Graceland

Over the past few days, I've discovered what an amazingly great album this is. I've been listening to it on Rhapsody, but I think I will have to spring for the recent re-release (remastered, with 3 bonus tracks.) Of course, we've all heard "You Can Call Me Al" (and seen the ridiculous but great video), but every song on here is just great. The combination of Paul Simon's great lyrics and singing (everyone knows Simon>Garfunkel) with incredible African rhythms and musicianship (check the bass solos! and the vocals!) makes for a fantastic listening experience.

I ignored it for many years because it was a record my parents had, but I'm discovering that perhaps they don't have bad taste in music at all. Just a little different than me. After all, how did I get into Neil Young? By (*ahem*) "appropriating" my dad's copy of Harvest and listening to his vinyl copy of Decade whenever I could. I guess my parents had pretty good musical taste back in the day-- The Clash, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and so on. They just aren't up on what the kids are listening to these days.

Though I guess that Graceland's African influence started my dad's mild obsession with African musicians like Kanda Bongo Man and Youssou N'Dour. But, after all, I don't mind it that much. It's better than his former musical obsession-- Selena. (May she rest in peace.)