"Home Before Dark" Neil Diamond

First of all, let it be known that Neil Diamond is a badass. I think I have to say that at the very beginning given the lack off badassedness embodied by this latest album, "Home Before Dark." Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent collection of songs and Rick Rubin continues his Midas streak with aging rock icons. And while the songs are beautiful, sincere, and extraordinarily well produced, there's very little rocking going on.

I know that Neil Diamond isn't really a rocker in the strictest sense, what he does have is caché and attitude. And jesus does he have attitude in spades. Have you ever seen this guy in person? Or even live on television? He's probably the coolest guy I've ever seen on stage. I guess that's the sort of thing that comes with 40 some years in the spotlight. And then you've got his eyebrows...and the sequins (it's true, I've seen him in concert, and the sequins exist). I mean, come on, epic eyebrows and a completely un-ironic usage of sequins counts for a lot in my book (and clearly in enough other books around the country, considering "Home Before Dark" sold 140K in it's first week, making it Mr. Diamond's first number-one album ever).

But the songs, what about the songs? Well, I will admit that no one will ever accuse Neil MF Diamond (read: Neil Mutha' Fuckin' Diamond) of writing overly complex tunes. "No Words" has little more substance than Neil proclaiming the lack of options he has when describing his love. I mean, come on, "I've read through dictionaries/but I've found/no words for you/No Words/No Words/No Words" But hey, when he's belting out the simple chorus, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he means every fucking syllable. Which is something that not many of the vapid, affected indie hipsters out there can lay claim to. And it doesn't even matter if he's completely faking it either, because he's Neil MF Diamond, and that's all you need to know. He's like an older, Jewish, Chuck Norris. I hear Chuck Norris wears Neil Diamond pajamas.

On the other hand, there are moments of absolute beauty (even if it is a duet with a Dixie Chick), like "Another Day (That Time Forgot)". The piano and guitar play a perfect mimic to Neil and Natalie Maines. You can picture this pair singing into the single mic, Neil leaning in close and oozing sheer awesome all over poor little Natalie. The purity of the harmonies and vocals is glorious in execution, a perfect song in the heart of the album. And Jesus, right at the end of the song, with the belted "Oh No's" from Neil and Natalie, it gives me chills. Every. Time.

I know it may be a little late in the review for this revelation, but I just found out that there are no (or very little) drums on the entire album. I guess that's why it feels like a softer, more intimate affair from the man that brought us "Cherry, Cherry" and "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show." It's pretty awesome that the majority of the percussion on the album comes from an enthusiastically strummed acoustic guitar, a warmth that is gained when a seemingly vital instrument is pared from the mix.

For me, this album is more than just new stuff from Neil Diamond, an artist I have come to love over the past few years, it's a collection of 12 great songs that show another facet of a performer who, by all logic, should have shown all of his sides years ago. I think this album speaks as much to Rubin's production wizardry as it does to the depth of character that Diamond is able to show us in 2008, even after 42 years and 29 studio albums. The fact that he's able to produce anything after that amount of time in the industry is phenomenal, and the fact that it's this good is nothing short of amazing.

"Pretty Amazing Grace" Neil Diamond
"Another Day (That Time Forgot)" Neil Diamond feat. Natalie Maines
"No Words" Neil Diamond

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