opinions here, Simon is a songwriter with some good ideas and many, many folk hits. (I hope Garfunkel has an album that makes the list.) For J, Graceland comes in at a strong (2.9*s)
Is Simon actually better without Garfunkel? I never gave that any thought, but here this album is to test theories. What a weird exploration in zydeco, African drumming, and tribal chanting. I can see how this was monumental at the time but there's a few flaws. I don't like the weird fart bass, something about the overall sound feels too island-y, and I'll never get over Simon's talk-sing delivery (like he's just reading a poem). I also don't fully get the album art (15th century Ethiopian manuscript stored at the Peabody Essex Museum) and the album title itself is a bit irksome. This combination of styles already feels like a middle-aged white man doing cultural appropriation, why pay homage to Elvis (a literal middle-aged white man who popularized black music)? In spite of all this, I somehow don't hate it (but I also don't love it).
Digging Simon post divorce from both his wife and bandmate. Have not been impressed by the duo and I am much more into this exploration. Although heartbroken, this album sounds pretty upbeat. Collabs with artists from a variety of genres and it works well. Why does Paul want to be called Al though? 3.2
I've really only been exposed to Simon (and/or Garfunkel) through various hits. I've never really sat and listened to a Paul Simon album prior to this list. I respect him as an artist but for the most part I've just considered him an musical icon but not in my wheelhouse. With Graceland it's nice to hear him with a little pep in his step as opposed to the very somber and sleepy work I'm familiar with. I wasn't familiar with the backstory of this album but the African influence is pretty evident all the way through. While it's a solid album there's only a couple songs I'll come back to. I understand why it's important and it's not something I'll turn off, but like plenty of other Paul Simon just something I'll move past. 2.83
I remember this as being immensely popular but also rather controversial because of Simon's relationship with the South African musicians. That aside, it's a lovely sounding album, if not to my taste. The thing is that the mid-80s production is so perfect and so smooth that the songs just pass by.
I like it! Storytelling is good, the incorporation of African melodies and rhythms gives it unique vibes. I just wish for the sake of the drums that it hadn't been recorded in the 80s.
Lots of really good tracks on this album.
It swings allright and it´s a top ranked easy listening background album i would say. This because i can feel no real emotion in it, very flat most of the time, Simon´s singing like a voice-over does not help here.
Interesting combination of Africana inspired beats and American soft rock. You can call me Al clearly is the front runner on this album, but other than that I found most of the songs were mostly just for the background. Great for playing at a party with a ton of people there, where the music is something to drown out lulls in conversation.
You Can Call Me Al is a 5 star song. I didn’t mind the rest of the album, but I’m not going to be adding any of the other songs to a playlist. Nevertheless, very happy it came up on the list!
It was good just not my cup of tea
Need more time to listen to this album.
The hits are good, the rest is trying way too hard and puts me to sleep.
Pretty good. I feel like Paul Simon is kinda boring but still good. He has a good voice. I like the bass
I couldn’t tell if I liked or hated this album, I still don’t know. Has some good songs though
An enjoyable album with catchy pop songs
Lots of African beats, not my cup of tea, but you can call me Al still gets me everytime!
It was kk
I will never know how I feel about this album. I just don’t know — I want to love it but I also want to hate it. I’m glad other people get so much out of it, I guess.
zu chaotisch
Incredible evolution in the fourth track, overall a solid and clear idea for the soundscape, wanted it to explore it further.
Thought that this album was one was "too nerdy" or "too safe" for today's standards, but it is actually a fun album to listen to. I would rate it with 3.5 stars.
Catchy and popular with many.
I didn't like this back in the day. I liked the music, but thought Simon's lyrics and singing were a bad match to the great stuff going on. There wasn't a universal feeling to them. Kind of a NYC experience superimposed on African grooves. Might have been better if the vocals were much further back in the mix.. I also felt like he wasn't showcasing the musicians very well. Kinda felt demeaning in some way. Maybe this was because I disliked his vocals so much. But it brought interest in very cool African music. Kudos for that. Some good songs when he got back to music styles he really knew: Call Me Al. Homeless, Diamonds. Under African Skies. I guess 3 stars.
Ik ga wel lekker op de toevoeging van de wereldse klanken in de popmuziek van Paul Simon. In veel andere genres die hem voor gingen pakte het ook goed uit (India in de Beatles, Jamaica in de punk). Niet altijd komt het even lekker uit de verf. Graceland is een heel lichte plaat en daarom is er volgens mij ruimte voor de wereldse beats en instrumenten. Dat maakt de simpele poppy songs net iets complexer. You Can Call Me Al is een zieke banger (check liveshow op Hyde Park op YouTube) 7,5/10 Highlights I Know What I Know You Can Me Al
Relentlessly joyful. Too much.
Some great songs, some great lyrics, I wish there was a 3.5.
5.5/10
First off, terrible album cover. Theres a joke involved 'Art' Garfunkel I can't quite reach, but regardless the cover is bad. Paul Simon definitely can definitely write a pop song, a lot of this was better than it had any right to be. That said, the African-influenced 80s sound is far too close to Phil Collins territory for me to truly enjoy it. Better than expected but not brilliant.
Please stop giving me Tom Waits albums.
Fun and easy listening - unique melodies with pop influences and a lot of fun
This is a really great sounding record, with catchy songs and some really great playing. I remember how fresh it sounded on the radio when it was released. Most of that is attributable to the collection of relatively unknown musicians who played on this, from South Africa, New Orleans, LA, etc. But, as I read about the album the more and more I get the ‘ick’ factor about it. While Paul Simon wrote some good lyrics and melodies for this record, he was really great at taking all the credit for the contributions of many others. I mean ALL the credit. Sure, there are some shared song-writing credits, but Simon decided who ‘deserved’ them. And some of his collaborators have publicly disagreed with his calls, which he brushes off, as he does with all of the controversial aspects of this record. Reading about the process, where Simon recorded session with bands doing their thing, which he then took back to America to edit and top-line, I think he claims too much of the credit. When it comes down to it, Paul Simon doesn’t think that rules apply to him. He decides who gets a song-writing credit (without consultation). He knew there was a cultural boycott on South Africa, but decided that didn’t apply to him. He spoke with Harry Belafonte to get some moral justification, but when he expressed reservations, Simon waved those away. He is moral arbiter on so many issues, and brushes off any criticism. He is a more talented version of Malcolm McLaren; a ‘curator’ of other people’s talents, keeping all the credit and cash for himself. It’s cultural appropriation, a type of musical colonialism. And, as time goes on, that just feels ickier and ickier. But am I happy to have been exposed to the music of Los Lobos, Rockin’ Dopise, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and all of the wonderful players on this record (especially the amazing bass player Bakithi Kumalo), who really bring the thing to life? Absolutely. Was it good to give those players a platform? Well, yes. But you can also do it like Peter Gabriel, who set up a studio and record label so that his collaborators could also release their own music under their own names. This album has some great songs on it and you really should hear it, but it’s hard for me to rate. It’s certainly a better introduction to world music than Malcolm McLaren’s similar magpie bricolage Duck Rock, so I’m going 4 stars overall, plus one for the great musicians, minus two for Paul Simon being a dick.
I always liked this album I just never loved it.
You Can Call Me Al gave me a jump scare of recognition. Overall this was fine, didn't blow me away but also didn't drain me. Favourite track: Graceland.
This album has been under a lot of scrutiny lately, but for the sake of this review I'll try to set all of that aside and focus solely on the music. All in all, I did enjoy this album. It's not something I'd ever listen front to back again—mostly because about half of the songs just aren't my jam—but I do appreciate it for going in some really creative musical directions. Tracks like 'You can call me Al', 'Graceland', 'I know what I know' and 'Under African skies' are definitely worth returning to. At the same time, I absolutely despise the accordion, so every time it came on, I immediately had an urge to skip the song. I also think that certain parts of the album haven't aged well—not only because of the controversial aspect of it all, but also because of the outdated production. Paul Simon has other records that feel way more relevant nowadays than this one.
I remember the Call Me Al video in ‘86 with Chevy Chase? Hard to get past it :)
A few good tracks, and wonderful guests, but not really my thing. Enjoyable enough, and clearly the work of someone who knows what he is doing, but lacking a little soul/passion/heart.
I have no idea what you would call Paul Simon’s music but its chill
It’s the late 80s, you’re in the car with your family driving to France on summer holiday and you’re taking turns putting your (very limited selection of) tape albums on the stereo. Dad’s got Dire Straits ‘Brothers in Arms’ and Queen ‘The Works’, you’ve got INXS ‘Kick’, your sister is lethally armed with the Dirty Dancing soundtrack and your Mum’s got this. Happy memories of the times, less so the music selection. The upshot is I know every word and part of this album off by heart, purely by conditioning, it’s definitely not love. I have no idea how to rate it, but I think I actually might like some of it, but my perspective is totally shot . Gonna have to emergency safe ‘3’ it! (Side thought: wonder how many of those other albums are on this list?)
I appreciate this, but it is not always my thing. Also Paul Simon stole credit for the songwriting on this one from the guest artist, but that’s just him being a dick. Now that I think about it: This would actually be a pretty cool record without Paul Simon.
I was looking forward to listening to this one and left feeling pretty underwhelmed. It’s fine but not as great as it gets described.
Al and Graceland were the saviours on this album for me.
crazy love
Good but not 4 stars. 71/100
Second listen. I think I got his self-titled album on here before. I just don’t care for his style. It’s way too mellow. For some reason I appreciated You Can Call Me Al more this time.
Cool
Umstritten bei seiner Entstehung - führte aber immerhin auch zu Diskussionen über Apartheid und den "richtigen" Umgang. Für mich gute Hintergrundmusik - Abwechslungsreich ohne dabei aufdringlich zu sein.
3/5 It had its moments. Why did so many groups do an African music thing in the 80s?
Paul Simon is a great signer song writer and Graceland is his iconic solo album. Now it's just not for me as I don't enjoy the synth or the backing vocals. 3 stars
Heavy in African influence. Big band sounds and brass throughout. Not my style but well produced.
Hmmm, considering it has one of my favorite songs on it, I thought it would be a better album...
I can see how the songwriting was likely groundbreaking but there aren't a ton of bangers
This kind of thing is hard to rate... two songs are absolute bangers, yet... the ones that weren't, were just not too nice to listen to. I'd usually dislike singer-songwriter type music, but I make an exception for Paul Simon.
Caught my attention at times
Known only by name and never listened to the album. I don't know how to feel about this album personally. I thought I'd like it more... maybe if I listened to it I'd grow more sentimental and it would be more memorable. But first listen didn't do it for me.
African inspired Starbucks music for white people. However, it's unique in its own right. 3 stars.
I feel like I’m *supposed* to enjoy this album more than I actually do, based on its acclaim at the time and its place on so many “best” lists. You can’t deny the catchiness of “Call Me Al,” but the rest just sounded kind of dated. Maybe it was groundbreaking for its time (*gasp* white folk singer uses African inspiration!) but now it just seems more desperate and appropriative. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Simon as an artist, particularly in his Simon & Garfunkel days. But this album falls into the mediocre range for me, which is lower than where I thought it’d be going in.
This is our 3rd Paul Simon album and we've already had 3 Simon & Garfunkel albums too. At this point, new reviews could frequently be copy/pastes from previous ones. Simon & Garfunkel = Fantastic duo, consistently and easily 4-5 stars Paul Simon = Nowhere near the S&G collaboration when flying solo. Consistently pleasant but uninspired 3 stars. Anything that is interesting on this record is thanks to the contributions of the African artists. Outside of those elements, the rest of the album was likely already musically outdated when it first came out.
I hadn’t been exposed to much of Paul Simon’s solo stuff and I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Musically it was pretty great but I didn’t really enjoy the vocals as they seemed pretty rambling. Listening to this kind of made me feel like I was going a little insane. 2.6
wow this was a weird "mainstream" album. it was about as 80s as it could be, minus the cheesy synths. but what it lacks in synths it makes up for with an amount of accordion that would make weird al blush. that was your mother comes off sounding almost like mariachi music with simon's strange instrumentation choices. all around the world also has that footloose drum sound from the beginning. shoutout to ladysmith black mambazo on this album too... like paul what are you even cookin here with that said, you can call me al is an all-time banger (and ties back into the weird al accordion-measuring contest going on) but the rest of this album is somewhere between middling, weird, and fresh. favorites: graceland, diamonds on the soles of her shoes, you can call me al
It's fine. Some good tunes but I'm not a fan of the rambling lyrics and the instrumentation hasn't aged well. I've always thought it odd that this is often lauded as one of, if not the best album of all time
- Bis auf „You Can Call Me Al“, den ich liebe und „Graceland“, was ich okay gut finde, kannte ich nix. - Ich mag Paul Simons Stimme schon sehr gern und höre ihm gerne zu - Insgesamt waren manche Sachen interessant, einiges aber auch irgendwie anstrengend - Ich mag Paul Simon dann doch lieber als Duo mit Art Garfunkel, als Solo… 3/5
Aside from the critical acclaim and controversy this album gained because of its cultural significance, I thought it sounded... alright. The collaborative element with South African singers is pretty interesting as a political statement. The overall message gets muddled a bit when Simon uses part of the album to vent about his personal problems (like his divorce with Carrie Fisher) or sing with Linda Ronstadt.