Perhaps the most curious thing about this album is that, at least in my opinion, it lacks a little bit of the adventurous spirit that was previously in Simon's earlier albums - that isn't to say that it's a completely boring or trite album, because it isn't, but the daring spirit that was in albums like the eclectic Graceland or the hodgepodge Hearts and Bones is slightly absent. While incorporation of African sounds certainly lends it some texture, after Graceland it's nothing we haven't already heard. You could call it playing safe, similar to One Trick Pony two decades earlier, and in many ways it might be. While the results of You're the One make for a record that maybe isn't as exciting as his previous works, there's still plenty of appeal here - what we have is just a collection of singer-songwriter songs from one of the greatest to ever do it, and in that context it's easy appreciate You're the One as a no-nonsense kinda deal. It helps that the music is still as flavorful and tight as ever - credits forever extended to Bakithi Kumalo on bass, yet again returning from Rhythm of the Saints and Graceland to grace the album's lower end frequencies.
It also helps that, in many cases, the songs are continued testaments to the power of Simon's writing. The opening track "That's Where I Belong" is a quaint love song, but musically and performance-wise it's up there with something off of Rhythm of the Saints, and it's a truly excellent way to begin the album. The conflicting lyricism of the title track, playing like a love and breakup song, makes for some of that classic human dichotomy that is textbook Paul Simon. "The Teacher" is a hard to understand song, admittedly, but the richness and poetics of the song truly show some beauty - "Sometimes force overpowers us and we cry" is incredibly straightforward, and yet it's one of his finest lyrical gems. "Pigs, Sheep and Wolves" is a fun song to dissect and look deeper into with its animal analogies and mention of murder - one finds it hard to not draw connections to the likes of Animal Farm to find some deeper meaning about the wealthy, the powerless, and the scapegoats within our own society. Some of it is a little weak on substance, even where there could be room for nuance or interesting ideas - "Old" is certainly a little taste of Simon reflecting on his age, but it's done in a bit of an uninteresting way. Frankly, I think album closer "Quiet" does a better job, touching on finding some peace and solitude after a long life. "Senorita With a Necklace of Tears" was a particularly lovely deep cut from the album, as was "Love," even if the latter is a straightforward song about... just guess.
While You're the One is not nearly as ambitious as his previous albums, in some ways it doesn't need to be. After the disaster that was Capeman, really anything would've been preferable, but to get an album that's as down-to-earth and peaceful as this one is really a treat. You're the One is a quiet, pleasant, and certainly direct collection of songs that simply aims to be just that, and in that context it's easy to appreciate what's presented here. It certainly makes up for the previous endeavor, and it has plenty of merits and enjoyable moments to warrant throwing it on in the background and letting the music fill the house. Peaceful as a hurricane eye.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to You're the One.
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