icon-sized Surprise cover, baby with water covering the top half of its forehead

CrackingTheSimonCode
Surprise Reviews

Surprise's Critics Speak

link to source, author, date
"representative quote", Rating (if given), (webmasters comment, if any)

Yay (27) Boo (4)

access Atlanta , Shane Harrison, 5/9/2006.
"Simon's songs are less concerned with hooks and choruses than ever before. They're beautiful, but in a much less immediate way. Nothing sounds like a single, but that doesn't seem like something a venerable songwriting genius should be concerned with anyway." Rated B+. (2 of 31 reviews notice the absense of verse/chorus structures.)
All Music , Stephen Thomas Erlewine, 2006.
"... there is gentle hope and wry humor as well, giving this music a rich elegance that makes it stand among Simon's best work."
Amazon.com
(Search for "Surprise" in music.) Lots of reviews here. The five-star reviews are rated as helpful. The two-star review was found most unhelpful. One reviewer says "'Sure Don't Feel Like Love' is more political." (Political?)
A. V. Club , Noel Murray, 5/17/2006.
"Surprise's pervasive feeling of woe and caution ..." Rating: B+, Buy it! (Do you think he actually played "Beautiful"?)
bbc.co.uk , Chris Jones, 2006.
"Belying[stet] his voice - which sounds as fresh and angelic as it did in 1965 - the songs concern themselves with age, family and beauty; all set in the socio-political landscape of a post-Bush USA (naturally)." (When did we get to "post-Bush"? Did I miss something important?)
BlogCritics.org , Al Barger, 6/11/2006.
"I've been listening to this album for a month now - and fretting over what to say about it. I fear that I lack the skill to communicate just how good this album is."
classicrock.about.com , Dave White, 2006.
"It's no surprise that the songs on Surprise continue to demonstrate why Simon is one of the most highly regarded songwriters in history." Four and a half stars, out of five.
Epinions.com , Paul Lorentz, 5/16/2006.
" ... but what really matters is finding someone to care about, and finding something to have faith in. Who's gonna love you when you're looks are gone? 'God will, just[stet] like he waters the flowers on your window sill.' It's a perfect moment of reassurance; ..." (House with no roof?)
EW.com , Chris Willman, 5/12/2006.
"'I Don't Believe' is practically an album unto itself: ... Most artists spend entire careers covering less territory." Grade: A-.
Mansized.co.uk , John Jobling, Music Editor, 5/31/2006.
"'Everything About It Is a Love' [stet], meanwhile, is a schizophrenic delight, a sincere ballad one minute and then mild old school drum n' bass the next, ..."
Metacritic.com
Surprise rated 78 (of 100) by 23 reviews, rated 8.4 (of 10) by 46 users.
metropolis.co.jp , "DG" (name not provided), 6/30/2006.
"The ambitious sonics make for a whole new perspective on a familiar figure, and Simon's butterscotch voice is still intact."
musicOMH.com , John Murphy, 2006.
"... the idea of the neurotic New Yorker teaming up with the laid-back Godfather of ambient music is an intriguing one, yet thankfully Eno's presence isn't too overbearing. Rather, he adds subtle touches to some of Simon's best songs in years, ..."
Observer Music Monthly , writer not credited, 5/21/2006.
"It's a bravura performance on both men's part."
oldies.about.com , Robert Fontenot, 2006.
"... it may take some time to get familiar with the odd song structures ..." (Amen! Only two reviewers notice the "odd song structures.")
Paste Magazine, Andy Whitman, Issue 22.
"He looks for answers in family and God, but the answers are complicated, and they resonate with unresolved dilemmas." Four of five stars.
Plan 9 Music , Scott Fraley, 2006.
"This may be the most daring album Simon's ever made."
PlayLouder.com , Jeremy Allen, 5/6/2006.
"Few could have predicted Paul Simon would return to prominence in 2006 and put most artists half his age to shame by being daring, inventive and groundbreaking."
Pop Matters , Jeff Vrabel, 5/23/2006.
"Surprise is a low-key, sneaky little record, one without the fireworks of "Kodachrome", ... but plenty of quiet, smoldering beauty." Rated 8 of 10. (Keep your fire extinguisher handy.)
Rolling Stone Christian Hoard, 5/2/2006.
"Outrageous" has Simon "dissing big corporations." (And I thought it was about ... )
Uncut , Nigel Williamson, 2006.
"When he began the record, Simon has admitted he wondered, 'What could I say that wouldn't feel unnecessary, irrelevant, stupid?' He found plenty.... a comeback of unexpected maturity and power."

ArtistDirect.com , Andy Hermann, 5/9/2006.
"Despite its title, there are no big surprises on Surprise." (Clearly, Mr. Hermann failed to notice the boldface in the lyrics.)
The Guardian , Alexis Petridis, 6/2/2006.
"'Sure Don't Feel Like Love' starts out with someone registering to vote, but meanders off into vague stream-of-consciousness rambling, ..." (Well, I could be wrong again, but I thought it was on point from start to finish.)
pitchforkmedia.com , Marc Hogan, 5/11/2006.
"half-formed tone poems that live down to the self-absorbed, vapidly mystic, utterly clueless conception of Baby Boomers one sees in TV commercials." Rated 5.1 of 10. (Can anyone point me to an ad featuring vapid mysticism?)
Stylus Magazine Alfred Soto, 5/16/2006.
"... put two artists who've been boring for years together and you get enviable symmetry..." Rated B+. (Nothing but insults throughout the review, so I'm listing it under "Boo" despite the rating.)

Yay (27)	Boo (4)
access Atlanta , Shane Harrison, 5/9/2006. "Simon's songs are less concerned with hooks and choruses than ever before. They're beautiful, but in a much less immediate way. Nothing sounds like a single, but that doesn't seem like something a venerable songwriting genius should be concerned with anyway." Rated B+. (2 of 31 reviews notice the absense of verse/chorus structures.) All Music , Stephen Thomas Erlewine, 2006. "... there is gentle hope and wry humor as well, giving this music a rich elegance that makes it stand among Simon's best work." Amazon.com (Search for "Surprise" in music.) Lots of reviews here. The five-star reviews are rated as helpful. The two-star review was found most unhelpful. One reviewer says "'Sure Don't Feel Like Love' is more political." (Political?) A. V. Club , Noel Murray, 5/17/2006. "Surprise's pervasive feeling of woe and caution ..." Rating: B+, Buy it! (Do you think he actually played "Beautiful"?) bbc.co.uk , Chris Jones, 2006. "Belying[stet] his voice - which sounds as fresh and angelic as it did in 1965 - the songs concern themselves with age, family and beauty; all set in the socio-political landscape of a post-Bush USA (naturally)." (When did we get to "post-Bush"? Did I miss something important?) BlogCritics.org , Al Barger, 6/11/2006. "I've been listening to this album for a month now - and fretting over what to say about it. I fear that I lack the skill to communicate just how good this album is." classicrock.about.com , Dave White, 2006. "It's no surprise that the songs on Surprise continue to demonstrate why Simon is one of the most highly regarded songwriters in history." Four and a half stars, out of five. Epinions.com , Paul Lorentz, 5/16/2006. " ... but what really matters is finding someone to care about, and finding something to have faith in. Who's gonna love you when you're looks are gone? 'God will, just[stet] like he waters the flowers on your window sill.' It's a perfect moment of reassurance; ..." (House with no roof?) EW.com , Chris Willman, 5/12/2006. "'I Don't Believe' is practically an album unto itself: ... Most artists spend entire careers covering less territory." Grade: A-. Mansized.co.uk , John Jobling, Music Editor, 5/31/2006. "'Everything About It Is a Love' [stet], meanwhile, is a schizophrenic delight, a sincere ballad one minute and then mild old school drum n' bass the next, ..." Metacritic.com Surprise rated 78 (of 100) by 23 reviews, rated 8.4 (of 10) by 46 users. metropolis.co.jp , "DG" (name not provided), 6/30/2006. "The ambitious sonics make for a whole new perspective on a familiar figure, and Simon's butterscotch voice is still intact." musicOMH.com , John Murphy, 2006. "... the idea of the neurotic New Yorker teaming up with the laid-back Godfather of ambient music is an intriguing one, yet thankfully Eno's presence isn't too overbearing. Rather, he adds subtle touches to some of Simon's best songs in years, ..." Observer Music Monthly , writer not credited, 5/21/2006. "It's a bravura performance on both men's part." oldies.about.com , Robert Fontenot, 2006. "... it may take some time to get familiar with the odd song structures ..." (Amen! Only two reviewers notice the "odd song structures.") Paste Magazine, Andy Whitman, Issue 22. "He looks for answers in family and God, but the answers are complicated, and they resonate with unresolved dilemmas." Four of five stars. Plan 9 Music , Scott Fraley, 2006. "This may be the most daring album Simon's ever made." PlayLouder.com , Jeremy Allen, 5/6/2006. "Few could have predicted Paul Simon would return to prominence in 2006 and put most artists half his age to shame by being daring, inventive and groundbreaking." Pop Matters , Jeff Vrabel, 5/23/2006. "Surprise is a low-key, sneaky little record, one without the fireworks of "Kodachrome", ... but plenty of quiet, smoldering beauty." Rated 8 of 10. (Keep your fire extinguisher handy.) Rolling Stone Christian Hoard, 5/2/2006. "Outrageous" has Simon "dissing big corporations." (And I thought it was about ... ) Uncut , Nigel Williamson, 2006. "When he began the record, Simon has admitted he wondered, 'What could I say that wouldn't feel unnecessary, irrelevant, stupid?' He found plenty.... a comeback of unexpected maturity and power."	ArtistDirect.com , Andy Hermann, 5/9/2006. "Despite its title, there are no big surprises on Surprise." (Clearly, Mr. Hermann failed to notice the boldface in the lyrics.) The Guardian , Alexis Petridis, 6/2/2006. "'Sure Don't Feel Like Love' starts out with someone registering to vote, but meanders off into vague stream-of-consciousness rambling, ..." (Well, I could be wrong again, but I thought it was on point from start to finish.) pitchforkmedia.com , Marc Hogan, 5/11/2006. "half-formed tone poems that live down to the self-absorbed, vapidly mystic, utterly clueless conception of Baby Boomers one sees in TV commercials." Rated 5.1 of 10. (Can anyone point me to an ad featuring vapid mysticism?) Stylus Magazine Alfred Soto, 5/16/2006. "... put two artists who've been boring for years together and you get enviable symmetry..." Rated B+. (Nothing but insults throughout the review, so I'm listing it under "Boo" despite the rating.)

The above are all the reviews culled from the first 40 sites returned by Googling for '"Paul Simon" Surprise'. (I made no attempt to influence the ratio of "Yay" to "Boo.") From each I've tried to select a quote that suggests the essence of the review. Ratings are noted if a rating is given.

From reading these reviews I have seen how easy it is to see one's own politics in Simon's songs. (Simon "dissing big corporations" or "landscape of a post-Bush USA." We will get to a post-Bush USA in due course, but we're not there yet.) And I've seen how easily casual listeners can entirely miss the point. ("God will, like he waters the flowers on your window sill." is not a "reassuring" line.)

Two of the negative reviews simply miss the point. A rock album that abandons verse/chorus structure is, by itself, a big surprise. There's no "stream-of-consciousness rambling" in "Sure Don't Feel Like Love." The two others were written by "critics" absorbed in their own ability to write negative zingers.

On the other hand, the positive reviews shed very little light on the work. It's nice to read terms like "rich elegance" but what does that really tell you? Al Barger ( BlogCritics.org ) actually wrestles with the issue of "what is Simon trying to say?". Re "Outrageous" he says, "...the point crept up on me. He's not that pissed over cafeteria food - he's raging against the dying of the light." My take is somewhat different, but the other 26 positive reviewers didn't even give this one a try. None suggested that there may be a distinction between the songwriter and the characters the songwriter creates.

"Will anybody get it?" Simon says. "Am I just talking to myself?" One of 31 critics actually tried to "get it." None mentioned the boldface in the lyrics. Surprise?

P. S. I continue to peruse reviews, tho most unsystematically. One reviewer (sorry, lost in my own book of vanishing memories) asked a sixteen-year-old acquaintance to write his own review. The young man duly noted the highlighting in the lyrics. "Will anybody get it?"

P.P.S. Subsequently tracked down the above-mentioned Mr. Barger, who has an extended version of his blogcritics.org review at morethings.com/music/paul_simon/surprise_review.html. (Yo, Al. Windowsills are indoors. Still, if you ever come east, stop in for some chicken and a corn muffin.)

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