Reviews (page 8 of 13)
6/10
yap
Ammm, it's just... usual. I don't know, I can't get this kind of music
75
I don't understand why people like this
For the most part I really didn't care about anything in this album. It's all fine, but it all just sort of went by me. By the time it was done, there were only really two songs I noticed in any way: Me And Juilo Down By The Schoolyard, and Paranoia Blues. The rest is just there. It's fine.
good
I got this album way after Graceland, so my expectations were very low. It was better than I expected! The problem was - some songs were very enjoyable, and others quite bad. I'll give it an "ok" 3 ⭐️
I liked this album. It felt like it was filled with nothing and everything. The guitar feels nostalgic, like a commercial jingle from the early 2000s but the lyrics are heartfelt. His voice reminds me of banana dipped in honey. It's funny because I'm not the biggest fan of either of those foods but it's smooth and creates a mushy feeling inside. Overall I'd rate this album 7.5 out of 10. It's not bad but it's not something that stopped me in my tracks. I could listen to this on a drive down the PCH but I'd have to be alone. Its one of those albums that creates emotions, maybe, its because I'm already feeling down but the nostalgia it makes me feel like I've lost something and I don't know what it is.
a nice man singing nice songs.
This is good, but I don't think it's essential. "Me and Julio" obviously is, but the rest doesn't quite rise to that level for me. I get its significance int he Paul Simon story, but most of this wasn't what I consider his best.
3.4 I liked the hits and thought Duncan was pretty good too. Seems like a cooler album compared to some of the other S&G entires we have been getting
Uh... Skeptical ? I'm not familiar with Paul Simon's personal style, and even though the album is was overall a good experience, I don't know what to make of it...
It was ok
I like Paul Simon, and I like the way this album feels - it can be playful, and lighthearted, and breezy. It can also be expansive, and dark, and poignant. I found myself really enjoying the laidback feel right alongside the post-Watergate themes. "Armistice Day" went in a direction I wasn't expecting, which was fun. Also - I get the feeling that every white Baby Boomer who ever lived owned a copy of this thing. It's an important artifact for post-War America. But do I love it? Not really. THREE STARS
this didn't really make much of an impression on me. sorry paul and/or simon
A couple bops
This was nice and chilled but didn't have any of the highs of his later work or his collaborative work. Kind of fell between two stools for me.
*******
one great song, two good songs, the rest average and a bit sleepy for my liking
Paul Simon is always solid. There was nothing on this album that I absolutely loved, but it was pleasant and enjoyable the entire way through.
Pleasant enough but nothing here that really caught my attention.
I've only ever (knowingly) listened to Paul Simon as part of Simon and Garfunkel, and wasn't actually aware that either of them had solo careers. Oops. Firstly, great voice, and clearly a good songwriter. The songs here were all honestly good, and I enjoyed having the album on as background... but none of it really took my attention away from what I was doing. Maybe that's a good thing, but it just struck me that I really don't remember a single specific song from the whole album; I just remember a homogenous melancholy blob of good vocals and easy-listening backing. I think there was some flute at some point... 3.
It feels like he really wanted to show how good he is at every genre and then proceeded to do the most basic part of each genre. Yes that is a reggae beat good job, yes that's also a blues beat. something something 1000 punches once something something 1 punch 1000 times. His voice is good tho, very sad boy, very comfy low 3
Really nice folk music that I should probably listen to again, but it just didn’t grab me. It’s a good album, just one that wasn’t able to hold my attention.
I like Duncan
tailed off toward the end IMO
My first album listen on here and liked it! Not usually my vibe but reminded me of Neil Young who I like. Folksy, soft, and pretty! Not bad but not my favorite!
I could swear I'd listened to this before, but the only songs I recognized were Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio. A good album, but far from Paul Simon's best solo work. 3/5
Not really my style. Had some good tunes, but I think it could be better
7/10 Well, you know the guy from the S&G duo, as always, amazing songwriting. A very easy going and peaceful record. Almost transcendental. The flow is perfect. Album starts off with on a depressing note, about a mother contemplating suicide to reunite with her dead son, sung in an angelic voice as if hiding all that sadness. Then we get to my favourite track of the album, "Duncan", which blasts all that depression away with it's cheeky humorous tone (oh, and love the flute on this one). This mixture of light and dark, funny and serious is part of what makes this LP work so well. Well, not gonna be dissecting every track of this album as only some tracks truly stuck with me. There are no real duds on this one - that sweet, peaceful, angelic tone is present throughout the album, it's just me not being able to connect with a sizable chunk, especially slide 2 which was definitely weaker than the first. Still, a great album and a great listening experience.
Sounds like an early morning in a small-town cafe where you get to eat home-made waffles and drink freshly brewed coffee and get to talk to the friendly cafe owner. Feels like sunshine on your face, laughing in your ear, and the smell of coffee in your nose. Also this is the Simon from Simon & Garfunkel. I did not know this before, always thought that these were their first names :D
This album successfully shows that Simon can make music that is relatively un-fussed over, rough around the edges and less whitebread that his previous work often was, but the songs often feel unfinished and the record ends up feeling like a sampler.
Rätt så tråkigt album. Lugnande. Helt okej instrumentalt. Sång helt okej. Låttexterna förglömliga. Kanske kunnat lyssna igen. Kan tänka mig att den blir bättre med fler lyssningar. 3/5
I love me some Paul Simon. This wasn't it for me. Still, some great tunes and hits! 6/10
Some pretty good songs, some flops.
I love Paul Simon but I don't love this album. It's good but not great. Probably like a 3.5
fine
One of those big names I respect more than I enjoy listening to. There were moments I really liked, but I didn’t always find the experimentation was done in that interesting a way. I’ve always found the Simon aesthetic a bit too clean and jaunty and his vocals a bit too thin to really grab me.
Few cool songs (especially the last one), not my genre, gets repetitive after some time? Maybe
These 60s/70s singer songwriter songs don't do much for me. I found it pleasant, and even enjoyed the hobo blues. But nothing really stood out.
I really like Duncan. It feels like a really sweet movie that you most likely won’t remember watching until that one day it comes back for one moment.
As cutesy poo aw shucks as a lot of Simon's post Simon and Garfunkel output is, and as much of a voracious cultural appropriator as he is, there is no denying his songwriting nouce. Not sure I'd classify it as essential, but it's hard to hate.
Mr Simon makes considered albums. There’s not usually a great distance between the strongest and weakest tracks on his records. I feel this one comes closest to the single-filler-filler-filler-single model: the model of lesser entertainers, of cheap showmen, of people who cannot edit their own work. The model of cowards who refuse to face the truth.
My Rating 3.4 Interesting start to a long successful solo career.
Beautiful, not the most loved from him by me, but beautiful
Love this guy's voice, but it's even better with his friend.
Really enjoyed Me and Julio Down at the Schoolyard, but the rest didn't really leave an impression on me. And I think that one mostly did because of the Muppets movie where it is used, so I've listened to it a bunch. It was very nice though.
Favorite songs: Mother and Child Reunion,Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Hobo’s Blues, Paranoia Blues
nice n chill goodstuffs
Favorite song: Mother and Child Reunion feels very heavenly in terms of instrumentals, and Paul Simon's lyrics are usually dead-on in terms of musically relevant as well as tolerable. Flute is always a big plus when it comes to folk music and genres adjacent to it.
excepcionalmente cotidiano (in a good way) y super lleno de un sonido folk y blues súper nostálgico. me encantó
It’s pleasant, but not super interesting
Pleasant. Better than I thought it would be.
It's a Paul Simon album. It's good, a few hits, very americana. Kinda miss Art a bit, but whatever. Tenenbaums was great with the song in it and Bob Dylan stinks.
GENRE: acoustique, vibe un peu country ou roadtrip, folk Chansons coups de coeur: Duncan, Peace Like a River, Paranoia Blues (unreleased version) Side notes: Dans la chanson Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, il raconte qu'il «explorait sa sexualité» avec Julio et que ses parents étaient outrés. Cool solo de violon -> Hobo's Blues
Brooklyn Bob Dylan.
Pleasant. Not too exciting.
the first song felt like a beach day, the next one more kinda like a late summer almost attumn vibe. it's a bit of folk music, i quiete like it. its very soft and peacefull. its a nice album, wouldnt be my first option. but cool to know this excist, yeah was worth a listen!!! 6/10
I was a bit disappointed
Not his best, but solid.
I do like me some Paul Simon; my parents had a few of his albums so they are childhood listening to me. Not heard this album before, in fact the only song I was familiar with was Me and Julio. Some really great songs on here. Trying to separate out whether lack of familiarity meant it didn't do it for me or if it's not the same calibre as some of his other works.
This was pleasant, but not super interesting to me. Good background music.
nuclear bomb (mother and child reunion + me and julio) vs. coughing baby (the rest of the album)
Like it.
Great, he's got some really fun stuff here
As I listened to this album I started a new embroidery project. With the first song I felt like this was not going to be my type of music but I decided to still listen to every song all the way through because I wasn’t in a rush so no skipping! I ended up enjoying the lyricism so much. A few times I just thought “wow we can fr just say whatever we want in music lol there’s no rules”. I also enjoyed the coziness of the songs even though I didn’t particularly enjoy the sound. Also a part of me wonders if Mac Demarco may have drawn some inspiration from Paul Simon? Anyways, the only song I saved from the album is “Everything Put Together Falls Apart”. That song was really reassuring and peaceful and introspective. I didn’t like the actually sound of the album but I can really appreciate it anyway so I’m giving it 3 stars!
Nothing really stands out here — it’s just Paul Simon doing what he does. The songwriting is consistently solid, but it all feels a bit too familiar to leave much of an impression. It’s an easy listen and well crafted, just not particularly memorable.
I'd say there's some bright moments of his later songwriting and storybuilding skill in here, but overall it's a bit muted and.. overly cutesy? It's not bad though.
Paul Simon's music is just way too polished and sappy for my tastes. Nothing against him, just not my thing. The first track in particular is so damn twee that I barely powered through it. A couple of other tracks are great, at least. I somehow managed to go through life without listening to *Graceland* yet, though, so maybe my opinion will change with that album. Favourite track: Peace Like a River
razy to thunk i enjoy this but hill ash 7.1/10
Nada más, muy tranquilo el álbum. 6/10
Quite good, has its mood.
This album sounds like what I imagined 70% of this project will sound like when I started it
Actually pretty solid listen. Very reminiscent of Bob Dylan. Nothing I’d add to a playlist, but cohesive and easy to listen to. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not as bad as all that, I still sooner prefer him and Garfunkel together over this and as much as I do enjoy Mother and Child Reunion it is the whitest piece of reggae adjacency I’ve ever heard.
Meh
where tf is garfunkel
Bob dylan't
Mac Demarco before Mac Demarco
Hey, this is my first of 1001 albums, its Paul Simon, who I do like, so a high average seems about right
Cover is sick, vocal reminds me of reggae a bit, but I really like it and the vibrato. Duncan has this really sparkly guitar, reminds me heavily of nick drake. Also love how alot of older albums have story telling in alot of its songs, kinda gives you something to stay listening for i guess. Run that body down as this cool qucik guitar part me like. damn i love a harmonica in paranoia blues. I finished it and loved it, such an underrated folk album
Mother and Child Reunion cool bold drumming but nothing special Duncan nice and warm bittersweet instrumental at the end leaves time to ponder EPTFA the lyrics made me a little sad but he is right Run That Body Down reminds me a bit of Vienna by Billy Joel also cool guitar solo Armistice Day he’s tired of all the fighting and I feel that Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard I don’t know where I’m going either Masayoshi sound at the end Peace Like A River I feel like the music would serve the lyrics better if it was a little more melancholic maybe no drums and a lower tone Papa Hobo I hate Detroit and had no idea Gatorade existed back then Hobo’s Blues sounds like something off the Fallout radio would drink moonshine to this Paranoia Blues exactly how I feel about New York and America Congratulations no I don’t think so but maybe that’s a good thing
Nice rythm ,but I like more his other albums
Some songs I really liked, but the album overall wasn't my favorite
That was a nice folk rock album. Even though this is not a genre I really associate with much, it was a pleasant venture. It carried out its vision consistently, and although it got repetitive at times, it had some enjoyable highs. The guitar work was pretty good, and the lyrics also had their moments to shine. My favorite songs were “Duncan” and “Run That Body Down.”
A solid slab of 70’s folk.
Not exactly my jam but good nonetheless. Bro goes CRAZY on that guitar. Favorites: Hobo's Blues and Paranoia Blues
mother and child reunion is my favourite paul simon song
Listened to this 3 times and sadly nothing really landed with me other than Me & Julio which I love and already knew very well. Its an eclectic mix combining a range of styles (some more successful than others) which for me felt in the most part a little sterile. Not sure what I am missing here.
3.5
Buen funk
3.5
A really slow start with unmemorable songs, it started picking up for me at Armistice Day which has some great guitar work. Me and Julio is a great track and the album seems to keep that momentem for the most part to close out. There are definitely some songs to revisit but as a whole I wasn't huge on it.
It sounds exactly like a Paul Simon record, so I think he nailed the title.
Me gusto como primer album, estilo country de los 70s. Tranquilo y compañero de fondo. Lo escucharia una vez mas pero en la ruta/vacaciones en montaña. Pd: Muy buena la portada, sencilla pero acompaña a la musica. Top 3: 1. Mother and Child Reunion 2. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard 3. Duncan Mencion especial: Run that Body Down No lo conocia
It fine. It’s folk rock, and its laid back variety, so not my thing; however, I didn’t really hate anything about this album. It has some catchy parts, but ultimately it’s too minimal and uneventful for my taste.
6/10 pretty decent but not something id listen to on a regular basis. would be a good album for a road trip in American countrysides.
Sweet
Some pretty memorable and nice folk songs with a few not as memorable songs. I'm not crazy about some of the more bluesy songs but they're fine. Probably a 60/100 overall but I really like the folky songs he does so that might bump it to like a 68~70/100. Unreleased version of Paranoia Blues is better than the real one tbh.
wasn't sure about it at first, but after a few songs i got into the album. i think it is good and has some good tracks, but definitely not an always listen. i think i would have to be in the mood in order to listen again. high 60s mid to low 70s, 3.4 / 5
59# Oh sim, o paulo simão bro even taps into reggae on 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' my guy in the middle of 'Everything Put Together Falls Apart' stops a bit to scratch his beard and continues like nothing happened. What a guy, absolute cine.. music. 'Run That Body Down' saved it from what i was thinking would be a boring album 'Armistice Day' that guitar playing goes kinda hard. 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' oye como va RUliô? MPB sounds and all, this is so fun. 'Peace Like a River' whatever, too peaceful. 'Papa Hobo' oooh so sillyyy look at me, silly boy. 'Paranoia Blues' oh now i'm silly and paranoid, quirky me huehue. But it is a cool concept really. OH NO THEY STOLE HIS CHINESE CHIMICHURRAS Today i felt like making little comments for each track, i'm autistic like that.
The 2nd Paul Simon after Hearts and Bones in the same week. This one definitely hits better with a more traditional S&G sound.
Paul cooks.
Some nice songs, an easy listen but nothing special. Enjoyed it nonetheless, favourite tracks were Duncan, Run Your Body Down and Me & Julio.
Couple of songs on here - Mother and Child Reunion and Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard are great. The rest just don't break through like those two do. It's his first album after breaking up with Garfunkel, so he's finding his new solo sound maybe? It's a Sunday morning kind of album. Slow, easy going.
Very good album, to my liking. I love that combination of folk, rock and Latin sounds. It has a very calm vibe but with a rhythm that makes me want to move and sing. From what I read, each of the songs has a lot of meaning. I don't have much to say about the album, but I liked it.
The first few on here were decent, but then I started falling asleep.
Wouldn't mind having this in the background while wondering through a hiking trail in a depressive episode
Fav track: Paranoia Blues
Not a bad album, but not as great as his other work. I knew "Me and Julio" and that's a great song. I also grew to like Dunan and the intro track Mother and Child Reunion. The songs are mostly little "portraits" of characters. The style is mostly folk, but with occasional splashes of other styles like blues or those Andean pan flutes used in El Condor Pasa.
Like Bob Dylan, I feel like Paul Simon is able to crank out folk rock classics that deserve their place on Best Song lists but... also like Dylan, Simon is capable of making half-baked free-verse ramblefests that probably didn't need to be commited to vinyl. I feel like we are getting equal doses of both those Simons here.
Very dub adjacent. Finger picking master
Muy adelantado a su época
Honestly just a kind of boring album. It feels like Paul Simon is trying to do new things musically, but is a little too scared to adapt his songwriting to something new, so everything feels a little flat. I think he’d go a lot farther with everything if the whole album was like Mother and Child Reunion. The lyricism is probably the best part, although it can be a little pointlessly self deprecating at times. His guitar playing is also really nice on the more traditional folky songs. Even with all of the experimentation, it ends up being just a kind of bland record. Paul Simon pronounces his ds really weirdly. Favorite songs: Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like a River
Chill album, I felt very neutral toward it overall
Hearing it in 2026 make it sound very old not my cup of tea
Mellow
Was not familiar with this artist, the album is strong themed and very Herman
I can respect it just not really my cup of tea. Sounds decent and I understand why people like the album. Kinda sounds like smthing Shaggy Rodgers would listen to.
this website has been giving me a lot of Paul Simon lately and i'm not complaining! first time listening to one of his solo album's, and it has that same nostalgia of Simon & Garfunkel's music that makes you miss your childhood summers. i guess what i'm mostly missing from this though is Garfunkel's harmonies...? so i think i prefer the duo. but Simon will always be a wonderful writer, solo or not. favorite track: Peace Like a River. the guitar and steady drumming in this particular song really stuck to me
Definitivt en Paul Simon-platta. Bästa låtarna: Duncan, Congratulations och Me And Julio Down By the Schoolyard
reminded me of songs like Brandy and Dancing in the Moonlight. This is the other side of 70s music i vibe with, the other being disco.
Not bad overall. Has some good songs but better with Garfunkel
Its ok
The album had two high water marks, “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”. Otherwise it was VERY heavy with early 70’s singer/songwriter with a guitar blah.
Not his greatest, but certainly shows signs of the great things that are yet to come
Simon hold the Garfunkel. Sandwich is pretty plain without all the toppings
Album #90 Paul Simon: Paul Simon Who knew the short guy from Annie Hall could actually make good music? Paul Simon is, of course, one of the great American songwriters and was widely influential in bridging cultural gaps in music, specifically by bringing African music to the West through Graceland. I had never listened to any other solo project of his; however, despite being a pretty big fan of his work with Garfunkel, I’ve never felt too compelled to listen to most of his solo stuff. Though I enjoy Graceland, I would hardly hold it as a personal favourite, and I sort of find myself feeling that something is missing from Simon’s solo work. This album is another good example of that; overall, it was enjoyable with lots of good writing and melodies; however, some of these songs just felt a bit empty. The opener is great, and probably my favourite track here, because it has a complete sound with a lot going one; whereas the rest of the tracks feel a little bare bone. Perhaps I can listen to Simon’s voice without yearning for a bit of those magical Garfunkel harmonies. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is a classic and the only song here that I had heard previously, but the rest I would chalk up to “good, but not essential”. Still a very good effort from Simon, and an album I enjoyed a great deal, I suppose I just don’t enjoy how some talk about Paul Simon like he was the all-talented one and that Garfunkel was some schmuck. Yes, Paul had the far more interesting solo career, but it’s not like he was putting out classics at the rate of a Bob Dylan (which I’ve actually seen comparisons to before. I don’t know why this review has had me defending Garfunkel against invisible haters, but I just wish they made more albums together; I like my Paul Simon music like I like my museums, with a healthy amount of Art. Best Songs: Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Duncan Worst Song: Paranoia Blues Score out of 10: 7
This is fine but didnt wow me as an undiscovered gem I'd missed out on for decades.
I knew a few of the songs, but didn't love any enough to add to a playlist.
Folky music with a touch of world and you get Paul Simon. Not bad but I have heard it before
not bad but other than Me and Julio not much stood out. Where's Art? Paul! Huhh Where's Art?!?!?
Cool, but it was better when he was African for a bit
Overly cutesy compared to his best work
Auggie and I listened to this album while I pinned my first ever insects! They were bees. :)
My first encounter with Simon and/or Garfunkel in this experience. It was enjoyable for the most part, even with the interesting choice to lead the album off with a reggae tune (but then again after listening to it I don't know where else you could have put it in the track list. I did enjoy the cool mix of styles Simon brings on this album and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" still slaps. However, the album did not do much to move the needle above a 3 for me. I have a hunch this won't be the only album featuring Mr. Simon I will hear during this journey and I am curious to see how the other albums compare.
Me gusto la voz de el y la presencia y sonido de la guitarra acustica en todo el discco. Canciones muy tranquilas y lindas melodias.
I like some of Paul Simons stuff, but can take or leave most of it. There are some good songs on this, Me and Julio down by the school yard is instantly recognisable. Other than a couple of tracks, nothing much stands out for me. 3 stars because I recognise his ability, but not something I'm likely to listen to again.
J’aime bien la voix et les chœurs Un peu trop calme quand même..
Quelques pistes sympa !
I totally get it
I LOVE Simon & Garfunkel, and Paul Simon, but somehow I've never heard this one before.
Parecia, ao fim das 3 primeiras músicas, que ia ser um bom álbum. No mínimo um forte 3. Acabou por ser um 3/5, nada de especial. Faz lembrar um Bob Dylan, mas não tão bom claro. Duncan foi a música que mais gostei.
3/5. Had Simon and Garfunkel yesterday and today I get solo Paul Simon. Anyway, as the story goes, after Bridge over Troubled Water Simon and Garfunkel followed in the footsteps of their greatest influence (the Everly Brothers) and started absolutely hating each other. So they went their separate ways and this self titled was one of Paul Simon’s early solo records. And it’s alright, you get the expected folk music but also some bluesier songs and some Latin American influence in the percussion. At its high points there’s some great songs on the level of some Simon and Garfunkel stuff such as “me and Julio down by the school yard” but there’s also a few songs that are just kinda okay.
Heard Before? Obviously. Notes: - chock full of his typical genre pastiche (or cultural appropriation depending on your outlook). this mostly works. - almost the archetype of a lyrics album. thoughtful, clever, subtle, emotional. - at the same time, so many cool sounds: the flutes on "Duncan", the dobro on several tracks, the cuica on "Julio", etc. - for me, however, the middle stretch sags heavily with unremarkable arrangements and hushed production. - I didn't remember "Paranoia Blues". it's a gem. Verdict: Lots to love and to learn from, but fails to fully embrace experimentation across the whole runtime. Listen Again? I can forsee a Paul Simon discography crawl sometime in my future.
Self named album...pretty average with no memorable mentions.
Some of the Songs were good but didn't really standout for me. Not my Type i would say
Charming little album here by Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel fame. This is the first solo album for him of 3 I’ve rolled for this project, following the duo’s famous Bridge over Troubled Water. While both are great Folk albums in their own right, I thought that Self Titled by Paul Simon is more adventurous, has a lot more variety than the very calm Bridge, and actually enjoyed it slightly more. They’re still comparable of course, but I liked how many different places this album attempted to go, and found it to mostly be a good call with every song. My favorites of the bunch this time were “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Armistice Day”. Nothing absolutely wowed me on this one, but every song being so happy and full of joy is really felt, and the multiple different vibes from song to song are really felt. From what I believe is a flute on “Duncan”, to the very Jazzy, mostly violin laden “Hobo’s Blues”, Paul was not afraid to take some risks with this one, and as previously mentioned, it makes every song feel fresh and memorable. Also worth mentioning is that it’s just pretty surprisingly funny at times, and the lyrics, as well as some of the song names and concepts, caught me off guard a bit. The very first lyrics to “Duncan” being “Couple in the next room, bound to win a prize”, sung in Paul’s down to Earth and calm voice, are so comically out of place with what’s actually being said, and it’s fantastic. I like some humor in my Folk albums, and this one has it in spades. So, while it’s still not exactly the type of music I listen to very often, this one is still going to stick with me for a little while longer. Cool album art too. Bro just kind of looks like a bit of a badass in that outfit, not going to lie to you. Good stuff, very excited for the other 2 Paul Simon albums.
#52/1001 🇺🇸 Always enjoyed Paul Simon's music, but this album is new to me. It doesnt stand out as an out and out classic, but its a step away from the folkier sound of his work with Garfunkle and moving in a more experimental route. I'll come back for another listen. Best Tracks: Duncan, Paranoia Blues, Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard.
Mellow
I like a few songs, but not quite to my taste to hit replay immediately
Is not for me, but it has a lot of work on it.
nog nooit dit album van hem geluisterd. nuchtere vrolijke muziek/bluesy.
Me and Julio is a banger, and there's a couple of other good tunes here, but they are doing a lot of heavy lifting of the rest imo.
Gee I wanted to really like this. Instead it felt scattered inconsistent and long. No real standouts. Lisa largely agrees. 3/5
Not bad. Some good stuff mixed in. Very folky. Idk if I have any detailed notes, didn’t listen close enough tbh. And wasn’t interested enough to listen so closely, it didn’t catch my attention enough.
not totally my tempo although good Will I listen to again:20%
I don't know what to do with this one. It's a very fine album. A mid Paul Simon album. So, a mid rating.
Lovely stuff - genre hopping and well crafted
Soulful original Simon
He’s better with his mate
Standard fare. Easy to listen to, but doesn't stand out it too many ways. Strong songwriting as you'd expect from Mr. Paul. Probably on the higher side of 3, but not too high.
Reggae, música peruana, blues, mostrando quien era la mete maestra detrás peo mucho más laid back que los discos de Simon & Garfunkel. Se nota que no traía el cora roto como con 50 ways to leave your lover.
I honestly didn’t feel lime finishing it.
q linda voz y q acordes emeceros x momentos no
Folk/rock. Algumas músicas bem legais e outras ok. Só ganha 3 pq nao tem 3.5
i was leaning towards giving this a 4 during the first few songs but kinda lost interest in the second half. it sounds very nostalgic, like one of those albums you heard a lot as a child that you still adore as an adult even if it doesn't really match up with your music taste anymore
Melancholic and lyrical poetry. Proving that Paul can stand on his own and deliver a genre defining performance.
First time diving into Paul Simon. Pretty nice, pretty chill, couple of jams
i luv paul simon and his cool coat in the album art. i also like that this album still retains some S&G sound even though he'd split from art by this point. i'm an art apologist and i don't like any of paul simon's solo work more than S&G, but because this album sounds pretty similar, i'm quite fond of it
Having track 1 of your first post split album be as good as “Mother and Child Reunion” is the musical equivalent of “I drink your milkshake.” Somewhere between a 3-4.
Mild and inoffensive
Thus is kind of cute. Not in a dismissive way more in a “this is quietly charming and self-aware” way. It’s playful and thoughtful without ever trying to feel monumental, and I actually liked that it didn’t aim for some huge, cohesive statement. The stripped-back production makes everything feel human and lived-in, which works in its favour. It’s not an all-time, life-changing album for me, but it’s the kind of record you throw on and slowly warm up to more each time.
Me and Julio are great, the rest... 🤷♀️
I will forever love Me and Julio.
I was half listening to this while doing other things. Not the best way to do justice to Paul Simon and his lyrics. Sorry Paul.
Paul Simon’s catchy and cool enough on here. There’s a good variety of music to go along with his witty lyrics. This is more of a middle of the road album of his, his best is yet to come.
★★★¾
Paul Simon's crafted one of the most amazing catalogs ever. Whether it's his work with Garfunkel, albums like Graceland (a masterpiece), or individual songs such as Kodachrome, there's just so much to love about what he has brought to music. I'm afraid that becomes a double-edged sword for me, as when I listen to this debut solo album, I just find that it is lacking vs. a ton of his other work. Yeah, there are some good songs on here. I really liked Peace Like a River, which is a track I have never heard before. Also, Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard are good songs, but neither is amazing for me. The rest of the album felt very average, or at least it pales in comparison to things like Graceland. This means it's a 3 star album for me, nothing more.
Favorites: Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Least favorites: Armistice Day, Paranoia Blues Rating (out of 10): 7.5/10
Great job Paul
Sometimes Simon is better solo. This is not the time. Still good, though.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would on the second listen.
Saved from a 2 by a couple of decent songs. Just found it a bit dull overall.
Middle of the road music. 1 or 2 enjoyable songs.
There is some good stuff on this album but nothing that I super loved. A pretty decent album but nothing to write home about.
Great example of a cleanly engineered album. Sparse arrangements that don't have the impact a 21st century listener may be accustomed to. Paul Simon is a poet and sometimes that's to his detriment. There's a single hit here for a reason.
Donnerstag, 19.02.2026 ~ Mittags ~ In der Ringbahn - auf dem Weg zur Uni. Platz am Fenster; Sonnenschein in meinem Gesicht; in einem Zug durchgehört. Passend zu meiner Stimmung.
Paul Simon is always easy to listen to.
3/5 Me and Julio Mother and Child Reunion Paranoia Blues
Still not too keen on his voice, but his skills as a player and a songwriter are really impressive
The first known case of white boy reggae!! In all seriousness, a great album. Whilst I do prefer his earlier work, some of these songs absolutely blow me away. No two songs sound alike, which can not be said of many albums.
I don't typically like folk, but this wasn't bad! Paul Simon has a nice voice and is complimented by his music style
Paul Simon is actually a very good guitar player. This is decent, but knowing Bridge Over Troubled Water had already come out by this point, it’s not his best work
Falls just short in a lot of ways for me. Not catchy enough to be good '70s folk pop, not poetic enough to be good Blues or standard Folk, not leaning into influences enough to match up to Graceland. Highlights: "Run That Body Down", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
Prefer the double act material more but this is still really good.
un disco bello, creo que crece con cada escuchada. Ninguna canción me conmovió o me enloqueció de más, puntos para Run that body down que fue un gran tema. Seguramente con cada escucha se vuelva mejor! me trajo vibras a blonde on blonde pero sin la epica dylan, quizás le falto un cambio de emociones entre tema y tema
Hey, he was into other genres well before Graceland, how do you like that. I suspect this was a big one for Britt Daniel.
It was fine, nothing stuck out to me although I had heard the Julio down by the schoolyard song before! I wouldn't go back to it, but I could understand why it's on this list.
Surface level folk. Thought the tubes were good but nothing stood out to me. Will most likely forget about this.
Paar classics, maar ook wat fillers er tussen
A little less interesting and more poppy to me than graceland to me. Though still a solid experience
3/5, but it is so close to a 4. It's a lovely album. Simon is a wonderful composer, and the album is arranged and produced well. He also has this honesty and down-to-earth quality about him that really endears me to his music, and those are both on display here. What pulls me back from a 4 is that only two songs stand out: "Me and Julio," and "Run That Body Down." The rest are a nice listen but on the whole forgettable.
This album was alright. By digging further into the Wikipedia I had more appreciation for Simon’s stylistic experimentation, but ultimately it felt too disjointed and the lyrics and music never really reeled me in. A fine but kind of boring listen for me.
Pleasantly surprised after assuming I wouldn’t be a fan. Particularly liked track 1 - mother and child reunion and track 10 - paranoia blues. Liked the eclectic genres used and every song felt very different.
Campfire Music
The easy listener.
he's got some blues in him, mais un peu répétitif
This album was OK not the greatest. In my opinion. I do like some of his older stuff. He is a great writer and the lyrics are always good. I guess the instrumental sound is what I don’t really enjoy.
This sweet little boy can right some folk. You hear the roots of "Graceland" in this one and overall it's not so much of a departure from his duo work you'd think Art was weighing him down. "Me & Julio" is an all time bop.
De la diversité dans cet album. Tout n'est pas top mais ce Paul simon est une pointure
So incredibly safe and lacking depth, but otherwise a pleasant listen.
Kjoet
bit of a slower album, but nice cohesive folksy sound. top track: run that body down
3/5 - More entertaining than expected, realizing that I really miss songs that tell stories. Country with a dash of something else. Don't see myself re-listening, but I have no regrets.
3.5 - love me and julio bc its so nostalgic but once again just not music id listen to over and over again but still appreciate it
meh
Paul Simon always brings a sense of calm. It was great listening on a winter day. I knew only two songs before hand and noon of the rest really grabbed me, but I definitely didn't regret this listen.
Also never heard of him before It feels like nothing bind blowing to me honestly, it’s not bad tho I like the instruments in armistice day the guitar ahh It’s still a vibe tho lol Also me and julio down by the schoolyard I like fun
Solid album I hadn’t heard in years (but only listened to in entirety probably once). Bunch of popular tunes though….
Enjoyable but not super memorable
Graceland better but enjoyed nonetheless.
Beautiful flute sound Live the mixing of genres done very seamlessly Great sound
gut ruhig schön manche lyrics zu weird eher so gedicht vortragen vibes
very folky very fall vibes. not a favorite but enjoyed listening
Never listened to this as a single album before. Though I know many of the big hitters of course.
Je m'attendais à une bouse d'un mec avec un ego surdimensionné et finalement c'était pas si mal
It feels like an album that 40 year old me is gonna absolute love, I am 20. 7/10
favorite - everything put together fall apart 6/10
Very whimsical listen. Super chill to listen!
Favourite Songs: Duncan Peace Like A River Hobo's Blues Paranoia Blues
Well. Me and Julio down by the school yard always reminds me of Wes Anderson films and just happy summer days. Great voice, easy to listen to on a New Year’s Day 1
It was fun!
Some good tracks on here and some forgettable ones, about half and half. Favorite tracks- “Mother and Child Reunion” “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” “Paranoia Blues”
It's Paul Simon... not much more or less. pleasant but not extremly engaging album.
Pretty joce folk stuff on here, some catchy tunes but nothing special
"Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" is a classic, but I can't get into Paul Simon or Simon & Garfunkel in general. When you have two songs with the word "hobo" in the title, that's a sign this won't be my thing. Rounding up to 3 for "Me and Julio."
Not my favorite genre, but still had a couple of songs that I enjoyed. Overall an average album, but definitely on the higher side of a 3.
Chill vibes Fave track: Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard
Pleasant enough. 3/5
I can put my hand on my heart and say I have NEVER heard this album and I only recognise one song, which seems to surprise me. That said I enjoyed it. It didn't blow me away but it was... nice... and a little interesting. I will listen to it again.
Synes det lyder virkelig velproduceret, en del sange jeg kan lide, men jeg savner Garfunkel på nogen af de mere simple numre og det hele er bare lige cutesy nok endnu. Man kan godt høre Graceland er på vej
De bedste numre var vildt gode, de dårligste numre var lidt fesne
Mid, dec' 25, guitar mostly nothing special, could understand if this is someone's favorite though
My Dad had a Paul Simon Best Of that he used to play when I was growing up so I was familiar with Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. There's something mercurial about the individual songs, I am enjoying them and something will happen lyrically or musically to throw me off or I'll be finding a song a little mundane and then a brilliant lyric or unexpected musical turn will grab my attention. As such, it's hard to rate this, because it's slippery and hard to fix an opinion on. I liked it more than Hearts and Bones but think Graceland probably has more magic so I'm going to award this a 3.
Poslechla bych si znovu? Možná. Některé písničky fajn. Některé mají indiánský vibe. Asi bych stáhla půl hvězdy, kdyby to bylo možné.
It was alright.. Duncan stood out Pretty mediocre though in my opinion but then again we all receive music differently and I can appreciate that somewhere out there this has changed someone's life.
6/10 good space filler album. Very suzie. Favorite song: peace like a river (duncan is also very good)
I definitely don't hate this album, but It doesn't stand out to me. There are a few songs I enjoyed and will listen to again, but not my favorite album.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz okay.
A solid album of songs. Simon can hit it out of the park sometimes but a few tracks seemed like filler to me.
It’s a 3.5
Paul Simon has very gentle voice. I really like his other album "Still crazy after all these years" but this one is also enjoyable. I would rate it 6,5/10
Tranquileras, para poner de fonfo
Listened through twice, with reading the chronology (1972) makes this interesting if not great. I can understand the adulation, but he has better albums in his quiver. 1. Mother And Child Reunion 2. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard 3. Peace Like A River
Some nice folk rock. Probably need a few more listens, but doesn't stand out to me.
3.5
Some highs, some lows. I feel like I listened to this as a teenager 20+ years ago so a handful of songs were familiar. Slow start, strong middle, weak end. Would give it a 3.5 if that were possible.
This was a nice album. Good folk and some blues in there too. Nice listening.
I like 3 songs (Mother and Child, Me and Julio, Armistice Day...the rest were not necessarily horrid, just meh. Very easy listening, but that's about it...Congratulations sucked though. 3 stars MOR stars.
First listen
Wow very nice but when I went to find the album I got really scared because I saw his face and it was actually really scary I’m sorry
This is my first review and I'm a little worried about review inflation so that may be coloring the number of stars I give this. Also I'm going to rank these against how well I think they belong on this list. A 3 star great album is still a soildly great album. 5 Stars would go to a work of genius with no flaws. One star would mean I question it's position as great but not necessarily that it's bad. That said, I recognize the importance of this album. It is laying the groundwork for a five star album 14 years in the future. It was one absolutely perfect song (Mother and Child Reunion) and one song I find annoying at best (Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard) and the rest are all range from pretty good to unoffensive. There are great bits to most songs but to me they are flawed breakthroughs pointing to the perfection to come.
Initially, lots of energy. I liked the vibe from the very start. As I keep going though, I’m finding it a bit too bouncy and light. Not super my style. Almost annoying to me, and trying to keep myself from mindlessly changing the song.
Very good album. Definitely reminiscent of the Beatles as they were made in the same era. Very beautiful sonically. The album flowed extremely nicely while still having every song feel unique and exciting. My favorite song was paranoia blues because I loved the visuals. Definitely will have to check out more of his work
Mehhhhh not really for me. First song was all right
Generally pleasant but not all that interesting. A few tracks like Peace Like a River have nice instrumentation.
Fine folk album, but I see why only Me and Julio survived the test of time. Again, nothing wrong with this album, just no songs outside of the aforementioned were super smashing for me.
Whispy.
Mother and Child Reunion - 4/5 Duncan - 5/5 Everything Put Together Falls Apart - 2/5 Run That Body Down - 5/5 Armistice Day - 3/5 Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - 5/5 Peace Like a River - 5/5 Papa Hobo - 3/5 Hobo's Blues - 2/5 Paranoia Blues - 3/5 Congratulations - 4/5 Average score: 3.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ i guess i half-enjoyed this. there really are some gems in here, it's a shame i didn't care for half the tracks on here the album just seemed to lack cohesion in my opinion, like there were too many ideas being exploredon one album. i probably would've liked it if Paul stayed more in the folk lane
Pretty nice.
5.5/10
Laid back yet energetic. Really into hobos seemingly. Great background music not in a negative way
OK
Not my thing but since watching the documentary must say I like this guy
Duncan is my favorite Paul Simon song, but there are a number of so so songs
He’s no Bob Dylan (compliment)
Faixa favorita: Paranoia Blues Letra favorita: “Everything Put Together Falls Apart” Como me senti: Country e hétero Resumo: Álbum solo que mistura folk, pop e narrativa íntima. Paul traz pequenas cenas do cotidiano em histórias cantadas, com leveza e humor. Reação pessoal: Escutei à noite de janelas abertas com o vento frio passando; foi como ouvir pequenas histórias de um jovem falido. Me fez pensar em estar perdida e juventude.
It’s fine but knowing that Graceland is probably on this list it seems like a waste of time
Odeio quando os artistas não sabem quais são as músicas boas do álbum. Das 6 primeiras, só duas são boas, "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" e "Armistice Day". Ironicamente, são as duas com menos streams entre as 6 (talvez o errado seja eu). Da música 7 em diante o álbum melhora bastante. Com uma pegada bem mais raiz, melódica, e criativa. Apesar de "Peace Like a River" ter sido a minha favorita, é necessário fazer um menções honrosas à "Hobo's Blues" e "Paranoia Blues". A finalização não é das melhores, mas é honesto. Resumindo: um álbum que começa bem mal, com algumas ressalvas, e se redime no lado B. Faltou maturidade para explorar mais as ideias que eram de fato boas. Melhor do álbum: "Peace Like a River". Pior do álbum: "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard".
Mixed bag but nothing that was awful.
I like some of Paul Simons stuff but this just didn't do it for me
Good album. Not as good as I was expecting, but good nonetheless.
This is a bit of a variety piece that just about works. The Calypso-esque sounds on first track didn’t get it off to a great start. It felt a bit forced where somehow the pan pipes on Duncan didn’t. Then you get some decent tracks dotted around. Some enjoyable funky guitar on Armistice Day and a few others that while not profound are generally decent. Papa Hobo sounded like a S&G song but very much poorer for only being half the equation. All in all quite a mixed bag and I’d probably rather just listen to S&G but there’s enough to pique the interest (just).
Interesting album which I found myself phasing in and out of with regard to my enjoyment. The plus for me was the often stripped back arrangement which allowed the unique elements to shine, and they captured the tones and depth of the featured as a result. It made some of the guitar elements in particular very engaging. Ultimately well put together. I think the key downside and probably which dated some of the songs was the incessant need to throw the kitchen sink at it with regard to the depth and variety of musical instruments on offer. From maraca to flutes. They have experimented themselves out of a 4 in my opinion here.
Overall this is a lovely sounding album. The well composed songs are perfectly recorded and the mix is artfully done. There is some really good stuff in there, particularly the guitar, but sometimes it just tries to do a bit too much. For example, I was really enjoying the stripped back guitar performance of 'Armistice Day', despite the bongos, then the maracas started and it lost me. The songs are all just a bit too saccharine for me and it lacks any bite or edge. From the moment it opened with a reggae track, the album had a tinge of self indulgence about it and the gratuitous use of flutes and tambourines made me think of over-exuberant secondary school music teachers.
well he's Paul Simon
Liked it more than similar sounding albums but still don’t love it
First song sounded like Bob Marley. Nice peaceful music
No stand out songs for me, probably one of his weaker albums but will still happily listen to it over and over. He's a genius.
Who knew Paul Simon's music would improve by cutting off the dead weight of a lesser partner? I guess Paul Simon knew.
This album has a lot of classics on it even without Garfunkel
Excellent as Paul Simon may be, I’m not convinced he’s 100% for me. That being said, I think if you wanted to give a foreigner an album that explained America in the 70’s/80’s, this album may be a strong contender. Like a slightly folksier version of Springsteen
Etter å ha hørt S&G og Graceland, må jeg si dette var litt skuffende. Ikke dårlig, men heller ikke essensielt...?
Sympa, album folk. Oubliable
Enjoyed a lot of it, including the opening reggae song and the one that mentioned Detroit. Definitely a headphone album — recording is stellar.
Julio drags this to mid
much chiller vibe compared to blood and chocolate, very folksy feel to it standouts: Duncan - love the flute action Run That Body Down Hobo's Blue - LOVED the instrumental, prob maybe a 5/10 i feel very overall lukewarm abt the album, no insane standouts....
Interesting music. Paul Simon is clearly a talented artist, but meh. There's nothing bad here, but nothing that will make me want to listen to this album again.