Jesus, this is fucking heavy. 

Not in a Black Sabbath way, but anyone who has been a Paul Simon fan and followed his career over the years will likely feel the same after absorbing the lyrics on this 33-minute, seven-song set that, in actuality, is a single track of music. And what a beautiful, mournful piece.

His fourteenth solo album of new material, and first since 2016's excellent Stranger to Stranger, Seven Psalms is largely Mr. Simon on his trusty acoustic with occasional instrumental touches scattered throughout. The words, however, are the story here and a window into the 81 year old staring down his own mortality while also seeming to delight in referencing previous selections from his catalog, of which his latest holds a unique place. While Simon may not have the answer himself, this will surely leave listeners asking whether Seven Psalms is his final entry. For anyone to maintain this level of consistency and quality, much less an octogenarian who's been at it since the early 60s, it's a privilege to even receive this offering.