# Seven Psalms (New Paul Simon album) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 22, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429 "2023-05-22T16:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/21 "2023-05-27T01:35:06Z")
I’m a big fan of Paul Simon, but mostly the older stuff – he produced fantastic albums both on this own and with Garfunkel. But at risk of revealing myself as a music ignoramus, which perhaps I am, I think Simon reached the pinnacle of achievement with _Graceland_, and I’m not especially fond of much that came later. I did give _Seven Psalms_ a listen, and also _Rhythm of the Saints_, and now I’m back to listening to _Graceland_. Simon himself described it in a very understated fashion as a very successful collaboration; it was in fact an enormous achievement that benefited everyone, including the African artists and the entire music community. Those whining about “cultural appropriation” don’t have a clue about the greatness that Simon achieved, to the benefit of all. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2023, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/22 "2023-05-27T03:17:47Z")
Graceland is an all-time great album. People keep raving about RotS and I keep giving it a listen, but I can’t get into it. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/23 "2023-05-29T04:07:42Z")
Rhythm of the Saints has some good songs, but overall it feels samey samey to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/24 "2023-06-06T22:36:58Z")
I’ve listened to _Seven Psalms_ several times. It’s got good bones, but feels unfinished. It’s like listening to demo tracks or some rambling muse. So, appreciated, but not his best work. I went through _Graceland_ and _Rhythm of the Saints_ again as well. They hold up better. Even the extra tracks on on _Graceland_ are better than _Seven Psalms_. I could listen to the alternate version of “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” on a loop for hours with its bass counter-melody. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/25 "2023-07-18T12:15:45Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > But I could tell that Makeba, Masekela, and Ladysmith were accomplished musicians, clearly no strangers to performing for large crowds; I assumed they were established stars in South Africa thats the understatment of the year… Miriam Makeba was already Guest _Star_ on Harry Bellafonte’s **1960** Return to Carnegy Hall, … when Paul Simon was still in shorts. having a world hit in ´67 (even she recorded the song in the late 50ies) SNIPED !!! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/26 "2023-07-18T12:21:36Z")
Great … so now we have the holy trifecta of **“I am dying”** records. With - Leonard Cohens “You want it darker” ranking highest, - David Bowie’s Darkstar 2nd (and huge kudos for being innovative until the end) … - and now Paul oddly enough, all 3 of which share “intimate and audiophile” recording/production … ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/27 "2023-07-18T13:10:56Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I could listen to the alternate version of “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” on a loop for hours with its bass counter-melody. Meant to come back with a link. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZrFad-viWqY/maxresdefault.jpg "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Alternate Unreleased Version - Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrFad-viWqY) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429/28 "2023-07-18T16:05:23Z")
I am a huge Paul Simon fan, including most of his Garfunkel days. In addition to being a skilled musician he is usually has among the best lyrics of anyone. I don’t get that from this album at all. It’s worse to than _Wednesday morning 3 a.m._. I don’t mind singers trying something new musically though I don’t think it works really well. I don’t mind mopey or contemplation. But reading the lyrics on Spotify, where one has to download the album _en toto_, it almost sounds like he gave this job to chatbots. Way below his usual standard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seven-psalms-new-paul-simon-album/984429.md?page=1)