Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Pleasant, with a few familiar favourites.
This album was definitely better than Heart and Bone, but after Papa Hobo it starts to get a little boring. Run That Body Down, Me and Julio, and Peace Like a River were the highlights for me. I was about to give it three stars, but I’m giving it one more because I’m a sucker for well placed whistle solos.
A man most famous for being 51 marrying Edie Brickell when she was in her 20's and maybe also being part of Simon & Garfunkel. He was married and divorced before his wife was even born. This album (his second solo album was released when his current wife was 6 years old. One of his more famous songs for a movie about a younger man hooking up with an older woman is older than his wife. He was a certified star before his wife was even born. I guess what I'm saying is that Paul Simon is a sex pest, not in the Diddy way of being a sex pest (that we know of) but clearly someone who when we has 51 married someone who was 27. The album is fine, it's a Paul Simon album. I'm not a super fan but I enjoy it. He is still a sex pest though.
Some boring songs, some better songs
I did not realize Paul Simon was so world influenced from his initial debut album. Really beautiful and interesting songs and arrangements. Sorry Garfunkel.
Decent, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard is catchy, but no other real standouts.
Depressing
"Hey I know this first song, maybe this'll be more of a blues/jazz album" Paul: "lol. lmao. Get folked" There's a few songs I really like here, but way more than I actively disliked. A dreary album on the whole with odd lyricism. Just sounds way too American for me.
Excellent album
Solid album. Enjoyed most of it. Standout songs: Duncan Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Peace like a river
Fine fine fine.
Loved it!
Me and Juliooooooo, absolute banger. A few more highlights during the album, it loses my interest a bit in the end.
Paul Simon without Art Garfunkel is like Paul McCartney without the Beatles--not entirely new, but new enough to the ears that the difference is immediately apparent. That kicks off with the reggae-tinged "Mother And Child Reunion", a number that S&G would never have recorded. The distinctly new sounds continue throughout the record, and Paul Simon is molting out of the skin of his 1960s identity.
As much as I love Graceland I didn't find this one grabbed me as much. Couple of good songs but pretty meh in my opinion
Paul Simon is always great. Enjoyed this one.
i adore this album. not the best thing paul simon put out in his career, but it holds a special place in my heart. the singles off of here bang and there are some amazing album cuts here too (shout out 'duncan'). it's not going to be everyone's bag, but it most certainly is mine
So many classics!
I don't like either Simon's or Garfunkel's solo work. Together they were a great pair but separately it's just boring.
Dobre folkowe brzmienia, ogółem to mi sie spodobał ten album, ale nie sądze żebym chciał wracać do piosenek.
I really like this album. It's not his best work, but between the songwriting an dthe craftsmanship, Paul Simon is an absolute master of his craft. 7.5/10
Paul on his way to become the greatest songwriter, but not quite there yet.
Reggae overtones on track one. Andean flutes on track two. Jazz influences on three. Somewhere else entirely on four. Blending musical styles can be interesting but that's not what this sounds like. It is more 'try that one, nope... let's try something else...'. Sometimes the insertion of, for example, 'a bit of jazz here' sounds distinctly awkward and contrived. It is an album that's scurrying all over the place, searching for a direction. It fails to find one. There's nothing unpleasant here... but nothing that grabbed my attention either. Not for me. 2/5
Lovely album, knew one song but really enjoyed the rest, all had a similar feel but different vibe by the song. Not a perfect album as I had moments where I slipped away, but otherwise really enjoyed most songs on the album.
Some okay sorta folk stuff. Didn’t really engage me much. 3 stars
Before going through these albums I had heard about but never really listened to Simon and/or Garfunkwl. This is now my second Paul Simon album and I have also listened through a Simon and Garfunkel album. This album isn't as good as Graceland but better than Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme, the Simon and Garfunkel album I have gotten so far. While I don't love all the songs the album as a whole is great to listen through and many of them I want to go back and listen to again.
Mother and child reunion is a great way to start any album. The only issue it sets the bar high and what follows whilst pleasant is far from the same level. The obvious exception to that is Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Other than those two tracks things like Papa Hobo are enjoyable just nothing noteworthy. Hobo’s Blues jointy tune does however put me in mind of a toothpaste advert, which i appreciate is my issue not a comment on the quality of the songwriting
This was fine - fairly middle of the road, easy listening, and nice to have in the background as I faffed about. “Mother and Child Reunion” was a highlight; I loved the reggae vibe of it, and the backing vocals were fab (hello, Cissy Houston). The rest of the album didn’t reach the height of that opening but, like I say, it was fine.
Another album where the only track I knew was because Scott Klopfenstein (ex member of ska band Reel Big Fish) covers it on his Twitch livestreams (Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard). If I had a nickel for every time that's happened blah, blah, blah... I really enjoyed this album. It was another where I played it through once, then immediately looped round and started again. I even, and this is almost unheard of, voluntarily listened to the bonus tracks. My favourite tracks were Me and Julio, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Hobo's Blues and Paranoia Blues. I'm not sure why the guy chose to put two songs called [blank] Blues on his album, and sequence them one after the other, but it shows a certain level of confidence. My only negatives were that I swear he slips slightly into a fake Jamaican accent briefly on Mother and Child Reunion - just because it's reggae tinged Paul, doesn't mean you should be mimicking the accent - and a personal dislike of the flute on Duncan. I did genuinely really enjoy this album though. I think this would be another 3.5 in a world of half stars (I think there's better Paul Simon to come), but I'm rounding up: 4/5
So good. Listened to it when having a bad day and it just made it much better. Honestly made me feel that living is worth it
Nice for a morning coffee
This was such a good album. Very similar in some ways to McCartney, and Plastic Ono Band - these first solo albums after a very historic group. So cool to see for each of these the direction they went in.
Okej album, ali ništa posebno, neki prosjek 3/5, 6/10
Some classic songs here from one of the best.
I really like Paul Simon. Just beautiful song writing all around. Need me his jacket.
Kinda meh compared to his work with Garfunkel.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would
Just uninteresting.
Prefer the faster-paced songs to the slower ones but overall, a solid record by a gifted singer-songwriter. Favorites: Mother & Child Reunion, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard Would I listen to it again: Probably
Very dull
Some nice tunes on this. Nothing that’ll end the world, but just… nice stuff. It’s a nice album. Well done Paul, you’re out on your solo career. Nice. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: Peace Like A River
Not his best, not his worst. Feels like a mid choice to be on this list. Me and Julio is massive though
I already know and love multiple songs on this album so it was great to listen to the whole thing.
I love Simon and Garfunkel, but Simon with out Garfunkel just isn't as good.
Simon and Garfunkel getting rid of the Garfunkel was one of the greatest upgrades in the history of music
Me lo esperaba mejor segun a empezado la melodia, aunque ha sido mas movido de lo que me habian advertido sigue siendo un poco musica de padre
This isn’t vastly different from Simon abundance Garfunkel’s outpourings, and I don’t suppose there is any reason in should be. It’s very even, and the beat remains fairly consistent throughout. Nothing to get terribly excited about and nothing too terrible. Although I could probably die without being told what it’s like when you have a room next to noisy shaggers! Honestly, does he think this is an unusual experience?? I always feel like Paul Simon makes music that has stay within two parallel lines, and if the music goes outwith those boundaries, the world will cave in. This is a man who doesn’t go over the lines when he colours in. This album lacks innovation and inspiration and Paul Simon will be locked into this groove until Graceland.
Surprisingly nice, just not amazed, Frankly
Gick in med väldigt höga förväntningar. Älskar me and julio..sen tidigare. Tror nog jag blev lite besviken. Inte att det är dåligt, på något sätt..mer än att det inte kändes "oumph". Jag väljer dock att fria framför att fälla, så det blir en fyra. Rätt säker på att skivan skulle växa till sig med ännu flera lyssningar. Det är ett sound jag gillar. Den klassiska gitarren och rösten är mycket behaglig.
Jäkla fin skiva detta, verkligen kvalitet rakt igenom och några riktiga höjdpunkter i Mother and child reunion (kul och riktigt bra med reggaen), Duncan, Run that body down och förstås Me and Julio. Lite svagare mot slutet, men ändå en klar fyra.
a bit uneven but beloved
Fav: Peace Like A River Least Fav: Duncan Art has Bright Eyes but with this album alone I’m thinking Paul Simon > Art Garfunkel
I have no feelings one way or the other
Es klingt irgendwie genauso wie mit Garfunkel. Ganz nett, wird nach einer Zeit dann aber doch etwas anstrengend. Trotzdem ganz süß.
446/1001
Definitely enjoyable with some classics.
A nice blend of folk styling & pop writing. Sounds a whole lot like his work with Art Garfunkel, which leads me to believe this was a time when Simon was still figuring out his own style. All in all pleasant, but nothing too extraordinary
Very clearly just continuing the sound from Simon and Garfunkel, which is to be expected. Great music to drive to while vaguely listening, paying more attention does not add much to the experience.
Ok album with a couple catchy songs, but a little bland in other spots. Nice to listen too, but nothing that makes me want to revisit anytime soon.
Is this violin … Grapelli? It IS Grapelli! Upped from 3 to 4 stars.
Peaceful and happy. But not really for me.
Boring
muuuuy chulas las canciones como que parecen de distinto estilo aunque sea del mismo, tipo folk pop y rock. me ha transmitido muy buen rollo.
oh god no no
folk rock, j'adore (chill)
Tired of people knocking Paul Simon for cultural appropriation. Why didn't I hear this kind of thing about Clapton for I Shot the Sheriff? Or The Clash for Junco Partner, or the Beatles for every song with a sitar? You don't have to like Paul Simon-- I have mixed feelings myself -- but do you have to make it a moral thing?
4.5 A perfect late spring album imo
one of my favorites!!!
this was ok!! some nice tracks but nothing that necessarily blew me away. good hosting music imo - a good vibe to be in the background of catching up with friends.
Not bad! Definitely feels like Simon and garfunkel
Overall, this was a very chill album, it was nice having it in the background. I had the first song in my Favouirites but I don't even remember listening to it, so I guess it was a long time ago. Nothing really exciting happened, but it's more of a Just Chilling type of vibe.
Eh, fine. I like Paul Simon and will gladly listen to his music but I can't imagine putting this on on purpose.
Yep. I'm good with this.
Having heard a couple of Simon & Garfunkel albums and not been wowed, loved a few singles, but rank that 'Call Me Al' song as one of humanity's worst atrocities, I didn't have high hopes going in. This is a collection of songs, not all that different from what I expected. Some are nice. Fairy forgettable after a single listen. I can't tell if I'd like it more, or less, with more listens.
Lovely music. Definitely a diversion from the "typical" Simon & Garfunkel style. There are more inspirations from other genres, and the guitar and vocals are more pronounced.
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is like a Top 10 song of all time. The rest of the album is solid too
I know some of his songs but not a lot. Thought I might like this album more than I did. But I didn't. Oh well.
I don’t think we’ll get the triple title treat today. Unless Paulie blows me away here with a new track called “Paul Simon” I think we’re going to have to settle at self-titled. I might as well jump off a bridge. Gee I sure hope there’s no troubled water down there. Paul’s got his coat on, and I’m ready for some chilly folk ballads that almost assuredly mention New York City every second bar. Hey Singer man, I’m friggin’ listenin’ respectfully ovah here in order to attempt to gain an understanding of your craft! Oh!! Mother and Child Reunion - Have I clicked on the wrong thing? Is Paul Simon doing a Patois over a watered down WHITE reggae track? Sandals Jamaica type beat. Dread and Apathy now colour my afternoon. Duncan - The ballad of the kangaroo mascot of children’s sugar bomb snack treat, Dunkaroos. He shouldn’t have had to endure that in the audition. ***MARITIMES MENTIONED*** SWEET JESUS FRIG BOY. What a turnaround. Every day I thank the lord for my fingers too. Gives me two middle ones that I can use to greet every Upper Canadian gentrifier in the maritimes right now. Everything Put Together Falls Apart - I can always hear the heartbreak of those who have had their Lego set taken apart by their mom when they weren’t done. So what company is coming over, do you think this wookie looks finished?? It’s hard being 6. It’s even harder being 29. The unfinished wookie is a dead end job and the mom is increasing cost of living and dependence on AI. Run That Body Down - To steal a phrase from the John Prine Spotify bio, I believe Paul Simon is one of my favourite “phrase turners” in music history. Just has such a fascinating way with words. You can see that while I enjoy it, I don’t take much inspiration from the man. Armistice Day - that’s all he wanted to say. Then? Bongos. Classic 70’s white guy. Oh wait he’s saying more. Paul Simon would’ve been a star in a political science class. The riffs sort of go insane on this track. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Mama Pyjama said that? Man, he puts some spice on that “Julio.” Somebody has been practicing their accent. This is a famous song, if you didn’t know. I’d like to know the crossover demographic of people who read my reviews (accidental clickers) and people who don’t know this song (Cold War holdouts.) that’s got to be Richard population. Peace Like a River - Peace River? I mean it’s Alberta so I’m not as excited as I was about the maritimes, but we’re still Canada adjacent. And of course, that’s what we need in these times. Fervent nationalism. It’s got us this far. Papa Hobo - The award, for song title most evocative of a leader of a homeless encampment who is gritty with street experience, but also sage and a resource for the community he serves, in music history goes to… PAPA HOBO BY PAUL SIMON. YOU DID IT YOU SON OF A BITCH. I got kicked off the bus for getting too excited about this. Soaking in some Detroit perfume of my own. Hobo’s Blues - BACK TO BACK HOBO TRACKS? Hell yeah. Again, I’m a pretty progressive guy, but going from hobo to “unhoused person” was a devastating blow to our beautiful language. Just say HOBO out loud a couple times. Try not to have a good time. Don’t worry, you can’t summon one. That usually takes years of systemic poverty brought on by insatiable corporations inflicting needless cost of living increases due to an unwillingness to plateau the highest level incomes in order to reinvest into liveable communities for all. Anyway, uhhh this is a fun track. Paranoia Blues - Oh no. We did white guy reggae. What’s a little white blues amongst friends. Usually enough to terminate that friendship. Congratulations - I barely understand what this word is anymore. I’ve seen so much drag race, I forget if it’s this or “Condragulations.” The microplastics are doing their job. Great work, regulatory bodies. Besides a horrible, gentrified reggae opener that was custom built for movie montages in the 80s, this was great. I was deeply worried it would continue in that same vein, but we were able to salvage a really fun singer-songwriter record. If it’s not heavy or terrifying, this is often what I want my music to sound like. Not the music I make. That doesn’t exist. Newsflash! Guy with a bunch of negative opinions about a subject is talentless in said subject! Shocking I know. Anyway. This was good. Get me some of that Detroit perfume, I’ve got a consultation sit down with Papa Hobo. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Duncan, Run that Body Down, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by The Schoolyard
Not bad, it's for sure not my thing necessarily but still good music in places.
A good album. Some upbeat songs mixed with some folk, and I think it works, maybe better than I think his pure folk and pure "world music" albums work. Still nothing that blows me away, but it is very good.
Out of the gate, Paul Simon is set to prove that his songwriting couldn’t be contained by the folk scene and pop success he had with Art Garfunkel. It’s got all the gorgeous restraint we’re used to from their production, but starting to explore other styles and avenues. But it’s the folksier tunes that are kind of incredible, informing the quiet indie singer-songwriters of the 90s and 2000s that make this shine. Not every song is a winner but it’s a deeply strong solo debut and a killer set of songs.
Pure American pop, prefer him with Garfunkel. Again not sure what this is doing in the top 1000
Gostei muito!
Highly listenable and mostly likable. Also, undeniably strong and well executed -- there are lots of grace notes with instrumentation choices). But one can ever escape the sense with Simon that this is only slightly elevated musically, lyrically or artistically than other pop songs on the, you know, radio. (Kelefa Sanneh would likely disagree but one believes Simon is much closer to James Taylor and/or Dan Fogelberg than he is to Bob Dylan.) This record excels in a non-threatening normie sort of way, and seems more observational and detached (even slightly contrived in a "let's make music" sort of way) than being a totally driven, urgent or "this record had to be made" sort of record. Put another way, it's more clever than intelligent, more glib/catchy than deep/resonant. While he often settles for cuteness ("Hobo's Blues" e.g.), he clearly wants to be taken more seriously than he was when in one's view it seems he’s been appreciated and compensated more or less in line with his talent and the merits of his output.
Favorite Track: Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Another solid entry from Paul Simon. He brings a beautiful complexity that in the surface seems simple.
Funny, I missed the Art Garfunkel solo albums.
Todella leppoisa
Fantastiskt album. Paul Simon kan verkligen skriva låtar som är enkla men fantastiska. Helt rätt och perfekta.
I really enjoy Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon solo is a lot of hot or miss for me. I'm between a 3 or 4 rating for this album. Is got some amazing high points, but as a whole album listen it loses me here and there. It's still a great album overall though.
i loved this so much more than graceland 💚 fave songs; duncan me and julio down by the schoolyard peace like a river 4.7/5 a 4 here for now, i feel like i need more time with this one to let it sink in to a 5. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bit dull
This isn't unpleasant, it also isn't very interesting, just a nice folk album, with some decent songs and some others easily to forget. 3/5
I like Paul Simon, but generally in small doses. I also prefer later Paul Simon, when he pushes past folk and starts experimenting with other genres. You can hear some of that here, for sure, but for the most part it's good ol' guitar strummin' and soft singing. It's okay.
****** This one is part of my list of all-time favorites.
It's a solid album with some top-notch musicians, a couple of bona fide classic singles, and some interesting ideas and sounds. But overall it's just not that engrossing for some reason, and has a sort of tentative feeling about it. I'm glad I heard it, but probably won't listen again.
Got a little on the commercial side for my taste but have come to appreciate it more over the yests
It's alrighty. The Spotify shuffle after this was amazing
its no graceland but its still good
P.S.: Later albums are far better
In a list of all too often mediocre recordings, this shows what a great songwriter can do.
2,4
It's a Paul Simon album. A good one. For the people that are into this kind of music it has to be amazing. For me who doesn't - it's great.
very peaceful feeling to listen to
Love it. Great memories and reminders
Some lovely stuff here. For one thing, I really appreciated his gentle voice. Some lovely melodies and arrangements, presenting interesting stories. Lots of variety; mostly, good. I put this on quite late in the evening, and gave in to the peaceful, relaxed, but entertaining, vibe.
I am a fan of Paul Simon, but had never listened to this album before. I liked the simpler, more pared down version of his musical style. This was only his second album, so it seems that his music became more experimental later in his career. My most-enjoyed songs were Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, and Run That Body Down. 8/10.
I liked this so much more than my last Paul Simon album, but not as much as the one before that. I guess it falls somewhere between the two Simon & Garfunkel albums I’ve gotten.
7/10 ❤️ : Run That Body Down Duncan Mother and Child Reunion
I don't know if I dislike American folk stuff in general or just Paul Simon. I'm hoping it's the latter. I do admit I was probably too harsh for his last album. I don't know if its just that I'm building up a tolerance to his vocals or I'm still amazed by the great instrumentality, but I put this one higher at a 6.5/10. Favs: Peace Like A River (the guitar is mesmerizing. 10/10); Duncan, Mother and Child Reunion;
Such a great artist - this record shows the start of his departure from the Simon & Garfunkel era, with his songwriting and musical style coming into its own, incorporating a lot of other genres like jazz, blues, and reggae. Every song is unique and so good.
One of the great singer/songwriters of my generation.
Absolutely adored this. Massive Simon and Garfunkel fan and rate Graceland as one of the greatest albums ever but never got around to listening to this one for some reason! (apart from Me and Julio of course.) More fool me for taking this long! What a delight top to bottom. Some really fun, groovy moments I couldn't help boogying around to punctuated by some gorgeous, sweet and earnest folk. Simon's quirky, absurdist and frank lyricism shines through. He has this perfect knack of making the mundane and ugly seem so novel, humorous and beautiful.
Yeah, no. I just can't.
I really enjoyed this album. Paul simon really knows his stuff. 8/10
Love the Paul Simon
Great songs for
Listened to about half
Not earth shattering but ok.
A great seminal song writer and musician. Good stuff
I have never listened to Simon alone, but turns out that I am now a Paul Simon fan.
I prefer this to Graceland. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard is a fun song. The rest of the album is decent enough that I'd just about give it a four, but it's very much at the low end of that score.
1/2 update - this one has grown on me.
pienen lapsen sielu tällä kauniilla miehellä. viaton mies. viaton POIKA. koskaan miehistynyt. sweet sweet boy. keho kulkee ajan myötä kuin me kaikki muutkin mutta sielu pysyy. kuin paikallaan pysyy sielu pienenä ja harmittomana. mahdotonta ketään pelottaa tai vaurioittaa, ei ole voimaa siihen, ei edes käsitä miten se olisi mahdollista niin viaton ja pikkunen. pikkunen. pikkupoika. awwwwwwwwww... so cute.... niin söpö.....mahdottoman pieni mies ja niin söpö ja niin viaton ja niin kiltti pieni pieni mies aijjaijjai kuinka vähän tämä pienokainen vaikuttaa ympäröivään maailmaansa paitsi suloisesti pikkupojan tavoin... duncan
Previously rated: Hearts And Bones (3/5) *************************** A very average album to my ears, but a couple of songs bump it up to 4/5. Mother and Child Reunion and especially Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard give it a big boost.
Pretty good, nice lyrics, feels like dad music tho
Enjoyed this. Pleasant and easy listen. A few songs were quite catchy too.
Again, didn’t love this album but I recognize it is great music. Innovative and unique. It has the calm playfulness I’m familiar with in Simon and Garfunkel with bits of spoken word sprinkled in.
Yep!
Beyond 'Mother and Child Reunion' and 'Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard', has some nice songs like 'Duncan' and 'Papa Hobo'.
It’s fine, I’d rather listen to Simon & Garfunkel. This is more of the same
I am not the biggest fan of folky, singer-songwriter stuff, but this is an exception; I thought this great. Simon is very talented at both the songwriting AND the singing parts (looking at you, Bobby Dylan). A couple of meh tracks keep it from a 5, but I've already added more Paul Simon stuff to my listening list. Solid 4/5 for Mr Simon!
3.5/5 Favourite songs: Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Not really my thing, but it was fine.
Some affecting songs
Imma relisten to it later
Too damn fucking cheesy 2/5
8/10 Great album. Deserves to be on the list. Graceland is better but this was super enjoyable and I'm glad I listened.
Unlike many singer songwriters where you get either piano and vocals, or guitar and vocals, Simon gives every track it's own unique flavour. He seems to find the right vibe for each track, be it pan pipes, bongo, strings, percussion or something else also making really good use of stereo through exquisite production. A true artist with a highly enjoyable repertoire. Easy five stars. I expect there'll be other Paul Simon albums on this list.
Very cool 25/30 L
Awesome love folk love Simeon some songs are skips but the style is awesome the drums and percussion sound like stuff I have never heard before and Paul Simeon is a great songwriter
A great experience that i enjoyed with great surprise. 10/10
Wasn’t too familiar with Paul Simon’s music other than Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Listening to this album in Hi-Res at breakfast was quite the enjoyable experience. Chill vibes with well mixed audio.
Classic easy listening album
Loved it, perfect album to enjoy a nice sunny day or when youre looking for something mellow yet joyful. Paul brought some heat with his experimentation with different genres. The flute in Duncan goes fucking hard...
I can't objectively rate Paul Simon because I love his music too much. I could rate this a 5 but I will give it a 4 as the "lesser" tracks here do not stand up like the "lesser" tracks on some of his other albums.
Pretty pleasing to listen to, but i did just get an auditory nightmare for my last album so anything would’ve been cleansing. Good background and thinking music.
7/10 - I'm quietly impressed by Paul Simon, my second album I've listened of his and I like his experimental approach with rock and pop
This album is quite lovely, and Paul Simon’s voice is something straight from heaven. Me & Julio is such a good song, and may even be one of my favourites of Paul Simon. Perhaps if I’d have heard this before hearing Graceland, I’d have rated it higher. But Graceland is actual perfection, and this self titled album doesn’t quite reach that same height for me. It’s still beautiful though.
Blah
Hard to go wrong with Paul Simon. Not my go to listen but I liked this album.
ooh i love paul simon. Run that Body Down and Mother and Child Reunion are so underrated
• 3/5 • Two great singles (Mother and Child, Me and Julio) and the rest is forgettable, if inoffensive
I like Paul Simon’s style of songs, pretty easy listening but some sneakily sophisticated twists hidden. ‘Motherboard and Child’ and ‘Me and Julio’ are the big songs here, but there are a few nicies among the fillers as well. 4/5
Simon’s first album post Simon & Garfunkel is a mostly laid back folk rock affair. He is a master of knowing how to use his vocal abilities in their best fashion. He’s also an incredible song writer. Mother Child Reunion and Me & Julio are standouts not only in style and energy her but as great entries in his storied songbook.
Solid pop/rock/folk album which is an interesting period piece looking at simons career and his breakup with garfunkel. You can feel the song writing talent. Like his vocals as well. He seems to want to show his musical range with a lot of genre hopping. While i admire the wish to display the mastery of everything from blues to reggea, it does not help the record imo. The tracks do not blend enough to make this feel like a coherent lp and bumps the rating down a little bit. Still very enjoyable.
This is basically a Simon And Garfunkel record. 9/10
Middle of the road Some good songs but my mind kinda found it all blended into one
Great Album
- I like this a lot more than the last album. It was way better than I expected from it but I didn't really enjoy it too much. It was still a good album but definitely not the best.
Paul Simon’s self titled album is melodic and soothing, like a hug from an old friend you didn’t realise you needed.
This album always follows by effortlessly. My second favourite solo Paul Simon. Strong 4
Guitar playing and song writing at it's best.
This is the best Paul Simon album, and the one I most readily gravitate towards. The fluidity of the guitar and vocals are in contrast to the band who are so crisp and tight, the perfect backdrop for him to shine. Duncan is one of the best songs ever written. So knowing, cheeky, lyrical, nostalgic. The lyrics, which keep pulling the rug from under you, are some of the best too. “My father was a fisherman, my mother was a fisherman’s friend.” “Holes in my confidence, holes in the knees of my jeans.” The silliness of the lyrics, and the tenseness of the music are a wild combination. The mixture of light and dark, funny and serious is part of what makes this LP work so well. Paul Simon is here to have a lot of fun, but it’s not fluff! ‘Me and Julio’ and ‘Peace Like a River’ sit side by side on the tracklist. Both equally as good as each other, yet diametric opposites. I always like it when he undercuts a serious point with a joke. Counterintuitively it improves the point (and the mood!)
I adore this album, perhaps only bettered in his discography by Graceland.
Two excellent records in a row! Finally! This was absolutely great. I think I was a Paul Simon Greatest Hots guy until now. Great guitar, holy crap! 9.6
This wasn’t bad at all, just not much of a paul simon fan. me and julio will be stuck in my head and i will be mad about it tho.
First decent album in my 1001 albums listen. Great songwriting, going from catchy to melancholy, sometimes at once. Likely to be revisited
Short and pleasant.
Very pleasant listen. I love Paul Simon’s voice. I only knew one song going in (Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard).
Achei uma bosta
Wishy-washy
Didn’t enjoy it very much
Ihan ok, ei mitään ihmeellistä tosin. 2,75/5
Jam forward. Good for a moody drive or a morose dinner party. Long songs, aside from everyone's favorite with Cisco Kid. Probably going to take a few more listens to really hear the lyrics.
Pretty good and entertaining. Simple yet not basic
I liked 2 songs
Nice and folksy. Plenty of harmony and simple verses.
like this album
On his first solo outing after parting ways with Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon keeps one foot in the folk-pop comfort zone while dipping the other into more adventurous waters. The familiar warmth and lyrical wit remain, but the palette expands — reggae rhythms buoy the buoyant hits “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” while “Duncan” offers breezy, strummy folk-pop and “Run That Body Down” shuffles along with a jazzy, late-night sway. The result isn’t a radical departure so much as a gentle widening of Simon’s musical lens, a record that suggests his days of pushing past the S&G template are just beginning.
I am a fan of Paul Simon’s music, both with Art Garfunkel as well as solo. This is an album I haven’t played in a long time, so it was fun to revisit. What stood out, aside from the singles being so much fun to listen to, was the more straightforward writing of his earlier years. This was more personal than many S&G songs and it was clear he was making a statement of purpose as a solo artist. The songs that stood out to me, aside from the two hits, were Duncan, Run That Body Down, and Paranoia Blues. A very enjoyable listen.
Meh
I did not realize how many songs I knew off this album. It reminded me of car rides with my parents and they're rotation of three CDs. Favorite songs was mother and child reunion
Nisam znala da You can call me Al singer ima OVAKVE BANGERE. Bas je ono sitting in the backseat of my car, with my guitar vibes. Jako lijep glas i stvarno mi se svaka pjesma svidjela s albuma, a iz prvog slušanja posebno “duncan”, “Run that body down” i “Peace like a River”.
This was very good - really enjoyed it. I had no idea Mother and Child Reunion was Paul Simon, which I don’t know if that says a lot about his ability to be chameleonic or just imitative.
A lovely collection of folk pop that allows Simon's ability to shine as a songwriter. Some aspects of the album felt a little tentative to me, but Peace Like a River was a real standout to me.
Liked the vibe, very roadtrip vibe
Favs : Mother and Child Reunion ; Run That Body Down Pas mon style de musique, je peux difficilement juger. C’est sympathique dans l’ensemble et selon l’atmosphère c’est un album qui s’écoute très bien. Très acoustique, à la Paul Kelly.
This is maybe the forth album by Paul Simon to appear in here, so I just going to say it again. This man never released a single bad song.
Meh
Onda campirana, me gusta lo suave de la musica pero es un disco muy yankee como otros que han pasado por aca
Un disco chill, tan chill que al tercer tema se pone aburrido Increible que sea el mismo falopero que compuso Graceland
Pretty good.
La manera en la que el disco une el flok con sonidos latinoamericanos y africanos es magistral.
This was pleasant
A few years ago I was at party. People were laughing and drinking. Then out of the blue a guy started playing the guitar. He played really well, and he had a really nice voice. Everybody stopped talking and listened with excitement. We listened to one song. Then another one. Then another one... Then people started exchanging glances – how long was this dude gonna play ? No one wanted to be rude and interrupt, so we spent a good 40 minutes in quasi-silence, and the cheering turned into half-repressed sighs. Excitement became boredom, then unease. I’ll say it again : he played and sung beautifully... But we felt like the party had been hijacked by someone who just wanted a captive audience, and by the time it was over we felt relieved. Listening to this album reminded me exactly of that particular evening. Paul Simon is a great songwriter, he can play and he can sing, there is no doubt about that ; he crafted more than a few beautiful pieces of music. I’ll gladly listen to a couple of songs. Three or four if I’m being polite. But any more than this, and I’ll start feeling like I’d rather be doing something else. Something more exciting, and more importantly something not entirely centered on Paul Simon. Kuddos for the first song, though. Very surprising to hear a (good) reggae song at the start of the album, I didn’t expect that.
Eclectic mis of ballad, country and blues.
Meh. Better in the beginning and trailed off. I respect paul simon and I do think hes unique and songwriting is great. But this didnt do much for me other than the popular songs
Wasn't sure what to expect from this album Paul's soothing vocals fit very well over the combination of folk Blues and pop elements. I did find the album a little one dimensional which would be my biggest complaint but it's not a major one
Fine, didn't like it as much as Graceland
Um dos melhores momentos dele solo
i love paul simon <3
So this is the king of rock and roll eh?
I saw somebody get kicked in the face at a Paul Simon concert
i dont love paul simon but i do love that me and julio down by the schoolyard is in the royal tenenbaums ... kinda true that this guy was the original sauced up white boy eh ? opening the album with a reggae song.. come on... anyways i loveee the flutes on Duncan... this album is awesome hahaha.
I just found out that this is the Simon from Simon and Garfunkel. Not the music I would listen to on a daily basis but good music nonetheless.
Love it! Er jo her Julio kommer fra in the schoolyard
This album was enjoyable enough, I liek the mix of jazz, acoustic, folk and all the other styles. There wasn’t anything that stood too me and I don’t think I’d come back to it but glad I heard it once. 3 is fair.
paul simon is a master of combining unusual chord progressions with strong melodic sense and songwriting. it's fair to say that he has earned his spot as one of the most renowned lyricists in Western popular music. 8.5/10
Kinda boring, but feel good music.
I have a student who refuses to play anything but Paul Simon when we work in the woodshop. He steals the aux and blasts Paul Simon on repeat. The same Paul Simon songs all day every day. I don’t know how to review this. It’s all good. I don’t like much of it. The instrumental songs are great. His stories can be charming. But I would never listen to this for fun. I think it's just stuck in that place where because my grandmother didn't play this all the time for my dad who then played it for me I am lacking the appreciation for Mr Simon as a whole. Hours later, a Paul Simon song came on shuffle and my wife goes on about how she LOVES Graceland and I asked her why and she said her dad used to play it all the time because her grandmother used to play it all the time. Confirmed.
I feel like I still don't fully appreciate Paul's work as much as it deserves yet. Maybe it's because I've been listening to so much music idk. Wait I just listened through it again and enjoyed it a lot more. Ignore my original statement. I still need to spend more time with it though. Anyways, there are a number of songs that jump out at me that I do love. Besides Julio, I really enjoyed Run that Body Down, Duncan, and Peace Like a River (crazy harmonies). Really strong songwriting and really impressive playing. I'm feeling a 4 for now.
Top ten singer-songwriter. These songs feel so full, I think it's because this dude knows how to write some of the best harmonies in the game. 5/5
It just doesn’t do anything for me. There’s just no edge or spirit to it.
Paul Simon. Never heard of this guy. At least, I don’t think I have. Guess I’ve nothing better to do than hop right into the music. Yeah, this is pretty alright. Very of-the-time singer-songwriter music, though many of these songs lose me somewhere along the way. That being said, there are some servicable tracks in here. I like the acoustic sound of “Everything Put Together Falls Apart”. “Peace Like a River” is a pleasing tune. The instrumental and songwriting is pretty good during the chorus. I like the gaelic sound of “Hobo’s Blues”, even if it’s a little short. “Congratulations” is a solid closer. I enjoy the muffled, soft sound. Gonna read up on why this is in here. Ohhhhhhhh, Paul Simon is one half of Simon and Garfunkel. I’ve never gone out of my way to listen to their music, so I didn’t know that the band name was just their surnames. Crazy to know that “Garfunkel” is a real name. I always thought they were deliberately channelling Frankenstein vibes with that one. Anyways, moving on. “...one of the best singer-songwriter albums of the seventies” More than half of this review is just talking about Bridge Over Troubled Water, which is kind of crazy. Guess that goes to show where the enthusiasm of this reviewer lies. I’m undecided on whether this album belongs here. Wikipedia says that this album was popular and acclaimed at the time, though I’m not seeing much in the way of a legacy. There’s a generally lack of singer-songwriting albums and I’ve been snubbing too many albums of late, so I think I’ll turn a blind eye to this one.
This one is pretty chill. My favorite tracks were Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard, and Paranoia Blues.
*yawn*
Fun seeing him branch out from his stuff with Garfunkel. Not as complete as Graceland but I'll definitely be coming back to it.
Wonderful. Perfect. Listened at mum’s house sitting outside with a paella, Rory, Katy, and Suze and lots of white wine
Some lovely memories but I much prefer the S & G stuff!
Some great songs but overall he's just not in my lane. Brilliant songwriter, great voice a legend but not for me.
Way better than I thought it would be! I love Paranoia Blues from it.
Blues-y folk that clearly have lyrical value but the tunes don't do much for me. The folk takes away from the raw emotion that blues has, and the blues takes away from the soft emotions I can enjoy from folk
An enjoyable primarily acoustic folk experience with varied stylings throughout. Me & Julio is the personal pick here.
Good. Julio is a great song. Since I’m not a lyrics person I wonder if a lot of this album goes over my head.
I don’t know that I love all Paul Simon, but this is pretty great. All the songs I know are still great and the ones I was less familiar with were just as great.
Oooooo, I’ve been waiting for this one. Historically, I’ve been a very big Paul Simon fan. And this is my favorite solo album of his. And my second favorite album he’s penned (after Bridge Over Troubled Water). I usually like Paul’s deeper cuts more than his hits, and this is no different. Look, I love Mother and Child Reunion and Me & Julio. But Duncan is my favorite song here. And the rest of the songs are really great. Like, just meandering through Paul being a fantastic musician and kind of weird and sometimes goofy songwriter. I love this album very much.
Highlights Peace Like a River and Mother and Child Reunion
Another bland Paul Simon offering. None of these tracks have a single memorable tune or beat. Looking back I can vaguely remember individual parts, like the pan pipes in Duncan, but overall it's a big boring wash, except for Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, which just sounds like 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Simon and Garfunkel can both jog on as far as I'm concerned, but I fear that as I'm only halfway through this list more of their tedious work is lying in wait for me along the way. I was going to give this two stars as it wasn't actually offending me or making me reach for the fast forward button too often. But then I found the songs from Papa Hobo onwards so painfully boring I had to take a break from the album and it didn't improve once I came back to finish it. One star.
Paul Simon is an odd artist in that I really like a lot of his recordings, and I have seen, and really enjoyed, one of his live shows, but I have never really warmed to him. This was his first album after his split with Art Garfunkel; it's not as good as Bridge Over Troubled Water, and he would produce better albums after this. There are some good songs - "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me And Julio Down By the Schoolyard", "Peace Like A River" - some merely OK. Simon's voice and guitar playing are fine throughout. "Armistice Day" stood out for me, I like this song a lot - acoustic guitar and percussion (by Airto Moreira) which, with the addition of some horns and subtle electric guitar, builds to a nice crescendo. But, as an album it doesn't really hold together and feels like he was largely treading water while he transcended to solo work after so many years in a duo.
I like this a lot more than Graceland, I think because its quite similar to the Simon and Garfunkel stuff I like, and there's also some quite different stuff, he must've took inspiration from a lot of genres, like the first one which is reggae-esque. Obviously an amazing singer and writer, he's the one who's voice is most recognisable in Simon and Garfunkel in my opinion. Only real downside is that some of the instrumentals feel a bit too sparse for me, maybe he had a deadline or something and couldn't record more instruments. Favourite songs: Mother and Child reunion, Duncan, run that body down, me and Julio down by the schoolyard, Papa Hobo, Hobo's blues, congratulations. Overall around 7/10
Easy, easy listening
Un muy buen disco de folk. Si algunas de las canciones de la segunda mitad estuviesen al nivel de las primeras sería perfecto. De este álbum destacan sobre todo sus melodías y las letras de Paul Simon, que siempre han sido notables. 4/5
Paul Simon is a great songwriter but I've always felt his discography could be halved. This would be one of the albums cut for me.
Love how innovative this is for an early folk album from Paul, he does folk great but there’s already ideas pushing through here that make up something bigger especially with the organ and melodies in songs like the first one and run that body down (the latter without the organ but with a very cool jazzy feel). The hit single off this sounds like something that would come out of graceland which is what i mean by his more experimental (in a poppy way) ideas coming through. His guitar playing is great as well, just a great folk album in general, wasn’t as big a fan of the more country orientated songs like papa hobo or paranoia blues as much though. Favourites: mother and child reunion, Duncan, Everything put together falls apart, Run that body down, Me and Julio and peace like a river (and the instrumental). Overall, 7/10.
One of my faves by PS with two early hits on it.
Godt album, men litt smør på flesk å få dette dagen etter S&G..
Paul Simon is a master of his craft and one of the best singer/songwriters to ever come out of the states. This record is a global sampling of genres aggregated into a light and technical composed platter of sound. It’s wonderful.
Really lovely album, great songwriting and was fun to listen to while chilling in bed, had a great song I’ve heard but didn’t know it was this album
Very pleasant, more intresting than most gutiar/ vocal music. Wouldn't mind listening again
When it’s an album from the early 70s I know that I’ll like it.
Pffff aburrido y repetitivo. No mucho más que decir 5/10
Not sure, i heard this longplayer the first time. I Like Simon&Garfunkel, but for Simon solo i need more time for a Fair vote
Das Album Paul Simon wurde 1971 in mehreren Studios aufgenommen, darunter die Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, A&R Studios in New York sowie einige Sessions in San Francisco. Es ist das erste Soloalbum des US-amerikanischen Musikers Paul Simon nach der Trennung von Simon & Garfunkel. Das Werk bewegt sich stilistisch im Bereich Folk-Rock und integriert dabei Elemente aus Latin, Reggae und Jazz. Die musikalische Ausrichtung ist zurückhaltend arrangiert und legt den Fokus auf akustische Instrumentierung und lyrische Inhalte. Besonders bekannt wurden die Titel „Mother and Child Reunion“ und „Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard“, die sich sowohl durch eingängige Melodien als auch durch rhythmische Vielfalt auszeichnen. Weitere Stücke wie „Duncan“ oder „Peace Like a River“ zeigen Paul Simons Interesse an erzählerischen Songstrukturen. Das Album dokumentiert eine Phase künstlerischer Neuorientierung. Es verzichtet auf opulente Produktion und vermittelt einen persönlichen, introspektiven Zugang zur Songkunst. In der Rückschau erscheint es als ein ruhiger, aber bewusster Schritt in eine eigenständige musikalische Identität.
Vibes.
I mean cmon, it’s Paul Simon, of course it’s gonna be good. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album today.
I just bloody love Paul Simon. Don’t even know why, I just do.
I had only heard the two singles on this album, and liked them alright…but I really liked the rest of the album even more. No surprises here…I will definitely be listening to this again. 4 stars!
Not bad at all, just not my style and did nothing for me personally.
Mother and Child Reunion Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Peace Like a River
I'm generally a fan but this record didn't do much for me.
A little Bob Dillon-esque but I kinda vibe with it
this album has so many cool ideas packed into such a tight runtime that I can't give it less than a 5, just go listen to it. it's got stéphane grappelli on it for pete's sake.
Hehehaha
According to the history of "The Sound of Silence" podcast episode I recently listened to, Paul Simon is kind of a huge jerk, so I issue this rating with some reluctance.
Enjoyable listen throughout
Noah Kahan gets four stars.
If only Paul McCartney had lived, then we wouldn't have needed Paul Simon.
Ganske fint, litt mixy
Fairly good songs in this album. Don't think I've listened to any of them before, at least not actively. 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' sounded familiar and was brilliant. 'Paranoia Blues' was surprisingly good.
Paul Simon is a bit of a musical blind spot for me. I know he is considered a musical legend. But for me it’s a bit vanilla, a bit sanitised. Was going to score him a 2 but think this is probably a little unfair and not reflective of his talent as a songwriter (?). He can have an extra star for marrying Princes Leia, every schoolboys fantasy (if you were born in 1972)
Twang binga di bong, beeebooop, doobie, twing twing, nee nee nah nah. My daughter described someone's music as 'the chicken breast of music' - that seems pretty fitting for whatever this is, not offensive, sometimes ok, boring AF.
Not shite, but not really my go-to thing. Pleasant enough sonically but requires a specific mood. It goes a bit reggae at points, which amounted to the more interesting and uplifting aspects of the album. Thumbs in the middle from me, might re-evaluate down the line.
4.5 Really beautiful and funky, I think it will continue to grow on me. Super interesting instrumentally and lyrically
I have no idea who Paul Simon is. The start is rough... Not a fan of that first song at all. I'm not a fan of his voice. I'm just very eh about it, it doesn't resonate with me at all. Funnily enough, Spotify started playing a song (50 Ways to Leave your Lover) from another of his albums after this one and I kinda liked that better. Favorite song/s: - Song/s saved: - Album saved? No
Diverse sounds but so is the quality of song writing
capooooooo
A few classic songs and a lot of filler
I guess I just really don't like most of Paul Simon's stuff. Still Crazy After All These Years? I'm in. This? I'm out.
Easy listen but nothing memorable played it 3x
2-3
absolutely Killer set of arrangements on here...the amount this record constantly reset my attention by throwing a great instrumental idea out there is kinda staggering. its a great set of songs too..the s&g material ive heard tends more towards Elemental and Eternal, where i think simon took the breakup as a chance to get a bit more personal and down to earth...him namedropping himself on the very moving run that body down (mayb my fave on the record) is a rly striking moment. even theoretically slighter songs have their charms, like papa hobo being followed by a fun instrumental companion. a great companion to the extremely long, extremely humid walk i just got back home from.
Prefer his work with Garfunkel. Julio is a highlight but quite middle of the road otherwise.
I like this a fair bit, but it feels that for the most part, Simon had not yet found an independent voice that was distinctive from Simon and Garfunkel; this feels very much like Bridge Over Troubled Water II at points. This means it feels like Garfunkel is lacking from the record; I would have welcomed his voice. The exception here is Me and Julio, where it feels like Simon is covering new ground, and is the strongest track on the album by far. A strong three, almost a four.
me when "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" came on: IT'S THE SONG FROM THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS also I really liked "Peace Like a River"
Pretty good for a debut, solo, album. I know he has the years as Simon & Garfunkel, which I preferred, but this is still solid. A few good hits, but nothing that will stick with me, except for just how impressive his voice is in general. Favorite song: Run that Body Down
It's ok. Not great. Me and Julio is the only memorable song on the album. 2.3 stars.
This was an alright listen. Nothing particularly objectionable about this album, though it was a little wierd and a little sleepy.
The story telling and melody are lost on today's music.
Very good
It's Paul Simon so you know what you're getting. The songs I really like are already on the GH so I wouldn't need to own this record. They're aren' t any deep tracks that I LOVED. It is still a quality record though.
Jedna z moich ulubionych piosenek jest na tej płycie. Ale całość ma trochę zbyt wiele podobnych do siebie ballad, abym dała 5/5. Uwielbiam Paula Simona, jego głos i kompozycje, ale nie bez powodu najlepszym kawałkiem jest ten bardziej żwawy. 8/10
girl how many paul simon albums are on this
I’m generally not too fond of Simon’s solo work, but this is probably his best. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is undeniably a hit, so I’ll be more generous than I normally would. Overalll, an enjoyable album that drags at times.
this sounded both joy- and thoughtful
4/5
num fede nem cheira
eh normal hein... mas flerta bastante com outros estilos, num esperava isso nao
Puzzled on this one. A high three?
Do you think Paul ever went through a punk phase?
Decent
Really nice album. Lots of great story telling and what seems like making up the songs on the spot but hey it's Paul Simon so in sure he took his time constructing the album. Maybe Julio helped him down by the school yard
Honestly amazed. The guitar reminds me of what would tickle my ear when I first started playing. How he can fill a room with sounds with such beautiful vocal melodies complimented by the guitar’s harmony is impressive.
Solid - Me and Julio is an all time great
Yeah sorry Jacob, this shit rocks. There isn't really a bad song here. Paul Simon can write a hit. This album is sooo fun. I love it! His voice is amazing. This album just makes me happy. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" is one of my favorite songs ever. Actual rating is a 4.5. Liked Songs: "Mother and Child Reunion" , "Duncan" , "Run That Body Down" , "Armistice Day" , "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" , "Peace Like a River" , "Papa Hobo" , "Hobo's Blues" , "Congratulations" , "Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version)"
liked songs: Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Peace Like A River Some good and interesting, and some odd Paul Simon choices that I just don't seem to like. 2.5
Good album. A bit bluesy, a bit folky, a bit of everything to be honest.
Me and Julio is amazing The rest is pleasant but not really essential
Not his best. There are a lot of diddly half songs
There are so many great tunes on this album. I’m a sucker for Paul’s crooning paired with the flute and a driving baseline. “Everything put together falls apart” is my least favorite track, but it still has its bright spots. Otherwise than that, each track is a banger.