Stranger to Stranger
by Paul Simon
  • Record Label: Concord
  • Release Date: Jun 3, 2016
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. The Guardian
    Jun 2, 2016
    100
    Simon’s lyrics are finely honed, from the conversational The Werewolf to the confessional title track, a moving exploration of his creative process.
  2. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jun 3, 2016
    91
    So spend your capitalist dollars on this album. He’s worth them.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Jun 3, 2016
    91
    Stranger to Stranger is, finally, Simon’s most interconnected work, a self-contained world unto itself full of backing tracks that wind up in multiple songs and recurring characters (“the Street Angel”) who pop up in unexpected places.
  5. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 6, 2016
    90
    Simon’s thirteenth studio album is as fresh and relevant as anything currently being mass-consumed by the market, and the things it forces you to think about are far more important than most of the topics that are being fed to us by the industry.
  6. Boston Globe
    Jun 2, 2016
    90
    The album that resulted is Simon’s richest, most instantly appealing collection since “Graceland.”
  7. Uncut
    Jun 1, 2016
    90
    On this inspired album, jittery characters sketches alternate with introspective ballads bearing echoes of Simon & Garfunkel, astride variations on the exotic rhythms that have propelled his music since Graceland. [Jul 2016, p.79]
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  8. Los Angeles Times
    Jun 1, 2016
    90
    A distinguished and captivating extension of, rather than a dramatic departure from, his rich body of work.
  9. Paste Magazine
    Jun 3, 2016
    89
    Without a doubt,Stranger to Stranger is a testament to an artist who refuses to be ordinary and pigeonholed. With this LP, Paul Simon has created his best work in many years.
  10. Record Collector
    Jun 20, 2016
    80
    [A] challenging, deeply odd at times and hugely enjoyable album.
  11. The Line of Best Fit
    Jun 8, 2016
    80
    With so much powerful percussion on display, it takes a few listens before you finally settle down and appreciate the more intimate and painstakingly-beautiful arrangements that fall in between Stranger to Stranger’s colossal thunderclaps.
  12. Rolling Stone
    Jun 7, 2016
    80
    It's as inviting, immaculately produced, jokey and unsettled a record as any he has ever made.
  13. Q Magazine
    Jun 6, 2016
    80
    Perfectly balanced, 2011's So Beautiful Or So What was a triumph, which Stranger To Stranger continues. [#361, p.115]
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  14. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 6, 2016
    80
    Simon is even more sonically restless than usual: microtonal variations say so much.
  15. PopMatters
    Jun 6, 2016
    80
    The inflections in his voice make the wonderment work, but it’s the mind behind the statement that serves as a reminder, even now, why his is such an essential voice in the pop lexicon. Nobody can do what he does. In fact it’s hard to even imagine anyone attempting to try.
  16. AllMusic
    Jun 3, 2016
    80
    Simon seems at peace on Stranger to Stranger, acknowledging the twilight yet not running toward it because there's so much to experience in the moment. He's choosing to push forward, not look back, and the results are invigorating.
  17. The 405
    Jun 2, 2016
    80
    Stranger to Stranger is a pleasure-filled exploration of rhythm, melody, instrumentation and lyrical themes which has joyful experimentation at its heart.
  18. American Songwriter
    Jun 2, 2016
    80
    This album is just more evidence that few have ever been as fluent in that tongue as Paul Simon.
  19. Mojo
    Jun 1, 2016
    80
    Simon's new music sounds inventive, surprising and catchy to boot. [Jul 2016, p.94]
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  20. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 1, 2016
    80
    The results are mostly magical, largely because these songs still sound like Simon at his wry and melodic best.
  21. The Independent (UK)
    Jun 1, 2016
    80
    Few songwriters can juggle seriousness and whimsy as adeptly as Paul Simon on Stranger To Stranger, his best album in several years.
  22. Chicago Tribune
    Jun 6, 2016
    75
    On Stranger to Stranger (Concord), his 13th solo album, he blends the custom-made, fancifully titled cloud-chamber bowls and chromelodeons of maverick composer Harry Partch with an army of globe-spanning musicians into off-kilter pop songs.
  23. Consequence
    Jun 2, 2016
    75
    Stranger To Stranger is poof positive that Simon isn’t simply still here, but he’s kicking with gusto. In a year where good news has been fleeting for classic rock fans, Simon’s latest is worth grabbing onto with both hands.
  24. Pitchfork
    Jun 9, 2016
    72
    Musically, it’s his most adventurous album since Graceland, filed with strange rhythmic kinks and a junkyard’s worth of barely identifiable sounds.
  25. Clash Music
    Jun 3, 2016
    70
    Although uncompromising in it’s vision and delivery, Stranger To Stranger ultimately, serves as another fine testament to Simon’s craft and ingenuity as a songwriter.
  26. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 3, 2016
    70
    Stranger to Stranger’s effect is most potent when there’s some interplay between a complex, danceable groove and a salient philosophical offering.
  27. Spin
    Jun 8, 2016
    60
    It’s more of a mixed bag.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best Album of 2016
100
#100 Most Shared Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 45
  3. Negative: 6 out of 45
  1. williamblake
    Jun 3, 2016
    10
    With his latest addition to an extraordinarily influential discography, Paul Simon proves he is "Still Relevant After All These Years". Few ofWith his latest addition to an extraordinarily influential discography, Paul Simon proves he is "Still Relevant After All These Years". Few of his contemporaries can do what he did - keep pushing themselves to grow and reinvent. It sounds like Simon but it is fresh and different. The album definitely rewards repeated listening. It rewards slowing down and taking in the music with the lyrics rather than just using it as background noise, as so much new music has become. The lyrics are playful and fun and to a casual listener may sound a bit too literal for someone of Simon's lyrical prowess. But when you listen carefully, they still send chills down your spine. This is not just another album of someone who does not know when to stop. It is relevant, original and beautiful.… Full Review »
  2. linclink
    Jun 3, 2016
    10
    The three album run of "Surprise", "So Beautiful Or So What" & "Stranger To Stranger" is as great a run as his other best two... "Heart &The three album run of "Surprise", "So Beautiful Or So What" & "Stranger To Stranger" is as great a run as his other best two... "Heart & Bones", "Graceland" & "Rhythm Of The Saints"... and then "Bookends" & "Bridge Over Troubled Water" & I think I'd go with "Paul Simon" over "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme", but either way... Paul Simon's career is truly up there with anyone's you care to name & of all the giants of the 60's & 70's, he is producing the most impressive work of the last decade.
    "Proof Of Love" & "Insomniac's Lullaby" are probably my absolute faves, but that's among an incredible field, without a weak track on the album. I hope he ends up doing more material from this on his current tour (currently doing "Werewolf", "Wristband" & "Stranger To Stranger"    … Full Review »
  3. sky_of_galaxy
    Jun 4, 2016
    8
    Paul Simons latest album seems to encompass a combination of the sounds he has used to date.. and then some more! Here is my review of eachPaul Simons latest album seems to encompass a combination of the sounds he has used to date.. and then some more! Here is my review of each song:

    1) Werewolf: An incredible song that combines haunting instrumental sounds and a central theme of the evils of Capitalism. I would say this has a sound similar to the album You're the One
    2) Wristband: A fun-themed song that where the 'wristband' probably has a much deeper meaning based on passing through racial doors, etc. The instruments are similar the clap-clap style of many songs on the album. I would say this would have a sound similar to the album You're the One as well.
    3) The Clock: A nice instrumental piece that has a clock ticking and many instruments built around it. I would say this has a sound similar to the Surprise album.
    4) Street Angel: The first thing I thought of when I heard this song was the famous line in 'You Can Call me Al': A man walks down the street, it's a street in a strange world..' Perhaps this is the same character? The song is about a man going crazy and being taken away to the psych ward in an ambulance. Perhaps our man Al from 1986 has had a breakdown haha
    5) Stranger to Stranger: The flagship song of the album. The first thing I thought of when I heard the South American sound to the album was the album The Rhythum of the Saints. If I had't know better, this would be a song right off of there and the 'joy' I felt was incredible when I heard this easy-going song.
    6) In a Parade: Our character from Street Angel now arrives at the hospital and here it seems he believes he is in a parade (perhaps the parade from the song 'Proof' on The Rhythm of the Saints album? haha) A sound that seems to have a Graceland feel to it.
    7) Proof of Love: Speaking of Proof, here we have Proof of Love (coincidence?). This is one of my favorites from the album describing Paul Simon visiting a sage or spiritual leader in South America. This song has a combination of The Rhythm of the Saints' South American sound and a bit of the Surprise album sound. This song is truly a gorgeous gem.
    8) In the Garden of Edie: A nice and simple guitar song perhaps dedicated to his wife Edie?
    9) The River Bank: Apparently Paul wrote this song about American war heroes being remembered and also, interestingly, about the Sandy Hook Massacre (he actually sang at the funeral for the victims). A very interesting sound to this album and also haunting. The sound reminds me of the Surprise album, especially the song 'Everything about it is a Love Song.'
    10) Cool Papa Bell: Another one of my favorites from the album, a song describing just taking it easy and not worrying and thinking because.. well, it's not my job to worry or to think! A bit of profanity in this song, but well placed. The song also mentions Cool Papa Bell, an African American baseball player from history. The sounds are very similar to the Graceland Album and has a bit of a 'Gumboots' sound to it.
    11) Insomniac's Lullaby: A beautiful little song that apparently Paul wrote referring to him being awake all night trying to write a song. This song instantly reminds me of 'Everything About it was a Love Song' (remember the line: Locked in a struggle for the right combination of words in a melody line...) a very gorgeous work of art that has a Surprise album sound to it.
    -- Bonus tracks on Deluxe Version:
    12) Horace and Pete: A song apparently that is the theme song for some TV show that Paul wrote. A nice little melody.
    13) Duncan (Live): The classic song Duncan live. Nice little tune!
    14) Wristband (Live): Wristband when it was first played live. A nice live touch to it.
    15) Guitar Piece 3: A nice little guitar piece.
    16) New York is my Home: A duet between Paul Simon and Dion. Not a bad little ending to the album
    ---

    Final review: A gorgeous album cover to cover. I certainly hope this is not Paul's last.    … Full Review »
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