Moods - NEIL DIAMOND****

Song Sung Blue/Porcupine Pie/High Rolling Man/Canta Libre/Captain Sunshine/Play Me/Gitchy Goomy/Walk On Water/Theme/Prelude In E Major/Morningside

Moods found Neil Diamond at a crossroads. After more than five years of releasing distinctive well crafted songs he would soon lose his touch and for the future would mostly churn out bland album fodder. Includes the US chart topper Song Sung Blue and top 20 hit Play Me. (US:5 UK:7)

“A guilty pleasure, perhaps, but it's beautifully crafted with lovely playing and production, and an undeniably accomplished voice. Some songs are deliberately lightweight and quietly, harmlessly goofy in ways. There are big rousing sing-alongs and delicate, reflective meditations on life, love and death. This is a good album, no doubt about it.

“For some fans of his early work this is truly the point of exit. He succeeds in stripping his writing of all its spiky edges to produce the first Diamond bland-fest. Everything here, even that once wonderful voice, is over-produced into a bloated and soporific torpor.”

“Unfortunately, much of Diamond's recognition comes from his hook-filled, pop flavoured tunes that suffered from much overplay in their day, like Song Sung Blue, which is included on this album. But the real magic of Diamond comes from those hidden gems such as Morningside, the South American influenced Canta Libre, the gospel flavour of Walk On Water, the playful Gitchy Goomy and of course the classic Play Me.”

“Besides the hits and semi-hits, there are some amazingly creative and well-written folk-blues songs here that you've probably never heard of, and almost all carry the air of introspection. And every one is beautiful in its own, often simple, way.”

“Moods displays emotions ranging from happy to downright silly. There is very little sadness to be felt here. Still a nice, listenable piece of work which I'm sure you'll enjoy as much as I do.”

“If you are just discovering Neil, start with this album, it is one of his best. Song Sung Blue and Play Me became major hits, but other songs on here are true gems as well. There just isn't a bad song on this album.”