Paul Simon: Surprise

Elly Roberts reviews

Paul Simon: Surprise
Distributed by
Warner Bros

    Cover

  • Cat.no: 9362499822
  • Released: June 2006
  • Rating: 2/10

Just like his hair-line, Paul Simon has been receding on the music front for quite some time.His last solo effort was You’re The One, four years ago, which was hardly a critical success.

After his coffer-swelling reunion withArt Garfunkel in 2005, Simon unleashes his latest offering on Warner Bros.Surprise is very apt, as you’ll discover.

On board as influence and tweekeris ex-Roxy Music keyboard player Brian Eno. Unlike Rick Rubin’s success withJohnny Cash and latterly Neil Diamond, Eno’s involvement appears to be amajor drawback. It feels like he’s hijacked the entire project, trying tomake Simon trendy all over again, and not made a Paul Simon at all.

Thereare key sonic moments on a great PS album, but they’re not here. Also, mostof the songs are weak and simply disastrous – tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 -almost as if Simon’s finally running out of creative juices. Of the tensongs, few are barely memorable, which was Simon’s trademark. Most of thesehardly have any instant recall potential.


Highlights are really rare –Beautiful almost matches his You Can Call Me Al period, only to run out ofsteam. I Don’t Believe is a neat segue, but again flounders mid-way. That’sMe shimmies along like something from his early period, only to be spoilt byEno’s pointless sonic intrusion.

Thankfully, a lovely lullaby limps out ofwhat can only be described as a tortuous listening experience. In addition,his voice sounds at its weakest ever, losing its clarity and beauty. Hesounds uncertain as well, maybe being uncomfortable with the entire venture.

The album is a big surprise in many ways, not a pleasant one, and will dolittle to bring back the hardcore fanbase in the long run.

Weblinks:Paul Simon.com /Warner Bros Records.com


The full list of tracks included are :

1. How Can You Live In The North East?
2. Everything About It Is A Love Song
3. Outrageous
4. Sure Don’t Feel Like Love
5. Wartime Prayers
6. Beautiful
7. I Don’t Believe
8. Another Galaxy
9. Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean
10. That’s Me
11. Father And Daughter

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