Tag Archives: Paul Simon

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Paul Simon – So Beautiful Or So What

I’ve reviewed two albums in the past week by artists on the other side of 50, ancient by rock-and-roll standards. One was Lucinda Williams’ Blessed and the other was R.E.M.’s Collapse Into Now. Both represent the best work those performers have released in years.

And now I have the privilege of reviewing the latest release of another elder statesman, Paul Simon, who is less than a year away from his 70th birthday. To mark the occasion, his new album So Beautiful Or So What is receiving some of the best reviews of his career.

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Song of the Day #969: ‘Crazy Love, Vol. II’ – Paul Simon

I’m continuing my four-week series on great albums with a selection from perhaps the greatest one on my list, Paul Simon’s Graceland.

If Paul Simon had never recorded Graceland, he’d still go down as one of the finest songwriters and performers in history. His work with Simon & Garfunkel alone could land him in the canon. Throw in solo gems such as ‘Slip Slidin’ Away,’ ‘Still Crazy After All These Years,’ ‘Hearts and Bones,’ the exotic sounds of Rhythm of the Saints and even his less heralded, more recent work. That’s a catalog for the ages.

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Song of the Day #956: ‘Gumboots’ – Paul Simon

If somebody were to ask me to name the great songs on Paul Simon’s Graceland, I’d quickly run off a string of titles: ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,’ ‘Under African Skies,’ ‘Crazy Love Vol. 2,’ ‘Graceland.’

Then I’d take a breath and keep going with ‘The Boy in the Bubble,’ ‘You Can Call Me Al,’ ‘That Was Your Mother,’ ‘Homeless,’ ‘I Know What I Know,’ ‘All Around the World.’

The last song I’d mention, and one I might even forget it if put on the spot, is ‘Gumboots.’ And ‘Gumboots’ is a freaking amazing song.

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Song of the Day #635: ‘Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean’ – Paul Simon

Following You’re the One, Paul Simon took a break from recording almost as long as the one after The Rhythm of the Saints. Finally, in 2006, he released Surprise.

The album lived up to its name. Produced by Brian Eno, it marked Simon’s first foray into electronica. Now, I’m not saying Paul Simon put out a club album, but it’s a far cry from the organic rhythms of his world music crossover albums. I haven’t warmed to this album the way I have to Simon’s others, maybe because of that stylistic shift.

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Song of the Day #634: ‘Darling Lorraine’ – Paul Simon

After the Capeman disaster, Simon retreated to lick his wounds and three years later came back with 2000’s You’re the One. The album fared far better, both critically and commercially, and was nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy (making Simon the first artist to earn that nomination in five consecutive decades).

I haven’t given this album a whole lot of attention over the years, but in listening to it to prepare for this blog entry, I was impressed by how good it is. For some reason the long break after The Rhythm of the Saints and the hit-or-miss quality of Songs From The Capeman kind of put Simon on a back burner for me. And while this album is far from the equal of his best work, I probably haven’t given it the credit it deserves.

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