|
| Headline | "Surprise" is Awesome! |
|
Page:
[1] |
| Author | Comment |
Beth
May-10-2006, 03:27 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
 | I bought three "Surprise" CDÄ«s today....Best Buy has a special for $9.99...one for the car...one for home...one for work...I have listened to the entire CD four times...the song openings are so lyrical....and the flow of the CD as a whole takes me away.......I feel like one of the reviewers, Oliver Mosier from the Chicago Maroon.....
"For years I have yearned for an album by Paul Simon that could reinvigorate me and transport me to a place of comfort and security."
This country has been in such turmoil since 9/11.....Iraq...Katrina....a wacko leader as President.....and Paul lifts me out of all of that with this CD....itīs peaceful, whimsical...visions of the past...and where we are now...and hope and peace for the future... the lyrics and the arrangements float through my whole being......and the poetry and images..... so typically Paul..."Acts of kindness. like breadcrumbs in a fairytale forest, lead us past dangers as light melts the darkness."......
I have been a Paul Simon fan since the S&G days in the 60Ä«s........I am of his generation...have lived musically with him through the assassination of JFK, the Vietnam War, and all the times til now....the very sad times now..... he soothes me with this Masterpiece......"Nothing is different, but everything has changed."
It speaks to where he has been... where he now and how he hopes to be remembered.......and he does it as only Paul Simon can......
This CD is a treasure!........
|
| | |
Sumit
May-10-2006, 03:58 GMT
IP:
Australia
 | Wonderful that you think so Beth. Join the club. |
| | |
Nikki
May-10-2006, 10:43 GMT
IP:
Australia
| thatīs great beth. i think being a part of paulīs generation must elevate oneīs appreciation of his music to an entirely new level. iīm just glad that iīve managed to find out about paul and appreciate him for myself despite a youth culture which generally regards him as īanother one of those artists from the pastī |
| | |
JohnC
May-10-2006, 13:15 GMT
IP:
United Kingdom
 | Great review Beth. |
| | |
simon dooker
May-10-2006, 14:13 GMT
IP:
United Kingdom
| You are kindred spirits Beth, Richard, .....the review sounds absolutely on the button. |
| | |
suzi
May-11-2006, 02:51 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| I feel the same and am also of that generation (5 months older than Paul. His music has always lifted me out of depressions carried me through. The new CD is a wonderful lift. I played it all day at work today. |
| | |
Bodo
May-11-2006, 08:23 GMT
IP:
Austria
 | Thanks for these inspiring words Beth.
You are so right. I Love this album also so much... and everything about it is a love song. His best melodies, accoustic guitars...together with Brian Enos soundweaves. It works so good. |
| | |
Sumit
May-11-2006, 23:49 GMT
IP:
Australia
| Itīs a marvellous album but I canīt rip the songs onto my iPod. ARRGGGHH!! |
| | |
Berit
May-12-2006, 09:03 GMT
IP:
Denmark
 | Why not Sumit ?
Worked fine for me.
I always rip my CDīs with Media Player and let Itunes convert the mp3 files into aac. I believe that will give me a better sound. If itīs true, however, I donīt know |
| | |
Hurricane
May-12-2006, 16:41 GMT
IP:
United Kingdom
| The post about Berwick Street in London lead me to some frantic activity the other day which resulted in my brother-in-law hot-footing it down there to grab the remaining copy in īBlack Dogī (shop) and send it to me in the NorthEast (I know - why would I live here...?!!!)
Have listened several times now and think it is an astounding piece of work. Really it is just Paul with Steve Gadd - with some twiddles on top!
The album is a lot more optimistic than YTO, I find even though the subject matter is darker and it screams at me that his Love for music and music-making has once again been invigorated.
I thought that I hadnīt found it very accessible but have found myself singing guitar licks and phrases over and over again in my head throughout today so maybe it is catchy afterall. One thing though - Father and Daughter is completely out of kilter with the rest of the album I find - a fancy decoration or sickly icing on top of a very accomplished and filling cake - could easily be left to one side. Thatīs not a criticism of the song, you understand, just of its place within this body of work. The song itself is the only one that immediately marries melody and guitar-work (even if the rhythm is a bit basic)...
It is necessary for a fan to ask for more - and to want it straight-away and this album makes me want more, more, more, now, now, now as I can see the potential in this work for something greater. After this release and the way he sounds on the record I believe we will get more (and without a further 6 year wait) as he sounds enthused and enthusiastic again and - different from before - wanting to please. I think that Paul now has become to realise the joy his music gives to others and will continue on with innovative and exciting projects into the distant future........ |
| | |
Beth
May-13-2006, 00:42 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Obviously "Father and Daughter" doesnīt fit here...We all know he wrote it for "The Thornberrys" movie....which was outside what he was doing with the flow of this album...My own take on why it was included is that this song is very personal to him...and it belongs on one of his albums....not just on a movie soundtrack.....I donīt have a problem with its inclusion because I know how important this song must be to him..... |
| | |
BeJi
May-13-2006, 09:55 GMT
IP:
Sweden
 | Well, Iīve been a Paul Simon fan since the early 80s (born the same year Paul got divorced from Peggy), and Iīve been a īdiehardī fan since Graceland, but every new release needs a lot of listening to before i can say whether i like it or not.
When I heard that the new album would have an electronical sound I was a little distressed, since IÄ«m NOT very fond of synthesizer blips and blops (had enough of that in the musically boring 80s), but I must say that the true genious Brian Eno knew what he was doing and helped Paul Simon creating another superb album.
I still do not know whether I think it is one of his best, but it is one of his better - thatīs for sure.
Since none of the musicians that were introduced on Graceland and Rhythm (except from Vincent Nguiniīs rhythm guitar on "Father and daughter" - which doesnīt really fit on the album, but who cares - itīs a lovely song) are present on "Surprise", I started comparing it with "Hearts And Bones", since that one had itīs electrical moments.
I think that Surprise sounds very modern and as one reviewer somewhere remarked: there are even some danceable tracks on the album.
Well, I tried to be short here, but I couldnīt :-S
I like Surprise, and my favourite tracks so far are: "Outrageous", "Wartime prayers" and "Another Galaxy".
Letīs hope itīs not the last one.
I donīt think it is. |
| | |
|
Page:
[1]
|