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Simon, Paul - Surprise CD Cover Art
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Paul Simon Surprise CD

 Paul Simon Discography of CDs
4 stars (11 Customer Reviews)

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 Our Price: $9.99  CD
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Personnel: Paul Simon (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Paul Simon (vocals); Adrian Simon, Adriana Simon, Jessy Dixon Singers (vocals); Alex Al (bass instrument); Abraham Laboriel, Sr., Pino Palladino (bass guitar); Andy Smith (programming); Vincent Nguini (acoustic guitar); Bill Frisell (electric guitar); Herbie Hancock (piano); Gil Goldstein (harmonium, keyboards); Leo Abrahams (fretless bass); Robin Dimaggio, Steve Gadd (drums); Jamey Haddad (percussion); Brian Eno (electronics).
Audio Mixer: Tchad Blake.
Recording information: Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA; Clinton Studios, NY; Lansdowne Studios, London, England; Mayfair Studios, London, England; Ocean Way, Nashville, TN; Right Track Studios, NY; sony Studios, NY; the Hit Factory, NY.
Photographers: Paul Simon; Loreto Caceres; Charles Duke; Peter Zander; Foster Witt; Laurent Millet; Paul Treacy; Jason Todd; Erika Larsen; Geoff Spear; Michael Vitti.
As a master craftsman of song, Paul Simon takes his time between albums. SURPRISE arrived six years after its 2000 predecessor YOU'RE THE ONE, but proved to be well worth the wait. In the realization of a process that was already beginning on that earlier album, SURPRISE fully assimilates the international influences of GRACELAND and RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS into a style that's equally polyrhythmic yet indebted to no lone cultural tradition. It doesn't hurt that this is a historic collaboration with producer Brian Eno, who's been delving into pan-ethnic waters since 1981's MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS.
For his part, Eno adds more electronics to the mix than Simon has ever employed before, but like the former's trademark, they're of a warm, organic nature. Ultimately, they add as much propulsion to the tunes as Simon's world-music percussionists of yore did, and they're fully integrated with Simon's own graceful acoustic guitar patterns. A continually evolving artist, Simon leaves structural convention ever further behind; the vocal syncopations and poetic imagery are unmistakable, but they consistently flout expectation. Lyrically, SURPRISE makes its post-9/11 and post-Katrina allusions clearly but subtly, joining with the electro-acoustic musical approach in making this an album of, but not bound to, its time.
The obvious surprise of Surprise, Paul Simon's tenth solo album and his first since 2000's underrated You're the One, is that the singer/songwriter has enlisted Brian Eno as his collaborator. At first glance the pairing seems odd, even awkward, since they seem to come from opposing backgrounds: Simon the folk-rock troubadour and Eno the avant-garde art rock adventurist. Dig a little deeper, and the similarities do surface. For one, there is the mutual shared interest in world music -- most evident in Eno's productions/collaborations with Talking Heads at the turn of the '70s and on Simon's 1986 Graceland and its 1990 follow-up, The Rhythm of the Saints, but there are undercurrents running as far back as Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia." But more than any other singer/songwriter of his generation, Paul Simon has demonstrated a keen interest in having his albums sound unique and distinct from each other, using each album as an opportunity to explore a different sonic characteristic, so working with a sonic landscaper (as his back-cover credit on Surprise calls him) is not out of character. Similarly, Eno has not been entirely adverse to pop, either, as his ongoing collaboration with U2 proves, not to mention his productions for James or even the flamboyant pop of such early Roxy Music singles as "Virginia Plain." So, their collaboration here is unexpected, but not unnatural -- in fact, it's anything but unnatural, since Surprise is as seamless and graceful as Graceland, which it resembles greatly in how it blends a new sound with Simon's songs. But where Graceland found Simon writing around existing rhythm tracks, the opposite is true here: Eno fills in the space behind songs, creating an evocative,Rolling Stone (p.229) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Eno outfits some of Simons' most elegant songs with spacey accouterments..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.75) - "[W]ith moments of stellar songwriting....Eno finds a smart way to accent Simon's worry lines." -- Grade: A-
Q (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Eno's washes of sound are present and correct. He also appears to have given Simon's still bittersweet voice a deeper, warmer timbre."
Q (p.123) - Ranked #32 in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of 2006" -- "A timely reminder of the power of thinking; positive or otherwise."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.100) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Though couched in arrangements that sometimes camouflage their immediacy, the tunes are dependably strong."
Surprise Music


Detailed Surprise Music Information



List Price $13.98 (You save $3.99)
Category Rock/Pop Albums, Pop CDs, Singer/Songwriter, Rock
Label Warner Bros. (Record Label)
Orig Year 2006
All Time Sales Rank   5917  
CD Universe Part number 7057667
Catalog number 49982
Discs 1
Release Date May 09, 2006
Studio/Live Studio
Mono/Stereo Stereo
Producer Paul Simon
Personnel Herbie Hancock - piano
Steve Gadd - drums
Steve Gadd - drums
Brian Eno - electronics
Abraham Laboriel
Pino Palladino - bass guitar
Alex Al - bass instrument
Paul Simon - vocals, guitar
Bill Frisell - electric guitar
Gil Goldstein - harmonium, keyboards

List all 15 contributors
Paul Simon Surprise Songs


Paul Simon Surprise Album Track Listing



Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample1.How Can You Live in the Northeast  $0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample2.Everything About It Is a Love Song$0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample3.Outrageous  $0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample4.Sure Don't Feel Like Love  $0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample5.Wartime Prayers$0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample6.Beautiful  $0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample7.I Don't Believe$0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample8.Another Galaxy  $0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample9.Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean$0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample10.That's Me$0.99
Windows MediaWindows MediaRealAudio MediaRealAudio MediaMP3 Track Sample11.Father and Daughter$0.99

Surprise Music


Surprise Other Versions



Surprise Music Review


Customer Surprise Reviews 




Average Rating: (4 out of 5 stars) 4 stars

List All Reviews

5 stars SURPRISE not to be missed
This is easily Simon’s best album since Graceland, and perhaps his best ever. Every song is a gem, both musically and lyrically. Surprise has not left the CD player since arriving in our home.
Submitted by Jon & Andrea (Greenville, NC) Verified Buyer
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4 stars Intriguing
Simon likes to experiment (good for him) and this is a success. Very engaging and haunting. . . . draws one in for repeat listening.
Submitted by Victoria (Minnesota) Verified Buyer
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5 stars A powerful sound change, but still old Rhymin' Simon
One thing that you will notice from this album is how far Paul Simon has taken his craft. The fact that he can incorporate his sixties-style songwriting with the electronica/rock sound of the millenium is a powerful testament to his prowess as a crafter of songs. One thing another reviewer noted (not on this page, but can't remember his name) was that both Brian Eno and Paul Simon were "Worldbeat explorers". What this meant was that, although they come from different backgrounds musically, they can fit together like a big cog in a clock with a small cog in the same clock. Thus, this album proceeds like well-organized clockwork. Now, that is far from a bad thing, especially from Paul Simon. After his last major album, Graceland, Paul Simon has slowly been on the downswing in popularity and creativity. Now, however, Paul returns to the standards of his best work - a great tune, great lyrics, and strange, wonderful messages hidden in both lyrics and tune. You will find everything that a Paul Simon fan will want to hear on this album, if you listen hard enough. I have listened, and, in all honesty, this album is as good and as groundbreaking as Graceland was. Definitely a must.
Submitted by Galen (Anchorage, AK, USA)
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5 stars The 'Real' Simon Returns!
As a fan of Simons since '70(...hell I AM getting old), I was still dubious about buying this album.I needn't have worried as he's back to top form.This album is head and shoulders above his last 'Your The One'. Opening with the beautiful 'How Can You Live In The Northeast' this album just improves as it flows easily along.The 'Sonic Landscape' created by Brian Eno is effective in a similar way to 'Ladysmith Black Mambazo's' backdrop on 'Graceland'.Highlights for me are 'Wartime Prayers' and 'Father And Daughter' but all tracks are wonderful. Welcome back Mr.Simon....
Submitted by Michael (Birr,Offaly,Ireland.)
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5 stars Great, great, great recording
I've listened to it 5 times in 36 hours. From the very first play, I was hooked. I think this is top of the line playing, production, lyrics, and delivery.
Submitted by musician (Los Angeles)
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