Home Before Dark

I bought this CD because I was intrigued by what new and wonderful music Neil could come up with now. I wasn't a bit disappointed; in fact, I was very impressed. The songs are richer and more soulful than anything I've ever heard from him, and Christians will especially feel the magnitude of his faith. Don't expect "icky-sweet," because these songs are honest and woven with the pain of having had a few bumps in the road. But for most of us, that is just the kind of music we can relate to. Whether you're a Christian, or not, buy this CD. It will stir your heart and soul like nothing you've heard in a long time!

Home Before Dark is the very best of all the CD's of Neil Diamond that I own.
Each morning I play this CD and have 'breakfast with Neil Diamond' after I wake
up. It's a great way to start the day!

Once again, Neil delivers! This album was worth the wait. Neil Diamond continues to draw from his soul and bring extradordinary music to us.... a must for any Diamond fan, but others should give it a listen too---you'll be hooked!

I have read every review posted here on amazon, regarding Neil Diamond's new cd "Home Before Dark". I consider myself a huge Diamond fan who has followed his career since the early seventies. I hestitated writing this review, because the last thing I wanted to do was write an unfavorable synopsis of this new cd. I have never been a big fan of producer Rick Rubins stripped down guitar and voice only approach for an entire album of songs. After several listens, I have found this cd to be uneventful and slow. Songs like "No words", "Another day", "Don't go there", "If I don't See You Again", and most others, are basically a group of songs that sound the same, with a depressing overtone and scoring a zero on the excitement scale. After an entire cd of the same format on "12 Songs", his prior release, I can't believe he decided to make another cd full of boring fireside strums. Just what is Rick Rubin producing here? There is no production. It would have been nice if Neil jammed it up a notch, on at least half the cd. Let's face it, Neil Diamond is a showman, No one is going to go to his latest concerts this summer and beg to hear this stuff. Whether one wants to admit it or not, the fans are going to his shows to hear those classics, that shake you out of your seats, like "Cracklin Rose", "Sweet Caroline", "Brothers Traveling Salvation Show", "Beautiful Noise", etc. Some hardcore Neil Diamond fans seem to be personally offended with every negative review of this cd, you shouldn't be, just as I am not bothered by the positive reviews, it is all a matter of opinion. My opinion is, this is a far cry from his best efforts. One can judge for themselves.

I like Neil--I have over 100 songs from him. I think he hit a dry patch from 1981 through 2004. Like Johnny Cash, Diamond shrewdly picked Rick Rubin to produce the top 5 album "12 Songs" in 2005. I was somewhat disappointed with those results. It didn't quite match the work Rubin did with Cash.

"Home Before Dark" is the second album produced with Rick Rubin, and it's more of the same. Neil's songwriting and musical choices are like curling up with a hot cup of Celestial Seasonings tea. Comforting and familiar, the songs wash over you with little to offend or shake you from your pleasant reveries.

What we have here is 'serious' Neil Diamond in an intimate, acoustic form. Replete with help from two of the Heartbreakers--Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. This worked well with Johnny Cash, but there's something missing when Neil tries this approach. Neil is about melodies and instruments, and to strip him bare to just acoustic guitar is all right, but not stunning or memorable.

After listening to "Home Before Dark" all week the conclusion I came to was that I wanted something more from Neil. I was somewhat bored with his musical arrangements. Nothing jumped out at me in terms of songwriting or song craft. I have the tracks that I like such as "If I Don't See You Again", "Pretty Amazing Grace", "Don't Go There", "No Words" and "Home Before Dark". Yet, I don't have a compelling desire to listen to "Home Before Dark" over and over again.

It seemed to me that there was little variation in terms of sound, like "12 Songs". It's not bad, but it's not great, it's just okay. I have another issue with the length of some of the songs rolling in at 6 and 7 minutes in length. Neil is not Yes, Rush or Genesis--bands that know how to make a 7 minute song interesting.

I know that "Home Before Dark" is Neil Diamond's first #1 album of his career. This means there will be another album in two or three years. I'm hoping that Rick and Neil will experiment more next time in terms of instrumentation. In terms of song writing, I understand Neil is 67, and he's coming from that perspective, and I know he's not trying to write a top 40 song anymore, but it would be nice if he put a little more distinctive melody into his music. Three stars for a solid, if not entirely memorable or challenging listen.