I guess the problem with being Paul Simon is the constant need to compete with yourself. Ever since 1986's "Graceland" album, Simon has had the dubious task of writing follow-up albums to a release that many people consider a classic. Keep in mind, this is just the opinion of people like me and the "professional" music critics who would want to compare "You're the One" to "Graceland" or any other release that Paul Simon has done during his Simon and Garfunkel days. It seems that as Simon is nearing his 60th birthday that he is perfectly content in writing a pleasant sounding album that contains some of the elements of "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints" without trying to compete with them. For the most part, Simon is successful in doing this.
It's good to note that Simon's ability to tell stories in his songs during the 60's have not been lost in 2000. His voice hasn't lost any of it's range or power over the last 35+ years. This is most evident in "Darling Lorraine". Without a doubt, this is my favorite song on this cd. It's very much a song of the times for someone in Paul's age group. In this case, a man named Frank who finds that his wife Lorraine doesn't love him any more. The song deals with issues that would probably hit any middle-aged couple. After many years of marriage, both contemplate other things in life that they could have done if they weren't tied down to each other; "I'd have left her long ago, I should have been a musician, I love the piano". The song ends with the possibility of the couple reconciling their differences. Much like "Graceland", the song features lose sounding bass and percussion with jangly and exotic sounding guitars. Simon follows the same formula on "Old". It's a fun song that analyzes all other things in life that are old, such as the Bible and the universe, as well as Simon's approaching golden years. This time, the story-telling is about him and it sounds like he isn't worried about "down the decades every year". On "Pigs, Sheep and Wolves", the story-telling turns into an analogy of our modern times. It's a "three little pigs" story told in the perspective of a lawsuit happy current world. The cd ends brilliantly with "Quiet". It's a solemn tune colored with touches of Irish/Celtic sounds, but sung with an almost gospel like quality. Simon is backed with a beautiful sounding harp, pipes, and a pump reed organ. "I am heading for a time of solitude of peace without illusions." Once again, Simon addresses issues of his approaching maturity with intelligence and style. It's a great departure from the bright sound from the previous 10 tracks of this cd.
The rest of the songs on "You're the One" are enjoyable to certain degrees, but don't particularly stand out. It's still a solid release, but is probably more for the serious Paul Simon fan. If he continues to put out releases like this over the next decade, I would have no reason to complain.
