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Proof
Apr-15-2009, 21:19 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Was thinking, when listening to Surprise, that Paul keeps progressing in terms of having interesting things to say. Each record is a new peak in that regard. Poetically, however, I have say that Rythm of the Saints was his best by far, simply in terms of the way language was used. Musically, it is impossible to beat Graceland, although obviously many of the tracks were written in whole or in part by African musicians. Such a beatiful body of work...

Nikki
Apr-16-2009, 11:10 GMT
Australia

That´s part of what´s so special about him isn´t it, great lyrics on top of great music. I remember reading somewhere that Paul doesn´t consider his lyrics poetry? I don´t see why though. He´s really great with evocative images. I still haven´t bought the lyrics book yet but I should, I think it´d help me to focus on the words a bit more cos normally when I´m listening I don´t think too much about them.
One thing I didn´t like about the messages in Surprise though - the whole water theme which was highlighted in the cd booklet? It seemed a bit contrived. There were quite a few lines which I still don´t really get - in Everything about it is a Love song - ´to the land where the wires are hushed´? and in the chorus of wartime prayer - ´because you cannot walk with the holy if you´re just a half way decent man, i don´t pretend that i´m a mastermind with a genius marketing plan´ - does he not pretend to be a mastermind because he doesn´t want to walk with the all-or-none ´holy´ men?

Ian
Apr-16-2009, 11:44 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Hi Nikki,I noticed the water theme on the cd sleeve but have never been able to understand what point he is trying to make. Have I missed something?

Bodo
Apr-16-2009, 13:45 GMT
Austria

The water theme should remind about Katrina I think. Maybe it was just a coincident that in every song there was a line with water , snow, flood...and someone else found that and thought it is a good idea to highlight these lines.
It doesn´t make much sense to me to :)

Scaaty
Apr-16-2009, 14:53 GMT
Ireland

I don´t think the lines are related - as the mastermind sentence is repeated. I think what he is saying is that doing nothing wrong or negative is not the same as actively doing good. Maybe a hint at George Bush, who I think genuinely believed himself to be a decent person and not doing any harm.

Thats my take on it anyway.

Nikki
Apr-17-2009, 01:00 GMT
Australia

Yes that´s my instinctive take on it too Scaaty, but what throws me is the fact that he sings ´BECAUSE you cannot walk with the holy if you´re just a half way decent man...´ implying (that´s why) I don´t pretend to be a mastermind...? Lol anyway I guess we won´t ever know.
Ian when the CD first came out the theory was that the water theme was highlighted in light of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding of New Orleans, maybe as a tribute?

Ian
Apr-17-2009, 01:26 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Thanks Nikki,that is actually what I thought anyway,but it just seemed a little too obvious and even unnecessary,if you know what I mean. There were many other significant events between the release of You´re The One and Surprise and it´s seems odd that he settled on that theme. As someone else said,maybe it was an accidental theme picked up by the sleeve designers,after reading the many water references in the lyrics. Speaking of Surprise in general,has anyone(everyone?) ever listened to the album with headphones? It´s Grrrreat!!! Paul´s best headphone album for sure!

Belle
Apr-17-2009, 01:39 GMT
Unknown

Paul´s lyrics are more of poetry hence, I feel that some of his lyrics might be uncomprehendable to the listener/reader (reading off his lyrics only). Poetry tends to be more of a web of imaginery words, weaved in the writer´s world of thoughts/feelings.

Ans
Apr-17-2009, 06:57 GMT
Netherlands

I think it was nicely done, the water theme. Water is a big issue in the whole world with droughts, floods, too much rain, not enough rain, pollute water, peoples life depend on water.

Nikki
Apr-17-2009, 08:33 GMT
Australia

Yes I think water must have been an accidental theme. Given the way Paul works, writing an album over the course of years, it couldn´t be any sort of conscious decision on his part.
Headphones - well, that´s pretty much the only way I listen to Paul´s music! What makes it a particularly good headphones album Ian? The electro sounds?

Ian
Apr-17-2009, 11:47 GMT
USA - United Staates America

It´s the way it is mixed Nikki. The way the instruments are placed within the stereo image. We were talking recently about our individual successes,albeit,limited,of turning friends onto Paul´s music and that ´Surprise´ seems to appeal to younger listeners than,say,the ´Still Crazy´ album. This,I think,is maybe that ´Surprise´ has an overall more contemporary sound than previous releases. This is due in no small way,to Eno´s ´Sonic Landscapes´,which brings me back to the headphone thing-listen to Paul´s guitar lines in the bridge of ´That´s Me´. In the lead up to the bridge his guitar is panned dead centre,but after a few seconds there is a double tracked acoustic guitar added that is panned hard left and right and it´s just beautiful the way it opens,spreads the aural image at that point. The album is full of these delights. I apologize to all-I do tend to prattle on.:-( It´s just that 3 of my obsessions are involved-guitar playing,recording and mixing and Paul Simon. I´ll shut up now...

Gerard
Apr-17-2009, 14:47 GMT
New Zealand

I think Still Crazy is great for headphone listening - the song, and the whole album in fact. It doesn´t seem so much is happening in the tracks, but appreciate so much more with headphones.

Ian
Apr-17-2009, 16:01 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I don´t want to come off like I´m backpedalling here Gerard,but I totally agree with what you say as well. I´m referring essentially to the appeal that ´Surprise´ has for some younger listeners whose ears have grown accustomed to listening to very adventurously mixed techno music etc. ´Still Crazy´ would probably appear to have little to surprise their ears,sonically anyway. Yes I agree,that ´Still Crazy´ has a wonderful warm natural sound,and there IS a nice understated,natural stereo image. All Of Paul´s albums are beautifully recorded. Listen to the ride cymbal on ´You´re Kind´ for example,or the strummed acoustic guitars on the coda to ´Jonah´ or the cello at the end of ´Train In The Distance´. All wonderfully recorded and... sorry,there I go again!

Nikki
Apr-18-2009, 16:37 GMT
Australia

Lol no, your insight is very interesting Ian! I only wish that I had the same knowledge of guitar playing and sound mixing to be able to better appreciate Paul´s music. I think what you say about the sounds of Surprise being more appealing towards young people is quite true - though the young music scene is so diverse that any sound is likely to be appealing (or unappealing) to a large number of people. I Love the phrase sonic landscapes though - I wonder who coined that. I´ll try listening to That´s Me paying special attention to what you´ve pointed out :)

PAul
Apr-18-2009, 17:56 GMT
Unknown

HOw terrible that no one among my friends here in Russia understands Paul´s music!!!
Only one person i know who loves S&G - she´s my ex-classmate... So strange. And the people who understand music - who play guitar for instance - they listen to hard rock :(( Though Paul is a rock&roll musician, they don´t like his music..
The thing is - what i´ve just discovered on my Culturalogical classes - someone famous (a philosopher or smb else) said: "A thought that has been just told is a lie".
I mean the following: if people don´t try to listen to Paul´s music - they won´t understand it. And we can say nothing to them (even if we would tell ´em that it´s outstanding, awesome, great, lovely etc), but make those people listen to Paul Simon.
We can´t express our feelings in order to make yourself appreciated nowadays.
THEY should try, and WE should give it to them. Sounds like another religion or sect :)))))
When sitting in a car - turn on PS, while sending music through MySpace - send PS. No matter what they would tell you. It´s your car, it´s your thoughts, it´s your heart.
I´m pretty young (21) and most of the friends tell me that it´s boring or it´s not modern. But remember 19th century (described by Lermontov) - i mean Russian history - when people gathered on Sundays and a woman sang with a piano or guitar accompaniment. That was sweet.
The same thing is with PS - only a voice and a guitar. The lyrics are incredible! The sound is just great.. If you want the complexity is so appealing (to me at least).

I can´t understand...

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