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Entertainment Weekly

No one weds the conversational and cosmological -- or acoustic pop and ethnological studies -- quite so gracefully.

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Mojo

Paul Simon still has it.

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Wall of Sound

The stripped-down arrangements and meditative flavor of the songs bring to mind such uncluttered efforts as 1983's Hearts and Bones or even Simon's 1972 solo debut.

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Rolling Stone

"Somewhere in a burst of glory/Sound becomes a song/I'm bound to tell a story/That's where I belong," Simon sings on the new album's opening track, and the comfort and command he displays throughout You're the One demonstrate that he's right.

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Q Magazine

Rhythms skip and play seemingly without touching earth... These are manifestly the labours of a man still with something to say. [Nov 2000, p.109]

All Music Guide

With You're the One, Paul Simon is back on track, writing and recording timeless music that keeps him on par with Neil Young and David Bowie, but in his comforting familiar way.

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Sonicnet

I readily admit I was confused by its unusual instrumental combinations, by the turn-on-a-dime melodies and rhythms, and the "still searching after all these years" lyrics -- by its relentless eclecticism. Still, I kept listening, and at the end of the day found myself having trouble escaping these meandering, insinuating songs.

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Dot Music

But its modesty is its weakness. For the last 15 years, Simon has been rejuvenating himself with challenges, with awkward collaborations and unusual idioms, testing and experimenting with his talent. With this collection of gentle, wry ballads and witty, shuffly songs he is, nearly, just coasting on it. Not that this makes 'You're The One' a bad album. It just makes it an ominous one.

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Checkout.com

On his new album, You're the One, the singer's lyrics are masterful as ever, but their emotional punch is compromised considerably by syrupy melodies and uninspired production.

CDNow

Simon aims his melodies outside the box this time around, incorporating world-beat rhythms and working his sublimely dour mood to best advantage.

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Village Voice

So You're the One, like all of Simon's work since Graceland, has to be judged a failure.... Image be damned, but pop doesn't just flow out of groove and penmanship.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Though not exactly a bad album, when contrasted to the remarkable Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints, it sounds as arbitrary as a collection of B-sides.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Martin R gave it a10:
How can you get belly laughs out of wicked social criticism? "Pig, Sheep and Wolves" will show you. Looking for love? Try "Darling Lorraine" and "You're the One" for loves lost from two sides of the coin. This is brilliant stuff.

John L gave it an8:
I'm giving it an "8", but it could be an "9"...It is a step up from "The Capeman", which was his least rewarding solo work on every level. I could almost consider a 9 because he is probably as great a lyricist as this is, or ever has been, and it still shows here, despite amore subdued feel overall. Excluding The Capeman's self limiting concept, Paul Simon's works have grown to be more and more Spiritual since the mid-80's (not that he wasn't so before, just moreso after then), and it really works to his advantage here, as the songsmithing and depth of subject help to invigorate what is a more laid back work sonically speaking. Musically is feels a bit like "One Trick Pony"; which itself feels like a little bit lesser of a version of "Still Crazy After All These Years". Feeling wise it falls in with those two works. Hurricane Eye and Old are my favorites, and it has some beautiful moments, but it certainly isn't as jaw dropping as his most impressive works...like "Suprise" for example...which is a "10" for me.

nancy s gave it a9:
The more I have listened to this album the more I have learned to like it. It has steadily grown on me until it is one of my favorite albums.

Jason gave it a 10:
Quite beautiful. If you enjoyed either of Simon's last two major solo efforts, you will, upon a second or third listening, truly love this album.

Dave M. gave it a 10:
Darling Lorraine is for me a brilliant song It seems to encapsulste both sides of any modern relationship Never been as moved since Rene & Georgette Magrit. Decades gliding by like indians.....

Joe Schmoe gave it a 10:
Paul Simon may be old, but he still got it! The lyrics on this album are just brilliant. Simon is still is the king!

Björn J. gave it a 10:
In my view the best Paul Simon album since "Still Crazy", and "Darling Lorraine" is definitely the best Paul Simon song since "I do it for your love". Great stuff!

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