1-0 Reviews
Paul Simon
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Graceland1986 |
Grammy-award-winning album wherein Simon has lots of fun playing his usual literary pop with the South African stylings of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri,and other noteworthy musicians.
Additional guests include Linda Rondstadt, Los Lobos, Rockin' Dopsie, Adrian Belew, and various New York session musicians. If you've heard Paul Simon's hits ("50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Slip Slidin' Away", "Still Crazy After All These Years", etc.) you may be surprised at the type of music on this album. A simpler, more buoyant groove than Simon was using on previous efforts lifts this album above his usual songwriter-with-an-English-degree stance. Happy music.
Representative tracksBoy in the Bubble: First song on the album, sets the mood. 12/8 shuffle, prominent fretless bass, accordian, minor verse to parallel major chorus. Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes: Acapella intro (Ladysmith Black Mambazo) to full-band body of song. Same band as on "Boy in the Bubble" (and much of the rest of the album), but with a completely different groove. Similar to calypso, but less ornate, and with an implicit folkiness. Happy music. Under African Skies: Duet with Linda Ronstadt. Half-time 12/8 shuffle, gentle band accompaniment to smooth, major-keyed duet. Graceful, timeless music. |
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Paul Simon:
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Rhythm of the Saints1990 |
Long-awaited followup to Graceland in which Simon turns to the propulsive groove of South America for inspiration. Most of the drum tracks were recorded in Rio de Janeiro, with Simon overdubbing everything else later.
Guests include Ry Cooder, Ray Phiri, Hugh Masekela, and Simon's usual New York session cohorts. This album is much different that any in Simon's canon. All of the songs feature a pulsating, trancelike percussion played by various South American musicians, and all the songs seem to blend together. Simon adopts an almost stream-of-consciousness lyrical mode throughout. Extremely smooth, breezy.
Representative tracksCan't Run But: Minor chord vamp, with plenty of metronomic, trance-inducing percussion. Simon has fallen in love with the marimba on this album, and uses it to great effect. Impressionistic, like most of the rest of the album. Further to Fly: 12/8 groove, complex guitar work, distant trumpet and flugelhorn, weary vocal from Simon. This song, like many on the album, seems at once very emotional and oddly detatched. Some people may love the symbolism, impressionism, and dreamlike state of the tunes, while others may want more hooks and more dynamic contrast. |
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Personnel:
Paul Simon:
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