Originally published by L.S. Media. June 14th 2011.

For the last two months American audiences have been able to appraise Paul Simon’s new album So Beautiful or So What and give it a huge ringing endorsement that has seen it climb as high as number four in the fabled Billboard Charts. British audiences however have had to wait till the middle of June before being able to hear what the fuss was about, however, this once it was worth the long and agonising wait.

The album opens with the clever use of sampling of the 1941 sermon by the Rev. J. M. Gates, titled Getting Ready for Christmas Day. Paul draws heavily of the thoughts of those who never make it back for Christmas whether they are fighting abroad in the name of peace or simply stuck in another city. The resonance of how we feel when those that should be with us are far from home is moving and Paul captures it perfectly, using the sample of Rev. J. M. Gates offers the listener a touch of the spiritual which further enhances the song.

Throughout the album there are nods and allusions to his varied and eclectic styles. Never one to stand still and exploit a genre till it becomes languid and boring, Paul Simon has ingeniously given his fans an album that threads all his styles together and the result on songs such as the upbeat Rewrite and the stunning Questions for the Angels is almost perfect in their simplicity.

It always seems possible to imagine Paul Simon hunched over his guitar, sweating over each individual word and chord, such his stock in trade that no matter how heavy the message or bitter the sentiment within the story, he does it with a joyful bounce in his musical step. It is no wonder that the man’s career has survived and endured so well.

So Beautiful or So What should be considered amongst the very highs of Paul Simon’s long and illustrious career, and should be seen as his best piece of work since Graceland 25 years ago. So Beautiful or So What is compelling and tantalising and very Paul Simon.

4 stars

Ian D. Hall