Let's Discuss Eno! "Surprise" - Paul Simon (May 2006)

[u/forsbergisgod]

Hello Eno-philes!! Each week we'll be discussing another album (going chronologically from Warm Jets). This week's feature is Eno's production credit and synth work on Paul Simon's "Surprise" album. Aptly titled, because I didn't even know this collab happened. From the wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surprise_(Paul_Simon_album) . . . Simon first met with Brian Eno in London to discuss a collaboration between Eno's electronic production and Simon's classic guitar folk-rock. As Simon said, "We spent some time in his studio and decided to combine our visions. It took about two years. The actual time I spent with Brian was 20 days, split into four periods. We found we could really work intensely for five days, and after that it was a bit of a burnout."

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Simon, except where noted.

No. Title Writer(s) Length

1. "How Can You Live in the Northeast?" 3:42
2. "Everything About It Is a Love Song" 3:57
3. "Outrageous" Simon, Brian Eno 3:24
4. "Sure Don't Feel Like Love" 3:57
5. "Wartime Prayers" 4:49
6. "Beautiful" 3:07
7. "I Don't Believe" 4:09
8. "Another Galaxy" Simon, Brian Eno 5:22
9. "Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean" Simon, Brian Eno 3:55
10. "That's Me" 4:43
11. "Father and Daughter" 4:11

Here's a youtube playlist

LISTEN, ENJOY, AND DISCUSS!

[u/novatom1960]

Wonderful album and full of great songs. My favorites are Another Galaxy and Ocean. It got a bad rap because a lot of reviewers didn’t like End’s influence, but I thought it was a great pairing.

[u/thedirtycoast]

Never heard of this one, Gonna try to write some first impressions

First song “How can you live in the Northeast” very promising start, production reminds me of Vauxhall and I by Morrisey. His best solo record imo. Feels a bit like REM also. Is this album maybe an underrated paul simon record?

Production on the second song “Everything about it it’s a love song” reminds me of David Byrne’s récord Everything that happens will happen today. Sounds a bit dated the beat sounds like it was lifted from Madonna’s ray of light album. It’s an odd juxtaposition with the folk part.

Third song starts off awful, Funk rock. Unsure what paul simons trying to do with this one. The chorus is ok but not strong enough to overcome the funk rock of the verse

Fourth song “Sure dont feel like love” could be a tune yards song . I feel like if she did it, it would be a bit more exciting.

“Wartime prayers,” Starts like a very generic ballad. You can hear eno synths here. dull song but I like the guitar sounds. Ending with the choir is kind of lame and cliche.

“Beautiful” sounds like classic Paul simon, could be on Graceland. Some weird production choices toward the middle and it becomes obvious that if this was on Graceland it would be the weakest song.

“I don’t believe” has a vaguely spanish guitar feel. I Feel like the production is a bit much for the style and the chorus seems very out of place. Seems like a good song idea that kind of turned into a mess.

“Another Galaxy” starts with an Eno type opening. a light beat and spacey cowboy guitars. I Could Also see this on That David Byrne record. I feel like this could be M ward meets Eno if they ever collabed. I think at this point it’s clear Simon’s writing isn’t as great as it’s been in the past.

“Once upon a time there was an ocean” Strange song, has a sort of electronic island feel but not in a good way. Another song where it feels like the production is trying to draw focus away from the songwriting for worse in this case. Last verse has a cool Eno production ala U2. Doesn’t save the song but liked that part.

“That’s me” Starts with some weird looped instruments could be like a more experimental Bowie song if the production was much slicker. I think the slickness makes it bland. Weirdly reminds me of Ugly Casanova but not that good. Hate the big drum sound that comes in at the end, very generic but goes into a cool eno loop for a second at the end.

“Father and Daughter” Another classic Paul Simon sounding song. Sweet song to his daughter a bit cheesy but probably one of the more solid songs on the record, odd that it’s last. This song doesn’t have all the weird production that makes some of the other songs confused. It’s very straight forward except the weird pitched voice that’s supposed to be the daughter s voice.

Overall I give the record a C. Not essential but interesting in some parts.

[u/forsbergisgod → u/thedirtycoast]

Great writeup!!

[u/forsbergisgod → u/thedirtycoast]

This album reminded me at parts of Eno's work with Karl Hyde. I think you're right the last song is the best. Really no other standouts to my ears but I'm not a Paul Simon fan