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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
1972
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!A smorgasbord of different sounds. He was either that amazing of a musician or surrounded himself with amazing musicians, or both. Great stuff
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Best song: Duncan; 2nd best song: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Least fav song: Everything Put Together Falls Apart
This is one of my very favorite albums and it has one of my very favorite Paul Simon songs: Paranoid Blues.
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.
Masterpiece. Slightly prefer Graceland. 10/10 1. Peace Like a River 2. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard 3. Mother and Child Reunion
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.
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.
Oh mon dieu, deux en deux jours 5/5. Le meilleur de paul simon solo avec graceland. Tellement unartiste exceptionnelle. Dan sla meme classe aue Dylan, mccartney,lennon, etc. 5/5
A through and through high level album, similar storytelling like Neil Young or Bob Dylan, here with a fun-sounding world music twist
Some of Paul’s best guitar work, melodies, vocal display, and songwriting that would follow him in 40 years of touring. While not the best album of his entire catalog, it is a great album and a great debut to establish his identity beyond Art.
Paul Simon has been making music for 60 years. He hasn’t released a bad album and he’s released several masterpieces. This one just might be my favorite though. Just banger after banger.
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.”
Listenable. Totally listenable. Even preferable to Graceland, which I could hear endlessly. The man can compose music & lyrics. Added.
This one's going on regular rotation. Great lyrics, interesting explorations of different genres on each track. Was surprised to see Stephane Grappelli make an appearance.
Här finns allt. Få artister kan blanda lekfullhet och melankoli som Paul Simon, något som blir tydligt från första tonen i Mother and Child Reunion. Vill du ha historieberättande fortsätter albumet med Duncan. Politisk kommentar, gå till Peace Like a River. Old school blues? Paranoid Blues. Alltid med extrem skicklighet och melodiös träffsäkerhet. Precis som Lincoln Duncan tackade Gud för sina fingrar kvällen efter han förlorat sin oskuld, tackar jag Gud för Paul Simons diton. Men mest för vad de gör med gitarren. En behållning med Paul Simons musik är alltid influenserna från andra delar av världen, samtidigt som han förvaltar ett amerikanskt folkarv. jamaicanska influenser i Mother and Child Reunion, sydamerikansk flöjt i Duncan, brasiliansk trumma i Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Bästa låt: Finns en handfull att välja mellan. Men Mother and Child Reunion gör ändå något speciellt med mig.
It's hard to know what to say about this album because there is so much to say. Personally, it's one of my all time favorites. At least once a week, the line comes into my mind, "long after the midnight curfew, they sat starry-eyed" and it always makes life feel right again. Duncan was never my favorite song on the album, but this time it rose to the top, with its beautiful coming of age story. Sigh. I love Paul Simon.
I enjoyed this more than the Simon and Garfunkel albums I've heard; more meaty diversity and texturally superior.
This is a really solid album. Naturally everyone knows the Julio schoolyard but there are some other very good songs I hadn't heard before
Such a classic album. I'm glad I finally got to listen to every single track because I'm so in love with this sound.
Paul Simon's self-titled album is a wonderful piece of multiple slices of Americana. The flavors of the blues, jazz, and soul-inspired work can be heard throughout musical history. Some of the guitar work is reminiscent of the later Ratatat (I swear I heard it), and the bass reminds one of the darker tones from Pink Floyd's *Dark Side of the Moon* (released one year *later*). While some concepts aren't as fleshed out as they are in later works like *Graceland*, the sheer honesty and raw nature of some of these tracks betray some of the true emotions of Paul.
Paul Simon es un genio y puede hacer algo que suena como a Reggae, cosas folkosas, rockcito pop, blues, lo que sea y suena bien. De este disco en especial me gustó que no trae las que más se oyeron en Universal Stereo y me permitió explorar más de su música. Mi favorita, además de "Mother and Child Reunion" que es la obvia, es "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" rolones que le ganan la 5a estrella.
C’est un cliché, mais quel artisan, je suis jaloux. Le jeu de guitare est particulièrement savoureux sur Peace Like A River.
A pleasant experience. More interesting stories told through lyrics in Paul Simon songs. I don't recall ever hearing Duncan before, but I certainly had it on repeat today.
Paul Simon is not generally someone I listen to on my own, but I always enjoy his albums. He does every mood well, which provides a real richness to all of his albums 4/5
Nowhere near the absolute peak of joy that is Graceland, but it's solid enough. An otherwise 3 star album elevated to 4 stars on the strength of one song (in this case, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard)
Pretty solid album, lots of good songs, but I can't give 5 cause some songs are bit pouash.
Great happy vibes! Liked his other album better but this was enjoyable. Not as versatile as graceland
Quite chill, I like how it sounds. It has the calmness of Bob Dylan but also its own air of confidence. Solid 4 stars.
More textured and bluesy than I'd expect from Paul Simon. I like the blown out guitars. Tastes like meatloaf.
Production: 16/20 Songwriting: 17/20 Innovation: 14/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 15/20 =67 Bloody lovely album. Who needs Art!
I was a little nervous when he started up with straight up Bob Marley, but it turned around immediately and I ended up liking the album. "Paranoia Blues" stuck out. Also "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" and "Run That Body Down" on second listen. Yeah I like this.
Opening with Caribbean sound is a nice touch. Goes into a more folk sound for other songs. Albums ends with more blues numbers. It's like Paul is flexing his musical muscles and trying out more than what he has done over the last 10 years.
It's good to see Paul Simon's experiments with world music began here. Paul Simon is special to me. I saw his last ever concert in Flushing a few years back. I can still remember dancing around, having spent the day touring Manhattan with my mother. This is like canned joy, like a summer day on the world's greatest city strolling through the different vibrant neighborhoods. His lilting voice and beat poetry are on full display, bright and shiny and catchy as all get out. It's an album for better days, full of hope in rough places. Perfection.
Album qui s'écoute très bien! Pièces variées avec différentes influences. Très bons musiciens, j'ai bien aimé la guitare. Pu capable d'entendre "Me and Julio by the Schoolyard" mais ça c'est personnel (une affaire de barista). Belle ambiance de coffeeshop :)
Ohne auch nur einen Ton reingehört zu haben kann ich schonmal sagen: schönes Cover. Ich mag diese 70er-Fotografie sehr gern (die Farben, das leicht grobkörnige und braunstichige), und die Platzierung der Schrift auch. Gestern das von Yes hat mir ebenfalls gut gefallen. Angehört und erstaunt, dass Paul Simon schon 1972 den Reggae nach New York gebracht hat. Auch sonst tolles Album, absolut zeitlose Produktion. Geht immer, stört nie. 3,7 Punkte.
Leppoisaa musaa. Kuuntelin levyn parilla eri miksauksella (perinteinen ja "360 reality audio") ja varsinkin tuolla 360ra:lla kuulosti todella hyvältä. Olin jo kirjoittamassa tähän, että vähän samaa henkeä kuin Simon & Garfunkelissa, mutta sitten tajusin että niin, tää on varmaan just se Simon! :D
Jokin karismaattinen magneettisuus Paulin äänessä ja biiseissä on ilman dynaamista duoakin. Olisi pitänyt edetä seuraavaan levyyn, mutta parin päivän aikana pyörittelin viitisen kertaa läpi. Hyvä levy.
Not gonna lie, this kinda put me to sleep the first listen, but this was phenomenal with more time and less distractions. 4 because I liked the start more than the end of the album, but still very very good. Saved: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Peace Like a River
Nice happy album, reminds me of the artist Beans on Toast if he was more grounded but just as fun.
Somewhat pensive at times but nicely produced. Low key and intimate, overall a really lovely album. Reminds me of the Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash in parts.
Listening to Paul Simon makes me feel like I'm 7 years old again and riding in the back of my parents' station wagon, just watching out the window. To be clear, this is a very good thing. Even though for me the highs of Simon & Garfunkel may be higher than any of their solo works, solo Simon (and especially this album) is consistently excellent; and for an album that is nearly 50 (!) years old now this still holds up so well sonically and musically; the arrangements are perfect in that each song may seem simple (accessible) but underneath lies a sneaky complexity. Some classic singles in here that most people will know and yet the deep cuts are all quality - not a bad song in the entire batch - 4 stars. (aside: I love the old-school short length of records back then - perfectly digestible lengths)
I think I still like his later albums more but this one was solid. ‘Me and Julio...’ is one of his all-time great songs. ‘Duncan’ is a track I had never heard that I really liked.
Great one, a nice surprise. I found this one totally familiar but don’t think I’ve ever heard it in its totality before
Yeah ok, this was nice - you can hear he's starting to get a taste for incorporating world music into his sound. The "Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard" lyric "Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona" hits differently in 2021. 😞 Fave track - gotta be "Paranoia Blues". Relatable!
L'album commence d'une façon des plus inquiétantes avec un morceau d'inspiration reggae. Le bon goût de Paul Simon reprend ensuite la barre et navigue jusqu'à la fin dans des eaux bien plus saines et propres. D'ailleurs, en parlant d'un célèbre professeur de mathématiques, vous avez peut-être lu la critique de mon odieux complice générateurien elmanganèse. Je voulais simplement préciser que ce qu'il raconte est un tissu de mensonges et qu'il n'en est pas à son premier séjour en hôpital psychiatrique si vous voyez ce que j'insinue.
Really, really dug this one. We all know Paul Simon, for me it's largely from his stint with Mr. Garfunkel. But his style and songwriting stands on its own here. Such a lively variety to the music. Really just an excellent singer/songwriter album. So many tracks on here I'll be returning to. Favorite tracks: Me and Julio, Duncan, Paranoia Blues, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day. Album art: Great portrait cover. The drip is immaculate. U so icy, imma glacier boy type of cover. 4.5/5
Simon is as talented alone as he was with funkel 👍🏼Great musician and writer. “Julio, Mother & Child & Papa hobo are great. One of only a few artists who went out on his own and had the talent to carry himself🤛🏼
Pretty chill, not as good as some of his albums (Graceland comes to mind), but still pretty good. Favourite is Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.
Paul Simon is one of my favourite song writers of all time but I wouldn’t say this is a stand out album. A couple of brilliant songs on there and cool to hear him playing with reggae and blues influences.
This is just one of several excellent Paul Simon solo albums from the early seventies - the singles are clearly 5* songs - the other ones vary a bit. I had not listened to it for many years, and it is interesting to note its influence on artists like Iron and Wine.
Difficult to rate - he's a genius so I could listen to him noodling all day, but a lot of tracks lacked focus. The ones that had it were fantastic (Me and julio, mother and child...) but the rest were so-so.
Ik mag dit album wel. Gisteren lekker op lp geluisterd en dat maakt het nog wat leuker
While I prefer Simon's later work, this sets out his stall as an immensely talented musician, drawing on influences from many genres. Definitely worth a listen.
Paul Simon's music has changed so much through his career. Listening to his discography as a whole would be rewarding, I'm sure.
Was pleasantly surprised. I don't know Simon and Garfunkel, and I'm not a big fan of folk and singer/songwriter, but this is the best folk album that I have ever heard so far. I love the reggae, rock, and other elements blended with folk in this album. I like his voice, and that's probably one of Simon and Garfunkel's defining assets. I also enjoyed the guitars and the other instrumentals. I'm now excited to hear a Simon and Garfunkel album. I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy it. I wonder how different the duo's sound were, and how much did Simon explore. Anyway, I just learned today that I can actually enjoy a freaking folk album. That's one of the beauties of this project.
Me and Julio, baby. Not as strong as Graceland, but what is? That jacket on the cover looks comfy.
Simon's first without Garfunkel. Another classic. It has some standout tracks, but everything fit together nicely.
I've never really listened to any solo Paul Simon until this list. I knew a few songs here and there.
Good album! Really like the first song, mother & child reunion. Whole album is an illustration of Paul Simon's musical ability and style
A great album from one of the most highly-regarded songwriters of the 20th century. I am more familiar with Paul Simon's work with Art Garfunkel than I am his solo career (although I do love 'Kodachrome' and 'Me And Julio Down By the Schoolyard', the latter of which comes from this album). Because of this, I was very interested to hear what was his first release after S&G broke up sounded like. After giving this one a go, I would say my expectations were met exactly as this was a very good effort by Simon for his first solo venture. Every song on here is solid with no real duds. The album included not only tracks that could be considered throwbacks to his former group but also songs signaling a change in direction for his own career. The record overall reminded me a lot of Paul McCartney's first solo album but WAY more polished ('Run That Body Down' and 'Congratulations' would not have felt out of character from either Paul). This was a strange connection for me to make as I've never found the two similar before. It is also weird that both albums came out within a couple of years of each other during a period of disbandment (I think McCartney released his while the Beatles were still together, but they were holding on by a thread at that point). Anyways, I still found 'Me and Julio' to be the best and most fun track on the record, and while I do think his work with Art is stronger, I really enjoyed listening to this release. I would give it another spin in the future, but it mainly makes me excited to hear some full Simon and Garfunkel albums later on in this list. 4/5.
I have to be honest; I've never gone back prior to " Graceland" and listened specifically to any Paul Simon. His music was played enough on the radio for me. This album contains two of his most popular and best songs, "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down By the School Yard" Those are almost unique songs on this album as most of the songs are more laid back and subtle: acoustic guitars, a few instruments and sparse arrangements. The songs tell stories some personal, others probably from another of view whose topics cover struggling relationships, infidelity, politics somewhat, drugs and broken dreams. "Peace Like a River " kind of reminds me of R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" sound. Other than the two hits, no other songs really stood apart; not to say, they are bad or this a bad album. The lyrics are great. This a personal album and easy to listen to in a singer-songwriter sort of way. You definitely don't see " Graceland" coming from this album, more, a separation from his Simon & Garfunkel days and music.
Not really a singer/songwriter fan (it takes me like 10 listens to most music before I start paying any attention to the lyrics), but man, Paul Simon can write a tune.
Meglio di altri cantautori che mi han fatto sentire, ma secondo me è come per i poeti, o te ne innamori o non ti dicono un cazzo, sebbene qualcuno dica che siano i migliori di tutta la storia messa insieme. Però ad un secondo ascolto mi è piaciuto di più!
Easy singer/songwriter vibe. Paul Simon incorporates some world type sounds into his album, ex: "Duncan" uses what sound like pan flutes. I enjoyed it, though I'm not sure this particular sound is my fave.
Very good, clearly staking Simon’s claim as a self-sufficient solo act. Some of the writing suffers his flaw of being a little too precious, particularly as it clashes with the aspirations to a darker, street-level sensibility.
J'avais déjà écouté cet album avec un autre groupe. En plus d'avoir écouté Graceland il y a quelques semaines, mon écoute en était différente cette fois. J'aime de plus en plus Paul Simon. J'ai beaucoup plus aimé cet album cette fois-ci. Sa voix et sa façon de raconter des histoires en ne sacrifiant pas une bonne mélodie en fait sa force. Bien sûr Graceland vieilli un peu plus mal à cause de l'époque de son enregistrement, mais pour moi You Can Call Me All est une des meilleures pièces de Paul Simon. Par contre ce deuxième album solo s'écoute vraiment bien. Pièces préférées: Me and Julio by the school, Mother and child reunion, Duncan et Run That Body Down
J’ai eu beaucoup de plaisir à écouter cet album. Plus que Graceland. Il a une façon très variée et créative d’écrire la partie paroles/vocale.
Ehhhh. Lot of filler here. The singles are fantastic, and Duncan is a highlight, along with the Hobo duo. But a lot of the rest is just not for me.
Best songs: Me and Julio, Peace like a river Nice blues guitar riffs Reggae folk Jazzy parts 6/10
Couple of tracks I liked but not for me. Can see him move on from Art but not stood the test of time.
Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 6 are very good. The rest is occasionally interesting, but mostly tiresome and unfocused. Excellent guitar playing throughout, but far too much filler to be worthwhile. 2.5 stars.
I think this album is better than Graceland, for me. Also there is a lyric that said "Queen of Corona" and I did a double-take. The songs feel a little more personal/gritty than Graceland. Some neat instrumentation on this album as well. Still nothing I'd personally listen to a lot, but I could see a few of these songs gracing a playlist of mine somewhere.
Surprisingly cheerful in spite of all the hellish imagery, hits the vein of 80s ballad rock right in the middle. Complete with a healthy helping of theatrical cheese.
Not too bad, folksy but with cool world-music under- and overtones. There are some nice compositions here. Enjoyable throoughout. Will I get back to it? Only time will tell.
It's hard for me talk about Paul Simon without comparing his work to Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of my favorite albums. He maintains his normal vocal character, but none of the songs capture me as well as any single song on that other album.
Paul Simon is great, but his best work was with collaborating with Garfunkel. Solid album and chill vibe. Fun video with Me and Julio Down by the School Yard with all the cameos like Spud Webb.
Enjoying the baseline on Armistice Day Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard is the first song I have heard before. Favorite off the album is Peace Like a River. "Holes in my confidence, holes in the knees of my jeans"
This is preferable to Graceland solely due to the absence of flatulent production values, but I'm still not on board with Mr Simon. His songwriting feels tweet and cloying to me, and his voice sounds like it emanates from something akin to a gnome or goblin. Just the thought of this creepy homunculus cooing into my ear makes me nauseous. A buncha guys tried reggae on for size around this time, too
Très sympa. Smarte pan-folkige Instrumentierung, sonnige Melancholie, ein Blick auf den alltäglichen Irrsinn. Die gefälligen Songs sind ohne Texte leider zu nah an der Belanglosigkeit; ich mag mir schon Nora Jones Versionen einiger Stücke vorstellen. So ist die Universalität des kurzen Albums sowohl seine Stärke wie auch seine Schwäche. 3.1
Paul Simon has been a part of my musical life since I was a child. Growing up, my Mother would play Simon and Garfunkel around the house and in the car. I enjoyed this quite a lot. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard was my favourite track of the album.
Nice fur head on the cover. He looks like Kabib Nurmagomedov. lol. A great songwriter paired with a great vocalist is a formidable combination. Art G was quite the arrow to have in his quiver. The Sound of Silence would not have been anywhere near as good without Art. We can all convince ourselves we can sing OK when we fumble along trying to sing Paul's part of the harmony on Sounds of Silence but try singing Art's. I can see how having to write exclusively in a way that allows Art's voice to be showcased would be limiting. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is a good example of the direction his music can go without Art. This album is good but Paul needed to refill his quiver with other arrows to make great albums. He eventually did this but not on this album.
Somewhere between 3 and 3.5. Original score was 3.5. Some good tracks, some annoying ttacks (whistling)
Sorry Paul, but you are better when you've got Artie by your side. Not a bad album, but it just felt like something was missing... something tall, with a curly hairdo, perhaps.
Really enjoyed a few songs while others were harder to get into. Overall enjoyed his storytelling and lyrics. Will listen again.
Had its moments, started well with Mother & Child Reunion and Duncan but doesn’t live up to the promise (Me & Julio / Paranoia Blues aside). Interesting the difference in the tracks that were probably Simon & Garfunkel off-cuts and also the tracks where you can hear him branching out into new territory, maybe explains the inconsistency.
Nice listen - Didnt speak or move to me but I enjoyed it and would recommend it as an interesting listen.
Some very solid songs sprinkled throughout the album, but I’m not a huge fan of Paul’s talk-singing that makes up a lot of the vocals in this one
It was a chill listen. The type of music I could see playing while people are out camping and staring at the stars.
Apart from 3 or 4 tracks its just a Simon and Garfunkel album without Garfunkel . Personally think he had better albums further on his career
Good pop album. More listening will help familiarity and I'm sure this would earn a higher rating from me at a later date.
You can tell by the number of listens... Me and Julio Down by the School Yard is a banger. Other than that pretty bang average album
Album has a chill, folksy vibe that I enjoyed. Duncan had a haunting quality, and I was surprised by the reggae styling to Mother and Child Reunion that kicks off the album.
There is a certain amount of automatic props available for including Grappelli. Neither that inclusion nor any other was cheesy or overdone. The album was little and sweet. Not a ton of meat for me, even though I loved Bridge Over Troubled Water. There were no obviously influential sounds either, though it fits neatly in the timeline of American pop music.
-Very beautiful songs -Very calming -Love the acoustic -Didn't really dislike any of the songs -I would listen to this album again -Favourite songs are Run That Body Down, Peace Is Like A River, Paranoia Blues, Congratulations
Found this mainly very bland. May have caught me on an off day, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt with a three.
While these tracks meander from tropicana to rock-inspired with little cohesion between, Simon's narrative storytelling weaves a strong enough thread to make the entire LP a worthwhile listen
First: dude's 31 on the cover but still looks like a teenager. What the hell? I know people give him stick for cultural tourism (probably moreso thanks to Graceland than this) but instead this sounds like a dude who loves world music and gets to, y'know, RECORD WITH JIMMY CLIFF'S BACKING BAND. You would, wouldn't you? The songwriting here sounds so natural it should be a crime.
some white bloke reggae that was actually alright. i was totally expecting some simon and garfunkle folk noncing but this was way more upbeat. a pleasant surprise.
It's catchy and non-offensive. Found myself tapping my foot to a lot of the songs. Previously I reviewed Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends on here and I found it to be too meandering and schmaltzy with too many swells of strings. I liked this more than that but it's still a bit too saccharine for my tastes (referring more to the music than the words) and all the world music stuff comes off a bit cheezy to me for some reason. Still, not terrible - wouldn't avoid listening to this agian.
Well, this is not a Simon & Garfunkel album. I'm really quite disappointed by this one. It gives me the feeling that S&G together are either more than the sum of their parts, or that the greatness of S&G really is pretty much all Garfunkel. Together they're usually 4.5-5 stars for me. This one is a solid 3.5 but really not more than that. Rounding it down for the disappointment.
A couple of good singles, a nice blues number and some meandering filler. And he's a prick.
I remember that song "Me and Julio Down by the School Yard" appeared in an SNL sketch about Wes Anderson. Favourite Songs: Duncan, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the School Yard
Audio wallpaper - a couple of classic tracks, the rest felt like much of a muchness, won't be going on the rotation
I really don't like music played with an acoustic guitar and this is a very exemplary record of that kind of music. It's not bad, after all it's Paul Simon, but not really my cup of tea. The blues tracks on the album, sonically, sound pretty good, but Paul's voice just isn't fit for blues, at least not for my ears. So yeah it's fine, but not really for me
Some great songs. Some forgettable ones too. I've probably listened to Concert in Central Park too many times to accept any more Paul Simon into my brain.
Mon premier Paul Simon. Pas désagréable. J’aime sa voix. Je l’apprécie plus avec les écoutes. J’ai particulièrement aimé Me and Julio by the school, Mother and child reunion et Run That Body Down
Primer disc en solitari de Simon, i trobem ja el que serà una constant en tota la seva discografia. Dos o tres temes excel.lents envoltats de material genèric. En aquest cas, 'Mother and Child Reunion' i 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' es porten la palma, tot i que 'Duncan' i 'Congratulations' també hi destaquen. La resta, potser a excepció de 'Everything Puts Together Falls Apart', queda molt lluny dels mèrits i lastra l'escolta del disc sencer
Sounds like 34 minutes of Paul Simon trying to sound different to when he was with Art Garfunkel. Some of the songs are nice and memorable, with the stand out being "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" but the rest just faded into the background.
-Generally nice songs -"Paranoia Blues" is my favorite, had good thumping drums and heavier vocals -Probably a really high 3, but nothing to really draw me back
Pretty good. Felt like Paul was experimenting here with his sound. Blending it with disco and a more pop sound. You Can Call Me Al is obviously the stand out. Lyrics are powerful and similar to that of poetry. Instruments are kept simple with acoustic guitar. Though again, very experimental with the collaborations Paul does in here. Love his elegant vocals. Proving he does have what it takes to perform solo.
Great voice. Not the best at varying sounds. After a few songs they sound the same to me. Missing the huge hits for this album.
3.5 👍 A transitional album for Paul Simon after separating from Art Garfunkel. I really enjoyed the different influences, from reggae to blues. Standout tracks are Duncan and Me and Hulio Down by the School Yard.
A very relaxed and relaxing album to listen to, brimming with Simon's trademark brilliance in its lyrics and influences. That said, I argue it's a bit too relaxed in comparison with Simon's best albums.
It’s good, and I might like it better with a few more listens but I’m just going with a 3.
A nice debut solo effort for Simon but not among his best nor the best of Simon and Garfunkel. but the trademark Simon 70s songwriting style is there in abundance, which is a good thing. 3.5 🌟
Sometimes I really appreciate Paul Simon's songwriting, and other times he starts out a song with a word like "paraphernalia" for no discernible reason, and I just don't get it. He needs a Garfunkel to edit him and push down his weirder instincts. Best track: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Genre: Folk Rock 3/5 Paul Simon finally drops the Garfunkel that was in his way all those years, and gives us his true solo debut, self-titled and all. This album contains one of Paul Simon's biggest hits, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, a sweet, innocuous tune that's somehow about the two men committing a crime, and getting away with it once a priest steps in and intervenes. Further proof that 1. people can't really hear what Paul Simon is singing, and 2. with this kind of music it isn't that important anyway, at least to me. Folk Rock is a vibe, the lyrics sometimes just get in the way. This particular album, though, is nothing special beyond a few decent slow rock jams, like the aforementioned Schoolyard, Mother and Child Reunion, and Run That Body Down. Beyond those cuts I'm sure there are some gems for other listeners, but this album doesn't do very much to keep you latched on, unless this is your favorite genre to listen to. Not bad, but not very exciting.
It's a very good album, especially the folk songs on it, but... I still wonder why it's on this list. There is nothing very singular, innovative or special on this record. Maybe I didn't get something? Anyway, that was a pleasure to listen to it.
Some good tracks, some boring ones. Nothing bad, nothing extraordinary either. Just there.
This is pleasant enough. Simon writes wonderful lyrics, which I tend to enjoy more than the music itself. Every now and then a great line pops out and stops me getting bored. I likely wouldn't choose to ever listen to this, but it's inoffensive enough. I'd quite like the coat he wears on the cover, so fluffy.
50% huonompi ja tylsempi versio Simon&Garfunkelista. Toisaalta ei suuremmin ärsyttänytkään. HMV.
Surprisingly not a fan of this, and I already love Paul Simon...? It feels like a lot of B tracks, and just a weird sound for him. Wasn't impressed.
Julio is fine, but I swear to freaking Garfunkel if there’s one more Paul Simon solo record on this list I’m burning it to the ground.
Je peux quand même pas donner 1 étoile parce que ça s'écoute très bien et c'est agréable, mais l'album a tellement passer dans le beurre pour moi. Aucune chanson m'a vraiment marquée. Hit du cd: Paranoia Blues (unreleased version)
Theres one good song on this album, Mother and Child reunion, but it’s guilty of massive cultural appropriation. The fact that it was made back in 72 before cultural appropriation was a thing allows it to slide though. Funny how attitudes and times change. Anyways the rest of the album didn’t grab me and I wouldn’t listen to it again so this gets two stars
Àlbum amable, de folk, amb elements de reggae i blues. El primer disc en solitari de Paul Simon és un grapat de cançons agradables però que tampoc ha aconseguit que el vagi a recordar especialment.
L’album bouteille d’eau. Personne déteste ça boire de l’eau, mais mettons ça apparaît pas dans mon top 150 de mes breuvages préférés. Mais c’est buvable, Je l’évite aucune c’est de l’eau Je lévite aucune c’est de l’eau
Chilled, something I'd really have to be in the mood for to appreciate properly, but only for a few songs at a time. Enjoyable.
My comments are similar to those I made for James Taylor. This is a bit soft for me. The lyrics are personal, and too literal, especially in songs like Run that Body Down, which sounds like a self-help anthem. There’s no edge, no mystery. And when he shifts gears into something a bit more bluesy or jazzy, like James Taylor, it sounds contrived. It was good to hear Mother & Child Reunion again.
Listening conditions - home theatre, pretty distracted. Albums First Rodeo? - Yep, but listened to Paul Simon before. Stand out tracks Armistice Day - yeah here we go this is good. Like the blues vibe here. Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard - This is fun! Not much here, a few decent tracks that would no doubt make up a pretty solid greatest hits complication.
Just listened to a Simon and Garfunkel album this week, and that was pretty good. So I assume this will be too. Never mind. This was pretty bad.
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.
I guess he was the first "cute girl winter" with the fur hoodie. That might be the only interesting thing about this album as well. I didn't hate it, the album is kind of up beat and folksy but nothing stood out except for the album cover.
Hatte mich seinerzeit nicht interessiert. Zu soft. "Mother and Child Reunion" und "Me and Julio down by the schoolyard" sind mir bekannt alle andern nicht. Kein Titel findet in die Playlist. Note 4
Ik heb dit op de een of andere manier met moeite uitgezeten. Terwijl er ook best geinige nummers tussen zitten. Hij had niet over the queen of corona moeten zingen, denk ik.
I like a lot of Paul Simon's music in all his phases, and I was already familiar with a few tracks from this album. I gave it a listen and found it...okay. I can hear his ridiculous talent for songwriting, singing, and guitar throughout, but stylistically, these songs overall just don't grab me like some of his other work. My hunch is I've heard so much early-70s-folksy music that this kind of blurs into that background. Not at all a bad album; just not one I plan to come back to.
An ok album a little more upbeat and reggae than I expected (particularly on Mother and Child Reunion). I expected it to be a lot more 'folksy' than it was. As it was Simon's first solo album it probably felt good to experiment with what he wanted to do rather than to also be tied to Garfunkel's whims. Best: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Worst: Hobo's Blues
Some neat concepts and ideas, but basically a mix of two of my least desired genres (folk and blues). I have no desire to listen to this album ever again.
More textured and bluesy than I'd expect from Paul Simon. I like the blown out guitars.
Liked it quite a lot! 4/5