Latest Neil Diamond work lands in has-been rough
There comes a time when famous people have to draw the line and throw in the towel. Dick Clark and his "New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" program serve as a prime example. Normal people retire every day, but it seems like celebrities just won’t. They hog the spotlight as long as possible, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the rest of us. The Who’s Super Bowl performance was another disheartening example of this trend. There is nothing as perplexing as watching rockers your grandfather’s age acting like your little brother. Don’t get me wrong. I love The Who, but I love the out of control, don’t-give-a-crap guys from the ‘60s and ‘70s. I’m not so fond of some old farts acting like they are still fighting the establishment as they play the biggest commercial gig of them all. Sadly, I stumbled on another aging star that should hang it up. Neil Diamond’s live album, "Hot August Night/NYC" contains all the classics, but it lacked the veracity that a young Diamond brought to his songs. This album, which was released Tuesday, depresses me. It sounds like a creepy, old Neil Diamond impersonator is performing these songs on karaoke night at a bar. What’s worse, if that’s possible, is the DVD release that is also available. It’s campy and feels more like a religious gathering than a rock concert. A waxy-looking Diamond fits the preacher role and struggles through his biggest hits. The congregation is composed of thousands of delusional men and women whose sole purpose is to sing the words when Diamond runs out of breath. I don’t know if it’s money he wants or if he’s addicted to the adoration, but enough is too much. I’d much rather put on an original recording CD than listen to him butcher his own songs. The kicker is that in 1972 he released a live album by the same name that actually rules, probably because he’s nearly 40 years younger and can still relate to his tunes. The album contains the songs everyone cares about like "Sweet Caroline," "Holly Holy," "Cracklin’ Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue." I recommend this album over the new one by far. There is a time for performers to move along. It’s not like we want to forget them. We want to remember them as they were when they were on top of the world, not nearly six feet under it.
