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 - Best in years!This is Neil's best recording in years. I admit to being a big fan and love all of his music but this one is really special. The words are so full of meaning combined with beautiful music and his voice--Well, I just listen to it over and over. Rating:  - More of the same like "12 Songs", with slightly more instrumentsIn 2005, Neil Diamond released a sparse-sounding album called "12 Songs", produced by uber-producer Rick Rubin, mostly songs of just Neil and his acoustic guitar, and the album did surprisingly well commercially. Now comes this album, again produced by Rick Rubin. "Home Before Dark" (12 tracks; 64 min.) is generally speaking in the same vein as "12 Songs". Although additional instruments are featured,the album continues the same quiet sound of "12 Songs", and at times it sounds great (such as "Pretty Amazing Grace"), but at other times it cries out for more. Another issue for me is that a lot of the songs go on for what seems an eternity (check the opener 7+ min. "If I Don't See You Again"), in fact half of the album's songs are 6 min. or longer. This is not a bad album, but some of the songs sound to me like they are demos that could've benefitted from/cry out for a more fleshed-out sound (no drums on this album, for one thing), such as "The Power of Two", which seems like it could've been a classic Neil ballad but seems unfulfilled here. The fact that this album crashed in at No. 1 of the Billboard 200 upon its release absolutely astounded me, but I guess that only shows how much out of touch I am with "mainstream America". In all, I liked this album better than "12 Songs" but I guess I am still pining for a return to the more "up-beat" sound of Neil Diamond. Rating: - great listeningenjoy all Neil Diamonds songs. this was new and refreshing and very enjoyable listening. would highly recommend. Rating:  - Pretty amazing!!!I'm pretty new to Neil Diamond's music. In fact, before this CD, all I'd heard by him was "You don't bring me flowers" with Barbra Streisand. Blame that on radio in Nigeria. I decided to get this CD as I love Jakob Dylan's new CD "Seeing things" as well as Johnny Cash's American IV and V CDs which were all produced by Rick Rubin. Like those CDs, this was also produced by Rubin and is the same principle; stripped spare songs with strong songwriting and a laid back air. It also apparently gave Diamond the first US #1 album of his career and topped the UK charts as well. Opening cut "If I don't see you again" sets the tone for the most part; gently strummed guitars, some organ and piano, and Diamond's gently caressing (faintly husky) vocals above it all. "Another day (that time forgot)" features Dixie Chick Natalie Maines duetting. With music this stripped, the songwriting has got to be strong and for the most part, it is. Other standouts are the Blues-ey "Don't go there", the melodic "Forgotten", the sombre hymn-like country twang of "Act like a man", the sweet "The power of two", the slow burning Blues-tinged "Slow it down", and the title track "Home before dark", sparse yet powerfully introspective. According to Diamond, this song tells the story of his life, his journey, his search. My favourite though (like with most people) is the lilting acoustic "Pretty amazing grace" with allegorical (Biblical) lyrics. Beautiful beyond description! Songs like this show where acts like Dire Straits, Chris Rea or even Paul Weller get their inspiration from. This album is worth it for this song alone. Rating:  - neil diamondactually this was more of a musical album with back ground voice noise not singing he's just getting old like many artist he should write for a younger protege(sp)'
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