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  • Record Label:
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Melody Road Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The first release in six years (and his first on the Capitol Records label) for the singer-songwriter was produced by Don Was and Jacknife Lee.
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Top Track

Something Blue
I came with a little bit of sorrow Was maybe a bit to sad But one day rolled into tomorrow And you gave me the best you had That's how we started... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    Nov 13, 2014
    80
    While he's lost more of his craft, he's rarely sounded so at ease with himself. [Dec 2014, p.109]
  2. Oct 20, 2014
    80
    What makes a difference here is the general lightness of his new songs and Was and Lee's sympathetic production; the two play off each other perfectly, turning this into the first latter-day Diamond record to feel quintessentially Neil Diamond.
  3. Uncut
    Nov 11, 2014
    80
    Co-producers Don Was and Jacknife Lee bring an Orbisonian scale to Melody Road, surrounding him with ornate yet tasteful arrangements worked up by LA's top session cats. [Dec 2014, p.75]
  4. Oct 20, 2014
    60
    There’s soppy, there’s schmaltz, and then there’s the latest from Neil Diamond.... Sweep away the saccharine and Diamond’s craft as a songwriter still gleams.
  5. Mojo
    Nov 6, 2014
    60
    It yields mixed results. [Nov 2014, p.100]
  6. It’s a richly orchestral work, eager for drama and full of appealing tunes.
  7. 40
    If this underwritten, over produced debut for Capitol (after being affiliated with Columbia since 1973) is the best he can muster up in six years, it’s sad to say, it’s time to consider retirement.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Mar 8, 2019
    10
    I love this album and consider it under-appreciated. It gets listened to more than any other ND album I have.