12 Songs [Digipak] - Neil Diamond > Reviews > THIS MONTH'S DIAMOND REVIEW

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

One glance at the list of music reviews I have added to these pages over the years should confirm that I have pretty catholic tastes. I grew up in the sixties, matured and have now grown older always surrounded and immersed in a variety of sounds and styles. I have a large music collection (CD and DVD) and over recent years have seen many of my old heroes in the flesh in concert.

I have to say from the outset that I have never been an avid follower of Neil Diamond. I have heard many of his own recordings (Sweet Caroline, I am … I said). I am also aware of his talents as a songwriter and that many of his compositions have been hits for other artists (I'm A Believer - The Monkees; The Boat That I Row - Lulu; Red, Red Wine - UB40). Now aged 64 his output since the 1960s has been prodigious and he has racked up over 36 albums.

That said, it was something of a leap of faith when I decided to buy "12 Songs". I heard a brief snatch of the alternative version of 'Delerious Love' on an American radio broadcast prior to the album's release over there in late 2005 (it wasn't issued in the UK until February 2006). I also read several glowing reviews in the musical press and so I decided to buy it largely 'unseen'.

BEHIND THE ALBUM

Neil Diamond wrote the commentary in the accompanying booklet. He notes that he gave up music and performance after an exhaustive concert tour in late 2001 and 2002 in the aftermath of 9/11. During 2003 while recuperating the kernels of a set of new songs started to form and over the next few months the material for what was to become his first studio album in four years took shape.

The project was ultimately supervised by music producer Rick Rubin at the ArchAngel Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California. Unlike many of his previous productions, the idea was to use just Neil's vocals and only a small group of musicians. "It was the kind of sound that hearkened back to my earliest days in the recording studio when all I could afford was my guitar and maybe a bass player."

The nucleus of the ensemble that was gathered consisted of Mike Campbell and Smokey Hormel (guitars) and Benmont Tench (keyboards). Billy Preston played Hammond organ on three of the tracks. Neil also notes that occasionally other guests 'stopped by' to help - none more surprising than the backing vocalist on one of the bonus tracks.

THE SONGS

The following is the play list with a brief description, my personal star rating out of five and the track length:

1. Oh Mary 5* (05:12)

"Oh Mary - Can you hear my song? Does it make a mournful sound?
I sang it once when first I saw you And I sing it to you now."

With a quietly spoken 'One, Two, Three' Neil Diamond opens the album with a slow ballad. This is a song of sadness, regret and longing: possibly of a love lost, possibly a love unrequited. Initially Diamond accompanies himself on acoustic guitar and then is gradually joined by additional instruments including piano and strings. Neil is in fine voice here, slightly gravelled but distinctly unforced. The accompaniment is lush and sentimental. A real tear jerker.

2. Hell Yeah 5* (04:25)

"Still I think about myself As a lucky old dreamer
If you're askin' me to tell Is it worth what I paid
You gonna hear me say Hell yeah it is"

This is another track that starts out quietly but builds progressively to a climactic conclusion. There are chromatic chords on the guitars with a pounding piano counterpoint. The verses are a testimony to a life well lived. I suspect there is more than a hint of the autobiographical here.

3. Captain Of A Shipwreck 5* (03:55)

"That if your goldmine comes up empty I'll be there to work the claim
If you're a captain of a shipwreck I'll be first mate to your shame"

We come to another slow love song but this time it is one of faithfulness and trust. Neil is accompanied by a strummed theme on the guitars and gently tapped percussion. His voice has rather more vibrato in the slower sections but this adds an endearing quality to the sentiments of the words.

4. Evermore 5* (05:18)

"Do I know you? Did I ever? Thought I did. Now, I know better
Saw the signs but not the danger How'd you get to be a stranger at my door?"

'Everybody ready?' 'Yeah! Let's give it a try' - and so the take begins adding a distinctly 'live' feel to the atmosphere. If anything the pace slows even further. With guitar and piano chords the opening verse tells of a relationship breaking apart. Neil is quite throaty and husky with these lines. Later the tempo picks up as cellos and then strings join in to swell the arrangement. This builds up to a full orchestral 'wall of sound' crescendo before the song dies away in a phrase of regret.

5. Save Me A Saturday Night 4* (03:31)

"Save me a Saturday night Leave me some room at your table
I want to slip in to your heart if I might And stay there as long as I'm able"

Deep base guitar chords, tinkling piano notes and a triangle lead into this ballad. Diamond approaches this in a laid back manner and at times his voice is reminiscent of Roger Miller. The lyrics suggest a state of youthful infatuation and the yearning pleas that I'm sure we all remember from our youth.

6. Delirious Love 5* (03:12)

"All we knew was that we couldn't get enough You and me in the heat of delirious love"

The stand out song of the album. This is Diamond at his attacking vocal best with strident accompaniment from his backing musicians and is the most upbeat track. This is a song of the joys of unbridled passion and fulfilment. The hammered piano of the introduction is soon joined by the guitars. The middle 8 echoes with hawaiian and slide guitars. The overall effect reminds me of the songs from the "Sweet Caroline" days.

7. I'm On To You 4* (04:27)

"Sayin' I wish you well But lovin' you, it was hell And it's the time to let go"

The change of pace and style is all the more dramatic after the last track. Here we have Diamond as the bluesy jazz singer. There are refrains from the saxes and squeaks from the horns. This is another song of a love and a relationship gone bad.

8. What's It Gonna Be 4* (04:04)

"Lonely gets you nowhere Only gets you zero I may not be a hero But I'm the man you need"

Another change of pace brings us to this folksy ballard with its slowish bouncy rhythm. Again I keep hearing suggestions of 'King of the Road' in Neil's gravelly lower registers.

9. Man Of God 4* (04:21)

"Singing for Him is like touching the sky I don't need to know why I just know that it is
Each time I sing out I want to rejoice Cause when I hear my voice I believe that it's His"

Neil moves into evangelical mode praising the Lord and extolling his faith and praising God for his particular talents. The words are self explanatory and are certainly autobiographical. With these sentiments and the organ riffs I kept expecting a tabernacle chorus to join him.

10. Create Me 3* (04:10)

"Take me in your hands and shape me Wake me from this sleep to then begin again To live again"

Neil's voice is forceful, but not forced, against a ponderous backing in this power ballad. The lyrics, the meaning of which I am yet undecided, move to a gradual climax and then fade. If any are, this is perhaps the weakest track on the album

11. Face Me 4* (03:27)

"Face me Need you to face me Don't have to turn away to say that
I'm the man you want to be with Make me believe it"

This is another slow ballad recounting of uncertainties in a relationship. There is a tenderness and a longing for acceptance and at the same time doubts and fears of rejection - once again touching a nerve that must surely be in 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 that 'Love is all about we'!

BONUS TRACKS

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 harmonies to Neil's vocals in the verses which are even more powerful here than on the solo track. The chorus is pure '69! This is a glorious merging of the styles of two of rock music's towering personalities. Diamond leading the Beach Boys? You've heard it all now.

"Do do do! bah bah da bah!"

FINAL THOUGHTS

Every now and then an album comes along which breaks the mould; it grabs at you and once it has its hooks in you it doesn't let go. '12 Songs' is one of those. This is a superb collection, sung and performed by a master songsmith. It is Diamond unplugged. It is his personal statement. It comes from his heart and gets into your soul. He is older now - as I am - and this is reflected in his lyrics and sentiments. I am a convert!

This is my album of the year to date - I haven't heard anything close. You must give '12 Songs' a hearing. If like me you weren't a fan before, I'm sure that after one listen you too will be convinced.

AVAILABILITY

You can sample the songs on the Neil Diamond section of the Sony Music website website (http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/NeilDiamond/)

"12 Songs" - Neil Diamond Sony/BMG Columbia 82876761312A

This is a single CD housed in a 'Digipack' - a plastic holder surrounded by a cardboard folder (not the usual jewel case). The front cover has a solarised portrait of Neil with his guitar. There are eight more candid pictures on the inside of the sleeve and in the booklet. The enclosed booklet was written by Neil Diamond himself in October 2005. No song lyrics are included.

I bought my copy through Amazon.co.uk from Amazon Jersey for £7.89 including postage and packing.