70. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel were a duo who were present throughout my childhood, which is quite a big thing considering my house was not an overtly musical one in many respects.

Following the rushed nature of Sounds of Silence due to label pressure, the duo spent three months perfecting this, their third record. Much of the writing reflects Paul Simon's time in England the previous year, and the quality of the sound, and clever use of instrumentation, ensured this album remained popular for years to come, going on to achieve triple platinum status in the US.

Scarborough Fair/Canticle is an old English Folk song, with the herbs from the album title representing different aspects of a relationship. The organ adds a warmth to the sound, along with the delicate harmonies throughout - this is a classis Folk duet, and whilst slightly saccharine, it is beautifully done. Patterns has a driving percussion element to it, along with a distinctive bass sound, demonstrating a depth of sound in contrast to the much tinnier opening. Cloudy however is simply too tinny and lightweight, lacking some of the direction and cohesion of other songs. Homeward Bound is a great example of simple songwriting, with a catchy chorus, and clear narrative, and a universal emotional pull. It has always been one of my favourite Simon and Garfunkel songs, and repeated listens have not diminished my respect for it. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine is slightly bizarre, to put it mildly. Whilst musically catchy, the lyrics just seem slightly out of place from such innocent sounding voices. The 59th Street Song is one I've known for years, but is a bit shallow when i hear it now, however pleasant sounding it is. The Dangling Conversation weaves a wonderful set of images, which shows how good the lyrics can be when focused, and the backing strings add a depth to it. A Simple Desultory Philippic is frankly brilliant, with some of the best lyrics this side of Bob Dylan. In fact, Chloe told me that an English Professor she knew gave an entire lecture based on the lyrics of this song, and the references contained within it. For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her is utterly beautiful, with a touching crescendo, and A Poem on the Underground Wall has a delicacy about it that makes it both compelling when you listen to it and slightly forgettable when you are not. 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night works well, but it becomes a bit too depressing on repeated listens.

Overall this is a slightly frustrating album, as there are hints of how good the duo can be, but they lack a bit of consistency. Possibly i know some of the songs too well, and that has hampered my enjoyment of their simplicity, but the pair sometimes seem to be trying a bit too hard to be clever, which is never a great basis for an album. That having been said, when they hit the mark, the songs are superb, and demonstrate Paul Simon's masterful craft.

Chloe's album rating: 7

Chloe's favourite track: 9. A Simple Desultory Philippic

Olly's album rating: 7

Olly's favourite track: 4. Homeward Bound

Next week we have the classic 244. Harvest by Neil Young.