QUALITY POP

Review Score: (10/10)
There is a certain authenticity about Neil Diamond's early work that lends it an enduring appeal. All of these songs are winners, a combination of hook-filled melodies, heartfelt delivery and perfect production. The many cover versions of many of these are proof of their timeless appeal. A pop song like I'm A Believer has more depth of feeling in Diamond's own version than the more famous Monkees cover, while on the ballads like Shilo his voice has a certain haunting atmosphere that still gives me gooseflesh after all these years. This is pop music of quality and distinction.

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