Home Before Dark is the long awaited new album from legendary artist Neil Diamond. Home Before Dark was produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin who also produced Neil's critically acclaimed 12 Songs.
Remarkably Home Before Dark is the first US chart topping album of Neil Diamond's forty year career. It appears to repeat the formula behind 2006's acclaimed 12 Songs--relatively understated arrangements and a subtle Rick Rubin production. But Diamond, though sixty-seven years old and the oldest recipient of a Number One so far, is no Johnny Cash, turning his unique voice to some well chosen contemporary material. Instead Home Before Dark is a collection of new Diamond songs, and though they might not match the boomers in his back catalogue they are hardly stripped back. These are songs designed to fill large venues alongside the showstoppers in Diamond's still energetic live show. "Pretty Amazing Grace" is in the great tradition of Diamond songs that defy their corniness with sheer catchiness, as is "One More Bite of the Apple" while "Don't Go There" features bracing backing vocals and a delightfully dated wobbly guitar hook. The duet with Natalie Maines, "Another Day (That Time Forgot)", would fit comfortably on American country radio while "The Power of Two" sounds like another hit in waiting. In fact this is more a conventional Diamond collection than a Rick Rubin production, dominated by lightly understated country rock arrangements played by a crack team including Smokey Hormel, Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell and the usually experimental Matt Sweeney. This is a charming and consistently solid set, though Home Before Dark does lack the unexpected intensity that made 12 Songs stand out so. ---Steve Jelbert
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review: 4.5 / 5.0
"ND's first chart topping album??"
"Another home run for the singer-songwriter"
"What a shame"
"Neil Diamond Home Before Dark"
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
ND's first chart topping album??:
This is Neil Diamond's first chart topping album in the USA (Billboard Hot 200 listed the album at number one - May 15 2008). I am amazed! This is one of those albums I have regretted buying. I bought it on the basis that it was a Neil Diamond album thinking it must be better than 'Hot August Night' and 'JL Seagull' to name just two of his albums that I thought were fantastic. What a let down! To me this is just bad singing with bad guitar playing. If you are an old fan of Neils listen to this album twice... more info
Another home run for the singer-songwriter:
I don't know why I took so long to write this review. Perhaps I thought that as such a die-hard fan I wasn't sure if I could write objectively. But in the months since "Home Before Dark" came out, I feel so strongly about this disc that I had to include my assessment. The collaboration with Rick Rubin on his last disc, "12 Songs", was remarkable. "Home Before Dark" takes the craft of Mr. Diamond's singer-songwriter abilities to an even higher level. In past reviews, I have sought to draw comparisons to... more info
What a shame:
If he only hadn't recorded that song with Natalie Maines, I would have bought the album. Just can't bring myself to do it...
Neil Diamond Home Before Dark:
I am very pleased with this new work of Neil Diamond.
It is completely different, and a delightful surprise & listening experience.
Was not real happy with the DVD. It tends to pause and skip.
Home Before Dark (Deluxe Edition with DVD)
Tracks:
If I Don't See You Again
Pretty Amazing Grace
Don't Go There
Another Day (That Time Forgot) Neil Diamond with Natalie Maines
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