Paul Simon, "Stranger to Stranger"
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Just got this and it's really good, though it will take a few more listenings to properly absorb it. And it's Simon's first UK #1 album in 26 years: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7401148/paul-simon-no-1-uk-album-stranger-to-stranger Looks like it might make #1 in the U.S. as well. Billboard's chart isn't out yet, it appears, but HitsDailyDouble has it at #1 by a healthy margin: http://hitsdailydouble.com/building_album_chart
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Bruce M.:
Just got this and it's really good, though it will take a few more listenings to properly absorb it. And it's Simon's first UK #1 album in 26 years: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7401148/paul-simon-no-1-uk-album-stranger-to-stranger Looks like it might make #1 in the U.S. as well. Billboard's chart isn't out yet, it appears, but HitsDailyDouble has it at #1 by a healthy margin: http://hitsdailydouble.com/building_album_chart
I've been enjoying it as well!
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The New Yorker and Rolling Stone gave it highest marks recently. In a New Yorker interview, Simon said there's no way he'll ever even talk to Art Garfunkel again
...chilling... unless I misread that, and he just meant he won't get together with Art to perform ever again. But I fear I didn't get this wrong. I have his cd "So Beautiful or So What" but haven't listened to that properly yet, it was well reviewed and lauded also. I think it's got "Obvious Child" which sort of rocks, is fast and upbeat. Simon waxes spiritual as he's done before on some of the new album's tracks, even describes Heaven and his belief we will all go there, which is a feel good sentiment 
but one of the new songs has "mother f------er" in the lyrics, well, Simon's from Queens, can be streety 
At least he didn't pull a Connie (my nick for Kanye) and use the term "N--------r"...he never would... -
SusyLuvsPaul:
The New Yorker and Rolling Stone gave it highest marks recently. In a New Yorker interview, Simon said there's no way he'll ever even talk to Art Garfunkel again
...chilling... unless I misread that, and he just meant he won't get together with Art to perform ever again. But I fear I didn't get this wrong. I have his cd "So Beautiful or So What" but haven't listened to that properly yet, it was well reviewed and lauded also. I think it's got "Obvious Child" which sort of rocks, is fast and upbeat. Simon waxes spiritual as he's done before on some of the new album's tracks, even describes Heaven and his belief we will all go there, which is a feel good sentiment but one of the new songs has "mother f------er" in the lyrics, well, Simon's from Queens, can be streety At least he didn't pull a Connie (my nick for Kanye) and use the term "N--------r"...he never would...I heard him on NPR a few days ago saying quite definitively that he would NEVER perform with Garfunkel again. He didn't say anything in this interview about not speaking to him, but his tone made it really clear that he doesn't want to be around him.
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I need to go get it , Target has it on sale $10 , few things I've heard sound pretty good
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wingsdgm:
I need to go get it , Target has it on sale $10 , few things I've heard sound pretty good
It's really good. Simon is definitely a different songwriter now than in the Simon and Garfunkel days or in his early solo career, but he's always musically surprising and lyrically interesting and intelligent.
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Speaking of Paul Simon , The newest War On Drugs Lost in the Dream is really awesome sounds like Paul Simon singing with Roxy Music
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I haven't heard this one yet, but I have high hopes. His last few albums have been among the best of his career. Most '60s-'70s bands are well past their prime, but I think Paul Simon since 2000 is just as good or better than Paul Simon 1972-1975.
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I saw Art Garfunkel last year and one of the things he said,while funny at the time,was the 2 of them are locked in the final race,the one were both hope they're late to the finish line its very clear that they won't perform together again which is sad becuase whoever goes first will be left with the regrets and there will be regrets. All very silly.
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hengirl:
I saw Art Garfunkel last year and one of the things he said,while funny at the time,was the 2 of them are locked in the final race,the one were both hope they're late to the finish line its very clear that they won't perform together again which is sad becuase whoever goes first will be left with the regrets and there will be regrets. All very silly.
Human relationships are funny. Sometimes people can do great things together but just can't manage to get along. It's kind of ironic that one of Simon and Garfunkel's early inspirations, Phil and Don Everly, were like that as well. They made unbelievably beautiful music together but had a rocky relationship with long periods of estrangement.
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Paul Simon said today that he's out of music as of now, he "doesn't like show biz" and he's retiring from it, so to speak but I doubt he will stop writing songs, those fantastic songs of his and will give them to other artists to perform. That'll be great too, if he chooses the artists well. His wife Edie Brickell is still performing in a blue grass band with Steve Martin, and they had a musical on Broadway "Bright Star"--speaking of fussing and fighting, even Paul and Edie had a knock down drag out months ago or a year ago or so, which resulted with Simon calling the law on Edie
Saw pix of them in the courthouse going before the judge. Paul poo poo 'd it to the judge and was photographed leaving hand in hand with Brickell. He downplayed the brouhaha and the case was dismissed. -
I hope he doesn't retire, but I can understand if he doesn't want to play the game anymore. Imagine being in his position and you have to go into meetings with record executives who were born after Graceland.
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it is very good , I bought it with New Radiohead , Both are very cool
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Said he's tired of showbiz, but he sang Bridge Over Troubled Water at the Democratic National Convention. Some targeted his voice, charged he didn't sing this all that well, they miss Art Garfunkel's ethereal vocals, some commented.
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He didn't sound very good at the Democratic convention. I was listening on the radio and almost didn't recognize it as Simon. And yet he sounds just fine on "Stranger to Stranger." And while I'm talking, I'm going to plug that album one more time. It's really, really excellent.
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Bruce M.:
He didn't sound very good at the Democratic convention. I was listening on the radio and almost didn't recognize it as Simon. And yet he sounds just fine on "Stranger to Stranger." And while I'm talking, I'm going to plug that album one more time. It's really, really excellent.
Must have had an off night because he sounded just fine back in early June! I didn't see the performance the other night though. And yes , this new album is great!
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paulfan11:
Bruce M.:
He didn't sound very good at the Democratic convention. I was listening on the radio and almost didn't recognize it as Simon. And yet he sounds just fine on "Stranger to Stranger." And while I'm talking, I'm going to plug that album one more time. It's really, really excellent.
Must have had an off night because he sounded just fine back in early June! I didn't see the performance the other night though. And yes , this new album is great!
His "problem" singing Bridge Over Troubled Water - he didn't sing the original, Art Garfunkel sang the original release. With that said, it's like comparing apples with oranges - he did his original song, his way - not Art's
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Andy_Shofar:
paulfan11:
Bruce M.:
He didn't sound very good at the Democratic convention. I was listening on the radio and almost didn't recognize it as Simon. And yet he sounds just fine on "Stranger to Stranger." And while I'm talking, I'm going to plug that album one more time. It's really, really excellent.
Must have had an off night because he sounded just fine back in early June! I didn't see the performance the other night though. And yes , this new album is great!
His "problem" singing Bridge Over Troubled Water - he didn't sing the original, Art Garfunkel sang the original release. With that said, it's like comparing apples with oranges - he did his original song, his way - not Art's
That wasn't the problem at all. He sang the song on "Live Rhymin'" and it's great -- totally different than Art's version, but wonderful in its own way. He just didn't sound very good the other night, and rather obviously missed a few notes. Maybe just an off night, but it was not a performance up to Simon's usual standard.
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Bruce M.:
Andy_Shofar:
paulfan11:
Bruce M.:
He didn't sound very good at the Democratic convention. I was listening on the radio and almost didn't recognize it as Simon. And yet he sounds just fine on "Stranger to Stranger." And while I'm talking, I'm going to plug that album one more time. It's really, really excellent.
Must have had an off night because he sounded just fine back in early June! I didn't see the performance the other night though. And yes , this new album is great!
His "problem" singing Bridge Over Troubled Water - he didn't sing the original, Art Garfunkel sang the original release. With that said, it's like comparing apples with oranges - he did his original song, his way - not Art's
That wasn't the problem at all. He sang the song on "Live Rhymin'" and it's great -- totally different than Art's version, but wonderful in its own way. He just didn't sound very good the other night, and rather obviously missed a few notes. Maybe just an off night, but it was not a performance up to Simon's usual standard.
I couldn't stand it when I heard it myself - it was only later, I remembered Paul Simon didn't sing it in the first place. So I give him some slack, maybe I'm willing to give him a bit more slack than you?
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I think they thought that song had a soothing message, considering all the hell that's been unleashed in the U.S. and the world this summer. Also contained the lines "Sail on silver girl, sail on by, your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on the way" which pertained to Hillary Clinton at the DNC, made you think of her triumph and glory
