Awe, Some

There's only a couple musicians/songwriters I've ever really been in awe of. My dad drilled into me an aversion to hero worship - so it's difficult to ever emotionally go back to the way I felt in high school, when I screamed and jumped up and down at the sight of the Crowes or the Chili Peppers coming out for a concert.

Beethoven, Dylan, Beatles, Paul Simon... I am in awe of their natural abilities.

Beatles aside - for whatever reason, I always come back to Paul Simon and his solo career.

His music is also in another rare category for me - I never get sick of listening to it. Never. And it's not like he was very prolific, or at least Elton John-prolific (Randy Newman said, "Elton John put out six albums while I was brushing my teeth"). I just hear new things in the music every time, and much of it goes beyond my own musical ability.

I've been back in a There Goes Rhymin' Simon phase. Every song is a classic, every note played by Simon and his classic bunch of session guys perfection (my fave session band - say what you will about Steely Dan or Beach Boys). I wanted to post a vid of a completely underrated classic on this album, Learn How to Fall, but there's no good one to put up. If you don't know it, do check it out. Instead, I'll feature what I consider the best performance of the centerpiece of Rhymin' - American Tune. Garfunkel's harmonies and the extra bridge just take the song into space. Close your eyes and absorb.