Paul Simon

Enjoyed this. I'm surprised that I actually wasn't familiar with any of the songs off this album, including "Me & Julio" where I only kind of recognized sections of it. Really enjoyed the guitar work on this record, as well as the range of songs that added a ton of diversity from one song to the next.

When this record started I got lured in by the reggae-like sound and thought it was someone from Jamaica singing. Didn't recognize Paul Simon's voice at all! Paul Simon is a pretty clever guy when it comes to creating interesting stories and wordplay. But for some reason it just isn't quite hitting home for me, it doesn't stand out enough somehow and I can't explain. As interesting as some songs are lyrically, equally as uninteresting some songs are as well. 'Run That Body Down' has a nice mellow vibe to it, but the lyrics feels like filler lyrics someone would come up with on a napkin while sitting on the commuter train. Same thing goes for 'Armistice Day'. And I just expect a bit more from Paul I guess. All things considered it will have to be a 3 for me, though I realize this could be a 'me' thing and it deserves more.

This was pleasant but I prefer Simon & Garfunkel honestly. Standout for me was Peace Like a River but I hated the first song. The writing was very beautiful.

Relaxing, Smooth. Feeling like a cowboy in a bar, but with a relaxed vibe

an enjoyable oldies album. nothing that blows me away though

Not my fave Paul Simon

Some good jingles here for mellow times. It's nice hearing where melodies and phrases, that you were familiar with, came from.

It was fine. Nothing stood out for me, but it was pleasant to listen to some old familiar songs and many I had not heard before

3 stars

Pleasant

The album works best when Simon allows himself to experiment and be weird. It's sometimes dragged down by an unwillingness to move away from his past work, but does get better on the back half of the album.

Did listen to few songs

Aika medium pimputusta. Kivaa taustamusaa, tosi melankolista

This album is easy to listen to. Soft vocals, heavy use of acoustic guitar, and folksy percussion. Some of the chord changes were standard (I-IV-V), or bluesy and others were even slightly jazzy. The songs sound like they would be fun to play on the guitar. There was definitely some down-tuning and steel guitar usage. Nothing was catchy. Overall, the highlight of this album is the creative and technical guitar work. Would I listen to this again? Probably not, but I think I would recognize it if I heard it again. I don't think I have a favorite song off this album.

I groaned when I saw this album pop up because, while Simon and Garfunkel is one of my all-time favorites, I am not a fan of Simon's solo career. I think he lost something when he lost Garfunkel, and YES! I know that Simon was the driver behind the band. I remember in grad school making an off-hand comment about how I don't like Simon post-Garfunkel to a stranger and ended up in a huge argument. I think this album has a little more of the S&G magic than his others, probably because it came out shortly after they split. While I haven't listened to the album before, I have heard many of the songs - and insofar as I like solo Simon songs, it turns out they're from this album (with the exception of Graceland). There is one song that I hadn't heard before and I absolutely love: Peace Like a River. So the album was worth listening through for that alone - plus getting to hear the demo version of Duncan, which I actually like a lot better than the released version. But otherwise, eh.

It was fine, nothing that really caught my eye

Paul Simon is purely okay, The songs aren't really anything too special but they aren't terrible either. Some times the songs could be relaxing but then the instrumentation becomes too much at points. I believe that this album is decent but nothing more than that Best Song: Duncan Worst Song: Paranoia Blues (I wish the unreleased version was the main version of this song because it sounds quite a bit better)

My first impression is that this is gentrified reggae for white people. This is ok I gues. Not really my thing, but I can see the merit. Production was pretty good at least. A low 3/5

Not really my fav but ok

Nice

I only knew Me and Julio from this album which is a great song. the rest of the album is very good but nothing remarkable so nothing got added to the playlist, but a nice listen.

Me and Julio really sticks out from this set of kind of sleepy songs. I really liked a couple of songs over the others, Duncan for example, but there’s not enough to rate the album higher as a whole.

Pleasant and relaxing. Not quite my thing anymore but I’d be happy to listen to ti again some day. I haven’t finished it.

Par fora hilibili stvari, a to volim jer sam seljačina. Ove depresivne bluzeve malo manje.

All I’m gonna say is it’s not my favorite Paul

Not a huge fan of the sound. Too singsong-ey for me.

Nou, hier had ik vrijdag dus écht geen zin in. Vrijdagen zijn voor gezelligheid en energie en ik had zo'n vermoeden dat ik dat niet zou krijgen van Paultje Simon. Nou, dat was correct. Dit is SPP(Of SPF?) In optima forma. Oftewel: een prima maandag ochtend album. Gebeurd er iets spannends op het album? Nee, maar Paul Simon komt op mij altijd een beetje over als het soort man die zwarte peper eigenlijk al te pittig vind en in het weekend spa rood drinkt als ie los gaat. Misschien is dat inherent aan folk rock hoor, dat zou prima kunnen. Dan heb ik nu al zin in alle Bob Dylan albums die we nog gaan krijgen! Dit is wel prima te pruimen op de maandagochtend. Ik wil easy listening achtergrond muziek, en daarin levert Paulus dan wel weer. Pantera zou ik op dit moment bijvoorbeeld niet kunnen trekken. Jeetje Paul gooit het opeens op de uptempo tour met Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Dat is ook meteen 1 van mn favoriete nummers op dit album. Er gebeurt tenminste iets! All in all is dit een album dat je aan kan zetten als achtergrond muziek en waarvan niemand ooit gaat klagen dat het kut is. Het is de ultieme background noise, en dat bedoel ik redelijk positief. FAVO: Duncan, Run That Body Down,Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

Good, a little slow for me but had some classics like Me & Julio.

I was expecting this album to be a standard 70s folk album, and that’s kind of true for some of the tracks. Can get a bit boring at times, but I really enjoyed the tracks with a clear reggae or blues influence, gave the album as a whole a funky feel. The production was also pretty solid, I enjoyed the instrumental choices.

pleasant, low key, started off with more of a downer song then I wanted.

Decently good, will have to relisten but I found myself losing interest about midway through

Really miss Garfunkel's harmony. Still okay

Solid 3.5/5-it’s pleasant and like the original John Craigy. Will download

Definitely a landmark album and had huge influence on a lot of people. Not my jam but the album is great enough for me to be able to enjoy most of it regardlessa

Not my favorite work of Paul Simon, but it’s passable as an influential album.

Mellow

It's not a bad album, but it's probably not something I'd return to. The melodies remind me of Jamaican rasta music in a way, and the acoustic guitar steals the show. Paul's personality cuts through the record, and he's a very good singer. I enjoyed it!

Personal bias but I just can’t get there with Paul Simon. Songs are all objectively well composed but he’s boring.

Nice - but a bit dull for mine

Starts off really strong with Mother and Chile Reunion but then kind of goes downhill from there being way too slow for my liking. I have heard covers of Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, but never this original. That song was good.

It was ok nothing special. I was listening to it as background music so that may have played a part. Definitely love Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard though.

Good. Elevated by a few good songs, weak depth. First half stronger than second.

I love Paul Simon but this album is just ok. There are a few good tracks and Me and Julio is amazing, but most of the time I was just wanting to listen to Graceland.

I love Paul’s voice and this album is classic

A very pleasant and easy album to listen to, hard to find many faults except from that it lacks some real standout songs outisde of Julio. Could listen to Paul Simon sing for hours though, great voice and guitar playing throughout. Probably worth a relisten in future.

ok!

Perfectly pleasant but with Bob, Bruce, Neil, Nick and Leonard, I don't feel the need for another white, western male singer-songwriter in my life

I liked it, some great tracks, but this is Paul Simon's fifth best solo album, not sure why it is a must listen.

Paul Simon is pretty good. Just gets a bit old after 5 or 6 songs.

This is decent folk music but nothing special. No Graceland that's for sure.

Really joyful album, really enjoyed this.

Songs just didn’t quite grab me. Ofcourse Julio did

I've listened to this album plenty of times before, and it was interesting to return to it this weekend. Simon definitely has some ability in his DNA to on occasion write a pearl of pop song, and other times I find him quite unbearable. This album maybe sits in that gulch between the ambitious but simple sounds of his not too distant past - in the wake of Bridge Over Troubled Water where he hit the nail on the head, and his future records that get a little too twee at times for my taste. There's a great flow on this album, and it offers a wide range of sounds to engage with. Not everything here grabs me as much on repeat; some tracks seem to be missing an edge or freshness, and some songs are at this point just annoying (Me and Julio had to be skipped on this listen). It's a fairly good album, and on another day could rate it higher. Probably some tracks that could benefit from Art Garfunkel's sensibilities, though maybe I'm missing the point by comparing this album to his work in the duo. Plus, it's hard to deny tracks like Run That Body Down, which is the standout for me by a mile. Three and a half.

The hits are good. The rest is forgettable.

dont like folk-rock. Boring. 3.6/10

I understand why this album is on this list. Paul Simon's solo music has rarely done much for me. I find it interesting to an extent, but I've always struggled to get into it too much. The solo album from an artist that Boomers like so much is bound to be on this list. So, an album arguably worthy of inclusion, but there are better albums that are left off of this list. I think if it didn't have "Paul Simon" on the cover then it wouldn't have made this list.

sure is paul simon

Garfunkel must write all the hooks, because there aren't many here. Me and Julio is good.

First time I’ve heard him without the Funk, and I need the Funk (2.5/5)

Everything solo Paul Simon I’ve heard pales in comparison Simon & Garfunkel. But it’s not unpleasant. A few interesting instrumental moments.

Almost a 4

nice singer-songwriter stuff, some good ones there

Een beetje gezapig allemaal. Ik ben niet kapot van z'n stemgeluid. Hekel aan bontkragen, zowel echte als imitatie. De openingstrack is een soort misplaatste blanke reggae en daar komt normaliter alleen Matisyahu mee weg. Ik kan dus wel wat minpuntjes bedenken maar al met al is dit gewoon een veilige 3 sterren. Ik herken de cuica in "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" dankzij dat Jorge Ben Jor album dat ik eerder had. Ik leer nog.

A bit simple, but shows how much of a talent Paul Simon was even when he we just starting out on his own. Most if not all of the songs had been recorded for years before being released. Nothing mind blowing, but an important piece of musical history. A bridge between his days with Garfunkel and his future sound

i still dont understand why this record is so beloved but "me and julio down by the schoolyard" makes me really really happy

👍

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, une chanson que j'ai écouté très souvent. Comme d'habitude, Paul Simon a une voix agréable et ses chansons sont comme de petits bijoux couchées sur du velours.

I wonder if Garfunkel heard this album and thought, "Well, it's all over for me." Good folk-rock album. Not every song is a winner, but there's some real good stuff here.

Some fire singles here I think. Still just a 3.5 overall imo.

I don't know. This was ok, but it felt like it was missing about 50% of what it needed to be truly great.

Simon finally unshackled from Garfunkel. A lovely little slice of mellow goodness that simultaneously introduces a lot of comfy-cozy instrumentation while reminding us that Paul Simon was going through... quite the ride at this point in his life. The latter half of the album gets a bit too silly with it, but songs like "Duncan really do remind you that the guy's a songwriting legend for a reason. I stole his chow fun, by the way. It's the least he deserved for that haircut. A cute lil' ol 3.5/5.

Very chill vibes. Not my style but can respect the soft folk rock.

A mix of different styles and messy direction wise. Paul Simon is talented and it shows throughout the album.

Me and Julio... is one of my all time favorites. Paul SImon has a long history of using different instruments. I had to look up what the howling/yipping instrument on that song was. It's a cuica: a type of drum where they adjust the head tension to make that noise. "Papa Hobo" was fun and used a Bass Harmonica like Simon & Garfunkle's "The Boxer" Mother Child Reunion is very good too. The rest of the songs are good, but not terribly memorable.

Paranoia Blues was my favorite.

Me and Julio is a great song. I generally enjoy Paul Simon, but this album is a lot sleepier than I’d hoped for. I like it better when he’s more melodic and upbeat.

Just ok. Loved "Julio" forever but not allot more here and some songs are below average

Inoffensive

A pretty good first record after his thing with Garfunkel! I love saying, Garfunkel! A couple of really great songs, Mother & Child.... Me and Julio... and of course, "Duncan"!!! :)

Mostly pretty milquetoast and forgettable. The second half is definitely more interesting and has a few pretty good songs, but I don’t need to go back and listen again.

Parfait pour un lundi ! Un vendredi la vibe aurait pas été bonne !

Fun little soft rock album. The 2 blues songs are weirdly not very bluesy but as a whole, it was inoffensive and heartfelt

Nice little folk record. I did recognize the more popular songs on the record, and for the most part they are my favorites and most catchy to me (Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Mother and Child Reunion. Also really enjoyed Papa Hobo/Hobo Blues, Paranoia Blues, and the demo of that one as well.

avg

1. potentially this could make me feel so sick abt Mother 2. SWAG STORYTELLING SONG 3. short & simple 4. maybe this should be a more regular song on the rotation.... 5. meh 6. swag 7. meh 8. meh 9. Jaunty little tune! 10. ok 11. meh 12. swag 13. SWAGGGG 14. a little swagger than the non-demo version

I liked this more than Graceland, and maybe more than most S&G stuff. It was stripped back but interesting, calming but fascinating. Solid 3.

This is a step down from Graceland, which we had near the beginning of this project. It's very stripped back, very singer-songwriter, and although the lyrics and storytelling are really good, they aren't great enough to hold up an album like this on their own. And Paul Simon's voice isn't that strong - he's at his best with Art Garfunkel, or working with something a bit more musically complex. 3/5, just.

it was okay, decent bit of folk, i liked it, nothing spectacular but it was okay!

I liked it, but there was something about it was too "light" for me. Then halfway through, I realized it's because there's no bass and no typical percussion!

I dig a lot of Simon & Garfunkel stuff but his solo stuff is a bit weaker to me. Just a bit all over the place and often too saccharine for me. Still lots of great moments and songwriting in this though.

Maybe the first solo effort? Some memorable songs.

Nice guitar stuff on here - not a big fan of the guy’s voice and style overall, but this was easy to listen to.

Some really good tracks on this one

Great voice and musician. Just not my tempo. “Me and Julio…” is good though. 5.5/10

Not massively familiar with Paul Simon's solo work besides "You Can Call me Al", however I enjoyed listening to this album a lot. The traditional Folk and Blues influence combined with other genres at points like Gospel end up giving a very nice and relaxing listen. The lyrical content is quite dark in points which provide a good juxtaposition from the fairly peaceful and sweet melodies he plays on the guitar. I liked the use of storylines within the album too - highlighting the tale of Papa Hobo, and all of this coming together to carve out a kind of narrative. I ended up listening to the demos on the expanded version and I enjoyed them more than the album counterparts - the stripped back underproduced acoustic sound adds to the vibe I reckon Favourite Track: "Mother & Child Reunion" or "Peace like a River"

Não tive uma audição muito atenta. De qualquer forma, a voz agradável e folk deixou uma atmosfera de calma.

Bien. Sin más. Un poco rollo.

Solid

Nice, easy listening folk.

some good stuff in here

Very good background noise. I almost forgot I was listening.

Not as good as Graceland but still pretty good 3.5

Some really good songs, mostly boring songs.

Ok album. Hard to listen to when you've been hearing the best of S&G the whole time

Paul Simon is likely in the running for greatest songwriter of all time and that's absolutely on show here, there's a few duds like Papa hobo but even those are pretty impressive songs, they just don't hold up to some of the stronger songs on this album, Run that Body Down and Me and Juilio Down by the Schoolyard stand out as highlights for me. The criticism id have of this album is that it can feel a little bit directionless, it is obvious that this is Simon striking out on his own and looking to figure out what's going to define him as a solo artist. Some of its just more of what he was doing with S&G, some is reggae, some is more blues but he doesn't seem to have figured out quite where he wants to go yet. Which is fine of course, it would take another 14 years for him to hit on the sound that would define his solo work with Graceland. But it does mean this particular album doesn't particularly sound like the same work at the end than the beginning.

Its fine. He's a talented musician playing music I don't really care about.

it was fine, just generally boring. i wasn't able to get into the vibe. 3.

Giving county

I like the use of non traditional instruments on this lp. Simon used Caribbean and South American instruments and music liberally. Duncan and Papa Hobo are my favorite tunes

I listened to a few songs and I enjoyed what I heard.

3.7/5 good

Paul Simon doing what he does best.

I will probably be one of the few people here to think this, but this for me is a major step forward after the records he made with Garfunkel. I enjoyed listening to this, both lyrically and musically.

whoa, I have that exact same parka Paul Simon is wearing on the album cover. I stole it from a thrift store when I was 16 and, while I haven't worn it regularly in about 20 years, I can't bear to get rid of such a rad parka. That's all I have to say about this album. ok, Me and Julio is a pretty great song.

Bardovsky festival

Never really a fan of folky kind of music but this was at least a bit pleasant to hear. Nothing crazy but was fine. 7/10.

Great album, reminding everyone that Paul Simon was a much better songwriter than Art Garfunkel, but also that without Garfunkel, the songs just don't sound as good.

Not as good as Hearts and Bones

Not quite as immediately catchy as some of the other Paul Simon records on this list, his flirtations with a myriad of genres from reggae to jazz is still anchored by Simon’s peerless ear for pop melodies. That said, the real standout track on this record, “Me and Julio…”, isn’t really matched by the largely sparse arrangements on this record. It’s hard to explain what makes Paul Simon such an incredible songwriter, so just stick on his records and find out.

He likes to mix up the styles and has many international influences clearly, but it leads to some of it feeling a little "inauthentic" for want of a better word.

Goeie muziek. Ik mis een beetje de energieke nummers die ik zo mooi vind, dus dit album is niet mijn favoriet, maar zang en muziek van Simon blijft gewoon erg goed. ***

Classic

I enjoyed this. Would have loved some added instruments and vocal harmonies.

I have this one on vinyl. I think it was actually my dad's or uncles. Paul Simon is a great writer, but his music itself isn't always for me. A lil twangy for my tastes

It was fine, no more

Didn't know any of the tracks on this album, and whilst mostly decent there is a reason for that

Sings like he looks.

😴

I really love Paul Simon, but I was expecting more. He's such a clever and cheeky lyricist and a deft musician and composer. And yes, that is here in his hits like Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (one of my alltime faves) and Mother and Child Reunion (wonderful blending of different sounds and vocals); even in lesser knowns like Duncan ("couple in the next room bound to win a prize, they've been going at it all night long") or Peace Like a River (his folksy plucking combined with other instruments is great) or Paranoia Blues (quintessential up-tempo Paul Simon). But I felt like there were a bunch of ho-hum songs (Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Congratulations) or others with clever lyrics but that sound like regurgitation of his work with Garfunkel (Papa Hobo). I'm torn on others with simple strumming and easy vocals (Run that Body Down, Armistice Day); sometimes I find them a bit boring, other times just right. He has some absolutely killer albums but this one felt average to be honest.

Twee-dull- well, not dumb, it's obviously well done, it's just not very interesting

Quite like the 2 “blues” songs, album a bit too sedate for my liking, kinda expected from Paul Simon though

Never listened to this front to back but I am a PS fan - pretty great! Inspires me to go even deeper on Solo Simon.

Great musician, good songs but just not for me.

PS's second solo album. 2 big tracks in Julio and Mother/Child Reunion. The rest are less memorable but have a sense of purpose. It all sounds chilled but can come across a bit lightweight. 3.5

The guitar is certainly lyrical, but I was falling asleep after a few songs.

This album had so much range across genres. I really liked the different instruments used.

Quality album. Not a lot of his better known hits but representative of the story telling and guitar playing that made half of a dynamic duo famous

Really really long, really really proud of my mediocre stir fry

Would listen again as background music

Overall, pretty good. Never thought I'd be a huge Paul Simon fan and I'm still kind of not, but it was a nice change of pace from what I usually like. Standouts: Duncan, Me and Julio Down by the School Yard, Peace Like a River, Paranoia Blues

Paul Simon is great - opening track is nice, then a lot of boring. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” saves the album IMO, and I also really liked “Peace like a River”. 2.5 and rounding up for Julio.

I am quite a fan of Simon And Garfunkel and I own each of their albums at home. But when it comes to Paul Simon's solo output, I've never really witnessed the same sort of magic in it. And it's not only because Art Garfunkel was not there to harmonize those vocal parts with him. Case in point: this album. Some of the arrangements are great (hear the ones on "Duncan" or "Armistice Day", for example). But generally speaking, the songwriting lacks the emotional heights of Simon's heyday with his former partner, and this for both the music and the very vague lyrics (some of those lines are pretty shallow and self-indulgent, aren't they? Even Simon himself seemed to concur when interviewers asked him about them later on...) It's still a nice record to listen to on a quiet saturday morning, when the weather outside is downcast. But it's clearly not an essential album. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 805 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 105 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 49 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 44 (including this one)

2.5/5 maybe better on another listen? The music it self is not that impressive but has the Simon and Garfunkel vibe (duh). I suppose the lyrics are quite nice but I did not really listen to them. //todo re listen more carefully

Lyrically good. Lot of acoustics. Generally not my type of music but can understand why it is considered great. Highlights for me: -Everything Put Together Falls Apart -Run That Body Down -Paranoia Blues 3.5/5

Solid album, but apart from a couple of standout tracks, not particularly memorable. It was probably very significant at the time, but not different enough from his work with Garfunkel to be seen as a landmark in my opinion. Interesting to see Paul Simon progress as the solo artist that would eventually be putting out masterpieces in pop music a few years later.

Entertaining album from the past. Paul Simon has a really beautiful voice, which could work in any musical genre. Probably that's pretty blasphemic, but if Bob Dylan had a voice of Paul Simon, but would keep his great writing and a bard persona, then we would be talking about him as a Michael Jordan of popular music. Instead, we have Paul singing folky pop/soft rock songs, which are really nice to listen to, but ultimately a little dissapointing. As for the songs, this album can be divided in two parts - singles in one group and everything else in the other. There is a massive drop-off in quality between the three singles and other songs on the album. For example, 'Mother and Child Reunion' is a great song, with an upbeat tempo, charming chorus and, of course, gorgeous voice of Paul. Similarly, along the same lines, 'Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard' works great as a single on this album. The last one is called 'Duncan'. The style in this song is changed to a slower and more melancholic, although in my opinion Simon's vocal doesn't fit well , or at least is not at its best in this circumstances. But still - great song. Altogether, the rating for this album would be very high, if you only count those three songs, but we have to consider the whole record, which is filled with 'ready to be skipped' songs. But I will gladly check the full discography of Mr. Simon.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

3 - would be a high 3 but he's done better. just finding his feet ion a very nice way...

Meh

nice an chill, some classic paul simon but not his best. Great guitar playing but a little rambling

6/10. Fun listen. What I liked: Easy to listen to. What I disliked: very barebones, so I had to fall back to the vocals and I'm not the biggest fan of this type of vocals. Reminds me of: The Beatles (the ones with more barebones instrumentals) and some chill Korean songs.

decent

Good!

Eh, it's fine. Not my cuppa.

Gets a little boring at times actually. Love it though 3.5

Reminds me of McCartney I, pleasant, sometimes surprising and fun.

This is another that came up earlier, my thoughts on it havent really changed since the last time though I think I'll change the score to a 3 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 is an okay listen but has never been my fave.

Solid debut.

Positively surprised. Nice melodies, chill voice and cool vibes. Maybe already a little too country for my taste.

Very groovy, with an easy listening sort of tone. ‘Mother and Child Reunion’ has reggae notes which blend well with his voice. ‘Duncan’ is more my kind of style. A good listen.

I really enjoyed this classic Paul Simon album and there were some great songwriting going on here!

Сольный альбом участника легендарных Simon&Garfunkel Фирменная мелодика и оригинальность присутствуют, хотя железобетонных хитов как у коллектива тут нет. 6 из 10

more groovy than last but not quite interesting enough

Some good tracks, some boring ones. Nothing bad, nothing extraordinary either. Just there.

It was ok, but I prefer his work with Garfunkel.

Paul Simon is kind of a guilty pleasure for me. Good pop.

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.

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.

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

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 🌟

Legalzinho, grande presença

Pretty chill with a few songs that stuck out. Overall not my vibe but enjoyable.

S'écoute bien, mais définitivement moins captivant qu'un album de S&G

It’s good, and I might like it better with a few more listens but I’m just going with a 3.

Nett aber auch nicht der Kracher

Fun album easy to listen to.

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.

Good.

Very solid. Really enjoyed.

Folk bien hecho, a ratos me sonó muy country. Nada muy acelerado, cayendo a ratos en lo aburrido. La mejor es Paranoia Blues. 2.5 que sube a tres porque no estorba y se puede dejar correr completo sin problemas, aunque no se vuelva el disco más memorable.

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.

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.

Fun folky guitar music

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.

Really good. 3/5

3.25

-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

No vote

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.

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

nice album

Good album 3.5

This album is uhh good (bernie sanders voice)

Je crois que Sufjan Stevens a écouté du Paul Simon, haha ! Bon album !

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

Rather disappointing considering how much I like Paul Simon in general. Only really liked the standout tracks Julio and Mother and Child Reunion. The rest were rather bland, not bad but not great. Giving the rating mostly on those two great tracks.

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.

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

paul simon is fine. this album is sort of slow.

Enjoyable.

Audio wallpaper - a couple of classic tracks, the rest felt like much of a muchness, won't be going on the rotation

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

A couple of good singles, a nice blues number and some meandering filler. And he's a prick.

wee, twee, too sweeet for meeee

Good 3

Funky

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.

OK...

Remarkable what an imaginative singer-songwriter can do with basic melodies. (I didn't like it *that* much. But it is good for what it is. And I'd always assumed Mother and Child Reunion was a cover...)

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.

Liked it

Me and Julio drags this one up from the mere average.

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.

I'd shag Paul Simon. I'd make my entire family watch too.

u can call me al giver genlyd i hver en sang

Singer/songwriter, skarpt, fængende, muntert

Some ok tracks

It was not bad. The greatest hits are greatest hits for a reason.

3.5

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.

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

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.

-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

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.

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.

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

Some good tracks but nothing amazing as an album

They had Gatorade in 1972?

Good pop album. More listening will help familiarity and I'm sure this would earn a higher rating from me at a later date.

It's Paul Simon. Not a favorite but still, it's Paul Simon. 3.5 :)

Walking through a piano slum, some good, most ok.

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

Classic Paul Simon

Good but without the highs of the best S&G stuff.

Duncan, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

Not my type

It was a chill listen. The type of music I could see playing while people are out camping and staring at the stars.

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

Besser mit Garfunkel

nothing special

kinda boring but nice

3/5

Nice listen - Didnt speak or move to me but I enjoyed it and would recommend it as an interesting listen.

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.

Always got timeon for Paul Simon.

Lovely album.

Really enjoyed a few songs while others were harder to get into. Overall enjoyed his storytelling and lyrics. Will listen again.

Graceland mi favorite

very good.

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.

Globally OK.

Somewhere between 3 and 3.5. Original score was 3.5. Some good tracks, some annoying ttacks (whistling)

I like the normy songs

Was okay didn't jump out at me def heard better from artist

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.

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.

ehhhhh not superb, some good music but like the lyrics are questionable

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

Con un estilo suave, sobrio y tipo folk, sucesión de canciones con no mucha intensidad, pero que se deja escuchar. No me ha sorprendido mucho, pero es un tanto relajante. Nivel medio.

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

Everything put together is great song. ME AND JULIO!

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"

very listenable

I only liked "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio DOwn by the Schoolyard"

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.

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.

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.

3.5

Decent, to be fair.

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.

solid album, a few enjoyable tracks. a bunch that are just okay

kinda blends into the background after a while

Pleasant listen that makes me want to put on S&G

Some decent tunes

Julio

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.

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.

Ya know, a decent singer/songwriter album.

Kein richtiger Burner, ich habe Paul Simon aber immer geschätzt. Großer Songwriter.

Couple of tracks I liked but not for me. Can see him move on from Art but not stood the test of time.

Best songs: Me and Julio, Peace like a river Nice blues guitar riffs Reggae folk Jazzy parts 6/10

Me and Julio. Two thumbs up.

Nice, but not too many songs stood really out. Liked "Peace Like a River"

famous songs are good (like 2 songs on this album) but the rest is meh

Couple catchy songs, but not my cup of tea

Signs of greatness to come

Meh

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.

Not that bad.

It was just fine, 2 might be harsh but it was a bit dull

Saai soort net geen country blues idk

Better than expected, especially after Bridge Over Troubled Waters, but still not sure what the hype is about.

Meh.. I agree with the comments that it feels a little like him stealing a bunch of different countries musical traditions.. which a lot of artists do effectively, but in this case he’s just kinda annoying. The background music is well done and has some nice melodies but his lyrics are just terrible.

Kind of a sleepy album, I don't think I really get it but there's nothing very controversial in here I think

I like Paul Simon, but found this uninteresting

I usually like folk, but nothing in this album stands out to me. It's all very flat and boring.

No tanto. Algunas las escucharía en un viaje por la tarde en coche

Buen album, me gustaron solo algunas musicas

Tolerable, but boring.