Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Classic, like to get on vinyl.
The palette of sounds and styles drawn from is by far the most interesting thing about this album. I don’t think it’s amazing by any means but a few tracks definitely stood out as classics. It also sounded a lot like modern indie folk which I thought was interesting. I could see Fleet Foxes or Sufjan singing these songs today.
Mon 2ème album de Paul Simon. Le 1er est celui de 1983. J'aime le mood pas mal! Sur la route, must be nice.
Relaxing, joyful, acoustic
I'll agree with dmo - just give me "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" on repeat for 11 tracks. It turns out that song is only 2 minutes and 42 seconds. Clearly not enough. But the rest of the album is actually pretty solid too. I enjoyed "Duncan" and "Paranoia Blues," but there's not a bad track there. However, only "Me and Julio" is a 5.
If the whole album was me and Julio it woulda been a five.
While the reggae influenced Mother And Child Reunion doesn’t fit the rest of the album, I like the song a lot. It’s good that it comes first so that it doesn’t feel like a complete departure once the rest of the folk songs have been heard. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard is an all-timer type song. What a fantastic song! I’ve heard this song a 100 times. This time I noticed the 2nd rhythm guitar on the right channel. It provides a light, airy counterpoint to the main rhythm guitar. The interesting thing to me is that the 2nd rhythm line has been a key component to the song that I’ve definitely felt, but not necessarily isolated. It’s higher up the neck than the open chords of the mainline. As someone trying to learn the whole fretboard, this really stuck out. The guitar on Peace Like A River is amazing, as are the break downs during Armistice Day. I love the bluesy hammer-ons and bends. This solo Paul Simon offering offers quite a bit to get into.
Me and Julio down by the schoolyard is a song I knew!
I am quite glad to have discovered this album from Paul Simon who is someone I had never heard of before as the folk scene is not one I was previously invested in. This album was quite pleasant sounding with acoustic guitar taking over as the main instrument here. These songs were simple but unique elements in each song kept things interesting. Each song felt different from the last and Simon is obviously trying to tell a story of some kind which is something I always appreciate in an album. I see myself coming back to this one.
Folk again! Another cool album from Paul. Some tracks are more forgettable than others, but it’s still good and has its moments. Chill and relaxed. Cool!
love love
Kivaa akustista, tykkäsin lauluäänestä.
Did not expect this to start out on a reggae-inspired dub track. I'm not sure how to feel about this being appropriated by a white dude, but it is done very well so I'll let it pass. Duncan puts the spliff down for a folksy storytelling number with traditional elements. Masterfully done, Simon jumps from anecdote to anecdote painting vivid pictures. Everything Put Together Falls Apart is a sparse bluesy number -- pretty cool. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is a low-key jam. Feels a bit like some of The Dead's jams off of Workingman's Dead. This is another one of those albums that I had zero expectations for that has blown me away. I know of Paul Simon from his work as half of Simon and Garfunkel, but never really listened outside of their hits. This album has a lot of character and a ton of range start to finish. His voice and ability to tell stories on record are great. I was enjoying all of it even as it drifted into the background of work. 4 / 5
A nice, calm, folky album for a gloomy day. Pretty good combination. Not a lot of songs that I recognize on this album except for Julio which is one of his bangers. I like a lot of Paul Simon's music, especially his voice and lyrics. Might not be the best music of all time, but it always puts me in a good mood when I listen to Paul Simon. This is a 4 with some bias helping out.
Solid
Durcheinander, gute Folkmusik, sucht Stil
Great album. Simon nearly at his S&G best.
Wow! What a great album! Love the voice, harmonies and, oh gosh, the guitar tone! Thanks for bringing this to my ears!!
Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon Paul Simon
Pretty chill
Loved it
A couple of absolute classic songs everyone should know. You might even say they should hear them before they die. Even in his "lesser" songs, Paul Simon knows how to speak plain but also turn a phrase. He manages give rise to and coax an emotional response from me more than I'd like him to. It's a gift that keeps on giving. That said, I feel like there wasn't a lot of reining Paul in when he thought something was a good idea which is how we also get "Hobo's Blues" on this record only to be followed up with some questionable instrumentation on "Paranoia Blues" which borders on self-parody. The album just doesn't close as strong as it opens, I'm sorry to report. Even Congratulations which isn't as bad as his "blues" tracks doesn't have the gravitas of the starting block (first half of the first side).
Genres: Folk rock Formed: 1970-72 (solo) Run time: 14 songs, 42 min, 52 sec The second solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter. Overall it is an album about the trials and tribulations faced throughout life. Spotify: Least popular song: >1.1M Most popular song: almost 298M plays. "Mother and Child Reunion" is an emotional track about a parent grieving the loss of a child. As an interesting note, the title is actually the name of a Chinese dish made up of chicken and eggs, i.e. mother and child. "Duncan'' is the story of a young man named Lincoln Duncan. He leaves his past behind to start anew, finding his way through religious experiences and love. "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" is about an individual’s struggle to cope with life. It is a warning against using drugs as a coping mechanism. "Run That Body Down" is also a warning about self-destructive behaviour and its effect on body and soul. "Armistice Day" is a solemn song about Armistice Day. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" is about a boy who goes to meet his friend (Julio). His parents are not happy about what he’s up to and go to the police. Consequently, he is arrested but the only consequence seems to be him appearing on the cover of Newsweek. We don’t know who the boy is, or what he has done. I can only assume there is a metaphorical meaning to the song . "Peace Like a River" is about the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. "Papa Hobo" is a song about Detroit (“Motor City”). The car industry made it a great city, now that success is choking the city with pollution. The singer then talks of leaving. "Hobo's Blues" is an Instrumental. "Paranoia Blues" describes the mistrust the singer feels as a result of living in New York. "Congratulations" is about someone being congratulated for an achievement. The singer, however, resents the person for their success because he himself continues to be miserable. The songs are really well written and executed with simplicity, putting the song front stage, rather than the artist. Listen Again?: Maybe My Rating: ****
Yes
This is awesome.
The epitome of “hard to hate” music. Easy listening, good musicianship. He’s got some better albums, I think. But this is great
It is af he tried to figure out his genre for himself, while having the talent to back up such a project. Fun album!
Nuevamente Paul Simon nos da un gran singer songwriter que se escapa del sonido habitual. Hablándonos no solo desde sus letras, sino que también desde melodías que son ricas y tiene una tendencia a la profundidad. No es tan excelente como Graceland pero este disco sorprende para bien, es complicado situarse como singer songwriter pero rozando el pop y rozando el folk y al mismo tiempo ser identificado, pero al mismo tiempo alejándose de lo que era referente en esa época como Dylan o Cohen. Por eso, este disco se gana un 8/10.
A nice one. Lovely tracks and lyrics throughout, never overworked. Not something that's gonna rock my world but there was abundant pleasantness. Even tenderness you might say. Tenders. Three and a half. Fave track: Paranoia Blues
Nice, in exactly the way I would expect Paul Simon to be. I like that I can actually hear the lyrics & story.
Pleasant but I'm not a huge fan of these storytelling songs so a whole album won't get a 5 from me.
Solid album, but not as strong as any of the S&G stuff or Graceland.
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.
Paul Simon's cool. 3.5/5
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!
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
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.
One of the great singer-songwriter records of its time and of all time. Difficult to critique due to simply doing everything well.
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.
Really cool and interesting record. Such a great songwriter. Another record with cuica!
Eh not bad, ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOL YARD. 7/10
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.
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).
Run that body down one of my fave tracks of his.
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.
Reminds me of my childhood
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
Noice.
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.
So good! Makes me want to pick up my guitar and play and sing them all.
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.
Didn't know Paul Simon was supposed to be such a bluesman
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...
3/4 somewhere between. So fun and sweet!
Great songwriting and a very smooth voice. I like Paul Simon and really enjoyed this album.
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.
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.
Solid album, but Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is the best by far.
Very beautiful sound!
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.
Folky pop
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.
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
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’s really good but will still be below the Simon and Garfunkel body of work.
Lyrical and musical mastermind
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.
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 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.
Classic hits - easy listen
Really enjoyed the different styles of music especially enjoyed songs that tell a story.
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
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Mother and child reunion
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.
Exquisite songwriting by Paul as usual. Could’ve used some higher energy numbers, but a very good debut effort by him!
Really good album, one of the true greats of music.
Joyita la vrd
legend
нечего сказать
Something really gentle. And sound of the voice is really amazing
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.
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.
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.
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"
Chill, bernie bro stuff, me and julio down by the school yard
Favs: - Duncan - 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'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
It was nice and laid back. I didn’t listen to it super closely but i enjoyed it.
Great
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
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!
he's light, he's not cool, but he's a great songwriter.
Very nice. Chill, but not boring.
I guess this is the emergence of Americana! Revolutionary for its time.
Great mix of sounds. Liked it from start to finish.
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.
Couple of very classic folk songs. Personally I think Still Crazy After All These Years is the better Paul Simon album
Solid album. It doesn't hit Graceland levels but Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is an absolute smash.
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
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)
It was nice, although I prefer Simon and Garfunkel together
Deze was een leuke listen! Mother and child reunion en me and juli waren top
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).
Another one that I will probably relisten to
Surprised I hadn't heard this one before. Good album, Paul Simon is a great story teller. Me & Julio is still my favorite, enjoyed Paranoia Blues and Run that Body Down.
Never thought I'd like this listening to the entire album experience but boy I was wrong. Loved the voice and the calm this entire album exuded 4stars
This album was very pleasant to listen to. Not much to say other than that; very good paul Simon. Me and Julio in the courtyard is great
listened to again i really like paul simon
Good stuff
Men' je ovo dosta simpatičan album. Miran i opuštajuć album uz zvukove folka.
e bão mas falto o garfunkel
Very good. Exactly what I expected from Paul Simon.
There's just something comforting about this album. Faves: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Paranoia Blues
J’ai eu beaucoup de plaisir à écouter cet album. Plus que Graceland. Il a une façon très variée et créative d’écrire la partie paroles/vocale.
J'avais déjà écouté cet album avec un autre groupe. En plus d'avoir écouté Graceland il y a quelques semaines, mon écoute en était différente cette fois. J'aime de plus en plus Paul Simon. J'ai beaucoup plus aimé cet album cette fois-ci. Sa voix et sa façon de raconter des histoires en ne sacrifiant pas une bonne mélodie en fait sa force. Bien sûr Graceland vieilli un peu plus mal à cause de l'époque de son enregistrement, mais pour moi You Can Call Me All est une des meilleures pièces de Paul Simon. Par contre ce deuxième album solo s'écoute vraiment bien. Pièces préférées: Me and Julio by the school, Mother and child reunion, Duncan et Run That Body Down
Great classic blues-inspired folk!
Good stuff. Love the blues songs in there.
Very good, clearly staking Simon’s claim as a self-sufficient solo act. Some of the writing suffers his flaw of being a little too precious, particularly as it clashes with the aspirations to a darker, street-level sensibility.
this is the backing track of me romanticizing my life lol
Paul Simon is amazing
I just really love a spot of Paul Simon. Very laid back and sweet.
Easy singer/songwriter vibe. Paul Simon incorporates some world type sounds into his album, ex: "Duncan" uses what sound like pan flutes. I enjoyed it, though I'm not sure this particular sound is my fave.
Meglio di altri cantautori che mi han fatto sentire, ma secondo me è come per i poeti, o te ne innamori o non ti dicono un cazzo, sebbene qualcuno dica che siano i migliori di tutta la storia messa insieme. Però ad un secondo ascolto mi è piaciuto di più!
Not really a singer/songwriter fan (it takes me like 10 listens to most music before I start paying any attention to the lyrics), but man, Paul Simon can write a tune.
I should get this on vinyl
I have to be honest; I've never gone back prior to " Graceland" and listened specifically to any Paul Simon. His music was played enough on the radio for me. This album contains two of his most popular and best songs, "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down By the School Yard" Those are almost unique songs on this album as most of the songs are more laid back and subtle: acoustic guitars, a few instruments and sparse arrangements. The songs tell stories some personal, others probably from another of view whose topics cover struggling relationships, infidelity, politics somewhat, drugs and broken dreams. "Peace Like a River " kind of reminds me of R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" sound. Other than the two hits, no other songs really stood apart; not to say, they are bad or this a bad album. The lyrics are great. This a personal album and easy to listen to in a singer-songwriter sort of way. You definitely don't see " Graceland" coming from this album, more, a separation from his Simon & Garfunkel days and music.
Folk-rock. Un poco lento para el vinilo. Un 4.
A great album from one of the most highly-regarded songwriters of the 20th century. I am more familiar with Paul Simon's work with Art Garfunkel than I am his solo career (although I do love 'Kodachrome' and 'Me And Julio Down By the Schoolyard', the latter of which comes from this album). Because of this, I was very interested to hear what was his first release after S&G broke up sounded like. After giving this one a go, I would say my expectations were met exactly as this was a very good effort by Simon for his first solo venture. Every song on here is solid with no real duds. The album included not only tracks that could be considered throwbacks to his former group but also songs signaling a change in direction for his own career. The record overall reminded me a lot of Paul McCartney's first solo album but WAY more polished ('Run That Body Down' and 'Congratulations' would not have felt out of character from either Paul). This was a strange connection for me to make as I've never found the two similar before. It is also weird that both albums came out within a couple of years of each other during a period of disbandment (I think McCartney released his while the Beatles were still together, but they were holding on by a thread at that point). Anyways, I still found 'Me and Julio' to be the best and most fun track on the record, and while I do think his work with Art is stronger, I really enjoyed listening to this release. I would give it another spin in the future, but it mainly makes me excited to hear some full Simon and Garfunkel albums later on in this list. 4/5.
4.25
Good album! Really like the first song, mother & child reunion. Whole album is an illustration of Paul Simon's musical ability and style
Ordagrant bara chillin
It's lit!
just some nice stuff
Not quite the heights of his work with Garfunkel, or his later solo work.
4.5
I've never really listened to any solo Paul Simon until this list. I knew a few songs here and there.
Simon's first without Garfunkel. Another classic. It has some standout tracks, but everything fit together nicely.
Faul Simon
Me and Julio, baby. Not as strong as Graceland, but what is? That jacket on the cover looks comfy.
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard znama pesnicka a dobra
Was pleasantly surprised. I don't know Simon and Garfunkel, and I'm not a big fan of folk and singer/songwriter, but this is the best folk album that I have ever heard so far. I love the reggae, rock, and other elements blended with folk in this album. I like his voice, and that's probably one of Simon and Garfunkel's defining assets. I also enjoyed the guitars and the other instrumentals. I'm now excited to hear a Simon and Garfunkel album. I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy it. I wonder how different the duo's sound were, and how much did Simon explore. Anyway, I just learned today that I can actually enjoy a freaking folk album. That's one of the beauties of this project.
Album good, for name +1, so in total 4*
Paul Simon's music has changed so much through his career. Listening to his discography as a whole would be rewarding, I'm sure.
That man can certainly write a song, even if he can't always keep your attention.
Joyful listening. Floating across genres with ease
While I prefer Simon's later work, this sets out his stall as an immensely talented musician, drawing on influences from many genres. Definitely worth a listen.
Not my genre but very good album
Paranoia blues: goosebumps
First Simon solo, great album.
Nice listen, love Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio. Duncan a nice discovery.
Ik mag dit album wel. Gisteren lekker op lp geluisterd en dat maakt het nog wat leuker
Folk. Bastante bien.
Nice folky tunes
Difficult to rate - he's a genius so I could listen to him noodling all day, but a lot of tracks lacked focus. The ones that had it were fantastic (Me and julio, mother and child...) but the rest were so-so.
This is just one of several excellent Paul Simon solo albums from the early seventies - the singles are clearly 5* songs - the other ones vary a bit. I had not listened to it for many years, and it is interesting to note its influence on artists like Iron and Wine.
Paul Simon is one of my favourite song writers of all time but I wouldn’t say this is a stand out album. A couple of brilliant songs on there and cool to hear him playing with reggae and blues influences.
Dodgy start but really settled into it.
i really like this
Jamen, jeg er en hund for Paul Simon. Rigtig godt guitarspil. Lyder skide godt
Quite pleasant to listen to
Pretty chill, not as good as some of his albums (Graceland comes to mind), but still pretty good. Favourite is Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.
Soft and sweet acoustic
Grade school music played all the time at the local rec/Game Center
Simon is as talented alone as he was with funkel 👍🏼Great musician and writer. “Julio, Mother & Child & Papa hobo are great. One of only a few artists who went out on his own and had the talent to carry himself🤛🏼
Really, really dug this one. We all know Paul Simon, for me it's largely from his stint with Mr. Garfunkel. But his style and songwriting stands on its own here. Such a lively variety to the music. Really just an excellent singer/songwriter album. So many tracks on here I'll be returning to. Favorite tracks: Me and Julio, Duncan, Paranoia Blues, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day. Album art: Great portrait cover. The drip is immaculate. U so icy, imma glacier boy type of cover. 4.5/5
L'album commence d'une façon des plus inquiétantes avec un morceau d'inspiration reggae. Le bon goût de Paul Simon reprend ensuite la barre et navigue jusqu'à la fin dans des eaux bien plus saines et propres. D'ailleurs, en parlant d'un célèbre professeur de mathématiques, vous avez peut-être lu la critique de mon odieux complice générateurien elmanganèse. Je voulais simplement préciser que ce qu'il raconte est un tissu de mensonges et qu'il n'en est pas à son premier séjour en hôpital psychiatrique si vous voyez ce que j'insinue.
Some classic songs, may contain traces of cultural appropriation
Concise and nice to listen to. Good stuff. Will revisit.
Yeah ok, this was nice - you can hear he's starting to get a taste for incorporating world music into his sound. The "Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard" lyric "Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona" hits differently in 2021. 😞 Fave track - gotta be "Paranoia Blues". Relatable!
Great one, a nice surprise. I found this one totally familiar but don’t think I’ve ever heard it in its totality before
Deep cut pick: Peace Like a River
Some fantastic lyrics and I was amazing by the blues songs
Didn't know him apart from one song, really enjoyed this
Fantastic instrumentalists - Stephane Grapelli, Steven Grossman....
Very good to great.
Great folky vibe. Me & Julio is so great.
Always love me some Paul Simon
I think I still like his later albums more but this one was solid. ‘Me and Julio...’ is one of his all-time great songs. ‘Duncan’ is a track I had never heard that I really liked.
Love me a bit of Paul Simon
Pretty good. Me and Julio is great. Paranoia blues is great.
Deece singer songwriter vibes
Good, chill, Saturday afternoon listen for hanging in the garden.
Listening to Paul Simon makes me feel like I'm 7 years old again and riding in the back of my parents' station wagon, just watching out the window. To be clear, this is a very good thing. Even though for me the highs of Simon & Garfunkel may be higher than any of their solo works, solo Simon (and especially this album) is consistently excellent; and for an album that is nearly 50 (!) years old now this still holds up so well sonically and musically; the arrangements are perfect in that each song may seem simple (accessible) but underneath lies a sneaky complexity. Some classic singles in here that most people will know and yet the deep cuts are all quality - not a bad song in the entire batch - 4 stars. (aside: I love the old-school short length of records back then - perfectly digestible lengths)
Somewhat pensive at times but nicely produced. Low key and intimate, overall a really lovely album. Reminds me of the Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash in parts.
Nice happy album, reminds me of the artist Beans on Toast if he was more grounded but just as fun.
Влюбился в Пола Саймона после прослушивания. Спасибо этому проекту.
Pretty good. Not as good as Graceland, but some really good songs.
Hermoso! Lo re disfruté
Good stuff.
Not gonna lie, this kinda put me to sleep the first listen, but this was phenomenal with more time and less distractions. 4 because I liked the start more than the end of the album, but still very very good. Saved: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Peace Like a River
Listened to half of it sorry Paul Simon
Jokin karismaattinen magneettisuus Paulin äänessä ja biiseissä on ilman dynaamista duoakin. Olisi pitänyt edetä seuraavaan levyyn, mutta parin päivän aikana pyörittelin viitisen kertaa läpi. Hyvä levy.
Seriously impressive album that covers a lot of ground.
Leppoisaa musaa. Kuuntelin levyn parilla eri miksauksella (perinteinen ja "360 reality audio") ja varsinkin tuolla 360ra:lla kuulosti todella hyvältä. Olin jo kirjoittamassa tähän, että vähän samaa henkeä kuin Simon & Garfunkelissa, mutta sitten tajusin että niin, tää on varmaan just se Simon! :D
Enjoyable
Ohne auch nur einen Ton reingehört zu haben kann ich schonmal sagen: schönes Cover. Ich mag diese 70er-Fotografie sehr gern (die Farben, das leicht grobkörnige und braunstichige), und die Platzierung der Schrift auch. Gestern das von Yes hat mir ebenfalls gut gefallen. Angehört und erstaunt, dass Paul Simon schon 1972 den Reggae nach New York gebracht hat. Auch sonst tolles Album, absolut zeitlose Produktion. Geht immer, stört nie. 3,7 Punkte.
God I hate this man more the more I like his music. Great songwriting, asshole.
paroles et ambiance
Album qui s'écoute très bien! Pièces variées avec différentes influences. Très bons musiciens, j'ai bien aimé la guitare. Pu capable d'entendre "Me and Julio by the Schoolyard" mais ça c'est personnel (une affaire de barista). Belle ambiance de coffeeshop :)
It's good to see Paul Simon's experiments with world music began here. Paul Simon is special to me. I saw his last ever concert in Flushing a few years back. I can still remember dancing around, having spent the day touring Manhattan with my mother. This is like canned joy, like a summer day on the world's greatest city strolling through the different vibrant neighborhoods. His lilting voice and beat poetry are on full display, bright and shiny and catchy as all get out. It's an album for better days, full of hope in rough places. Perfection.
Quite a few 5 star bangers, but rating the overall album.
Me and juliooo down by the schoolyard
Opening with Caribbean sound is a nice touch. Goes into a more folk sound for other songs. Albums ends with more blues numbers. It's like Paul is flexing his musical muscles and trying out more than what he has done over the last 10 years.
Starts off so so but has a few songs I really enjoyed!
that was great - i didn't realize so many good songs were all on one album
I was a little nervous when he started up with straight up Bob Marley, but it turned around immediately and I ended up liking the album. "Paranoia Blues" stuck out. Also "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" and "Run That Body Down" on second listen. Yeah I like this.
Way to chill for most situations but it is a very good album
Great first solo album...sorry, Art
Production: 16/20 Songwriting: 17/20 Innovation: 14/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 15/20 =67 Bloody lovely album. Who needs Art!
Surprisingly good despite the missing Garfunkel
JULIO!
More textured and bluesy than I'd expect from Paul Simon. I like the blown out guitars. Tastes like meatloaf.
A great album.
Brilliant..
Quite chill, I like how it sounds. It has the calmness of Bob Dylan but also its own air of confidence. Solid 4 stars.
Not my favorite Paul Simon album but it was a fun listen
Great happy vibes! Liked his other album better but this was enjoyable. Not as versatile as graceland
Pretty solid album, lots of good songs, but I can't give 5 cause some songs are bit pouash.
Nowhere near the absolute peak of joy that is Graceland, but it's solid enough. An otherwise 3 star album elevated to 4 stars on the strength of one song (in this case, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard)
Good stuff. Not much to say here, some really enjoyable pop rock on this album.
Paul Simon is not generally someone I listen to on my own, but I always enjoy his albums. He does every mood well, which provides a real richness to all of his albums 4/5
4/5
This is pretty damned good. A diversity of sounds and styles. And yet it all feels so intimate, honest and bare. Feels like a Saturday afternoon in a hammock. Paul Simon is a treasure.
A pleasant experience. More interesting stories told through lyrics in Paul Simon songs. I don't recall ever hearing Duncan before, but I certainly had it on repeat today.
great Paul Simon album
Like a male Norah jones with less oomph
The hits are great, the Hobo songs are fun, the rest is meh.
starts of kinda fun with a pop song infused with some reggae roots. It only really goes downhill from there towards more and more folk like songs. Nothing truly bad, not really all that good either.
Going through this project, it’s obvious that Simon & Garfunkel’s music—and Paul Simon’s solo stuff too—is very uneven. Every record has a couple of amazing songs, but on the flip side, there also some pretty poor attempts. This album averages out to about 3.4 points.
Pretty bland for the most part. Dare I say it, it strays into folk territory which has been the bane of my 1001 Albums journey lately. Simon can obviously write a song or two, but the delivery is just a bit meh for me through most of this album. Probably deserved a 2 but I'm feeling generous today.
Didn't love this one — the guitar sounds and Reggae influences were fun, but most of the songs were a little dull and the singing often seemed flat.
Muy buen disco. Me gustó. No lo tenía para nada a Paul Simon. No sé por qué esperaba que no me guste.
Paul Simon gets his lyrics out of Bob Dylans wastebasket.
This is a nice album
Paul Simon's first attempt of stepping out of the shadow of his previous group is a respectable effort even if it doesn't reach the heights of the best Simon & Garfunkel records. You can hear Simon experimenting on the reggae flavoured opener "Mother And Child Reunion". We also get a blues song with "Paranoia Blues". Outside of these moments, a lot of this album sounds like Simon & Garfunkel without Garfunkel. Simon's songwriting make up for the loss of the harmonies. You could be mistaken for thinking that the breakout track "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" was a Simon and Garfunkel song. This is a good folk record that's not going to change your life.
Está bien, pero tampoco me ha apasionado. Se deja escuchar.
It's ok but I don't like the reggae, gospel, country, and bluesy parts.
THREE SONGS IN AND SO FAR I LOOOOVE HIS VOICE Idk but the quality of the recordings doesn't sound from 54 years ago... Run that body down hit hard for some reason...
09/20 Pretty good
Decent and chill, didn’t blow me away though outside of the obvious classic.
Certainly a great song writer and much more interesting and sophisticated than alot of formulaic music we get today. And alot of unique sound choice. Some of it wasn’t pleasing to my ears (maybe the slide on Paranoia blues and the guitar rattles on low notes on armistice day). Liked it but didn’t love it and not really much I’d feel the need to go back to. 3.25
Weird New York songs about nothing in particular. Me and Julio is a banger, but what the heck is it about? Same with Mother and Child Reunion. Much of the rest is pleasant folk and folk pop, with little to rave about.
Always had a soft spot for Simon and Garfunkel, so I had good optimism towards this album going in, and it was mostly met. What i like about this album, is that it seemingly has a sense of positivity and uplift to it, while showing off with awesome story-telling and guitar work. When I think of Folk, i much prefer pieces like this as opposed to Bob Dylan. So at least i have my timeline for when folk becomes bearable for me, yeah? That said, Me and Julio + Mother and Child reunion are the only real pieces that i'll probably revisit, that said both really good songs. 3/5
It feels like he kinda phoned it in for most of this album and the fact that it's still pretty good speaks to his immense talent as a songwriter. A few of these tracks were huge parts of my childhood and will always take me to simpler times but besides those couple of favorites (Mother and Child, Me and Julio), there's really nothing to rave over.
Simon is like McCartney in that they are both actual virtuosos with pop songwriting and can conjure a good hook from nothing like its second nature. Like McCartney, Simon's great albums are few & far between but like McCartney, most of his albums are still pretty damn good.
I like the hits a lot off this one. Mother and Child Reunion is one of my favorite Paul Simon songs. This album is definitely no Graceland to me, but I think I'd come back it it again and reevaluate.
Man what a great writer and instrumentalist, just a solid listen throughout