“It’s the best work I’ve done in 20 years,” Paul Simon told Showbiz411 about his forthcoming album, So Beautiful Or So What, which — not-so-coincidentally — was the last time Rhymin’ Simon went platinum. Not sure I’m ready to place the first single, “Getting Ready For Chistmas Day,” in the canon alongside tunes off Simon’s game-changing Graceland, but between the pleasantly disorienting 1941 sample of gospel artist/preacher Reverend J.M. Gates and catchy folk-pop melodies, I’d say this makes for a promising LP from the iconic singer-songwriter. Hear it above (via Stereogum and NPR).
