It took Neil Diamond more than forty years but over the last two albums he has finally become the song writer that he should have been all along. If he had only possessed producer Rick Rubin, to lead him by the hand decades ago, he'd surely be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by now.
What Rubin gave to Diamond is that very "sense of proportion," that Rolling Stone's critics accused him of sorely lacking. It is amusing when one listens to both the 2005 "12 Songs," and the current effort, "Home Before Dark," as you hear Neil trying to break out into his old melodramatic, self indulgent, style, when just as quickly Rubin reels him back in.
This striped down acoustical effort begins with the heartfelt "If I Couldn't See You Again," which seems truly personal to the vocalist. One wonders if he had not suffered a break up with his thirty-six year old flame, Rachel Farley? "Pretty Amazing Grace," the single from the album is a nice tune with well done chord changes, as well as raw emotions. The third song on the album, "Don't Go There," is the first up tempo effort here. The song works not only because it is well written, but also due to the fact that it truly takes you back to Diamond's MCA-UNI days, and songs like "Ain't No Way," and "High Rolling Man." This one should work even better in concert, as should his emotional duet with Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, "Another Day Time Forgot." Diamond gives it his usual plodding sensitivity, and Maines provides incredible vocals to close out this beautiful if haunting ballad. "Another Bite of the Apple," is the longing to return to the basic song writing that he knew so many decades before in Tin Pan Alley. Isn't this the real point of the last two albums? "Forgotten," is a fun expression of the rejection he has felt from the mainstream music world that discounted him years ago as a hit maker. Though his spelling out the word F-O-R-G-O-T-T-E-N, is a bit much to take. "I tried to do everything I knew. Don't seem fair cause look where you left me. You've got me waitin out back under a stack, stuck in a bin," A call to radio stations? Next comes the best song on he album, a country softy called "Act Like a man." This is a song written by Diamond back in the early 80's that was rejected by his record company at the time as "not commercial enough." Which may explain a big part of Diamond's problems during that era. The rest of the CD contains much of the same, "No Words," the wordy, bouncy, tune shows off Neil's guitar competence. "The Power of Two," at least sounds pleasant, even though it flirts a bit with the corny Neil that he is trying to make us all forget. "Home Before Dark," the song, is a slow ballad but you can tell the man was feeling it.
The genius of "Home Before Dark," the album, is that Neil Diamond brings forward the inner most thoughts of an aging pop star who knows nothing lasts forever. Though once senses that this album will surely stick in the minds of his fans for a very long time. It should catch the attention of the Grammy people as well.
The real question is, will the gods of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, ever forgive him for turning on his "Heartlight?"
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after the total disapointment for me with 12 songs,when i start to get scared of another 12 songs vol.2 i got the good surprise of an album who really sound like a ND album,not match for me the quality of MCA of 70's columbia albums,but the most of the songs are good and don't sound repetitive like the 12 songs filler.
...beyond any expections I may have ever had for NDiamond...pours out his heart and soul as he bares himself to the public as never before...brilliant just brilliant and I feel more is to come....devoted
The entire "Home Before Dark" seems much "heavier" than "12 Songs" did. I have been experiencing a deep, dark depression for 3 years now, along with menacing generalized anxiety and panic. I have not been able to get into any music AT ALL for MONTHS.
Neil Diamond