Forum Mainpage

Start a new Thread

Bottom

Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Matthew Evans
Sep-21-2013, 11:38 GMT
United Kingdom

Yes for me nothing less than 4 stars on this album, same with ROTS.

I think there are more 5 star songs on ROTS actually: Obvious Child, The Coast, Proof, Born at the Right Time, Cool Cool River.

You could argue Spirit Voices and Can't Run But too.

She Moves On, Further to Fly, ROTS I'd give 4 stars but they're all brilliant. The unplugged version of She Moves On is fantastic.

mog
Sep-21-2013, 20:06 GMT
Canada

Pfff...

Who is writing this actually ?

Everything on Graceland is 4-5 stars.

Pelle
Sep-22-2013, 11:34 GMT
Sweden

Surprise is his best work if I have to choose only one whit the gun against my head (:

Brenda
Sep-23-2013, 02:22 GMT
Australia

Totally agree Pelle.

Bodo
Sep-23-2013, 14:08 GMT
Austria

If I have to choose 1...impossible.

But maybe Graceland

Håkan
Sep-23-2013, 14:53 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I hate "Surprise" - or dislike it a lot, at least. "So Beautiful or so What" is better, but really not that much.
It hurts me to say that a mediocre album like "You're the One" is the best of the three latest albums.

Bodo
Sep-23-2013, 15:51 GMT
Austria

The best of the last 3 albums is So beautiful or so what...for me.
Have no space for hating a Paul Simon album. In what category would a Britney Spears album fall then?

Håkan
Sep-23-2013, 16:02 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Since I don't listen to Britney Spears, I wouldn't know...
But when I compare to other artists who I like (who are mostly just marginally younger than Simon) and has continued to put out good, solid albums the last 15 years, my special fondness for Paul Simon has unfortunately weakened over the years. But I still like most of the music he released prior to 2000.

Jim B.
Sep-23-2013, 18:30 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Next up in the line is 1990's The Rhythm Of The Saints. See what you think in the link.

http://countdownkid.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/ck-re
tro-review-the-rhythm-of-the-saints-by-paul-simon/

mog
Sep-23-2013, 21:19 GMT
Canada

Hakan is a bit radical in his appreciation. YTO, in my opinion, is not a 'mediocre' album. It is a very enjoyable record, smooth and all in textures and grooves.

Talking about texture, the analysis about ROTS is good in general. I would disagree though with the title track. Listen to it on a great sound system and one will see (or hear). There is lots going on this track in terms of rhythms and instrumentation. There is a melody in there in the chorus that I found bewitching, with the beautiful and velvetish background voices. Amazing track !

Håkan
Sep-24-2013, 10:30 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Compared to Simons album from the 1970's and 1980's I can't see anything but a clear drop in quality in YTO. The album has it moments, definitely, but also some disappointments.

"That's Where I Belong" OK as an album opener
"Darling Lorraine" Very good
"Old" OK, but compared to the similar short and up tempo "Me and Julio" a let down
"You're the One" Very Good (even better live when I saw it in 2000)
"The Teacher" Can I say boring?
"Look at That" insignifiant
"Señorita With a Necklace of Tears" also rather boring
"Love" OK
"Pigs, Sheep, and Wolves" Quite good and funny and odd. But I guess the casual listener won't appreciate it so much
"Hurricane Eye" Does nothing for me, but apparently for those who like songs with high volume
"Quiet" boring end, the lyrics indicate that even Simon is bored with recording the album by this stage...

Bodo
Sep-24-2013, 12:49 GMT
Austria

I would agree with most of it Hakan - but I like Hurrican Eye (isn't it the only real song from YTO that brings people to dance during a live concert...)
I do not find that "The Teacher" is boring, but it is more about sounds and noises. The version on DVD is brilliant IMO. It is a much more sophisticated song than a few from the 70's

I think you can find a few simple and insignificant songs on every album from the 70's too. Like "Was a sunny day" - how simple was that one. And isn't "Long Long day" also rather boring?


Anyway, for me So beautiful has the best songs from the last 15 years, then Surprise follows and the last one is YTO.
And I think Paul has written much better songs in the last 13 years than a lot of other artists. Not sure what other artists you mean, but James Taylor or Bob Dylan did not significant better IMO. Paul McCartney hasn't released anything, or did he? Leonard Cohen...well, no, he primarly has to fall back on his old songs - all his albums sound the same since many decades (I do not say bad, I just say: Not better than in the past)

Håkan
Sep-24-2013, 13:21 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Well, I don't go to a (Paul Simon) concert to dance....
I think "Was a Sunny Day" is brilliant, simple yes, but yet brilliant.
Yes, "Long, Long Day" is probably the "worst" song on OTP.

Bodo, there are of course many other "older" artist that have gone down hill the latest 10-20 years, I agree that the artists you mention (Dylan, McCartney, Cohen) are in that category. I was more thinking about names as Neil Diamond ("12 Songs" was very good and the follow up "Home Before Dark" almost as good), Brian Wilson ("The Lucky Old Sun" + the excellent "Beach Boys" comeback album from 2012), Elton John (allthough I haven't heard his two latest albums, but the earlier ones from this decade are quite good), Justin Hayward (of the "Moody Blues") just released an acceptable album, Gilbert O'Sullvans latest album "Gilbertville" is among his 3-4 finest ever, Al Stewart (several good albums this decade), Neil Sedaka (2 quite good albums in the last 4 years), Nick Lowe...

mog
Sep-24-2013, 15:24 GMT
Canada

Humm...seing new comments by Hakan on YTO (track by track), we can see that he gives more merit to the album than the mediocre mark he gave at 1st !

YTO is a favorite at home. Others simply never play 'Surprise'. It is completely neglected. Interesting, isn't it ?

As mentionned previously, I would not listen to an album like 'Surprise' if I was not a Simon fan. I appreciate his effort to try to make it as interesting as possible, but it is labored and cerebral for the most part. Where are the nice melodies ? They are quite scarce IMO. Another Galaxy is one rare example. HCYLITNE is the best track. WP is great.'Outrageous' sound as outrageous as it was 7 years ago. 'Beautiful' is not even a B-side...maybe a D-Side ! Is there anyone that ruly enjoys Once Upon A Time ?! It is ok...I mean he did explore and try something with Eno, but the results were not shining. It is normal when you are trying stuff...

YTO is a very fine album, about polyrhytms and guitars. Sounds amazing as well on great speakers. The only thing is he had to come back with a very strong album to get out of the shawdows after the Capeman failure. Lots of people who actually cared to listen to it did notice the lack of 'hits' on it. And as Simon says himself: a song is either a hit or it is gone. But YTO stands strong in his body of work IMO. Still, it is not TGRS ! ;-)

Håkan
Sep-24-2013, 15:33 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Mog, I would give YTO a 3 (out of five) as a total score. 3,5 if I'm in a happy mood. ;)

I agree with your reflections on "Surprise". I think the album would have been better without Brian Eno.

Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Forum Mainpage

Start a new Thread

Top