CD Review: Paul Simon

So Beautiful or So What (Hear/Concord)

Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 4:00 am

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Paul Simon has always been a restless artist, going all the way back to "Cecilia." But his excursions over the past 15 years — including a Broadway musical and a collaboration with Brian Eno — were misguided and not very memorable. So Beautiful or So What, his first album in five years, skips any sort of big concept, keeps the focus on songs, and turns out to be his best work in 20 years. And it all indeed comes down to the songs. "Getting Ready for Christmas Day," "The Afterlife," and "Love Is Eternal Sacred Light" are based on relatively unfussy songwriting models. Of course, Simon can't help but sprinkle some cuts with subtle samples or global ornaments. But they're mere decoration on songs that don't really need them. — Gallucci