CD Review

The Paul Simon Songbook stands as a time capsule of Simon’s time in England after the initial failure of the Simon and Garfunkel debut, Wednesday Morning 3 AM. Simon went across the pond to try and hone his skills as a solo artist and gained much popularity while performing on the folk circuit. The increase in celebrity demanded a Paul Simon solo album, which was quickly recorded, and until the recent re-release, was only available in the UK.

The track list is a mix of songs from S&G’s first album and newer songs that he had been writing during his time in England. What strikes you first about this album is the absence of Art Garfunkel’s harmony. S&G classics like "I Am A Rock," "Kathy’s Song" and "The Sound of Silence" take on a new life without Garfunkel’s falsetto sung over them. "The Sound of Silence" is sped up and feels like an angry folk protest. Simon’s baritone on "I Am A Rock" makes the song sound even more personal with him singing it solo. The entire collection has a folk-revival sound, but you can feel Simon’s songwriting leaning towards the more folk-pop style that would propel S&G into stardom.

The production is sparse and Simon’s voice sounds almost echo-y at times. It’s as if they threw him in a cavernous studio with his guitar and had him play - giving the album a demo-like feel. Most of these songs would resurface again on S&G’s next two albums, Sound of Silence and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary &Thyme serving as a testament to Simon’s time in England.

Paul Simon Songbook is more of a historical timepiece, than an essential album. So be forewarned if you’re expecting something similiar to his more familiar solo albums of the 1970s, as you’re not going to find it here. This one might be more for the hardcore devotee than the casual fan.