Hearts and Bones

Released in 1983, Hearts and Bones stands as Paul Simon's most misunderstood and eventually vindicated work. Originally conceived as a Simon & Garfunkel reunion album titled 'Think Too Much,' the project became a solo effort after creative tensions led Art Garfunkel to depart. This transition left the album with a unique sonic fingerprint: it possesses the melodic richness of a duo record but the singular, insular focus of a man processing a high-profile divorce (from Carrie Fisher) and professional uncertainty. Sonically, it is a bridge between the jazz-inflected folk of his 70s output and the world-music experimentation of 'Graceland.' It features a stellar cast of musicians, including Nile Rodgers and Philip Glass, resulting in a production that is both '80s-slick' and timelessly organic. While a commercial failure upon release, it is now cited by critics as a lyrical peak, containing some of Simon's most profound meditations on the human condition.