Five years in the making, Simon's late-career triumph fuses globetrotting traditions with masterful songwriting. Like most of his best solo work, Stranger to Stranger is a colorful whirlwind of sounds from far-flung corners of the world—a patter of Cajón, a flourish of Southern gospel, and a smear of synthesizers (several tracks were made with Italian electronic outfit Clap! Clap!). But something like “Street Angels”—an echoing tale of a street smart tough guy—allows Simon’s sharp wit and poetic license to shine.