Gareth listens to Simon and Garfunkel...

[Thrillho]

...and doesn't care for it.

[spoiler]Gareth is me.[/spoiler]

So for my birthday I got an Amazon voucher, and because I have a hardon for CD box sets (I have the Springsteen one, and the one with all of Pink Floyd's studio albums in it, I even have a fucking Randy Newman one) I decided to get all of Simon and Garfunkel's albums in one convenient box.

I am... not impressed.

First of all, and this is a genuine question, how could they released so little? Back in those days it wasn't unheard of to crank out two records a year, and they did a total of five albums between 1964 and 1970 - and mostly pretty short ones at that.

I know it's about quality rather than quantity generally speaking, I'm genuinely surprised that they released such little music. They're like an example of what I would say about The Beatles that if they released records at the modern rate, their career would consist of Please Please Me, Help!, Sergeant Pepper and Abbey Road. A hell of a catalogue, but missing the interesting, searching middle albums where they bridged the gaps between styles and experimented.

Secondly, after admittedly only one listen... I'm not hugely impressed. Their work seems very samey (until Bridge) generally speaking and there doesn't seem to be much to it.

Also, 'Voices Of Old People' is actually fucking recordings of old people talking? You serious? 

My favourite song so far - and I hate myself because this is like saying I like REM and my favourite song is 'Everybody Hurts' - is 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' partly because it's the exact song I needed right now given my personal circumstances.

But at the same time, it's so insanely unlike anything in the rest of their discography that it makes no sense whatsoever 1. after Bookends 2. in the context of their career 3. even in the context of the album it's damn well named after.

...So, yeah. I'm obviously not writing them off yet, at all. But so far I'm not hugely impressed.

ARGUE WITH ME BITCHES

[Patrick]

Shut up, Gaz.

[Thrillho]

I see your point but would like some elaboration 

[Zingoleb]

I'm legitimately unsure how you can dislike Mrs. Robinson. That is such an honestly fun song.

Still, Paul Simon's quality shot way, way, way up once he ditched Garfunkel.

[Patrick]

Listen to "Cecilia" and love it forever or I have no faith in your ability to appreciate the greatest song ever written by human hands

[Barmymoo]

I don't think I've ever been mad about them either. I think I probably also need to listen to some more of it though.

[Patrick]

My drummer Paul loves "Hazy Shade Of Winter" and although it has never been my favorite it is growing on me

[BeoPuppy]

Liked the Bangles version loads better.

[TheCollyWolly]

I definitely prefer Paul Simon's solo stuff to S&G. But I'm biased, because I personally think You Can Call Me Al is the best song ever written.

[Thrillho]

I LOVE 'You Can Call Me Al,' so hard.

S&G are growing on me, gradually. I am finding some really beautiful songs in their catalogue in places. And honestly, having 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' to listen to as my divorce kicks off was worth the entry price by itself, without doubt.

[Patrick]

My singer adores that song, he's been trying to transpose it to guitar and I cannot wait until he does.

[Chad K.]

I was given the same S&G compilation as a gift in college and had a remarkably similar response.  I had their "greatest hits" on tape (because I'm old), which I loved.  I complained about the world switching to cds rendering my tape obsolete (see previous comment) and was provided with this "gem."  My take- some of the songs like "Richard Cory","A Simple Desultory Philipic" and "Overs" are amazing and should have been widely released as singles.  There are other things that were too weird to be widely released but are really good.  But, there's a lot of bad stuff.  Like, really bad. 

Here's the thing- I think with Simon & Garfunkel, you have ot give each song a few listens.  Some of them really grew on me after bit.  Some, not so much.  I think it's just a little shocking to hear stuff that isn't immediately accessible, and radio-ready since we're talking about Paul Simon.

[henri bemis]

I LOVE 'You Can Call Me Al,' so hard.

I was just going to say that 'You Can Call Me Al' is possibly my favorite of theirs.  The lyrics are so depressing, the music is so upbeat.  I love it.  I'm going to dance through my anguish, goddammit!

(But I also love Everybody Hurts, especially if I'm watching the video).

I'm by no means a S&G afficionado - I pretty much only know the singles.  But I've also been fond of 'The Only Living Boy in New York' (my being from NY, originally, may influence that) and 'The Boxer.'  Basically, I love their sad songs.

[Chad K.]

"Only Living Boy In New York" is an amazing song. 

[Thrillho]

It most certainly is. I am finding more and more songs that I love.

[Patrick]

"Only Living Boy In New York" is an amazing song.

One of my all-time favorites. Perfectly captures the feeling of estrangement from a close friend. I wish I could write songs this perfect.

[Hugh B Hayve]

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live episodes was when Paul hosted and Art showed up for an off-the-cuff reunion where they did an awesome version of 'The Boxer'

[Valdís]

Yeah, I'll always love Simon and Garfunkel. Can't handle all these feels:

[Thrillho]

"Only Living Boy In New York" is an amazing song.

One of my all-time favorites. Perfectly captures the feeling of estrangement from a close friend. I wish I could write songs this perfect.

I've recently absolutely loved this song, the distant harmonies are just beautiful.

[Pilchard123]

I read somewhere that that The Sound of Silence was (partly) inspired by Simon's habit of sitting in the bathroom, with the lights off and the taps running, strumming a guitar. He said the sound of the running water was soothing and that the tiles on the wall made a nice echo chamber effect.

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again

[Thrillho]

http://madcap156.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/paul-and-art/ - by the way I wrote a blog about Sugar and Giggletits

[Pilchard123]

Is it deliberate that the title overlaps the navigation bar?

[Thrillho]

I don't understand the question.

[Bluesummers]

Here's the thing- I think with Simon & Garfunkel, you have to give each song a few listens.  Some of them really grew on me after bit.  Some, not so much.

^This. Because honestly, if it's not "You Can Call Me Al", it does take a bit of marinating yourself in it to enjoy it.

Yes, we marinate ourselves in music. If someone can come up with a better metaphor, be my guest.

[A Wet Helmet]

The Boxer is an amazing song on more levels than I have the ability to count.

I'm listening to it right now in fact.








Again.