At
the same time, they don't want repeat themselves ad nauseum and dissolve into
self-parody, like some of their peers. (...)JERUSALEM POST
June 13, 2006
Paul Simon: Surprise
By DAVID BRINN
One of the biggest challenges facing some of rock's most fabled names is what to do with the rest of their lives. If you're The Rolling Stones, you're content to play the stadiums, rehash earlier triumphs with mediocre albums, and become the equivalent of an oldies act.
Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon are either smarter than the Stones, or they're realists. They know they're not likely to ever come up with another Born to Run, Tunnel of Love, Rhymin' Simon, or Graceland. So to their credit, they're not even attempting it.
At
the same time, they don't want repeat themselves ad nauseum and dissolve into
self-parody, like some of their peers. (...)
Paul Simon was certainly in need of some kind of inspiration. The last decade hasn't been too kind - with The Capeman, a Broadway flop, and his last underwhelming album of original material, You're The One.
So just like Bob Dylan turned to Daniel Lanois in 1988 to help midwife his then-comeback Oh Mercy, Simon has turned to an unlikely musical partner - no, not Art Garfunkel - but electronic music pioneer and U2 buddy Brian Eno.
No wonder he called the resultant album Surprise. It's still unmistakably Simon - thanks to his distinctive vocals and his usual incredibly literary and humorous lyrics. But just as Graceland drew upon an African pop musical influence to create a masterpiece, Surprise is awash in atmosphere, sonic textures and result in Simon's most modern sounding album.
A masterpiece it isn't, but Surprise is a solid Simon offering. It begins with a forceful, tough sounding "How Can You Live in the Northeast" that would sound natural on college radio.
In addition to commentary on aging baby boomers, Simon can still create universal songs that speak volumes. While some of the material suffers from over-verbiage at the expense of smart arrangements, Simon rebounds with the closing "Father and Daughter", the album's most straightforward pop song, and possibly its most touching.
Rather than retire to rocking chairs, both Simon and Springsteen are utilizing their undiminished talent to forge new directions in their music. Unlike their contemporary Neil Young's forewarning, they've neither burned out not faded away.