Track Listing

1. Obvious Child
2. Can't Run But
3. Coast
4. Proof
5. Further To Fly
6. She Moves On
7. Born At The Right Time
8. Cool Cool River
9. Spirit Voices
10. Rhythm Of The Saints
11. Born At The Right Time
12. Thelma
13. Coast
14. Coast
15. Spirit Voices

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7785 in Music
• Released on: 2004-07-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .17 pounds

CD Description
As singer/songwriter Frank Tedesso once put it, GRACELAND is the mountaintop and RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS is the mist around the peak. The latter certainly does seem to pick up where it's South African-flavoured predecessor left off. Though RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS relies on the traditional musical forms of a different part of the world (Brazil), Simon uses a somewhat similar strategy. He wraps his very American voice and lyrics around the rhythms and harmonies of a culture much more dependent on polyrhythms. In the process, he creates a newparadigm that is simultaneously familiar and excitingly fresh.
A new development is the undercurrent of social protest in the lyrics, something that GRACELAND only hinted at. Arunning lyrical theme is the intrusion of science and civilisation upon nature, and the catastrophic results. When he finds no solutions in the world of men, Simon turns to the divine. On "The Cool, Cool River", he supplicates himself, with the understanding that "these prayers are the memory of God". However close he may get to heaven, RHYTHM OF THE SAINTSdefinitely finds Simon treading a step or two north of the earth.

Customer Reviews

Sonny gets sunnier day by day....
1990's "Rhythm Of The Saints" is a beauty. It shimmers and shines, swoops and glides with grace.
Subtler in many ways than much of "Graceland", much of the music and sound here is beguiling and the lyrics are crafted with great intelligence and style.
The opening of "The Obvious Child" is intoxicating, and the wistful, thoughtful lyrics are enticing.
The somewhat monotone "Can't Run But" catches you eventually and "The Coast" is melodic and sweet. "Further To Fly" is a subtle but charming spiralling document.
These are all excellent but the peaks truly arrive on "Spirit Voices" and "The Cool, Cool River." The former is a beautiful, lilting tune with poetic lyrics and the latter is a stunning peice of introspection and ultimately defiance which soars to an impressive conclusion.
"Born At The Right Time" is the most recognisable form here and it works very well.

A stunning album documenting excellent songwriting and stunning musicianship.

This is what music should do: excite, inspire, provoke thought and wonder.

As graceful as Graceland
Paul Simon followed up the classic Graceland, his fusion of African and Western pop music with this stunning album of great songs with a South American and more particularly Brazilian flavour. This reissue includes three previously unreleased racks.

The Obvious Child is my favorite, a powerful melodic song with great drums and guitars and a wistful, nostalgic feel. Another favorite is The Coast, a story about a family of musicians taking shelter in a church; this song really impresses with its flowing melody, polyrhythmic drum patterns and moving lyrics.

Proof is another charming pop song, particularly noted for its evocative backing vocals and gentle, lilting rhythm whilst Further To Fly and She Moves On are more subdued, melancholy numbers with bubbling and insistent rhythmic patterns.

The mood lifts with the uptempo and buoyant Born At The Right Time, once again a lyrical and musical masterpiece and filled with catchy hooks. The guitar and atmospheric backing voices of Spirit Voices are beyond compare whilst the title track is a meandering piece with innovative instrumental flourishes.

What makes these songs particularly moving is that Simon tells the stories of ordinary people and that his perceptive, poetic lyrics are carried so well on the exotic instrumentation. Of course, the beautiful tunes have a lot to do with that. Rhythm Of The Saints may not be as immediately appealing as Graceland and may not offer quite as many classics, but it remains a major achievement, a brilliant marriage of Brazilian and Western popular musical styles.

My favourite album
I agree with all the other favourable reviews on here; the title of my review says it all.

There is not much else to say except that if you like good music you must hear 'The Rhythm Of The Saints'.