Review: Paul Simon contemplates mortality and God on 'Seven Psalms,' his dream-inspired new album that isn't an 'album'

Paul Simon, "Seven Psalms" (Owl Records/Sony Legacy)

The sounds of silence ring loud and clear on the intensely contemplative "Seven Psalms," Paul Simon's often whisper-soft new album that is not — he maintains — an album in the conventional sense of the word.

Make that hushed and clear.