Search - Paul Simon :: Hearts & Bones (Mlps)

Unfairly Overlooked and Vastly Underrated Simon CD

Donald R. Labonte Jr. | WALES, WI USA | 02/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great Simon CD, yet it has been largely ignored by the public. Originally intended to be a Simon and Garfunkel project called "Think too Much," the duo performed several of these songs ( Allergies, Think too Much, Song about the Moon), on their 1983 tour. However, because so many of the songs are so personal, and relate to Simon's failing marriage to Carrie Fischer, Simon took Art's vocals off and the project became "Hearts and Bones".



This is not among Simon's more commercial products, but give it a chance, the songs are lyrically rich and will haunt you for days after listening. This is in spite of the melodies, which are not that catchy. I have most of Simon's solo work, and this is the one I come back to most often.



This remastered version sounds very good, and as the original release harkens from the dawn of the CD-era, is a vast improvement. If you have never heard this CD, give it a try. It's ths best Paul Simon CD you've never heard."

Half n' half. Half great, half middlin'

Eric J. Anderson | Ankeny, Iowa | 08/31/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's no getting around it. Paul Simon is one of the greatest pop music songwriters of the 20th century. I've been listening to his solo albums in chronological order, and the work is fantastic up through the underrated One Trick Pony (which has always been a favorite of mine). I have no complaint until we get to Hearts and Bones. I think I'm more critical of it now than when it was released. The strong material is as good as anything Simon ever wrote. The weak material seems much weaker to me in retrospect.



It is easy to skip the lesser tracks, and consider Hearts and Bones a fantastic EP. Allergies, Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance, Rene and Georgette Magritte, and The Late Great Johnny Ace are the ones to treasure. Simon displays his talent for melody, complex and interesting chord structures, and sublime lyrics. A tour-de-force of pop songwriting.



The rest is listenable, but well below the high standard Paul usually sets, and most of the time I skip the other tracks. Cars Are Cars is just silly. (Simon contributes vocals to Art Garfunkel's album Scissors Cut on a beautiful song titled In Cars, but I think that one was written by Jimmy Webb.) Maybe I Think Too Much is probably a true reflection of Mr. Simon, but the two versions of this tune aren't that much fun. Song About the Moon lopes along amiably enough, but a song about writing a song is a tricky thing, like a movie about making a movie. I don't find the song that clever.



The album's overall mood is a bit depressed, and I guess Paul must have been in a bit of a funk while writing it, emotionally (the wake of a failed marriage) and apparently physically (the song "allergies") -- though Simon didn't let these obstacles stop him from writing great music.



When Hearts and Bones is good, it is very, very good. The Rhino remastered CD is recommended for its sound quality. The extra bonus tracks are nothing to write home about. The earlier CD release without the bonus tracks would also be a good choice."

A must have in any Paul Simon collection

John Tabacco | Stony Brook, NY United States | 06/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Wherein we get as close to knowing the real Paul Simon as we're ever gonna get. An underrated masterpiece of honesty, wisdom, song craft and art. If you wanna write a song about the moon - think of Mr. Simon before you start.



The re-mastered version is a marked improvement in sound over the original cd release."