RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL    

June 2, 2006

Paul Simon: "Surprise" 

3 stars out of 4

Surprise indeed! What is Paul Simon doing adding electronic machines, sound effects and the occasional fuzzy guitar to his normally un-techno music? Whatever comes to mind, it seems. This new disc at first dumps into the ears a hodgepodge of sounds, thanks mainly to the varied atmospheric stylings of collaborator Brian Eno. It's an eclectic something that, except in the cadences of Simon's voice and the vivid nature of his songwriting, resembles nothing he has done before. After a couple listens, the jumble begins to coalesce into something sturdy and consistent, abundant in texture both aural and emotional. Often just beautiful.

Simon doesn't always seem at home, but he sounds comfortable as he sings with fresh candor about fate, family, fears, workaday blues, war, God and personal shortcomings. It's a meditative album, reflecting on the changes of life with its simple joys ("Little kid dancin' in the grass, legs like a rubber band/ It's summertime, summertime. There's a line at the candy stand") and deepest spiritual aspirations ("You cannot walk with the holy if you're just a halfway decent man ... I'm trying to tap into some wisdom. Even a little drop will do").

-- Jeff Gifford