Music : Home Before Dark

Rating: - Very good, indeed! 4.5 stars
I'll get straight to the point: this album is better than 12 Songs. Rubin and Diamond hit their stride on this one. Home Before Dark is stronger in terms of songwriting, delivery, as well as the arrangements.


Some seem to dislike the stripped down sound as compared to the full productions of the past, but for those who are partial to the very early releases of the sixties and early seventies (especially the Memphis recordings), this is a welcome addition to a great American songwriter's legacy.

For listeners of Dylan and Neil Young-- who are themselves admirers of Diamond-- don't hesitate to buy this one.

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Rating: - Neil Diamond, Home Before Dark
I am a Neil Diamond fan and this is NOT one of his better albums. A big disappointment!!!! I think his time has come and gone. Sorry.....

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Rating: - Totally Awesome
I was so excited to finally buy Neil Diamond's new album, "Home Before Dark." His lyrics are still soul-painful, although his tunes have mellowed since he shot to superstardom in the 1960s. Neil has been my favorite musician for many years - one listen to this album and I am reminded why!! I LOVE YOU, NEIL!!!

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Rating: - All Grown Up
For me, Neil was brilliant in the sixties -- Solitary Man, Cherry Cherry, and all those songs he wrote for the Monkees. His move to MOR pop was OK -- Sweet Caroline -- but it marked the beginning of a long descent into overblown, overproduced pompous noise. Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Hot August Night. Yuk!
I don't want Neil to go back to the 60s -- I want to hear modern sounds from a brilliant songwriter, and that is what Rubin has coaxed out of the old lion. Bravo! I really endorse the minimalist production -- only good songwriting can stand up and shine through this way.

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Rating: - No horse flies here....
I've been waiting for this CD to come out for a while. Having been a long time fan of Neil Diamond I was glad to see that he's hanging in there musically. What a master.

Pretty Amazing Grace has to be the prime track on Home Before Dark. However, If I Don't See You Again, Another Day, and the title song Home Before Dark are all strong. Really, truth be told, there isn't a week performance of the CD. It usually takes me a while to fully appreciate new music. I tend to start out pretty luke warm on new performances and then become a stronger advocate as time goes on. With Home Before Dark, I just seemed to enjoy all of the music from the start.

Home Before Dark is in the Neil Diamond tradition. There's nothing not to like here.

Peace to all