Graceland

own

Nope. Hate it.

Sonically interesting and musically varied, but not my cup of tea. A few dope baselines and I do like “You can call me Al”, I get why that’s the only one I’ve heard of before listening to this album

Some amazing songs but also some mediocre

Excellent album with one of my favorite Paul Simon songs. A lot of African influence.

Great album. A very tuneful man

Fantastic album. Front to back. The incorporation of African rhythms was eye opening for me when it was released 40 years ago. This album definitely held up much much better than most from that time period.

I do not understand all the hate on this album. It is a masterpiece of songwriting, rhythms, world beats, and fun.

Every song from top to bottom gets a like.

So much talent crammed into such a little guy.

OneWorld Simon without Garfunkel.

A genuine classic. Timeless.

hora da neneca

p555. 1986. 5 stars. One of the best albums of the 80s. Not a weak track on this, and Under African Skies might be the finest thing he's ever written. And as for those sad fucks who condemn Paul Simon for cultural appropriation and breaking the apartheid ban in place at the time: Nelson Mandela supported the Graceland project and met with him during Simon's visit to South Africa in the mid-1980s. Mandala recognised the importance of Simon's invitation to tour South Africa and the album's success in raising global awareness of the country's music and culture. An inconvenient truth, eh?

Lowkey masterful.

as if i didn’t know that as if i didn’t know my own bed 😭

There are so many strange production choices going on here I have to assume it is some sort of deliberate thing. I can't imagine mixing down those weak tinkly guitar or bass tracks and thinking "yep this is the one going on that people are going to hear". Another thing that I couldn't get past when listening is how many of they lyrics are stating who said something. "He said" "I said" "You said" "She said" I know it's just a personal issue of mine that I can't stand song lyrics with "You said".

8/10 Top: The boy in the bubble, You can call me all

Somewhat charming - feels very 80s and even though I wasn't alive for much of the 80s, it is a little nostalgic. I don't like the farty bass tone that appears on some of the songs. It's funny that they come right out the gate with "The Boy in the Bubble" with the bass at its fartiest. Sounds like something from a cartoon. I don't think I'm likely to revisit this one, but it's not terrible.

A handful of these songs sound like “You Can Call Me Al”. I guess when you have a successful formula you stick with it as much as possible. Though, he would have had no idea “Al” was going to be his biggest song off of this album. Paul’s delivery on this album makes him come off as a family friendly Bob Dylan. Less poetic of course. I will hand it to him, this album does not sound like an 80’s album. He could have released this now and no one would know the difference. On that note though, there isn’t anything all that good about said album. It’s soft rock. Bordering on yacht rock. Bordering on elevator music. It’s produced well. The songs flow together. There are no chances taken with this one. Choice cut. You Can Call Me Al

Vrolijke zomerse deuntjes en ik vind Paul een erg fijne stem hebben. Toen ik bij you can call me Al kwam begreep ik pas waar het me aan deed denken. Solide 3 sterren.

proto ska. Erg lekker

lafayette, louisiana mentioned‼️

Kan inte förstå valet av gitarr sound och bassound. Det är kränkande dåligt och förstör den mediokra musiken. Låter som musik till disneyfilmer eller något liknande. Inte min grej

Pretty good

Totally held up, remember it very well and it came right back. The songs are quick, catchy, well written, i thought it was awesome. 9-9.5/10

I've never liked Paul Simon and this listen did not change my mind. Maybe it was overexposure to Call Me Al in my formative years. Just got so tired of that song and his voice.

Aside from "You Can Call Me Al," I knew this album mostly by reputation, because it was so huge, and then, later, the blowback Simon got for it. I'm not sure what it says about him that the best parts are the ones with South African musicians. Otherwise I think this is kind of repetitive, though the bass work is top-notch.

I know what i know is probably one of the most annoying songs ive heard in recent memory

1. Graceland 2. Diamonds on the sole of her shoes 3. I know what I know

cute cover. cute tunes. couldn’t be forced to care about more than 45 seconds of each song but very nice and sort of similar to joni mitchell!

don’t hate it, don’t love it. “call me al” is iconic.

funky , groovy bouncy

Ok. Nice to hear some old songs again. ★★★

Listening to this album now when world music is much more common and accepted, I can see how someone can think this is appropriation. But in the mid-1980s it was viewed as a glorious example of multiple different genres coming together and creating something even better. Paul Simon's lyrics and soothing melodies are gorgeously complimented by the Soweto choir. African and western instruments combine wonderfully. Every contribution is perfect. I love the bass lines. Every track is different and danceable, singable and just fantastic. Every time I listen, I hear even more wonderful musicianship. 5⭐️

All bangers, no skips

not my cuppa

Graceland – Paul Simon (1986) This album is like if guilt, wanderlust, and a pair of immaculate white New Balances went on a road trip through the American South and accidentally stumbled into South Africa. Simon basically said, “what if I healed my divorce with a world music fusion project?” And somehow, it slaps. The rhythms are light, the lyrics are surgical, and the vibe is “I’m sad but also profoundly grooveable.” Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: A midlife crisis set to the sounds of a cross-cultural jam session, but like, respectfully. Favorite Track: “Graceland” — yes, the title track. It’s a whole pilgrimage through poetic regret.

Popular album. Graceland and You Can Call Me Al are famous.

Middling Paul Simon album with some mildly interesting songs *but* with the added novelty value that he was backed up by someone other that the usual crew of jaded LA/NY studio hotshots. Most of Simon's vocal melodies on the record are fairly loose and lack the punch of his best work.

Not even gonna touch the whole "cultural appropriation/apartheid boycott" stuff. But I'm also not gonna lie - I always found myself really vibing with the songs until paul shows up with his annoying little voice and stupid little lyrics. Like I LOVE certain specific elements, the sax in Gumboots, the tin whistle solo and the bass!! in You Can Call Me Al, the accordion in the first and last track? Not to mention the backing vocals from Ladysmith Black Mambazo?? But the rest of it is so blah- I don't see myself revisiting these songs anytime soon. I can't really reconcile my irrational dislike for Paul Simon with my appreciation of literally everything else, so I'm just gonna put this at a solid 2. Favs: None really :(. Maybe Homeless?

I’ve been in the hospital due to a serious work accident, going through some of the toughest times of my life, and this album has been the perfect spirit-lifter. Paul Simon himself was facing rough times before creating this album, and it feels like he came back to the music with a clean slate. His journey to South Africa to work with local artists brought such a culturally rich sound to this album. It’s like an 80’s pop rock album with art pop aesthetics, but so much more. It has folk elements and upbeat traditional African rhythms throughout. The lively, danceable tempo brings a strong sense of unity and openness, which made this album a great end to a stressful day. It’s lighthearted and uplifting, and the joy in the music helped lift my spirits and keep me going with a positive attitude. Music really does have a powerful impact.

Чудовий альбом. Подобається, як інтегрують world music, дуже органічно виходить. Топовий бас по всьому альбому. Є дуже хітові композиції.

Обожнюю Пола Саймона. І особливо цей альбом.

Fun

not terrible

The earlier work of Simon and Garfunkel is much better than solo Paul Simon. This album has a couple of good songs, but is mostly forgettable.

One of my favorites. Husband loves Justin Townes Earle's cover. Husband's review- "I like Paul Simon's music but I never go out of my way to listen to him. Did I ever tell you about this story with my dad?" -then the story wasnt about this album. 10/10!

This is a wonderful album and not a single lackluster track. Each collaboration adds so much to Paul’s style of music and elevates this to timelessness. I have listened to this for a few years now and never get tired of it. Easy 5 stars.

Amazing album. Last two songs are pretty lame, but everything else is a 10/10

Solid album. Great writing and fantastic music. Not a big Paul Simon fan but this is a solid album.

5/5 no notes

Was not in the mood for whatever the hell this was today.

You Can Call Me Al is still a great song. The rest of it was okay, just didn’t resonate with me.

6/10 - a nice change of pace, pop/folky, would never had thought that it's the Simon in Simon & Garfunkel, but the recording is poor and cheap unfortunately

One of my top all time

Não é o tipo de música que costumo ouvir ou que goste. No entanto, tem músicas que gostei muito mas outras que nem por isso. Dou um 3 porque senti altos e baixos naquilo que gostei e não gostei. Adorei “Graceland”, “Homeless” e o clássico ”You can call me AI”

I know this is a revered album, but I was never able to connect with it. Was it the "world music" infusion that makes people so into it? I always thought Western musicians toying with "world music" only presents it as inferior to American / British.

Didn't like it, but I think it's just personal taste

Such cool, classic sounds; it still sounds fresh and new today.

En lisant la description je me serais attendue à un album plus obscure/niché, et dans l'introspection vu qu'il a créé ça quand il se cherchait dans une mauvaise passe post-dépression. La vibe est super accessible, on est dans l'optimisme et le silver lining. (Quoi que jai pas écouté attentivement tous les textes). Il y a des bangers pop super accrocheurs! Ex DiamondsOTSOHS, et You can Call me Al juste après. La bass est incroyable, all over the place très jazz, et ça sonne lush. Bassiste principal = Bakithi Kumalo,  un sud-africain, il joue effectivement sur une fretless. Cest très 80s aussi, il y a des tones de claviers de l'epoque genre imitation brass, ça c'est moins mon bag mais bon c'etait l'époque.

"Graceland" was Paul Simon's comeback album. After completely disconnecting from Art Garfunkel amid a well known falling out, poor album sales as a solo artist, and a difficult divorce, you might have thought that Simon was at the end of his career. But "Graceland" proved that he had more to say. It was an unlikely comeback from a folk legend to make an African influenced pop album. And it wasn't without controversy. Recorded during apartheid, many people criticized Simon for ignoring the South African boycott. Paul Simon countered that he was supporting the oppressed people and drawing attention to their cause. History seems to have vindicated him but other critics have accused him of cultural appropriation which is a thornier one to argue against. Clearly though, Simon did see something special about the music and invited local musicians to contribute to the sound of the album. Despite the controversies, it really holds up well as an album. For me personally, I listened to it with my son who spontaneously started dancing and dragged me up to join him. So it's pretty hard not love it after that. Such is the power of great music and honestly, this is a great album.

Eclectic mix of styles. Middle third of the album is a highlight. Top track: Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes

I'd never listened to the entire album. A few songs saw heavy rotation on MTV and the radio back in the 80s. Very good mix of music and musicians

I actually really really enjoyed it I didn't think I would but it just made me sit and think and wonder really suprised me and one of the greatest first listens I've ever had

Fun, poppy

Didn’t love this. It’s a weird album to my ears. The mix of world music and carnivalesque rock just didn’t do it for me. I’m sure there’s a point to it, but I didn’t enjoy it enough to go back and dig into it. I do like one or two of the songs on their own.

Hard from beginning to end

I had never listened to this album before, though I was very aware of it in the mid-80s when it was popular. Controversy aside, I enjoyed listening to it today, even if I doubt I'll ever return to it. Standout track: You Can Call Me Al (by far the catchiest and most memorable tune on the album, but also beloved for its classic video with Chevy Chase)

Some things are just a 5. Those classic albums that sit above everything else. When they come along they are obvious because you already know they are.

I have some memories of this record being played in the car, on our way to holidays destinations. That said, most of the tracks ring no bells whatsoever. It's interesting, and the songs go all over the place, but they maintain a sense of unity. I like it, overall.

I remember this, it was so amazing... and we were taking knowledge (at least in my country, anyway!) of the tragedy/crimes of apartheid and what was going on in South Africa! Listening to several artists showing their art and their collaboration and showcasing what wasn't being told (at least, once again, not in the country where I live!) was an eye opener and a maturing process. If I recall, later on, in 1987, Paul Simon did a tremendous gig in New York's central park, which was nothing ever seen at that time, such a large amount of people went there :-) Overall, I really love this album and "Diamonds on the sole of her shoes", alone, it always will be a masterpiece IMHO

great

Yllättävästi oli paljon afrikkalaissaundeja. Mikäs siinä.

I neverhelesshow good this album was.

My second ever concert was Paul Simon on this tour, so it’s a sentimental favorite. It’s also a terrific record that introduced me (and many others) to several new musical styles. Great set of songs and incredible musicianship.

One of the all time greats, pretty much every song is a pop slam dunk. No notes.

not bad

Good enough Folk Pop. Interesting touch with the African choral sounds.

Overrated

suffers from having that sucky 80s production that i don’t like but overall pretty damn great

nisam očekivao da će mi se ovo toliko dopasti :) baš je fora

I mean this is great obviously Only not a 5 because the second half isn’t quite as strong as first half

Lov it

Good album with some stand out tracks. Love the African influence which seems ahead of its time.

Another one of my favourite albums of all time

Muy buen disco

great album

his best solo album in my opinion. I prefer his Simon and Garfunkel stuff. it's the stuff of legends. and also one of the best concerts I've ever been too.

Classic. I loved Graceland in 1986, and I love it now. The tracks are amazing, moving from one spectacular song to another. Even the one or two “weaker” songs (near the end) are downright solid. Damn. And, of course, the sound was like little else in 1986. It still sounds fresh—and interesting. My ideal album probably has a little more sonic edge to it. But is that a good reason to withhold the fifth star?

For the most part, Simon and Garfunkel as an act were greater than the sum of their parts. That’s the Paul Simon I prefer, but Graceland still holds up as a solid solo album. “You Can Call Me Al” remains a timeless classic, and the title track, “Graceland,” delivers exactly what you'd expect from Simon’s songwriting. “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” also caught my ear with that memorable, distinctive intro. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights Simon achieved with Garfunkel, this record is catchy, thoughtful, and undeniably well-made.

Overall really good. I only knew one song before listening.

Wow, such good music. That doesn't mean I like it, just that I recognize how well put together it is. I appreciate many of the individual songs, and I tired of the album at the same time. I don't fully understand why I'll rate this a four, when I know it is not an album I'm likely to seek out, but I am.

This seemed ubiquitous when it came out. I don't hear it much now, but when I do it takes me back!

This is not an album I'm going to really put on of my own choosing, but my wife likes it, and I do respect it now that I'm older. When it came out, it blended in with so many other albums that felt just like "adult contemporary" and "mid-life crisis" music. However, I do now appreciate the exploration that Paul Simon was making into different styles and the musicianship and songwriting where he deliberately was getting away from his sad folk songs into something more joyful.

It was alright from what I heard.

Classic album. A Jew rips off African culture

Weird but good

Good record, seems very dated by today's standards. Typical electronic sounds from the 80s. Overall I enjoy it.

Can confirm— Graceland is (still) genius. Easy 5. The musicality and complexity within and across songs is extraordinary on Graceland. These tunes are mostly not confined to the standard song structure that is Simon’s bread and butter. These are musical narratives; the album is a travelogue of songs. It’s a stunning accomplishment. I cannot fathom that this album was written/performed by the same artist who wrote the self-titled “Paul Simon” (a 3 for me). Certainly this is not the same Paul Simon who released “Hearts and Bones” (a 1, in my book), although the characters and plots overlap a bunch. I’m guessing he did a lot of mind expanding drugs to get from Hearts and Bones’ “Allergies” & “Cars are Cars” to sublime creations like “I Know what I Know” and “Diamonds on the Soles of their Shoes”. Either that, or we have a “Paul MacCartney is dead”-level conspiracy on our hands! Or maybe, a washed up post-Garfunkel Paul Simon met a fiddling demon at the Crossroads, and made a deal?!? A note on violating the boycott of Apartheid South Africa to make this album (which others in this challenge are raging about): I think it’s well established that Paul Simon is not such a great person; that’s true of a lot of (most?) great musicians. If I rate music by how big a jerk the musician is, then (a) most music on this list is going to fair poorly AND (b) I’d have to know how big a jerk each musician is, otherwise I’m just downgrading the music of individuals I know, and not downgrading the musicians I don’t know. That’s not a very helpful rating system. So, I’m rating the music/album, not the musicians.

Paul Simon is an all time great songwriter, so this album is a treat. Graceland, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Feet, and You Can Call Me Al are some of my favorite Paul Simon tracks. Just listen to any Paul Simon you can - a master of lyrics and tempo. Other notables from the album include The Boy In The Bubble, I Know What I Know…at this point I’m just going to list every song on the album. The whole album is great. Every song is great. This is the kind of album that makes you thankful to be alive and in awe of human creativity.

Very nice album, I was only familiar with a couple of tracks on here.

A classic for a reason. Simon's best work. Great production & mixing as well.

Всякий разный фолк, околофолк, кантри и прочее. Как-то не заинтересовал.

I remember this record being huge among adults. I don’t know much about Paul Simon’s discography but insuspect this record was an evolution for him at a time when infusing world music into American pop was all the rage. Between this, Bobby Mcferrin and even Peter Gabriel it was everywhere in the mid 80’s. Quirky is the best word to describe this record.

Paul Simon really knocks it out of the park with this one

I haven't listened to Paul Simon in a long time. I forgot how much I liked his stuff. I like the variety and cool instrumentals

Why don't I have this album? Paul Simon knocks it out of the park. Love the instrumentals. Love it all.

This is an interesting album. The production is definitely unique, the songs kind of feel like a mix of folk, rock and funk. The guitar tone is very jangly and funky, the bass tone is super cool, but I don't like the drums because they sound very electronic and I feel like it doesn't match the vibe. I enjoy his vocal approach as it's very relaxed and the lyrics are interesting. Overall only a few songs really stick out to me and the rest is quite forgettable.

A truly classic album! This would certainly rank in my Top 1000! Paul's musical style and lyrical content make this a great listen. The older I get, the more and more I love the music from the 80's! Graceland & You Can Call Me Al are right up there as some of the best songs from the best decade of music!

Probably the most well-regarded Paul Simon album. This is the one where he incorporates a lot of the different instrumentation, guest musicians, and African choir, etc. There are a few standout tracks - Graceland, You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes.

one of his best, still.

Solid album and an interesting back story of production.

Great stuff

I know this album gets flack for appropriation and breaking the boycott of South Africa but I can't help but love it. I love the zydeco, I love the South African sound, I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo I love the unmistakable mid-80s sounds. One of my faves.

I liked it a lot years ago, but time has not be favorable to it in my opinion. Has this sound simply become less and less unique? I feel like Graceland's massive legacy will heavily decline in the next few years.

Rolig, litt for kjedelig for min smak

Classic 80’s release. Some of the production dates it a little but it’s crammed full of great pop songs, so this can be easily overlooked

Mycket bra, dragspel kul

Album has a global vibe. Couple of big hits.

No i to jest Paul Simon, jakiego znam i kocham. Wciąż bywa sentymentalnie, ale nie jest to cała płyta ballad. Kompozycje są ciekawe i odważne, glos jak zawsze - najczystszy kryształ. 9/10 i więcej takich proszę.

I probably need a few more spins to get a feel for most of the tracks beyond "YCCMA" and "Graceland." Still, a classic for those two alone.

Great music but the whole concept and the weird over the top fretless bass would be frowned at and ridiculed if released today

Really good album. Call Me Al is a phenomenal song surrounded by other really enjoyable and unique music from the 80s.

A great album. Definitely from a specific point in time but still holds up well. Interesting blending of musical genres and cultures and great, catchy lyrics.

Good Good Good. Great use of layers

nice

Je suis trop fan pour être objective peut être

This is an album that was integral to my musical tastes in 1986 and many elements persist. I've been listening to 'World Music' (crummy label though that may be) for a long, long time. I took a course in non-Western music in undergrad, probably around 1984 or 5, and I was the only one who could instantly recognize a Balinese ketjak, or monkey chant, courtesy of Peter Gabriel's World of Music and Dance compilation from a couple years earlier. Mr. Simon took some of the most pleasing elements of South African music and made them immensely popular. There is sadness here, but mostly, I can't help tapping my toes and smiling as he and his wonderful group of musicians pull all those influences together.

I do not love this album nearly as much as most others do. I find the production horrendously dated and most of the tracks cheesy as hell. 2/5

Cultural appropriation 💀 .... but yeah it just didnt sound good to me 🤷‍♀️

Mind numbingly happy but undeniably good. Fave song: Graceland

Art Garfunkel was holding Paul Simon back???? Really cozy, good instruments, it was like a nice hearty meal. Very enjoyable Favourite Song: You Can Call Me Al

Solid pop and world.

Simon’s pleasant voice and the great musicians make this album both relaxing and energizing- oftentimes simultaneously. The combination of the music and his voice allowed me to overlook his obtuse lyrics.

This is a 5-star album

Good stuff. Few tracks miss the mark, but overall it's pretty solid.

Brilliant from beginning to end. A real treat. And genuine 10/10 rather than a 9 rounded up to a 5. Fantastic

If somebody said they were going to combine Simon and Garfunkel with Ladysmith Black Mambazo I would have said that sounds horrific. And yet somehow it's one of the best things i've ever heard. Very happy to listen to it in full again. This is a genuine 5 rather than a 4.5 rounded up

I already love this album! I think it's one of the best singer songwriter albums of all time. I appreciate the use of world music sounds in his songs, I think it really takes it over the top.

averaged

Really fun, really joyful album. You Can Call Me Al is an anthem, but the whole album is great

Popularized township jive and brought African music to the fore. The combination with Simon’s voice and poetry works brilliantly at times.

a worse "remain in light".

Debo admitir que en un comienzo el álbum no me despertó demasiado interés. Pero a medida que iba avanzando se empezó a hacer más presente la presencia de elementos de música africana, que se combina con el estilo folk pop de Paul Simon, y la verdad es que me resultó mucho más llamativo e interesante. Tal vez no sea un disco que me guste mucho, pero al menos intentó hacer algo diferente y más original.

This was a fun one, I love Simon & Garfunkel and I’m a fan of Simon’s solo career as well. His writing is still pretty strong despite what the 80s did to a lot of 70s and 60s artists. The use of South African vocal groups adds a lovely texture to this album that would’ve been a standard sounding 80s Paul Simon album. The album is worse than his early 70s records in particular his self titled which is also on the list and I got a month or two ago but it’s a very solid 80s record and a fun time. In particular I liked the title track, “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Feet”, “You Can Call Me Al”, “Under African Skies”, “Crazy Love Vol. II”, and “All Around The World or the Myth Of Fingerprints”.

Without doubt, this is one of those "game-changing" albums, not only to revive the career of Paul Simon, but also the collaboration of African and American musicians with the introduction of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to mainstream American audiences. This album was huge and songs from the album flooded radio-waves back in the day. Simon's tour for the album attracted people of all ages (etc.), including my parents who actually ventured out to a crowded hockey arena to see a concert. I can't say I was a fan of the record (too commercial, was listening to a lot of punk at the time) and I have tried to avoid exposure of the music since the 80's. Hearing it again now was enjoyable enough, though I still prefer his early solo albums, but when you realize Graceland was released almost 40 years ago, it makes me question everything he's released since then. I suggest, next year playing a 40th anniversary Graceland show, then gracefully retire. Please.

Was excited to listen to but was underwhelmed. Probably 2.5

😁

Haven't listened to this album much since '86 but it was fun dusting it off. Still remember the Chevy Chase video for Al. Nice mix of rhythms and sounds with so great bass and even a touch of zydeco. Brave experimental album with some nice tracks.

My mum loves this album. I also think it's very nice.

On Graceland, world music, by which I mean the various styles indigenous to South Africa, is distilled into Simonian wit and punctuated by imagery only a New Yorker would know. It's hard to tell what exactly Simon sings about - where biographical criticism applies and where it doesn't - but at his best here, Simon recruits the fecund uplift of African music in order to explore themes of loss and solitude: 'And my traveling companions are ghosts and empty sockets / I'm looking at ghosts and empties'; 'She was physically forgotten / Then slipped into my pocket / With my car keys.' Tho it includes absolute classics, Graceland does miss at times, w/ 'Homeless' bearing obvious saccharinity, but mostly, it's an essential, beautiful listen.

Classic stuff - wonderful musicians - fab songs - production maybe just a little too clean?

Graceland, You can call me Al, Weltmusik & gute Laune. Idealerweise zur Strandparty.

Wondeful album - one I've returned to a LOT. It's like Paul Simon's mini-world tour, mixing folk, African, Zydeco, rock, etc. It's a ton of fun to listen to, even though its themes are all over the place.

By far Paul Simon's best album. His depth of songwriting is highlighted here, both musically and lyrically.  "...Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts." There is so much variety of musical styles and musician groupings. It had a huge impact on the world, exposing (not exploiting) a few African styles of music. Somehow with all of this variety it works.  Liked Songs Added: The Boy In The Bubble Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes You Can Call Me Al Homeless

classic great as always

Love this album! The African influences are amazing. And the more pop-like songs are catchy and fun to listen to. Rating: 5 stars (will definitely listen again)

Just for that bass in You Can Call Me Al.

I've known this album for years, and it took me a lot of listens to really appreciate. It's one of those albums that I don't necessarily choose, but when I hear it, it always takes me on a journey.

Such a fun album by the late bow-tie wearing senator and author from Illinois!

There's a whole rang of music from this time period that I just kind of roll my eyes at and can't really meet on its own merits -- this, Bobby McFerrin, "Kokomo." The whole thing feels inseparable from Chevy Chase mugging for the camera in the 'Al' video. That said, it's hard to hate on this album. Everything is fun and poppy, and there's clever Simon-y wordplay on most songs. Mbaqanga music is fun. But Graceland is so old fashioned, and the lyrics so rarely fit the music in any meaningful way, that it feels like Paul Simon wrote some catchy pop melodies and pasted a layer of mbaqanga music on top of it. I think I can understand why this all felt dynamic and new in 1986, and I guess pop artists get to be inspired by stuff (it seems like he at least tried to create some level of equity for the musicians he brought in to help him create this) so I shouldn't just cynically yell 'Appropriation!' like someone yelling 'Bomb!' on an airplane, but also it doesn't really inspire me to go any deeper into its influences, which … ideally it would? Also, why is this called Graceland?

One of my favorite albums.

Simon recruited some amazing musicians for this album and it definitely is a fun listen. It has that distinctive gloss that was prevalent in 80s production. I would prefer it have a little more organic mix. But that's a small gripe. It really is a solid record. 4/5 #115

Love the bass playing but not a folk music fan

1. The Boy In The Bubble - 9 Wasn't sold on the intro but the song builds so well. Simon's vocals sound incredible and the instruments, while odd, work so well in harmony together. Absolutely fantastic beat on it as well. Solid track. 2. Graceland - 8 Solid song. Really great beat and tempo that will have you tapping your feet without knowing it. Simon's vocals again deliver a wondrous performance here. Bass sounds really great on this track as well. 3. I Know What I Know - 6 Not a bad song but lyrically it falls in and out of tempo and they are not as strong as the opening two track. 4. Gumboots - 3 Not a great opening and not great overall. Instruments are okay but the loud and leading instruments don't really do anything great for the track. Choruses aren't particularly too good either. 5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes - 5 Could do without the barbershop quartet on this track and quite frankly without the entire opening minute of the track before this random tempo and pace change into the actual part of the song. "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes" is repeated way too much in the song. "As if everyone here knew what I was talking about" belts out Simon. I don't. I think that's the problem here. 6. You Can Call Me Al - 6 Sounds brilliant outside of the lyrics. Verses are again in and out of tempo and tone. Choruses are solid but the absolutely woeful verses ruin the experience for me. 7. Under African Skies - 8 Much better track. Really wonderful sounding vocals with a wonderful assortment of guitars and strings. Very very enjoyable. 8. Homeless - 2 It's not the nature of the chanting I find an issue with because the chanting sounds very nice; it's just that I don't see a need on the album. It's such a gear change from the rest of the album that the track feels out of place. That's not to say songs need to be the same on an album either but it's just a random chanting track on what's been a folk/tropical/acoustic sounding album. 9. Crazy Love, Vol II - 6 Sound is excellent but the choruses are completely uninspired with how insanely repetitive. Verses are good but as is much the theme with the album some lines have too many words and it makes them feel like they're rushing to catch the end of the instruments playing before moving into the next line. Becomes hard to really follow along when that happens. 10. That Was Your Mother - 9 BRILLIANT sax on this track. Verses again feel rushed but what an amazing sound between the drums and the sax which masterfully falls into a background octave after it's awesome solo. 11. All Around The World or the Myth Of Fingerprints - 5 Lyrics make absolutely no sense for half the track but the signing is lovely and the instruments give this almost a Caribbean vibe. Overall, not a bad track to end with. Average Rating: 6.09 Adjusted To A 5-Point Scale: 3.05 Rounded Down: 3 Stars

It's one of Paul Simon's best solo efforts with some absolute classics on it. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying "Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes" or "Call Me Al." "The Mississippi Delta was shining like a national guitar I am following the river down the highway through the cradle of the civil war" In my opinion the above is one of the greatest opening couplets of any song ever.

Fun album with a couple of bangers which will get stuck in your head for days

Better than expected

Full of charm, and “international flare” (especially relevant, considering this came out in the 80s). Paul never sounded more sincere.

African influences add this music a sense of wonder of the unknown, vocals match perfectly

My favourite

Good ol folk rock

Great music. I have listened to this for years.

Goated

Best Song: You Can Call Me Al Worst Song: Diamond on the Soles of Her Shoes Added: 2/11

Hot take, but I think this album is overrated.

Are we sure that Garfunkel did not write the early Simon & Garfunkel songs…?

It may be because I'm a middle aged white guy, but I love this album. I love the way that Paul Simon has drawn from other inspirations and worked them into something that is his. The harmonies are gorgeous, the rhythms catchy and the African influences brilliant. It is a really vibrant and diverse feeling album.

On my personal top 10. This album has been a constant companion in my life and has stood the test of time. It's as good in the car on a roadtrip, as it is for living room dance parties, as it is in my headphones all alone. Paul Simon is an unapologetic fan of music and it shines through here. He leaves room to share his spotlight with other incredible artists and he's not afraid to change his sound in order to prove the universality of good songwriting that speaks to your soul.

I remember owning and enjoying this album back when it was released. It was something different and interesting from a well known artist. I haven't listened to this in decades and with this listening, it ran a bit hot and cold. Still, a pretty solid 3/5.

It was ok - nothing special.

Apparently Garfunkel was load-bearing. 2.5

Meh, me gustó hallelujah porque me recordó a Shrek pero no más, no me cierra el estilo del tipo la verdad.

Lo tuve que sacar, malardo

No me gustó mucho, taba raro

Eeeeeee no me gustó. Quisiera saber que consumió antes de componerlo nomás

a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh

Strangely, according to my Last FM stats, I've never spun this album in full before. I thought I would have. Considering it's one of the all-time greats, I was a tad underwhelmed. Its hit singles are fantastic but I couldn't help but think "filler?" on Gumboots and Crazy Love Vol II. Was this due to lack of exposure in the past? Maybe. On first listen it's only deserving of a 3; perhaps subsequent listens with more familiarity will raise it to a 4.

Very unique, fun sound for Paul Simon. One of the songs has very screamy background vocals, but the rest are very enjoyable.

There's a lot of hate for this album, but I was surprisingly blown away by it. Fantastic all around. Graceland is probably the 5th best track, which is wild to me.

The Boy in the Bubble is such a weak opener. It's followed by my 3rd favourite Simon song of all time. I Know What I Know is fundamentally irritating. Gumboots is good fun, but has never been anything specialy. Diamonds on the Soles is wonderful choral arrangement and lets you forget how Paul completely shunned an international boycott on South Africa to get some sweet sweet Joburg voices on the track. You Can Call Me Al is a great song to walk down the aisle to. I said it. I feel like if I listened to Under African Skies every day until I was 60 I'd get it but it's just a little kitschy for me. Homeless I can only assume is a song about the living situation of the thousands of South Africans left disenfranchised by an Apartheid regime which Paul Simon decided to slightly turn a blind eye to in order to record this beautiful acapella track. Crazy Love, vol II. is what I can only assume to be Paul Simon's response to Van Morrison's track. It seems Paul isn't interested in a romantic partnership which Van has proposed. Shame, it would have done so much for the gay community. Nice track though. That Was Your Mother, a.k.a. The Benny Hill (Remix) featuring Paul Simon. I like this song's cutesy touch and sax inclusion, however. Finally, All Around the World... I still don't know what he means by "ever since the watermelon". I estimate that if I smoke pot for a solid 6 months this album will become one of my favourites, but I'm Still Crazier over the album of the same name a bit more. It's less interesting, but it's better. 7/10

I can't in good faith give anything with a banger like You Can Call Me Al less than a 3. Lucky the rest of this album was a good listen, too! I will be remaining neutral on the whole cultural appropriation/supporting Apartheid, and my impartiality has NOTHING to do with the fact that I have a South African girlfriend.

In spite of doing some heavy lifting, not even the highlight that is You Can Call Me Al can really help me move past how indifferent I felt to a majority of this album. I’m not a prude when it comes to the appropriation aspects of this album but to me it did feel hollow and like Simon was a bit vain to take this angle for the purposes of his own reinvention. Whether his intentions of popularizing African music in states/the west as a whole were genuine or not, it did not matter when I just feel bored by most of this.

Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter with an effortlessly smooth singing voice. The instrumentals on this album are fantastic, the echoey guitar and fuzzy bass lines come together so well. You can call me Al goes particularly hard. Front-loaded album for sure. Some of the more inconspicuous tracks on this album, instrumentally, reminded me of 2010s comedies, particularly Sandler ones. I felt this the most on Crazy Love Vol II. That track could have played under a wide shot of a resort or cruise ship in one of the movies Sandler made to give his friends millions of dollars and film while on a nice holiday. Still easy to listen to though. Highlights: The Boy In The Bubble, Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al

Recording this album got Paul Simon put straight on the top of AZAPO’s assassination list. Not worth it I reckon.

I adore the hooks on this thing, the boy in the bubble, and all around the world especially. Its all very pleasing to the ears but in particular on the title track there's a Mathy upbeat folk quality to it. There's great song structure across the entire album the intro in Diamonds is a standout giving way to Paul's beautiful voice. Extremely catchy and light riffs all across this thing that immediately put you in a good mood. You can call me Al is a song you've heard a million times but when you actually sit down and listen to this thing you realise the complexity, depth and beauty to the track. Masterpiece 10/10

I first heard about this album from a co-worker when I had my first office job at a newspaper. He was the son of Bush War veteran and lived in what is now Zimbabwe. He said some of the most vile and racist shit I have ever heard in my life, which is saying something because one of my oldest friends is from Perth and lived in Alice Springs for a while. My co-worker LOVED this album and talked about what a moment it was when Paul Simon broke the cultural embargo on Apartheid-era South Africa to record this (he also loved Queen and Linda Ronstadt because they too broke the embargo by going on a tour, I am beginning to think this older white South African gentleman MAY have been a racist). The breaking of the cultural embargo was a big deal and it landed Simon on the hitlist of some organisations in South Africa where Silvio from the Sopranos had to step in to negotiate for his life. I wish that I could say the album itself is as interesting as the story behind the album. This would have been huge in the 80s when it came out, but if you have ever eaten at Nando's before you would have heard this sort of thing before. Having said that, the hits here are massive. Side A is stacked with hits and Side B opens with the best song on this album. The album doesn't really hit those same highs for the rest of the runtime but it is such an easy listen. I can't really level any serious criticism of this album, it's an absolute joy. I'm not giving this a 5 because the Everly Brothers are on here and I know my old co-worker is looking up at me from hell and I'm not giving him the satisfaction. Highlights: The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, Homeless

What happens when a combination of sounds blends to meet and make an instantly listenable album.

Great album, some of the best bass licks out there. You can call me Al is a masterpiece. Only detractor is that Paul Simon is not a particularly cool dude. 4/5

Lion king ahh album. Always thought its been kinda overrated and this relisten confirmed for me

Album contained Alfie’s theme song. Brought a lot of childhood memories 🥰

repeated a couple times out of enjoyment After reading about the connection and influence on Vampire Weekend's debut album on the wikipedia page that makes total sense.

Good album. Not really my speed but enjoyable

Enjoyable listen on a sunny day

Some fun stuff Would not listen again

Not my favourite. Listened many times and know the singles from classic rock radio . I can respect that it is ground breaking but sonically just doesn’t do it for me.

Such a contrast to the other albums we’ve had from him. I love this record, feel good start to finish, some all time classics with call me Al and diamonds on the soles of her shoes. The titular song is my personal favourite. An all time great

Diamonds on the sole of her shoes into Al is a delight. Hearts and bones being before this is wild, zero to hero

Always feel bored listening to this guy, I don't care how much raving goes on for him. I used to say the same about Dylan too, but now I love him. Maybe one day this'll click.

Oh dear... This is truly horrible album. I tried to listen to this unprejudiced. I guess I was in my first year of gymnasium when this album came out and I really hated the singles of it. No I listened to the entirety of it and I really hated it. I do really appreciate the singer-songwriter Paul Simon. Just look at my appreciation of 'Bookends'. Bur this is... let's say: appalling. It's an attempt to blend African music with modern popmusic, but it doesn't work. They remain two world apart and the results are ridiculous. I mea, just listen to 'I know what I know'. This can't be serious? 'That was your mother' is not much better, with a totally fucked up accordeon and the ugliest sax solo ever. What on earth were they thinking? Yes, I know it's not really fair to listen to mid eighties music and its horrible production with nowadays ears but this is not just production. This is pop music at its worst.

Every song sounds like every other Paul Simon song I’ve heard… so not bad? Up to par.

Of it's time. Boy In The Bubble a good single. Over slick production. 3 stars.

Can't imagine one of these lists without this album. He always somehow makes something so Paul Simon whilst always mixing in new elements. A constantly evolving artist with a flair for taking inspiration and turning it into something other worldly. This album is such a beautiful mixture of western pop with traditional African sounds that create something completely hitherto unfamiliar to the audience of the former. Magic

A groundbreaking album that has aged well from my perspective. Also demonstrates the ability of music to integrate across cultures into something new and compelling, esp when undertaken with authenticity and humility, which is an important lesson in today’s world where simplistic arguments over “cultural appropriation” might have stopped this creativity in its tracks.

A white guy singing about black people struggle? This couldn't be done today.

Great album

Nothing cool about Paul Simon

I haven’t listened to the entire album in a long time, but it still sounds as awesome as when it came out. Brought African sounds to the US mainstream and not in a gross white savior way.

Feels sanitized and packaged, even for pop. That said, I didn't dislike it. It was catchy enough, just pretty thin, thematically and lyrically.

Probably a good record to contemplate what we think of when we think about solo musicians and authorship. I’m guessing most people hear Paul Simon doing his folky thing with non-Western musicians and just...that’s as far as the thought process goes. Maybe it evokes some sense of wonder or mystery, what’s this maybe the most white guy ever doing here? Or a fish out of water relatability? I’d say, like other singer-songwriter types, Simon has an incredibly approachable, personable voice. There’s nothing virtuosic when you hear him sing. Do we care about the other musicians present beyond their ability to perform? “Oh man did you hear that the Beatles got Billy Preston or Eric Clapton? Those guys can play!” My parents, my mom, weirdly, is a huge fan of James Taylor to the extent she knows the names of his touring band and really celebrates what they do when they play, whereas I’m like “cool, steady gig” for several pro musicians; they are sidemen. I’ve spent the past day instead thinking about authorship. Simon probably wrote the genesis of a few songs here, but he’s squirrelly about it all, no one can say for sure (except for the few folks who could afford to say). He (and Roy Halee) definitely took them to finish, which is no small thing, but who came up with the basics for Call Me Al? Doesn’t seem like it was Paul Simon, guitarist. Graceland’s various riffs and bass runs? Probably not Paul Simon. At least 3 of the songs are definitely works other groups brought up during “jamming with Paul” sessions, be that in South Africa or the States. Entire. Songs. My initial crack at writing about this was to compare it to the loose licence-ship hip hop had/has with samples. Take a song an audience will know well enough to recognize on some level, but not so much that all they can think about is the original work. Rhyme over it well enough and no one cares about the source. Is that what Simon did when he went to Africa and later, to Brazil? Or is this more like what Aretha Franklin (and countless others) did in the 60s, rewriting others’ material (usually by changing the words, maybe a slight emphasis or deemphasis of elements in the music) to fit their own thing? There’s a song she did called Save Me, which was a rewrite of a song her session sax player did a year earlier, which was *itself* a wholesale rewrite of a Them song. Led Zep and the Stones maybe aren’t household names without doing the same over and over. I can’t decide if any of that is wrong per se. I love listening to the song Graceland. It’s deeply moving. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - the change to the horn section? It just doesn’t feel right. And much like with Vampire Weekend, at the centre of it we have a white guy, wealthy, privileged beyond comprehension. Maybe at best just a tourist. At worst, something else. But maybe this is how someone discovers this music and nearly 40 years later with music itself cheaper than since recorded or sheet music copyright became a thing, you can spend years only enjoying music by artists from countries you’ll never chance to visit. I want to say it's a sublime miracle of a record. Could be 5 stars. Or 1.

listened to again absolute banger

Is this near Greenland?

Day530 - this is one of my favorites. paul simon was at the top of his game with some help from amazing background singers like the everly brothers and los lobos

Generally not as upbeat or in your face as I prefer, but I enjoyed it very much for what it is. I'm not sure where I fall on the appreciation vs. appropriation debate (and whether/how intent plays into it), but generally speaking I think I'll read the Wiki on more albums going forward. Having defined the contexts of an album definitely makes for a more interesting listening experience. I usually prefer musical complexity somewhere between folk and jazz. Given that, Paul Simon does a great job telling a story musically and I liked how several songs used rhythmically interesting sections to mix things up. A couple times I got genuinely surprised by guitar riffs that I would expect 1:1 in a lot of 2010s indie rock (Gumboots intro, Crazy Love, Vol. II). Favorite track: You Can Call Me Al

Han er kedelig

This is really cute. Inoffensive and sounds good. It didn’t do much for me and I felt pretty neutral about it but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again

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.

The is one can be divisive, but it’s perfect. Simon is in constant search for the perfect groove. After the folk days of Simon & Garfunkel he went on to find sounds outside of the western canon that he could incorporate. He got attention for African artists that had none especially during apartheid. And he made a badass record!

Very nice.

Just beautiful.

I just couldn't stop smiling and bobbing my head the entire time listening to this.

Classic 10 out of ten album

C’était étonnant ! Je m’attendais pas du tout à ça, je pensais avoir une idée de cette album mais elle était totalement erronée. J’ai bien aimé.

Paul Simon is the goat. Some songs that are a bit of a bore, keeping from a 5 Star rating. But several classics here as well.

Folksy music. It was ok.

“You Can Call Me Al” is a banger, but on the whole this world music exploration by Paul Simon feels like the work of an artist who is running short on original ideas. Whether it amounts to “cultural appropriation” or homage, getting Simon’s watered down interpretation is a pretty safe and suburban way in which to scratch the world music itch. Simon is a tier one songwriter and that shines through on more than one occasion, but in the end the gimmick wears a bit thin.

Great album with the weird "we haven't really figured out multiculturalism" moments of the 80s sprinkled in. All around my favorite Simon album of the ones I've heard. Diamonds and Graceland are two of my favorite songs of his so that goes a long way.

Classic

I like it a lot actually Great production Catchy songs

Не так плохо, как многие пишут, но и восхищаться нечем.

Great South African Rhythms, great songs with 4 world wide no1 hit singles. A gateway to African music for those who didn’t already know. Something of a reinvention for Paul Simon.

This is the best Vampire Weekend album.

Good I just expected more

afrika man.. afrika man paul simon.. heaaaa ... amawemaamewawemaaa.. babasilaaweasilabababamimbaa.. acktuaalisesti erittäin luova ja kivsu albumi, kevyttä kuunneltavaa hehheh miten ei voi hymy lämmittää tätä päivää.. mbaqanga.. amawemaamewawemaaa.. babasilaaweasilabababamimbaa.. taas valkoiset tekevät afrikka musiikkia paremmin eikö... heh sen takia ei listalla pahemmin näy muita heh... amawemaamewawemaaa.. babasilaaweasilabababamimbaa.. ´´i dont give a single fuck about some apartheid shit´´ - pauli simoni. ja sitten lähtee amawemaamewawemaaa.. babasilaaweasilabababamimbaa.. homeless

Kind of soft rock vibes. A fun listen for when you want something gentle, but still has some energy.

not a great album to run to lol. still good classic the like

This album reminds me of listening to the radio and my parent’s albums in the 80s and how these songs still get me to dance, even if some of it is cringe in 2025.

Least favorite style of music along with 70s hair band

I liked it until I didn’t. It was around the song homeless that I stopped enjoying it and wished the album to be over, and seeing how many songs were left, I didn’t take it as a good sign. Overall, it started fun but if an album makes me want it to be over, it’s not getting rated well.

Ahh - one of the pillars of a CD collection in the 80s! I’ve never been the biggest fan as I’ve always found Paul’s voice sounds whinier than usual on top of the amazing lush backdrops created by the supporting musicians. I get the cultural appropriation problem (and it’s a big problem), but the irony is that I’d probably have never heard these musicians without Paul Simon fronting it. It’s still well worth a listen and it’s also an exceptional recording. Solid 3. Was never more than that and I’ve not changed my mind over the years.

Good, but not my thing though.

It’s fine

First big world music thing. I don't like world music, not anybody's fault

It was fine.

I am so sorry but it was a disappointement.

This is an album your dad likes.

"Graceland" é um dos discos mais famosos da world music. Pelo menos de artistas já consagrados. A mistura é interessante, mas falta coesão pro álbum, que atira pra tudo que é lado. A inclusão de ritmos e músicos africanos enriquece a experiência, mas a estética oitentista prejudica um pouco a apreciação. É legal se for considerado o que o Paul Simon fazia antes e pela experimentação contida aqui.

Not my style of music, definitely a toe-tapper though, some familiar sound, easy to listen to, didn’t grab my attention enough to recall much content of the songs however.

𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 is often held up as a groundbreaking album, but to me, it mostly sounds like a smooth, safe ’80s pop record with occasional touches of South African rhythm and harmony. The much-praised “world music” elements are there, but they rarely lead — Paul Simon stays firmly in the spotlight, and the album never feels like a true musical exchange. Still, I do get the sense that Simon wanted to shine a light on the South African musicians he worked with. Groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo clearly gained more visibility through this project, and that matters — even if the way it’s done feels more like cultural framing than collaboration. The music itself feels tame, a bit lifeless at times, and nowhere near as bold as its reputation suggests. For an album so often described as revolutionary, it left me surprisingly unmoved.

I wanted to dislike this album at first but then I realized it's just an 80s vampire weekend album.

I liked the uniqueness of the songs and the overall vibe of the album.

You can call me Al. Also enjoyed the last song, All around the world…

Awful derivative, white man trying to add African shit to his album so bad

Great cross-genre album that has withstood the test of time. Is it a pop album? Is this polka folk? Does this album kick ass? Yes to all of the above.

I couldn’t get into it. Much like the last Paul Simon album, he’s best with Garfunkel. 3 stars for the quality of the songs but losing stars for the lack of someone in the room saying “hmmm maybe not”

Not a Paul Simon fan. Hate S & G stuff. This is an interesting album that dominated a period of my youth. I applaud the crossing streams with the African music. But it’s still Paul Simon. I’ll be super generous with a 3. But don’t care if I don’t hear again.

Not my fav Paul Simon but entertaining

This will be my second review of a Paul Simon solo album, and my third from my aunt's CD collection. Though admittedly, this one's a bit of a doozy, because the making of this record is marred with controversy. Graceland is the byproduct of Paul trying to reignite his career after his last album, Heart and Bones, failed to sell well, and his relationships with former music partner Art Garfunkel and ex-wife Carrie Fisher had deteriorated. He ended up taking a gig producing a record for an up-and-coming singer-songwriter who worked in house bands. This individual sent Simon a bootlegged tape of what she wanted the record to sound like, and the style they were going for was mbaqanga, a particular South African music from Johannesburg. Paul wanted to identify the artists on that tape, and then a record producer suggested he record an album of South African music. Thus, he went and did just that, despite the cultural boycott imposed on South Africa by the United Nations due to the apartheid going on at the time. Even with Paul trying to be as fair and compensatory to the artists he invited to record with him, it proved to be a tumultuous time to record there amidst the tense racial laws of the land. Nevertheless, the resulting record came out, and it's fine. This is a case where, for me, the story behind the album's creation was more profound than the album itself. That's not to say it's a bad listen, far from it. Paul was able to write a selection of jaunty tunes with various session musicians who contributed world musical elements. Whether it's the backing choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo on tracks like "The Boy in the Bubble" and "Diamonds in the Sole of Her Shoes", or the polyrhythmic percussion on "Crazy Love, Part II", or the contributions of full bands such as the Boyoyo Boys on "Gumboots", Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters on "That Was Your Mother", and Los Lobos on "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints", there's a large palette of sounds that coalesce into generally likeable music with very wide-eyed lyrical imagery. For sure, there are definite standout songs such as the title track about Paul's trip to Elvis Presley's estate after the dissolution of his marriage, "You Can Call Me Al" with its complex bass lines and rhythmic bounce paired with lyrics about a man's experience with a midlife crisis, and "Under African Skies" with its angelic vocal harmonies shared with Linda Ronstadt. But deep down, as much as Paul was trying to reinvigorate his career by embracing other cultural landscapes, there was an opportunity to push this genre-bending into more challenging territory. It's pleasing to have on in the background, but it doesn't go that extra step further. I still generally enjoyed Graceland for what it is, embracing African music from a Western perspective. It certainly became influential in that regard.

Quite possibly the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. This album is Paul at his finest. The infusion of South African musical influences shouldn't work, but it does. "Call me Al" will make the 1001 best of playlist, because duh. ~4.8 stars

You Can Call Me Al is one of my favorite songs of all time. The rest of the album, though, is a little disappointing in comparison. The deluxe version has a demo of YCCMA, and the progression from demo to the album version illustrates in reverse my disappointment with the rest of the album. It's like they gave none of the other tracks the "pop single treatment".

This record is incredible, and every reason is so obvious. The mix of genres, the songwriting. But not just the songwriting, but the composition. It almost feels like a broadway musical in that each song is its own universe or moment in the show that connects to the overall album. And while that's how every album should be, this one really lands the plane. I think the genre experimentation is also why this album ages so well. Sure, some songs do sound a bit "80s," but it feels 80s in the way that Bon Iver does. Its taking the good things about synths and mixing into a really cool and unique sound. The collaborations with South African musicians is so freakin cool and probably why this has such a unique sound, but I love that he just went South Africa to record and album with local musicians. It feels less *appropriation* and more *collaboration.* Its really beautiful. This is an album that I've listened to a handful of times, and I'm always excited to revisit. Its kind of the reason why I like this 1001 project. These are the albums that really stand out to me.

The platonic ideal of an album.

Really like the African vibes, it’s super chill. Not very exciting but nice to listen to in the background

This is a great album

Not really my kind of music.

lekker vrolijk

This is actually really good and I dig the African musical influences in the album

I enjoy listening to this album when I do, but it's usually one I seek out intentionally. Can't deny Paul Simon's songwriting abilities!

Unsterblicher Klassiker - eine der vielen Sternstunden von Paul Simon. 5/5

Top, 4 stars

as cool as a Vampire Weekend prequel can be!

Nothing about this album particularly stands out to me. The African elements are interesting in theory but Paul Simon doesn’t really do anything with them.

This shit is just not my thing

It's not as good as Simon's work with Garfunkel by far. This week has been a stinker by comparison to the last one. The worst song on "Graceland" is "I Know What I Know". Its vocals drive me up the wall. The lovely a cappella song "Homeless" features Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whose album I quite liked. 2 stars for "Graceland".

Pretty solid all around.

Not sure why, but I have never really been a Paul Simon fan.

This was a fun album. I listened to it with Cathy An. It was fun how it included and adapted other cultural influences. We learned a lot by reading the Wikipedia about the album.

Akkordeonmusik

tacky

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes, you can call me al, great songs. I love the African beats in this album

I loved this album for a long time, but this was the first listen in a while, and it hasn’t aged wonderfully well. I don’t think it’s fair to level cultural appropriation at it, as this is largely collaborative with full credit to the artists, but the production is very 80s with the gated reverb on the drums and the synth sound is not great. Having said that, the actual writing is really strong, and You Can Call Me Al, Boy In The Bubble, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, Crazy Love and The Myth of Fingerprints are all really, really good songs.

I can appreciate why this is on the list, but it's not for me

Nice and I remember it being exciting to see and hear global musicians and sounds when it was released. All these years later, it’s just nice nothing remarkable.

Good, had not heard artist bwfore

I clearly remember hearing this album for the first time, with no idea of what to expect. That distinctive accordion wheezing followed by staccato gunshots of the drums, and a lyric that evoked the horrors of South Africa under apartheid. Yes, this was controversial at the time, with a cultural boycott in place but Simon was clearly championing black African music by paying the musicians three times the going rate and giving writing credits. It certainly brought bands like Ladysmith Black Mambazo to a much wider audience than they would have had otherwise. Does it hold up now? Well, I’ve listened three times and I’m listening again which should tell you something.

I had to double check to see if this Simon was the same as Simon & Garfunkel, the atmosphere of this and their collaborative work being so different. Things in this album are nice (collaboration with South African black artists and so on), it was overall pleasant but I don't think I'll come back to it; moreover, some production choices (as the drums) didn't age well and once again, you don't have to check the release date to know when this was out.

tolles album mit gutem „sound“ - slap bass, gitarre, perkussion.

Grossartig!

I went on vacation and I brought you back this appropriated genre. (35 known/78 new)