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Hearts and Bones by: Paul Simon

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Average rating -

Rating: - A Music Fan from London, England

Despite that other people say that Hearts & Bones is a good album, virtually all Paul Simon fans realise that it's obviously Paul's auto-biograpical album. And so, yes, the album does contain several good songs, such as the title track of "Hearts & Bones", "Think Too Much(b)", "Song About The Moon", "Rene & Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War" and "Train In The Distance". It's very useful for me to listen to for when I've had a hard day at work.

Rating: - Excellent

Whilst not a great fan of Graceland, to me, this is a masterful piece of music. The lyrics are excellent with an incredible amount of longing, passion, soul and heart poured into each song. To me, and this is only personal, this is Paul Simons best ever album, far surpassing Graceland and desrved to be a hit originally and should be in very music lovers collection.
as I said, excellent!!

Rating: - Unusual but absorbing

Anyone who expects this album to be as accessible as Graceland is missing the point (though you can hear the first glimmers of Graceland in some of the drum and vocal arrangements). These songs were written from a personal viewpoint, not a commercial one.

Particularly touching is Think Too Much part B, which sees a fragile Paul Simon trying to piece his life together following part A. There are also upbeat songs, like Allergies (with a guitar solo by Al DiMeola) and the bouncy Cars Are Cars.

There are four standout tracks. The jazzy Train In The Distance studies the life and death of a romance, Magritte is warm and suitably surreal, and Hearts And Bones is an utterly stunning journey through the deserts of New Mexico. The most haunting song, Johnny Ace, closes the album with a chilling vivaldi-esque orchestral piece.

By the way, is that a sheep in the background of Think Too Much (B)?

Rating: - A veritable masterpiece. A must for any music lover.

Perhaps not the most obvious choice of Paul Simon album, however, Hearts and Bones contains some of his finest work to date. Initially intended as a joint Simon & Garfunkel venture, to be delivered in the wake of their triumphant reunion concert in 1981, Simon considered the songs too personal, the subject matter too delicate, to be performed by another voice. The result is an album both lyrically and melodiously evocative, steeped in melancholy. Critically acclaimed, but a poor commercial success, Hearts & Bones effortlessly splices Simons' trademark folk-pop sensibilities with multi-layered compositions so evident in Gracelands and The Rhythm of the Saints, demonstrating an ever-developing maturity in his writing. Tracks such as 'Hearts & Bones', 'Think Too Much' and 'Train in the Distance' map out beautifully the emotional journey Simon was travelling at the time of writing. The up beat 'Allergies' delivers a very definite cry for help, where as the brilliant 'Late Great Johnny Ace' pays quiet tribute to the baseball star and John Lennon. Whilst delightfully original in their composition, each track in turn, has the ability to transport the listener into Simons' psyche. This unhappy time in his life is laid bare before us, and left open to scrutiny in a very honest and humble manner. The articulate emotional and geographical imagery presents the listener with an album of breathtaking depth and quality. Hearts and Bones creates a narrative voice which guides us through this sad piece of work, layered with contemplation, regret, tribute and consideration. Simon states that "Maybe I think too much". On the contrary, Hearts and Bones is a rare poetic treat, which deserves a cherished place in any collection.

Rating: - Under-rated but Magnificent

I have given this CD as a gift at least a dozen times. It is under-rated and under-played. I believe this is the single finest example of Simon's genius as a composer and lyricist -- Not only that, but the albumn taken as a whole is a seamless and fluid production, best listened to sequentially. The right brain - left brain versions of "Maybe I think too Much" are best appreciated on headsets. Buy this. Love it. Give copies to your friends.

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