"Cool Papa Bell" - Paul Simon [SoundCloud Official Audio Stream]

Legendary New York City singer-songwriter Paul Simon has shared another song from his upcoming album, Stranger To Stranger. Listen to "Cool Papa Bell" above, via Concord Music Group's official SoundCloud account.

With a groove that incorporates worldly elements from African music in particular, "Cool Papa Bell" falls in line with some of Simon's most beloved songs from the past. There's a bouncy tuba thrown in, giving the track a funky New Orleans feel, and the rhythmic underpinning is a bit of a roller coaster taking quick turns in various directions as percussion drops out and comes back in.

My biggest criticism is that this song could have used a bridge to break up the melodic repetition and push the musicality to the next level. The lyrics are the most creative thing here, and it's notable that Simon does indeed use profanity, saying "Bullshit" and "Motherfucker." The song is interesting enough to be thought-provoking, and fun enough to keep the party going.

Stranger To Stranger will be released on June 3, 2016 via Concord Records. Pick it up on Amazon. Last month, Paul shared the album's first single, "Wristband."

Simon has also announced 2016 tour dates for the months of May through July. For more information about that, as well as Paul's latest music and news, check out his Zumic artist page.

Source: Concord Music Group SoundCloud