Graceland

fav

pretty good. i liked the mixture of folk, pop, and African rhythms.

From a technical standpoint, this album is AMAZING. There is about 4 different genres all put together, usually within the same song! Rock, country, funk, folk, etc. Pretty amazing. Each song is beautifully and articulately crafted. I love the crisp bass. The lyrics are incredible. The challenge for me is the sound is very dated, sounds EXACTLY like 1986. Also, Paul is clearly a one-truck pony on this album. Every single song is just stream of consciousness almost spoken word verses. It gets old after a while. Artistically this is a 5, but I struggle getting into it from an actual listening standpoint.

Very good alblum not one of the best of all time.

I agree 100% with Chris.

one of my absolute favorite albums - ask my college next-door neighbors

Musicalmente es bueno, pero no es lo mío para nada. Me aburrió bastante.

Wow, thanks again

It's not great. Inoffensive at best but not very good. I'm not really the biggest fan of Paul Simon on his own, and this album was kind of hard to sit through. I found myself zoning out a lot of the time. I think there's a reason that Call Me Al has over 150 million more streams than any of the other songs on this album.

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes hat mir am besten gefallen! You can call me Al kannte ich. Insgesamt gute Stimmung. Sehr rhythmisch.

ya tellement de trucs différents quesaco

crazy mix between rock, african groove, and rock music. i did not expect that. homeless is a crazy song

dosta conutryish/religious vibez al je okej 5/10

Skippy fun sad lyrical adventure princess starry night sky 4/5

beautiful. I think it’s about people coming to terms with being a cosmopolitan and becoming free from nationalism. I was a little wary that this was some form of orientalism but it seems pretty respectful. Very compelling narrative and I feel like I’m a better global citizen for it!

A pretty excellent album. I liked it enough, but it has that scent of the kind of music that would benefit greatly from re-listening: like it asks of you a warm familiarity. I feel like I only half-grokked onto it, when it's the kind of album that you're meant to nostalgically remember playing in the car on a hot road trip in your childhood. Maybe I need to listen to this again while cradling a beer on the verandah or something. Thankfully, it's got some groovy-as-hell basslines and Afro sound peppering an album that would suffer from being yet another folk-infused cheesy 80s popfest. I like it a lot, and I think it has some enormous potential to be a subtle favourite, but for now it's not blowing my socks off. Fav tracks: I Know What I Know, Homeless

You can certainly call me Al but I don’t know if the rest of it left much of an impact for me personally!

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

Not as good as I'd expected. The other one was better

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.

Pretty solid album

A very polarising album. It didn’t really do much for me (although I have always liked You Can Call Me Al). It’s ok, but not one I’d revisit.

Some very familiar songs.

very indie, cottagecore!

a really interesting blend of traditions, not my vibe though:(

7.5

2.6/5 I love the vibe of this album. I could just see myself listening to this while on holiday looking over the beach having a few drinks. In saying that, a few songs that I didn't really like but I'm sure if I listened to this more I'd rate it higher.

Yeah it’s ok I only saved to songs impressive variation and sound but it a bit bland and the most listened to song was not the best I didn’t comprehend probably gonna be a 3-4/10

Tonttumusiikkia. Afrikkalainen musiikin tyylilaji mbaqanga on inspiroinut albumia.

good. 6/10

Pretty good album, mixes African sounds with Paul Simon’s folk stand our songs: the boy in yhe bubble Graceland You can call me Al

Alle vores forældre delte deres første kys til You Can Call Me Al på et tilrøget værtshus et sted, og det ser rosenrødt ud i bakspejlet. Men i virkeligheden var det nok lidt tåkrummende, og lige nu er det mest den tåkrummende del der når mig. 2,6

Hvor er den der Homeless underlig at lytte til med al den stønnen. KÆMPE album, 4.0 ligeud du

Tja, jo, nej, måske og så skidt da Det er sgu Paul Simon! Jeg er egentlig overhovedet ikke til den der afrikanske indflydelse på dette album, og når han samtidig selv lyder relativt uinspireret og kedelig på de fleste numre, så glider jeg ud hurtigere, end du kan sige Garfunkel. 2.3

Lindo, alegre. Tiene sonidos como africanos, lo cual me sorprendió pq no me esperaba eso. Suena barbaro. No me voló la cabeza igualmente, es para escuchar un par de temas. Himno: You can call me Al

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

4.5

Not my style

7.5/10 No es mi estilo, pero es bueno

Enjoyed it

Very good album, no weak spots

Great melodies but it is a bit cheesy in a way I'm struggling to overcome (edit - I overcame it)

Estuvo bien, pero me aburrió.

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.

It has very folk vibes, but the beats are nice especially the second song on the album, but other than that , it just wasn't something i can see myself listening to again

flop

Once again the white man makes a ton of money off of indigenous black music. But I can’t deny that the music is enjoyable to listen to. This is a “hate to like” album. I’m going to rate it on the music, in the spirit of this project, but I sorta wish that this album was never made.

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

Abumbalagaga güzeldi ya eski model mercedesimle amarika yollarında gidiyomuş gibi

I like the lyrics, but the music, way less. I dindt expect this album to sound like that. At the same time I know almost nothing abouth Simon and Garfunkel. Or just Paul Simon in general.o Disapointed with this one, I expected to like it more :/

This album is about a racist man in the 1980s

Weird, off-beat at times, but just plain fun and that's all that really matters for the generator sometimes

An album that’s influenced by an African culture, I think a majority of this album was well written. Best song is of course Call Me Al

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.

something about this album feels powerful i cant quite figure out what that is their voice feels very warm and sweet fav song: under the african skies, crazy love vol II, and diamonds on the soles of her shoes

Always a favorite!

I didn't get it at all, it's some kind of experimental music where sometimes the lyrics are just spoken rather than sing.

Very interesting album. Did not expect the large amount of African music influence and features from African artists including Lady Black Mambazo whose album I listened to from this list. Still not that captivating, some really boring, plain 80s pop songs, but unique album

Me re gustó súper instrumental y tranqui. Las líneas de bajo me re gustaron

Graceland. Amazing record - I'd say in my top 20 of all time. As long as you can get past the 80's audio aesthetics.

255/1089 oooh it’s simon as in garfunkel. i’m liking the mix of genres here, it’s very peaceful and harmonious it was a nice album to listen to, probably above average and i think i’d listen again faves: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland 56/100

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!

This is one of the best folk albums ever. It has its low points but the opening run of songs is mystical.

I just love African music

3/5 I completely understand the innovation and the art behind the album and concept, I like Simon as an artist and definitely there is incredible talent behind each song. But is not my cup of tea.

Still a solid listen. I haven’t heard it all the way through since it was released. Several 5s and 4s, only a couple of less interesting songs, but nothing that brings the album down or slows the momentum. I’m still not a big fan of zydeco. 4.5

3 stars

I can appreciate the plethora of influences in here and the collaborations. I disliked the recording and production quality was very inconsistent across tracks. Some sounding great, some with questionable mixing decisions being made. All in all, not a bad record. I wouldn't listen again, but I'm glad I did once.

oh my god dude

Some real classics and overall like how this album switched up the sound quite a bit but kept the vibes high - big fan

Getting gospel church pop and it brings back memories of choir boy days that I didn't particularly love. Some redeeming qualities though.

Pretty funky start album and different to what I'd usually listen to. Particularly enjoyed the collab with 'The Gaza Sisters' Got a bit boring though and I can't really imagine myself coming back to it in a hurry. 2 stars.

Mostly recorded in South Africa iirc. The SA jazz and jive influence is very present and adds quite a lot to the album imo.

Good vibes only. Absolutely timeless

The big album by Mr Paul Simon! The world music wasn't something I enjoyed so much on my first listens, but it grew on me after a while. I still think he did better albums, but its good enough.

Graceland and I have a tricky relationship. I LOVE Paul Simon's work. I think he's probably one of the best songwriters of his generation and I'd probably rank what I've heard above or around the work of other legendary songwriters (Dylan, Mitchell, King, Young to name contemporaries). That being said, I continue to struggle with the idea that this is where his output peaked for many people, at least in the post-Garfunkel years. I find his blend of world influences, his employment of African session musicians to truly nail what he was going for stylistically and stucturally, and the general passion and love he poured into this record as a statement to be highly respectable, but outside of the title track and "You Can Call Me Al", a lot of this doesn't resonate with me the way I think it should. I still think it's pretty good music, but when this is a songwriter who I've spent the past 12 months cozying up to (after years of being familiar with him) I expect a higher sense of resonance. Maybe time is all I need with this record. I suppose we'll see.

3.5⭐️/5 03.28.2026

It was ok. 3/5

So, I started this a little excited. I like Simon and Garfunkel enough and appreciate their music for their time. I remember the hits on this one, especially "Al" and "Diamonds", even vaguely "Graceland" from my childhood, but I never got deep into the album... Boy, these hits are load bearing, aren't they? This is "Boomer: Midlife Crisis" the album, isn't it? I can see how people scream over the 'cultural appropriation' and normally I can (kind of) forgive that sort of thing when it's done well and respectfully. Here, it is not done well. Simon is just not carrying his weight with these songs and letting the "Hey! Look what I found!" novelty rule the day. His voice is so weak and the arrangements -- aside from the cultural grafts -- are just boring. "I Know..", "That Was Your Mother", and "Gumboots", for instance, are good examples. "Homeless" is a big swing and a miss. Music is a language and different types of music are different languages. All languages have a word for "Water", because it's universal. I don't believe Simon was being, necessarily, cynical in his use of these varieties of types/styles, but his musical 'accent' (if you'll allow me the analogy) was way off. We couldn't make out his "Water" in these other languages because of it. Now, the flip of this is that *I* don't know these other varieties well, which I freely admit. I don't know much 'world' music. Maybe Simon's 'accent' is fine, but to my ears it still holds too much aging 80s white guy energy with far too many artifacts (that bass?? Just tone it down, man.) from that era weighing down the music. (3/5) but almost exclusively on the strength of the hits... And even "Graceland" and "Diamonds.." have lost some of their luster for me on careful examination. I'm actually being a bit generous. "Al" is just too joyous and has a special place in my 8-year old heart to give this anything less than a '3' but only because of it. I can honestly say, this is the first disappointment I've had on this project. We're only 30-or so albums deep but my expectations did NOT match my listen.

I like Paul Simon, and I love the story and lore behind this album. Elevating a style of musical culture and putting it on a stage to share with an audience who would never have otherwise been exposed or paid attention to it isn't what I'd call appropriation, and I admire his attempt to highlight the human beings who were crushed by the political machinations of South African apartheid. For all those reasons, I can understand it's inclusion on this list. That said, I didn't love the album. Paul always feels like he's trying to cram three songs worth of lyrics into each song, which is sometimes catchy and cool and other times bloated and pompous. The range of instruments and styles kept things interesting throughout (I'm a sucker for a well placed accordion), but the overall impression for me was a little too clean and overproduced. It's leaning toward a 3.5/5, but not far enough to round up.

Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 4 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "This is the story of how we begin to remember/ This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein" "You Can Call Me Al" is one of the earliest music videos I remember seeing, and the song has been a favorite since. Heard of couple of others growing up, likely never tying them together other than they were Paul Simon songs. Wasn't until early college era that I gave this a complete listen, and have to say it quickly became a staple, and one of the few albums I would play the whole way through. I think it's only gotten better over the years, and it's crazy how forward looking it remains, despite being 100% identifiable as a mid-80s artifact. THE TRACKS Side One "The Boy in the Bubble" - Solid opener. Catchy and a great little preview of a lot of what we're going to hear. "Graceland" - One of the other hits off this that I would have heard, though not as often as the one with the Chevy Chase video. You know the one. This is one of those few songs that is able to get a bit of an emotional reaction from me. It hits very hard in that lovely bittersweet spot where the bouncy bits contrast so well with the sad, wistful parts. This one's a rollercoaster of unsureness, hope, and resignation, and I'm always down for the ride. "I Know What I Know" (with General MD Shirinda and the Gaza Sisters) - This one I think has grown to be a favorite despite never hearing it in that period as a child when stuff would just burn into your brain and never leave. The lightness, the meandering playful guitar, and my favorite lyrics on the album. Simon is one of those guys that can be funny in his material and never seem to be slumming it. A delightful short story, and man what a vocal accompaniment. "Gumboots" (with the Boyoyo Boys) - The Brightest spot on this album I think. Little up tempo number with another funny/ sad story. Amazed at how he can make such a breezy, catchy song sound like it was just a throwaway ditty. Something he has in common with McCartney and few others. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) - Ladysmith Black Mambazo steal the opening, and the ending of this one and Simon pays it low and subdued to take advantage of this. The song itself feels a little low energy, but it works as feels like a winddown for the first side. Side two "You Can Call Me Al" - God tier hit for me that has permanently claimed real estate in my mind. Candidate for best B-side opener of all time imo. Up there with "Back in Black", "Money", and "Here Comes the Sun" in that respect. We get a hard energy reset here. There are plenty of songs out there that better represent the decade, but this is the sound of MY 80s. Going to be hard to not play this one on repeat a few times. This one's on the funnier side, and the bass line on this is the musical highlight for me here despite the fierce competition from the horns and the flute. If you can't find a spot for this song in your heart, I pity you. "Under African Skies" - Simon brings it way back down again and goes into a more contemplative mode. Beautiful stuff. Seems like this is Simon's most focused attempt at examining the HEAVY African influence on every bit of this album. "Homeless" (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) - Another great showcase for LBM. The impressive range and pretty harmonies on display here make this one feel the most spiritual on the album, both in the unadorned presentation giving some church choir vibes, and in the content of the lyrics, of which there is a translation available online. "Crazy Love, Vol. II" (with Stimela) - Steering us away just ever so slightly into more lighthearted territory with what sees like the slightest song on the album so far. The chorus on this, by no means terrible, is the one part of the album that completely fails to work for me. Just tonally seems imported in from another song, from a far less polished, and more traditional album. "That Was Your Mother" (with Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters) - More zydeco! Fine as this one is, I think it feels way more like Simon slipping into a bit of stereotypical cultural appropriation than most anything else on here. This one's almost like an assignment where he has to check off anything that screams "New Orleans!". I still like it enough though. "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" (with Los Lobos) - "People are all the same" seems like one of those sayings that can swing hard into either cynicism or optimism. I think this is supposed to be the latter, but it still comes across a bit sad to me. Wish this one was lacking that electronic drum beat though. Not the best ender. HIGHLIGHTS - "The Boy in the Bubble" - "Graceland" - "I Know What I Know" - "Gumboots" - "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" - "You Can Call Me Al" - "Under African Skies" - "Homeless" MIDLIGHTS - "Crazy Love, Vol. II" - "That Was Your Mother" - "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" LOWLIGHTS - Huh? FINAL THOUGHTS On a re-listen - it has been somewhile - I was disappointed to find more on here to criticize than I thought. That said, they are pretty nit-picky and don't really effect my opinion enough to rate it much lower than I already would have. While I certainly don't mind those three middling tracks, they do feel more out of place with the rest than I remember. But they are perfectly placed at the end so it doesn't feel like TOO much of a loss if you want to pretend the album is over after "Homeless". I can totally see how this could be a very divisive album. Where I might hear the delightful melodies, superb backing vocals, and inventive instrumentation, someone could easily dismiss this as a bunch of lightweight, unoriginal material buoyed by a couple of very catchy, but dated hit singles. And I can't argue with that pov. All I can say is that it works for me. This was a refreshing splash of green on the dull gray wall that was my workday. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Repacking this for someone else I would have no issue dropping those last three, but they can stick around otherwise. FURTHER LISTENING - Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - Remain in Light by Talking Heads - Zombie by Fela Kuti / The Africa '70 - Let's Have A Party by Geraldo Pino And The Heart Beats

Albums like this one are when I feel out of my depth. You have such a well known artist with a reputation for producing great music, but here I am ignorant of the vast majority of it. Paul Simon is a known name to me and I loved the “You Can Call me Al” music video back in the day when I saw it on MTV. The thing is when I first encountered the goofy music video with the comedian from SNL I was too young to know any of Simon’s back catalog. Even now I only know a few of the hits from Simon & Garfunkel. (Hey, but that’s why I’m doing this project isn’t it?) So, I’m interested to see what this album beholds. Its airy and light. Simon concerns himself with wordy almost-monologues. He is quite the storyteller on this album. Then sets about populating the tracks with folk and world music experiments. And here I don’t know if he is just dabbling or if this is what one should expect from a Paul Simon album. I particularly enjoyed the accordion on The Boy In the Bubble and the Cajun ditty “That Was Your Mother.” A few of the tracks fell flat, however, and Simon leans on musical aptitude to try and refocus but fails to bring the necessary energy. The entire album, even the better tracks, seem possessed of a meandering wanderlust. Road trip to Graceland, ride the river down the bayou, or a stroll through an African Markert. I can get on board with that though and enjoy it.

OH HELL YEAH. THATS MY BOY

Delicios

Very different sound but great music

Call me Al got stuck with me for two days. Talented guy.

I didn’t like this so much

Distinto a lo que suelo escuchar, pero me gustó. Sobre todo el estilo country y la voz del cantante. Me guarde algunos temas que fueron mis favoritos. Uno de ellos " graceland"

Cool album

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.

Had been a while since I’d listened to this but I really like this album, it just has great vibes running through it. Still can’t decide if the backwards bass solo in You Can Call Me Al is good or not. On this listen I realised that Vampire Weekend just straight up lifted this sound and ran with it.

i didnt listen to itt, but i dont like old music so 1-2

Paul Simon can do no wrong in my eyes and ears.

This is a rare example of the back half of a record being superior - Side B this record really hits its stride. Not that the beginning is poor. There's a few tracks I don't adore which means it ends up 4, but You Can Call Me Al is one of those songs that no matter how often you hear it, it still hits so hard.

Me gustó pero no es lo que suelo escuchar

its not bad its just not my style. i think its produced well and flows nicely

Gas

Yeah this was good. May have to dig further into Paul Simon as my exposure to him is pretty limited.

Just not great. Kinda spoken word off beat isn’t my vibe

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

Warm and cohesive. A great album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an album I struggled with when It came out in the mid-80s. I was a big fan of Simon and Garfunkel, but I didn't love many of these songs. And there was so much buzz around this album. A lot of people thought it was brilliant and loved it, to the extend that there was pressure to like it (annoying). People also criticized Paul Simon for working with South African musicians despite the boycott on the racist Apartheid government-- even though Simon was working almost (completely?) exclusively with Black musicians. So it's easier to appreciate this record in retrospect, seeing where it fits into the long arc of Paul Simon's career. In that view, it's a big and risky creative leap for a peerless songwriter who'd had 20 years of acclaim and success. He tossed his comfortable soft-rock sound for South African sounds that few Western audiences were familiar with, and built songs out of jam sessions with musicians he traveled to South Africa to meet. I think this impacted his lyrics too -- they were always flowing and laden with imagery, but on Graceland they're even more free-form, like improvisations. So does this all add up to good music? Mostly! There's a ton of creative energy here that carries things along, which I enjoyed even if I didn't love a particular song. Some of the lyrics just plain don't make sense. But Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes is a great song.

it's just not my cup of tea. I actually listen to 2 tracks and dropped it.

Mid

Found it to be really bland tbh

Really good isn’t it? Beautiful songs that make you wish you were on holiday. Fretless bass grooves that feel slick and cool, and extremely 80s, underpinning Paul Simon’s lighter than air voice. 4.5/5.0 Best Somg: You Can Call Me Al obviously

I think it's a very good album, I think You Can Call Me Al is maybe the greatest song of the 80s and that is the reason for the 4 star review. Special mention for Diamonds On the Soles of her Shoes which is on any other album easily the best track. The rest of the album is a bit much at times, fretless bass heaven

I think Paul Simon is a great songwriter and maybe talent wise is a good singer but subjectively I don't care for his voice much. Also this album has a very 80s feel but it gets a little cloying after a while.

Paul Simon is an all-timer for a reason. Although I think I may prefer his dark and brooding “bridge over troubled water” era

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!

Has an upbeat vibe. I very much liked the first track.

Sounds like my grandfather working on the family computer on a fine Saturday morning in Maracaibo, grandma's burnt coffee on a Moka pot, and a history essay due Monday. 3.5/5

Immediate 5 for me. This is one of my favorite albums, and no tracks are skips.

while i was listening to the title track my girlfriend messaged me to say that it sucks. i can see the argument for that! especially given how this is the poster child of slicked up, westernized, white-savior "world music". what a gross term. "world music". is the anglosphere not part of the world? lord knows this list is guilty as hell of ignoring everything outside of it. but i digress. this is pretty light and definitely keeps the bounce of the Southern African music inspiring it. pretty decent listen overall; does a good job too at standing up to the very 80s production style. deserves to be one of the 1001? yea, but like. add in some shit from the scenes that inspired it, ok?

Easy

Previously rated: #685 - Hearts And Bones (3/5) #885 - Paul Simon (4/5) *********************************** Album #1,080 Paul Simon plus African accordion music makes for a very unique sounding album. What else sounds like that? It also has some dated 80s sounds like the gated drums and the horn sounds. I still like You Can Call Me Al. I didn't care for the backup singers in I Know What I Know. They were shrill and annoying. When I'm (soon) finished with this list, I may explore a little more of his catalogue.

I love this album. Songs like Graceland and You Can Call Me Al are in my everyday playlist. I love that Paul Simon used instruments that are often looked over such as the accordion. And I love the African artist cameos in this album. Some of the songs in my opinion drag on a little bit which I think is one of its very subtle downsides. But nonetheless, this is an absolute all-timer and I will happily listen to this over and over again. Favourite songs: The Boy In the Bubble Graceland Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes You Can Call Me Al All Around the World Or the Myth of Fingerprints (with Los Lobos)

Folk isnt my favourite genre and I found this album to not be my favourite either. The only parts I really liked were the background vocals and the songs with South African musicians and the only song I really liked was 'You can call me Al'

A good album, I enjoyed it. It might be some of my new go-to music when I want something to listen to while I'm cooking. I Know What I Know The Boy In the Bubble Gumboots Graceland You Can Call Me Al (sounds like another one of the songs) Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

Good Coffee morning slow day album - weak 4 but enjoyable.Diamonds on the sole of her shoes best track.

Great 80’s album from 60’s icon

Evocative on an era when I was small. I don’t love it but it seems like great music.

This is great stuff all round, was familiar with Simon and Garfunkel and the big singles from this album but this is a great versatile blend of sounds of styles.

The best case on record for the value of cultural appropriation.

Paul Simon is great and this might slightly edge the self titled album which was his first work I listened to but both are really very enjoyable

I’m surprised I’ve never listened to this before, but I’ve always known it as Simon’s best solo work. Found myself disappointed that it had ended, which is pretty high praise

No surprises just a remarkable album

I own three copies of this album on vinyl.

Loved this album for a Friday night and overall a fun listen. I remember watching Rage somewhere in the early 2010s and Noel Fielding chose You Can Call Me Al (my first time watching it) and that video has forever stuck with me for its silliness but also as just such a good party song. Nothing else on the album came close to that for me but a pretty solid collection of songs

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.

Not so good

I'm not as hyped as some others on here. It's quite good fun. I think the different musical influences and collaborations bring a bit of a different flavour to it. You Can Call Me Al is the most famous song on here and is the standout.

Amazing

Enjoyable album with some classics

This was actually quite a lively album. "You can call me Al" and Gumbook are the standout tracks.

Incredible from start to finish.

i really enjoyed this album. to put it frankly, it’s just a lot of fun. reminds me a lot of david wax museum and the way they integrate latin american influences into their tracks. it feels really inspired and new

It was okay. Some of my friends love this but I was not as into it.

I spent my life avoiding Graceland, and now I feel vindicated; it's awful. I guess the main problem is Paul Simon himself, as he just doesn't seem to fit here at all. It's almost an embarrassment when he shows up in a track, especially when it's been flowing for half a minute or so before he turns in to taint it with his presence. He's not even singing on half of the songs, kind of mumble-speaking instead. There's a couple of brighter spots, but they don't last long enough to save the entirety. Without Paul Simon, this might be an unremarkable three star album, but it dips to a low two star album due to him ruining most of it.

Well, it has a lot of great musicians on it. At times they make a joyful sound. But this is the third Paul Simon album in a week. Enough. Why does he get so much representation?

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!

i feel like theres nothing crazy special about this album. like its definitely something but nothing really stood out to me personally. also i didnt finish listening to it

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.

Not typically my style of album, but it’s a masterpiece nonetheless

Ah - so good.

yes, fuck paul simon for performing in apartheid south africa, and for being a bit of a culture vulture. however...this album is full of bangers

Poor Paul never had a chance. Some interesting musical elements but I just do not care for him

Highly enjoyable, totally obsessed with the bass tone on this album

Paul Simon is obviously a phenomenal musician and songwriter, and this album is a tour de force. However, it lands short for me due to personal taste mismatch. First, the style is a bit dated. I wouldn't put this album on vinyl like I'd put a Pink Floyd. It's good music but it's not timeless. Second, I personally am not a big fan of the South African influences, not for any political reasons, I just feel they are heavy handed and not well integrated, "You Can Call me Al" being an exception. I feel like I have to excuse why I'm not giving a 5 to an album that by rights of talent and effort should be a 5, but a bit of an anachronistic style and sound, combined with an overly enthusiastic South African influence that's not sitting with me, makes this album a one or two-off listen, rather than an essential.

Not really for me but I did like a couple of so gs

Highlight in Pauls Karriere!

Really wanted to enjoy this more.

An inspiring story about how no matter where in the world you're from, you too could one day be part of a pretty crap album

These songs are dumb. I like Paul Simon but not this one

Mheu

Awesome, great songs. Solid entry

While Franz Ferdinand reminded us that guitars can dance, Graceland reminds us of something deeper: “rhythm is humanity’s oldest language.” And on this record, the conversation becomes universal. Beneath the warmth lies a quiet melancholy — a middle-aged songwriter confronting displacement, memory, and renewal. The album’s deeper magic is this: it sounds global without sounding calculated. Where many “world music” experiments feel curated, Graceland feels lived in. Songwriting: ★★★★★ Rhythmic Innovation: ★★★★★ Production: ★★★★☆ Cultural Impact: ★★★★★ Timelessness: ★★★★★ Overall: ⭐ 9.5 / 10

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.

Points for rhyming "sunlight" and "Fullbright" and Ladysmith Black Mambazo is 🔥. The first half of this album I wasn't totally convinced by, but once it hits its stride, it's really quite good.

Not really my thing

Have always casually enjoyed Paul Simon songs without completely diving in. I find something about the specific style and sound of this album pretty moving and strangely, almost confronting nostalgic. I do understand the corny accusations and it does trail off a little towards the end for me. Fav tracks: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland, I Know What I Know, Diamonds. RYM: Saved a song: N

One of my top five all time albums. Love the sound. Not a bad song on here.

Fun, but not much my vibe.

No. 134 liked it. good background music

Overrated, mostly boring. Does everything with an African beat need to be included in this list? I guess the editor thought so.

Well, where to start? On one hand I feel slightly wary of the dynamic of a rich, miserable, white guy finding salvation (+ more hits, extra money) on the shoulders of talented artists from the Souths, both global and national. But, it's still a gem of a record, a hell of an achievement, an amazing production. Pretty much all killer until the last couple of tracks. And at least it wears its influences and collaborations very openly. Maybe the title is even a reference to preempt that possible accusation of cultural appropriation? A scrapbook of ideas and styles that hang together to create something new and wholesome. It mostly sounds like a good time, to be honest. Probably churlish not to give it five stars but that's me.

Classic rock with a wordl beat

parecia que eu tava escutando a trilha sonora de rei leão

This is a solid album and I enjoyed it more than i thought I would after the first song. Paul Simon does this talk sing thing that I wasn’t really a fan of when the album started and then it started to grow on me as the album went on. I think a strong point of the album is the sonics and all of the cultural inspiration that can be heard. The album really grew on me in the second half and I found myself bopping around to it.

An unexpected delight. I thought I got Paul Simon, but it turns out I had only hit one layer of the onion and his album was worth the full listen.

chill-maxing with african-like music

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

Better than i thought it would be....

Strong 4

Love the fretless bass. There is some interesting resources, but overall this country-funk style isn't really my thing.

Jamais écouté avant. Le mélange de pop 80's et de d'influences sud-africaines est très efficace, pas de doute là-dessus. Mention spéciale aux lignes de basse de Bakithi Kumalo. Mais aller enregistrer un album à Johannesburg en plein apartheid, avec des musiciens africains, et assumer ouvertement de ne pas vouloir en faire un objet politique, ça laisse un arrière-goût désagréable dans la bouche... Top : I Know What I Know Flop : Under African Skies

3.75/5 Top Songs: You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, The Boy In The Bubble

Yesss ate

Very good

Holy Schmeep, this is the first one I could not fully get through. I am somewhat shocked how you could possibly make so many songs sound like nothing.

I had this CD way back in the day and listened to it quite a bit for a while. It was unique and fun at the time but it's not something I kept going back to. Certainly not as good and rich as some of the old Simon and Garfunkel tunes.

Paul Simon is a musical icon and as someone who grew up religious, middle class, and somewhat white, Paul Simon was a huge part of my childhood. That being said, most of Paul Simon’s portfolio from later in his life reeks of early midlife crisis. His solo career post Simon & Garfunkel had promise but Graceland was a difficult and confusing choice made by a man trying to find himself again in other people’s culture. And for what it’s worth, we all do it from time to time. Trying to reinvent ourselves in the shape of someone else? Much easier than finding internal creativity. I refuse to comment on the politics surrounding Paul Simon’s choices of making white people mbaqanga during apartheid simply because that would take me all day. Regardless, I find Graceland to be overall fine with a few hits and at least one big miss. Season: Early Fall Favorite Song: You Can Call Me Al

fun and funky!! I like the variety of tone and tempo! it really does feel like a fully self contained xperience. But I found myself wanting to like it more than I actually did, the slower parts of the album didn't really do it for me.

it was fun. nothing special imo

Great album. Don't know what to say else, except that I had a nice time listening to it. It felt light, easy to listen.

Crazy love Al

This is pretty bad. I don't like Simon and Garfunkel, and I guess I like Simon's solo work even less.

The contributions from the other musicians were great, Paul was a snooze.

One classic song that I knew, which was joyful to hear. A pleasant listen.

Appropriated af, but a great album nevertheless

I love it

bro got rich and went on a bunch of safaris. this guy loves africa rare album for me that is commercially popular, has singles that I like....but the singles aren't my favorite tracks. 4

nvm not my taste but ehh

Не мое, жанр совсем не зашёл

I mean it's ok.

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.

This is one of my mother's favourite albums so listening again after many years evokes warm memories, as indeed does the music itself; wholesome and humanist as it is. This has a quality I appreciate in an album wherein all the songs kind of sound just a little similar. It makes for a cohesive feel and gives the impression of an artist working in a rich creative vein. All up it's a little twee but puts a smile on my face. p.s This is where Vampire Weekend were born.

Mid at best with come catchy songs for sure. But, the people on here crying about cultural appropriation are hilarious - ship has sailed schmohawks, we're all tired of hearing it.

Cool fusion of styles... grew on me more as it went along.

At first I tried to place where I’ve heard his voice before and then you can call me Al started playing and I knew!! This album was goid

Excellent.

I don't like this era of old head artist doing new wave pop all that much.

Love to see the feature band live!

Spectacular sounding. I love Linda Rondstadt’s vocals

Pleasant. I love You Can Call Me Al.

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 changed my life: twice. This album is undoubtedly on my 5 desert island disks. The depth of both the lyrics and the music is incredible. Every song. The whole album. 11/10 Regardless of my own opinion this record is- and deserves to be- in the top 25 records ever made.

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

I was aware of this album, and I knew a couple of the songs, especially You can call me Al due to it's popularity on both radio and MTV. Its an okay song, not one I would seek out, but catchy enough to listen to once in a while. As for the rest of the album? What is all the fuss about? I really don't get the adulation. It's weird, Simon's voice is alright at times, and annoying at others. I guess I am in the minority on this one, but I just didn't care for it. I don't even think it is a 2, but it is better than a 1, so 2 it is.

Alright easy listening (?). Sounds like other Paul Simon to me but with a heavy dose of African music as well. I've nothing bad to say about his music, but it's never grabbed my attention.

Not my type of music, but it made me feel I was inside a movie

Better together

Can’t relate to this album. I don’t want to be called Al.

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 love this album and the South African music in it. All the artists featured fit in perfectly. 9/10

fav songs: diamonds on the soles of her shoes you can call me al lightweight, low-stakes, pop 20/100

interesting African sounds

Would never be made now but can’t lie I enjoyed in the sun

For gods sake Paul, give Art a call! Boy in the bubble is spot on, no amount of explaining exonerates the classlessness of this work Apartheid aside, I find the work mixes and merges musical styles well but leaves an empty feeling, and an unease that feels like somebody trampled all over your mother's best linen. 2 for me

Message in a Bottle is classic!! I didn’t think I’d like this album though but was pleasantly surprised. Definitely would listen again.

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

This is an old classic that I've listened to so many times, I've lost count. not as relevant to me over the last 25 years but still hard to say no to this.

This is just not an album I would ever listen to. Good opening driving song, familiar, jangly nice. Graceland is such an Americana song. Third song gets us to the collaborative Paul Simon… don’t really like this. Now we’ve stepped into some sort of jug band dance and spoken word melody… saxophones… too much of a bayou jig. Here’s the soft bongos and groovy Paul Simon… horns and more upbeat… Of course into Call Me Al as a natural next song… I think you have to at least sort of like this song.. Yeah.. we’re getting a little country/African ramblingish here… almost a church croon going here. More African chanting collaboration… nope. Crazy Love is sort of back to that brightness of Call Me Al. That Was Your Mother brings us right back to the jig-band bayou… I just am not into this sound. Last song with Los Lobos… jig-band, driving drums… country twangs… again, no. Not offensive, but this album is not for me.

I’ve been meaning to get around to this album for a while. It started off really strong, but honestly, it fell apart at the end for me. I did dig the world in African influences, but I almost feel like it was too much there towards the middle and end. This is a really good album with some great tracks, but just fails to achieve greatness overall.

A very interesting and multifaceted album with hints of African folk music

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.

pov you are racist white boy on the tropical island of joy and whimsey and cultural appropriation

The South African musicians on this record add a depth of character and flavour I have not heard in a lot of modern music. The effortless mix of folk, singer/song writer and South African percussion (as well as back in vocals) create a sonic experience unlike any other. Automatically one of my favourite albums I have listened to. Of course I recognise a lot of the music, but just like putting a name to a face, I feel that I have a much better understanding of the music now. A brilliant listen throughout.

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 :]

I've never been to Graceland, but I've been to Memphis. I thought of my time there as I stood in the sun listening to this album. I only knew Paul Simon in abstract going into this album; I couldn't name any Simon & Garfunkel song off the top of my head despite knowing I've heard them before, and I could only recognize You Can Call Me Al among his solo work. But before the first song was even over, I fell in love with Simon's songwriting, approaching his lyricism with a freewheeling focus on narrative and storytelling over strict adherence to a traditional vocal style. This style of writing and singing is the exact one which I am drawn to in many of my favorite modern artists, and I can hear that DNA in Simon's work. The biggest surprise of this album, however, was the prominent inclusion of local African music styles. The album leans into this sound more and more over the course of the record, almost taking a "boil the frog" approach to introducing listeners to a new culture through music alone. The various credited artists are given plenty of spotlight and prominence, blending rather seamlessly into Simon's singer-songwriter aesthetic. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know I've heard praise generally for this album, existing in the periphery of my mind as a significant work for reasons I could not remember; having now heard the album, I completely understand the quality and cultural significance captured within it, and it is completely deserving of its praise. Highlights: The Boy In the Bubble, Graceland, I Know What I Know, Gumboots, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, Under African Skies, Homeless, Crazy Love, Vol. II, All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints

not my thing

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.

My rating is 4.3. I have always loved this album despite the many controversies surrounding appropriation.

Tämä löytyy omasta hyllystä ja muistan ostaneeni tuoreeltaan. Kasarin lopussa tuli kuunneltua, sen jälkeen ei. Tykkään levyn laidback-fiiliksestä ja bassottelu on erinomaista. Varsinkin nauhattoman soittimen soundi on mahtava. Tykkäsin myös Zydeco/maailmanmisiikki vaikutteista.

Fin album, smešno mi što ima neku random pesmu iz kralja lavova. Idalje, album nije nešto specijalan, ima jednu jaku pesmu i to je to. Svako jutro mi je lagaanoo prošlo uz ovaj album tkd ocena je 3,75/5 aliii neću ostaviti 4 :'(

It's obvious that this album is quite special. The blend of western styles with African influence is a unique listen, and there are the clear standout tracks. I'm aware there's some controversy surrounding it, and I'm not attuned to all the facts - but I really liked this. Favourites: Graceland Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes You Can Call Me Al

wenoski

I was willing to give this one a try. Not for me.

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

terrible man unfortunately, a banger album.

I didn't know who this artist was, but I had a song of theirs already in my liked songs, which is interesting. I have no idea when I liked that song, but I liked this album a lot so I've added a few more the list.

Excelente clasico

Not my cup of tea, but i think it was a pretty good album. Nice to listen while doing something.

I like it, but don't love it

I was kidding about hating the eagles. I actually hate Paul Simon. Fuck, this shit sucks so bad

I've come to the conclusion I do not enjoy Paul Simon

Incredible album, highlight is you can call me al

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

Vampire Weekend influence?

I wasn't sure about this album hearing the first song, it seemed a little unfocused and the vocals were talk-y and loose rhythmically, but by the second track I got hints that it was inspired by African music, and by the next couple tracks it was undeniably an album of African music, which I love. I especially love multicultural music.i don't know much about the background but the album tells a story of a city boy from America traveling to Africa and discovering a new world. 8/10

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.

I love the Ladysmith Black Mambazo contributions. All of the African bits are great throughout. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Homeless" were already beloved songs for me for that reason, but I was happy to discover more. It's interesting to have zydeco in there too. I'm not sure about the right word for it, but a few tracks (notably "You Can Call Me Al") rub me the wrong way. Maybe its corny? Anyway I really enjoyed these tunes on a beautiful bike ride yesterday. I imagine they're even better in the summer. I might give it 4.5 if I could

Pure Genius!

Props to PS for so effectively shaking off the 60's folk vibe Quite enjoyed listening to this again - not my usual style, but it has a fun energy

Really good album

Well done Paul

I understand that this is an important album but I never got into it….

my parents would enjoy this

Hm. Really want to like it. A 3-4.

Sfeerig. Veel liedjes die ik kende eigenlijk. Maar niet allemaal bangers. Diamonds on the sole of her shoe was de beste

4,5 is top

Not my style, but I always enjoy Paul Simon

Coldplay left me well, cold

yawn yawn yawny yawn

I'd heard a lot of good things about this album but this was just dull.

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.

Enjoyed this. Groovy and enjoyable throughout. Expertly played. Constantly interesting, and I’m surprised I’d never listened to it all the way through before.

I love a lot of the songs on this album, mostly due to the amazing, rubbery, bouncy bass of the incomparable Bakithi Kumalo. It was also my first introduction to the incredible singing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and to African rhythms in general. And the performances and production throughout are stellar, with a wide array of guest stars from all around the world. But the more I learn about it, the more I learn that Paul Simon is, by all accounts, kind of a dick. I appreciate his songwriting and his ability to introduce world music to the larger U.S. audience, but I can't give it a full five stars.

Cultural appropriation, schmultural appropriation. Simon collaborated with some of the greatest South African musicians of the day. Their efforts complement each other beautifully. Simon’s storytelling is warm-hearted and universal, and the African vocalists put the songs in a new context. Simon’s lyrics express loneliness with wry humor and deadpan wit. It doesn’t all work, and it gets a little twee, for sure, but… A good album makes you want to listen for days and weeks . A great album makes you want to listen forever. This is a great album.

I don't know where I go with this one exactly because I think time has probably not done it favors. Also at the time it did support Black artists but also didn't focus any thoughts or lyrics on the apartheid laws of South Africa I love the mixture of different cultures and beats and it makes some really beautiful musical sounds. However, it is a little appropriation and sad (as always) that it takes a white man to make these beautiful traditional sounds popular. But also at the time that was somewhat needed to bring these sounds and musicians to a global stage. So I don't know, I liked it and honestly found the African musical influences the best parts. Paul's voice just didn't hold up to the beautiful chanting, drums and zydeco sounds.

I dig the South African vibe of this album. Kinda chill, and lively in sync.

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

Good music, but the album didn't feel cohesive.

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.

When I opened the website to see my listen today, My first thought was "it's probably just another white man that made music in the 20th century." And to my surprise, guess what? It's just another white man that made music in the 20th Century. I did listen to "SEVEN PSALMS" as well. I'd get that on vinyl, so I can listen to only once in a while. I must say, In My Professional Opinion, I'm no more satisfied than Paul Simon is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know the website pulls recommendations out of thin air with no regards for taste, but that doesn't mean I don't have taste buds.

The Mississippi Delta was shining Like a National guitar I am following the river Down the highway Through the cradle of the civil war

Easy to listen to, a couple of classics but not something I’d play regularly

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.

I've been meaning to listen to this for a while. I've always liked You Can Call Me Al and there are a few Paul Simon songs that I've liked over the years. He's a great musician with a diverse range of influences which come across clearly in this album. It's just a little too upbeat for me, but great nonetheless. 3/5 You Can Call Me Al is a fun track and it's an easy listen, but just a little too upbeat for me.

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 lost me on some song, it gain me on others

I appreciated this but feel like Paul could have put a bit more welly in it. Like how about some more expression and variation in the vocals? I do just wanna shoutout the bass in You Can Call Me Al, like a minute before the end because that little groove gave me life.