Also, the album's rockers can be pretty violent and scathing in a way, "Richard Cory" and "Blessed" being the prime examples. The song's another way to prove that a song doesn't have to be virtuosic and complex to be good. Paul Simon's vocal performance is great, and you can really hear the effort he's putting into it all. The guitar work is simple but the fingerpicking switches through multiple emotions quite frequently, even in as much a few measures of playing. Even if you don't pick up the record (although I suggest you do, obviously), at least listen to this song and hear a melancholic love song done right. Speaking of "Kathy's Song," that could possibly be the best song of the entire record. For every sentimental ballad like "Kathy's Song," there's always a rocker like "We've Got a Groovy Thing Goin'" to offset it. The album is also clearly organized so the listener has moments of energy and moments to breathe at all the right places. The way these two singers bring up the theme of darkness and isolation verges between enlightening and gut-wrenching, and having beautiful guitar flourishes and sparse leads really helps it. The verses and choruses maintain a mid-tempo pace and don't really change things up composition-wise, but the vocals and lyricism are, once again, what make this work.
"The Sound of Silence" is just as classic as its always been, with the haunting opening lines "Hello darkness, my old friend" kicking off this wonderful piece of work. But other songs go perfectly with their themes. The vocal melodies during the choruses all harmonize in major 3rds, again giving off an oddly happy vibe. For instance, "I Am a Rock" is about a man whose refusal to socialize with other people grants him a life of isolation, but music is cheery and almost cathartic. While most of the themes are very melancholic, the melodies almost seem to contradict this. The lyrics are presented in a sweet and simple way there's no bullshitting the listener, which is pretty refreshing. The lyrical themes revolve around silence (of course), isolation, fear, death, relationships, the works. The strength has always been with the lyricism, vocal melodies, and simple-yet-emotive guitar work, and this album is no stranger to that sound. The album includes the vocal-driven folk rock and wonderful harmonies the group are known for, throwing in few surprises but not exactly needing to. Sounds of Silence is quite a short affair, but in this case, it pays to make the work concise. Not only that, but I might just consider this their best album as well. Their second effort Sounds of Silence is widely known as their breakthrough album, particularly because of its title track's legacy as a classic song in its genre. While they were in the folk rock movement of the 60's along with Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Rubber Soul-era Beatles, etc., they were one of the most influential artists of that musical era. In terms of "changing outer reality," just look at their impact in the music industry. The band's internal struggles and successes were a key ingredient in what made their music work, often being notable themes in much of their lyricism. The Roman historian Plutarch once said, "What you achieve inwardly will change outer reality." In a way, this quote could really apply to numerous bands given their histories, particularly the folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel.
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