Paul Simon

This has nothing to do with anything, but why does Paul Simon look completely different in every single photo I've seen of the man. There's some forest demon fuckery going on here, and I don't like it. Oh yeah, we're talking about the music here. It's nothing special. I'm very indifferent to Simon & Garfunkel in general, and nothing by these chaps has particularly stuck in my head. Feeling a "meh, not for me" on this one.

Like almost all of Paul Simon's work, this album swings back and forth between awkward self-deprecation and confident competence. It's as though Simon knows that he's a talented songwriter... but worries that maybe people will laugh at him if he tries anything too unusual. I find the resulting timidity off-putting and I can't help but wonder what he could do if he just leaned into his talent and went for it, full-throttle instead of playing it safe.

Great album. Never would have listened to Paul Simon without this site.

A smorgasbord of different sounds. He was either that amazing of a musician or surrounded himself with amazing musicians, or both. Great stuff

This really does feel like a transitional album. Some of the wonderful folk stylings from Simon's work with Garfunkel but with some hints towards the more diverse output that he would explore further over a decade later on Graceland. It didn't quite reach the heights of that album, but there's some great stuff on here. Run That Body Down was a standout track to me

Paul Simon has got to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His melodies and tunes are so well-crafted, and his guitar playing is understated, but really effective. It's interesting to listen to his self-titled album here, because he hasn't quite reached the experimental highs of something like Graceland, but you can hear the ideas being formed and the seeds being planted. All in all a really solid album of great tunes, from a prolific artist.

I have no reason to doubt Paul Simon's genuine affection for roots music, gospel, reggae, Andean folk, African music, jazz, etc, but I can't shake the conviction that he's the worst type of opportunist and carpetbagger. It's not really fair of me. I feel like I should be impressed with his musical curiosity, and his dedication to craft. But it all feels like intellectual condescension to me. What would I have Paul Simon do different? I'm stumped. Would I have him stick to pop songcraft, folk, and rock n roll, as in his Simon & Garfunkel days? Why should I begrudge him trying to stretch? And yet I do. To me, when he shoehorns Andean instrumentation and themes into Duncan, it feels forced. When he tries out unconventional song forms, it feels like a purely intellectual exercise, rather than being organic. I can't point to specific crappy or tasteless arrangements, but the whole thing just seems joyless. Oddly, the only song that works for me is Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard. I think it's the lack of pretension--even the Brazilian percussion (courtesy of Airto) works on this tune. Okay, how to rate? Paul Simon's craft is undeniable here, and the musicians he's picked to flesh out his compositions are terrific. But he overreaches constantly, blundering in his attempts to incorporate disparate styles and traditions into his music. His overt attempts at intellectualism don't help either. I can't help it. This music just rubs me the wrong way.

Interesting mix of material that is still very reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel (like Duncan or Peace like a River) and that which is markedly different (like the opening track Mother and Child Reunion for example). Most of the rest of the tracks are arranged fairly simply but have a different feel than your average Simon and Garfunkel track; jazzier/more soulful & a little more laid back & personal/conversational.

I’m a Paul Simon fan?

Slippery and lithe, every song is brought to life with twarps, boings, the sound of Simon scratching his beard. He starts with heartfelt coffin-side counsel and follows that with his best song ever, in which the sound of a couple fucking in the next room sets the narrator off on a reverie about losing his virginity that starts with his birth, takes in the major points of his life, and finishes by cheekily thanking the Lord for his fingers (yes, I'm reading this salaciously). The motel room he's staying in never features again, but we never leave it. Elsewhere, he finds the perfect balance of high- and lowbrow literary chops on songs about addiction, burnout, political deception, industrial collapse, marriage collapse, and a gloriously silly story about absolutely nothing--just a framework on which to hang witty rhymes and elasticated rhythms.

Yes, I know he's a great singer songwriter, but this album is way too bland for my taste.

I did not like ot at first, but it grew on me. A BIT TOO OLD FOR MY TAST- but the lyrics were nice, and his voice is like MMMMM.

5.0 - Damn, this record destroys any ambivalence I had about Paul Simon. Yes, the way he parrots and reinterprets various folk genres into his music can come off as inauthentic cultural appropriation. But, as I’ve said about “Graceland”, this criticism is easily overlooked given the quality of the songs. He draws from deeply personal experiences within the backdrop of New York so they end up feeling genuine emotionally. Standout: “Paranoia Blues.”

Great from start to finish.

Some fantastic PS songs, some less good but I love them anyway

Paul Simon's solo debut is a fantastic mix of styles and songs. We have reggae, folk, jazz, gypsy folk, blues, folk rock and latin to name a few of the styles here. The man is a genius. Best Tracks: Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Run That Body Down, Papa Hobo

Perfect afternoon

Exceptional album. Smooth but jaunty, sweet and sad.

Masterpiece. Slightly prefer Graceland. 10/10 1. Peace Like a River 2. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard 3. Mother and Child Reunion

I was surprised I didn't know any of these songs, but it was a very pleasant sounding, light-footed album. The album employs a variety of genres including folk rock and blues, and opening with an ska-inflected song that immediately puts you in the right mood.

Paul Simon a une très belle voix, ça c'est indéniable. Seulement, dès la première piste du morceau, le bon Paulo commet un erreur qui lui coûtera très cher: l'utilisation du synté des îles. Mais laissez moi vous replonger dans le contexte. C'est en 1965 que l'éminent auteur allemand Chris Dusseldord mentionnera pour la première fois le concept de "Insel Synthetik" dans une publication qui fera l'effet d'une bombe dans l'industrie musicale. Ce synthétiseur, à la sonorité extrêmement désagréable, trouvera ensuite très rapidement refuge dans le reggae, qui usera et abusera du Insel Synthetik. On pensait donc le Insel Synthetik disparu, ou tout du moins tenu en vie dans l'intimité de quelques tribues reggae, mais c'est la que Paul Simon fait son apparition. On ne s'attend pas à retrouver ce son désagréable dans un album de folk. On se retrouve désemparé, dérangé, et on espère ne plus jamais revivre cette experience. Pour ce dur rappel, Paul Simon récolte la note de 3/5.

One of the surprising side-effects of this 1001 albums project has been my growing and active dislike of Paul Simon. Previously, I thought he was OK -- he wrote a bunch of pretty memorable songs both with S&G and solo (showcased on his appearance on the Muppet Show, a formative childhood influence for me), and he did occasional cameos in movies and Graceland was a great album. Ric Albano in Classic Rock Reviews wrote: "You can say what you will about Simon, you can never call him unoriginal." Well, actually, I can. I think he is an annoying and pretentious narcissist and unrepentant serial plagiarist, building his career through a form of musical colonialism. Critics may say "Mother and Child Reunion is the first song to bring reggae to America" which almost implies that reggae didn't exist before Paul Simon turned up at the Kingston recording studio. This is clearly bullshit. He made a career out of travelling the world and using local musicians to add colour and life up his own soporific folk numbers. He didn't start with this record, and he certainly didn't stop. It's his modus operandi. Don't get me wrong, he can craft a pretty tune and a clever lyric. But having sat through half a dozen of his records, I am not inclined to give him a pass based on a few pretty tunes.

This is so pretty. It definitely feels like listening to a genius put himself through music school. So much exploration, new styles and sounds. And, yet, it seems fairly intimate and pared down. Far from the symphonic compositions he’s known for. Can’t complain. This was a great surprise. 5/5

What an absolute gem. So many wonderful songs.

It gets an extra star for winning me over. Would listen again, really good music as much as I was biased against it! Hooray for broadening my musical horizons :)

Both of my parents were big folk music lovers, so I've heard this album many, many times growing up. As an adult, hearing it for this project just made my day. Excellent work here. Paul Simon writes the words about emotions that I have but can't put to words.

The best Simon & Garfunkel album ever made.

Paul Simon is one of my absolute favorite songwriters so of course this is gonna get a 5. The man's a poet.

I believe that at his peak, Paul Simon could write a song about the phonebook and make it sound witty, then hit you with an understated yet poignant track about your grocery list.

I’ve listened to many songs on this album, and many are favorites (“Run That Body Down,” “Me and Julio”), I’d never actually listened to it in its entirety. This was a phenomenally consistent album, and even the songs I’d never heard were catchy and distinct. Armistice Day had Joni Mitchell-inspired chord progressions; Peace Like A River was an unexpectedly empowering political anthem. I can’t wait to listen again.

enjoyed it way more than expected. somehow as a album it was a nicer first listen than graceland but afterwards it can be hears that this experimental path was approachin on some cuts. 4.5/5.0

One of the best singer-songwriters ever.

So good

This album was so good! The opener track was amazing and I know I'm definitely going to be listening to it a lot from now on. And as for the rest of the album, wow! Every single track was good but there were a few highlights for me as well as the opener track - Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like a River and Paranoia Blues. This album is definitely one of the better albums I've heard so far. It makes me want to delve deeper into Paul Simon's discography, and more into the folk rock genre itself. 5/5 stars.

Everyone should listen to this

Very much enjoy some Paul Simon. Songs like Me and Julio down by the schoolyard is a classic. And a lot of these other songs were surprisingly nice.

always

One of the most beautifully crafted Folk-Rock album.

Great

This is Simon's second solo album after breaking up with Garfunkel. The first song is surprisingly good reggae???, and Duncan is a really nice chill song with some world music influences. Overall its a really good album. Probably 4 stars, but close to a 5.

This is one of my very favorite albums and it has one of my very favorite Paul Simon songs: Paranoid Blues.

Great album. Nice balanced songs

7/10 - I absolutely love Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard but the rest of the album was not as good as I wanted it to be.

Enjoyable, almost 5 stars.

What a fuckin folky bop my boi!!! Range of sounds and lyrics and all dat. Good stuff.

The first of Paul Simon's long solo discography shows great promise but I can't help but miss the vocal presence of Art Garfunkel. About "Me and Julio". Is it about drugs or is it gay? It's probably the former, but who knows? Key tracks: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

3 - some bangers, mostly mediocre and uninteresting songs. Album lacks a cohesive theme between songs and styles.

Better than the previous Simon album, pleasant listening 3.25/5

Enjoyed this more than the cars are cars travesty but still found it dull in parts. Julio and the percussion kept it interesting enough to sneak a 3

A pretty good singer songwriter album (from what I would believe it is). Everything just sits nicely and the vocals are pretty cool

Fell in love with the song Duncan during this. Quite enjoyed the rest of the album also. 3.5

You know, this was fine. Paul Simon is great if not just slightly problematic in what feels like cultural appropriation on his records. More so on Graceland than this for sure. But in general a bunch of great songs. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” always hits.

A fun album, not really my style, but Paul Simon knows his shit and this album is very indicative of that.

I feel like Simon & Garfunkel had a pretty consistent output, so after a band breakup like that, the solo material might take a few albums to really be something good, as the members adjust to making music on their own. And this album I think is a perfect example of than. It was okay, but definitely nothing special. I imagine that some of Paul Simon's later stuff is much more interesting.

Free of worry.

Is this your album of the day? Yes. It’s alright. It’s boring. You have my permission to use that as your review. To my wife’s harsh verdict, I’d add that it’s beautifully crafted in places, with some clever flourishes. Over a period of my childhood, I have heard Me and Julio enough times to have assimilated it into my musical ID.

This is quite pleasant but outside of about 3 songs it's too timid for repeat listening. Grow a pair, dude, go "borrow" some indigenous tunes!

Before listening: I like Simon and Garfunkel, just like millions of others and I get upset when people think Disturbed wrote Sound of Silence. I have, however, listened to Graceland and did not care for it. I don't know if this album is more folk because I can only assume this is his first solo record but what the hell do I know? After listening: My God this was bland. It wasn't bad, it was just ok. Barely any songs stood out to me and I'm pretty sure I won't remember any of them. I can't exactly give it 1 star (I reserve them for "new" Radiohead), but it's not even an enjoyable but flawed 3 star. So this gets my very first 2 star. Congrats Paul Simon!

Super solids starting tracks on sides 1 and 2. Everything else, eh alright. Kind of the classic tracklist for American records: put the hits at the beginning of side 1 and 2. Paul Simon's whole catalog is like this, some of the most timeless songs ever and then just some forgettable and not unpleasant stuff.

It was ok to listen to it. I was surprised by the reggae song who opens up the album but I liked some of the tracks

Another nice, albeit inessential album. There are many interesting melodies and songs on this, and there are probably many people that love this album, as he's clearly a gifted songwriter. For me, it was a bit too corny and unfocused to hit properly, especially the end of the album which left me feeling quite underwhelmed. 2.5/5 Fav track: Duncan

Is this really a white guy doing a Jamaican accent?

Uninspiringly beige.

Man this guy

Where is Garfunkel? I hateses hobbits

If this list was called 1001 of the most average albums you've ever heard in your life, I would have given it three stars. But it's not so I can't give this more than 2 stars. Absolutely nobody misses out on anything if they don't hear this album before they die. I don't know who makes these lists but they have an objectively bad taste. It reminds me of the Indians who out of national pride vote 10 out of 10 stars on every shitty Bollywood movie they can find on IMDB. Who wants to hear some guy blabber on about some basketball town? There's a million different albums I can think of which would actually be worth listening to before you die, which would never appear on a list like this. Loads of classical, current day jazz, yes even a lot of lesser known shoegaze albums are better than this crap. Go listen to some Saint-Saens violin concertos and avoid this album.

Good to know that Simon was appropriating world music before Graceland.

There you go, another thing that excites nostalgics from Rolling Stone magazine and maybe old campfire enthusiasts. Even George Harrison feels punk in comparison to this. I can’t tell one track from another—at best, it works as background music for a nap. Since I don’t give a damn about Paul Simon’s sexual awakening or road trips, I also find the lyrics boring. Same for his voice.

Is this the same Paul Simon I met back in 1924?

This fucking guy again. I wish there was an Art Garfunkel solo record on this list. I’d rate it 5 stars without hearing a note and would leave a review saying as much, for two reasons: 1.) I know it would drive Paul Simon nuts to see Art Garfunkel get any praise whatsoever. 2.) Art Garfunkel, as vanilla and boring as he is, is still not anywhere near as boring and vanilla as Paul Simon. He should’ve just called this record “Tapioca: The Album”.

No I don't hate Paul Simon for being a wife beater. I just hate this album. I found it boring, yet distracting Oh, and Paul's voice could benefit from not being so douchey.

Really lovely album, great songwriting and was fun to listen to while chilling in bed, had a great song I’ve heard but didn’t know it was this album

this album has so many cool ideas packed into such a tight runtime that I can't give it less than a 5, just go listen to it. it's got stéphane grappelli on it for pete's sake.

Hehehaha

Yeah sorry Jacob, this shit rocks. There isn't really a bad song here. Paul Simon can write a hit. This album is sooo fun. I love it! His voice is amazing. This album just makes me happy. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" is one of my favorite songs ever. Actual rating is a 4.5. Liked Songs: "Mother and Child Reunion" , "Duncan" , "Run That Body Down" , "Armistice Day" , "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" , "Peace Like a River" , "Papa Hobo" , "Hobo's Blues" , "Congratulations" , "Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version)"

There are so many great tunes on this album. I’m a sucker for Paul’s crooning paired with the flute and a driving baseline. “Everything put together falls apart” is my least favorite track, but it still has its bright spots. Otherwise than that, each track is a banger.

finally some quality music! paul simon should be the golden standard for silly album generation. guitar and song writing that feels like home. let these other artists take a hint

An amazing album by the legendary Paul Simon marked by great storytelling and international influence in his songs. Such a fun album that mixes the upbeat and sad songs flawlessly and done so with the magnificent characters he creates (or maybe they're real people, I don't know) Special credit for Paul shouting out the Maritimes :)

He has always put out great stuff from the early Simon & Garfunkel days to Graceland

Great

Mother and Child Reunion is my favorite Paul Simon song I think.

My theory is that Paul came out swinging with this one just to make sure that everyone understood HE was the genius in S&G. Every single song is good. Some are fantastic. The playing, the singing, the production. All tip top. This album, Rhymin’ and Graceland are all certified RKH classics. I guess that’s a

Awesome. Reminds me of my childhood

Paul Simon parka. Dazzling acoustic work. Funky reggae vibes.

Oldie but Goodie. Like “Me and Julio” ✌🏻

Paul Simon has a special place to me because it was my first Real concert. As a 9 year old kid I remember his white sneakers and how short Paul is. I also remember being completely immersed in his sound and loving every second of that show. This album is something I was not as familiar with, and I really like being exposed to it, makes me want to go album by album through his whole solo career. I especially was drawn to the first track (mother and child reunion) with the reggae feel, and the more bring you down to earth songs of track 3 and 4. I also was drawn into Paranoia Blues, thinking that would make a great cover for a more ruckus band.

So lovely

An album of great balance, lovely blend of up beat catchy songs and slower blues/folks songs, Paul is one of the great musicians of his time, a great singer, a great songwriter of poetic storytelling songs, and a great ear for melody backed by his guitar playing. An album that I'll come back to for sure

Good stuff

On voit qui était le parolier de Simon and Garfunkel. J'ai kiffé, c'est bien arrangé et bien écrit.

Me like it, just the right amount of softness for me

9/10. Fantastisk bra.

Day497 - who needs a garfunkel

Great album

fun, dynamic album. always has a new sound, fresh hook, or clever turn of phrase in his back pocket.

As perfect now as it was then.

Paul Simon is the best. In this album he lends his gentle flavour to loads of different genres from blues to tropicalia via reggae, soul music, country and folk (medieval and contemporary), successfully terraforming them all into something more Paul Simony. Nothing less than a five.

Great album. Some if the acoustic playing reminded me of Days of the New

Excellent album.

Brilliant