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Proof
May-04-2011, 20:41 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I like to say that ROTS is better, but I have a deep contrarian streak.

Subjective/Objective: Is it OBJECTIVELY true that Graceland is the best thing he´s ever done?

Wambaugh
May-04-2011, 21:12 GMT
United Kingdom

I´m honestly not sure which is better. I would say if ROTS was done first and Graceland second then ROTS would be viewed as the best thing he´s ever done.

I´m not sure whether it´s objective or not, but I think being the first album like that in mainstream music gives Graceland an edge in popular opinion.

Mike
May-04-2011, 21:36 GMT
USA - United Staates America

He also sounds cheery in "Graceland," while "Rhythm Of The Saints," has a much darker atmosphere. It basically depends on what kind of mood I´m in, but I agree that both are magnificent works.

miriam
May-04-2011, 22:47 GMT
Germany

No, ROTS is better than Graceland. It sounds more homogenic... Graceland is a tad too overproduced... Whereas ROTS has a more natural sound. You can hear how Paul´s musical knowledge has evolved and how he has learned new stuff from another different culture. Graceland was a bigger commercial success but I´d always say ROTS is better.

Phil
May-05-2011, 00:53 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I always had Graceland as the ´most important´ album (for his career, the impact on world music, and the world awareness of the oppression of aparthaid). ROTS the best album he made.

Proof
May-05-2011, 04:08 GMT
USA - United Staates America

ROTS was his lyrical peak. The words are stunning.

Forum guest
May-05-2011, 05:31 GMT
USA - United Staates America

wow, defining Paul´s best lyrics, nice work, just a couple of things though.

This is the story of how we begin to remember, this is the powerful pulsing of Love in the vein

thats the way its always been, thats the way I like it, thats how I want it to be

I remember misinformation followed us like a plague, Nobody knew from time to time if the plans were changed

ghosts in the water begged for more, maple trees just a little bit duller than the memory of the year before

none of which are from ROTS

DannyJ  
May-05-2011, 06:36 GMT
United Kingdom

Hearts And Bones is my favourite album... a prefer it to Graceland AND ROTS... Sorry!

Music is subjective and deeply personal. To criticize someone else´s taste in music is like criticizing their face. Each to their own.I´m just pleased we all have this fine music to appreciate.

Jay
May-05-2011, 06:39 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I agree with Danny about the criticizing part. With that said, I generally like ROTS better.

Ian
May-05-2011, 07:02 GMT
Australia

You know,when ROTS was released,the day I got it,I played it maybe four,five times expecting Graceland 2,but the album seemed to lack the hooks so prevalent on Graceland. I´m specifically talking about the music at The moment,as that is ALWAYS the initial attraction for me. Maybe it xas tIe lack of drum kit in most of the songs that left it feeling unfinished to me. That was then though,as now I play ROTS far more often than I revisit Graceland. It´s hard for me to believe I once considered it ´unfinished´. It is a sublime piece of work.

Michiel
May-05-2011, 08:07 GMT
Netherlands

I think BOTW is his best album ever, so solo and duo combined.

Solo I can´t choose between ROTS and Graceland. ROTS has the sublime The Coast, Graceland has more sublime songs, with almost the same quality as The Coast. Indeed it depends on the mood I´m in.

Live I feel CP81 is sublime, and CP91 is not good compared to the duo 81 version. In 91 his voice was far below the 81 quality. Rhymin Simon live is his best live solo album IMHO.

And yes, Hearts And Bones is also very very good..

Michiel
May-05-2011, 08:16 GMT
Netherlands

Officially called Live Rhymin´ of course...

SBOSW ... I´m really curious what I will be saying about that album in 5 years. Quite sure it will be something like.. "Oh nice album, but not so special compared to others.... But maybe I need to relisten it, as last time I listened is 3 years ago or so"

The777Man
May-05-2011, 10:13 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I agree with Jay; opinions on music is higly subjective and not objective at all.

That said, I also prefer ROTS to Graceland although it took while for me to start liking i. t

Bodo
May-05-2011, 11:15 GMT
Austria

Good Old discussion :)
I can agree on all arguments, pro ROTS, pro Graceland.
They are his best work. For non-PS fans of course Graceland will always be the better one (even if they know ROTS), and of course, the album has more hits, more different styles in music, more beats. I think we all can agree that ROTS has not so much outstanding songs, while Graceland has Al, Diamonds, Graceland, Boy in the bubble has really major hits.

I like ROTS a little bit more, but why? Maybe because the songs on Graceland are all upbeat, happy and good-feel songs. And maybe because ROTS has one theme, the songs all seem to work together as one big thing, none is really outstanding (except maybe Obvious child...I sometimes skip that one). You can play ROTS as a background music, it is perfect. Graceland always needs my full attention.

Yes the lyrics on ROTS are ... better. More interesting.


One last sentence: While I think ROTS is a pure Paul Simon album Graceland is of course a big mix of different songs already recorded by other artists. Not the big hits, but there always have been controversys about how much Paul has written on songs like :Crazy Love, Gumboots, I Know What I Know, That Was Your Mother, All Around The World...or Homeless. You all know that he shared songwriting credits later on many of those songs.
And we would love to hear the original tape that slipped into his pockets (Gumboots: Accordion Jive Hits, Volume II)

Where did that tape disappear? The title is clear - Gumboots...

mog
May-05-2011, 14:22 GMT
Canada

As discussed a few years ago, one can hear a bit of the original Gumboot at the start of one of the BBC programs on Paul in 1992. I can upload it if you guys want it.

For the rest, some albums from the Boyoyo Boys are out there.

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