Album Review: Seven Psalms

Seven Psalms

 

Paul Simon, known primarily for his works in the 60s folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, released "Seven Psalms" on May 19th of this year. I know, I'm a little late to write! But of course I pre-ordered the t-shirt, record, and CD months in advance. After his final album and farewell tour in 2018, Simon has begun to produce music again from his home studio on his family's Texas ranch.

"Seven Psalms" presents a groundbreaking operatic album format, and pulls it off just as well as any Paul Simon album would. It is a 33 minute piece with seven movements, available digitally as only one track. 

Along with the interconnecting songs are interconnecting themes, all in line with Simon's values and life course. There's a strong religious undertone with bits of the first movement "The Lord" repeating throughout the rest of the album. Other major ideas include love, aging, and forgiveness. Simon, at 81 years old, imparts his wisdom on us just as well now as he did in "Sounds of Silence." 

My personal favorite movement, "Wait," ends the recording with a solemn tone, reflecting on life and the past. The stanza, "I hear the ghost songs I own / Jumpin', jivin' and moanin' / Through a heartbroken microphone / Wait" brings up the sickly nostalgia of the early Paul Simon days. 

 

"Wait" referring overall to perhaps the end of life, mentioned in reference to "coming home," works for this piece in several ways. The preceding stanza hints that it may be we are not ready for the end of the first era of Paul Simon music, the heartbroken microphone alluding to the trials of love he went through in those days as opposed to his contentedness with his current wife Edie Brickell. Based on placement in the album, it signals the end just as it does to life. 

The final line, "Amen," may suggest the whole album as a prayer. With the religious themes, I lean toward this interpretation because it establishes peace. The final amen is Simon making peace with his life, with the Lord, and with endings.

This album, even more than himself, helps all his fans make peace with those things as well. 

I strongly recommend this album to anyone fond of indie music, folk, or any classic Paul Simon fans. Listen here on Spotify or read more about it on the website.