Flashback CD Review #46 - Neil Diamond - 12 Songs

This review was written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2005.

Neil Diamond

12 Songs

Columbia Records - 2005

http://www.neildiamond.net

What's The 4-1-1?

The first album in decades to feature Diamond's own guitar playing has been garnering him almost universal acclaim. Rick Rubin, who was largely responsible for resurrecting Johnny Cash's career in the latter stages, was responsible for this album's production. The album comes in both the regular and special limited edition Digipack version that has two bonus tracks. Those songs are "Men Are So Easy" and an alternate take of "Delirious Love" with Brian Wilson on backing vocals.

Genre

Pop Rock / Vocal / Singer-Songwriter

The Good

The good is pretty easy to describe. This, for me anyway, is the first Neil Diamond album I've listened to in many years. While his concert crowd can range from 7-70 in age, most people buying his albums are of the older generation. Not surprisingly, I bought this album for my mom's birthday. She's a Diamond Freak!

So what did I like about this album? Well, there are lots of things. I liked how the majority of the album was Diamond, his voice and guitar playing. There's more to the sound of the CD of course, but this is a showcase for Diamond's songwriting.

The players assembled to help on this album include two members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench. They and others give the album the necessary depth of feeling to back up the strong lyrics and voice of Diamond. Yes, the album really lays its success on Diamond's vocal ability to connect with his listeners. As he's aged, his voice has become more and more of a growl, but here on 12 Songs, he's SINGING.

The opening cut "Oh Mary" instantly acclimates you to the overall plan for the album. It's plain old-fashioned singing and guitar playing. The second track "Hell Yeah" is Diamond talking to his fans, reflecting on his long career. The vocals on "What's It Gonna Be" sound as if he's spent a night in a smoke-filled club. It's a good sound!

I really enjoyed the ballad "Save Me A Saturday Night" and the real up-tempo original version of "Delirious Love". I was even moved to finger snapping on "I'm On To You". If you take those three songs and add in the bonus cut "Men Are So Easy", you have my list of favorite songs from this album.

The Bad

The things that bothered me about the album are kind of minor so the overall grade of the CD doesn't change that much. You can tell where Diamond the songwriter was battling Diamond the showman (and Rick Rubin). There are a couple of tracks like "Evermore" which had a less intimate feeling to it and the music of "What's It Gonna Be" that had effects I didn't care for. While I liked the closing song "We", I did get the feeling that the song wouldn't be out of place in a music revue type of setting. The alternate take on "Delirious Love" with Brian Wilson's backing vocals wasn't for me. I liked the more inclusive feel of the original version, but I will say that this version is the one that will go over spectacularly in concert.

The Verdict

I'll admit it; I've made fun of Neil Diamond in the past. However, that hides the fact that any song of his that has ever been played on the radio, I know almost by heart. You have my mother to thank for that. Her devotion to Neil Diamond fandom has left me with a great knowledge of his recording career. Heck, even at work, the radio station we have to listen to plays him about once an hour.

I don't know how much airplay this album will get, but I am so very glad to report that this is a spectacularly crafted piece of music.

While this may get me kicked out of the Heavy Metal Maniacs club, I really liked this album. I may even go out and buy my own copy.

Oh and if you'd like to hear all 14 songs you can check out Myspace.com. Columbia Records set up the page and the whole album can be heard there. (2011 Update: The page no longer exists)

It's a fine album and if you go out of your way to hear pop music of any kind, take the time and discover someone who knows how to write a pop song that can stand a test of time longer than 15 minutes.

Did You Know?

You can consider this a public service announcement. If you haven't already heart, Sony Records, of which Columbia is a part of, has put an undetectable piece of spyware on various recent releases including 12 Songs. If you play CDS on your computer, this will put it on any system operating with Windows. YOU CAN'T GET IT OFF WITHOUT PRACTICALLY DESTROYING YOUR COMPUTER!!! So be warned, play this album on your regular CD player, not your computer.

The Neil Diamond classic "Sweet Caroline" is used at all Boston Red Sox home games where the crowd sings the song.

Rick Rubin, besides producing this album and working with Johnny Cash, has produced rap acts like Run DMC and The Beastie Boys. He's also worked with System of a Down and the metal gods Slayer.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5