Paul Simon – Graceland

Now this is an album. My ratings for individual songs are all over the board. From one to five stars, one song will cause me to erupt into impromptu dance and another will send me spinning into a rage. And yet it seems like once a month I think that I ought to listen to Graceland again.

Paul Simon’s lyrics are freaking gorgeous. Many of his songs are pure poetry. But add music and instantly I’m bored. I think it’s the generic 1980s music accompanying so many of the songs. Take, for example, “I Know What I Know”. The music is boring. It’s straight up tired. The Gaza Sisters add interest, and draw me back into the song, but then they go away and I’m lost again. Half the music on this album just sounds like a pre-programmed track on a keyboard.

The funny thing is that there is something undeniable about this album. I’m not crazy about it, start to finish, but I’m drawn to it.

“The Boy in the Bubble” is a particularly good entrance into the album.

The accordion kick-off amuses me every time. A South African inspired pop album, complete with accordion.

As is often the case with Paul Simon, this song sounds upbeat and happy. Well, except for that accordion. It sounds kind of…salty. And the synth guitars (I’m assuming they’re synth guitar sounds, anyway) that screech in remind me of weapons. So maybe the song doesn’t sound that happy.

Then Graceland, despite the utter brilliance that is the lyrics, starts off and loses me. The music is just so boring!

Perhaps in seven years this album will hit me like a train. I mean, I was born in the same year this album was made. Perhaps 24 years just isn’t quite old enough to appreciate the greatness. I do love the poetry of his lyrics, though, and trying to tease apart meanings from the songs is interesting. There are some particularly good notes about “You Can Call Me Al”.

I also greatly enjoy Lady Smith Black Mombazo, Los Lobos, and Good Rockin’ Dopsie and the Twisters when they make appearances.

What to Expect?
Paul Simon. World Music. Synthesizers in an overabundance, totally killing the awesomeness that is Paul Simon and said World Music.

What to Take Away?
Leslie doesn’t like synthesizers half as much as she thought.

What Drink to Pair it With?
This is a tricky one. It seems to depend on the song. The differences from “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” and “You Can Call me Al” are pretty steep. I’d hazard a guess that a bottle of dry red wine would pair nicely. You pick the type.

Favorite Song?
Call me shallow, but I only bought the album because of “You Can Call Me Al”. For weeks I would bike to work belting this song out as I rode, headphone free, through the blustery and cold Wisconsin fall. It’s just a flawless song, and the music is far from generic.