Paul Simon

Very good. I enjoyed.

Good album - talent of PS coming through in every track. Enjoyed the listen, some great easy listening.

I don't think I like Paul Simon. His voice is kind of annoying. 2 Stars for Mother and Child reunion, which is about a chicken and egg dish called 'Mother and Child Reunion'.

Will listen again. 3,4

Not bad. Gets a little too similar to bob Dylan at times.

Such a sweet album but didn’t reach out to me as much as I thought it would. His voice is fantastic though

Decent folky/light rock album with a few great songs. Starting to apply some more diverse influences that flesh out more on later albums. Solid melodies and songwriting, for an overall alright album.

Fell in love with the song Duncan during this. Quite enjoyed the rest of the album also. 3.5

Easy listen. 4/5

So good! A bunch of songs I didn’t know either.

A classic by one of the best lyricists ever. Still had yet to totally come into his own but this is as good as it gets with sparse instrumentation, making an eclectic mix of great tracks.

Całkiem przyjemne. Takie 4/5 do lecenie w tle

Enjoyed this. I like the Simon and Garfunkel super group better, but there are some great hits on this album.

A terrific debut solo album. I love a few of these songs and the rest I also enjoy.

total banger in me and julio, fair few deeper cuts elsewhere

Too reggeae for me

Mostly found this boring, I'm afraid.

This was fine. I'm jealous of people who can whistle that cleanly. 3.1

Not bad

I didn't realize how many of these tracks I already knew before I listened to this one in full. Solid classics all around.

Always a smooth listen.

Very well crafted, nuanced and smooth folk-rock album with a lot of different influences. My favorite was Duncan, which was heavily influenced by South American music (it reminded me a lot of El Condor Pasa). Great album!

Paul Simon is one of absolute favorite songwriters, and I've listened to every album up until the ones released in the 2000s, which I still plan to get to eventually. Every single one of his records has timeless gems. I think most are probably familiar with Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard from this album. Duncan, Peace Like a River and Paranoia Blues are some of the others I love. The demos for Me and Julio and Duncan are a fascinating peek into his creative process. At some point between the demo and the final recording, he made the choice to take the note on Rosie higher, and it just truly elevates the whole song. Is this as strong as Graceland, one of my favorite albums of all time? No, but I'm not giving Mr. Simon less than a 5.

One of those that I know I should like it more than I do. His voice is faultless, he can play a mean guitar and the songs, when they hit right, are impeccable. It's just that it leaves me sat probably on a sidewalk in Greenwich village waiting for something a bit more... more. Run That Body Down, Duncan and Me & Julio stood out for me.

Paul Simon's first album after he got himself detached from the guy from the funny last name, and... See, I can understand why this is supposed to be so special. Simon is, evidently, a phenomenal singer-songwriter, and his inclusion of world elements was particularly unique at the time. Ain't no American artist in those days using a cuica. However, as much as I acknowledge and accept that — and as much as I did, honestly, try to pay attention to the lyrics and stories... This album just didn't do terribly too much for me. Maybe I just feel like it's lacking a little edge? The world elements aside (and maybe some of the deeper political meanings I missed, I'unno) it just felt kind of safe and typical. I mean, jeez, at least when he was palling around Garfunkel they had those beautiful harmonies, and that was interesting enough to carry me through. By himself... Yeah, I suppose he **is** a 70's folk singer-songwriter. But I'm not gonna act impressed by that, y'know? I'unno, it's an "it's fine" 3. I can appreciate some nice guitar and some of that 70's flute sound, but other than that, there just wasn't enough to really keep me engaged. Maybe when he takes a trip down to Graceland and I can call him Al there'll be more there. In the meantime... I'unno. Me First And The Gimme Gimmes did a cover of "Me And Julio"? Check that out, I guess? Sure.

Mr. Simon is a masterful singer-songwriter, and this album just shows how true that statement is. Very easy 5 for me.

I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. I think the most famous Paul Simon solo album is Graceland, and “You Can Call Me Al” is effectively the extent of my knowledge for Paul Simon as a solo artist. This is still pretty far away from the mid-80s though – this is pretty fresh after the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel as a duo. I don’t know how much of that is necessarily reflected in these songs, but this does feel like the start of a natural evolution and experimentation past their work. It’s not too different, obviously – a lot of this is steeped in the slower acoustics and storytelling that made Simon & Garfunkel work as a duo, but when he steps out of the box just a bit, whether it’s the reggae influenced opening track, or the more upbeat tempo of “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”, something pops just a little bit that makes most of these tracks work. However, I do think a lot of this album suffers from one continuous quirk that I just don’t vibe with – I think the album is just a little too ambiguous. There’s great storytelling here, but so much of it is made for the listener to fill in too many blanks, and it sort of makes the effort fall apart. There’s nothing wrong with ambiguity, but when it’s done this many times, it sort of loses the mystique and just starts to feel half-baked. You can only ask a listener to think so critically for so long without losing some of the focus on the music. It’s probably how Simon & Garfunkel functioned as a duo, cleaning up the ambiguity to find the perfect balance between intellectualism and airy prose. That’s not enough to drag it down to a 3.5 by itself though – I think there’s just a few too many acoustic only tracks here for my tastes, but they’re also so well done that I’d be remiss not to bump it up to a 4 overall. This is definitely a good album, and a rather fast 34 minutes, but it did leave me scratching your head a few too many times. Someone else will click with a bit more, but for me, I think it’s a solid album plagued by a few too many faults to really hit its highest potential. Hence, a 3.5 up to a 4.

Not bad 3/5

Me and Julio in the school yard song reminds me of what Mike used to do on lunch break at the mold shop

Great guitar instrumentals that I really enjoyed. And then you got Paul Simon's voice. Mix that, it's a 3-star rating for me.

Paul Simon's voice is always recognizable, but his music style is pretty much amorphous. He seems like a true artist who follows the sound wherever it leads him. The one through line is "folk". I really enjoyed the blues songs and obviously loved Julio. Didn't like some of the slower stuff.

-I like this one, I’ve had two Paul Simon records on here so far and they both seem pretty consistently good. It took me through a pretty wide range of moods, too. Some songs were definitely more interesting than others but none of it was definitively “bad” in my opinion -Favorites are Mother and Child Reunion and Run That Body Down

Mmm yes folk singer songwriter yes please Nnn

Pretty steady and safe, but otherwise typical Paul Simon

Paul is a GOAT

Paar 4er-bangers, meistens zwüsche 2 und 3, aber hotte dude

Instant simon&garfunkel vibes am inekicke. Bis ich cheggt han es isch au vum einte. Richtig gmüetlich, wär es klars 3.5, good mood, good music

han mal was vo gatorade addiction und smalltown ghört ih de lyrics, pretty wild aber au wider chli en country vibe, nur chli aktueller? besser als das vorher aber au keis 3, upsi

nöd die ganz ziit super ufmerksam gsi aber die vibes woni catcht han sind definitiv catchable gsi vereinzelti lieder 2 mal glost und vorerst mal direkt ih minere oldies playlist zum verstaube deponiert hübsche burscht tho

Middling. Never really got going and all I could think when I was listening was that I’d much rather be listening to Nick Drake.

I thought Simon's work as one half of Simon & Garfunkel was great. But his solo work is lacking the charm "Bridge Over Troubled Water" had. I liked some of songs at the beginning of "Self Titled". The later songs were ok for the time. Solo albums tend to suck but Simon avoided that. 3 stars for "Self Titled".

Pop, Folk, 1972 -> 3

Not my favorite of his Me and Julio slaps

Okay, but not like his later, more intriguing stuff, or the earlier, awesome Simon and Garfunkel songs.

It's a fun album! Mixes quite a lot of styles - folk, reggae, afrobeat, pop. Vampire Weekend have totally ripped this off :P

A lush and homey solo outing post Simon and Garfunkel.

...

Loved it

I've always liked Paul Simon.

Excellent album from front to back with a few classic songs sprinkled in there

I miss Garfunkel!

Enjoyed it!

Mother & Child Reunion is one of my all-time favorite songs, so this album starts strong. Me & Julio is great, as is Duncan. There are some clunky moments, but overall this is still an amazing album.

3/5 Mother and Child Reunion is a reggae song, which is cool for that time. Duncan is a ballad and it's beautiful. Everything Put Together Falls Apart sounds like what directly inspired Jeff Buckley. Run That Body Down is a cheesy happy song. Did not enjoy Armistice Day. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is cool, you can see the bossa nova influences, but it does not captivate me. Peace Like a River picks up the pace a bit for me, it's better than the last three songs. Papa Hobo is okay. Hobo's Blues is okay-ish. Paranoia Blues is bad. Congratulations is a good way to close a underwhelming LP.

Þetta var svo góð plata að ég setti hana aftur á strax um kvöldið með matnum. Þessi plata mun augljóslega fara oftar í spilun sem rólegheitabakgrunnstónlist. Virkilega gott stöff

First song was quite good reggae, second song had a good instrumental. The rest was rubbish

surely the next album on the list that I listen to won't sound the same as the last 500

meh 3/5 - not my fav kind of music

Some similarities to Gordon Lightfood

I always hated Paul Simon growing up. But he sure has grown on me. Motherless child reunion is an amazing song. This album is great ambiance for a nice visit with friends

Surprisingly enjoyable. Folky but not in a bad way.

I’m familiar with Simon & Garfunkel and Graceland, so this was totally new and surprisingly good to me. I really like this in-between period of Paul Simon, although I think he should stay away from reggae.

I have a lot of time for Paul Simon. I love his laidback style. This is a good album. I can see why people would adore it … and I like it. I really do. But, if I’m being honest I’m not sure I will ever choose to listen to it again. At least not for a good few years. So a 2.5 rounded to 3. I think that is fair.

Very enjoyable but better with Garfunkel

#67 - Again, nice listen but nothing really calls out to me

Great morning drive for gloomy

Pretty mid honestly. Not a fan of most 70s

Okay. Not really for me. And after hearing the original, I can say they where right to change Me And Julio. The final version is way better then the demo.

Great album.

Shite

Solid easy listening experience. Easy to enjoy 4.2

2,5

слушаем сольного Дона Симона после распада их великого дуэта с Гомункулом

Loved everything put together falls apart

Not totally my jam, but I see why people like Paul Simon.

Relaxed, love the guitar sound.

Nice. Melodic.

this guy. Top ten song makers in my humble opinion.

Not for me

Ok

No me gusta el folk

Love this.

Paul Simon's first album since his split from Art Garfunkel and it's good, not quite as good as the last couple of Simon & Garfunkel albums but you could tell where the talent in the duo came from. Mother & Child Runion and Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard are my personal highlights.

Great album. Never would have listened to Paul Simon without this site.

This is definitely the kind of music my parents listened to when I was little. Even if I don't explicitly recognize all the songs it has a certain comforting nostalgic feeling to it. I like that it's more laid back but still heartfelt. I think the brief interlude at the end that had a very "hobo" twang-guitar vibe hilarious and very unexpected. Definitely a creative decision, even if I don't agree with it. Favorite song: "Duncan" Best representation of the album: "Peace Like a River"

Me and Julio down by the school yard Missing the Garfunkel, harmless, nice background music 3

This is a good folkrock album. I mean there is some songs I like and some songs I don’t. There is no songs I love, but neither are there songs I hate… It is a very indifferent and inoffensive album. It is alright. I don’t know what more to say, really. Oh and Paul Simon is American????? While I listened I thought that this was the most American British album I had ever heard… only to find out that my life was a lie and Bridge Over Troubled Water wasn’t made by two British chaps. Favorite tracks: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Duncan 6/10

Sure enjoyed these hits when I was young. Listening now trying to hear past nostalgia, it is more interesting than I knew, and less so too. When good, it is infectious, and when weak it feels unfinished, oddly incomplete. Punchy and weak.

Couple of classics - he’s a great lyricist but not Peak Paul for me.

This is really more of a 2.5, but because I love what came before and came after I consider this a necessary steppingstone. And there were two great songs.

Paul Simon is nothing if not 100% pro. The arrangements on this album are all spotless, his vocal performances are clear and pristine, the songs are all expertly written. All that said, this amounts to a very pleasant listen, with some obvious standout tracks, that failed to excite me. Really well done, but not one I'd feel compelled to listen to out of the sheer pleasure it gives me.

yeah, ok, this is fine. a couple of songs are great. but this really doesn't need to be on the list.

Other than Me and Julio I find this album bo-ring

Good album

It points to both future directions he would explore in the 80s (eg the world music reggae vibes of the opening track Mother and Child reunion, and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard) as well as his 60s work with Garfunkel (Everything Put Together Falls Apart). But for all its charm and experimentation it feels a little scattered and unfocused. It’s also quite short at 35 mins.

Very fall vibes

Mother and Child Reunion 3.7 Duncan 3.1 Everything Put Together Falls Apart 3 Run That Body Down 3.4 Armistice Day 3.3 Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard 3.6 Peace Like a River 3.4 Papa Hobo 2.8 Hobo's Blues 3 Paranoia Blues 3.2 Congratulations 3 Score: 3.227272727

Was a fine album, I like some of his other works better. Maybe it’ll grow on me. Me and Julio down by the schoolyard is a classic though.

Not his best, but still a great artist finding his craft.

You know, I can’t tell how much of the Paul Simon songs I heard were with Garfunkel or were part of his solo efforts. Regardless, he is definitely one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time and this album is one of the highlights of his career. It is a big collection of varying styles, from classic folk rock, to reggae, to even some Brazilian samba. Yet the album keeps a very somber, very personal tone throughout its runtime, as seen in the likes of Duncan and Run That Body Down. It does feel likes it drags near the end a little, but this is a very good album overall. Favorite track: Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard Other hits: Duncan, Peace Like a River, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Paranoia Blues, Mother and Child Reunion

fav: peace like a river menos fav: mother and child reunion mother and child reunion: nao esperava essa vibe reggae??? que estranho, pela capa eu achava que era algum rock hippie vibes paul mccartney dps do disband. é gostosinha, eu veria em algum filme do sessao da tarde. esquece n gostei. duncan: A FLAUTINHAAAAAAAAAAAAA gostei muito!!!!!!!!!!! salvei. vibes i rather be a sparrow than a snaaaaaillll, compreende mais a vibes que eu achei que o primeiro teria. eptfa: tristinho q nem o nome rtbd: normar n relevante armistice day: violao daora, gostei majdbts: gostei, curti. me lembrou beatles tb peace like a river: eu realmente amei essa desde o primeiro segundo. curti, aumentei o volume e acho que vai ser uma das poucas que vou voltar a ouvir de novo. (vi o perfil do cara e tem uma musica do MILTON NASCIMENTO pra ele?????) papa hobo e hobo blues: n achei nd demais paranoia blues: blues country. tem como ser melhor? gostei e salvei. adorei como ele canta o refrão congratulations: essa musica e triste NAO se engane pelo nome majdbts (demo): simpatica mas prefiro og duncan (demo): caralho essa musica e boa em qlqr versao. n tem flautinha mas tem a VIBE - reouvi e n gostei tanto q nem a versao original :( paranoia blues (unreleased): ...mas eu to ouvindo ela pq ta dada como nao lançada? vibes elvis e beatles transando e tendo um filho que é essa musica. QUE LETRA MALUCA, critica como o estados unidos fode td mundo, tb gostei dessa versao - reouvi e gostei mais que a original EXTRA: Um vento passou (Para Paul Simon) [feat. Paul Simon] de Milton Nascimento: o simon cantando em portugues?? que legal <3333 é um mpb meio jazz e é uma musica bem acalentadora, parece um abraço.

Albumi #48, 14.09.2024 Paul Simonin toinen sooloalbumi Simon & Garfunkelin jälkeen. Verrattuna S & G:n koko tuotantoon ja Paul Simonin joihinkin muihin soolotuotantoihin jää tämä kakkosalbumi mielestäni perin tylsäksi. Melko ruisleivälle maistuvaa perus-folkkia josta puuttuu rutkasti särmää. Pieniä kohokohtia levyltä toki löytyy. Erityismaininnan saa kappaleet "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" sekä "Paranoia Blues".

First listen. Decent.

Good. Very good. A bit jaunty/twee for my taste.

I was familiar with Paul Simon, but I had never listened to one of his albums before. This was my first experience, and unfortunately, it didn’t impress me much. I found the album to be mediocre. However, I did enjoy the tracks “Duncan” and “Run That Body Down.”

decent folk album, typical sound for that era and group.

Paul Simon is always very listenable, but I’m not always in the same page with him as far as his whimsy.

I believe that at his peak, Paul Simon could write a song about the phonebook and make it sound witty, then hit you with an understated yet poignant track about your grocery list.

Seems to be missing something and, while it might grow on me with more listens, it falls flat the first two times.

Despite some sleepy tracks I appreciated a variety of sounds and Me and Julio is one of my favs by him.

Solid, but the only standouts for me were the radio releases.

Not a huge fan. But this is probably his best work.

Paul Simon is a great songwriter, and this album is a good example. There are some really strong songs on here, and there aren't any bad ones either. That being said, I much prefer his output with Garfunkel, so I don't see coming back to this album very often.

Not for me

I’ve listened to many songs on this album, and many are favorites (“Run That Body Down,” “Me and Julio”), I’d never actually listened to it in its entirety. This was a phenomenally consistent album, and even the songs I’d never heard were catchy and distinct. Armistice Day had Joni Mitchell-inspired chord progressions; Peace Like A River was an unexpectedly empowering political anthem. I can’t wait to listen again.

Not bad.

This was my first time listening to Paul Simon in its entirety, and it turned out to be a solid album. While it’s clearly a folk rock record, one of the first things I noticed was the subtle reggae influence on a few tracks. Not every song leans that way, but as the album progresses, it becomes clear that Simon draws from a variety of genres and styles. The percussion, in particular, adds a lot of texture and diversity. However, the overall production remains intentionally minimalistic, allowing Paul Simon’s fingerpicking guitar and vocals to take center stage.

Paul Simon is the second solo studio album by Paul Simon, originally released in 1972. I have such a soft spot for 1970s singer/songwriter albums. They feel so personal for some reason. Like I can relate to a lot of the songs from that scene. Paul Simon wasn't exactly part of Laurel Canyon scene, but this album gave me that same vibe. I really liked how varied the genres are on here. It starts off with a reggae/rocksteady track which I absolutely love. There's blues, folk, Americana, and some great great songwriting. The only drawback regarding this album is that it's a bit raw in my opinion. Some of the songs feel very unpolished/demo-ish. Maybe that's how they were intended to be. I'm probably just used to more polished singer/songwriter records from that era. Nonetheless, this was an awesome record!

This was Paul Simon's first solo album after Simon & Garfunkel broke up and it further proved that Simon drove the group with his fantastic songwriting. A good collection, too bad Kodachrome was on the next album because that is my favourite Paul Simon song. Overall, I consider, There Goes Rhymin' Simon his best record, but this album stands well on it's own. There are at least three songs that are as good as any S & G songs, but there is some filler, in my opinion, that keep it from being a classic.

I was a little underwhelmed by this one. It's a fine album, just a little forgettable. I only knew one song form this album prior to listening (Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard) and to be honest, I never really liked the song to begin with. Should've been a sign... Favorite song(s): Peace Like a River, Armistice Day Least favorite song: Mother and Child Reunion Knew beforehand? No

I think I’m discovering that I’m not that big of a Paul Simon guy. A couple of good songs, but mostly just banal pop music. 2.5/5

I mean .... It's Paul Simon! Some great songs here, but It's not something I would go to my musical closet of choice, to pull out and put on the player. I enjoyed it, nice easy to listen to.

It's nice. Too nice.

Super solid.

Good.

Simon steps out sans Garfunkel. Clever lyrics make up for sometimes lacking melodies.

J’ai bien apprécié ce que Paulo a fait ici; le mélange de folk acoustique, de blues sale et même de… reggae? C’est pas une révolution, mais ça donne un ptit break au oreille

Go listen to the Pokemon Johto Theme and tell me that the chorus isn't a straight rip of Mother and Child Reunion. Paul's first album after splitting from Garfunkel is really strong and has some great singer/songwriter pieces. There isn't a lot of weak stuff here, with my favorites being the aforementioned Reunion, Duncan, and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. I want to lay in a hammock on an early spring day and relax to this album.

I think Paul Simon is a treasure, and this is a very good album, but I'm not sure how to rate it. As much as I love Paul, I want to give it 4 stars, but it's really only got a couple of great songs. I wouldn't call the rest filler -- it's still solid, but is it enough? Since I love Paul, I'll give it 4 stars, but I think it's borderline.

A little repetitive but comfy. Would be great to listen to during Autumn. Recognized Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard (of course) and was happy to finally hear the rest.

Doesn't match my taste in music.

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard ist ein bekannter Klassiker, der Rest ist auch ganz gut. aber insgesamt hab ich mich durchgeqält

Hobo's Blues: "ooh, sounds like Django. Oh, it's Stéphane Grappelli on violin, nice!" Wish that track was longer.

Never a bad album.

Great collection of world music sounds

I have been listening to Paul Simon's solo work for the first time this year, and the timing could not be better for his second studio album. I heard the reggae-leaning “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” before the full listen. This self-titled album carries much of the same folk songwriting sensibility Paul had in Simon & Garfunkel, albeit while experimenting with some stylistic changes here and there. I already mentioned the reggae track, but there are also blues tracks towards the end, Latin music like on “Armistice Day” with the percussion switch up and saxophones, and smooth jazz like on “Run That Body Down” with the use of double bass and a vibraphone. All the while Paul sings about drugs, adolescence, and his troublesome marriage with then-wife Peggy Harper. The only complaint I had with the album is there wasn’t much variance in the folk guitar dynamics for some of the songs. It does come across as similar in the soft acoustic vibe outside of the style shifts mentioned previously. Still, I had a pleasant time with this album, and give it a solid recommendation.

Great song written, lovely folk pop album, deserves to be on the list, but I’d rank this below Graceland, bookends and bridge over troubled water, so less likely to come back to it.

I've been listening to a lot of Paul Simon (solo and Simon and Garfunkel) recently and I’ve come to realize just how great of a folk-pop writer he is. I tag 'pop' there because he has a way of making these mellow, tight, and punchy tracks so damn easy to enjoy - especially tracks like 'Mother and Child Reunion', 'Run That Body Down', 'Duncan', and 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard'. While not as melancholic as some of his stuff with S&G, it still has subtle hints of those bleaker moments, like on the song 'Congratulations' While I found the final few tracks semi-underwhelming, it was interesting to hear some of Paul's earlier folk-leaning works for the first time - and as expected, there are a handful of songs here that I'll be revisiting for, maybe, the rest of my life.

I liked Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard and Peace Like a River.

sweet little piece of folk rock along https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27337a40ab12a4fb96319a9d96fwith some blues

enjoyed it way more than expected. somehow as a album it was a nicer first listen than graceland but afterwards it can be hears that this experimental path was approachin on some cuts. 4.5/5.0

Really like Paul Simon actually. Great album 8/10

#317. This album is fine, but kind of forgettable. Nothing at all really stood out as particularly interesting to me while I was listening to it. 3/5: acceptable Song added to playlist: Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

CARINO

Almost a 5. Very enjoyable.

Have you ever noticed how stoned Paul Simon looks on the cover?

I’m lagging really hard on rating this album. I keep listening to it hoping it’s gonna get better. It’s certainly good. It’s just not hitting for some reason. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard has always been a favorite of mine though.

Didn’t pay too much attention to the album. Didn’t find it engaging. It sounded fine, but not anything I’d go out of my way to listen to again. Folk? Couldn’t tell you. Standouts: Peace Like a River, Paranoia Blues, and Congratulations.

Excellent album. Paul Simon is great.

From Simon and Garfunkel discography I was expected to get hit in a instant but unfortunately I didn’t first track was great and fun but went back to blues and folk which were great but didn’t hit me to an extent

Decent album. Good singing. Didn’t love it didn’t hate it

Graceland is miles better, but this was still good

More beautiful songwriting. A couple of stone cold classics and a couple more that deserve to be better known than they are.

Great album

Wow. Wow. Sing to my soul

ok to nice singer songwriter stuff

Faktisk mægtigt godt. Ihvertfald bedre end det tidligere Poul Simon album. Det blev dog lyttet til lidt afbrudt, så det kan godt være jeg skal vende tilbage til det en anden dag. men indtil nu positiv.

Det kan lige svinge sig op på hyggeligt baggrundsmuzak.

Sounds exactly like I expect a Paul Simon album to sound. Safe, inoffensive music played well & written well.

Enjoyable, almost 5 stars.

A lot more folk instrumentals than i expected.

You know, this was fine. Paul Simon is great if not just slightly problematic in what feels like cultural appropriation on his records. More so on Graceland than this for sure. But in general a bunch of great songs. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” always hits.

A fine album if you like boring music.

Good songwriting and lyrics. Not quite as good as some of the Simon and Garfunkel but a pretty good self titled record. Unfortunately I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this again, but it gets a 4 for my appreciation.

Maybe not his best, but it’s still really good. Paul Simon is just a great songwriter

I like Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard; I kind of like Mother and Child Reunion, Hobo’s Blues

A fun album, not really my style, but Paul Simon knows his shit and this album is very indicative of that.

I feel like Simon & Garfunkel had a pretty consistent output, so after a band breakup like that, the solo material might take a few albums to really be something good, as the members adjust to making music on their own. And this album I think is a perfect example of than. It was okay, but definitely nothing special. I imagine that some of Paul Simon's later stuff is much more interesting.

Playful and tuneful

Fine

Lovely folk album, Paul Simon's lyrics and voice are both amazing and he has some nice fingerpicking throughout this too. "me and julio" is an obvious hit but I really enjoyed "Duncan", "Armistice day" and "Peace Like a River"

Bom, apesar de não ser dos meus artistas prediletos

It's alright, some nice vibes, nothing special though

I prefer the albums with Garfunkle, but this had solid moments of his uniquely talented lyrical style and a wide range of influences. Plus, "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" excites me at the first note. I think I've listened to it three times today.

An album split between grand statements - Mother and Child Reunion, armistice day, Me and Julio... - and smaller simpler singer songwriter fare - Duncan, papa hobo, Everything Put together - this album hit harder on second listen. Masterful for it's genre hopping and shere song craft after the relative restraint of S&G. This opened up the full array of possibilities he would explore through his career.

ja, folk der frühen 70er. mir gefallen ein paar songs, ihre melodien und der erzählende gesang von simon. aber das geflöte stört mich jedes mal ein wenig mehr ..

Ein wegweisendes Album welches mir sehr gefällt

This album has so many great songs, led by “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”, the two tracks that’ll have you singing them for days afterwards. The lead single lays the blueprint for where Simon will later go with Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints, which some critics say is nothing more than an exploitation or appropriation of music beyond America’s borders.

Nice easy listening, not 100% my cup of tea and was a bit of a struggle to get through in one sitting, but I feel like if I was doing some other stuff/in the right mood, it would be a different story.

Great album, I don’t even know if Paul Simon even ever misses

Nah.

great vibes

A couple boring songs but good overall.

Hello Simon my old friend

Its okay its his stuff. Graceland is much better

Like the other Paul Simon albums, there is some good stuff on here, but after the big hits, a lot is fine.

I just don't like Paul Simon.

Love me some Paul Simon

Oh shut up come on. This is already one of my faves… though I’ve never listened to it all the way through! I like the opening to “Duncan” this is cool, it sounds a little Dylan-esque. “Run That Body Down” is good.. I’ve heard it in a movie or something. I also like “Peace Like a River.” Obviously “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” is huge. And I’m sorry but “Hobo Blues” opening is a banger. Easy 5/5. Oh and the “Paranoia Blues” unreleased version is fun.

There is some great songwriting here and there is no denying that Simon's solo career stands on its own. The first track of the album stands out in particular to me. However, I can't help but prefer his work with Garfunkel, and anticipate that I will rate it higher.

Decent album by Simon. This sounds similar to his work with Garfunkel, and I enjoy his more upbeat solo work. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

Not my favorite of Paul Simon's content, but also one I haven't listened to a lot. I tend to prefer the more sparse instrumentation from these earlier albums (and his latest) over some of the more "world music" versions. But this doesn't have quite the emotional catch for me that some of Simon's writing does.

I'll probable listen to this again, it's awesome!

mother and child reunion- ok. it would play in a movie like florida project. it would show a couple shots of a board walk. 6 or 7 duncan- idc. 3. NO THERES MORE everything put together falls apart- i thought it was about drugs but its not so idc. 4 run that body down- ahhhhhhh. 4 armistice day- :l . 5 me and julio down by the schoolyard- 7 or 8. i like the monkey sounding noises. or it sounds like you get a soda at mcdonalds and youre messing with the straw. peace like a river- idgaf paul hobo- i also live on gatorade. 6 hobo blues- 7 or 8 paranoia blues- 6 congratulations- ok. 5 favorite song- hobo blues it wont let me rate the album....

3.75 solid, not quite a 4 but good

3/5 Solid.

liked it. short and nice. but nothing super standout, aside from maybe paranoia blues.

Has some all-time classics on it, and is filled out with some weird but okay songs. Giving it a four since the highs are so high, and there was at least one gem that I hadn't heard before listening to the whole album.

Приятно и талантливо. Под определенное настроение, но мне было бы сложно отличить этот альбом от других в этом жанре

Paul Simon. Handwerklich gut. Mir immer etwas zu langweilig. - was tatsächlich an seinem Gesang liegen könnte …

Paul Simon hits with some really good deeper cuts I didn't know that were all very solid

Classic artist not for me.

Hellish

"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" is one of my faves of his.

Smile inducing

приятный фолк-роковый(вроде) альбом, даже немножко блюза есть. возвращаться буду, но не слишком часто, все же, не совсем мое.

Pretty much what you'd expect from one half of folk-rock megastars Simon & Garfunkel. Stand out songs are the firts two singles from the album: the reggae song "Mother and Child Reunion", and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard".

La verdad lo disfrute y es un buen disco de solo voz y guitarra pero no es para nada superior a "Graceland". Disfrute las canciones sin embargo creo que Paul Simon ha hecho mejores cosas y hay artistas que usándolo solo guitarra y voz me parecen mas interesantes.

The most enjoyable Paul Simon album besides Graceland. Fun and not as boring as some of his other stuff.

Very nice album with good lyrics

Liked Songs Mother and Child Reunion Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

7/10. Pleasant folk album. :)

Me and julio down by the schoolyard Mother and child reunion Run that body down

pleasant listen with some standouts

A great find. Really enjoyable album.

Peaches and cream. Women and wine. Simon and Garfunkel. Something's are better together. That not to say that peaches aren't great by themselves. But sometimes its better with cream. And this Simon would have been better with Art. And thidnt isn't to say Simon isn't great all by himself. Graceland is a great album. But this isn't. The first few songs are tepid at best. Others are good. But many only have glimmers of something interesting. This album is almost good.

Unique - almost modern in some sections

Brilliant album. Simon’s vocals are so crisp, and the album is so nicely arranged. The tracks flow with nice balance. The varied influences are fun and interesting, and the lyrics are some of his best. *****

Meh. Too folksie for me.

Me & Julio down by the schoolyard. Let it be? It doesn't work like that.

Either boring or annoying. Lack of originality.

Great chill album. I liked it.

3rd fav

Paul Simon is a great songwriter. I prefer his music as part of S&G. I'm not as big of a fan of his solo work. There are some definite bright spots on this album, namely "Me and Julio...." I also love that this album has Reggae influences. Good album.

A little self-aggrandizing to use your own name as both your band name and your album name but you know, Paul Simon

Absolute banger. One of the greatest songwriters alive.

I love Paul Simon and this album is no exception

Really solid album. Has some classics and a lot of good deep cuts.

Me gustan mucho los arreglos en las canciones, buen álbum, no lo esperaba.

На один раз нормально, в конце какое-то кантри пошло.

Good album. Good music and lyrics. It's entertaining!

Never listened to this but I enjoyed it.

Lots of variety all of it interresting and worth listening to.

probably a 3.5. Some great songs and a few legendary ones but too many moments feel meandering and unfulfilled

2 hits that played constantly when I was young, but the rest of the album, while introspective the songs were melancholy and wouldn’t drive me back for another listen

Love some of these songs, not a fan of all the pan flute or whatever that is but the African drum sounds are great. "Mother and Child Reunion" is an all-time favorite.

3/5

definitely would listen if I was upset to calm me down and cheer me up

After the first track of a cringy attempt at reggae, the album redeems itself with what Paul Simon does best, folky singer songwriter grounded in acoustic guitar.

Two really good songs, his lyrics are good.

I was dreading another Paul Simon album!! I really like me and Julio down by the school yard and mother and child reunion. apart from that the songs are very similar and the album is very similar to graceland. Which some wold think is a good thing!! Favourite song: Mother and Child reunion Least favourite: Duncan, I was not a fan of this at all. Album artwork: Great jacket

I've now realised I like Paul Simon

Some of my earliest memories of songs on the radio were Paul Simon. I liked him then, I like him now. Solid album.

Excellent singer songwriter album, as you'd expect from Paul Simon, with lots of diverse flourishes, as you'd expect from Paul Simon. Also, it's eponymous, which is great as it gives me an excuse to write one of my favourite words. Oooh, eponymous. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Date listened: 20/06/24

Paul’s voice and songwriting are incredible. I’ve gotten used to his voice on Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland so my first thought on this listen was how his voice sounds so much younger on this album than I remember. It’s hard for me to pick a favorites, it’s just such a perfect collection of songs.

Simple, folky music. Pleasant to listen to while working. I like Armistice Day, mainly because the guitar breakdowns. Almost a heavy vibe on them, but acoustic. Peace Like a River is probably my favorite, also because of the guitar work. Great tune. Paul Simon isn't someone I would typically ride around listening to, but his music makes me smile.

I did NOT expect a reggae opener--or anywhere for that matter--on this album; I guess I assumed it would be acoustic guitar and voice. This is a refreshing surprise. Let's see what else this album has to offer. There it is, track 2: "Duncan", and pretty much every song afterwards. They are more indicative of what I'd expect from "Paul Simon." This road was paved by Leonard Cohen, but Paul certainly has his own worthwhile musings. "Run That Body Down" is coffee-shop jazz that resonates with me with it's casual approach and odd-meter. I can hear similar stylings in the works of M. Ward and Elliot Smith decades later. I like how "Peace Like a River" flows (pardon the pun), and the guitar work is well-honed, especially the precise finger-picking. These are my two favorite tracks. Similar song titles like "Papa Hobo", "Hobo's Blues," and "Paranoia Blues" stretch the credibility of inspiration and appears more like a thematic rut that is all the more painfully obvious being sequenced back-to-back. Next up, "Papa's Paranoia"?? It's a bit nit-picky, but that's how criticism goes at times. These are supposed to be the greatest albums of all time. "Congratulations" is a somber and reflective way to close out the album; its impact would be greater if the previous songs demonstrated more variety. In all, there are some playful changes in meter and a relaxed sophistication on "Paul Simon," but it is suffers from lack of variation in the style and instrumentation and is perhaps too easy-listening and quiet.

This sounded like what I'd expect a Paul Simon album to sound like. It wasn't my favorite album by him (I really only knew "Julio" before today, and nothing else took my breath away), but it's perfectly fine. It shows his interest in folk, and also with world music with the Jamaican and Brazilian elements. 3.5

I'm a big Paul Simon fan so I was glad to see this one come up. Paul Simon has such a clear and clean voice. His singing always sounds so effortless and uncomplicated. He really has a way of painting pictures with his words while at the same time keeping things musically interesting. This was a pretty chilled out album. I like 'Me and Julio...', 'Duncan' and 'Mother and Child Reunion'.

embarrasingly enough I didn't know this was the simon and garfunkel guy but yeah bangers.

Safe album from a good guitarist

I genuinely like paul simon, so no surprise I enjoyed this album.

noice

Folky. Pretty good. Chill and mellow. My favorite so far

Not my thing

Great songwriting. 3 stars

Pretty good, deffo see where Vampire Weekend got their ideas from.

Paul Simon's treading a fine line between beautiful simplicity and blandness, and that's not necessarily a good thing. I think the full-on analog sound suits Simon pretty well – and, given his discography, it seems like he agrees with me – but when acoustic instruments swamp an entire album, it's easy to get tired of them. Still, in terms of singer-songwriters (i.e. people who rarely, if ever, make use of new/electric/innovative sounds), Paul Simon's one of the best. He's great at constructing a happy, carefree atmosphere with some truly fantastic lyricism and solid production. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is great. In fact, it's one of my favourite 70s songs, even before having heard this album. It's the only track I'd heard before, and it still remains my favourite. (Can't really go wrong with Simon's youthful, peppy vocal over a I-V-I-V guitar chord progression.) Excluding Graceland, this is surely the best in Simon's solo discography. I was also impressed by the lively reggae track Mother and Child Reunion, and the lower-energy, lyrics-focused Run That Body Down and Peace Like a River. The remaining tracks, on side 2 in particular, were not impressive, and an album consisting only of songs of that quality would get a 2/5 at most. Paranoia Blues, Hobo's Blues, Papa Hobo... they just felt a little devoid of substance. But I think I can forgive Simon just this once. 3.5/5 Key tracks: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like A River, Run That Body Down

Always 5 stars. He’s a poet that touches my heart every time.

6.5/10

Pretty good old tunes.

Short but fun

I like Simon because of his open minded and exploratory approach to music. Like all the best artists he is good at stealing and making something of his own from it.

I don't think I really registered any part of that. It was background noise. Admittedly, it was a weird day. I'm getting the feeling that Paul Simon is over-represented on this list. Is Graceland on here? This and Zep 2 make me think that the author felt like they "had to" put some of the big names on here multiple times, and that anybody on classic rock radio playlists gets bonus points. But I also get that I'm rating good and culturally important albums, so one star is the worst of the best. Two stars.

Ganska stabilt album.

Verrry low key. Fine.

-pleasant calming indie-reggae -country music also -interesting beats best song: ‘run that body down’ -bit boring -farmer music?? kinda 👩‍🌾 -would not revisit

Best songwriter of the baby boom generation and there is no argument. I too am Just thanking the Lord for Paul Simon's fingers 😉

B- Mother And Child Reunion 3 Duncan 4 Everything Put Together Falls Apart 3 Run That Body Down 4 Armistice Day 3 Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard 3 Peace Like A River 3 Papa Hobo 3 Hobo's Blues 3 Paranoia Blues 3 Congratulations 4 Good job fella

My mum's car music. No thanks

The song writing, the lyrics, it's just all wrapped up nicely with a bow on the top! I can listen to this album start to finish and love every second of it 5/5

Not bad, not great

Mother and Child Reunion // Duncan // Run That Body Down // Armistice Day // Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard // Peace Like a River // Paranoia Blues //

For some reason, Paul Simon just doesn't do it for me. This album is further proof. It isn't terrible, but it is unremarkable and bland. I get some people like it but this isn't for me.

Apparently not a great person but he did make some wonderful music.

riktigt bra alltså. fan vad go han är. vissa låtar är lite sömniga men ändå bra. det hade ändå behövt hända lite mer på albumet för att det ska bli en femma

While it's not his best work, Paul's songwriting shines through with many of the songs containing beautiful melodies. Very Paul Mccartney-esque at times Influences from music created in other countries is seeping into the album, but rather than taking over almost completely (like graceland) it's incorporation is generally a bit more subtle which I personally find interesting. (with the exception of the first song) No song stands out as being totally trascendent like on other albums (like 50 ways to leave a lover or sounds of silence or bridge over troubled water) But the album is very consistantly good

Paul Simon sings about New England like Anthony Kiedis sings about California

Not his best but i love this petty little guy

An ok album

Paul Simon always had an interesting take on music. With the ability to ring other cultures into his music he makes things fun. This album shows that with the various styles in instrumentals. The overall lyricism is pretty good and of course the Detroit red wing shoutout is pretty cool. Overall this album has a major hit but the whole thing isn’t that spectacular, just overall good. 7.2/10

Incredible album. I’ve heard Paul Simon my whole life from mom, dad, and Chris but have only ever really listened to his hits. This albums incredible front to back. Super consistent tone throughout. Great lyrics and some really good folk style guitar picking. Loved it

Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter and this album is one of many that illustrates this fact. His ability to incorporate a variety of musical influences is in its infancy on this album. This is a taste of what is to come.

Not his best. But still great highlights. Some filler from older stuff as he was trying to gain traction.

Profondement ennuyeux ...

oh hell no

niet mijn ding, niet slecht om eens geluisterd te hebben -> 2/5

Catchy folky pop. Not unpleasant.

Really nice and chill

Mellow. Some great tunes on this that I assume was his solo debut?

Simon & Garfunkel together were better.. this was ok, relaxing generally.

A master craftsman at work. Even if Paul Simon isn't your thing, you must appreciate the man's ability to write and record. A national treasure at his best right here.

This fucking guy again. I wish there was an Art Garfunkel solo record on this list. I’d rate it 5 stars without hearing a note and would leave a review saying as much, for two reasons: 1.) I know it would drive Paul Simon nuts to see Art Garfunkel get any praise whatsoever. 2.) Art Garfunkel, as vanilla and boring as he is, is still not anywhere near as boring and vanilla as Paul Simon. He should’ve just called this record “Tapioca: The Album”.

Didn't know this was the Simon and Garfunkle guy. More interesting than what I would have expected. Didn't expect the slight reggae vibes in the first song. Some Dylan vibes and I liked the narrative nature of the songs. Good fun easy listening! 7/10

Highlight: Mother and Child Reunion

Just OK.

Never heard the album before. It had a couple of good songs but overall not great. I won't rush out to listen to it again. 3 stars, but closer to 2 than 4. "I was born in the boredom and the chowder"

Great collection of songs. I'd only heard some of them before, but the whole album is solid.

You can hear the transition from Bridge over to his first solo album, he is nothing but phenomenal

Nice album. My favorite album of his is Graceland.