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.
"Rhymin Simon" is a great album cgod, I agree. While my passion for Paul's work doesn't end, I can see where you are coming from especially when you write Thanks for the link, I enjoyed starting my day out with this one. "One man ceiling is another man's floor". -The guy is such a masterful lyricist.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.
One thing I've always taken issue with is when people say Paul "discovered" these rhythms, musicians and styles. They usually do so in a way that is vague and could mean discovered for himself or for all of mankind. The latter is ridiculous.
Thanks for the suggestion - I found "Rhymin' Simon" on Freegal (library download service), so I'll grab it legally, at a rate of three tracks per week. I love all the old Simon & Garfunkel stuff (but don't own any). I still like "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints"; but I think in spite of (not because of) the 'world-music' focus. The dude just knows how to put a song together.