12 Songs [Digipak] - Neil Diamond

Advantages: It might just be genius.
Disadvantages: It's a Neil Diamond album.

...when I'm thinking about buying 12 Songs and looking for a sneak online preview what's the first thing that comes up on Google? An empty DooYou category for 12 songs and an invitation to users to write a review. It dangled there like a big juicy carrot. They're taunting me, I thought, daring me to buy 12 Songs and write ANOTHER Neil Diamond review. I'm afraid, in a roundabout way, even though there's a fine review there - and here - now, it's worked. ...
...do justice to something like 12 Songs because you see unlike the others, which I merely like, this album MEANS something to me. So I'd expect a connection from say, Pink Floyd or the Beatles but really not from Mr Spangly. Scary huh? Hmm... We'll come back to that one later. I have a theory about creativity. It's this. If you want somebody to think creatively you need to give them strict parameters in which to do it. The tighter you squeeze, the ... Read review

Advantages: Newfloridian's Album Of The Year
Disadvantages: It's so so addictive

...everyone's experience. 12. We 4* (03:50) "With a string you can tie a knot But you gotta have somethin' to tie it to Otherwise all you've got is a knot When it ties me to you, It's a whole other thing" Banjo, piano and the Roger Miller voice return in this jaunty song while a tuba puffs away in the background. The middle 8 invokes memories of the sort of street band tunes that Leo Sayer used to use. My only slight concern was his repeated assertion ...
...Men Are So Easy 3* (04:04) The chorus is a slow declaration of Neil's philosophy of a man's role in matters of the heart. The verse is a powerful counterpoint noting that a boy grows up to become a man but inside the boy always remains. Delirious Love 6* (03:32) Oh dear, oh dear! Yes, the best IS kept 'til last. It's an alternative version of track 6 and it's buried here as a bonus track. The guest of honour is Brian Wilson who adds his distinctive ... Read review