ALBUM REVIEW: Paul Simon - Paul Simon

    Paul Simon was the soul of Simon & Garfunkel - a brilliant songwriter who's rich lyricism perfectly embodies the human spirit of love, loneliness, and joy. He's also a more than good singer, a key factor in the duo's famous harmonies. No doubt, Simon was a key figure in the pairing, and when the duo split, he had a much easier time getting material out than Garfunkel, seeing that he could just write a new song. Here we are, two years after Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Paul Simon isn't just back, but he's better than ever. There is little doubt in my mind that Paul Simon is not only an excellent post-S&G debut, but it trumps every album he's done before. Paul's lyricism has only sharpened since Bridge into a clever, biting, and beautiful type of writing, and his musical palette extends beyond folk into blues, reggae, and softer rock moments. There's no two ways about it - Paul Simon's self-titled is a triumph.

    Simon's stylistic diversity and appreciation of world music had begun to blossom on Bridge Over Troubled Water, but on his self-titled, it spreads wings and glides freely and unrestrained. Listen to the tinge of reggae on album opener "Mother and Child Reunion," complete with clean background singing and a driving rhythm, or the dash of Andean music on the story-driven "Duncan," playing like a stylistic sequel to "El Condor Pasa," but superior in every way. Even on the album's biggest hit, the jubilant "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard," Simon throws in dashes of samba to make for a decisively diverse sound and style. His love of genres also shows in clean-cut blues tracks like the aptly named "Paranoia Blues," a decisively more harsh sounding track than the rest of the album - driven by a dirty slide guitar guitar and aggressive percussion under lyrics about "so-called friends" and a customs man who's "going to take me to that little room." The album's jumping around and diversity gives it plenty of flavors and ideas that were absent from any Simon & Garfunkel record - it's the sound of Paul establishing his own voice.

    Not to mention, the entire album sounds fucking great. Paul Simon's voice, no longer fixed to a lower octave, can soar to gentle and aggressive highs, from the slight anger of "Armistice Day" expressed at a congressman who's avoiding him to the sorrow of album closer "Congratulations" about his strained marriage, a topic earlier discussed on the brilliant "Run That Body Down." These unshackled songs are paired with Simon's lyricism, which has only gotten better in the two years since Bridge. "Duncan" is a brilliant work of storytelling about a poor boy and his loss of innocence (i.e. virginity), to the hopeful future of "Peace Like a River," a song that is indisputably one of his masterpieces, both musically and lyrically - the cry of "I've seen a glorious day" is one of the most beautiful things ever put to record. This brilliance doesn't cease for a minute on the record, from the upbeat instrumental "Hobo Blues" that marvelously follows the storytelling of "Papa Hobo," of a homeless man walking around Detroit, taking in the "carbon and monoxide - that old Detroit perfume."

    Two years after Simon & Garfunkel had called it quits, and Paul Simon's self-titled feels like a massive sigh of relief and hope. Musically rich and diverse, lyrically dense and witty, and an unshackled voice that can be playful, aggressive, sorrowful, and touching - whatever suits the occasion. A brilliant beginning to a solo career, another Paul Simon masterpiece, and quite possibly one of the greatest albums. Ever. Congratulations - seems like he's done it again. 

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Paul Simon.