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Surprise
by: Paul Simon

List Price: £15.99

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Used Price: £1.63
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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0093624998228
Label: Warners
Manufacturer: Warners
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Warners
Release Date: June 05, 2006
Studio: Warners
Sales Rank: 6242
MPN: 49982

Disc 1:

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.co.uk Review:
Since severing his epochal partnership with Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon's solo career been characterized by restless reinvention. But while it's easy to see such disparate, cross-cultural collaborations as Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints as Simon's quest for new creative partnerships, beneath them lies a more crucial willingness to continually challenge the very assumptions and craft of his own songwriting. Six years after his sublime, underappreciated You're the One Simon has pushed that sensibility into a rewarding, if equally unlikely, partnership with Brian Eno. Yet the former Roxy Music texturalist cum contemporary producer/sound conjurer supreme (aided by such stellar sidemen as Bill Frisell, Herbie Hancock and Steve Gadd) offers barely half the "surprises" here.

The playful "Sure Don't Feel Like Love" argues Simon can still beckon his more traditional pop muse at will. Yet some of his best work here turns as much on hypnotic, if no less politically pointed, quasi-spoken word pieces (like "Wartime Prayers" and the gripping, post 9/11 rumination "How Can You Live in the Northeast?") as traditional songcraft. Eno is credited with providing "Sonic Landscape" to Simon's production, but also co-wrote three tracks, infusing "Another Galaxy" with contrasting doses of bracing energy and ethereal elegance, while seasoning the more traditional folk musings of "Once Upon a Time There Was An Ocean" with infectious electro-funk rhythms. "Outrageous," their best full collaboration, suggests that while Eno and Simon may approach world music - and indeed most pop forms - from polar extremes, the common ground they find is truly elevated. In an era when many of his peers are content to craft mere artistic comebacks, Simon's re-emergence here is a bold, compelling step forward. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Is it me?
I see lots of good reviews so it must be me. Paul Simon with edge some say, why? i liked Paul Simon as he was. I loved his last album this i hate, please bring back the old Paul Simon i could rely on him to entertain me.

Bring back Paul Simon.

Rating:

- Beautiful Indeed
Lots of deservedly good reviews but I don't think anyone has yet mentioned how staggeringly beautiful this collection is. Simon's singing on these subtle, melodically brilliant songs is outstanding; he has finally reached a place where he is happy to use his voice as an instrument, blending with the sounds and players to great effect.

Lyrically it's as engaging as his finest work with several startling and, at times, witty lines.

Beautiful playing throughout from a tried and trusted band and Eno providing sufficient other worldiness to lift the whole thing onto another plane.

Magical and beguiling from start to finish.

Rating:

- A genuine surprise!
Best album since Graceland? Without a doubt in my mind (although 'Rhythm Of The Saints' comes close)!

If you're a fan of Paul Simon and you haven't got this album because he's believe that he's been below par since the 1980s then now is the time to rediscover the man because there are some real gems on this collection. 'Outrageous', for example, is a stunning upbeat track with a strong social commentary and, in fact, what really enlivens this album is the rhythm - Brian Eno's production has given Paul's songwriting an edge which has been missing for some time, mixing some contemporary rhythm without compromising style and without being over-obtrusive or overbearing. Interestingly, it makes the songs which don't utitlise a strong ... Read More:

Rating:

- You Can Call Me Paul!
After all the negative reviews of this album I have only just got around to buying a copy, and on first listen, I ask what is all the fuss about? Anyone who has followed Paul Simon's career from the start will enjoy this album, Paul Simon has always moved forward trying different influences, sometimes they haven't always worked, but they do work here. Most of the fuss surrounds Brian Eno's conribution to this album, I think it works very well, it reminds me of Daniel Lanois album 'Acadie' where he also used Brian Eno's talents to great effect. I cannot say any track on this album is poor, 'Wartime Prayers' which is a beautiful track is perhaps just a little overdone in parts where the backing sometimes smothers the vocal a little. It is though an ... Read More:

Rating:

- not what I hoped
Maybe I set the bar to high, but after such a long time I hoped for a really innovative or original album. I have been listening to this for a while now, hoping it would catch, but sadly it doesn't.
Unlike "Rythm of the Saints", which tried original use of unfamiliar rythms and "Graceland", with it's clever and intriguing lyrics, there seems to be nothing new here. Many of the rhymes are contrived (like Bob Dylan pairing "Italy" and "diddly", only not so funny) and there are few memorable lines. Maybe other listeners will like songs about Paul's babies, but it doesn't work for me. Only one other reviewer seems to be of my opinion, so perhaps others will find here what evades me.

Music : Surprise