A new album every five years, that seems to be the rhythm of Paul Simon. Eulogies as if this were Simon's best album in twenty years should therefore be taken with a grain of salt. On the other hand, So Beautiful Or So What sounds like it has been painstakingly put together. Paul's voice is of course also in the ear. Few singers have a voice as smooth as his, but Simon is careful not to sound too
… coquettish. For example, the singer / songwriter again opts for surprising arrangements, mostly from world music. Different rhythms and exotic instruments such as the kora and tabla add color to the bare sound of Simon's voice and acoustic guitar. Simon shows his meditative side in text and music. This makes So Beautiful Or So What a modest listening album. (PdK)more