I picked up Neil Diamond’s new album 12 Songs a few days ago. I picked it up after hearing that Rick Rubin produced it. Rubin has the magic touch not only with rap stars but also aging musicians on the brink of extinction. Johnny Cash found a whole new audience with the American recordings with Rubin’s help. 12 Songs doesn’t go out on a limb as much as the Cash albums, but it’s pretty damn good. It’s Neil with an accoustic guitar and very simple backing music. Most songs are slow with a simple and small sound. Topics don’t stretech too far from love and women. The song Hell Yeah is a reflection on his career and past. He makes no apologies for enjoying his life. Delirious Love is very radio friendly and has a catchy beat. Although its Diamond’s first new music in 20-some years it still feels like him and his music. The album has the feeling of an older, wiser musician, much like Cash’s American albums.

Nerd Note: 12 Songs is one of the albums recalled by Sony over the whole XCP rootkit debacle. I was a little fearful to stick the disc into my computer. After doing a little research I discovered that users were presented with a message box prior to installation of XCP. Luckily mine had zero remenants of the botched DRM. I had no problems with the disc and my computer.