Customer Reviews

Hearts and Bones

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a great Simon CD, yet it has been largely ignored by the public. Originally intended to be a Simon and Garfunkel project called "Think too Much," the duo performed several of these songs ( Allergies, Think too Much, Song about the Moon), on their 1983 tour. However, because so many of the songs are so personal, and relate to Simon's failing marriage to Carrie Fischer, Simon took Art's vocals off and the project became "Hearts and Bones".

This is not among Simon's more commercial products, but give it a chance, the songs are lyrically rich and will haunt you for days after listening. This is in spite of the melodies, which are not that catchy. I have most of Simon's solo work, and this is the one I come back to most often.

This remastered version sounds very good, and as the original release harkens from the dawn of the CD-era, is a vast improvement. If you have never heard this CD, give it a try. It's ths best Paul Simon CD you've never heard.

Wherein we get as close to knowing the real Paul Simon as we're ever gonna get. An underrated masterpiece of honesty, wisdom, song craft and art. If you wanna write a song about the moon - think of Mr. Simon before you start.

The re-mastered version is a marked improvement in sound over the original cd release.

This album represents Paul Simon's work at his artistic peak, and with little attention paid to the commercial considerations. "Allergies" was the "hit" here, and it's a good song, but this is not an album propelled by the "hit." This is the story of a man on his life's journey, a few years before he became "soft in the middle now." The songs, to my ears, add up to a spiritual and emotional reassessment of where he's been: with "Allergies" he's realizing the consequences of his past choices, with "Hearts and Bones" and "Train In the Distance" he's chronicling and re-evaluating major relationships. And then there's the philosophical "Song About the Moon," which I think is the album's greatest track with its loving admonition to stop procrastinating. Simon went out on a limb with "Rene and Georgette Magritte" and "The Late Great Johnny Ace." These songs emerge from previously unchartered territory and are unlike any other songs in Simon's catalog (up to this point). When I listen to them, I think that Simon was trying to use the song form as a painter utilizes a blank canvas. The resulting works draw me in to the world Simon so aptly and skillfully creates. (But maybe I think too much...)

It's difficult to even quantify how underrated this album is. It's absolutely fantastic, and features the best and most haunting of all the John Lennon tribute songs, "The Late Great Johnny Ace." "Hearts and Bones," "Rene and Georgette Magritte," and "Train In the Distance" are also masterpieces. Though it didn't have the kind of cultural impact that "Graceland" did, I actually prefer this album, and this reissue has some great extra stuff on it. If you like anything you've ever heard by Paul Simon, this is worth having.

There's no getting around it. Paul Simon is one of the greatest pop music songwriters of the 20th century. I've been listening to his solo albums in chronological order, and the work is fantastic up through the underrated One Trick Pony (which has always been a favorite of mine). I have no complaint until we get to Hearts and Bones. I think I'm more critical of it now than when it was released. The strong material is as good as anything Simon ever wrote. The weak material seems much weaker to me in retrospect.

It is easy to skip the lesser tracks, and consider Hearts and Bones a fantastic EP. Allergies, Hearts and Bones, Train in the Distance, Rene and Georgette Magritte, and The Late Great Johnny Ace are the ones to treasure. Simon displays his talent for melody, complex and interesting chord structures, and sublime lyrics. A tour-de-force of pop songwriting.

The rest is listenable, but well below the high standard Paul usually sets, and most of the time I skip the other tracks. Cars Are Cars is just silly. (Simon contributes vocals to Art Garfunkel's album Scissors Cut on a beautiful song titled In Cars, but I think that one was written by Jimmy Webb.) Maybe I Think Too Much is probably a true reflection of Mr. Simon, but the two versions of this tune aren't that much fun. Song About the Moon lopes along amiably enough, but a song about writing a song is a tricky thing, like a movie about making a movie. I don't find the song that clever.

The album's overall mood is a bit depressed, and I guess Paul must have been in a bit of a funk while writing it, emotionally (the wake of a failed marriage) and apparently physically (the song "allergies") -- though Simon didn't let these obstacles stop him from writing great music.

When Hearts and Bones is good, it is very, very good. The Rhino remastered CD is recommended for its sound quality. The extra bonus tracks are nothing to write home about. The earlier CD release without the bonus tracks would also be a good choice.

I loved this album since the first day I heard it! Therefore it became one of the very few 5-star rated albums in my collection. Generally, I like Paul a lot, but this album really takes it to the top. Starting with "Allergies" including Al Di Meola's stunning half-acoustic guitar lines, to the haunting "Song About the Moon", then the driving (almost disco-esque) "Think Too Much" (listen to the sarcastic "Hm..." after 38 seconds!) which is clearly marked by Nile Rodger's unique rhythm' guitar, to the soulful "The Late Great Johnny Ace". Did you see Simon & Garfunkel's video of their concert in Central Park? Just as Paul sang this song, a fan jumped up on the stage, but was caught by a security guard before he could get to Paul? Wow. Lennon's murder, this track (actually about Lennon) and then this incident. These are the moments rock'n roll is made of. Many thought (and think) this album is too lame. Sure, it has broad moments which are quiete, but if you are a sensible person who can feel the power of good lyrics you will disagree. I disagree. I feel that this is one of the strongest offerings Paul Simon ever released. The songs have an unequivocal quality, both composition and production wise.

...What is the point of this story,
What information pertains,
the thought that life could be better
is woven indelibly
into our hearts
and our brains.

I first purchased this album when I was 15 years old and visiting France. I had just started playing acoustic guitar and learning all things Paul Simon but had no idea this album existed. It was all I listened to for the rest of my stay. Nearly 20 years later, I still love every song on this album...

Except for "Cars Are Cars" which I hereby state is the absolute worst Paul Simon song you will ever hear. Otherwise, this album is almost perfect. One of the most underrated -- and therefore most unheard of -- songs Simon ever wrote, "Song About The Moon", pops into my head more often than I care to admit. Originally, this was to be the Simon and Garfunkel reunion album, but at the last minute, Simon decided to remove Garfunkel and release it as a solo album. Does anyone know if the tapes still exist of Garfunkel singing on any of these songs?

I found out about this Paul Simon album thanks to a comment about it on a recent issue of Paste Magazine. Originally released in 1983, one can only think of Simon as a genius, when you realize that over 20 years later, his tunes still sound as fresh as the day they saw the light of day.

As it happens, this album (like several others through his career) was a major commercial flop. However, it's tough to disagree with the fact that the quality in the lyrics and the melodies is second to none and, indeed, among the best you may run into. Best examples of this are "Train In The Distance", "Rene and Georgette Magritte..." and "The Late Great Johnny Ace", where Simon collaborates with minimalist Philip Glass.

The remastered version will definitely resonate with fans, as it includes four tracks not present in the original recording, three of which happen to be the acoustic versions of the songs mentioned above. All in all, I am very happy to have unearthed this masterpiece!

I always champion the overlooked and/or underrated, and this album certainly qualifies. Paul Simon's 'coded' messages to ex Carrie Fisher make for a fascinating album with Paul's somewhat ethereal lyrics and flawless guitar playing (and great production). I bought this CD some time ago for "Late Great Johnny Ace" which, for me, was a standout at S & G's Concert in Central Park, and what I got was a nearly flawless album. My original copy was pretty beat up after many years, and I just got this edition with the 4 bonus tracks, which are worth the price of admission alone. If anyone doubts Simon's genius, listen to the acoustic demos of 'Train In the Distance', 'Rene and Georgia Magritte...' and 'Late Great Johnny Ace'. If you are a guitar fan, listen to Al Dimeola's quicksilver solo on 'Allergies'. Any which way, you can't go wrong.

Another sterling example of the superior songwriting skills of Paul Simon. Well, most of it anyway. There are four great songs on the CD- Allergies, Song about the Moon, Train in the distance and the incredible title track Hearts and Bones. If Stevie Wonder is the Irving Berlin of his generation for sheer prolificity then Paul is the Cole Porter of his for the pure sophistication of his melodies, chord changes and thoughtful, provacative seamlessly crafted sensitive lyrics.
The songwriters of today and most of yesterday couldn't lick Paul's boots.