Overall, as a solo artist decent, sometimes better than that. I give him props for not resting on his laurels, though some of his hits are rather easy to get sick of.

Hello Thenewageriseth, the song "Every Time You Go" was by Paul Young. I liked Graceland and the stuff he did with Garfunkle, obviously! Other solo hits hold up though - I'm thinking "50 Ways to Leave your Lover" or whatever the actual title of that "Me and Julio Down by the School Yard" one is but on the whole while he consistently turns out good tracks and works hard to look for interesting new influences to include the songs are good, these days, not very good or remarkable.... so he gets 3 stars for rather dull continuity, even if he's producing better stuff now than Messrs Diamond and McCartney!

Away from Garfunkel...crap.

Did he do that song Everytime You Go? That's a nice song. I knoe that Paul somebody did it and it leads me here.

Paul Simon and his long time collaborator Art Garfunkel wrote and performed much of the music the defined an era; however, this entry is for Simon's work as a solo artist. Nevertheless, for the most Part, Simon's solo work has been identical to his work with Garfunkel (especially in the earlier years). The result is the he is highly respected in the industry as both a performer and as a songwriter. Unfortunately, due to this consistency his work didn't show much diversity until his grammy winning effort "Graceland" (1986) and the subsequent "Rhythm Of The Saints" (1990). While I am not as familiar with the material on "Rhythm" as I should be, "Graceland" deserved all the praise and awards that the effort received as there is not a single filler track on the entire release (eg the title track and "All Around The World..."). The end result is that for most fans, Simon is a great singles artist which can be fully appreciated with one solid compilation plus "Graceland."

Beautiful voice I love him so very much!

A GIFTED AND BRILLIANT SONGWRITER AND CRAFTSMAN. HIS 'GRACELAND' WAS SIMPLY ONE OF THE GREATEST LP'S OF ALL TIME...'THE RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS' WAS MORE SUBTLE BUT BRILLIANT AS WELL. WHAT A FANTASTIC RUN HE HAD---THE FIRST ALBUM AND 'KODACHROME' STICK OUT IN MY MIND.

A true artist who has grown and moved on and is not living on his yesterdays ,a shame more can't say that.

just gets on my nerves...

Paul Simon is so underrated it's not even funny. His solo work is enormous. I love the entire Graceland album-its use of the South African background singers and the songwriting. The music written by Simon is timeless. In my mind, he is a top 5 solo artist of all-time and is in the top 20 artists/bands. "You Can Call Me Al," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "Kodachrome," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." You just get this tingly feeling sort of when you indulge in the brilliant music and mind of one Paul Simon. He is one of my all-time faves. I could talk forever about this guy. What a genius!

I love Paul Simon. I have been an avid fan of his since I was 9 years old. I think that he is the best songwriter ever, that he is real and authentic. I think that the Graceland album is quite possibly the best album ever made. I think that his voice and his music are a testament to true talent. I think the the Rhythm of the Saints album is amazing, the cool, cool river and the obvious child are some of my favorite songs ever. I also agreee that for emily is one of the greatest songs, but the boxer will always remain my favorite Paul Simon song, and Paul simon my favorite artist. "sometimes even music can not substitute for tears. " paul simon, the cool cool river

I've heard the new cd...it's nice to know that Mr. Simon believes so strongly in recycling(his own music)!

I would rate Simon and Garfunkel higher than Paul alone because the way their voices went together was simply magical, but Paul alone is surely no slouch. He may not have the catalogs of other great singer/songwriters like Dylan or Young, but Simon has an impressive list of solo songs. Never afraid to take chances musically, Simon is a songwriting genius.

Uh, excuse me? Three stars? This is INSAAAANE! Simon has such a beautiful voice, and his songs---ta-dah!---have an actual purpose. He's the only person who gets 5 stars. He's been with me through the hard times, comforting me, and sharing the good times. That's hard to do when he doesn't know me. You are seriously underrated, Paul. All this perfection deserves more than three stars!

Paul Simon has a few OK songs. That's about it.

An artist with exceptional talent and an illustrious career. He is one of rock's most talented lyricists and he possesses the ability to explore new sounds and styles without seeming akward or pretensious.

I can appreciate the amazing, generation-defining music Paul Simon made with Art Garfunkel, and I really enjoy a lot of Simon’s solo stuff. “Late in the Evening,” especially, is still one of my favorite songs. And Simon’s incorporation of different world music influences is definitely interesting. But despite all that, when he put out a new CD recently (“You’re the One”), I didn’t even think about buying it. I’m not sure if I think it’s too dull, or too mellow, or what, but I just can’t get fired up about Simon’s music any more.

One has to respect Paul Simon for his limitless talent for song-writing. He had some brilliant hits with Garfunkel and some even better ones as a solo artist. His Broadway attempt with the Capeman was hugely underestimated and misconstrued by the American audiences but I think it contains some of his finest songs. His latest album, You're the One, leaves a lot to be desired for but the fact he is still writing after so long just goes to prove his immense breadth and skill, in both writing and singing.

What other musician can incorporate African drums with East Indian overtones and make it work?? He is a genius!

How can you say no to early Paul Simon? I grew up to "Sounds of Silence," "Sparrow Song," and Celica." All Classics!

close to great

Paul Simon just knows how to put everything into words. i like his solo work a lot, but will always remain faithful to his work with Art Garfunkel. i agree with Medgar Evers, whoever that is, who said that "for emily (whenever i may find her)" is perhaps the most beautiful song ever written. another FABULOUS song that nobody really seems to know about is "the only living boy in new york." listen to it.

I may not have been born in the 40's or 50's (i'm actually only 19 yrs old-born in 1981) but you don't have to have lived during those older times to appreciate his voice and his talent as a lyricist. Young people may not have lived it but they could have studied about the times that Paul Simon sings about. I am in no way saying it's the same-far from it. We will never totally know the kinds of images and memories that hearing paul's songs brings the older generations. But I have memories and images of my own that Paul Simon's words kindle in me. Most of his music is great to drive long distances with, and it sometimes hits close to home. I know what it's like feeling inferior in a relationship because I was not as wealthy as my bf (reference to Diamonds On the Souls of Her Shoes)It should please older people that Simon's work is loved by young people-because it reinforces their theory that Simon is great (so great and versatile that even teenagers like his music ) Ha Ha. He also has a look of peacefulness and kindness which make me try to understand his intentions behind every song. He's just mazing (not as amazing as Dave Matthews...but who is?)

I`m not sure what the average age of the people reading this will be. I first saw Paul Simon when I was 17. I saw him most recently last night at Hammersmith and I am now 43. My view now is as it was then. Remarkable talent and craftsmanship is timeless. Bob Dylan (intermittently, but a career long enough to have a mineful of diamonds on the sole of HIS shoes), The Beatles, Van Morrison.....there aren`t many who, in 50 years` time will be regarded as classical artists. There is absolutely nothing wrong with much of what has happened since but few are able to transcend what might be termed a passing fad.I look forward to Paul Simon`s next album, which, god help us, given his track record will be when he is 65!

Simon is kinda underrated at times, at least on VH1's lists. With a beautiful cooing voice and a good inkling of what more songs should be like, i think he's great. His career with Garfunkel brought some incredible songs, and fit in with the times very well, and will fit in with just about anytime. For Emily (Whenever I May Find Her) is perhaps the most beautiful song, well... ever.

PaulSimon - it doesn't get much better than this man! For two years I rode around with no music in the CD player of my car, but "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints". I was never bored. It took that long to absorb the intricacies and the beauty of the poetry and the rhythms. I have always loved Paul Simon, but he really grew up when "Graceland" was born and in "Rhythm of the Saints" he took it forward just one more step. The guy is a genius to me. He and Bob Dylan are the only two people worthy of 5 Stars - and don't try to compare them - there is no way to compare these two.

All of the comments I’ve seen here seem to have completely missed the point. Simon is as good as it gets. Maybe you are all too young and unfamiliar with the extraordinary insight and talent needed to be a true spokesman for a generation. He is a wonderful musician of course, but a really brilliant lyricist. Metaphors are extremely difficult to make and like humor, you either get it or you don’t. I was born in 1941 so we are close to the same age and he can dredge up images and emotions from more than 50 years ago and from jr. high, high school years, the 60’s, 70’, 80’ and now. At 59 his music still hits right on, maybe you just had to be there.

eeeh he's ok, he had a few good songs but not anything worth going nuts over

One of the best musical artists of our time. I know lovey dovey music and all but you gotta appreciate someone who is able to change with the times and constantly re-create his musical style. If you haven't heard his album "Songs From The Capeman" then you're missing out big time. He also wrote the musical which lasted about 2 days on Broadway but the music is fantastic. Get it!

I don't slum in the easy listening area of the dial where Paul Simon is played most, but I'd definitely consider Graceland one of the best records of the 1980s.

I love the early S&G stuff, especially Bridge Over Troubled Water, but I give Simon huge credit for growing as an artist throughtout his life. Many of his contemporaries grew stale; maybe only Neil Young has had the same ability to grow and change for so long.