Paul Simon

Paul Simon: ‘YOU’RE THE ONE’

By Shawn Perry

Classic Rock

After tapping into the pulse of South African and Brazilian styles on ‘Graceland’ and ‘The rhythm of the saints’, and then mixing Latino doo-wop with conceptual fire on ‘Songs from The Capeman’ in 1997, Paul Simon assumes a more simple and reserved stance on his latest CD, ‘You’re the one’.

The essence behind this offering reaffirms the fact that, after all these crazy years, Simon stands head and shoulders above the rest as one of modern music’s quintessential songsmiths. Even with some exotic touches here and there, ‘You’re the one’ in an undemanding portrait of a man on the quest for self-discovery and redemption. After 12 albums, perhaps it’s high time Simon has fallen into a reflective state and exposed his innermost thoughts on record. With most artists, that seems to be par for the course.

The intimate and world-flavored ‘That’s where I belong’ sets the pace for an intrincate musical odyssey that ceaselessly weaves and flows. ‘Darling Lorraine’ is a dandy little romp, tactfully tapered by a spot of guitar sustain while ‘Old’ is a be-bopping poke at the aging process as it relates to someone of Simon’s generation. The jazzy strains carried by the Latin backbeats of the title track show that Simon doesn’t want to let go of the distinctive world-flavored gallop he adopted in the early ‘80s. You have to tip your hat to the flamenco flair of ‘Señorita with a necklace of tears’ that toots such optimistic lines as ‘That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way I like it’, while championing frogs as the cure for pain. Or the percussive sparseness swimming in an acoustic river in something like ‘Pigs, Sheep and Wolves’ or ‘Hurricane eye’. And then, as if to say goodbye, Simon asks for ‘Quiet’ while he settles into a solitary mood to finish off the CD.

Without the headiness or Artie Garfunkel taking up half the marquee, Paul Simon has delivered one of his most eloquent pieces of work in years. And while he dots the countryside with small and intimate performances, and prepares to be honoured as 2001 MusiCares Person of the Year, Simon can take comfort in knowing that his music is as timeless and valid as it was when it first burst onto the scene almost 40 years ago. That’s a track record anyone would be proud of.