Paul
Simon
Graceland
Genre: World Music, Rock, Pop
Today I going to review one of the albums that really defined me as a musician
that made me gravitate to play the bass thanks to Kumalo's incredible playing
and his crazy bass lines where one of the
reasons I tore the frets of my base to learn how to play these songs. This album was part of the sound track to my childhood my parents just loved to
put it on at any moment they could, and every time I listen to it now it just brings back tons of great
memories, so if you haven't listen to this album do not waste time stop reading this review and get your
hand on it.
Now as a listener you must know some of the back story to this album, Paul Simon was
sort of down on his luck so he went to south Africa to get musical inspiration for
his next album and he just indulged in their rich culture, and this acted as the creative
motor to this incredible album, that introduces many people for the first time
to African style of playing of music which incredibly refreshing because the
way the approach rhythm is very interesting for a person lucking
for something new but accessible.
Vocals and Lyrics: Simon is a great singer and lyrically few people can compete
with his poetic execution but the backing vocals with
Ladysmith Black Mambazo vocal
group almost steals the show in this album they take center stage like on "Diamond
on the Soles of her Shoes" and "Homeless" are incredibly interesting
how Simon integrates them with their traditional African style
of singing into traditional pop song, wow. 12
Instrumentation:
Guitar: Atypical
African style guitar playing, super cool, being played by the south
African Ray Phiri, and to my surprise
Adrain Belew from King Crimson plays on half of the album.
Bass: Boy in a Bubble
has a sick bass line, I just love it, South African Bakithi Kumalo that plays
a fretless bass and plays on most of the track and executes some super interesting arrangements and fills.
Drums: Man rhythmically it's very very interesting 8
Melody and/or
Structure: Interesting in the different way Simon uses of melody.10
Sound, Production and Feeling: The album
just oozes good vibes it literally makes you smile and it sound super 80's but
in a good way. 10
Songs: It's a classic album so its good from front to back 11
Originality: This album defines
an era and a generation "You call me Al", is one of the definitive 80's songs that ended up to be timeless, just go see the video with Chevy Chase it's
still funny as hell. 12
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