Paul Simon Graceland

Honestly, after listening to two days of hair metal, pretty much anything was an improvement to my ears. It's not that I didn't like hair metal, because I can't deny that after about a minute I was singing along to "Jump", but its something I feel is better in small doses. But I REALLY liked Paul Simon Graceland. I felt that he really mixed the upcoming hip hop/ poppy era with the old south roots for his music. Also, although it was a little strange to me his changes of tempo and rhyming scheme, I think it made me pay attention and perk up when he would somehow fit 20 million words into one line. I think my favorite song of the album, although I like many, was "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes". I really like how the song was brought in by a spiritual sounding acapella beat from black men. I also really like Paul's voice, because it is very smooth somehow although it is also upbeat. I like how he incorporates the beginning singers back in to form very nice harmonies. My favorite part is how the song then takes a twist and brings the beat a little jazzier, but continues to have the same smooth and silky voice. I really like his incorporation back to the older black men music, because I really enjoyed that era and want to see more of it in newer music.