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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Home Before Dark
by Neil Diamond


9.0

based on 13 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

12 Songs

Official Artist Site

After 40+ years in the business, Neil Diamond finally receives his first No. 1 record with this album produced by Rick Rubin.

LABEL:	Sony
RELEASE DATE:	06 May 2008
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rock, Singer-Songwriter

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Hartford Courant

Like much of Diamond's canon, these songs are rich with melodramatic flare-ups.

NOW Magazine

This is understated folk pop, and as a result, some may be disappointed by the lack of big pop hooks. However, for those of us who always found Diamond overwrought and too extroverted, this restraint is refreshing and welcome.

All Music Guide

Home Before Dark offers aesthetic proof that "12 Songs" was no fluke. This is a much stronger, less "civilized" album.

Mojo

Fans of dramatic Diamond are well taken care of here. But the real masterpieces are the opening and closing tracks. [June 2008, p.104]

Observer Music Monthly

The songs are deeper and richer than on 2006's "12 Songs," but still naked and raw.

Uncut

Some of it is as good as anything Diamond has done.

Q Magazine

Home Before Dark offers a dignified and, yes, hip addition to the Neil Diamond canon. [July 2008, p.110]

PopMatters

Blemishes and all, Home Before Dark is an album of rare beauty, grace, and eloquence that captures Diamond in all his plain-spoken and big-hearted glory.

Billboard

While not quite as revealing and rewarding as its 2005 cousin, the new album will certainly please fans of Rubin and Diamond's stark-yet-comfy acoustic direction.

Boston Globe

This year's model is not quite as stark or stirring as its predecessor; the emphatic melodic thrusts and vocal bravado of "Whose Hands Are These" and "No Words" will resonate with fans of Diamond's adult-contemporary glory.

Slant Magazine

The result is an album of the kind of sophisticated pop that proves that such exemplary songcraft should always be relevant.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

It's sure to please its predecessor's fans, but the filler-to-killer ratio here is skewed a little too far in the wrong direction.

Hot Press

Neil doesn’t do things by halves. His words and melodies are, like Roy Orbison, Cecil B De Mille scaled. That said, there are more than a few points where he misses the mark.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

John O. gave it a9:
I enjoy this disc more every time I hear it.

Greg gave it a10:
Surely does deliver sadness regret, and other mature revelations but does it in Neil Diamond style and I am one of those people and I loved it I will hope the artisti see's the response and hears the cheers and keeps creating for the glory of the song. I am still waiting and hoping for Neil Diamonds "GRACELAND" equivalent. A mix of Pop Royalty and creative passion that shakes up everything and Everyone. Maybe he should have lunch with Paul Simon on some Hot August Night and learn the benefits of being still crazy after all these years.. Home before Dark proves Neil is still out there. So Neil, from one Brooklynite to another for the next one.....Send Rick home .F*** Lonliness .....GONNA FLY.

Johan V. gave it a9:
Neil's latest cd is a terrific one! I feel almost compelled to listen to it all day! Keep up the fine work, Neil!

Steve Sv gave it a10:
Slightly bluesier and countrier then 12 Songs.But a strong collection of melodic and introspective acoustic rock.

Juca Av gave it a5:
Conventional.

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Home Before Dark by Neil Diamond

Home Before Dark
by Neil Diamond