PAUL SIMON : LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY

 

  1. The Obvious Child
  2. Dazzling Blue I
  3. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
  4. So Beautiful Or So What
  5. Mother And Child Reunion
  6. That Was Your Mother
  7. Hearts And Bones
  8. Crazy Love, Vol. II
  9. Slip Slidin' Away
  10. Rewrite
  11. The Boy In The Bubble
  12. The Only Living Boy In New York
  13. The Afterlife
  14. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
  15. Gumboots
  16. The Sound Of Silence
  17. Kodachrome
  18. Gone At Last
  19. Late In The Evening
  20. Still Crazy After All These Years

Label : Concord Music Group

Release Date : September 18, 2012

Running Time : 94 minutes

NTSC : 16:9

Venue : Webster Hall, New York City, New York, USA

Recording Date : June 6th, 2011

Review (AllMusic) : When it came time to cut a live album documenting his supporting tour for his excellent 2011 album So Beautiful or So What, Paul Simon did what he always does: he set up shop in his hometown of New York City. Previously, he - either with or without Art Garfunkel - released albums recorded at massive venues like Madison Square Garden or Central Park, but Hear Music's 2012 Live in New York City - available either as a two-CD/one-DVD set or simply as a double CD or single DVD - was recorded at the comparatively intimate Webster Hall and, appropriately enough, the performance feels comparatively cozy, Simon striking just the right blend of playing for himself and playing for the audience. He showcases a nice chunk of So Beautiful or So What - "Dazzling Blue," "So Beautiful or So What," "Rewrite," "The Afterlife," roughly half of the album - and about half of Graceland, often opting for album tracks over hits (no "You Can Call Me Al" or "Graceland," but "That Was Your Mother" and "Gumboots" both make the cut), and when he does dip into such standards as "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Mother and Child Reunion," "Slip Slidin' Away," and "Still Crazy," he finds subtle little ways to inject a bit of groove into their well-worn contours. Simon is pleasing the crowd without pandering, and he winds up with a live album that's lively, slightly surprising, warm, and undeniably fun.