12 Songs

---

---

Editorial reviews

Description
After successfully revitalizing the career of Johnny Cash, producer Rick Rubin worked his magic on another classic singer songwriter for the '12 Songs' sessions. Here he strips Diamond down to the bare bones of voice, acoustic guitar and subtle backing band, intimately miked and lovingly produced. Unlike the Cash albums, this is all new material from Diamond's pen; with its stately air of melancholy, some critics have called it his best album ever.

---

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-05-09 rating:
Stunning
Let me say from the beginning that I am no Neil Diamond fan. Sure I love his voice and he has written some great music in the past but.. too often its all a little "Barry Manilow" for me.

This album is the exception and a total revelation. Raw, gritty and emotional, it has a depth and substance that we are not used to seeing from the artist.

A real slow burn.

---

review by: gsxchris date: 2008-02-15 rating:
THE return to form
On first impressions any of the tracks on 12 songs might seem simple and obvious. On another level this is what gives them their impact and will probably guarantee their timelessness. Each song is cut back by Rubin and Diamond to their essential core.

I have to admit that I was charmed by this album and very quickly it has become an all time favourite.

---

review by: pegasus74 date: 2008-02-14 rating:
He's still got after all!
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, and should bring the man many more.

---

review by: staggage.co.uk date: 2008-02-13 rating:
Stunning
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 and I thought, Hell yeah, let's go for it. And I did.

It's a crisp, simple sound with nothing in there that shouldn't be. Rick Rubin produced Slayer - what's going on?

It's so good that you are likely to fall in love with it, from the opening notes of Oh Mary to the final track. Absolutely outstanding work.


review by: John Adcock date: 2007-11-15 rating:
Songwriting Masterclass
Neil Diamond has a lived-in voice, and the years of experience shine through in 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 and returning to honest, well-crafted songs that are worth listening to again and again. I've played this album again and again - it always sounds fresh and 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.

---

Similar products

Home Before Dark
Home Before Dark (CD & DVD)
The Essential Neil Diamond
The Best Of (1)
Beautiful Noise

---

Similar categories

Music . Styles . Easy Listening . All Easy Listening
Music . Styles . Easy Listening . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop . Bestsellers
Music . Special Features . Bargain CDs . Festival CD Bargains
Music . Special Features . Bargain CDs . All Bargain CDs
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---