Reviews (page 2 of 15)
Diamonds On The Soles of her shoes, the rest is meh
When the topic of cultural appropriation comes up at dinner parties I bet Paul Simon breaks into a cold sweat that soaks him through his tiny coat. The guy’s an undeniable wordsmith and I appreciate the storytelling, just not nearly as much as I loathe every note of the bass guitars on this record.
Bold to start with accordion. There's either a keyboard playing bass sounds or they have out the most annoying filter on the bass. It's compressed and almost "elastic" feeling.
Definitely like Simon & Garfunkel more than Paul Simon solo. Not my type of music here, all the parts of pop music that I hate. ;) I am sure there are people who really like Paul Simon but, not for me. Oh god I just had a flashback to college freshman year where I knew a guy named Simon and whenever I saw him I said "Hey Simon, where's Garfunkel?". I can't believe he didn't punch me, I was an annoying piece of shit. I thought I was being clever.
An extremely unpleasant listen, just horrible, one star. Tom.
pretentious poo. It would probably have sounded better if Paul Simon took his head out of his arse when he was singing.
I'm sorry I do not get it I hate it actually - would rather listen to authentic African music than this weird shit. i fucking can't stand this at all. holy fuck.
Do you like cultural appropriation? Do you like your world music sanitised by having it's heart ripped out? Do you like the clash of farty bass, tinny synths and milquetoast vocals? Then you'll love this!
it's just not my cup of tea. I actually listen to 2 tracks and dropped it.
This is pretty bad. I don't like Simon and Garfunkel, and I guess I like Simon's solo work even less.
I was kidding about hating the eagles. I actually hate Paul Simon. Fuck, this shit sucks so bad
Ugh... What's worse than Paul Simon? Easy, '80s Paul Simon blending African music and pop into his otherwise unremarkable sound and acting like he discovered something. The whole thing feels like smug pandering.
Paul Simon is an asshole and a plagiarist. Fuck him.
You know an album has issues when "You Can Call Me Al" is the best track on it. Auditory mid life crisis with a generous helping of cultural appropriation and a side of screwing over collaborating musicians.
Ok, I tried listening to this album twice honestly. Maybe it's because I never gave Paul Simon or Simon and Garfunkel a fair chance, or maybe because I hate myself, who knows. Have you ever seen "Get Him to the Greek" where Russell Brand's band releases the album "African Child"? This is like the album that movie is trying to satirize. What a bunch of self-congratulating drivel this album was.
Really don’t like this guy
Hi, I’m Paul Simon. Two of the artists featured on this record have accused me of “plagiarizing” their work. One of them, Los Lobos, also claims they were “not credited” and “never paid” for their session work by myself or my label. They say that when they confronted me, I told them “sue me, see what happens”. I mean, it’s not like those allegations could possibly throw the veracity of the other work on this album into question, now would it? It’s not like I would ever take credit for a song I didn’t write, would I? What do you mean “what about Silent Night from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme?” What, I can’t give myself a writing credit for a public domain song? I’m sorry, I thought this was America. Love and hugs, Paul
Not my cup of tea, didn't finish it.
bleck, not good.
Please stop.
This album sucks. Paul Simon sucks.
Absolutely nothing stuck with me. It was like I forgot I listened to it right after I listened to it. But remembered enough to know I didn’t want to hear it again.
Weirdly country-ish and totally rubbish. Don't like his voice, the music is both nuts and terrible. No idea what's going on.
Absolutely not. Paul Simon has nothing to say for an hour. There is absolutely nothing interesting or noteworthy about this album. Skip it. Listening to the rest of the album has ruined "You Can Call Me Al." Absolute garbage.
Hmmm not a fan..
I really, really didn't like this.
Ugh, more overrated music by a guy who appropriates African music to benefit himself. The music sucked, too
Absolutely terrible
A nice reminder of a time where you could hear Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Pop Radio… a MUST for everyone
I think this might be another album that scores a point higher due to nostalgia. But I do think it's fantastic listen.
A total reinvention of Paul Simon. Simply amazing album!
This was a big hit when it came out and I tried to dismiss it as yet more boomer nostalgia getting jammed down our throats but the musicians on here are so outrageous you are forced to listen to this album on its own merits. Even if you were a goth or a b-boy or even a punk, if you were playing bass guitar when this record came out, your face was torn off by it. Respect must be paid to Bakithi Kumalo, a genius of the electric bass none of us had ever heard of before and who kinda steals this whole album. Call me Al and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes are two tunes where he stands out particularly. It was popular in Woke 1.0 to single out this record as cultural appropriation but i think that's bullshit. Actually, the entire concept of cultural appropriation is bullshit. Also, I daresay this album did more for killing apartheid than any boycott a la Little Stevie's "Ain't Gonna Play Sun City." Songwriting is on point, too. This came out around the same time as the Talking Heads movie True Stories and between the two it was very much a time for quirky, slight white men of and about New York City at a time that is hard now to believe existed. A New York City where Trump is just starting to emerge into the broader culture, for a garishly guilded tower a block from Bloomingdales that seems mainly like a sign of the yuppie times; a New York City where Rudy Giuliani is also just starting to emerge, as a mob-busting savior, no less; a New York City where the culture these men are emerging into is one where the Epstein-adjacent norms underlying Woody Allen's Manhattan are somehow more praiseworthy than cancel-worthy. From this NYC, these two unrelated men, both in their own way embracing the Morning in America vibe and trying to tell a big story about it by seeking meaning in the flyover states. Good job, lads.
Just amazing. One of the greatest albums of all time.... certainly one of the most important! Utterly perfect from start to finish! Too many highlights to mention.. The Boy In The Bubble has always been my personal favourite but Graceland is wonderful, I Know what I Know, Diamonds..... The album ending...the climax of All around the world is utterly joyous! 5 stars isn't enough!!
I adore this album
The politics around this album remain complicated - it depends who you ask as to whether this is exploitation or collaboration, subversive or colonial. If a neutral standpoint is taken - especially now at 30 years distance - this is an incredible amalgamation of seemingly incompatible styes put together in a way that few others have managed. To quote Allo Darlin's "My Heart Is A Drummer": You see it's like loving "Graceland" / It's not allowed to be but we know it's everybody's favorite/Deep down in the place where music makes you happiest
Living in Memphis the juxtaposition of how and where Graceland stands and the majesty of this album are dizzying
What else can you say.
Wonderful listening experience. Bursting with creativity, catchy songs, and a unique fusion of South African rhythms with American country and folk songwriting.
The album Paul always will be remembered with. A brilliant blend of cultures with excellent songwriting and great playing. I'm very grateful this album introduced me to the beautiful voices (and moves) of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Shining like a national guitar. 5/5
Love the different musical influences on this album.
An amazing album that blends cultures and sounds, even zydeco is in the mix. Pair that with Paul Simon’s smooth delivery and lyricism and you’ve got a gem.
Potentielt problematisk Afrika-fetish aside, shit den her plade er altså lækker. Vildt groovy på en måde der stadig lyder ret unik
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I've had this album seared into my brain. Bakithi Kumalo's bass playing haunts my dreams. It's basically a perfect pop album.
I went into this with medium expectations, and it blew them away. The sheer musicality of it all just overwhelmed me. Perfect album.
This is a top 5 album of mine.
Well, I pull this motherfucker out about once a year anyway, so I guess the time has come. I know the politics of this album are all fucked up. Inexcusable, even. I know he ripped off Los Lobos and countless African musicians. I know this is (albeit well-intentioned, I guess) cultural appropriation. But the songs are so goddamned good. I'm happy this thing exists.
One of my faves!
It was so good, I walked in I said woah it was so good. Paul Simon tremendous guy, avsolutely. Some say he’s the best
I know Paul Simon has quite a reputation in the business. And there is HUGE controversy over this album and whether it was appropriate to make. I find at the end of the day, I don’t care. Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter. His partnership with Ladysmith Black Mambazo WAS a partnership. And this album is magic. I know EVERY song by heart. I have known it since it came out when I was a kid and my mom got it on cassette. My first college roommate had a mini obsession with it and Graceland by extension because of it. Paul Simon is indelibly interwoven with my feelings of being American. And that seems very appropriate. A boy from Queens who loved ALL the music around him, he is quintessentially American. And I know where Graceland is because of him. And also know that there’s more to Memphis than Elvis. 5 Boolean: True
Crazy risk for a songwriter as safe and uncontroversial as Paul Simon to travel to South Africa in the midst of apartheid and showcase a rich cultural tradition in a country whose government had tried to shut it out. Everything works here, and the South African musicians add an extra layer to Paul Simon's usual neurotic folk-rock. Standouts: The Boy in the Bubble, Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints
This felt like such a breath of fresh air in music. I knew of 1 or 2 songs on this album but I didn't know they were from The Simon from Simon and Garfunkel. This was a incredibly lovely listen and gave me a very comforting relaxed feeling.
This album genuinely blew me away, it was really good and I'm definitely revisiting this because holy damn. I loved the incorporation of African tunes into the music, this was absolutely a lovely listen.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Boy In the Bubble, Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call me Al This was pretty great. Diverse songs with interesting lyrics and catchy tunes. I don't really read too much into lyrics generally; whether the lyrics of these songs are happy or sad or somewhere in between, but this album feels pretty upbeat. I am teetering on 4/5. Is this really an album I would put into my rotation? I don't really have a "rotation" per se these days, what with all the new music I listen to, but I do have some regulars. Is this a future regular?
This album is just so good. Paul Simon is just a genius at creating melodies that are super catchy while also super complex. The highlights are pretty much every song.
There is not a bad song on this album. 'Crazy Love, Vol. II' is the highlight but the bar is set very high from start to finish. Lyrically captivating throughout ("Why am I soft in the middle? The rest of my life is so hard"). A very good day on the 1001 albums project
Still probably in my top 10 all time after all these years.
Yeah. Not much debate needed on this one. Even with a spirited discussion of cultural appropriation by multimillionaire white musicians of the 70s/80s -- this is still a five star.
Great album. Reminds me of so many people,too.
25/08/2026 I am surprised this has rated so highly by everyone, but also, it's a brilliant album. Spotify listeners: 8.9 million
Nydeleg plate. Eg sat ungdommen på gjerdet, og såg på denne som gamlismusikk. Som eldre kar nyter eg låtskrivinga, rytmane og ikkje minst stemninga som pregar heile verket. Eg lar meg begeistre!
En av verdens aller beste plater!
Full pott! Eg treng ikkje høyra den for å veta det, men eg gjorde det no likevel, slik eg gjer relativt ofte, og godt var det. Eg har det ikkje i meg å gå lei av denne plata. Nett i dag tenkte eg mellom anna på kor fint det er når koret tek over på slutten av tittellåten, at den harmoneringa på Under African skies sikkert er det finaste Linda Ronstadt har gjort, og at jaggu måtte eg blunka litt ekstra då han kom til Somebody could walk into this room and say “your life is on fire”. Den er trist og glad på same tid denne plata. Det er fint.
9/10 Wonderful songwriting and an excellent feel to the album
I remember when Graceland was THE album to have, and my parents listened to it for six months straight while driving our carpool minivan. Although far removed from that time, I put this album on today and sang along to every word. It is a magnificent piece of my history. I didn't understand any specific criteria for great music at nine years old; I only knew it sounded pleasant and comforting to my ears, and growing up in south Louisiana, the zydeco was familiar. Today, I am blown away with how truly GREAT this music is, so I appreciate it on a whole different level, and that is 5 star quality.
The twang is interesting. Clean album. This music is generational.
Great album
Really like this album from hearing bits and pieces of it through my childhood to diving into it later in my 20s. The bass line through most of the tracks just captivates me which I guess was inspired by African musicians and blends into some really bouncy and fun moments. Seems like there is a lot of drama over this album but I always knew it as something positive and joy filled. If I collected Vinyls this would have to be part of the collection.
This is my jam.
97/1000 Imagine having your entire live falling apart through your connection to your music partner fading, going through a divorce, and having your label consider not supporting you because your last album was a commercial failure then busting THIS fucking thing out. It’s a bouncy, fun, singalong world music album that ranks among the best pop albums ever made. Simon collaborated with various African musicians and vocalists here leading to a sound that is both distinctly his, yet also part of the greater African music sound that Talking Heads had just been exploring in Remain in Light. The harmonies are warm and peaceful, the music is fun and engaging, and the messages Paul gives in a lyrics are great. It’s just an amazing world music album. God bless Paul Simon go fuck yourself Garfunkel broke bitch.
One of the first albums I ever heard. I'd love to be in South Africa when this came out!
Still perfect after all these years
How fitting this came up when I had a road trip.
One of the best of all time.
I really enjoyed this album, it was much more upbeat than I expected as Paul Simon has a lot of softer songs. It was nice to see him leaning more into a Pop sound than folk. Favorite Track - Call Me Al Least Favorite Track - Diamonds on the Soles of Shoes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Masterpiece! You Can Call Me Al is goated, best track. Amazing listen with so many genres.
i just love Paul Simon
We all know this: Paul Simon is a poet. He is amazing. There is something weird about a white man using this music, but also would most of America have heard it if he didn’t? It’s an uncomfortable question so I’m leaving it. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is amazing. And I love so many songs from this album. And even if I’d never heard it before I would have jammed to it. And no stinkers!
I never quite got what all the fuss was about this album, but yesterday's listen really floored me. It was actually the first time I sat and listened to the whole thing. I really love Simon's lyrics on this one. He weaves a sophisticated world, very much of a time and place. And his wry humor is on point. Listening to this makes me feel like I'm brunching at a Manhattan cafe while reading The New Yorker and making plans to hit the Met later with my successful, literate friends. And let's give it up for that bassist! Damn dude, save some talent for the rest of us. PS, I also went down a rabbit hole about cultural appropriation, mostly because of all the comments on this website. I'm not really sure that's what's going on here, though his recording in South Africa during the apartheid boycott was problematic. Still, it's complicated, and this Rolling Stone article is well worth reading. https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/paul-simons-graceland-10-things-you-didnt-know-105220/
As impactful to my ears today as is it was in 1986. I just love this album.
So fucking good.
Hands down, one of the greatest albums of all time. Simon's songwriting with the eclectic and unique sound of South African music makes for such striking, memorable songs. And I'm a big Paul Simon fan so I already loved many of his songs before and after this. But Graceland really is just a magical album that transcends even Simon's already fantastic output. There is seriously not a single weak song here.
Incredible album.
I think Simon’s greatest strength is his ability to write songs that fit his voice: equal parts carefree and melancholy. Known as the world music album, there’s more variety than I expected, virtually all of it fantastic. My bias is to say Simon is better with Garfunkel, but this album is a very strong counter argument to that.
A remarkable and essential album in many different ways. It asks all the questions important art asks - while being a great listen. It’s an album worthy of every critique and praise it gets. It’s an album I wish I could write a book about. It angers and soothes. It’s musical theft and inspired genius. It’s everything.
It has to be full marks for this album. I know there are concerns these days about cultural appropriation but, as far as im aware, the African musicians involved in this album had no such concerns. And music involves learning from, borrowing from and interpreting the music of different cultures and genres all the time. Paul Simon's talent and creativity shines through.
I was torn between a 4 and a 5 with this, but after a second listen, I’m confident with a 5. Not every track is standout, but there isn't a single weak or even a mediocre one. Paul Simon's fusion of African musical traditions with Western pop feels thoughtful and organic rather than gimmicky, resulting in an album that's both adventurous and accessible. More importantly, it works brilliantly as a complete album. It’s cohesive, vibrant, and consistently enjoyable from start to finish.
Know every word. Listened to it hundreds of times in the 80s and 90s. A favourite.
I’ve always loved it.
Immediate 5/5 album, love this. I have no idea how he managed to create such a unique sound and collection of songs, it’s like nothing else and all of them are catchy and great to listen to
Brilliant, obviously
Nach langer Zeit mal wieder angehört - immer noch gut
This is an all time classic album. I grew up listening to this from my parents and it is still great today. Anyone that calls this cultural appropriation doesn’t know the history or involvement of the musicians and how this opened doors for many of the artists he collaborated with.
The first album I ever owned, and probably the best
Spectacular
Graceland is awesome. The background vocals on most of the tracks make this one extra special.
Classic. Get why it may not be everyone's thing but I love it
I love Paul Simon with my whole heart
feels poetic, reminds me of a Congolese jazz album I've been listening to which lead me to find out he worked with several South African musicians, which was controversial because it was during Apartheid - interesting stuff. I like the plucky guitar style and there are some killer lines.
No skips. If I were Art Garfunkel I would’ve blown my head smooth off after hearing this
I live for the the beat drop in diamonds. 10/10
you already know. ☆☆☆☆☆
One of the albums of my life. I’ve listened entirely hundreds of times. Simply perfect.
You can call me Al and Diamonds on the soles of her shoes are familiar and take me home
Needs more chevy chase
One of the easiest 5s. One of my favorite albums ever. The 1-star reviews on here are baffling.
Kelsey was way ahead of me on this one. This album has so many elements (especially the accordion and elastic bass on the first song) that I would typically not enjoy, but somehow, together here, it's nearly flawless. Also, listening to Paul Simon explain how the song Graceland came together really affected how I view the album as a whole.
Amazing album. Love Graceland. Classic.
Such a fun, upbeat album full of unique music and styles. I loved the variety and Simon’s storytelling. Not a bad song on the album.
I love this album.
This album has been a favorite of mine since it was released and I never tire of it. This was one of the very few records both my Dad and I both loved, so it has even a little extra juice for me.
Takes me back to college, and to the years past college through which this CD stayed on more or less continuous rotation for me. But it had been a while. Because of the ubiquity of Call Me All, I'd forgotten about some of the other great songs, even Boy in the Bubble. (Also, go watch the music video for Call Me Al again, the one with just Paul Simon and Chevy Chase. Still understatedly hilarious.)
5/5 - I know this album backwards and forwards. I never get tired of it.
There’s something really warm and comforting about Paul Simon’s music, I feel like I could listen to this all day. And I think seeing him live and hearing him talk about the Graceland band gave me an extra dose of appreciation for the sound of this album. He’s doing so much fun stuff here, and it all works really well. Favorites: Graceland, Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al
Sorry angry young people but this album rules.
One of the best of the late 80s, helped popularize African sounds in the West but it still had Linda Rondstadt guest feature during the Apartheid boycott and there was plenty of controversy. I prefer Peter Gabriel's So from 1986.
Really good
Single-handedly introduced the western world to International Music with this album, so stfu about cultural appropriation.
Liked it a lot.
Really like Paul Simon. Need to listen to some Simon and Garfunkel. Music education starting here.
Low 5 for me.
Easy 5 star ⭐
Classic
One of the cool and interesting facts that I often share about myself is that my favourite Paul Simon album is actually his self titled LP. Yes (gasp!) not Gracelands like most people! You can only imagine my surprise and disappointment this afternoon when I discovered Gracelands is the best thing Paul Simon has ever written. In one day it's gone from being my fourth most played of his albums to being my most played after incessantly spinning on the record player for hours. It's a totally fluid, carefree record which is full of hilarious one liners delivered with such effortlessness that you could easily miss them, lost in the beauty of his voice, guitar and the integration of South African influences which I until now I apparently didn’t much care for. Well done consensus - you win again.
Listening to Graceland has always been and always will be a joy, solid 5
The soundtrack to all my parents parties they threw while I was growing up
Very fun from front to back. The bass player was ripping through this whole thing
An album that is not without controversy in this era of cultural appropriation, it is nevertheless, an album that shone a light to the South African scene and which by itself, offers a great perspective (though Westernalized) on their culture and sounds. In a list that offers such a narrow view of the world, this is album becomes yet more necessary, and an easy 10/10. 10/10 [KEEP]
This is the first album I knew in advance was going to be five stars for me.
Always been a big fan of this album. Still enjoy listening to it, never tire. Particularly love the album title track.
Perfect fucking album.
An artist I know next-to-nothing about, what little I do know I don't care for, and yet his reputation demands a fair shake & I suspect I'm about to be won over. Sure enough. That's brilliant. Amazing range, fantastic guests, incredible tunes. Guess I'll be taking a PS deep dive whenever I find the time
Beautiful and well written and performed songs, probably one of the most popular world music heavy albums in existence.
We must truly be in the favour of the album generator gods who have provided two Paul Simon records one after the other. It is steeped in contraversy and I don’t think all of this is completely unfounded. However, not to be dismissive but this is not what this challenge is about for me. I LOVE this album - it’s pure perfection. There are literally zero weak tracks and they all just make me feel so happy. Is there anything better than going on a road trip with someone you love and putting Graceland on - I think not.
I just love this album, and yes I am a super white boy loser cos this WAS my gateway into listening to African music, so fucking sue me. Whilst I completely get why some people have a problem with it, luckily for me these songs got in my head before I had any context (and even WITH context I don't think the 'issue's' here are clear cut enough, and I will never buy the 'no one benefited from it other than Simon' line - this record + Peter Gabriel basically invented 'world music' as a saleable commodity (which I'm pretty sure every artist on this record benefited from) - what happened from there (and the evolving concept of what that term means) is not Simon's fault etc. etc.) Anywaaaayyy I love his lyrics, I love the instrumentation, pretty much every song is catchy enough to be a hit. The only knock against it really is the production is kinda flat and '80s and gross, but even that isn't a problem because there's so much nostalgia tied up in those big honking synth blasts. Is there a better guitar line than .57 seconds into 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes'? No, there isn't. It's a wonderful, joyous, beautiful record that I will happily listen to on loop. 5/5, 10/10, all-time banger. (ps Rhythm of the Saints should also be on this list, 'The Obvious Child' is better than anything on Graceland)
Listen to this twice in a row, somehow feel that is enough to give it 5 stars
Love it
splendid
This was awesome I had so much fun Playlist add: "You Can Call Me Al" obviously
From start to finish this album is amazing. You will have so much of it stuck in your head, and that head will bop along. Put it on, loud, and dance away like no one’s watching!!!
One of my favourite albums of all time. ‘Losing love is like a window on your heart, everybody sees your blown apart…
Great album. No weak tracks and something interesting at every turn. Some of this has been done before but never with so much commercial success. I had always assumed this was an artist at a commercial peak taking a risk, but reading about it, this was a low point and a real last roll of the dice. Going for something like this that could very easily have fallen flat was a brave choice
This is so good.
good I really liked the first song
This is a great album. I listened to it a lot when it first came back and was surprised I still knew it well. The song Graceland is an earworm for me that's hard to dislodge (and writing this review started it again. LOL) The combination of upbeat south african music with Paul Simon's lyrics and songwriting works really well.
No skips.
A hugely successful album for Simon, an eclectic mix of South African musicianship with western songwriting and guest artist including Linda Ronstadt and the Everley Brothers. The album spawned a number of big hit singles, including You Can Call Me Al with the memorable Chevy Chase video. It was surrounded by a whole lot of political debate about whether he should have gone to South Africa during the time of apartheid and whether he should have tackled South Africa's problems in the songwriting. But I'm not getting into that here. It remains a memorable album with classic hooks and Bakithi Kumalo's bubbling bass, especially on You Can Call Me Al, is fantastic.
A perfect example of a five star album. Although Justin Townes Earl’s cover of the title track is immaculate
didn’t expect to like folklore rock, kinda never knew there was such a thing like that genre but it was reaaaally good
Graceland is maybe a perfect song. Amazing album, amazing story behind it. Love the South African influence/collaborations.
I'll be the first to admit that this rating and review is heavily influenced by nostalgia, I adore this album. My dad made me a mixtape when I was about 5, most of this album was on it (and strangely a few tracks from Phantom of the Opera? Weird choice?). I listened to this album on a several months long family holiday across Scotland, England, France and Canada - I only remember snippets of the trip, but the music has always stuck with me. It's also probably the album I have the most misheard lyrics from, including "billionaires and baby bears" (my version is better) I guess along with lots of albums on this list, time, society and culture shifts change the way we view things, but reading about the cultural appropriation issues some have with this album, I'm not sure if I agree or not. The musicians were paid industry rates and royalties to make music on the album and then had a strong careers following it, sounds like both profited, and although there was a boycott by the west due to apartheid at the time, surely supporting black musicians and providing a platform was a good thing? I don't know enough about it, maybe I'm ignorant to the complexities, but it certainly started a long love of world music for me.
5 stars. Next
Muy lindo álbum, me levantó mucho el ánimo, y es que los ritmos y sonidos que se usan generan eso, Paul Simon decidió mirar a la cuna de la humanidad y explorar su música y cultura para enriquecer su sonido occidental, mezclando el pop con el afro y dándonos canciones llenas de historias y ritmo. Destaco el trabajo increíble del Bajo freatless y la guitarra que hace ritmos hermosos, el único detalle malo que le veo es que a partir de la 9na canción pincha un poco el álbum, pero sigue siendo ameno.
Very back loaded with Paul Simon but they have been increasingly great. I’ve enjoyed this the most and will look to pick up a hard copy so I’ll go 5/5
What a great album introducing new music from another continent as well as merging this to old tradtitional stuff from the west (if you are from the west of course)...
A classic
All time one of my favorite albums. The way Paul Simon brings so many musicians together and explores so many styles on this album is nothing short of miraculous. His lyrics and songwriting chops are on full display here. Hearing the song Graceland always chokes me up a little bit. Homeless is a high point of his catalog. It's so peak.
Det er sgu bare magisk - man kan kun blive glad i låget.
Jeg ELSKER det her album. Måske er det fordi jeg er vokset op med at min far spillede det. Omvendt har min far spillet meget jeg ikke har forelsket mig i... Der bare et eller andet her, der fangede mig fra første sekund, selvom jeg først rigtig opdagede albummet i sin helhed da jeg var blevet voksen. Der er umiddelbarhed, humor og musikalitet, der gør det meget svært (for mig) ikke at blive fænget, selv på de få par numre der fungerer lige knap så godt. Og så er You can call me Al - ud over et fantastisk nummer - en perfekt tidskapsel for den periode. Med musikvideoen blæsende ud på MTV i stuen. Som en perfekt destillering af 1987 - og måske firserne i det hele taget.
Cultural appropriation at its best! I like this album more for the African musicians than for Simon’s overdubs. Despite some late 80s production pitfalls, Graceland is a solid and enjoyable record and my favorite Paul Simon album.
Before this only really heard You Can Call Me Al. This was a great album with different styles on various tracks.
I am friends with the guy who hooked Paul Simon with the zydeco musicians who played on this, in fact heard him regale the story this weekend. So my view is colored by that but beyond that, the album is impeccible. Paul Simon bypasses any notion of cultural appropriation with his blatant love for the music and musicians integrated in this amazing brace of songs.
I know people like to dismiss this as cultural appropriation, but from what I’ve read about the project Simon treated the musicians well and made sure they got their credit and money, which is a real solid to people living under the iron fist of Apartheid. And hey — it introduced white people like me to South African township music. Musically, these songs still hold up, though the production veers into late-80s overgloss territory at times. But Paul Simon revived his flagging career with an ambitious act of cross-cultural musical ambassadorship, and we should all be grateful.
Man, there are maybe three albums I remember my parents playing growing up, and (shocker) this was one of them. I have no complaints, it's a beauty, the songs on this listen brought me to tears more than once.
I never thought this would be such a polarizing album. Oh well, I'm clearly on the "masterpiece" end of the spectrum. I didn't discover this until my 30s, and I'm about as old as the album itself. Instantly became a favorite of mine. The whole thing shines from start to finish, with eclectic sounds and brilliant song-storytelling. Yes, the album borrowz heavily from African music, but who cares? Graceland also features a lot of zydeco-esque sounds but people don't get up in arms about that. Artists find inspiration from everywhere. No one really gave the Beatles crap for going to India and suddenly featuring the sitar on their albums...ok maybe people didn't love the sound, but they hardly got accused of cultural appropriation. This is one of the few albums on here where I don't feel 5 stars is high enough. Sorry haters.
As close to perfect as an album can get.
Four things: * Is this cultural appropriation? I'm inclined to say no, it's collaboration and highlighting, though I understand the arguments of those who feel otherwise. * Was it OK for Simon to break the cultural boycott? No, I don't think it was. * Did Simon rip off Los Lobos for a songwriting credit? Probably, but who knows the truth. * Is this a great record anyway? Absolutely. Five stars without a doubt.
This is one of the greatest LPs of all time!
A masterclass album!
Classic Paulie
Although it may now seem hackneyed, then the use of South African music was so fresh and exciting. Paul Simon’s music dovetailed so well with it and his voice also. So many beautiful and fun songs
It’s a great album - one of Simon’s best albums - which is saying a lot. I especially enjoyed All Around the World.
amazing album!!!!
Immaculate top to bottom. The funnest funs, the somberest sombers, the chillest chills. Good job Paul. Highlights: "Graceland", "I Know What I Know", "Gumboots"
More than any other album on this list I grew up with this, on cassette, with my parents playing it all the time in my formative years. Soft spot for miles here
I've grown up with this since it came out and never stopped listening to it, and every time I hear something new and wonderful
I knew this was on the list as it would be unjust were this to be left off in favor of almost any other album. This has been one of my favorites since I first heard it when I was 8 years old thanks to MTV and FM radio. This is an easy 5. A master songwriter traversing multiple styles and genres aided by other master musicians. I still have over 600 albums left before I get to the end of the list (barring revisions from the forthcoming new edition of the book) but this will be in consideration for my top album.
😍😍 This album is on heavy vinyl rotation in our house - glad to get a chance to listen to it!
I love this album. I grew up listening to it. I think the music is beautiful. I love how collaborative it is and how all the different collaborations lead to an album that feels varied but coherent. There isn't a song on here that I would skip. Obviously my review is super biased, there's no way for me to listen to this album and not remember singing along to it with my family in the car. I like to think that I'd love it even if I was hearing it for the first time now. There's such a good mix of warmth and emotion. Fav song: You Can Call Me Al - this one has been my fav since I was a kid. Graceland is the one I haven't been able to stop singing since listening this time. Least fav: Gumboots
Putting into words the way I feel about this album isn't easy. I think it's musically gorgeous with beautiful vocals and incredible storytelling. But mostly I think it's impossible to separate this album from all my memories of it. There was a year or so my parents were traveling full time and Homeless was my dad's anthem (always sang incredibly overly dramatically). When I turned 21 my flatmate put You Can Call Me Al on the party playlist because he knew how much I liked it and I remember feeling so loved and seen and surrounded by my favourite people as it played. And there are the countless memories of singing along to Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes and Graceland on long car rides with my family. Favourite song: You Can Call Me Al Least: I Know What I Know (but I love the whole album really)
One of my all time favorites!
I enjoy it a lot
Pretty close to perfect.
Ahhhh serenity. My second Paul Simon album on this list and probably my favourite. Puts me in a good mood. Some songs I didn’t recognise and others I hadn’t listened to in a while. From the mix of different sounds, instruments, moods, vocals, everything sounds harmonic and well thought out. Making a song like Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes is talent enough, but putting it alongside other greats like You can call me Al, I know what I know and Graceland? Top tier.
An all time favourite of mine, literally seeing him live tomorrow. Remember the first time I listened to homeless on vinyl - genuine perfection. Diamond on the souls of her shoes is beautiful, you can call me Al is obviously such a banger and the title track is also. This album has no skips for me.
The Talking Heads influence is extremely welcome here. And also it’s funny just how much of Vampire Weekend’s entire deal comes from this album, I had no idea. I could have done with less synth but it’s by no means bad. I’m really glad this is on the list- it’s the surprise I’ve been hoping to come upon the whole time. Maybe it’s silly that I managed to get this far without actually listening to Paul Simon but at least I have now!
Who doesn't like Paul Simon? He's just a happy little man making happy little songs. This album has to be his magnum opus. The African influence is chef's kiss perfect. Plus Call Me Al? Absolutely everyone should listen to this before they die. And every time you're in a bad move.
This is an all timer for me. So musical, so catchy, never fails to deliver good vibes for me.
It would be difficult to overstate how big this album was when ot was forst released. Bolstered by MTV, and not that long after Simon and Garfunkel had a big success with their concert in Central Park, this album was massive, opening Paul to a completely new audience. This album is great, top to bottom. My personal favorite is the duet with Linda Ronstadt, Under African Skies. Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes is also fantastic. Great poece of misic history in this release.
Pretty good, LOTS of variety. Might give the band some more listens because of that. The more I listen the better it gets. Probably the best album on here so far. Will listen to this album more.
I have so many stories about this album and songs from this album, and it was never going to get anything less than 5 stars from me. But this was one of my mom’s favorite albums, if not her very favorite, and she always told me that she listened to this all the time when she was pregnant with me. She died in November 2024, and I miss her every day. Listening to this album makes me feel closer to her, and in the end, that’s the only story about this album that matters to me. Love you, mom.
How is Simon so good? Ladysmith helps but the dude is tremendously talented. Makes Dylan sound overrated . . .
One of the greatest works of artistry of all time. Every single song is a great. In my opinion this album is the magnum opus of one of the best musicians of all time. I don't know that I can enjoy an album more than I enjoy this one.
The best
Beautiful record through and through. Culturally important, a delicate and balanced mix of influences.
This album sounds great with headphones on
Likely his best solo album.
The second Paul Simon five in this project, and the one he’d been building toward. Where the 1972 debut felt effortless and warm — a songwriter wandering through genres with natural curiosity — Graceland feels like a full artistic commitment. Simon didn’t dip into South African music. He went there, lived inside it, and came back with something that sounds completely inevitable in retrospect and was genuinely courageous in context. The apartheid-era controversy around the recording is worth acknowledging honestly. At the time, cultural boycotts of South Africa were the political consensus, and Simon’s decision to record there with Black South African musicians was genuinely contested. In hindsight the integration argument holds — these collaborations brought Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the township jive musicians of Johannesburg to a global audience in a way that honored rather than exploited the source. Courage in art doesn’t always look obvious while it’s happening. The music makes the case beyond any political argument. “The Boy in the Bubble,” “You Can Call Me Al,” “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” — each one a different entry point into the same joyful, rhythmically alive world Simon had discovered. “Homeless” with Ladysmith Black Mambazo carries the album to its emotional peak without quite being the peak itself — because the record stays remarkably high throughout, which is its defining quality.
6/5 love you paul
First listen I was thinking a high 4 but after the second go it’s 5 all day long. Brilliant album
Paul e kongen!
I knew this would be a 5/5 before I started listening. I never ceases to delight me from beginning to end. I added “The Myth of Fingerprints” to my playlist but I love every single track.
Absolute classic. Couple songs dont do it for me, but overall a masterpiece.
Bien.
Hands done one of the best albums ever. My favorite road trip album for over 20 years.
El regreso al exito masivo de Paul Simon, uno de los mejores compositores del siglo XX. Original mezcla con la música africana. Imprescindible.
fav
one of my absolute favorite albums - ask my college next-door neighbors
Wow, thanks again
Justice for Heidi
SIMONN TE AMOOOOOO ♡♡
Actually brilliant album. Effortless blend of two cultures into great music. You Can Call Me Al was my fav song of the album. Graceland was my fav first listen of the album, Crazy Love, Vol. II and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes were my other highlights
One of the most musically cohesive albums I have ever heard. I can hear the influence on bands like vampire weekend in various tracks here. An amazing listen.
very indie, cottagecore!
This is, was, and always will be the greatest album ever - the first album I ever remember listening to as a kid and it still hits every single time every single song
The presence of the song "Graceland" gets us to a 4 by itself, let alone the rest of this, which is a handful of classics and some slightly above average filler. Regardless, this is album is great of you're looking for a mellow, musically intricate experience. Paul Simon's lyrics are generally fine, if centered around the experience of a middle aged white guy in the 80s. When he pushes beyond that it gets... weird. But also, it's clear by some of the reviews that a good deal of people have no actual idea what 'cultural appropriation' means. This ain't it. You can still, like, collaborate with artists from different places. Otherwise what's the argument? Separate but equal... music? No, get out of here. This is fine, some of these songs are great.
Paul Simon’s greatest solo effort, but I still prefer is work with Garfunkel.
I’d give it 6 stars if I could. A top 5 any time record to put on. Truly a wall to wall perfect, quirky, fun, joyful record.
Truly a masterpiece. This album is probably in my top 50 favorite albums of all time.
Great
Paul Simon is already one of the greatest singer songwriters. Part of what makes this so good is his collaborations particularly with the Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Always a favorite!
Had a great time with this one. It's a lot more upbeat than I would have expected from a Paul Simon album, and there was an impressive array of instrumentation from the African contributors on here that varied from track to track, giving different phases of the album their own identity. Simon's gentle tenor has a slightly nasal quality to it, although not of the irritating or twee variety, and he's able to pen some strong melodies which I can foresee sticking with me on subsequent listens. Graceland also very much benefits from a crystal clear production job for the time, achieved without sanitising the source material. Onto the buy list this goes!
I just love African music
Good vibes only. Absolutely timeless
Delicios
I'm old and I saw this tour! I was 14. it was spectacular esp bc the great SA musicians Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela performed as well. Along with the flawless township jive band (Bakithi Kumalo, Ray Phiri). There was much controversy about him breaking the boycott at the time but he did so much for South African music by making it. The bass player lives in my area, this reminds me I need to work with him. Fun fact: it's the first time Paul Simon ever wrote to tracks instead of composing the song on guitar - the lyrics and melodies were last after the instruments. Sucks that he screwed Los Lobos out of royalties but it's a brilliant record, 5 stars all the way.
Now this is a great birthday gift, thank you generator!
This is one of the best albums ever, period. Paul Simon cannot miss and this is at the top of his stuff. Lyrically perfection, and love how he brings in all different artists and sounds to appreciate other cultures and music styles. No skips on here and will never get old no matter the amount of listens. Top Songs: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland, You Can Call Me Al, Under African Skies
This song just gets me in a groove. I love the guitar work and the tribal drumming on some of the songs is so catchy!
Immediate 5 for me. This is one of my favorite albums, and no tracks are skips.
The best case on record for the value of cultural appropriation.
No surprises just a remarkable album
I own three copies of this album on vinyl.
This is just about the best thing anyone’s ever done. It’s hard to talk in enough superlatives about how great it is. I adore all of it and will listen to it again and again and again.
Amazing
Incredible from start to finish.
Another nostalgic album for me. As a teen, I didn't pay attention to the news or understand what apartheid meant. I didn't realize the controversy surrounding this album upon its release, I just liked the songs.
i wish i could gibe this more stars!
One of the first vinyl albums I bought myself. I’m not gonna say what’s appropriation or not but it opened my ears to a whole world of music so that’s gotta count for something.
Highlight in Pauls Karriere!
Very good album, with a variety of sounds. The lyrics are thoughtful and the variation in instruments prevents the album from getting boring, including rock, folk, South African, and many others. It is very well put together, and is a solid listen. The hit single You Can Call Me Al is a great song, that has a catchy rhythm and lyrics, and even a bit of funk. The album departs significantly to Simon's involvement in the folk band Simon and Garfunkel.
One of my top five all time albums. Love the sound. Not a bad song on here.
Classic rock with a wordl beat
You know what I hate? Gentrification. Colonization. Cultural appropriation. Every negative thing that people ever say about this album. But you know what I love? Graceland by Paul Simon. I mean I’m Jewish and Paul Simon’s Jewish so that might be it? The big thing though is just that Paul Simon the singer-songwriter is probably the most appealing singer-songwriter I know of, at least for me. Abstract, but cohesive and flowery, and very enjoyable. This is pretty cool outside of that too though, just as a fusion of the elements it tries to fuse, though even saying that it's more like a doorway to all the bad fusions of these genres, which I don't appreciate as much. There's not a bad song here though, so that's saying something. Something else? This is some of Paul's best writing. I mean have you heard the lyrics in the title track? How immersive and reflective they are? Or the absolute abundance of one-liners on this thing? "Don't cry, baby, don't cry." "Who'm I to blow against the wind?" "I can call you Eddy, and you can call me Al!" And the production and playing is a whole other thing. How sweeping and momentous the title track's instrumental is? The overpowering horns on "Call Me Al"? That jangly guitar near the beginning of "Diamonds on..."? There's so so much to like about this album, and I'm so glad to have heard it today! It was just what I needed on a day like this. 10/10
I love it
I get the derision, but give me some mid-80s boomer classics any day. It gets repetitive but not in a way that I mind.
Excellent.
Always love Graceland. I once had a pair of shoes with fake diamonds on the soles - it was the coolest nod to the song. Anyway nothing to do with this album but I enjoy the mix of cultures, genres and bridging conflicts. Also seeing the music video for You Can Call Me Al with Chevy Chase was quite a highlight. What a fun, silly music video.
This album is magic. I love love love that odd mix of Simon’s speak-singing and twiddly guitar combined with the louder trumpets and keyboards. Alongside that, the African inspired stuff is implemented really well. It’s certainly unique on a record like this, but it doesn’t feel out of place.
I’ll always agree with my notion of rating ladysmith black mazambo a 1/5 but under Paul Simon’s control they become one of the best musical compliments to anything. You can call me al, is the best example of this- perfect pop with a twist. You know what I know is another great. It’s just great 5/5
9/10 - I love this album. It’s unique, it was politically risky, and it’s Paul Simon evolving. I think it’s a great album that hasn’t been emulated. A great album you can put on and listen through.
I owned this album and it was great. Definitely appreciate hearing bands perform covers as a lot of this album is burned in my head
One of the great albums. Simon reinvented himself as a semi world music artist.
Always one of the best albums.
Great album. One of my all time favorites. Great music and artist. Love the blending of African music, within songs. Love this album.
I knew this album for call me al and not the rest of it . The rest of is overrated with some of the African beats in there - brilliant album
Call Me Al is actually one of my favorite songs ever. That's just a fact about me :]
Great album
This so such a great album, both musically and technically. Stellar.
This is one of my favorite albums. The music and Paul Simon’s voice just work well together.
When to listen: all the time. Another album spun on my record player! This is an all-time favorite. Brilliant in so many ways. So unique. So wonderful
Excelente clasico
Jason’s Deli certified classic. This is the go to Paul Simon album. It’s got the hits, it’s got the vibes, it’s got a lil guy singing his heart out with flute music going hard in the background. 9/10
God bless Paul Simon; what a blessing his music is! That said, I'm struggling between 4 and 5 stars, for this one (even though it's an obvious classic). I think my primary struggle isn't really the album's fault, and so should be discounted/discarded: I heard these songs so much, in the first few years after the album came out, that they've lost a tiny bit of their impact for me, maybe? The other strike against it, and it's very minor, is that a couple of songs toward the end of the album (track 9, plus the last track, track 11) struck me as (relative to the rest of the album) lesser songs. Still, the rest of the album is so great, and still (40 years later!) sounds amazing, so I think I have to give this one 5 stars.
Pure Genius!
Paul Simon's Graceland is by far his most well-recognized solo album, and it deserves the title. Seriously, for all the talk of Paul Simon being a plagiarist or cultural appropriator, the bottom line is that this album is extremely well-crafted and recorded. It's totally legitimate to look deeper into any rich white man's engagement with regional musicians from any part of the non-Western world, especially those areas, such as Latin America and Africa, that are still struggling with the after-effects of European colonialism of the last 500 or so years. I don't know enough about the business practices behind recording this album to comment on them. Maybe I should educate myself about that. And it is definitely sad that people sometimes treat Ladysmith Black Mambazo as Simon's backing band, ignoring the fact that they had been making music for 20 years before this album came out. My assumption, and I recognize that it is an assumption, is that the group's visibility, which helped them earn their five Grammy awards, is more strongly linked to their appearance on this album than to their appearance on The Indestructible Beat of Soweto. BTW, that compilation, released one year before Graceland, is awesome, but I bet its success was boosted by people who first heard South African Music on Simon's album. This is not a fair situation, and of course, that unfairness was made worse by the fact that South Africa was still under the horrors of the brutal apartheid system when it was recorded. Music is a subjective medium, and it's valid for folks to be so repulsed by some music-making practices that they can't stomach the music itself. And, hey, I have my limits too. But we have to recognize that rejecting art because of its origin commits the genetic fallacy. No later positive outcomes can retroactively justify the unfair practices of the present; the world is far too complicated for oversimplified answers. Purity doesn't exist. If we reject art because of specific negative or hypocritical practices, we could, in theory, reject all art. Likewise, it's a really bad practice to put a halo around these very human artists just because we like their music. Bob Marley was a serial philanderer. George Clinton didn't pay his musicians. Purity doesn't exist, and the concept of purity is itself a restrictive, authoritarian notion. Ask any exvangelical. That doesn't mean we just throw open the floodgates and excuse bad behavior; we must be judicious. Ok, aren't I supposed to be reviewing this record? Musically, its arrangements seamlessly blend numerous musical styles. The musicians are tight when they need to be and loose when they need to be. The performances are energetic and creative. This album was truly like nothing else when it was released. Graceland is also recorded beautifully. The basic modern vinyl pressing you can easily pick up on Amazon (I think I paid a little more than $20 on sale) is widely considered an audiophile-level record. It's not the best-sounding record I have, but it certainly punches above its weight considering its low price and wide availability. I'm a little embarrassed by how off-topic I got in this review, but I'm leaving it as is because I use these OAD reviews as a personal music listening journal, and these are my thoughts today. I'm sure I'll learn more and refine them later because that's what personal growth is all about. It's messy, like the history of Graceland, which is still a masterpiece. Five stars.
You can call me a fan of this album. So many well crafted beats and enchanting sounds, and I love his vocals too. My rating will look past him allegedly taking the idea from another musician and pursuing it on his own while leaving her in the dust. And despite the additional controversy surrounding it as well, I find it to be a joyful and beautiful celebration of South African music. At any rate, the album is the album, and it's pretty fantastic!
One of the best albums ever
What an amazing album. Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter and singer. His inclusion of African musicians is great even if I didn't love everything about those parts of the album. They work very well together. I didn't realize You Can Call Me Al was by Paul Simon or even that's what the song was saying, but it's great. This is added to my wishlist of vinyl records for sure.
The Mississippi Delta was shining Like a National guitar I am following the river Down the highway Through the cradle of the civil war
My dad played this one a lot when I was growing up. Diamonds and Homeless are still imprinted in my brain and all of the songs are fantastic musically and lyrically. Maybe one of the best albums ever.
Stellar album. The story telling blends with beautifully orchestrated world instruments and sounds. The Boy In the Bubble Graceland I Know What I Know Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes You Can Call Me Al Under African Skies
A fantastic album with a very interesting story surrounding its creation and release.
A masterpiece.
Love this album.
i like the funky sounds. very enjoyable and fun. kinda reminds me of the talking heads. not similar i mean, but sorted into the same category in my head.
it was great
I've given worse people decent scores so I can't really give this masterpiece anything less than 5. It's just.. wonderful. The atmospehres across the thing. Yeah a lot of the credit is not Paul Simon, so everyone on this gets the 5. Paul Simon was still a dick though, but not quite as bad as some others on this list.
I loved listening to it
Holy wow that was great
An enigmatic album, very much a product of its own creation, and unlike anything that had come before it. It's not that Paul Simon invented these South African music systems, but he did write a tremendous album and collaborated with these incredible musicians, bringing an awareness and appreciation to an audience that would have otherwise remained ignorant. In the complicated balance between cultural appropriation and appreciation, I think it tips the scale in appreciation's favor. It also has some of his greatest post-Garfunkel songs: "You Can Call Me Al," "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes," "Homeless," and of course, "Graceland."
Great album
The iconic road trip album. It’s damn near perfect
Who am I to blow against the wind? :)
I LOVE this album. I loved it when I first got the CD at age 16, and I love it now at 55. I don't skip any songs. Never did. How many albums can say that?
Reminded of how good it is!
Very nice. Feel like I want more energy tho, like this just makes me wanna listen to vampire weekend. EDIT: Upgraded this to 5 stars are listening to this again when the sun finally came out in the UK. Actually did not give it the credit it deserves, this is a phenomenal album in the right time and place. 8.5 / 10 Best track/s: Graceland, Crazy Love Part II, Diamonds on the Sole of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al
I went to Graceland and it was fine. But this album is great!
There was a time when every review for all my favorite new releases mentioned Graceland so of course it is incredible. Songs added to my 1001 Bangers playlist: All of them
Every time I relisten to Graceland I become more of a mark for Graceland. Every bit of political criticism of the album is correct, but that doesn't ever make it less of a blast to listen through. Can't go ten seconds without making a sound I love.
That was great!
Lovely as always
in all honesty an incredible album that had me in smiles, i can't quite place an understanding in the negative views on it but everything i'm seeing come from it drives a good feeling out of me.
An album to transport you to better vibes via sweet African sounds
This album is one of the best ever
Wonderful pop album wth influences from all over the world.
My favourite album of all time, perfect blend of pop and African inspired rhythms. 5
This album hits me on two levels, as not only is it a truly great album, it is also one that holds significant nostalgia in terms of my childhood. Firstly i know there are criticisms of Paul Simon’s appropriation of African music for songs on this album, but it was always clear where the inspiration was from and without i would never have known about Ladysmith Black Manbazo, let alone seen them live. Opening with The Boy in the Bubble and Graceland feels a brave move, but there is no letting up on this album. I have always loved I Know What I Know, with its humour infused lyrics and general catchiness. Gumboots and Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes showcase the music that inspired this album and i remember how fresh these sounded amongst the synth crap that dominated 80s music. You can call me Al is another one of those songs where it is hard not to picture the video in your head. Yes Chevy Chase maybe a dick but it is an iconic video. It’s hard to know what to focus on the lyrics are great, the brass section, but i think for me it’s the bass that just about nicks it.
Love. This is truly a solid album, and I’m honestly sad I hadn’t heard it before this challenge. There’s something really special about music that bends genres, and I personally love afro-pop. The joyful sound paired with well-written lyrics really hits for me.
Undoubtedly, one of my favorite albums of all time.