Home Before Dark (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Pop Vocal  »  Contemp. Pop Vocals
• Format: CD
• Release Date: May 6, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia (USA)
• UPC: 886971546521
• WAPI (Tower ID): 111974424
• Average Customer Review:    (1 customer review)
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #130 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #3 in Pop Vocal (See Top 100 Pop Vocal Bestsellers)
• #2 in Contemp. Pop Vocals (See Top 100 Contemp. Pop Vocals Bestsellers)

•  [Neil Diamond - Official Sitethis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [Neil Diamond - Wikipedia Entrythis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [Neil Diamond - MySpace Pagethis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [Neil Diamond - Music at Last.fmthis link opens a new window] 
  

Neil Diamond's 2005 collaboration with Rick Rubin, 12 SONGS, found the latter stripping the pop legend's work down to a sparse, acoustic-based sound, as he'd famously done for Johnny Cash in the '90s. Apparently the experience impressed Diamond enough to warrant a second go-round with the producer. HOME BEFORE DARK takes a similar sonic approach as its predecessor; on most of these songs Diamond is backed by little more than Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell's acoustic guitar and Benmont Tench's piano (the pair contributed to Cash's recordings too), but in restrospect, 12 SONGS almost seems like a warm-up for this one. There's a sense of emotional nakedness here, as the 67-year-old Diamond peers deeply into the intricacies of his life, delivering penetrating insights in a highly reflective mode while never losing sight of his gifts as a master pop melody-maker. While most of the songs here are slow-to-medium ruminations on deep subjects, each one comes fully equipped with expert melodic turns that make these tunes as pleasing to the ear as they are to the mind.

Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond

The highly anticipated May 6th, 2008 release from legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond rises from within the Arc Angel studio (L.A.) where this pop & rock master has called home for more than three decades. This is the 67-year-old’s 29th studio album and for the second record in a row, Diamond has entrusted his talent and ingenuity in the hands of the celebrated Rick Rubin who also produced the artist’s previous album 12 Songs.

Home Before Dark is perhaps Diamond’s most honest and moving album to date. An acoustic aesthetic is set by utilizing mainly guitars and keyboards (Benmont Tench) and, fittingly enough, very little drums or percussion. Instead the rhythm is derived from Diamond’s steady strumming and lyrical discourse. The result is a very intimate ambiance yet the record manages to convey elements of grit and passion.

Pretty Amazing Grace is a powerful song that instantly captures the listener’s ear and imagination. Diamond’s voice commands the lyrics in a manner that only he can reproduce, warmly and unwavering. The album also features a duet with the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines. All of the tracks seem interconnected by lyrical themes and as a result, the record plays seamlessly and effortlessly.

How does the most commercially successful singer-songwriter of all time feel about this release?

“I'm happy to have it under my belt and to have survived it.”

Favorite Song: “Pretty Amazing Grace”, “One More Bite Of The Apple”, and “Forgotten”

-Thom, Tower Pulse 05/06/2008

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