This Better Be Good
Paul Simon · 2009
62 min · 16 tracks · folk rock
Folk-rock storytelling opens outward into gospel harmonies and South African rhythms without losing its conversational intimacy.
Top tracks — play these first
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Kodachrome Start here — A bright, piano-driven hit turns a brand name into a way of talking about memory and the seductive colors of the past.
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American Tune — Its stately melody and troubled national imagery show Simon bringing a hymn-like gravity to the disillusionment of the early 1970s.
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Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes — The opening vocal exchange with Ladysmith Black Mambazo gives way to an intricately buoyant band arrangement, joining South African musical voices to Simon’s tale of class and romance.
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The Obvious Child — Drums associated with Salvador’s Grupo Cultural Olodum propel Simon’s reflections on aging, giving the song an exuberance that pushes against its unease.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines familiar melodies with new reflections but lacks strong cohesion due to its mixed track origins.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate world music elements, such as African rhythms and instrumentation, which are woven into the folk rock foundation.
- The lyrics across the album often reflect on personal experiences and broader societal themes, creating a narrative thread that connects the songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective vibe
- lyrical storytelling for contemplation
- warm melodies for afternoon listening
- engaging narratives with familiar themes
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality with a cohesive blend of familiar and new elements.
- Themes
- nostalgic memory· cultural fusion· life's complexities
- Career context
- Released in 2009, This Better Be Good surveys Paul Simon’s solo career from his early-1970s work through material from 2006’s Surprise. It arrived after the albums Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints had expanded his music’s rhythmic palette.
- Stylistic neighbors
- James Taylor· Cat Stevens· Nick Drake
Tracklist
- 1 Kodachrome Start here 3:34
- 2 Peace Like a River 3:20
- 3 Loves Me Like a Rock 3:34
- 4 Late in the Evening 4:04
- 5 Slip Slidin’ Away 4:47
- 6 Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard 2:45
- 7 Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes 5:40
- 8 Mother and Child Reunion 3:06
- 9 American Tune 3:47
- 10 Under African Skies 3:37
- 11 Señorita With a Necklace of Tears 3:43
- 12 Bernadette 3:30
- 13 Train in the Distance 4:24
- 14 The Obvious Child 4:11
- 15 Father and Daughter 4:12
- 16 Sure Don’t Feel Like Love 3:57
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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