Reviews (page 12 of 14)
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.
It wasn't totally horrid, just a bit dull. 2 stars as it was inoffensive, no more than 2 stars because it just didn't do much for me. I kind of liked Duncan as the one stand out track I guess.
A little better than Heart & Bones but I am bored again but a little less
Pleasant but I'm not a huge fan of these storytelling songs so a whole album won't get a 5 from me.
sure is paul simon
A great collection of songs. Paul took up many styles and sounds over his songwriting career, and here he uses blues more than anything. His playing and that of his hired players is outstanding. Notably, the main hits from the album are not blues, but reggae and Latin styled songs. Me and Julio will always be one of my all time favorites by anyone, and Mother and Child Reunion is so singable. The first solo release of many outstanding albums, this one carries a number of gems.
Garfunkel must write all the hooks, because there aren't many here. Me and Julio is good.
Solid album, but not as strong as any of the S&G stuff or Graceland.
I did feel like I can hear Paul Simon as an influence on albums coming out today. It was also a weird experience not knowing the songs but having certainly heard them all before. I generally like the album artwork as well. It does contain one particular song that outshines all of the rest.
If we just for a moment pretend that the record ends on 'Peace Like A River', then this is probably the best mini-album ever released. Simon delivers a masterclass in songwriting and impossible guitar techniques. It's intellectual but always packing an emotional punch. Even songs that start out as pretty straightforward, like 'Everything Put Together Falls Apart' and 'Armistice Day', end up evolving into completely different beasts. Heck, 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' isn't even a highlight among the first 7 tracks! And then we have the last 10 minutes which are incredibly bland - just barely saved by the earnestness of 'Congratulations'. Such a shame.
Paul Simon comes really close to delivering a perfect solo record. Unfortunately he fumbles at the end, and you’re left a bit unsatisfied. Being a Paul Simon record “a bit unsatisfied” it still more satisfied that you are after listening to almost everything else.
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.
Paul Simon's cool. 3.5/5
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.
It's not as good as Graceland yet, but it's a fantastic release. Thanks to the 1001 list I'm becoming a fan of Paul Simon!
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
Great album. This album shows how important it is to have a good opener. As always with Paul Simon material, there are great slices of other genres, some African music influence, even a little ska. Its a high 4. Will deff revisit in the future
A smart and witty collection of songs showing the world there is life after Garfunkel.
A very strong debut after he left his partnership with Garfunkel. Many songs like "Duncan" and "Everything Put Together" are songs I'd definitely hear on one of their albums, but so many others are taken off in a more energetic, poppy direction that shows his talent as a songwriter is only growing, incorporating jazz and gospel. "Mother and Child Reunion" shows he's growing and taking notes from contemporaries like George Harrison. Got weaker and more forgettable in the last few tracks, but it's all good. Favorites: Run that Body Down, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like a River
4 stars decent
2/5 Best: Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard Worst: Paranoia Blues
He's a brilliant songwriter, but as he continues, his work feels more and more derivative of itself. This has a couple of great tunes, and a number of what feel like complete throwaway tracks. Sometimes you get a group of artists whose collaboration obviously benefits from whatever creative frictions and constraints present in their process. When these groups go solo, it's obvious in many cases that their work benefited from those constraints. I think this album is a good example of that. Awash in many of Simon's creative excesses, it's still the work of an incredibly talented man, but those previous constraints helped to reveal and refine his genius.
My favorite Paul Simon album after Graceland.
👍
Ah! This is even better than the Simon & Garfunkel stuff! Even on tracks that were sorta boring, there was some good hook that sorta redeemed the track, and most didn't even need this! The second side was noticably rougher though. Solid Album! BT: - Mother and Child Reunion - Duncan - Run That Body Down - Everything Put Together Falls Apart - Peace Like a River
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.
Not too exciting music
Very chill vibes. Not my style but can respect the soft folk rock.
One of the great singer-songwriter records of its time and of all time. Difficult to critique due to simply doing everything well.
A mix of different styles and messy direction wise. Paul Simon is talented and it shows throughout the album.
Good stuff. Fully enjoyable style and voice. I was excited to listen to this because I know it as one of my mom's favorite albums and I'm not sure I've ever listened to it fully through before now.
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.
Big Paul Simon fan but never got really into this one. The hits: mother child reunion, me and Julio are great The violins solo is awesome. I like the Simon and Garfunkel stuff better for the folky Paul Simon stuff I never heard congratulations before but that song is awesome.
Really cool and interesting record. Such a great songwriter. Another record with cuica!
Paranoia Blues was my favorite.
Eh not bad, ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOL YARD. 7/10
Utterly fantastic. Songwriter supreme
Great record. 8/10
Plenty of good folk here folks Worth it alone for Me and Julio
Great album. Loved the variety of sounds and the cub overall.
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
Superb
ok
Nice and sweet album, I knew Me and Julio down by the school yard but not the rest and it's really cool. I like the chill yet groovy at times vibe of the album it's a really cosy listen. Favorite Tracks: Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard, Hobo's Blues, Run that Body down. Rating: Solid 4/5
I don't know about this album... Ahaha I feel like I did not like it but when I think about it I think about good things... Some tracks have unexpected sonorities and generally it is well produced, catchy and the singer is very good! I will lean toward a 4/5 but there is something that was not it for me... Maybe the wrong mood?
Solid album, congratulations is a pretty perfect album closer (ignoring the deluxe addition CRAP added on after it).
Just mint isn't he
Run that body down one of my fave tracks of his.
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.
Paul just isn’t the same without Art. “Me and Julio” is a great song, all the other songs have their own identity, which is refreshing. I liked it. But didn’t love it.
Loved it
Reminds me of my childhood
Parfait pour un lundi ! Un vendredi la vibe aurait pas été bonne !
Still crazy …
It's Paul Simon, need I say more
Lotta range, lotta fun, not much to dislike. The lyrics and chords were good. The production and structure were fine. Enjoyed it. 4/5
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
Noice.
Very strong easy listening. Standouts include Mother & Child Reunion, Run That Body Down, Me And Julio, and Paranoia Blues (Unreleased).
One of the greats
Paul Simon is a delightful mishmash of folksy music, blending genres in a way that feels completely effortless. Down to earth, quiet, and personal, I really cannot recommend this album enough!
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
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.
I knew a couple of the songs. It got really folksy and I did not care for it. No need to revisit.
Love, love, love. Paul Simon will forever have my calmed down heart, I know Me and Julio word for word and have done for ages now. 4 stars.
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!
So good! Makes me want to pick up my guitar and play and sing them all.
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!
Eh. I didn't really dislike any particular song on this album but I didn't really like any of them either. Felt like mediocre background music.
Great album, reminds me of my mom and aunt who I miss so much.
Similar to the Simon & Garfunkel album I got prior to this, this album is realistically more close to a 3.5 than a 4, but considering I cannot do that here, it shall be rounded up. I enjoyed the overall vibe of this album, although not every song hits the mark for me. It is a huge benefit, however, that the album is pretty short. It makes it a brief and enjoyable experience I could see myself coming back to and re-examining as something I enjoy more.
A great find. I was not that familiar with Paul Simon outside his major hits and radio songs from Graceland. A lot of the roots of that album here, good songcraft, an interesting variety of rhythms and instrumentation.
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.
Didn't know Paul Simon was supposed to be such a bluesman
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
My second encounter with Paul Simon. I like the strings and most of his lyrics. Is it a political album? For sure, the wind in Duncan is my favorite part of the album. It reminds me the music of Marta...
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"
3/4 somewhere between. So fun and sweet!
Great songwriting and a very smooth voice. I like Paul Simon and really enjoyed this album.
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.
Other than a couple of his singles, I haven't really listened to Paul Simon too much. Honestly the man really could write a song. The album opens with a surprisingly good reggae song. The rest of the album is a delightful mix of styles. He clearly finds amazing people to collaborate with and the result is wonderful. The flutes in Duncan are hypnotic. Armistice Day has some really satisfying acoustic guitar. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is not new to me and I've always found it to be a fun song. This album is just shy of a 5, only because a couple of the songs didn't really resonate with me. But I feel like on further listen, this album will easily be a 5.
Solid
Nice, easy listening folk.
some good stuff in here
I liked it! A lot of the songs sounded the same but that makes sense because it’s his solo debut and self titled so it should be cohesive. But the whole time I was either like “I miss Garfunkel” or “I wish I was listening to The Rhythm Of The Saints.” But we stan Paul so I’ll give it three
My favorite songs are: Mother and Child Reunion, Run That Body Down, and Paranoia Blues Overall the songs are really solid and really put me in a certain mood, or maybe just the overall vibe of the songs tapped into something I was already feeling. I think its a really cohesive album, and I appreciate the brevity of a lot of the songs. Nothing except maybe Armistice Day felt like it was overstaying its welcome, but even then idk if that's my final opinion on Armistice Day. Really strong album to open this with, 8/10
Love Paul Simon!! My all time favourite album though is obviously Graceland... This album has a very different feel to it. It's much slower and more raw in terms of the storytelling taking a more melancholy direction. The storytelling in these tracks is absolutely wonderful as ever and I've not come across the song Duncan before which is lovely. I'm curious where the inspiration for that song came from and who it is about. Great variety of sounds and instruments and feelings from the different tracks. But I do prefer the more upbeat and exciting Graceland still.
What a great album and I do love Paul Simon! Always feels like such pure, clean music. Weird little stories that are curious to make sense of. I listened to this on an early morning drive to my Granddad's and it was a great soudtrack
Loved it. Love Paul. Love Simon.
Love his voice and some beautiful guitar playing as well. Enjoyed every song on the record.
Good stuff. Good in the background and some classics
Solid album, but Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is the best by far.
Very beautiful sound!
Very good background noise. I almost forgot I was listening.
You can't be angry when listening to Paul Simon, it's illegal.
Digged this much more than I expected
\"Me and Julio\" is a delightful little nonsense song. The rest of the album is chill and pleasant to listen to.
Really enjoyed it
Folky pop
Not as good as Graceland but still pretty good 3.5
Pretty solid, sorta felt like Bob Dylan? Not sure if that's totally off-base though. Definitely some catchy tunes and I liked most of the songs, but I don't really see myself listening to this one super often.
Some really good songs, mostly boring songs.
Mid
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.
I prefer S&G, but the real issue is all I can think about when listening is how many Boomers who were probably cool suck now.
Loved it, very chill vibe, very cosy. Only song I wasn’t a fan of was Papa Hobo
love Paul's voice and his song writing
Great album
Its fine. He's a talented musician playing music I don't really care about.
Very good, not quite for me so will fall short of a 5 but a lot of good songs. Why does he say Julio like that?
So it's a Paul Simon album, except I've never heard it and don't know any of the songs. And it's brilliant. Why do none of these songs get played? Ah, aside from Me and Julio.
Great album, Paul Simon really does some great and fantastic acoustic guitar work here and his vocals and lyrics seems to go hand and hand.
Like most of Paul Simon's work esp in this era it's very good, it's really hard to dislike some of his most popular songs. Though not every song is great, a few ho-hum songs keep this being a 5 star album.
A gifted singer / songwriter with knack for storytelling. What’s not to like?
Paul Simon was a stable of my house growing up. It's a good album and it reminds me of my dad.
I really like a lot of Paul Simon songs and some of the best are on this album. And the ones that tell a story are my favorite. Only knock this album gets is that a few of the songs are just a bit too similar to one another. So a really good album, just short of great.
it was fine, just generally boring. i wasn't able to get into the vibe. 3.
It’s really good but will still be below the Simon and Garfunkel body of work.
Superb
Lyrical and musical mastermind
Missed me 100 percent.
8/10
7/10. Great lyrics throughout, but musically I thought it was a bit dull, with the exception of Me and Julio, which is always a fun listen.
Great album, slows down a bit after Me and Julio. First half is dripping with nostalgia. 8/10
A master class in songwriting from a master song writer. 4/5.
great album
Although possibly one of the worst openers in musical history, this wound out incredibly well. The mans love a walk up (and down) the fret board - outrageous guitar playing.
Giving county
Very good initial solo effort post-Simon & Garfunkel, with many hints of what was to come for Paul Simon. While Paul Simon has many works that belong on this list though, I'm not sure this one does. It didn't really break any new ground. It's got two or three really good songs but the rest is mostly filler. It is nice to hear Paul Simon getting back to a bit of the acoustic guitar style from the early S&G days. 4 stars.
очень даже симпатично, прям приятно и понравилось
Simon mixes in various other elements not seen in his music previously. He also writes one of his strongest, and frankly best singles. At the core though it’s still his signature folk with that positive spirit.
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
Paul's lyricism sets him apart, and with the addition of his musical exploration with Caribbean and Latin rhythms, this first solo record remains one of the greatest departures from a successful duo/group. Few have successful solo careers after having intense success with a group, but Paul Simon has shown time and again he belongs amongst the greatest American songwriters of all time.
I totally understand why this was a hit in 1972. Folk was still an influence in popular music that was able to really be put out there. This album doesn't sound dated by any stretch of the imagination. But you can tell from the instrumentation that this is an album that wouldn't have mass appeal in 2023. I like the album, but I don't know that I would need to really listen to this regularly. It is a bit too mellow for me and I prefer Bob Dylan and Neil Young when it comes to things that have the influence of folk to them. I'll give this a solid 83.
I listened to a few songs and I enjoyed what I heard.
Classic hits - easy listen
3.7/5 good
Really enjoyed the different styles of music especially enjoyed songs that tell a story.
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.
I always knew that Paul Simon was wasted as part of that duo. I’ve known since Graceland at least. Never have I delved deeper into his discography than that seminal album, because I was already deeply engrossed in other styles of music. I absolutely love this album though. A testament to the genius of Simon compared to the weakness of Garfunkel.
Nice album. I liked it but not as much as Graceland. It's more minimal, and that can be nice, but I liked the instrumentation on Graceland quite a bit more. 3.75/5
Not Paul’s best stuff, he was still trying to find his ground as a solo act, but definitely has its share of classics. It’s pretty good, but his best work will always be with Art. B
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
With his first solo album after the disillusionment of Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon could now assert his voice, both in his writing and singing. An excellent debut that illustrates his passion for South American music, with some of his most expertly crafted and contagious songs of his career.
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.
10/10 fuck it, I love Paul Simon, even with all the weird shit he does down the road after this album, he’s still a very talented musician who makes amazing music I do prefer the stuff he made with Garfunkel tho
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Mother and child reunion
Not as good as Hearts and Bones
Simon's solo work reminds me of John Lennon's in that, yes there are some gems, but there's something missing. And in both cases, it's their musical collaborator. Paul Simon needed Art Garfunkel just as much as Lennon needed McCartney. And vice versa. The two hits here classics, and overall it's one of Paul Simon's more satisfying Solo efforts. But as is always the case with his solo albums, I'm reminded that Tom and Jerry belong together.
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.
Exquisite songwriting by Paul as usual. Could’ve used some higher energy numbers, but a very good debut effort by him!
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.
Really good album, one of the true greats of music.
I’m surprised yet again by a folk album! I really enjoyed this! Paul Simon has a great voice, and I love his guitar work on here! Only one song from this album didn’t make my playlist(Hobo’s Blues was a good song, but it wasn’t at the level of the rest).
jaaaa love deze
Wajoow I only knew a few songs by him nd one specific album but first song got me hooked instantly
Joyita la vrd
Klassiker, schönes Album
Love it. Never heard some of the songs
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. ***
Also appreciate the music for the times but a little to light and slow for me, more Buzzy style
Not awful but… yawn
cute, but not for me.
legend
нечего сказать
Classic
Something really gentle. And sound of the voice is really amazing
Never been a fan of Simon. I'm still not. It's just... Nothing.
Great music and storytelling and Me and Julio is a banger!
I love Paul Simon's voice and musical style. This is just an enjoyable album from start to end.
Simple sound, wonderful storytelling. Very relaxing yet fun listen!
Brilliant songwriter, loved the songs, especially the first half of this album. So catchy.
Loved it
I was going to listen and rate 2 albums today, but after listening to Simon, couldn't stomach following this up with the Beatles. 2 things/songs stood out to me. Papa Hobo referencing Detroit, specifically, "Detroit, Detroit gotta a hell of a hockey team." Maybe not now, but certainly the 90's into the early 2000's. But then he refers Detroit as a basketball town. Nope, it's Hockeytown, but then again, this album came out before he knew better. The song Me and Julio down by the River. I think his mom chewed tobacco if she's spitting every time she hers his name. Wonder what brand she chews. I'm guessing Redman. That's all I got..... Not a fan. But since I wrote this much, I'll give a 2. Now on to the Beatles, damnit.
2 Last time we had a Paul Simon album I wasn’t particularly impressed. I liked the poppy African styles but it didn’t do much to set itself apart. This album is no different. There is just nothing here for me to grasp on to. Basic lyrics, basic guitar and instrumentation in general really make this feel like a slog. There seem to be halfhearted attempts to branch out to different genres but they all feel so shallow and in distinct. As with Graceland I feel like the lyrics were written before the music and there was no attempt to match Rhythm or pace. I really only liked the bluesy songs. I can take or leave all others. Favorites: Peace Like a River, Paranoia Blues
2 I talked about this a bit before in my Graceland review, but while I really enjoy Simon & Garfunkel, I’ve never been able to get much into Paul Simon’s solo career. While I can respect Graceland for experimenting with songwriting and sound, this just feels like a poppier version of his existing folk career… and is just worse in every way. Mother and Child Reunion I found to be a particularly annoying opener, and I really couldn’t tell you what the song is about if I tried since 75% of the song is the line “The mother and child reunion is only a motion away”. Duncan and Everything Put Together Falls Apart felt like a nice return to form, but then from there the album devolves into track after track of overproduced folk pop, to the point I was pretty bored by the end. Favorite songs: Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day
This is probably my favorite Paul Simon album. It's his second, so he had time to shake off the rest of the Garfunkel, but he hadn't yet started appropriating African culture.
Alone Paul Simon is also good.
I enjoyed this. Would have loved some added instruments and vocal harmonies.
Nothing but good listening here. Love Paul Simon
I don't know what this album is supposed to be. An odd collection of short, all over the place acoustic genre songs.
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
Me gustó, bastante entretenido de fondo
The fresh start after the initial fresh start, Paul Simon shows the music world how unencumbered he has become with these observational, nostalgic songs that not only continue the skills honed prior but expands and refines it. Only onwards and upwards from here for Rhymin' Simon. Favorites: Duncan, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like a River, Papa Hobo, Congratulations.
It was fine, no more
Listened Before? N Wow. I'm really sitting on the fence between 4 and 5 on this one. He nearly lost me with the first song.. but oh BOY did it come back strong. What a great artist and an amazing album. He was clearly talented because of his work with his partner Garfunkel before this, but this shows that he was the driving force behind a lot of their sound, along with adding his own diversity to the mix. A top tier record, I think I may even prefer it to his more polished later work. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Me and Julio
Hey, a Paul Simon record I actually somewhat enjoyed. I feel like it's got enough flirtations with world music to be interesting, but not over-the-top. The production is also pretty nice, very warm. Seeing as how this is my fourth Paul Simon record on the list so far, maybe he's breaking me, or maybe this is just the only one I enjoyed. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Duncan", "Papa Hobo"
1.5 not bad, still not my thing
Fantastic instrumentals, incredibly weak lyrics.
Didn't know any of the tracks on this album, and whilst mostly decent there is a reason for that
Chill, bernie bro stuff, me and julio down by the school yard
Yes, I know he's a great singer songwriter, but this album is way too bland for my taste.
Sings like he looks.
Favs: - Duncan - Run that body down
😴
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: yeah? As in it’s not awful. Just a bit meh and not exciting for me personally Favourite song: Track 4 - Run That Body Down
Feels like I've heard this one before
i’ll take it
The two songs I knew on the album are always enjoyable, even though the title "Mother & Child Reunion" is a weird one, named after a chicken and egg dish. The other songs show the acoustic, songwriter side that he had so perfected with Garfunkel. And for the most part, it works. The contrast comes in with "Me & Julio" "Mother & Child" as they are both more upbeat kinds of songs. But the others do start to become a bit of downers after a while. Still, Simon always turns a good phrase and the album was enjoyable.
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.
I'm a big Paul Simon fan, but I've never found this album all that exciting. There are some really great songs on here, like Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, and Peace Like a River, but overall the album doesn't have the pull of a lot of his other work. Nothing bad, just nothing all that exciting - most of the other tunes are nice, but they just don't stick with me. Maybe one more exception is Duncan, but it always feels like a song that has potential but doesn't really go anywhere. Overall, I'm not sure why they included this particular solo album in the 1001 albums. The 1001 also has Hearts and Bones and Graceland, which are both amazing albums start to finish. I guess this album is pretty representative of his 70s output: each album has a few amazing songs and then a bunch of decent filler. Personally, if I had to pick one of his 70s solo albums I'd go for the next one, "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" which includes great tracks like Kodachrome, American Tune (one of my favorite Paul Simon songs), and Loves Me Like a Rock. I'd also put "Still Crazy After All These Years" in the running (heck, just for drum part of 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover...such a great beat. Kudos to Steve Gadd). I'll give this album a 4 mainly because I enjoy the album (which I can say for every album he ever put out, either solo or with Garfunkel), but it's just not a 5 for me.
p275. 1972. 4 stars One of the great singer/songwriters shows to successfully transition from the 60s to the 70s in style. It's not perfect - there is quite a bit of filler - but there are enough standout tracks to make up the gap, and Simon is also an excellent and underrated guitarist.
Starts out pretty tame, sounds like a typical Simon and Garfunkel record, but really takes a turn and delves into a number of different styles and genres. Obviously the catchy riff on Me and Julio stands out, but as a lover of Gypsy Jazz, Hobo's Blues was a surprise, and a very welcome one at that. Then into some real Delta Blues with Paranoia Blues. A real hodgepodge of different songs.
One of the best singer/songwriter/musician of our time. His second solo album. I remember when Mother and Child Reunion and Julio were all over the airwaves
Drugi solowy material w dyskografii pana Simona i pierwszy po rozpadzie duetu garfunkelowego, klasyczny krazek folkowego rocka z 72, wiec osluchany juz niejednokrotnie, nagrywany z potezna iloscia muzykow sesyjnych, ktorzy maluja mocno akustyczne melodie na ktorych Paul spiewa na tematy przerozne, raczej jest to lekki odsluch, ale nie zabraknie motywow dragowych czy dorastania, rowniez tego ciezkiego, plyta slucha sie praktycznie sama, bo na 34 minutach nagrania ciezko o dwa takie same utwory, raz ze wzgledu na to jak szerokie grono muzykow zostalo zangazowane w nagrania, a drugim jest fakt czerpania z roznorakich gatunkow, co z jednej strony nadaje nagraniu nieco popowosci, bo chce byc wszystkim i niczym, ale z drugiej juz tutaj widac zainteresowanie pana Paula jesli chodzi o muzyke z roznych stron swiata, co jeszcze bardziej uwidocznione jest na jego kolejnych albumach, kawalki ktore juz mialem na plejce to jedynie me and julio down by the schoolyard, wiec dodam jeszcze drugi utwor z traklisty, czyli duncana, ktory nagrywany byl z panem Los Incas, ktory zrobil tutaj niesamowita robote zwlaszcza na flecie, ale wydaje mi sie, ze zarowno gitarki jak i perkusja rowniez przez niego byla grana, wiec przyjemne odswiezenie sobie takiego klasyka
Twee-dull- well, not dumb, it's obviously well done, it's just not very interesting
How have I never listen to this album in full, or much of Paul Simon's solo work aside from Graceland. I always thought there would be something missing without Art Garfunkel, which truth be told it is, but musically its different compared to the duo's discography. Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard I've heard before so I was expecting songs with a similar music feel, but was soon proven wrong. Aside from the aforementioned songs, I came away loving Duncan and Peace Like a River, along with liking most of the songs on here too. The blues songs towards the end fitted the album but I wouldn't listen to them individually unlike the rest. What I concluded from this is I really should listen to solo albums more, especially when it's the member who's the main songwriter.
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
It was nice and laid back. I didn’t listen to it super closely but i enjoyed it.
Timeless classic
really awesome
Wrong link on Apple Music found but gas bonus songs. The original album is amazing. Love this!!
Great
The guitar is certainly lyrical, but I was falling asleep after a few songs.
Solid, absolute lad.
To be honest I’ve barely delved into Paul Simon’s solo career but I like Simon and Garfunkel so it’s probably gonna be good… The album opens with mother child reunion a track that comes as a massive surprise to someone who’s only herd Simon and Garfunkel stuff and the singles from Graceland. Mother and child reunion is full blown reggae it’s really cool to hear from him! Then you’ve got Duncan, this is the kinda thing I would expect from Paul Simon it’s a really good slow folk track. Everything put together falls apart is short but nice. I really like the rhythm to run that body down it’s quite jaunty and then there’s a muffled wah wah guitar solo which felt off but really welcome. Ending side one is armistice day it starts off sounding like the kinda thing you would expect from him but then evolves adding numerous extra layers making this really interesting, also for some reason that I don’t know why but I really like the guitar tones throughout the track. The first few seconds the guitars of me and Julio down the schoolyard reminded me of something a 2000’s “indie” band would make ( in a good way), the bulk of the song is probably one of the best so far I don’t know why but it’s a banger. Peace like a river seems to be the album’s “left turn” it’s a mix of a Paul Simon jam with rather tribal sounding drums and some of the best harmonies in his whole career! Papa hobo keeps it short and sweet it’s probably the worst so far but still really enjoyable. Then it’s hobo’s blues It’s a short sweet instrumental track nothing else though. Paranoia blues starts with a one note drum line marching straight forward throughout the song, I don’t know if the other elements work with the drums but I like them separately. Congratulations closes the album it’s a good closer very fitting to the rest of the album. Side one was flawless, side 2 was mixed as whilst I liked Julio down the school yard, peace like a river and congratulations the other songs felt quite lacklustre in comparison. 4/5
mehmeh
Having just listened to Graceland previously, this one seems pale by comparison. I mean, it's good, it's Paul Simon, but certainly a singer-songwriter of his time (1972). The singles are as good as ever, and really the shining spots on an otherwise ok album.
очень нравятся тексты. кажется это настоящее крутое кантри. исследую для себя гитару в музыке и как классно она может звучать. хочется добавлять некоторые песни всего из-за нескольких строчек или одной фразы. оочень нравится его фальцет. в песне «Everything put together falls apart» отворачивается от микрофона!
Maudit que c'était bon! Je connaissais juste 1 toune, mais j'en ai ajouté plein à ma playlist. Je pense pas que j'avais déjà écouté un album solo de Simon, ça donne envie d'en écouter d'autres!
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.
he's light, he's not cool, but he's a great songwriter.
T3B 1. Mother And Child Reunion 2. Run That Body Down 3. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
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)
Very nice. Chill, but not boring.
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
I guess this is the emergence of Americana! Revolutionary for its time.
Great mix of sounds. Liked it from start to finish.
Seemed to have lost notes
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.
Meh.
Nice song writing and stories. No guitar shredding obviously but great melodies and pleasant chord progressions throughout. Always an easy listen
Paul Simon's debut as a solo artist is a statement that he no longer needed Art Garfunkel and a blueprint of the stylistic wanderings that he would explore over the next 40 plus years. The bar set by Bridge Over Troubled Water was high, but Paul Simon met the challenge not by writing epics, but by smaller, story based songs that worked in his varied musical styles.
Impressive solo debut. “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Me and Julio” are classics. The rest are all very good. Confirms that he was ready for the next step in his career.
On this album we get concise storytelling and a diverse group of sounds and influences. None of it sounds out of place however. The panpipes in "Duncan" should be a lot more jarring next to the folk strumming on "Everything Falls Apart" or the jazz basslines of "Run That Body Down" but it doesn't! The world music sound he utilize on Graceland is forsehadowed here. Also the two big hits are fantastic, I've heard them both many times before but I enjoy them each time I hear them. The sparseness of many of the arrangements is striking and there were a lot of unsettling moments of quiet, but for someone who just left one of the most successful musical duos of all time maybe that was the point.
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.
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.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
研究活動が捗る音楽だった。気に入った。夏の終わり、どこか哀愁漂う空気が秋の訪れをまだ満面の笑みを添えては迎えられない、そんなことが想起される今の時期にぴったりの曲だと思った。
Couple of very classic folk songs. Personally I think Still Crazy After All These Years is the better Paul Simon album
3 - would be a high 3 but he's done better. just finding his feet ion a very nice way...
Solid album. It doesn't hit Graceland levels but Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is an absolute smash.
I wasn’t expecting a cod reggae opening track. Bland. Didn’t do much for me.
I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to focus on the lyrics. I quite liked the different musical styles - a little slide guitar and even some cod reggae. But nothing really stood out for me.
Meh
I was excited as I knew to songs from the album, but had never listened to the whole album. Have to say a bit disappointing as those two songs are the stand outs.
Good one, why haven’t I heard of it before
Prefs: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard, Paranoia Blues Moins pref: Peace Like a River
This is Paul Simon’s first solo album to get a wide release. In it we can hear his embrace of world music that would come to characterize his solo career. This album is a tight collection of folk and has some of his greatest hits. Overall, it’s a fantastic album and showed that he was a capable musician and singer outside Simon and Garfunkel.
It's freaking Paul Simon... I mean, how can this not be a great album? 4/5
Solid album which showcases Paul Simons stand-alone genius. 5/5.
Great melodies and sound. Some great songs but not quite as fantastic as some of his earlier and later works
My grandparents’ music. Few artists have been as influential as Simon and Garfunkel in the 20th Century, and Paul is just as popular if not more in his solo career. I mean who hasn’t heard Me and Julio Down by The Schoolyard? I really enjoy the stripped down instrumentals and bare vocals that are bordering on ASMR, even if this isn’t my typical genre. Paul has talent and he knows it. His voice is so soothing and the nice guitar makes you feel like he’s right next to your bed, serenading you to sleep. I also feel like I can’t really place this album in a certain genre. Every song makes me want to put it in one, then the next song turns that on its head. I can also place a lot of modern bands having been influenced by this album. Listening to Papa Hobo and Armistice Day, I feel like Jack Johnson is a direct descendant of this album. It’s overall fun and soothing to listen to, but none of the songs are being added to my playlist. My favorites: Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day, Congratulations, Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version)
the style i like, great voices and lyrics, good stuff
It was nice, although I prefer Simon and Garfunkel together
nice an chill, some classic paul simon but not his best. Great guitar playing but a little rambling
Very good album. Previously I knew only one song from that album. Very good relaxing. Thanks
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.
Deze was een leuke listen! Mother and child reunion en me and juli waren top
decent
Good!
HLs BESIDES ‘Mother & Child Reunion’ and ‘Me & Julio’: “Duncan”, “Peace Like a River” M&CR is probably one of my favourite songs, the rest holds up pretty well too.
Eh, it's fine. Not my cuppa.
Gets a little boring at times actually. Love it though 3.5
Freedom from the constraints of a partnership shows here. As expected a collection of well crafted songs, bur suprising in the variety of influences demonstrated - from reggae through latin via folk and blues. One of the best singer/songwriters demonstrating what he can do, with strong hints of the things that were to come.
I like Paul Simon, solo or duo. But this project is making me realize how much exploration I haven't done into artists I enjoy. I'm glad to have been presented this album and enjoyed it all the way through. Duncan and Paranoia Blues are new to me and great, and Me & Julio of course is a particular standout. That said I don't love the entire collection of songs as much as I do albums before (Bridge over Troubled Waters) or after (Graceland).
Reminds me of McCartney I, pleasant, sometimes surprising and fun.