Paul Simon
“So Beautiful or So What”
(Hear Music/Concord Music Group)

Paul Simon, half of the famed duo Simon & Garfunkel, has released his solo album, “So Beautiful or So What.” Though Simon’s usual fans will enjoy it, a few of the tracks have a different timbre than his older music. Many songs are remarkably melancholy, especially “Love And Hard Times.” The track “Amulet” is entirely instrumental. “Questions For The Angels” is a little on the dark side with lyrics alluding to struggles of the homeless and thoughts of self-actualization. Regardless of a few heavier songs, the album still features several tracks of the lighthearted, easy vein for which Simon is known. His vocals weave through the instrumentals with such ease that it’s hard not to relax when listening to this album. As summer approaches and moods brighten, the release of “So Beautiful or So What” is timed perfectly.

Hilary Kelly

Panda Bear
“Tomboy”
(Paw Tracks)?

Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox, under the pseudonym Panda Bear, has released his fourth solo record, “Tomboy.”? The album consists of 11 songs with simple rhythms and a dark reverb that ironically make the album sound grandiose.?Serving as a fitting summer soundtrack, “Surfer Hymn” features the noise of ocean waves mixed with tribal drums and synthesizer.? Other memorable tracks include the opener “You Can Count on Me,” the title track, and “Drone.” While “Tomboy” is not an intense dance album, it offers a psychedelic and dazed experience.

Christina Orie

Composed by Dario Marianelli
“Jane Eyre – Original Motion Picture” Soundtrack
(Sony Masterworks)

nelli has scored some of the most well-received films of recent years, including the Academy Award-winning “Atonement” and the Oscar-nominated “Pride & Prejudice.” His most recent endeavor, for Cary Fukunaga’s film “Jane Eyre,” does not disappoint. The haunting violin solos and sweeping background instrumentals capture the elegance and emotion of the film’s storyline. The first track, “Wandering Jane,” begins slowly with light vocals, but as the soundtrack continues, the vocals disappear and are replaced by a strong and moving violin. “A Game of Badminton” sounds very similar to the score for “Pride & Prejudice,” a theme which continues into the next few tracks until it ultimately evolves into deeper, more dramatic instrumentals. This album captures the emotion and action of the film, and is certainly enjoyable for fans of instrumental scores who have yet to even see the film.

Kelsey Grashoff