Papa Bell is cool. It’s named after a Negro baseball player from nearly a century ago, led by bouncy island strings and like something from Graceland. The rest of the album is like something from Wasteland. That is to say that the decline of Paul Simon as a songwriter, which began after The Capeman; his best album as far as I’m concerned; continues. It’s as if he’s forgotten how to make good songs, let alone more classics.

He’s still one of my favorite songers, but I’d rather him retire than tarnish his legacy any further. Wristband is conceptually akin to The Afterlife from his last album and just as silly. Street Angel brings some interesting hip-hop effects, but structurally the song is a mess. The Werewolf is a grower, but In A Parade never stops sounding stupid. Two short interludes on an album barely over a half-hour long reek of laziness.

He sings of “words” and “melody”, but it’s the latter that’s the problem. Paul Simon is still a wordsmith. It’s the way he sings those words that, more than anything else, make his new songs boring and mundane. The Capeman must’ve robbed him. I can almost count on one hand the good songs he’s released since then. Cool Papa Bell is one of them, yes, but good songs on a Paul Simon album are supposed to be the rule, not the exception.

my rating : 2 of 5

2016
 

Troy Puyear :

I will never argue with anyone’s right to offer an opinion, but I vehemently disagree that Paul has “forgotten how to make good songs.” I also find it interesting where people place the cutoff of when he last made good music. This reviewer says The Capeman was the last good one; a commenter says it was Rhythm of the Saints. My good friend Jim says that You’re the One was Paul’s worst album since Hearts and Bones, whereas another friend believes that Hearts and Bones was vastly underrated.

My point? Paul’s style is roving and eclectic, just the way he likes it. Am I a musical “homer,” supporting Paul in everything he does? No. I love most of his music, but there are definitely songs I dislike very much. But one thing I believe unshakably: whether you enjoy a Paul Simon song or album, or whether you feel like he swung for the fences and missed cleanly, he is still out there making relevant music that will make people think, make them feel, and make them smile and tap their feet. The man is a legend, but more importantly, I think he still has the talent and desire that got him here in the first place.

art 87 :

i agree with all the negative reviews. after Rhythm of the Saints, PS has forgotten how to write a melody. i listened to this lp twice and although the rhythms & drumbeats are striking, some good lyrics, the lack of melody makes this lp dull & unenjoyable.

Eric J. Anderson :

You are spot on in your review. My only quibble is that I think So Beautiful or So What is a fine, fine album. Second-tier compared to Rhythm of the Saints or his first four or five solo works, but still excellent. But Stranger To Stranger sounds like b-sides, experiments (failed experiments, mostly), and stuff not good enough for the previous album.

Michael Wilson :

Take a look at the review history of Marcel and you’ll soon discover why his review of the new Simon album isn’t relevant.

david ticehurst :

He sings of “words” and “melody”, but it’s the latter that’s the problem. Paul Simon is still a wordsmith. It’s the way he sings those words that, more than anything else, make his new songs boring and mundane.

I agree. In recent interviews Paul Simon spoke of the importance of sound. He has forgotten or chosen to ignore the importance of melody or song. Several of the songs on this CD are virtually spoken and yet the duet with Dion shows that when he wants to Paul can still sing and sound sublime. The words are as ever exquisite, intelligent and thought provoking. But the sound is bland and tuneless. It is as if Paul wants to be seen as a cool guy almost rapping. His words on his albums continue to sparkle but since Capeman onwards the melodies have disappeared.A huge disappointment for what will probably be his last album given the time it takes him to craft his material.

L. Jones :

Songers?

Mitzi2013 :

Really…Negro?