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Isbjørn · 12-18-2014, 08:22 AM

Briks' exploration of folk music

Artist: Simon and Garfunkel
Album: Sounds of Silence
Year: 1966
Genre: Folk pop

Alright, this is one I've known and loved for some time. It used to be on regular rotation in my family's car (until the disc disappeared, poof). And of course I love it. How can one not dig the beautiful vocal harmonies on "The Sound of Silence"? Or the exquisitely fingerpicked guitar on "Kathy's Song"? Or the rockier moments, such as "We've Got a Groove Thing Goin'" or "I Am a Rock"? The lyrics aren't half bad either. "Richard Cory" is about a man who covets his employer's wealth, even though he commits suicide. The man would rather be suicidal, or even dead, than poverty-stricken. The topic of suicide is also covered on the song "A Most Peculiar Man", about a person who is being judged by those around him for being shy, which in turn makes him seclude himself further. He kills himself, but even then, people don't stop their judgement:

"And all the people said, "What a shame that he's dead,
But wasn't he a most peculiar man?"

Apparently, the man is peculiar, and there's no way around it. I don't think there's anything I don't like about this album. The status as a classic is deserved.

4.5/5

12-18-2014, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Briks' exploration of folk music Artist: Simon and Garfunkel Album: Sounds of Silence Year: 1966 Genre: Folk pop Alright, this is one I've known and loved for some time. It used to be on regular rotation in my family's car (until the disc disappeared, poof). And of course I love it. How can one not dig the beautiful vocal harmonies on "The Sound of Silence"? Or the exquisitely fingerpicked guitar on "Kathy's Song"? Or the rockier moments, such as "We've Got a Groove Thing Goin'" or "I Am a Rock"? The lyrics aren't half bad either. "Richard Cory" is about a man who covets his employer's wealth, even though he commits suicide. The man would rather be suicidal, or even dead, than poverty-stricken. The topic of suicide is also covered on the song "A Most Peculiar Man", about a person who is being judged by those around him for being shy, which in turn makes him seclude himself further. He kills himself, but even then, people don't stop their judgement: "And all the people said, "What a shame that he's dead, But wasn't he a most peculiar man?" Apparently, the man is peculiar, and there's no way around it. I don't think there's anything I don't like about this album. The status as a classic is deserved. 4.5/5 __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal