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cgod  ·  4634 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Paul Simon looks back on the anniversary of Graceland

I kinda lose my passion for Paul Simon when his catalog hits Graceland. It's a great album I suppose, but world musics gain was American music's loss. "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" is in my opinion one of the great American albums of all time. It touches so many of currents of the American sound up to that point in time and the songwriting is masterful. He came back an American sound with the Capeman album, but for the most part a lot of "world" sound stuff is pulling its essence from that which Paul isn't. I guess I would just much rather hear a Bhundu Boys album then listen to Paul bring the Bhundu Boys and their sound with his hefty songwriting chops.

I feel like I'm being down on Paul and wish it didn't come out that way, I own and often comeback to many of his albums, just don't want his world sound. If ya like Graceland put on "Rhymin' Simon" and think about it as a masterful American document. If you can't dig it I feel bad for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wetJO7SkMs