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Rating: Good |
The Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" was released in April 1965. It quickly became a number one hit and helped popularize the folk-rock sound. Tom Wilson, who had produced Simon & Garfunkel's first album, had an idea while listening to this song.
His inspiration led to the birth of a legendary career. Wilson took an obscure Paul Simon acoustic folk tune from the 'Wednesday Morning 3 AM' album and added electric guitar, bass, and drums. These additions resulted in the number-one song, "The Sounds of Silence," which became a number one hit. Simon and Garfunkel quickly returned to the studio to record their second album.
'Sounds of Silence' was supposed to be a commercial coming-out party for the duo and the transitional album of their career. They were now positioned between folk and pop, but more importantly, Paul Simon had begun writing the kind of songs that would propel him into the upper echelon of songwriters.
This release is driven by the two major and unforgettable singles that serve as bookends to the album. The lyrics of the title track are identical to every song produced at the time. Paul Simon emerges as a rare master storyteller of images and stories. It is also one of those rare songs that defines a period and time and is instantly recognizable from its opening notes. "I Am A Rock" continues this use of imagery. This sensitive and thoughtful song of loneliness is poetry set to music. The song's subtle up-tempo character only serves to heighten its impact.
Paul Simon doesn't completely abandon his folk roots. "Richard Corey" and "A Most Peculiar Man" are two of the darkest songs he would write, but they were musically upbeat enough to surprise the listener. "Richard Corey" is about a man who has everything and a man who works in a factory and hates his life. Yet, the man with the perfect life, who puts a bullet in his head, is something the other man can't understand. "A Most Peculiar Man" is a song about the life and death of a person who mattered nothing to anyone else.
"Kathy's Song" is one of the great forgotten songs from the Simon & Garfunkel catalog. This sensitive and thoughtful song of love and longing offers a deeply personal glimpse into Paul Simon's life.
There are several other highlights on the album. "We've Got A Groovy Thing Goin'" is as close to rock 'n' roll as the duo can get. "April Come She Will" is a short song in the folk tradition about the love of growing older with the seasons. "Blessed" is an early socially conscious song. Biblical imagery (the beatitudes) forms the lyrical foundation.
Sounds of Silence has held up well over the years and still sounds fresh, despite the fact that Simon & Garfunkel quickly overshadowed it with their future albums. Nevertheless, it remains a very good and relevant album.
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= Track List =
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