Reviews (page 11 of 13)
Parfait pour un lundi ! Un vendredi la vibe aurait pas été bonne !
Fun little soft rock album. The 2 blues songs are weirdly not very bluesy but as a whole, it was inoffensive and heartfelt
Nice little folk record. I did recognize the more popular songs on the record, and for the most part they are my favorites and most catchy to me (Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Mother and Child Reunion. Also really enjoyed Papa Hobo/Hobo Blues, Paranoia Blues, and the demo of that one as well.
avg
1. potentially this could make me feel so sick abt Mother 2. SWAG STORYTELLING SONG 3. short & simple 4. maybe this should be a more regular song on the rotation.... 5. meh 6. swag 7. meh 8. meh 9. Jaunty little tune! 10. ok 11. meh 12. swag 13. SWAGGGG 14. a little swagger than the non-demo version
I liked this more than Graceland, and maybe more than most S&G stuff. It was stripped back but interesting, calming but fascinating. Solid 3.
This is a step down from Graceland, which we had near the beginning of this project. It's very stripped back, very singer-songwriter, and although the lyrics and storytelling are really good, they aren't great enough to hold up an album like this on their own. And Paul Simon's voice isn't that strong - he's at his best with Art Garfunkel, or working with something a bit more musically complex. 3/5, just.
it was okay, decent bit of folk, i liked it, nothing spectacular but it was okay!
I liked it, but there was something about it was too "light" for me. Then halfway through, I realized it's because there's no bass and no typical percussion!
I dig a lot of Simon & Garfunkel stuff but his solo stuff is a bit weaker to me. Just a bit all over the place and often too saccharine for me. Still lots of great moments and songwriting in this though.
Maybe the first solo effort? Some memorable songs.
Nice guitar stuff on here - not a big fan of the guy’s voice and style overall, but this was easy to listen to.
Some really good tracks on this one
Great voice and musician. Just not my tempo. “Me and Julio…” is good though. 5.5/10
Not massively familiar with Paul Simon's solo work besides "You Can Call me Al", however I enjoyed listening to this album a lot. The traditional Folk and Blues influence combined with other genres at points like Gospel end up giving a very nice and relaxing listen. The lyrical content is quite dark in points which provide a good juxtaposition from the fairly peaceful and sweet melodies he plays on the guitar. I liked the use of storylines within the album too - highlighting the tale of Papa Hobo, and all of this coming together to carve out a kind of narrative. I ended up listening to the demos on the expanded version and I enjoyed them more than the album counterparts - the stripped back underproduced acoustic sound adds to the vibe I reckon Favourite Track: "Mother & Child Reunion" or "Peace like a River"
Não tive uma audição muito atenta. De qualquer forma, a voz agradável e folk deixou uma atmosfera de calma.
Bien. Sin más. Un poco rollo.
Solid
Nice, easy listening folk.
some good stuff in here
Very good background noise. I almost forgot I was listening.
Not as good as Graceland but still pretty good 3.5
Some really good songs, mostly boring songs.
Ok album. Hard to listen to when you've been hearing the best of S&G the whole time
Paul Simon is likely in the running for greatest songwriter of all time and that's absolutely on show here, there's a few duds like Papa hobo but even those are pretty impressive songs, they just don't hold up to some of the stronger songs on this album, Run that Body Down and Me and Juilio Down by the Schoolyard stand out as highlights for me. The criticism id have of this album is that it can feel a little bit directionless, it is obvious that this is Simon striking out on his own and looking to figure out what's going to define him as a solo artist. Some of its just more of what he was doing with S&G, some is reggae, some is more blues but he doesn't seem to have figured out quite where he wants to go yet. Which is fine of course, it would take another 14 years for him to hit on the sound that would define his solo work with Graceland. But it does mean this particular album doesn't particularly sound like the same work at the end than the beginning.
Its fine. He's a talented musician playing music I don't really care about.
it was fine, just generally boring. i wasn't able to get into the vibe. 3.
Giving county
I like the use of non traditional instruments on this lp. Simon used Caribbean and South American instruments and music liberally. Duncan and Papa Hobo are my favorite tunes
I listened to a few songs and I enjoyed what I heard.
3.7/5 good
Paul Simon doing what he does best.
I will probably be one of the few people here to think this, but this for me is a major step forward after the records he made with Garfunkel. I enjoyed listening to this, both lyrically and musically.
whoa, I have that exact same parka Paul Simon is wearing on the album cover. I stole it from a thrift store when I was 16 and, while I haven't worn it regularly in about 20 years, I can't bear to get rid of such a rad parka. That's all I have to say about this album. ok, Me and Julio is a pretty great song.
Bardovsky festival
Never really a fan of folky kind of music but this was at least a bit pleasant to hear. Nothing crazy but was fine. 7/10.
Great album, reminding everyone that Paul Simon was a much better songwriter than Art Garfunkel, but also that without Garfunkel, the songs just don't sound as good.
Not as good as Hearts and Bones
Not quite as immediately catchy as some of the other Paul Simon records on this list, his flirtations with a myriad of genres from reggae to jazz is still anchored by Simon’s peerless ear for pop melodies. That said, the real standout track on this record, “Me and Julio…”, isn’t really matched by the largely sparse arrangements on this record. It’s hard to explain what makes Paul Simon such an incredible songwriter, so just stick on his records and find out.
He likes to mix up the styles and has many international influences clearly, but it leads to some of it feeling a little "inauthentic" for want of a better word.
Goeie muziek. Ik mis een beetje de energieke nummers die ik zo mooi vind, dus dit album is niet mijn favoriet, maar zang en muziek van Simon blijft gewoon erg goed. ***
Classic
I enjoyed this. Would have loved some added instruments and vocal harmonies.
I have this one on vinyl. I think it was actually my dad's or uncles. Paul Simon is a great writer, but his music itself isn't always for me. A lil twangy for my tastes
It was fine, no more
Didn't know any of the tracks on this album, and whilst mostly decent there is a reason for that
Sings like he looks.
😴
I really love Paul Simon, but I was expecting more. He's such a clever and cheeky lyricist and a deft musician and composer. And yes, that is here in his hits like Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (one of my alltime faves) and Mother and Child Reunion (wonderful blending of different sounds and vocals); even in lesser knowns like Duncan ("couple in the next room bound to win a prize, they've been going at it all night long") or Peace Like a River (his folksy plucking combined with other instruments is great) or Paranoia Blues (quintessential up-tempo Paul Simon). But I felt like there were a bunch of ho-hum songs (Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Congratulations) or others with clever lyrics but that sound like regurgitation of his work with Garfunkel (Papa Hobo). I'm torn on others with simple strumming and easy vocals (Run that Body Down, Armistice Day); sometimes I find them a bit boring, other times just right. He has some absolutely killer albums but this one felt average to be honest.
Twee-dull- well, not dumb, it's obviously well done, it's just not very interesting
Quite like the 2 “blues” songs, album a bit too sedate for my liking, kinda expected from Paul Simon though
Never listened to this front to back but I am a PS fan - pretty great! Inspires me to go even deeper on Solo Simon.
Great musician, good songs but just not for me.
PS's second solo album. 2 big tracks in Julio and Mother/Child Reunion. The rest are less memorable but have a sense of purpose. It all sounds chilled but can come across a bit lightweight. 3.5
The guitar is certainly lyrical, but I was falling asleep after a few songs.
This album had so much range across genres. I really liked the different instruments used.
Quality album. Not a lot of his better known hits but representative of the story telling and guitar playing that made half of a dynamic duo famous
Really really long, really really proud of my mediocre stir fry
Would listen again as background music
Overall, pretty good. Never thought I'd be a huge Paul Simon fan and I'm still kind of not, but it was a nice change of pace from what I usually like. Standouts: Duncan, Me and Julio Down by the School Yard, Peace Like a River, Paranoia Blues
Paul Simon is great - opening track is nice, then a lot of boring. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” saves the album IMO, and I also really liked “Peace like a River”. 2.5 and rounding up for Julio.
I am quite a fan of Simon And Garfunkel and I own each of their albums at home. But when it comes to Paul Simon's solo output, I've never really witnessed the same sort of magic in it. And it's not only because Art Garfunkel was not there to harmonize those vocal parts with him. Case in point: this album. Some of the arrangements are great (hear the ones on "Duncan" or "Armistice Day", for example). But generally speaking, the songwriting lacks the emotional heights of Simon's heyday with his former partner, and this for both the music and the very vague lyrics (some of those lines are pretty shallow and self-indulgent, aren't they? Even Simon himself seemed to concur when interviewers asked him about them later on...) It's still a nice record to listen to on a quiet saturday morning, when the weather outside is downcast. But it's clearly not an essential album. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 805 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 105 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 49 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 44 (including this one)
2.5/5 maybe better on another listen? The music it self is not that impressive but has the Simon and Garfunkel vibe (duh). I suppose the lyrics are quite nice but I did not really listen to them. //todo re listen more carefully
Lyrically good. Lot of acoustics. Generally not my type of music but can understand why it is considered great. Highlights for me: -Everything Put Together Falls Apart -Run That Body Down -Paranoia Blues 3.5/5
Solid album, but apart from a couple of standout tracks, not particularly memorable. It was probably very significant at the time, but not different enough from his work with Garfunkel to be seen as a landmark in my opinion. Interesting to see Paul Simon progress as the solo artist that would eventually be putting out masterpieces in pop music a few years later.
Entertaining album from the past. Paul Simon has a really beautiful voice, which could work in any musical genre. Probably that's pretty blasphemic, but if Bob Dylan had a voice of Paul Simon, but would keep his great writing and a bard persona, then we would be talking about him as a Michael Jordan of popular music. Instead, we have Paul singing folky pop/soft rock songs, which are really nice to listen to, but ultimately a little dissapointing. As for the songs, this album can be divided in two parts - singles in one group and everything else in the other. There is a massive drop-off in quality between the three singles and other songs on the album. For example, 'Mother and Child Reunion' is a great song, with an upbeat tempo, charming chorus and, of course, gorgeous voice of Paul. Similarly, along the same lines, 'Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard' works great as a single on this album. The last one is called 'Duncan'. The style in this song is changed to a slower and more melancholic, although in my opinion Simon's vocal doesn't fit well , or at least is not at its best in this circumstances. But still - great song. Altogether, the rating for this album would be very high, if you only count those three songs, but we have to consider the whole record, which is filled with 'ready to be skipped' songs. But I will gladly check the full discography of Mr. Simon.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
3 - would be a high 3 but he's done better. just finding his feet ion a very nice way...
Meh
nice an chill, some classic paul simon but not his best. Great guitar playing but a little rambling
6/10. Fun listen. What I liked: Easy to listen to. What I disliked: very barebones, so I had to fall back to the vocals and I'm not the biggest fan of this type of vocals. Reminds me of: The Beatles (the ones with more barebones instrumentals) and some chill Korean songs.
decent
Good!
Eh, it's fine. Not my cuppa.
Gets a little boring at times actually. Love it though 3.5
Reminds me of McCartney I, pleasant, sometimes surprising and fun.
This is another that came up earlier, my thoughts on it havent really changed since the last time though I think I'll change the score to a 3 This really does feel like a transitional album. Some of the wonderful folk stylings from Simon's work with Garfunkel but with some hints towards the more diverse output that he would explore further over a decade later on Graceland. It didn't quite reach the heights of that album, but there's some great stuff on here. Run That Body Down was a standout track to me
Paul Simon is an okay listen but has never been my fave.
Solid debut.
Positively surprised. Nice melodies, chill voice and cool vibes. Maybe already a little too country for my taste.
Very groovy, with an easy listening sort of tone. ‘Mother and Child Reunion’ has reggae notes which blend well with his voice. ‘Duncan’ is more my kind of style. A good listen.
I really enjoyed this classic Paul Simon album and there were some great songwriting going on here!
Сольный альбом участника легендарных Simon&Garfunkel Фирменная мелодика и оригинальность присутствуют, хотя железобетонных хитов как у коллектива тут нет. 6 из 10
more groovy than last but not quite interesting enough
Some good tracks, some boring ones. Nothing bad, nothing extraordinary either. Just there.
It was ok, but I prefer his work with Garfunkel.
Paul Simon is kind of a guilty pleasure for me. Good pop.
It's a very good album, especially the folk songs on it, but... I still wonder why it's on this list. There is nothing very singular, innovative or special on this record. Maybe I didn't get something? Anyway, that was a pleasure to listen to it.
Genre: Folk Rock 3/5 Paul Simon finally drops the Garfunkel that was in his way all those years, and gives us his true solo debut, self-titled and all. This album contains one of Paul Simon's biggest hits, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, a sweet, innocuous tune that's somehow about the two men committing a crime, and getting away with it once a priest steps in and intervenes. Further proof that 1. people can't really hear what Paul Simon is singing, and 2. with this kind of music it isn't that important anyway, at least to me. Folk Rock is a vibe, the lyrics sometimes just get in the way. This particular album, though, is nothing special beyond a few decent slow rock jams, like the aforementioned Schoolyard, Mother and Child Reunion, and Run That Body Down. Beyond those cuts I'm sure there are some gems for other listeners, but this album doesn't do very much to keep you latched on, unless this is your favorite genre to listen to. Not bad, but not very exciting.
Sometimes I really appreciate Paul Simon's songwriting, and other times he starts out a song with a word like "paraphernalia" for no discernible reason, and I just don't get it. He needs a Garfunkel to edit him and push down his weirder instincts. Best track: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
A nice debut solo effort for Simon but not among his best nor the best of Simon and Garfunkel. but the trademark Simon 70s songwriting style is there in abundance, which is a good thing. 3.5 🌟
Legalzinho, grande presença
Pretty chill with a few songs that stuck out. Overall not my vibe but enjoyable.
S'écoute bien, mais définitivement moins captivant qu'un album de S&G
It’s good, and I might like it better with a few more listens but I’m just going with a 3.
Nett aber auch nicht der Kracher
Fun album easy to listen to.
A very relaxed and relaxing album to listen to, brimming with Simon's trademark brilliance in its lyrics and influences. That said, I argue it's a bit too relaxed in comparison with Simon's best albums.
Good.
Very solid. Really enjoyed.
Folk bien hecho, a ratos me sonó muy country. Nada muy acelerado, cayendo a ratos en lo aburrido. La mejor es Paranoia Blues. 2.5 que sube a tres porque no estorba y se puede dejar correr completo sin problemas, aunque no se vuelva el disco más memorable.
3.5 👍 A transitional album for Paul Simon after separating from Art Garfunkel. I really enjoyed the different influences, from reggae to blues. Standout tracks are Duncan and Me and Hulio Down by the School Yard.
Great voice. Not the best at varying sounds. After a few songs they sound the same to me. Missing the huge hits for this album.
Fun folky guitar music
Pretty good. Felt like Paul was experimenting here with his sound. Blending it with disco and a more pop sound. You Can Call Me Al is obviously the stand out. Lyrics are powerful and similar to that of poetry. Instruments are kept simple with acoustic guitar. Though again, very experimental with the collaborations Paul does in here. Love his elegant vocals. Proving he does have what it takes to perform solo.
Really good. 3/5
3.25
-Generally nice songs -"Paranoia Blues" is my favorite, had good thumping drums and heavier vocals -Probably a really high 3, but nothing to really draw me back
No vote
Sounds like 34 minutes of Paul Simon trying to sound different to when he was with Art Garfunkel. Some of the songs are nice and memorable, with the stand out being "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" but the rest just faded into the background.
Primer disc en solitari de Simon, i trobem ja el que serà una constant en tota la seva discografia. Dos o tres temes excel.lents envoltats de material genèric. En aquest cas, 'Mother and Child Reunion' i 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' es porten la palma, tot i que 'Duncan' i 'Congratulations' també hi destaquen. La resta, potser a excepció de 'Everything Puts Together Falls Apart', queda molt lluny dels mèrits i lastra l'escolta del disc sencer
nice album
Good album 3.5
This album is uhh good (bernie sanders voice)
Je crois que Sufjan Stevens a écouté du Paul Simon, haha ! Bon album !
Mon premier Paul Simon. Pas désagréable. J’aime sa voix. Je l’apprécie plus avec les écoutes. J’ai particulièrement aimé Me and Julio by the school, Mother and child reunion et Run That Body Down
Rather disappointing considering how much I like Paul Simon in general. Only really liked the standout tracks Julio and Mother and Child Reunion. The rest were rather bland, not bad but not great. Giving the rating mostly on those two great tracks.
Some great songs. Some forgettable ones too. I've probably listened to Concert in Central Park too many times to accept any more Paul Simon into my brain.
I really don't like music played with an acoustic guitar and this is a very exemplary record of that kind of music. It's not bad, after all it's Paul Simon, but not really my cup of tea. The blues tracks on the album, sonically, sound pretty good, but Paul's voice just isn't fit for blues, at least not for my ears. So yeah it's fine, but not really for me
paul simon is fine. this album is sort of slow.
Enjoyable.
Audio wallpaper - a couple of classic tracks, the rest felt like much of a muchness, won't be going on the rotation
I remember that song "Me and Julio Down by the School Yard" appeared in an SNL sketch about Wes Anderson. Favourite Songs: Duncan, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the School Yard
A couple of good singles, a nice blues number and some meandering filler. And he's a prick.
wee, twee, too sweeet for meeee
Good 3
Funky
Well, this is not a Simon & Garfunkel album. I'm really quite disappointed by this one. It gives me the feeling that S&G together are either more than the sum of their parts, or that the greatness of S&G really is pretty much all Garfunkel. Together they're usually 4.5-5 stars for me. This one is a solid 3.5 but really not more than that. Rounding it down for the disappointment.
OK...
Remarkable what an imaginative singer-songwriter can do with basic melodies. (I didn't like it *that* much. But it is good for what it is. And I'd always assumed Mother and Child Reunion was a cover...)
It's catchy and non-offensive. Found myself tapping my foot to a lot of the songs. Previously I reviewed Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends on here and I found it to be too meandering and schmaltzy with too many swells of strings. I liked this more than that but it's still a bit too saccharine for my tastes (referring more to the music than the words) and all the world music stuff comes off a bit cheezy to me for some reason. Still, not terrible - wouldn't avoid listening to this agian.
Liked it
Me and Julio drags this one up from the mere average.
some white bloke reggae that was actually alright. i was totally expecting some simon and garfunkle folk noncing but this was way more upbeat. a pleasant surprise.
I'd shag Paul Simon. I'd make my entire family watch too.
u can call me al giver genlyd i hver en sang
Singer/songwriter, skarpt, fængende, muntert
Some ok tracks
It was not bad. The greatest hits are greatest hits for a reason.
3.5
First: dude's 31 on the cover but still looks like a teenager. What the hell? I know people give him stick for cultural tourism (probably moreso thanks to Graceland than this) but instead this sounds like a dude who loves world music and gets to, y'know, RECORD WITH JIMMY CLIFF'S BACKING BAND. You would, wouldn't you? The songwriting here sounds so natural it should be a crime.
While these tracks meander from tropicana to rock-inspired with little cohesion between, Simon's narrative storytelling weaves a strong enough thread to make the entire LP a worthwhile listen
Found this mainly very bland. May have caught me on an off day, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt with a three.
-Very beautiful songs -Very calming -Love the acoustic -Didn't really dislike any of the songs -I would listen to this album again -Favourite songs are Run That Body Down, Peace Is Like A River, Paranoia Blues, Congratulations
There is a certain amount of automatic props available for including Grappelli. Neither that inclusion nor any other was cheesy or overdone. The album was little and sweet. Not a ton of meat for me, even though I loved Bridge Over Troubled Water. There were no obviously influential sounds either, though it fits neatly in the timeline of American pop music.
Album has a chill, folksy vibe that I enjoyed. Duncan had a haunting quality, and I was surprised by the reggae styling to Mother and Child Reunion that kicks off the album.
You can tell by the number of listens... Me and Julio Down by the School Yard is a banger. Other than that pretty bang average album
Some good tracks but nothing amazing as an album
They had Gatorade in 1972?
Good pop album. More listening will help familiarity and I'm sure this would earn a higher rating from me at a later date.
It's Paul Simon. Not a favorite but still, it's Paul Simon. 3.5 :)
Walking through a piano slum, some good, most ok.
Apart from 3 or 4 tracks its just a Simon and Garfunkel album without Garfunkel . Personally think he had better albums further on his career
Classic Paul Simon
Good but without the highs of the best S&G stuff.
Duncan, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Not my type
It was a chill listen. The type of music I could see playing while people are out camping and staring at the stars.
Some very solid songs sprinkled throughout the album, but I’m not a huge fan of Paul’s talk-singing that makes up a lot of the vocals in this one
Besser mit Garfunkel
nothing special
kinda boring but nice
3/5
Nice listen - Didnt speak or move to me but I enjoyed it and would recommend it as an interesting listen.
Had its moments, started well with Mother & Child Reunion and Duncan but doesn’t live up to the promise (Me & Julio / Paranoia Blues aside). Interesting the difference in the tracks that were probably Simon & Garfunkel off-cuts and also the tracks where you can hear him branching out into new territory, maybe explains the inconsistency.
Always got timeon for Paul Simon.
Lovely album.
Really enjoyed a few songs while others were harder to get into. Overall enjoyed his storytelling and lyrics. Will listen again.
Graceland mi favorite
very good.
Sorry Paul, but you are better when you've got Artie by your side. Not a bad album, but it just felt like something was missing... something tall, with a curly hairdo, perhaps.
Globally OK.
Somewhere between 3 and 3.5. Original score was 3.5. Some good tracks, some annoying ttacks (whistling)
I like the normy songs
Was okay didn't jump out at me def heard better from artist
Nice fur head on the cover. He looks like Kabib Nurmagomedov. lol. A great songwriter paired with a great vocalist is a formidable combination. Art G was quite the arrow to have in his quiver. The Sound of Silence would not have been anywhere near as good without Art. We can all convince ourselves we can sing OK when we fumble along trying to sing Paul's part of the harmony on Sounds of Silence but try singing Art's. I can see how having to write exclusively in a way that allows Art's voice to be showcased would be limiting. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is a good example of the direction his music can go without Art. This album is good but Paul needed to refill his quiver with other arrows to make great albums. He eventually did this but not on this album.
Paul Simon has been a part of my musical life since I was a child. Growing up, my Mother would play Simon and Garfunkel around the house and in the car. I enjoyed this quite a lot. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard was my favourite track of the album.
ehhhhh not superb, some good music but like the lyrics are questionable
Très sympa. Smarte pan-folkige Instrumentierung, sonnige Melancholie, ein Blick auf den alltäglichen Irrsinn. Die gefälligen Songs sind ohne Texte leider zu nah an der Belanglosigkeit; ich mag mir schon Nora Jones Versionen einiger Stücke vorstellen. So ist die Universalität des kurzen Albums sowohl seine Stärke wie auch seine Schwäche. 3.1
Con un estilo suave, sobrio y tipo folk, sucesión de canciones con no mucha intensidad, pero que se deja escuchar. No me ha sorprendido mucho, pero es un tanto relajante. Nivel medio.
This is preferable to Graceland solely due to the absence of flatulent production values, but I'm still not on board with Mr Simon. His songwriting feels tweet and cloying to me, and his voice sounds like it emanates from something akin to a gnome or goblin. Just the thought of this creepy homunculus cooing into my ear makes me nauseous. A buncha guys tried reggae on for size around this time, too
Everything put together is great song. ME AND JULIO!
Enjoying the baseline on Armistice Day Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard is the first song I have heard before. Favorite off the album is Peace Like a River. "Holes in my confidence, holes in the knees of my jeans"
very listenable
I only liked "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio DOwn by the Schoolyard"
Paul Simon is great, but his best work was with collaborating with Garfunkel. Solid album and chill vibe. Fun video with Me and Julio Down by the School Yard with all the cameos like Spud Webb.
It's hard for me talk about Paul Simon without comparing his work to Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of my favorite albums. He maintains his normal vocal character, but none of the songs capture me as well as any single song on that other album.
Not too bad, folksy but with cool world-music under- and overtones. There are some nice compositions here. Enjoyable throoughout. Will I get back to it? Only time will tell.
3.5
Decent, to be fair.
Surprisingly cheerful in spite of all the hellish imagery, hits the vein of 80s ballad rock right in the middle. Complete with a healthy helping of theatrical cheese.
solid album, a few enjoyable tracks. a bunch that are just okay
kinda blends into the background after a while
Pleasant listen that makes me want to put on S&G
Some decent tunes
Julio
I think this album is better than Graceland, for me. Also there is a lyric that said "Queen of Corona" and I did a double-take. The songs feel a little more personal/gritty than Graceland. Some neat instrumentation on this album as well. Still nothing I'd personally listen to a lot, but I could see a few of these songs gracing a playlist of mine somewhere.
Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 6 are very good. The rest is occasionally interesting, but mostly tiresome and unfocused. Excellent guitar playing throughout, but far too much filler to be worthwhile. 2.5 stars.
Ya know, a decent singer/songwriter album.
Kein richtiger Burner, ich habe Paul Simon aber immer geschätzt. Großer Songwriter.
Couple of tracks I liked but not for me. Can see him move on from Art but not stood the test of time.
Best songs: Me and Julio, Peace like a river Nice blues guitar riffs Reggae folk Jazzy parts 6/10
Me and Julio. Two thumbs up.
Nice, but not too many songs stood really out. Liked "Peace Like a River"
famous songs are good (like 2 songs on this album) but the rest is meh
Couple catchy songs, but not my cup of tea
Signs of greatness to come
Meh
Ehhhh. Lot of filler here. The singles are fantastic, and Duncan is a highlight, along with the Hobo duo. But a lot of the rest is just not for me.
Not that bad.
I really liked the last track, but the rest of the album not so much
Mother And Child Reunion
I am not a big Paul SImon fan. Some of his music is actually annoying. He also likes to culturally appropriate music like here Reggae and African music on Graceland.
the album was fine, nothing noteworthy. it was kinda just a nothing burger. his writing and composing are nice but I guess im just not big on folk music.
Snooze
Nice album but not his best in his large discography ( counting his duo with arth garfunkel ) and a bit too much repetitive
It's okay, I'm sure there's someone out there who really loves this album but it's not me hahaha not a HUGE fan of the acoustic guitar folky genre.
Have definitely heard before. Starts ok, but wears thin by track 3. And gets pretty bad, until side 2. Then back to bad pretty quick, dull and uninteresting mostly. 2.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: No, 88/336 (26%) Will I get: No
I’m gonna keep it a bean with you. No thanks. 2.
The vibes are great! It almost has a '60s sunny sound at times, and then other parts give off a '70s melancholy. After some boring folk/gospel albums, this was a much more enjoyable listen!
Muy sin más y eso que me gusta el folk. La verdad no me cambió nada, o sea es escuchable pero no tiene nada muy interesante.
Ok, I’ve heard it and I can move on. Nothing here really sticks out it’s about what I expected.
I like this more than Simon & Garfunkel albums…. But that isn’t saying much
favs: everything put together falls apart run that body down peace like a river paranoia blues (unreleased version) rating 1.4/5
Well he has a terrific vocal tone. He can carry a tune. But are the tunes interesting? Not a fucking chance. Okay, Me & Julio is pretty catchy and I can somewhat relate as me and Julio did hang by the school yard when I was a kid. But where the fuck is Julio now? I replaced him with Oscar and now we hang at the gym. It’s cool but it’s not Julio, you know what I mean? So, folk records are the equivalent of classical music. Old people generally relate but they long ago stopped caring about music. And I don’t care about Paul Simon. 2/5
Što bi rekao Bernard Black "it's dreadful but it's quite short".
Didn't love it
Needs more Garfunkel
Finally, some energy in his voice! Unfortunately it only slightly moves the needle for me here.
man, paul simon sure loves to release an entire album with only one good song on it favorites: me and julio down by the schoolyard
Just ok; was the first album in this journey that didn't keep my attention. The parts straying into other genres are what did stand out
Paul Simon is classic - but this didn't resonate with me. It's fine.
Boring
Not my style
Way too much lightweight folk pop by Paul Simon on this list, be it with or without Garfunkel. He may be a very sweet guy and all, but his true talent is making music sound the same kind of bland despite being played by different musicians, containing diverse "world music" influences and having totally different topics and moods.
Maybe it's being forced to listen to Graceland on repeat as a kid (my Dad loved that record), but there's something about Paul Simon that just sets my teeth on edge. He somehow manages to be simultaneously New York and twee, and neither works for me. The only exception is Me and Julio because I used to work with a Julio and we'd sing that song to him on the job site. Silliness aside, I will grant there is some incredible songwriting here, but it's just not for me.
It's a good album and Paul is an amazing artist but, its not for me, not my style.
pleasant soft rock the perfect reflection of the artist through his career in my opinion, and trend of the time. I like it in some ways but it is background music.
This completely washed over me - to the extent that I know I listened to it but I remember basically nothing. Merely fine
Okay, acabo de escucharlo y, sin haber prestado atención a las letras, es un álbum chill y nostálgico. Muy folk estadounidense, so it's not my cup of tea. Para ponértelo de fondo y trabajar está bien, pero un rato, luego me agobia.
Soft rock and singer songwriter stuff isn’t generally my thing.
There are some Simon and Garfunkle songs that are good. I really don't care for Simon solo, this doesn't do it for me at all. 2.
I've long suspected I was more of a Garfunkel gal than a Paul Simon one, and this album has confirmed it. The bits I like best are the ones that remind me of Simon and Garfunkel together (the pan flutes on Duncan that sound like El Condor Pasa (If I Could), for example).
Listening notes... I cant stand Paul Simon but I am going to give this a go anyway. Mother and Child Reunion: Yep, still hate it. I cant put my finger on it but this song annoys the ever loving shit out of me. Duncan: "and I was born in the boredom and a chowder"... ugh. Everything Put Together Falls Apart: What an enthralling listen. This is a prime example of what it is I dislike about Mr. Simon. Everything sounds like a reach, emotionally fake acting with a guitar and a voice that displeases me. Run That Body Down: see above. Armistice Day: Yay, Paul Simon cosplays the blues. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard: I hated this song from the first time I heard it as a kid in the backseat of my parents car.... still do. Peace Like a River: See Armistice Day. Papa Hobo: More cosplay struggle. Hobo Blues: I hope you can hear my eyes rolling into the base of my skull. Paranoia Blues: Welp, this isn't getting any better. Congratulations: Fuckin balls. Suffice it to say actively listening to this album in full didn't really help change my long term distaste for Paul Simon. This isn't the worst thing I have heard on this list but that's not really saying much. 2 stars.
Realmente, es agradable a la primera escucha, todo gracias a ciertas melodías que resaltan entre lo monótono que se siente al estar terminando el disco, destacaría Duncan y Run that body down como las canciones que me llamaron la atención. Responde a su época, no es nada fuera de lo común pero cumple con lo que entenderíamos como una escucha agradable. le daria un 2.4/2.7 de 5, no es nada del otro mundo.
This album has come to me at the wrong place and time. Lately, I am very tired of blunt expressions lack of thought and elegance. I am a firm believer of expressionism, but this form of expression is not resonating with my current state. Maybe another time. I listened to four songs and I won’t continue. After writing this, I revisited to check if I was too harsh. Guitar is playful. Breaking down, jumping half steps. But collectively it makes me feel like I’m suffocating. I feel like it’s the lyrics.
Didn’t really resonate with me. A few standout moments though. The demo for Paranoia Blues is better than the finalised version in my opinion and the keyboard outro on Congratulations was a highlight. Peace Like a River is my favourite, the raw guitar and tapping on the body of the guitar gives it an honest stripped back feel. Paul Simon has a great voice and it really comes through there. Other than that I didn’t find it all that captivating.
Who tf is Paul Simon? Sorry guys I barely slept last night and this album just made me more sleepy. 2.5/5
A high 2
Not my usually taste, but had some catchy songs. Not the most memorable thing thought
Highlights: Duncan, Run That Body Down, Peace like a River, Hobo’s Blues
Muy joven Paul. Un disco poco instrumental.
I always feel like I should enjoy Paul Simon’s music more than I actually do. It’s not that it’s bad or bothersome. It just doesn’t come together into transcendent or… like, fun? There’s something buttoned-up about his music that I can’t put my finger on, and whatever that is it doesn’t work for me. He has made songs I love and I can’t really articulate what I don’t like about this album very well, so it feels shitty to rate this so low, but I was very ready to move on after listening.
I guess it’s Garfunkel I like, because without him Paul Simon is rather boring.
Bof
This album is a bit too mellow for me...
Я понял кто в русском роке мне напоминает Пола Саймона - Чиж. Так же уныло.
Album tranquilo chill con influencias que son una mezcla entre folk estadounidense y country, y hasta sonidos que son muy del norte de argentina. Ok
Не особо впечатлило, хотя понимаю, почему он может многим нравится
kind of just an okayish guitar album, feels like a comfortable listen i guess
Niet mijn smaak, paar nummers wel prima.
2/5 - While I see why this record is on the list, it really didn't do much for me. It just seemed lack luster, and meandering with nothing really grabbing my attention.
Idk i liked it at the start but then the harmonicas started and that country ahh guitar and i lost interest
It was fine but boring. I typically don't listen to words the first time through an album, so perhaps I missed some excellent lyrics. But the music itself was light and a bit dull.
I find Paul Simon quite boring.
entiendo que es un gran álbum, pero no es un gran álbum para mí :c
the reggae song: not good. the blues songs: also not very good. the light and delicate folk songs: pretty nice actually. am i glad i listened: i dont know. deserves to be one of the 1001? ehhh. could leave it off.
Between the clunky lyrics, the vaguely racist inclusion of perfunctory nods towards "world" music (why does this open with a white man's reggae song?), and the blandness with which this now hits the ear - whether due to its influence or simply because it is actually just Quite Dull - makes this into yet another entry in my journal of thinking Paul Simon albums are pretty much fine. 2* to a fresh 2026 ear.
Todella tylsä. ⭐⭐
Eh, fine. Nothing felt spectacular to me.
Nice background music for a doctors office waiting room.
a couple of pleasant singles, but largely insubstantial and forgettable
Cool but not fully into folky music but liked two songs from album
Two great songs and a bunch of swingin' paps.
Un Clonazepam hecho álbum, no es mi estilo de música
me dió buenas vibes de viaje en auto. Buen sonido pero siento que le faltó más, no es un album que escucharía
Honestly didn't think PS started appropriating other music styles until the grand heist that is Gracelands (which I'm sure we'll come to another day), but some of the tracks here suggest that obviously wasn't the case. Bitch over, this feels like a pretty average outing. Rarely jarrs. But never hits any emotional highs, musically or lyrically, with the possible exception of Me and Julio which carries the album. I really don't think I'll be returning to this one. And that, my friend, is a 2*
Especially nothing special.
Nice, but not great
yeah this just didn’t do it for me like Graceland did. nothing that bad about this album but nothing THAT great either?
I’m sorry Paul Simon, I’m very jet-lagged and I did not give a shit about this album 1.5-2
I was quite happy when this album appeared this morning. I'd never heard a Paul Simon song that I'd disliked before today. Sadly, I found a lot of the lyrics supercilious. If Paul was starting out on his life journey now, I reckon he'd be an insufferable Instagram influencer, full of pointless and annoying life hacks. Saved from a one star rating by Julio, which I can't find it in my heart to hate, even if it is a bit sub-Dylan.
4/10 - I thought the first song was the most interesting song and it went downhill from there.
This is just a fine album. It pales in comparison to what Paul Simon had done with Simon and Garfunkel and what he will do in the future, specifically with Graceland. 5/10
Cada dos álbumes, uno es de este tipo de artista. Basta. 4/10
Just 4 days after Simon & Garfunkle this pops up. Convinced the hood of his coat on the album cover is some kind of passive aggressive dig at Garfunkle's hairdo. Me & Julio isn't a bad song but most of the album is twee shit and bland middle of the road 60s/70s folk pop with a few nods to reggae, blues and other music genres. 2 out of 5 stars only.
Donnerstag, 19.02.2026 Beim kochen einer Bolognese nach Marcella Hazans NYT Rezept. Beim Laufen von Dahlem Dorf zur Mensa der FU Berlin, im Aufenthaltsraum der Campusbibliothek der FU Berlin
Meh
2/5 nothing special just kinda sounds like a soundtrack to a movie your grandma likes. i did like peace like a river. nothing i would ever really listen to again though.
A few catchy songs but nothing really wowed me on this album.
Pretty relaxing. Huh, didn't know Paul Simon did Blues songs.
un album para escuchar en algun atardecer de verano. es el tipo de musica que aprecias cuando alguien mas la pone y crea un momento lindo. escucharla intencionalmente me hizo sentirla aburrida y bastante lenta. ninguna cancion en particular resono conmigo, ni la letra. la voz es muy bonita, pero nada mas
Alright.
good ig
very mid, there's some cool melodies but I just couldn't get into it
everything put together falls apart me and julio 6.5-7/10 თან არაა ჩემი სტილი მარა მაინც რაღაც ჰქონდა საჩემო
Simon has a good voice, and the songwriting is fine enough (although side 2 makes me question that statement). But why would ever listen to this over something like Nick Drake's Pink Moon or Neil Young's After the Gold Rush? Redundancy is what I'm getting from Paul Simon. Also, that album cover pisses me off. He looks way too goofy to also be looking that smug.
Never really clicked with Paul Simon. Maybe things he was doing at the time were breaking new ground but it’s always left me flat. Okay album but was kinda waiting for it to be over
It's OK but not something I would choose to listen. I did add Me and Julio... to my 1972 playlist, as it is a catchy tune. I'll likely rate this 2 stars.
It's everything you'd expect from a Paul Simon album. Unfortunately, nothing really hooked me, hence two stars.