Saturday, November 19, 2011: Paul Simon - The Obvious Child

Paul Simon's Graceland is a masterpiece. And was widely recognized as such when it came out, a rarity that such greatness is acknowledged at it's release.

Another thing Graceland was: it was a hard act to follow.

Rhythm of the Saints wasn't the cultural juggernaut that Graceland was, "The Obvious Child", "Proof" and "Born at the Right Time" were were all released as singles, but all failed to reach the US top 40.

But, this album isn't about instantly infectious melodies and wildly popular rhythms, this album is about melodic layers of delicate exploration, this is about true insight from a master wordsmith, complexity masked as pop music.

Rhythm Of The Saints doesn't generate the happy, upbeat mood that Graceland did, the pounding Latin drums of today's CSOTD selection providing the sole exception. ROTS is almost a tone poem about maturity and responsibility overlaid against an artist's stretching and expanding musical canvas.

Yes, gentle reader, it is that good.

If you don't have this album, please do yourself a favor and get it now.

You will not be disappointed.