Home Before Dark
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend 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.Bonus DVD includes Neil in the studio performing songs.The songs are:1. Pretty Amazing Grace2. If I Don't See You Again3. Forgotten4. The Boxer (bonus track...this song is not on the album) Product details and pricing info |
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95 Customer Reviews Posted
- Home before producing a listenable CD
- It's not the worst CD you could buy at Wal-Mart. And Neil shows an occasional spark of the genius of his early years with Bang and Uni Records. But this sounds like a crude demo tape he recorded in his Malibu home basement. Every song has a bum chord change or bad lyric that needed a little more work. The sparse production is dreadful. Neil's gruff, constipated vocals NEED a fuller arrangement. He isn't Mario Lanza. Neil needs to tap back into his prime sound, that folk/gospel/pop/Brill Building concoction that grooved the public 40 years ago and still sounds bright. Who wants to hear a world-famous rich guy sound like he's ready to call the Suicide Hot Line? This one's a downer. C'mon, Neil, get on board.
- 2008-11-16, 0 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Four good songs
- And they are "If I Don't See You Again" (with some Lennon and McCartney feel), "The Power Of Two", "Slow It Down", and "Whose Hands Are These?". All listenable, memorable, respectful of his still incredibly voluminous fan base. Additional instrumentation is done with taste; though the duet on "Another Day" is hardly successful: Natalie Maines sounds like..."Hey Rick, you really think this will sell?".
There are two tracks which must have been written at Starbuck's just prior to entering the studio: "No Words" and "Don't Go There". Gimme a break...please.
I'll take Neil's Greatest Hits, from "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" to "Heartlight", over this melancholy melange. - 2008-11-09, 0 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- "One More Bite Of The Apple" For Neil Diamond Fans
- Neil Diamond is my favorite secular male vocalist, and has been for nearly three decades. I always loved his voice, as well as his music. This project has the intensity you associate with Diamond, as well as great vocals.
Gone are the great string arrangements of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" or the rock 'n' roll of "Crunchy Granola Suite" or "Desiree". This is basically an unplugged project, but it has a great sound.
Some of the songs remind you of old Neil Diamond songs, such as "Act Like A Man" and "No Words".
My favorites on this project are "If I Don't See You Again", "Pretty Amazing Grace", "Whose Hands Are These", and "No Words".
Let me switch hats from being a music reviewer to being a theologian. Neil Diamond is an artist that I wonder about where he is at religiously, and this project feeds a lot of those questions. There is something that reflects faith in several of the songs, but one wonders if they are of the Christian faith or something similar. - 2008-11-02, 3 of 3 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- It Was Well After Dark ...
- I had just clicked "Buy Now" for two tickets upon confirming what someone had said; Riverdance is scheduled to appear in February during its 'Farewell Tour' and last season. Well, I could be broke, on welfare, in foreclosure receiving Medicaid and I'd find some way to go see this show so full of candy for the eyes and ears that even non-diabetics need insulin to recover. Tickets had just gone on sale with a pick of seats ... only the best, please.
As usual, my wife is looking over my shoulder. She can deny it all she might like, but this is not-so-covert spying on the nefarious activities of her admittedly unpredictable husband. She suddenly says something quite unexpected. Maybe-kinda-sorta she might be, could be, would be, halfway interested in another event she has gleaned by her close monitoring. It has taken me years to learn that this means it is really important.
Instantly, my mind flashes back to a 1970s Saturday evening. It was before that hot August night, I think, in Blacksburg's Virginia Tech Coliseum. A 60-ish year-old lady of substantial size was sitting to my right for the evening. I cannot forget her because she nearly beat me half-to-death with unbridled enthusiasm for a performance, jumping up and down from a seat more designed for the frame of a trimmer college student. I think it broke loose from its mooring. I had to let it pass in quiet understanding. Only "Riverdance" could compete on the same `joy level' scale I experienced on that long-ago night, ending with FOUR encores under the thundering applause of a relentless audience that had no intention of going home and letting the performer escape. We had him in the trenches, surrounded and pinned down with no hope of relief.
I was surprised at her interest as I tried to hide that familiar and devilish wry smile starting to form, born of a secret knowledge about what she was suggesting. Yet, I had to question my common sense, wondering why there was any good reason I should take a 60-ish year-old lady to this thing on purpose!
"What seats do you want at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena? Tickets went on sale just today. Don't get cheap. Pick the best."
I'm a promoter's best friend, tonight, with another "CLICK! - Buy Two".
The October Thursday seemed out of place for such a venue and this would be our first visit to the arena, smoothly arriving about an hour early. A deja'-vu feeling washed over me with a layout familiar to the Tech Coliseum. The seats were larger (thanks, God!). I confess to concern at the appointed hour with seats still empty (?). Still, hundreds are pouring in through every portico and come 40-minutes past the schedule it was a clear sellout. I used the time to listen to patrons around me, some no doubt on prescribed crunchy granola, among a draw appeal reaching into the generations. It was no different back `then' and, yet, still different. The smoke that rose wasn't from the hidden marijuana of the past, but from harmless machines near the sloping stage. The conversations were not about when the next `high' was due. They were about when the next stock market high was due in the wake of the recent crash. I'm encouraged; it will be a very nice evening.
Pop! The lights went out! The arena started buzzing in concert like the mad dash of fire ants pouring out of a disturbed mound as the ten-member band starts its ramp. I have been to some miserable events with a beyond-horrible sound system run by a deaf and dumb board-op druggy, literally running out in screams of pain to escape. If anyone knows when Black Oak Arkansas is near, tell me so I can vacate the area. This time, my excitement is enhanced by a 10,000-seat system that is robust and even, thumping and clear in full fidelity without crushing the inner ear (again, thanks, God!). The tuning cacophony slyly slides into a smooth, fully energetic and extended introduction of a familiar rhythm. I had played it on the radio myself who knows how many times? How could it be still so fresh?
Time warps between the 70s and now, merging into one moment. 10,000 strong are fully captured by the ramp's intent with a collective enthusiasm melding into the singular heartbeat of throbbing anticipation. Desire is suddenly tempered by fear, taking note of a 60-ish wife to my left and the one-and-only empty arena seat to my right. I'm way too late in realizing God is still on my side. In the instant I flinch to give her (me?) more space, she rises in time with that single bright spotlight we all know is coming, elbow connecting with cheek. POW!! OWWW!! ... as the spot flashes like a lightning strike, revealing our special prize!! Damn. Here we go, again.
The Arena fully erupts with the lava of humanity and a standing 'O' out of the box. It was as if experiencing his relaxed, charming smile and confident saunter under the lone spotlight to the front of the sloping stage was all that we required; his reward for the years already given. We could go home, right now, in honor.
How odd is it that this fellow has endured the generations with such strength? The chart hits were occasional in the age of "The Beatles" and not quite like the continual string from the latter likes of a tonally pure Dion or Twain and far less admirable soon-to-be-has-beens like Spears and Madonna, who survive more on being sickly outrageous than talented. As soon as he appeared, anything else that happened would be a bonus for our hundred bucks-times-two and that bonus began as the audience settled down under the driving introduction that finally evolved into words from our `Brother Love'; the eclectic Neil Diamond.
At age 67, under the punishment of a long tour, who cares that it might have taken a couple of songs before the voice warmed up with the energy of "Cherry, Cherry". In the 70's, it was the raw energy of a more youthful time. Tonight, it was more focused into the feeling of spending a special, casual and relaxed evening with a cherished friend. He talked to us, not `at' us, with the stories we know and love to hear, again. Perfect. The band was like us; members who have been around for a while, seasoned and confident. The rendition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", soloed by one of his gals, is the best I have EVER heard with all undue respect to the fully BS version. I would pay BIG bucks for a copy of this night's rendition in a "live" recording, only if it included the sound of a dead silent audience ahead of the raucous applause.
I can't believe, Neil, that you made the mistake of a `Garden Party' moment-of-apology for performing your latest "Home Before Dark" works. Aw, c'mon, Neil!! Why do you think the album is your very first number one chart debut among the years?! Sure, the time-tested songs are fun, but don't you EVER apologize again for bringing us the freshest part of you. Stop it! You sold thousands, tonight!
Ninety minutes flew by and at the end, oh yeah; there was an audience on its feet drowning out the megawatt speakers shaking the arena foundation unwilling to let him leave in his own choosing. I bought "Home Before Dark" at the stroke of the night's midnight black. I wouldn't do that so fast even for the admiration of a Dion, where `tomorrow' would be soon enough.
Oh, Linda? Well, yeah, I knew better, but the bruises will heal and I'm taking a football helmet to "Riverdance"!! - 2008-11-02, 2 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Neil Diamond Just Before Dark
- It is his best work yet. The duet he does with Natalie Mane is fantastic. He sounds as good as ever.
- 2008-10-31, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
