Simon's first album in five years is full of heavy business: life's meaning, beauty, brutality and brevity.... But the songs rarely feel heavy. Instead, they combine the freewheeling folk of 1972's Paul Simon with the brilliant studio sculpting of Graceland. It's his best album since 1990's The Rhythm of the Saints, and it also sums up much of what makes Simon great.
| Paul Simon | Primary Artist, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Percussion, Glockenspiel, Electric Guitar, Vocals, 12-string Guitar, Bells, Guitar (Nylon String) |
| Doyle Lawson | Background Vocals |
| Dr. Michael White | Clarinet |
| Steve Gorn | Bansuri |
| Edie Brickell | Background Vocals |
| David Finck | Bass |
| Skip La Plante | Gong, Harp, Wind Chimes |
| Jeanne LeBlanc | Celli |
| Richard Locker | Celli |
| Lois Martin | Viola |
| Vincent Nguini | Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar |
| Steve Shehan | Bass, Saz, Cymbals, Stick, Djembe, talking drum, Angklung, Crotale, Brushes, Resonator, Glass Harp |
| Pamela Sklar | Flute |
| Sonny Terry | Harmonica, Soloist |
| Diane Lesser | English Horn |
| Sara Cutler | Flute, Harp |
| Nancy Zeltsman | Marimbas |
| Elizabeth Mann | Flute |
| Mick Rossi | Piano |
| Charles Pillow | Clarinet |
| Gabe Witcher | Fiddle |
| Etienne Stadwijk | Celeste |
| Karaikudi R. Mani | Ensemble, Vocal Percussion |
| Yacouba Sissoko | Kora |
| Desiree Elsevier | Viola |
| Vincent Lionti | Viola |
| Chris Bear | electronics |
| Jim Oblon | Bass, Percussion, Drums, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar |
| Mary Abt | Clarinet |
| Lulu Simon | Background Vocals |
| Joshua Swift | Dobro |
| Elvis Costello | Liner Notes |
| Paul Simon | Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Whistle |
| Gil Goldstein | Arranger |
| Greg Calbi | Mastering |
| Phil Ramone | Producer |
| Andy Smith | Engineer |
| Geoff Gans | Art Direction |
| Kevin Mazur | Band Photo |
| Sven Geier | Cover Image |
| Chris Bear | Introduction |
Jahmis
Posted April 12, 2011
This album is as NPR says his best since Graceland. Every track is winner.
Don't waste your time with the deluxe version. You don't get bonus tracks and the making of the album video can be seen on Paul's website. Save your money and buy the LP or regular CD.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 13, 2011
This album is incredible. Paul has written an album that is stunning. I have been a fan for nearly 50 Years, and this album doesn't disappoint. There is no other artist whose work means as much to me. Paul Simon is still the BEST after all these years.
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Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Touted as Paul Simon's return to traditional songwriting -- Simon writing alone with a guitar and a pen instead of constructing songs around rhythmic loops the way he's done since Graceland -- So Beautiful or So What doesn't feel like a return to the '70s. From the moment the record kicks in with the heavy blues stomp and samples of "Getting Ready for Christmas Day," it's evident that while Simon may have changed his style of composing, he's not abandoning his method of record-making, which is distinctly engaged with the present. When Bob Dylan sings about Alicia Keys he does so with an old-fashioned swing, but when Simon writes a verse about Jay-Z he does it ...