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| Artist: Neil Diamond
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $13.97
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $2.98 (21%)
New (73) Used (29) from $6.19
Rating:  85 reviews
Sales Rank: 189
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.3 x 4.8 x 0.4
MPN: 715465
UPC: 886971546521
EAN: 0886971546521
ASIN: B0015D3Z3A
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Man Comes Around. June 14, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I like Neil--I have over 100 songs from him. I think he hit a dry patch from 1981 through 2004. Like Johnny Cash, Diamond shrewdly picked Rick Rubin to produce the top 5 album "12 Songs" in 2005. I was somewhat disappointed with those results. It didn't quite match the work Rubin did with Cash.
"Home Before Dark" is the second album produced with Rick Rubin, and it's more of the same. Neil's songwriting and musical choices are like curling up with a hot cup of Celestial Seasonings tea. Comforting and familiar, the songs wash over you with little to offend or shake you from your pleasant reveries.
What we have here is 'serious' Neil Diamond in an intimate, acoustic form. Replete with help from two of the Heartbreakers--Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. This worked well with Johnny Cash, but there's something missing when Neil tries this approach. Neil is about melodies and instruments, and to strip him bare to just acoustic guitar is all right, but not stunning or memorable.
After listening to "Home Before Dark" all week the conclusion I came to was that I wanted something more from Neil. I was somewhat bored with his musical arrangements. Nothing jumped out at me in terms of songwriting or song craft. I have the tracks that I like such as "If I Don't See You Again", "Pretty Amazing Grace", "Don't Go There", "No Words" and "Home Before Dark". Yet, I don't have a compelling desire to listen to "Home Before Dark" over and over again.
It seemed to me that there was little variation in terms of sound, like "12 Songs". It's not bad, but it's not great, it's just okay. I have another issue with the length of some of the songs rolling in at 6 and 7 minutes in length. Neil is not Yes, Rush or Genesis--bands that know how to make a 7 minute song interesting.
I know that "Home Before Dark" is Neil Diamond's first #1 album of his career. This means there will be another album in two or three years. I'm hoping that Rick and Neil will experiment more next time in terms of instrumentation. In terms of song writing, I understand Neil is 67, and he's coming from that perspective, and I know he's not trying to write a top 40 song anymore, but it would be nice if he put a little more distinctive melody into his music. Three stars for a solid, if not entirely memorable or challenging listen.
Neil does it again! June 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
For die hard Neil Diamond fans - he's done it again. He's like fine wine, he gets better, and better with age. Thanks Neil.
 Another Awesome sound!!!! June 12, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!!!
As usual Neil Diamond has put together a Wonderful CD. Very enjoyable.
A Personal Neil June 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Older, wiser, calm yet passionate, resigned yet hopeful, this is the mature Neil Diamond. In this very personal album he speaks of mistakes and disappointments past, but still holds hope for things to be better -- relationships, understanding, outcomes. And if you hear it this way, he's praising someone (or Someone) greater than himself.
All in all, it's mellow without being boring, simple without being simplistic -- a man who is comfortable with the discomforts of life, because he has found what really matters. And he sets all that in very musical settings.
Nevef too old June 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not exactly what I expected but well received nevertheless. Neil has grown
older gracefully. Home Before Dark is smooth and mellow. His fans like me will never tire of him.
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