Paul Simon, one half of the legendary singing duo named Simon and Garfunkel, has come back with his first original solo album since 2011. The influential musician has produced record-breaking music since the 1960s, and is not ready to stop at 75 years old. With his newest album “Stranger to Stranger,” released in June of this year, Simon is proving he can still live up to his iconic reputation.
The duo of Simon and Garfunkel received plenty of accolades during their time composing music together, but Simon was able to reach success on his own as well. After the break-up of the band just at the peak of their career in 1970, Simon continued his musical composition and went on to become a solo artist.
Previous solo album “Graceland,” was a Grammy-winner and clearly captured the attention and appreciation of listeners all over the world. “Graceland” fell in a stack of many other albums and songs that would reach groundbreaking levels of success. Among over 25 other albums, sits Simon’s newest work “Stranger to Stranger” which has not left fans disappointed.
Simon is famously known for his poetic ability that he expresses through his music, and “Stranger to Stranger” is no exception in his lyrical mastery. It features 11 tracks of original music produced by Simon himself among others. The track list contains Simon’s timeless sound and meaningful lyrics while still maintaining a modern twist.
The upbeat song “Wristband” is one that helps to complete the modern, light-hearted side of the album. The funky and jazz-sounding tune tells the importance of needing a wristband in the world of show business. Another new sound Simon has adopted belongs to the song “Cool Papa Bell” which is unique in both sound and lyric. It manages to maintain a soft yet energetic beat, and even uses harsh language, which has been uncommon for the artist. The song which gave the album its name, “Stranger to Stranger” is another one that proves Simon really is not a “One-Trick Pony” with its unique and unrecognizable beat.
While Simon is able to bring new-sounding pieces to the table, he does not shy away from his classic music that has captured fans’ support for years. Each song has underlying tones that have made Simon iconic since his time in the 1960s with Simon and Garfunkel. Listeners all across the board are impressed with the maintenance of his voice, and his creativity that has not dwindled down.
The catchiness of these new tracks is not all that set them apart. With further listening it is evident Simon tells a different story in each individual song. Much thought and attention has been put into each of them, creating what fans are saying to be one of his best pieces since the success of “Graceland” in 1986. “Stranger to Stranger” overall proves that Simon has not lost his poetic and rhythmic mastery, and can still push the boundaries of music after decades of producing it.
