Customer Reviews
Stunning - By: Dyspeptic Spirit, 09 May 2008 
Let me say from the beginning that I am no Neil Diamond fan. Sure I love his voice & he has written some great musicin the past but.. too often its all a little "Barry Manilow" for me.
This album is the exception & a total revelation. Raw, gritty & emotional, it has a depth & substance that we are not used to seeing from the artist.
A real slow burn.
THE return to form - By: GSXChris, 15 Feb 2008 On first impressions any of the tracks on 12 songs might seem simple & obvious. On another level this is what gives them their impact & will probably guarantee their timelessness. Each song is cut back by Rubin & Diamond to their essential core.
I have to admit that I was charmed by this album & very quickly it has become an all time favourite.
He's still got after all! - By: P. Seligman, 14 Feb 2008 
A life-long fan of this man.
But some of his later releases seemed to show him ageing rather poorly.
However, this album is fantastic. A must for all fans, & should bring the man many more.
Stunning - By: Martin Slater, 13 Feb 2008 As a thirty odd year old it was with much boldness that I repeatedly announced at the end of 2006 that this CD, along with the Arctic Monkeys first offering was my joint favorite of the year. 'Neil Diamond?' yes, Neil Diamond. I am not a Neil Diamond fan, I simply love good music.
I read a lot of positive reviews on this album which raised my eyebrows, but, 'Neil Diamond??' I then caught the tail end of 'I'm onto you ' on th e radio & I thought, Hell yeah, let's go for it. And I did.
It's a crisp, simple sound with nothingin there that shouldn't be. Rick Rubin produced Slayer - what's going on?
It's so good that you are likely to fallin love with it, from the opening notes of Oh Mary to the final track. Absolutely outstanding work.
Songwriting Masterclass - By: Jl Adcock, 15 Nov 2007 Neil Diamond has a lived-in voice, & the years of experience shine throughin this collection of songs penned after a gruelling world tour when he was hoping for some time off; then found he couldn't sit around doing nothing. With Rick Rubin at the production helm, here is another example of a familiar artist being given a new lease of life, by stripping down the sound & returning to honest, well-crafted songs that are worth listening to again & again. I've played this album again & again - it always sounds fresh & says something new. The addition of 2 bonus tracks - including a Brian Wilson souped up version of one of the original tracks - adds rather than detracts from the overall package. Quite why it isn't called 14 songs rather than 12 though, is a mystery.
