Neil Diamond

Lovescape

"Lovescape" sparkles

Review Score:

(10/10)
For the die-hard Neil Diamond fan, a hit song or two, or a couple of classic tunes that makes an album worthy as an addition to our collection is a poor excuse. For the die-hard Neil Diamond fan is a fan at heart--a true fan who will celebrate the occasion of every new release. Listen to it for many months. Digest and soak in on the music. Pick his favorite songs. Judge it if it is better than the last release and decide if it is good enough to dislodge his/her most favorite ND album, AND just love the album for its uniqueness. It is an exciting process I go through each time but I never look down on any of his releases and that goes as well for his collaborative albums. Not even CDs like Up On The Roof, Tennessee Moon, The Movie Album and The Christmas Albums have given me indifferent feelings towards him and his music. The only ND album that seemed hard for me to take was Headed For The Future for its sleekness and the un-Diamond-like styles to some of the songs, thank God for "The Story Of My Life", which gives the CD the classic Diamond touch and which also inexplicably comes down to a good sound-mix (it puzzles the mind), and also for a couple of other good songs like "The Man In You" and "It Should Have Been Me". BUT I would have bought it even without these songs just the same. However, this album has grown on me since and I love it now.

Lovescape is my current favorite. It's been my favorite from the time I bought it when it came out. I love the various styles Neil incorporates on the album and rather than seeing him as a man of contradictions (a good point, though, raised by Mark Tubbs), I see him as a singer with eclectic influences and styles. He's been doing this right from the very beginning, if you haven't noticed that yet.

Songs like "If There Were No Dreams", "Don't Turn Around", "Someone Who Believes In You", the sentimental songs "When You Miss Your Love" and "Hooked On The Memory Of You" (though I like the original solo version better off The Best Years Of Our Lives CD, this one is not bad), "The Way" and the all dramatic and emotional (maudlin to other critics) "All I Really Need Is You", just to name a few, are some of my favorites. These songs sparkle. Yet, I love the overall feel of the CD, it shimmers all throughout.

Lovescape, in spite of the diversity in styles is classic Neil Diamond through and through. It's got good romantic songs with great melodies like we've come to expect from the Man himself. Production is clean and clear, showcasing beautiful orchestration that we expect to hear on every release. His voice, whether in a live or studio setting is pure magic and on Lovescape it isn't any different--always the consummate singer as far as these ears are concerned. And as with his previous releases, it is always about the singer, his music and his voice.

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