New songs show Diamond still sparkles Thursday, December 08, 2005 by RAY KELLY rkelly@repub.com WORCESTER - Neil Diamond may have given the near-capacity crowd at the DCU Center what it wanted Monday night, but many in the audience didn't know what they were missing. During a triumphant night that celebrated his treasure trove of hits, Diamond buried two new numbers from his best album in decades 90 minutes deep into his 31-song set. His latest disc, "12 Songs," opened at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100 chart - his best showing since "The Jazz Singer" in 1981. The album has earned Diamond his finest reviews since "Beautifu...

It's Neil Diamond, the guy from the song from 'Shrek'! By Daniel Durchholz SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH 12/08/2005 Younger music fans may have long ago relegated Neil Diamond to their parents' - or even grandparents' - record collections. But just in case they're not aware of it, here's a reminder that they may be fans of Diamond's music, too. "I'm a Believer," sung by Smash Mouth, was the breakout hit from the "Shrek" soundtrack and was performed in the film by Eddie Murphy as well. Some will recall the original hit version by the Monkees, but the song was written by Neil Diamond. In the Quentin Tarantino film "Pulp Fiction," ...

When No One Else Would Come Neil Diamond's invisible friend rsets the record straight. By SHILO Published: Thursday, December 8, 2005 Tons of so-called fans on the Friends of Neil Diamond Web site have been talking mad smack about what has come to be known to loyal Diamondbacks as "The Shilo Debacle of '68." I'm here to set the record straight. You see, I'm Shilo. Yes, that Shilo -- the imaginary childhood friend after whom Diamond named the song "Shilo." When Neil was a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, his Yiddish heritage forbade him from joining either of the two Protestant street gangs in his neighborhood, the Cobras and th...

Diamond finds comfort in his classics By Geoff Edgers, Globe Staff | December 7, 2005 WORCESTER -- The teasing began just before 8, when an announcer told the nearly packed DCU Center that Neil Diamond would be performing alone. An acoustic guitar waited onstage. ''I'll tell you, I'll be upset if he doesn't have a band," grumbled David Vanasse, a fan sitting a few rows to the left of the stage. Two women sitting behind Vanasse said they would reserve judgment. They liked the new album, ''12 Songs," with its stripped-down sound. They were willing to hear Diamond go unplugged. But they would have to wait. Because a few minutes...

A Winter wonderland of holiday releases Joel, Diamond, Osbourne have the bases covered for your shopping list By Austin Powell The last way for a solo artist to find an easy spot on Christmas wish lists is through creating an album, preferably after several terrible ones, that is either a return to roots or a groundbreaking release. For Neil Diamond, either would be a tough feat. Let's face it, Diamond's extensive career and discography has had little to no impact on the average college student, save for his hilarious cameo in the comedy "Saving Silverman." Even then, the laughs seemed more at Diamond and company than with them. ...

How Jay-Z's Producer Brought Neil Diamond Back To The Future 12.05.2005 9:31 PM EST Rick Rubin-produced 12 Songs is singer's highest-debuting LP ever. He's sold millions of albums, serenaded crowds for four-plus decades and given the world classic sing-alongs like "Sweet Caroline," "Red, Red Wine," and "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon." But until last month, there was one thing Neil Diamond had never done: See one of his albums debut in the top 10. With the release of 12 Songs, his first studio album in four years, it finally happened. "It's been a long wait, but it's been worth it," Diamond gushed to MTV News backstage at "Ji...

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 Diamond's act well polished Entertainer uplifts crowd at DCU Center Scott McLennan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE REVIEWER WORCESTER-- Neil Diamond extended his performance record in Worcester Monday, turning in a feel-good 28-song Diamondfest at The DCU Center. It was Diamond's 20th show in the building (and first since it took on its new name), and no other musical artist has played there more times. On the one hand, Diamond is such a dependable draw because he delivers exactly what his fans want; just about every song hit the crowd like a visit from an old friend. Yet Diamond's catalog is so vast that...

Williamson: Fate and Neil Diamond By Danielle Williamson/ Daily News Staff Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - Updated: 12:38 AM EST E-mail article View text version View most popular SHREWSBURY -- Neil Diamond likes pancakes, orange juice, and, at least yesterday, preferred decaffeinated coffee to regular. I know this because, as fate would have it, I found myself sitting just booths away from the star at IHOP. When my waitress drew my attention to an unshaven Diamond’s presence two rows parallel to mine, I nearly choked on my cranberry juice. There, in the flesh, was the irresistibly cheesy pop star my co-workers te...

Shine like a Diamond: In wake of new, well-respected CD, singer brings show to Wachovia Arena BY JOSH MCAULIFFE 12/02/2005 It?s taken a few decades, but the supposed experts are finally starting to give Neil Diamond something his legion of devoted fans have always been all too happy to dole out. A little respect. In case you haven't heard, the 64-year-old pop megastar last month released "12 Songs," his first studio album in four years. The response, from both critics and the record-buying public, has been nothing short of spectacular. Produced by noted musical miracle worker Rick Ruben, the CD debuted at No. 4 on the Bill...

Diamond's gem Friday, December 2, 2005 By DAVID J. SPATZ For a relentless perfectionist like Neil Diamond, the pursuit of excellence takes time. In his case, it's taken 10 years. And it's taken 40 years. The 64-year-old singer and songwriter, reviled by critics and adored by fans since his dusky voice first broke onto the music charts in 1966, is basking in the warm afterglow of almost universal acclaim for his latest album, "12 Songs," which was a decade in the making and lifetime overdue. Critics who once savaged his songs and concerts - even criticizing his '70s-esque wardrobe of sequined shirts - are now tr...

12 SONGS, Neil Diamond (Columbia) If you think you know Neil Diamond and his music through his hits and major tours, this disc encourages you to think again, because these 12 songs show another side of him. Working with producer Rick Rubin and musicians including, from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench on keyboards and Mike Campbell on guitar, Diamond sings in a voice that is weathered, lived-in, and just right for the mellow, low-key acoustic guitar-led opening cut "Oh Mary." It's Diamond unplugged, but more than that, because these aren't hits reworked. They're new songs with resonant melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and convinc...

Arena comes to life Neil Diamond scheduled to perform Jan. 15 DAVID SIDERS and Ian Hill Record Staff Writers Published Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 STOCKTON -- Neil Diamond, who croons to sellout crowds after four decades in music, will be the first performer at Stockton Arena, city officials told more than 5,800 people at the waterfront arena's open house Friday. The Jan. 15 concert will be the first entertainment event at the arena, excluding indoor soccer and hockey matches. The minor league hockey club Stockton Thunder is scheduled to play its inaugural home game at the arena next Saturday, the arena's first paid event. T...

Posted on Fri, Dec. 02, 2005 Diamond in the rough shines By JOAN ANDERMAN The Boston Globe Diamond's words and music, culled from a year of fevered writing and unrelenting editing on Rubin's part, are equally striking. Love, faith and survival are the artist's concerns, and at 64 he's achieved something resembling clarity: The hypnotic chorus of "Oh Mary" requires nothing more than two words and two chords to make its meaning known. It's been four years since Neil Diamond put out an album and nearly 30 since he made a good one. For those who haven't caught wind of the pre-release buzz, the new record’s title, "12 Songs," per...

PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 1, 2005: Rhythm & Views By JARRET KEENE There's a reason American songwriting legend Johnny Cash covered "Solitary Man." It's because Neil Diamond's existential pop song is one of the defining artistic documents of the 20th century. If you think this is hyperbole, go back and listen to it. Better yet, try the 1968 album Velvet Gloves and Spit, which offers jewels like "Shilo," "Two-Bit Manchild" and "A Modern Day Version of Love"--epic, downbeat rock songs that suggest what Diamond might have been had he not slipped into the "safe mode" that plagues far too many successful artists. After cementing Cash's ...

November 14, 2005 Neil Diamond:12 Songs::A classic, for better or worse Neil Diamond: 12 Songs Rating: *** (A Must-Listen) Neil Diamond's success can be described as the sincere, hard-earned mastery of a completely disingenuous form, that of the three-to-five minute pop single. After forty-plus years, his biggest influences continue to be Tin Pan Alley and the Broadway musical, and his songs evoke the emotional bluntness of both. Not only is his material straightforward, but it often speaks to experiences most susceptible to sentimentality: the difficulties and restorative powers of love. To argue on behalf of Diamond's stature a...

IN MY OPINION Diamond is forever, I believe BILL POTEAT Sometimes, a man just has to come clean. So, here goes. I'm a Neil Diamond fan. A big Neil Diamond fan. A huge Neil Diamond fan. Maybe the biggest Neil Diamond fan in the history of the world. Being a Neil Diamond fan has never been cool, is not cool now, will probably never be cool. Even so, I'm a Neil Diamond fan. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when my friends were swinging with the Stones, getting down with the Grateful Dead, or grooving with Marvin Gaye, I was singing along with Neil. Not cool. But the words and music of the man from Brooklyn ...

Neil Diamond: 12 Songs (4 stars out of 5) Diamond at his beston album of new songs. Jim Abbott | Sentinel Pop Music Critic Posted November 25, 2005 If Neil Diamond were fairly judged by the long list of his songs that are deeply rooted in the DNA of American pop culture -- "Sweet Caroline," "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," "Solitary Man," among many others -- the guy wouldn't have to contend with the persistent notion that he's a kitschy punch line. But life is not fair, and there is The Jazz Singer, after all. So it is nice to see Diamond back in the spotlight with a solid collection of new songs polished and produced by Rick ...

Neil Diamond makes triumphant return 'The songs have to come first' Thursday, November 24, 2005; Posted: 11:02 a.m. EST (16:02 GMT) NEW YORK (AP) -- There's security in anonymity, as anonymous as someone can be whose job requires singing in arenas filled with thousands of people. That explains a little of Neil Diamond's wariness in response to the strong reviews he has received for "12 Songs," his back-to-basics disc produced by musical guru Rick Rubin. He's happy, to be sure, but a little frightened. "There's quite a bit of pressure off if you realize that not everybody is listening, just your fans are listening," he said...

11/18/05 Reviewed by - Matt Rowe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neil Diamond 12 Songs Neil Diamond has retaken his career. That statement is easily qualified by the release of his latest album, 12 Songs. Taking a page from the re-introduction of a career, simple album titling, and a stripped down application of "back to basics" as evidenced by Leonard Cohen's 10 New Songs, Neil Diamond has teamed up with the one man, the one producer, who has the ability to bring out the burnished ...

Diamond Goes Unpolished NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CBS/The Early Show) (CBS) Neil Diamond has brought the world so many hits, such as "Cherry Cherry," "Sweet Caroline" and "Song Sung Blue." Now the Grammy Award-winning songwriter is celebrating the release of his new studio album called "12 Songs," and it has received rave reviews from the top critics in the music industry. On The Early Show, in addition to performing two songs from the new album, Diamond chatted with Dave Price, who pointed out that "12 Songs" is very different from what Diam...

Sony's Sneak Attack Money is the rootkit of all evil BY RYAN PECK Mail Article Print Article Sony sneaks in and takes over. Ben Wilson ALSO IN NOISE THE BROTHERS GRIMM OF ICELAND The Sounds of Science Music box DNA More (72)... ALSO IN NOISE Spank Heavens! Boise Experimental Music Festival Kinetic, Friday, Terrapin Station More (297)...Neil Diamond released a new album a few weeks ago that was destined for greatness and was selling like keg beers at an outdoor Ben Harper show. But after only a week on the shelves it was pulled. The problem wasn't with sales--it was the No. 5 best seller at The Record Exch...

Neil Diamond pushes aside insecurities to make triumphant return By DAVID BAUDER ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK, Nov. 22 — There's security in anonymity, as anonymous as someone can be whose job requires singing in arenas filled with thousands of people. That explains a little of Neil Diamond's wariness in response to the strong reviews he has received for ''12 Songs,'' his back-to-basics disc produced by musical guru Rick Rubin. He's happy, to be sure, but a little frightened. ''There's quite a bit of pressure off if you realize that not everybody is listening, just your fans are listening,'' he said. ...

Neil Diamond 12 Songs [Columbia; 2005] Rating: 4.1 Before Neil Diamond made his name as an arena-packing performer, he made his living as a Brill Building songwriter. You probably know the hits he penned for others ("I'm a Believer", "Red Red Wine") as well as the many he emblazoned with his distinctive gravel-and-fireworks baritone. Yeah, the dentures-foaming fervor he inspires in his fans has made him an easy joke-butt, but that's why 12 Songs arrives with such a perfect Hollywood pitch. Rick Rubin, who helmed Johnny Cash's acclaimed final recordings (of which American III: Solitary Man was named after a Diamond tune), was suppos...

NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 SONGS Stripped-down approach is very rewarding There's Neil Diamond the entertainer, whose gaudy shirts and concert showmanship often rival that of Elvis Presley during his bloated jumpsuit era. Then there's Diamond the singer/songwriter, whose discography isn't without glitz, bombast or even cringe-worthy sentiment (the Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," anyone?). But it is restraint, not overkill, that runs throughout Diamond's 12 Songs (Columbia) -- and the quality of the material matches the performances. Produced by Rick Rubin, 12 Songs finds Diamond pursuing a path similar to the one t...

Can't shake these Cash, Diamond days By PETE BLAND of the Tribune's staff Published Thursday, November 17, 2005 As Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond leap back to the front of our musical consciousnesses this month with the biopic "Walk the Line" and the album "12 Songs," respectively, the gushing has commenced. There's a reason these guys are icons, and both projects remind us of their best attributes. Cash's power was in his "Man in Black" persona, the mythology of which only will be enhanced by the movie featuring Joaquin Phoenix that opens nationwide tomorrow. Diamond, meanwhile, achieved his greatest fame during his elo...

CD Review: Neil Diamond: 12 Songs Diamond pulls off 12 good Songs By ALLAN WIGNEY -- Ottawa Sun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neil Diamond 12 Songs (Sony-BMG) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Four years ago, Neil Diamond, the man behind some of the greatest pop songs of the 1960s and '70s, promoted an album called Three Chord Opera by boasting that he had regained his muse and figured out how to make great records like Shiloh, Sweet Caroline and I Am I Said again. He lied. So anyone could be forgiven for doubtin...

Rubin helps bring Diamond back into existence on '12 Songs' [published on Fri, Nov 18, 2005] Neil Diamond "12 Songs" 3 1/2 stars (Columbia) Neil Diamond is nothing if not overdramatic. That's why, in the liner notes for "12 Songs," he tells the story of coming together with producer Rick Rubin as if it's one of the grandest collaborations to ever occur in popular music. That's why the 64-year-old performer can't resist bestowing life lessons in his too-earnest, all-knowing forced strain (like "this life is here and it's made for livin' and love's a gift that's made for givin'") on "Hell Yeah." That's...

7 Questions Is Neil Diamond cool again? 'Between you and me and whoever reads this piece, I've always felt cool,' the sparkle-shirted singer says By BRAD WHEELER Friday, November 18, 2005 Posted at 3:29 AM EST From Friday's Globe and Mail 'Can you hear me okay?" is not a question Neil Diamond should need to ask. His crackling baritone is not a small instrument, and his delivery, on stage and off, is anything but meek. But he's on a speaker phone, calling from his office in Los Angeles. Honestly, it's been a long, long time since the sparkle-shirted singer has had anything to say — his albums in the past two decades hav...

Diamond Is Forever How can Neil make a comeback when he never went away? By Sara Bir For young folks like me, liking Neil Diamond has always carried a bit of ironic coolness--because Neil Diamond is not cool. Moms and grandmas like Neil Diamond; in fact, childhood exposure to Neil Diamond songs may account for the 64-year-old performer's current popularity with today's teen and twenty-something lassies. It certainly made a difference for me, and it was only until after college that I found the confidence to play Neil Diamond songs unabashedly--at excessive, feel-good volumes--without fabricating excuses of cheesy nostalgia. At ...

Neil Diamond Debuts in the Top 10 for the First Time by Eve Jenkin November 17 2005 Music legend Neil Diamond has had a long and prosperous career, but not once has he witnessed one of his albums debut in the US top 10. Things all changed this week however when Diamond's latest album "12 Songs" entered the charts at #4. Prior to its release, a number 15 position was all he had been able to capture with "Three Chord Opera" in 2001. But it would seem time isn't taking too much-of- a toll on Diamond's popularity, with "12 Songs" his first top 10 album since "The Christmas Album" in 1992 and first top 5 album since "The Jazz Singe...

Neil Diamond gets introspective Jordan Reimer Princetonian Contributor I'd heard the legend of Neil Diamond: the sequined jumpsuits, the bubblegum pop for the middle-aged, the kitsch. Diamond's glam rock was the innocent six-year-old brother to Alice Cooper's angst-ridden teenager. But the women who swooned over him in the '70s came at the expense of his musical credibility, which he had once achieved as a Brill Building songwriter alongside the likes of Paul Simon and Carole King. Out of respect for full disclosure though, I must admit that my musical knowledge of Diamond was previously limited to the Jack Black cover in...

MUSIC REVIEW: Neil Diamond BY MELISSA RUGGIERI TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Nov 17, 2005 Neil Diamond Title: "12 Songs" Label: Columbia Highlights: "Hell Yeah," "Captain of a Shipwreck," "Evermore," "Delirious Love" (with Brian Wilson) Grade: A- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't ever question Neil Diamond's songwriting. His borderline-hideous live shows that overflow with sequins and shtick, however, are a different story. But no matter the image Diamond has cultivated -- the hammy patriot ("America"), the charming rogue ("Solitary Man") or the sappy adult-co...