Sounds of Silence (1966)

"The Sound of Silence" Of all the albums I acquired as a result of joining a record club in approximately 1966, empowered by paperboy profits—a bunch of Gary Lewises, Cher's first solo, The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits, a live Johnny Rivers set, others now forgotten, perhaps for the best—this is the one that sounds absolutely as fresh and vibrant as ever. I didn't even particularly like it at the time, beyond the hyperventilating dramatics of "Richard Cory" and "I Am a Rock." But all things in good time, right: out of a lifetime of mystification, suddenly an understanding of the role of Art Garfunkel, the tenor of his voice and the harmonies he brings to bear with Paul Simon, ever the auteur. The production and performances are brisk, proficient and gentle. The melodies are delicate and lovely. There's even an instrumental here, "Anji," and it works fine, though likely by reason of shrewd track sequencing. The lyrics, sure, they've pretty much all been in the oven too long, emanating from someone who may have taken his college classes on early 19th-century Brit poetics a bit too seriously (just guessing here). But songs such as "Somewhere They Can't Find Me," "I Am a Rock," even "We've Got a Groovy Thing Goin'," retain an urgency and appeal that just won't fade. Of course, it probably doesn't hurt that sentimental me finds a virtual trove of memories from song to song here.