Customer Reviews

12 Songs

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

To put my review in perspective, I'll just mention that I am a thirtysomething male who grew up listening to Neil Diamond thanks to my parents' and grandparents' robust Neil Diamond collections. Before I had purchased my own first vinyl I knew all the words to "Song Sung Blue."

I'm not just a Neil fan, but he's been part of the soundtrack of my life from the word go.

As such I've bought many of his releases since the glory days of the late 70's, and each one was successful or not to varying degrees. Most of all I missed the troubador Neil, the solitary man with guitar. The aching longing and loneliness in his vocals, the genius behind "Stones" (my all-time favorite Neil album).

All I can say is: Neil, at long last, after two decades-plus wandering in the wilderness, has at last come home.

This is the richest--and yet simplest-- collection of Neil Diamond tunes since the 70s. He's not trying to hip it up, he's not trying to appeal to a certain audience segment, he's just being NEIL. And sweet Lordy what a beautiful noise.

With only simple piano flourishes and the solitary guitar we loved from the very beginning, Neil delivers a full album of Neil Diamond compositions. No Alan & Marilyn Bergman love songs for Neil and Barbara (although a lovely duet with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys fits very well).

I want to shout about this album from the mountaintops. "Hell Yeah" indeed. Neil has come home to make a Neil Diamond album that is destined to sit among "Stones" and "Moods" as one of the strongest collections of songs that he's ever delivered. Really, if you know anyone who left Neil's camp over the past couple decades, tell them to come back. Neil did and he sounds better than ever.

What a genuine surprise to hear a Neil Diamond album that doesn't make me instantly wish I was listening to one of his golden hits of the early 1970's. An expert performer who still draws devoted throngs of baby boomers, Diamond has let his relevance as a singer-songwriter diminish over the past thirty years in favor of easy listening radio and lucrative concert tours. In fact, it's easy to forget that he hasn't done anything that has challenged him artistically since 1976's "Beautiful Noise". Enter Rick Rubin, a renegade producer who has done landmark albums for the likes of the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and most relevantly, the late Johnny Cash on his acoustic 1994 return to form, "American Recordings". The equally unlikely collaboration between Diamond and Rubin has yielded, hands down, one of the best Neil Diamond recordings ever.

Rubin obviously forced Diamond's hand in abandoning the performer's predilection for overproduction and variety showmanship in favor of a leaner sound that allows him to move toward a more introspective and resonant direction. Such emotional consistency over the course of a full album never reflected Diamond's personality. For instance, in the past, he could not sing a romantic ballad like "Hello Again" without including crowd-pleasing bombast such as "America". However, even with the tonal constraints put on him, Diamond still shows an unfettered knack for composing songs with compelling melodies and sharp hooks. The opening track, "Oh Mary", is a sweet ballad where Diamond repeats the title as a forlorn mantra. The familiar-sounding "Hell Yeah", "Captain of a Shipwreck" and especially "Evermore" (which instantly recalls "I Am I Said") showcase his theatrical sense within an atmosphere of intimacy. He expresses a palpable yearning on the pop ballad, "Save Me a Saturday Night", that aches with a slow dance tempo.

With its powerfully rhythmic guitar chords, my favorite song is the percolating "Delirious Love", which soars with Diamond's testosterone-driven romantic energy. "I'm on to You" brings a nice jazzy vibe to its finger-snapping tale of romantic deceit. The loping, country-twanged beat on ''What's It Gonna Be" reflects a world-weariness in the singer that makes the chorus turn into a resigned ultimatum to a straying lover. Moving toward higher ground, Diamond takes on spiritual renewal with the gospel-tinged "Man of God", and as an appropriate follow-up, Billy Preston's Hammond organ opens the touching "Create Me" as if it's the beginning of a church procession. A Mexican standoff between two lovers marks the romantic melodrama of "Face Me", which sounds eerily like the tumbleweed theme of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. The Dixieland melody of "We" is the closest Diamond comes to kitsch here, but he keeps it in check with the catchy lyrics.

The Digi-Pak version is worth the premium on the price tag for the two bonus tracks. The first is the achingly beautiful "Men Are So Easy", which contains perceptive observations about growing up. The second is perhaps the most infectious track on the whole recording - a redo of "Delirious Love" as a duet with Brian Wilson that converts the song into Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys with their trademark swooping harmonies. The core ensemble - Diamond, Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers and Smokey Hormel on guitars and another Heartbreaker, Benmont Tech, on keyboards - perform expertly throughout. This is a pop masterwork by a talent too long in the artistic trenches.

This is an amazing CD, possibly the best work Neil Diamond has ever done. He sings from the heart. He pours out his soul. The simplicity makes every song sparkle like the true Diamond that sings them.

Anyone that appreciates Neil Diamond's music in the slightest bit will appreciate this cd. The layered accoustic guitar sound will mesmerize you. The lyrics are sung with a passion that hasn't been present in Diamonds recordings in years. Do yourself a favor and give this cd a shot. You won't be disappointed.

this CD is awesome. Well worth waiting all these past 4 years for. I have been a Diamond fan for over 40 years and have seen him in concert several times. This CD comes full circle and brings back the man that we all fell in love with way back when. Thank you very much, Neil Diamond, for doing this CD and bringing back the person we all got to know with the sensitive, feeling, heartfelt musing of your brilliant mind with your special lyrics. I think that no matter what about the Sony thing, this CD is a keeper and you have again shown us what a wonderful, wonderous talent you are still and always have been. Welcome back into our world, my friend, Play Me...... always!!!

I grew up with Neil Diamond(my mom loves him) and this album is just AWESOME! It takes me back to the "early years" style of music he used to do.
Copyright stuff aside, this album rocks. Don't ruin Neil's ratings just because of the copyright stuff. You can give it higher than 1 star and still explain the crappiness of the cd itself and people will understand.

THE BEST !!! After I ripped open my Amazon delivery this week, I have listened to this just released Neil Diamond CD non-stop. Each play sounds even better. The music, lyrics and arrangements are the best, in my opinion. There is the Neil we remember,and there is a New Neil to welcome. A great combination of Diamond and Rubin. Thanks for your efforts and accomplishment.

for those who are Neil Diamond fans, this is a bit different from his other albums. but this one is much more personal. instead of it making you think of Neil standing on a stage singing, you imagine him in front of you in your living room with his guitar. all that's missing is a lit cigar.

hell yeah makes you happy for him and yourself and rouses you to keep on trying. your heart is moved by evermore. you hurt in face me. we makes you smile. I actually cried during men are so easy, which is not normal for me. each song is different from the next and elicits a different emotion. that is what makes this cd so great.

this is definitely a well-done, well thought out compilation of songs. no sweet caroline here. the last time I heard this kind of emotion in Neil's voice was on Tennessee Moon. but this is much better than that cd. of all that I have, 12 songs is my favorite because it is more real. so, pull up an extra chair for Neil in your room and enjoy this one.

this is the most incredible album yet - this is neil stripped down to the bare basic - just neil and his guitar - just love it

I have to say that this brings back fond memories of the time when Neil wrote from the heart and not from a sequined jump suit.

"Evermore" "Men Are So Easy" "We" "Hell Yeah" "Captain of a Shipwreck" and others take me back to 1970 and a time when Neil was a true artist. We have waited thirty years for this album.