Surprise - Paul Simon Album Review

Photo:Rober Clark

Album Review

Just like his hair-line, Paul Simon has been receding on the music front for quite some time. His last solo effort was You’re The One, four years ago, which was hardly a critical success. After his coffer-swelling reunion with Art Garfunkel in 2005, Simon unleashes his latest offering on Warner Bros. Surprise is very apt, as you’ll discover. On board as influence and tweeker is ex-Roxy Music keyboard player Brian Eno. Unlike Rick Rubin’s success with Johnny Cash and latterly Neil Diamond, Eno’s involvement appears to be a major drawback. It feels like he’s hijacked the entire project, trying to make Simon trendy all over again, and not made a Paul Simon at all. There are key sonic moments on a great PS album, but they’re not here. Also, most of the songs are weak and simply disastrous- tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, - almost as if Simon’s finally running out of creative juices. Of the ten songs, few are barely memorable, which was Simon’s trademark. Most of these hardly have any instant recall potential. Highlights are really rare – Beautiful almost matches his You Can Call Me Al period, only to run out of steam. I Don’t Believe is a neat segue, but again flounders mid-way. That’s Me shimmies along like something from his early period, only to be spoilt by Eno’s pointless sonic intrusion. Thankfully, a lovely lullaby limps out of what can only be described as a tortuous listening experience. In addition, his voice sounds at its weakest ever, losing its clarity and beauty. He sounds uncertain as well, maybe being uncomfortable with the entire venture.

The album is a big surprise in many ways, not a pleasant one, and will do little to bring back the hardcore fanbase in the long run.

Elly Roberts