[SYN-041]
Granted, the songs of Simon & Garfunkel ain't exactly country. What could be more urban than singing about the New York Times, the Central Park Zoo, and the 59th Street Bridge? All the same, the rural background of Paul Simon's songwriting style is undeniable. In the early '60s, he and Art Garfunkel soaked up the folk balladry of the British Isles. Their arrangements of traditional tunes ("Scarborough Fair," "Peggy-O") clearly show that influence; so do Simon originals like "April Come She Will" and "Leaves that Are Green." Bluegrass emerged from the same Celtic musical wellspring, of course, even though it comes to us by way of Appalachia rather than Queens. This album, brought to you by some of Nashville's top sessioneers, just makes that essential connection a little easier to hear. — Mac Randall