Throwback Thursday: 1991

10. Paul Simon - Rhythm of the Saints

     1. The Obvious Child

   
     2. Can't Run But
     3. The Coast
     4. Proof
     5. Further to Fly
     6. Shem Moves On
     7. Born at the Right Time
     8. The Cool, Cool River
     9. Spirit Voices
   10. The Rhythm of the Saints

I don't know very much about this album, but I wanted to feature it here because I feel like I've never given it a fair shake. You see, when I would visit my dad and stepmom in Boston, I would occasionally want to listen to "You Can Call Me Al" from Graceland, but they didn't have that album. They HAD had it on vinyl, but I was seeking it in the mid- to late-90's when their vinyl was gone (It took up a LOT of space). What they did have, was a copy of this album on cassette. And so this album has always reminded me of disappointment and second-bestness. But from what I've heard, it sounds pretty fantastic. Maybe it is second best to Graceland, but that's still pretty great.

9. Wilson Phillips - Wilson Phillips
8. AC/DC - The Razor's Edge
7. Bette Midler - Some People's Lives
6. Whitney Houston - I'm Your Baby Tonight
5. M.C. Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
4. The Simpsons - The Simpsons Sing the Blues
3. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
2. Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey
1. Vanilla Ice - To the Extreme

One Year, 100 Albums: #12 Paul Simon "Graceland"

Paul Simon Graceland, 1986

For a long time, this album was kind of the Holy Grail of music. I knew that I liked "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" from when my Dad played it for me as a kid. I had seen the video for "You Can Call Me Al" with Chevy Chase and thought it was hilarious. But I didn't know anyone who had it and I had never seen it in a store.

I don't know when I finally tracked it down, but it may have been as part of my ongoing project to listen to all the Grammy winners for Album of the Year from my birth to present (I have similar projects with Best Picture and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winners).

I don't remember my reaction when I first listened to it, but over the years, it has become clear that it is one of the all-time greats. I believe there was some hubbub about him working with South Africans during Apartheid or something, but I don't think that's something people generally think of anymore. Am I wrong?

The album is all over the place in terms of genre, but I think that it traces a clear line between the roots of rhythmic music in Africa, through the titular home of Elvis, and eventually settles in New Orleans for songs like "That Was Your Mother". It's a fun way to think about the album.

But no matter how you think about the album, it's worth it to check out the whole thing. If you ask me, this was the peak of Paul Simon's solo career.

Paul Simon - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Paul Simon - That Was Your Mother

You can buy Graceland at Amazon, Amazon MP3, and iTunes

New Countdown: 50% MORE CONTENT!

It's the longest episode in 3 months. It has 5 bonus songs. And I loved every minute of it. I feel like we're in the midst of hearing "the sound of 2013 in alternative music," but it won't become evident what exactly that sound consists of for a while yet. I'm happy to just sit back and enjoy the tunes.

I hope you'll join me.

On a related note, 1/5 of the podcast is dedicated to Father's Day, so I just wanted to wish all the Dads out there a happy one and I hope you celebrate it in a way that makes you happy and that you know how valuable a good Dad is in a kid's life.

Countdown #155

***Featuring***
alt-J
Arcade Fire
Beastie Boys
Capital Cities
Fall Out Boy
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
Muse
The Neighbourhood
New Politics
Of Monsters and Men
Paul Simon
The Soggy Bottom Boys
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Yellowcard