CD-Charts Position 1
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Neil Diamond - The Thank You Australia Concert 1976

by: Neil Diamond

Release Date June 16, 2008
The show, Neil's performance and the way it was filmed are first class, but the audio (Dolby stereo) is quite flat and lacking dynamics.
When Neil is performing the ballads his vocals are up front, but when the whole orchestra comes into swing, they are getting 'snowed under'. The bass, percussion and drums are pretty flat, even my beefy subwoofer (Rel Storm-V) can only do so much.
I know it was recorded in 1976, but I've heard better results from these periods.
So if you are a Neil Diamond fan and not a sound fanatic, buy it, but if you are particular about a good sound, stick to his better Cd's!

CD-Charts Position 2
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12 Songs

by: Neil Diamond

Release Date February 20, 2006
Let me say from the beginning that I am no Neil Diamond fan. Sure I love his voice and he has written some great music in the past but.. too often its all a little "Barry Manilow" for me.

This album is the exception and a total revelation. Raw, gritty and emotional, it has a depth and substance that we are not used to seeing from the artist.

A real slow burn.

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Essential Neil Diamond

by: Neil Diamond

Release Date January 14, 2008
You've probably dismissed Diamond as music your mum listens to. You're wrong to think this because you'll be missing some great pompous rock songs. Some of it's cheesy, but a lot of what is on this best of is genuinely good stuff.

His name looks like an anomaly on my MP3 player's artist list. The thing is, I'm not ashamed as I love these big over the top (orchestra included on everything) songs. And you don't have to worry about good taste getting in the way of your listening experience.

Some of these songs even rock in their own way. Though it's best to skip the Streisand duet. And Brooklyn Road and Morningside don't stand up after a few listens. Otherwise it's great. And the live tracks are very energetic - I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Best Of (1)

by: Neil Diamond

Release Date October 23, 2000
As per most of the other reviews of this CD it's a good compilation, for a ridiculously cheap price, however i really only bought this CD for "Solitary Man" and "Girl, you'll be a woman soon". Sadly both tracks are taken from the Live album "Hot August Night", though this is not indicated by the usual "(Live)" on the track listing. So be warned, if you want studio versions of these or "Kentucky woman" which is taken from the album "Gold-Live" look elsewhere.

CD-Charts Position 5
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All I Intended to Be

by: Emmylou Harris

Release Date June 09, 2008
I liked this album a lot. It starts off strong and gets better through to the two songs at the end, which for me were the highlights. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful voice, beautiful music, beautifully produced. A melancholy album pretty much through and through I felt, and that would be my only criticism. Nothing pacey and upbeat to help mix it up a bit. Four stars from me.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Little Dreamer

by: Beth Rowley

Release Date May 19, 2008
Was wondering what to buy recently when I saw a review of this album and an interview with the singer in a sunday magazine.Turns out that this is a brilliant album,and has traces of blues,gospel,pop,country,and a touch of the brilliant Karen Carpenter about it.

Stand-out tracks for me include the intense deep gospel of Nobody's Fault But Mine and One Cloud,and the lighter yet still uplifting pop of So Sublime and i Shall Be Released.

A varied collection then in some ways,yet with a pleasing undercurrent of blues running throughout the whole album to string it all together and give it a sense of identity.

Really uplifting and at times extremely powerful! For once the hype may be justified!

CD-Charts Position 7
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Pacific Ocean Blue/Bambu (The Caribou Sessions): Legacy Edition

by: Dennis Wilson

Release Date June 16, 2008
Fantastic album Pacific Ocean Blue, just get it and listen to it, plus the bonus tracks and the additional lost album 'Bambu', all beautifully packaged, make this a worthy tribute to a flawed genius; Dennis Wilson.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Keep It Simple

by: Van Morrison

Release Date March 17, 2008
Some Van Morrison albums take some time to get into but this one hits the spot straight from the off. As a long time fan, it is hard to place this album against his impressive back catalogue, will take living with it for awhile but I can't see any Van lovers being disappointed as it includes some great simple Celtic Soul and Blues music, featuring guitar, harp, organ, banjo, fiddle, accordion, sax, etc and some beautiful singing. Lover Come Back is another great love song, Behind The Ritual another mystical atmospheric classic, Keep It Simple something of a manifesto and all the other songs add up to a quality album. Remember, Van knows.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Nine Lives

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date May 05, 2008
I find it very hard to criticise Steve Winwood.He is a quality musician with a quality voice. He started out a teenage prodigy who took the charts by storm, then spent much of the 70's doing pretentious but quality material typical of the era with various line ups. In the 80's he went commercial and had massive success, particularly in the States. Then he tried to carry this theme into the 90's and somehow it didn't work any more. His last album 'About Time' was largely based on latin rhythms with an intimate sounding combo and was a classy piece of work. This new effort seems to fall somewhere in between that album and his 70's work. Whilst it lacks a certain focus and dynamism, it is still a quality piece of work. For me, the bluesy minimalistic opener 'I'm Not Drowning' and the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Home Before Dark

by: Neil Diamond

Release Date May 12, 2008
I know Mr Diamond lets do another album together, says Mr Rubin and like the last one strip it back and bore everyone to death.

Dull, dull and dull. What are you all talking about i was asleep quicker this time than last time. Even live he tries to liven them up a bit.

I have seen Neil Diamond live many times and own all his albums including this one JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TOO. Please bring back the old Neil Diamond maybe not the Heartlight one but the Forever in Blue Jeans one would be nice.