Paul Simon

Graceland

Come to Graceland, You'll Keep Coming Back!

Review Score:

(10/10)
Hailed as a pinnacle of Paul Simon career, this 1986 album combined his stellar songwriting with influences of South African music. It won scores of Grammies and also in the recent Rolling Stone poll placed in the Top 100 of best albums in rock&roll history.

Grooves and hooks are played by such improbable instruments as accordion (witness the fantastic opener, "The Boy In The Bubble") and human voices (female choir on "I Know What I Know"). The unique vocal group Ladysmith Blackmambazo lends a gentle Zulu stamp on, for instance, the charming "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" and Linda Ronstadt offers tender guest vocals on "Under African Skies". Video fans will certainly remember the clip to "You Can Call Me Al", featuring Chevy Chase. The classic title track has a reference to American South, including Elvis and Mississippi delta, which highlights Simon as not focusing solely on one source of inspiration. "Gumboots" is the tune that kicked off the whole project. In fact, just the final two tracks have the bar dropped slightly from otherwise a jaw-dropping quality of the album, boasting also intellectually challenging, yet poetic, lyrics.

Carrying a significant socio-political accent -- at the time of release South Africa was still in the throes of institutionalised apartheid and as such boycotted by the world -- "Graceland" is a fabulous piece of 1980's culture and belongs to the cream the pop music has to offer. It will remain timeless. Consider buying it? Don't hesitate.

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