- Original Release Date: 11 April 2011
- Release Date: 11 April 2011
- Label: Universal Music Group International
- Copyright: (C) 2011 PS LLC. Under exclusive license to StarCon LLC d/b/a Hear Music TM
- Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
- Total Length: 38:09
- Genres:
- ASIN: B004SVKHPK
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,434 in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 in MP3 Albums)
Sign up to the MP3 Newsletter and not only will you receive weekly updates on the latest new releases and top offers, but we'll also give you 25% off your next MP3 purchase. |
MP3 Songs
Previous
Play all
Next
Play all samples
MP3
Paused
Loading ...
Unavailable
Loading ...
Volume slider
Mute/Unmute
To view this content, download Flash player (version 9.0.0 or higher)
| Song Title | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play | 1. Getting Ready For Christmas Day | 4:06 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 2. The Afterlife | 3:40 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 3. Dazzling Blue | 4:32 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 4. Rewrite | 3:49 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 5. Love And Hard Times | 4:09 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 6. Love Is Eternal Sacred Light | 4:02 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 7. Amulet | 1:36 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 8. Questions For The Angels | 3:49 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 9. Love And Blessings | 4:18 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 10. So Beautiful Or So What | 4:08 | £0.89 |
Product details |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By GlynLuke
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
This album is a welcome surprise from one of the finest songwriters of our time. Since the career-best Graceland, Paul Simon`s releases have either been uplifting and inspirational like Rhythm Of The Saints, slightly incoherent yet brilliant collections of songs such as the mostly superb You`re The One, or muddled near-misses like Surprise, his last rather misconceived effort. To call this a return to form is merely to speak the truth.
He sounds rejuvenated - at 70 already! - on a brief set of heartfelt songs on which his writing, singing and musical skills (he has always been a quietly virtuosic guitarist) are at their bright & shining best. At first I really didn`t like the cover, but looking at it closer one can see that it complements the esoteric yet generously compassionate, humane nature of the songs within.
The soundworld Paul creates here is both eclectic and spare, with instruments such as kora, tabla and glockenspiel adding subtle textures to the already beautifully crafted songs. There`s no dud song, nothing that goes on too long, no songs that don`t quite come off, and the whole thing is produced with the accent on clarity and a brightly warm immediacy.
To highlight one song: the opener, Getting Ready For Christmas Day, starts the whole thing off in glorious style, overlaying Paul`s vocal onto an old sermon recorded as long ago as 1941 by one Rev JM Gates, complete with scattered congregation calls & cries. It not only works, but is a burst of joyous ebullience that puts the listener in a very good place for the rest of this supremely listenable album.
I think this is, by a whisker, Paul Simon`s most wholly satisfying album since Graceland.... Read more ›
He sounds rejuvenated - at 70 already! - on a brief set of heartfelt songs on which his writing, singing and musical skills (he has always been a quietly virtuosic guitarist) are at their bright & shining best. At first I really didn`t like the cover, but looking at it closer one can see that it complements the esoteric yet generously compassionate, humane nature of the songs within.
The soundworld Paul creates here is both eclectic and spare, with instruments such as kora, tabla and glockenspiel adding subtle textures to the already beautifully crafted songs. There`s no dud song, nothing that goes on too long, no songs that don`t quite come off, and the whole thing is produced with the accent on clarity and a brightly warm immediacy.
To highlight one song: the opener, Getting Ready For Christmas Day, starts the whole thing off in glorious style, overlaying Paul`s vocal onto an old sermon recorded as long ago as 1941 by one Rev JM Gates, complete with scattered congregation calls & cries. It not only works, but is a burst of joyous ebullience that puts the listener in a very good place for the rest of this supremely listenable album.
I think this is, by a whisker, Paul Simon`s most wholly satisfying album since Graceland.... Read more ›
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Although this is not the strongest album by Paul Simon it is in fact very good. The songwriting is up to the usual standard and the music ideas not only work well but they are very interesting.
There are some great arrangements and the whole album is a solid contribution.
There are some good stand out tracks that act as highlights and it is also the sort of album that will mature over time. It needs many listening sessions to get to fully apreciate it.
Generally this album is a worthy and welcome recording from the great Paul Simon. This album does not have the striking originality of the likes of the Graceland album but it doesnt matter. It does however have some strong original songs with a familiar Paul Simon style.
This is one of those albums that in the future we may look back at and see it as a classic. I would compare it to "Hearts and Bones" in terms of its strength and solid quality. And like Hearts and Bones I doubt it has enough commercial potential to have many hit single releases in todays pop climate.
This is a great album and will appeal to anyone that likes Paul Simon.
There are some great arrangements and the whole album is a solid contribution.
There are some good stand out tracks that act as highlights and it is also the sort of album that will mature over time. It needs many listening sessions to get to fully apreciate it.
Generally this album is a worthy and welcome recording from the great Paul Simon. This album does not have the striking originality of the likes of the Graceland album but it doesnt matter. It does however have some strong original songs with a familiar Paul Simon style.
This is one of those albums that in the future we may look back at and see it as a classic. I would compare it to "Hearts and Bones" in terms of its strength and solid quality. And like Hearts and Bones I doubt it has enough commercial potential to have many hit single releases in todays pop climate.
This is a great album and will appeal to anyone that likes Paul Simon.
72 of 85 people found the following review helpful
By David Lusher
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Paul Simon is a musical institution. I personally rate him as important to American music as Bob Dylan. One of his strengths is his gift of lyricism. Another is that he was always well ahead of the game in weaving the rhythms, instruments and voices of world music into Western popular music. His judgement in using the best of African sounds was to the fore in 'Graceland' and 'The Rhythm Of The Saints'. He develops this further with this excellent album. 'Rewrite' particularly echoes the work of the late Ali Farka Touré. But this album is a smorgasbord of wonderful music and is surely the best album Paul Simon has delivered for years. He is a seasoned musician and is still able to give us something so fresh and vibrant. 'Love and Hard Times' is one of those wonderful Paul Simon songs that draws you into a story and takes you along for the ride. 'Love Is Eternal Sacred Light' pounds away and is infectious, wonderful music. 'Amulet' is a melancholic acoustic guitar instrumental. 'Questions For The Angels' is a discursive ballad that queries life in general and Simon muses gently as it drifts along. The title track track is a swampy groove-fest with shimmering guitar and an arrangement to die for. There is so much to enjoy here. Paul Simon's voice is still crystalline and unique. His songwriting remains a revelation. He has always been a fascinating listen and this album delivers big time. Buy it - you'll love it!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD is not as immediately attractive as Graceland, but as usual, Simon has gathered around him some great musicians,the production is really polished and I love the way he mines different musical traditions and adds his own take on them.
I particularly like the slower tracks on the CD. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly why but the lyrics are moving without being sentimental and the mix of very American music with that of world music works well.
I'm probably going to have to listen to the CD a couple more times but I'd say it's well worth investing the effort.
I particularly like the slower tracks on the CD. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly why but the lyrics are moving without being sentimental and the mix of very American music with that of world music works well.
I'm probably going to have to listen to the CD a couple more times but I'd say it's well worth investing the effort.
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Bungliemutt
Format:Audio CD
Paul Simon's Graceland has a place in the history of popular music whose genius is almost unquestioned. Its originality at the time and subsequent influence are beyond doubt, but it is a frequently irritating listen; an insipid distillation of African rhythms, form over substance, style over content. The Rhythm of the Saints was by far a happier experiment in what became known as crossover World Music, and to a large extent So Beautiful Or So What represents a third bite of a similar cherry. This time round though, Paul Simon's ethnic heart is less visible on his sleeve, and So Beautiful delves into rhythmical grooves for the sheer joyfulness of doing so, with less global signposting and po-faced worthiness.
For a man hitting 70, this is a surprisingly modern sounding record, influenced by loops and grooves more akin to practitioners less than half Simon's age. But this is no mere exercise in form; the sheer quality of the songwriting makes Simon sound more refreshed and relevant than he has done for years. 'Getting Ready for Christmas Day' starts things off in fine form, as exuberant and original sounding as it is unexpected. 'The Afterlife' has a lovely shuffling rhythm that leads neatly into the fabulous 'Dazzling Blue', a song that would have slotted neatly into the Graceland running order, except that it sounds so much more vibrant and modern. 'Love And Hard Times' slows the pace down a little, coming on like an outtake from Bookends, a lovely reflective song. Thereafter things begin to meander a little, hence this review's lack of the full 5 stars. But the title track which comes at the end is truly magnificent, arguably the best thing on an album of many delights.... Read more ›
For a man hitting 70, this is a surprisingly modern sounding record, influenced by loops and grooves more akin to practitioners less than half Simon's age. But this is no mere exercise in form; the sheer quality of the songwriting makes Simon sound more refreshed and relevant than he has done for years. 'Getting Ready for Christmas Day' starts things off in fine form, as exuberant and original sounding as it is unexpected. 'The Afterlife' has a lovely shuffling rhythm that leads neatly into the fabulous 'Dazzling Blue', a song that would have slotted neatly into the Graceland running order, except that it sounds so much more vibrant and modern. 'Love And Hard Times' slows the pace down a little, coming on like an outtake from Bookends, a lovely reflective song. Thereafter things begin to meander a little, hence this review's lack of the full 5 stars. But the title track which comes at the end is truly magnificent, arguably the best thing on an album of many delights.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile and rewarding
Sounds to me like an album made up from the songs rejected for his last album, " Surprise.". Read more
Published 1 month ago by Emma Twirly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent CD
Excellent CD, I've liked all the CD's that Paul Simon has produced including those with Art Garfunkel. I aim to get future CD's of his as well.
Published 2 months ago by Wolves256
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fabulous album from a Master singer songwriter
It amazes me that Paul Simon is still creating music of this quality and performing - just contrast it with Paul McCartney or other performers from the 60's and 70's. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. L. Norton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beatiful
Only complaint is that it is too short! Could have done with double the number of songs. Maybe next time!
Published 5 months ago by Mrs L P Bott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
This is just one seriously beautiful set of songs. It also contains one of his best songs (in my opinion): Questions for the Angels (with the gorgeous instrumental 'Amulet' just... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second hand CD. So Beautiful Or So What
This is the first time I have bought a second hand cd from Amazon.I was informed before buying that it may not be shrink wrapped or contain sleeve notes. Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Ostacchini
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simon back on form
This is the best album of Paul Simon's work that I have heard for years. He seems to have refound the balance between levity and brevity that have characterised his work. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jimski
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this album
I've been a lover of Paul Simon's music for a long time and have many of his earlier albums on vinyl. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Lewis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Words are all he has...
...but Paul Simon can still steal my heart away. The only complaint with this album is that Paul can't seem to write anything ressembling a catchy tune these days. Read more
Published 9 months ago by BigManFan
1.0 out of 5 stars
So what happened?
This is the first Paul simon album that I have not bought since his first solo album oh so many years ago. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Charlieost
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for similar items by category
