Rock Music Forum
Search titles only
By:
Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Members
Current visitors
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Forums
Classic Rock
Classic Rock Album Reviews
Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - Album Review
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Floyd" data-source="post: 1145" data-attributes="member: 1"><p>There’s no denying that Simon and Garfunkel are two of the most important figures of the ‘60s and a huge influence on music in general. Who wouldn’t want to be like them" One had a voice that could stop an angel in its tracks and the other could pen songs that others only dream of writing about in their sleep. Mix these two qualities together and you have one of the best folk groups to ever emerge from, well, anywhere. Throughout their career the band constantly proved they were the real deal, and every album was full of surprises as well as their knack for strong lyricism and harmony. However, their most consistent album was undoubtedly their 1966 effort <em>Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>For evidence of Paul Simon’s songwriting ability, one doesn’t need to look any further than the fantastic closing track ‘7 O'Clock News/Silent Night.’ I’ve heard countless versions of ‘Silent Night’, but never have I experienced such a unique, daring take on the song. Due to the tragic events that are being broadcasted at the same time as the duo harmonizes to the holiday favorite, it doesn’t really feel like a christmas song. It’s highly ironic to hear them sing <em>All is Calm</em> or <em>Sleep in Heavenly Peace</em> at the same time as we’re hearing about murder or people overdosing on narcotics-- but I think that’s the point. The world isn’t a perfect place, and the song clearly paints this picture, managing make you think long after it’s over. It’s also a change of pace from the rest of the album, which contains some of the most quirky and upbeat folk tunes of the band’s career.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Parsley</em> takes a few listens to really digest. It may not have a song as huge as 'The Boxer’ or 'The Sounds of Silence’, but overall it’s their most coherent album as it smoothly flows from track to track. The highly recognized 'Scarborough Fair’ kicks things off properly with mesmerizing vocal harmonies and they continue to deliver until the album’s fantastic final moments. The instrumentation is also delightful as twangy guitars and light drumming spice up many tracks like the phenomenal 'Patterns’, but they never steal the show from the gorgeous vocals and thought-provoking lyrics.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>This isn’t one of those albums where you tell yourself <em>these</em> are the best songs, because every damn track is so beautiful or quirky that it’s more about the experience as a whole than the individual songs. The only way to hear <em>Parsley</em> is to hear it from front to back, and on repeat. Then you’ll realize it really is quite possibly the duo’s greatest achievement as it’s difficult to find any flaws within it. It’s absolutely essential for any fan of the band or folk music in general and a true classic of the genre. Words cannot describe.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Tracklist for <strong>Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme</strong>:</p><p></p><p>1 "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"</p><p></p><p>2 "Patterns"</p><p></p><p>3 "Cloudy"</p><p></p><p>4 "Homeward Bound"</p><p></p><p>5 "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine"</p><p></p><p>6 "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"</p><p></p><p>7 "The Dangling Conversation"</p><p></p><p>8 "Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall"</p><p></p><p>9 "A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into</p><p></p><p>Submission)"</p><p></p><p>10 "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her"</p><p></p><p>11 "A Poem on the Underground Wall"</p><p></p><p>12 "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night"</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]535[/ATTACH]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Floyd, post: 1145, member: 1"] There’s no denying that Simon and Garfunkel are two of the most important figures of the ‘60s and a huge influence on music in general. Who wouldn’t want to be like them" One had a voice that could stop an angel in its tracks and the other could pen songs that others only dream of writing about in their sleep. Mix these two qualities together and you have one of the best folk groups to ever emerge from, well, anywhere. Throughout their career the band constantly proved they were the real deal, and every album was full of surprises as well as their knack for strong lyricism and harmony. However, their most consistent album was undoubtedly their 1966 effort [I]Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.[/I] For evidence of Paul Simon’s songwriting ability, one doesn’t need to look any further than the fantastic closing track ‘7 O'Clock News/Silent Night.’ I’ve heard countless versions of ‘Silent Night’, but never have I experienced such a unique, daring take on the song. Due to the tragic events that are being broadcasted at the same time as the duo harmonizes to the holiday favorite, it doesn’t really feel like a christmas song. It’s highly ironic to hear them sing [I]All is Calm[/I] or [I]Sleep in Heavenly Peace[/I] at the same time as we’re hearing about murder or people overdosing on narcotics-- but I think that’s the point. The world isn’t a perfect place, and the song clearly paints this picture, managing make you think long after it’s over. It’s also a change of pace from the rest of the album, which contains some of the most quirky and upbeat folk tunes of the band’s career. [I]Parsley[/I] takes a few listens to really digest. It may not have a song as huge as 'The Boxer’ or 'The Sounds of Silence’, but overall it’s their most coherent album as it smoothly flows from track to track. The highly recognized 'Scarborough Fair’ kicks things off properly with mesmerizing vocal harmonies and they continue to deliver until the album’s fantastic final moments. The instrumentation is also delightful as twangy guitars and light drumming spice up many tracks like the phenomenal 'Patterns’, but they never steal the show from the gorgeous vocals and thought-provoking lyrics. This isn’t one of those albums where you tell yourself [I]these[/I] are the best songs, because every damn track is so beautiful or quirky that it’s more about the experience as a whole than the individual songs. The only way to hear [I]Parsley[/I] is to hear it from front to back, and on repeat. Then you’ll realize it really is quite possibly the duo’s greatest achievement as it’s difficult to find any flaws within it. It’s absolutely essential for any fan of the band or folk music in general and a true classic of the genre. Words cannot describe. Tracklist for [B]Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme[/B]: 1 "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" 2 "Patterns" 3 "Cloudy" 4 "Homeward Bound" 5 "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" 6 "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" 7 "The Dangling Conversation" 8 "Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall" 9 "A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)" 10 "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" 11 "A Poem on the Underground Wall" 12 "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" [ATTACH type="full"]535[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Classic Rock
Classic Rock Album Reviews
Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - Album Review
Forum Community
Adminstrator
Moderator
Member
Fanatic
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
What's new
Log in
Register
Search
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top