A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

ALBUM OF THE YEAR? You can stream Neil Diamond's new 12 Songs disc at this site in advance of its relase next week. This is Neil's colloboration with producer Rick Rubin in the vein of the stripped-down work we did with Johnny Cash. All the songs are originals, but say what you will about Neil, there's no denying his songwriting chops, which date back to the hey day of the Brill Building. Give it a few listens and I think you'll find it to be easily the best stuff Neil's recorded since the hits of the early '70s (pre-Greek Theatre and Seagull era). Favorite tracks so far are "Oh Mary," "Evermore," "Save Me a Saturday Night," and "Delirious Love," a Beach Boys inspired track with backing vocals by Brian Wilson. This one will have me go out and actually purchase my first CD in a store since Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose, which was my favorite album of last year.