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January 29, 2011

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Paul Simon has given his new album a name and release date and says he’s making music the way he once did in the ’70s – by simply sitting down with a guitar and seeing what happens.

Due in stores this April; So Beautiful or So What will include 10 tracks and is Simon’s first album since 2006’s Surprise.

“Since Graceland, I’ve always made the record based on either making the tracks or the percussion first,” Simon said. “This time the stimuli was a guitar in my lap. That takes me back to ‘Still Crazy After All These Years’ or ‘Something So Right.’”

In recent decades, Simon – a founding member of iconic ’60s duo Simon & Garfunkel – has taken his musical cues from world beats, beginning with 1986’s famous Graceland, which had its roots in South Africa.

always wished he would do an album with artie again ...

Paul Simon was my childhood hero. Everything from Simon and Garfunkel to Rhythym of the Saints was on constant repeat. I just thought he was brilliant, genius, beyond.

Then came "You're the One". Almost comically bad. "Pigs, Sheep, and Wolves", anyone? Get that wolf! Wasn't "The Teacher" about...a suicide cult, or something?

"Surprise" was almost worse - like warmed over David Gray, 7 years too late. "How Can You Live In the Northeast?" If the answer is infinite light, why do we sleep in the dark? Gee, I don't know Paul, why?

The track list for the new one looks like the funniest yet. I wonder how "Love is Eternal Sacred Light" sounds, followed by "Amulet". Oh, Paul.

Getting Ready for Christmas Day

The Afterlife

Dazzling Blue

Rewrite

Love and Hard Times

Love Is Eternal Sacred Light

Amulet

Questions for the Angels

Love and Blessings

So Beautiful or So What

The first solo albums he did were great. The year he won "Still Crazy After All These Years", he thanked Stevie Wonder for not putting a new album out (was in the middle of "Songs in the Key of Life").

The "Old Friends" live CD with S&G, they had recorded a song for it.

Paul's had a couple of projects that kind of backfired... "One Trick Pony" made him stick to music, and "The Capeman", which Marc Anthony worked on with him, was a Broadway flop.

"Hearts and Bones" was supposed to be a Simon and Garfunkel album, and I think there's bootlegs with Art singing a couple of songs. They get together and get to charge the fans hundreds of dollars. Or you can see them individually for much less.

But there's def. a lot of good S&G bootlegs and demos.

And rest assured, he'll be on SNL this season. I think he has the record for most appearances with Steve Martin and Tom Hanks, and I think Alec Baldwin.

Video: Paul Simon Gets Ba...n New Disc