Lovescape

Lovescape is my current favorite. It's been my favorite from the time I bought it when it came out. I love the various styles Neil incorporates on the album and rather than seeing him as a man of contradictions (a good point, though, raised by Mark Tubbs), I see him as a singer with eclectic influences and styles. He's been doing this right from the very beginning, if you haven't noticed that yet.

Songs like "If There Were No Dreams", "Don't Turn Around", "Someone Who Believes In You", the sentimental songs "When You Miss Your Love" and "Hooked On The Memory Of You" (though I like the original solo version better off The Best Years Of Our Lives CD, this one is not bad), "The Way" and the all dramatic and emotional (maudlin to other critics) "All I Really Need Is You", just to name a few, are some of my favorites. These songs sparkle. Yet, I love the overall feel of the CD, it shimmers all throughout.

Lovescape, in spite of the diversity in styles is classic Neil Diamond through and through. It's got good romantic songs with great melodies like we've come to expect from the Man himself. Production is clean and clear, showcasing beautiful orchestration that we expect to hear on every release. His voice, whether in a live or studio setting is pure magic and on Lovescape it isn't any different--always the consummate singer as far as these ears are concerned. And as with his previous releases, it is always about the singer, his music and his voice.


At his best   December 25, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

This was my first ND album ever, discovered on cassette tape in my parent's Christmas present stash over ten years ago. It's been up there in my personal top 10 ND albums ever since. He is a man of contradictions and unpredictability, and that's exactly what you get with this album. Some country ballads, the inevitable love songs, and some fun numbers. As with other reviewers, Lonely Lady #17 and Fortune of the Night had to grow on me, but Neil's style is indefineable; otherwise, how could Soolaimon and Red, Red Wine have come from the same man? Excellent production on Lovescape, great memorable tunes, a couple of well-done covers of Leonard Bernstein and Diane Warren offerings, and a good mix of fun and schmultz. This album is great because you get a little bit of every aspect of Neil. For this price, pick it up, enjoy all fifteen songs, and recommend it to your friends.


Light and Shadow   February 11, 2000
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The album cover photo reflects the quality of this album: a lot of light, but also some shadows (ND looks very strange on this shot, by the way). There are some outstanding tracks on this 1991 effort like "If There Were No Dreams" (anybody else who thinks that the opening guitar licks sound very much like "I Am, I Said"?) and "One Hand, One Heart", a Bernstein cover tune. "Common Ground", the closing track, is one of my personal favorites because it gives a lot of credit to the band and also sounds very much like Diamond in the Early/Mid 70's. Fillers like "Lonely Lady # 17" are terribly sub-standard, though, and should have better been left in the vaults.

In getting this 15-track and 60-minutes-plus studio album together, Diamond employed a lot of different producers, including the likes of Peter Asher and Albert Hammond. Roughly half of the tracks were produced by the man himself. This gives "Lovescape" both a fresh attitude and also some confusion, as the mix of country-flavored tunes, Diamond-style ballads and forgettable Easy Listening selections may be hard to swallow for the casual listener.