From Amazon.co.uk
The manner in which a superstar responds to a setback says a great deal about the artist. Some choose to conclude that the world is simply off its orbit and they're the only ones who've noticed. Others cower in semi-retirement and never again climb to great heights. And another bunch go back to what brung 'em, which is the route Paul Simon has opted to take with his first outing since his misbegotten Broadway debut,
Capeman. The title says it all.
You're The One is as understated as they come; this time out, Simon is a singer-songwriter, not a composer. As such,
You're The One is more reminiscent of initial insular post-
Simon & Garfunkel albums like
There Goes Rhymin' Simon and
Still Crazy After All These Years than the expansive
Graceland. With no new lands to conquer, Simon has fashioned a collection whose appeal lies with its 11 crafty, catchy tunes, all of which are delivered with spirit and wit, particularly on the character-driven likes of "Pigs, Sheep and Wolves", "Darling Lorraine", and "Old". The lesson is that you don't need to make a Broadway production of life's little joys and heartaches; they fit quite nicely into a four-minute song.
--Steven Stolder
Chronique amazon.fr
Après l'Afrique du Sud (
Graceland), le Brésil (
Rhythm Of The Saints) et Puerto Rico (
The Capeman), Paul Simon revient à la chanson traditionnelle américaine. C'est d'ici que je viens, chante-t-il dans la première chanson "That's Where I Belong". Plus loin, dans "Old" il se rappelle Buddy Holly et les Stones. Il rentre néanmoins transformé de ses explorations des musiques du monde, il en a gardé un swing aérien et sensuel qui évoque la côte Ouest de l'Afrique ("Look At That") et une gravité digne des plus belles ballades irlandaises ("Quiet"). Ce disque rappelle ses grands disques en solo comme
Still Crazy After All These Years, les thèmes les plus variés y sont abordés avec une intelligence et une sensibilité exemplaires, comme le prouve "Sweet Lorraine" qui raconte un amour conjugal de la première rencontre à la mort et "Pigs, Sheep And Wolves", une charge satirique et bienvenue contre la peine capitale.
--Hubert Deshouse
~ Paul Simon
~ Paul Simon
