Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark

Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark / 2008 Sony / 12 Tracks / http://www.neildiamond.com /

It’s amazing when the amount of albums that you have sold, if limited to the United States, would provide a copy of a Neil Diamond album to one in every three citizens. This fact is almost as amazing as the fact that Diamond has been recording for nearly fifty years; 1960 saw the release of the first Diamond single (as a part of Neil and Jack), “What Will I Do”.

While Diamond has slowed down in regards to creating new albums (3 years has passed since “12 Songs” was first shown to the masses, where ey had a string of 9 straight years with a new album between 1966 and 1974), the quality that is present during tracks like “One More Bit of the Apple” and “If I Don’t See You Again” is equal to some of the most memorable Diamond releases. The disc starts off with the aforementioned “If I Don’t See You Again”, which shows the amazing instrumentation laid down by veteran musicians Mike Campbell and Benmoch Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), as well as Matt Sweeney (Chavez). “Pretty Amazing Grace” continues the solid instrumental effort by Diamond’s backing band, while Diamond’s vocals provide individuals with a sense that ey is human, that things could easily change eir timidness, and as such, allows individuals to easily identify with someone that is not like them in terms of funds or success.

The placement of “Another Day”, the duet that ey does with Natalie Maines (formerly of the Dixie Chicks), is smart for Diamond. First, it breaks any ruts that ey may have entered by the end of “Don’t Go There”. Secondly, it is a track that will reinvigorate anyone that listens in to the album. Finally, the use of a second vocalist allows Diamond’s vocals to reach different sounds and styles, as Maines’ vocals fill in any weaknesses that Diamond’s may have. The disc ends with two tracks – “Slow It Down” and “Home Before Dark” – that are virtually indistinguishable in terms of quality or compelling arrangements than the earliest songs on “Home Before Dark”. There is a good chance that this album will be floating around the highest register of the Billboard charts for the next few months; the quality of “Home Before Dark” merits it, and the smart production of Rick Rubin here makes Diamond cool again. Pick “Home Before Dark” up as soon as possible.

Top Tracks: Forgotten, Act Like A Man

Rating: 7.0/10