Diamonds And Emeralds - Care

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

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: It's Neil Diamond
Disadvantages: It's Neil Diamond

...learned not to care. Maybe because Mr Diamond's puts so much of his personality into each one. Maybe it's because his example - of walking away from a sensible living and spending several years eking a very meagre one as a songwriter before he hit the big time - has given me a certain amount of inspiration and hope for my own languishing career. Maybe I love it because I have bad taste but the fact is, I do. Packed to the gunwales as it is with unashamedly sing-along pop songs which are utterly of their era this album is fun to listen to. Fun.... something you have when you grow out of being cool. In fact, it's a real scream. The completely over the top romance in these songs, far from appalling, merely appeals to my sense of drama. The saddest thing, to me, is that because of the lack of cred in his later career, I have neglected... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Couple of decent tracks
Disadvantages: Directionless, contrived

..."And in the death As the last few corpses lay rotting on the slimy thoroughfare The shutters lifted in inches in Temperance Building High on Poacher's Hill And red mutant eyes gaze down on Hunger City No more big wheels Fleas the size of rats sucked on rats the size of cats And ten thousand peoploids split into small tribes Coveting the highest of the sterile skyscrapers Like packs of dogs assaulting the glass fronts of Love-Me Avenue Ripping and rewrapping mink and shiny silver fox, now legwarmers Family badge of sapphire and cracked emerald Any day now The Year of the Diamond Dogs This ain't rock'n'roll. This is genocide! As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent You asked for the latest party With your silicone hump and your ten inch stump Dressed like a priest you was Tod Browning's freak you was... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful