Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL - BOOKENDS

6/10/21

RATING: 10/10

As a freshly graduated, spanking new, straight-out-of-school reviewer, I can conclusively say that the hardest thing about reviews is beginning them. I spent a solid ten minutes of my precious time sitting here thinking about the first sentence of this review until I settled on a sentence about how hard this process was.

There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

I thought I'd start off this site with a review of my favourite Simon and Garfunkel albums, the wonderful Bookends. I feel like this is one of the only two S+G albums (and, more broadly, Paul Simon albums) where Paul Simon's talent is realised and consistent, the other one being this album's successor: the lush, beautiful Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Wednesday Morning, 3am is fine, but too full of folk classics instead of Paul Simon originals. Sounds of Silence is fun but too much of it feels rushed off to get an album out. Bridge Over Troubled Water, often considered the duo's masterpiece, has a bunch of sub-par, overlong tracks overshadowed by a spectacular title song and "The Boxer".

Paul Simon's spotty solo career is full of inconsequential, melodyless, dull songs that are only a shadow of his 60s brilliance. Sure, there are highlights here and there, but whenever I listen to solo Paul Simon, most of the time I wish I was listening to S+G instead.

So, enough ramblings. Let's get into the album.

The first side of the album is a loose concept album. Each of the songs is a snapshot in life. It opens with the 30-second instrumental "Bookends". It's a nice opener and lulls you into a false sense of security before the giant first note of "Save the Life of my Child" on the moog whacks you on the head to remind you that life isn't all pretty guitar instrumentals.. This is a track about a boy attempting to commit suicide and the reactions of those around him. The frantic atmosphere of the track is perfectly conveyed by the instrumentation. It's one of S+G's best productions. I love the sound collage in the middle, it really elevates the track. Lyrically, it's a wry social observation by Paul Simon. A great track and a great start to the album.

As if it weren't already hard enough to top "Save the Life of my Child", my personal favourite track on the album, "America", follows. It's a song of excitement and searching for something that perhaps isn't really there, at least not in the form that the fictional couple think of it. A fantastic melody; beautiful, insightful lyrics; brilliant instrumentation. Just an exquisite track. 

The track that follows "Overs" is another great composition from Paul Simon. The lyrics describe a man who keeps trying to end a relationship that he is too attached too to leave. The melody isn't quite as good here, perhaps, but a really nice, pretty, track.

I've read that people think "Voices of Old People" is a weakness on the album, and while I can understand why one might not like it, I feel it plays an important role in the album's concept and I find the lyrics quite profound in a study of old age. Plus, it only goes for two minutes. Not a track I would listen too outside of the album, but a great track nonetheless and works well in the context of the album.

"Old Friends" is another highlight on an album full to the brim of them. Here the composition is not only beautiful and poignant, it is assisted by a fantastic string arrangement. This track makes me emotional every time, without fail. The lyrics describe two old people's realisation that time is slipping away from them, and they are written beautifully. The vocals on this track are also gorgeous. 

"Old Friends" transitions into a reprise of "Bookends" via a high string note. This time around it has lyrics and goes for a minute longer. The lyrics seem to be a recollection of a long life and the sad fact after all the characters have gone through all that remains are their memories. A beautiful and sadly smiling end to a fantastic side.

The second side abandons the ageing concept completely in favour of compiling various singles released by the duo. The first track "Fakin' It" was originally released in mid-67, and I really like this one. It's a fun song, with a great catchy chorus and some fun lyrics that could be interpreted various different ways. 

The next track, "Punky's Dilemma", conveys extremely effectively the theme of a man carelessly daydreaming. The tune is great here, and the lyrics, while oblique, work well with the meandering melody and the fantastic vocal delivery.

Next is a classic, and a deserving one at that. "Mrs Robinson" went to no 1 for three weeks in 1968 and it's easy to see why. A fantastic melody, great harmonies, lyrics that say more than they appear to. "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you" they sing, a cry for a strong leader in the tumultuous year that was 1968. Everybody knows this song, and I'm going to have it stuck in my head for a week because of this review. The sacrifices I make... 

After that comes one of the hardest rocking S+G songs (which is not saying much) "A Hazy Shade of Winter". This one is really cool, I think it makes a nice change from the standard fare from the duo. It was a single in late 1966 and I don't know how it wasn't more successful. That's ok though, it works great on the album and gives a nice change of pace.

The final track on the album is "At the Zoo". This one I love. A great melody, and hilarious lyrics. A great ending to the album as well. The stereo mixing is great on the track as well. 

So, final thoughts. The album is fantastic, full of top-quality Paul Simon songs, great performances and instrumentation, and it's a concept album that doesn't suck for once.