16. You’re the One Paul Simon

BIG Paul Simon fan. BIG. Was before this came out. He’s my hero, really. What catalogue of music he’s created.

“Somewhere… in a burst of glory… sound becomes a song”

When I got this disc, I was working on a project at Reba’s Starstruck Studio in Nashville. I was always there early, so I decided to give it a whirl on the magnificent custom studio monitors. When the 2^nd track “Darling Loraine” was over, I was slumped forward in the chair, amazed by what I’d just heard.

This album IMO is the finest creation in the entire Paul Simon catalogue.

The quality of sound is amazing. I had no idea a 16 bit disc could sound as good.

The production is amazing… not a hair out of place on the entire record. The imaging (stereo spectrum, for you non engineer types) is spectacular. If a shaker part begins, it is the clearest sounding shaker you’ve ever heard. You can practically reach out and touch it.

Electric guitar, and bass as the only electric instruments. Everything else is natural. Pump organs, accordion, percussion, sound effects of all kinds, all natural. It’s a magnificent production. A must for any drummer or percussionist for sure…

But what is strongest about YTO are the SONGS…. No one puts real life and love into songs like Paul does.

the opener "that's where I belong"... it's just sublime. “Darlin’ Loraine” is major event. “Pigs Sheep and Wolves” is an astounding political/social/media commentary, and “Getting Old” is just… cute. Really. And the title track perfectly describes blame, in musical form.

It has a couple of bizarre moments too. For “the teacher” there is a (wonderfully) odd revelation style lyric over a very ethereal sonic background. The song becomes more of a word picture than a story towards the end. The album end with “Quiet”, a meditative warning about the dangers of money, and the cares of this earth. “handcuffs on the soul… and worse…” , as he so eloquently puts it.

As with most PS music, this collection is very different than any music out there.

He’s a genre unto himself.

“YTO” is a complete thought on life, love, and spirituality, with moments of humor that Paul just can’t seem to help sprinkle on even his most serious of songs.

Equally as amazing, but almost completely electronic, is the follow-up CD “Surprise”. If you don’t own these 2 cds, you’re missing out on some of the best music done in the last 10 years.

  ¶ 7:41 AM