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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
The title of Three Chord Opera is a close analogue to that of Beautiful Noise, Neil Diamond's 1976 concept album about the pre-Beatles Brill Building pop-rock era. Lacking much of that record's bombast, Three Chord Opera instead finds the veteran singer-songwriter and megastar in a ruminative mood. While no single song here equals the best of Diamond's 1960s and 1970s work, the disc is often touching in its sincerity and impressive in the subtlety of its orchestral arrangements. Diamond clearly continues to identify with many of the classic rock themes he and his write-to-order role models helped shape; he celebrates nights spent at the movies and driving past the city limits. But the record's real heart and best melodies lie in its final songs, which include a thumping lullaby for a Diamond grandchild ("Elijah's Song"), a near-Springsteenian ode to romance ("A Mission of Love"), and the genuinely sweet "Turn Down the Lights", which quotes Alan Freed's old signoff: "It's good night and not goodbye". --Rickey Wright
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Three Chord Opera has all the elements of a Neil Diamond album I have come to expect - a mixture of ballards and catchy upbeat numbers, all arranged beautifully, and a pleasure to listen to. All the songs are new, penned by Diamond, and range from the complex "I haven't played this song in years", through the straightforward love song "My special someone", to the tongue-in-cheek "At the movies". I don't have much time to listen to anything these days, so I was quite surprised to find that even after one play through, every one of these new songs had made an impression, and I was eagerly awaiting my next opportunity to play the CD. This really is music which is easy to listen to, but that doesn't mean it has no depth. The range of musical styles and instruments on this album is particularly notable, and has me discovering something new each time I play it.
On listening the first time, there are a few surprises - "Mission of Love" will raise your spirits even if after the first few bars you were expecting a melancholy song about the trials of love, "Leave a little room for God" will have you singing the song hours after you left the stereo, even if you don't identify with the sentiment, and I heard echoes of Bruce Springsteen in the introduction to "Elijah's Song" (written with Diamond's grandchild in mind I believe).
This is unmistakably Diamond, lyrically and musically. If you enjoyed "Lovescape", or other Diamond albums from the mid-70's onwards, you will enjoy this, and appreciate how Diamond's lyrics and arrangements continue to evolve. If your experience of Diamond is limited to the 60's and 70's, you will find the same songwriter, same sense of humour, same appeal to all age groups, same ability to produce songs you will want to listen to again and again, and much more sophisticated production - try it!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Everything has been said in the previous reviews, only this i can add : you can hear neil on this cd at his best, with his reflections on life (seen from the point of view of a man who has seen and lived through it all), pain and joy, so much as life itself, and he shows the listnener that he is still a huge part of it, enriching the musical life of thousands of enthousiastic fans. you ll love it...buy it. you wont be sorry.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You've got to buy this "Album" It's very Beautiful, Full of very well Crafted Song's, The First Track gave shivers down my back, "I Believe in Happy Endings" did the same, "At the Movies" is Is a Great up tempo Track very clever Lyrics, "Midnight Dream" another Spine Chiller, Now I just love all these Tracks but my favourite is "You are The Best Part Of Me"Thanks Neil for a "Great Album"
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
inspiring.
I have been an avid fan since the 1960's but now, in my 81st year I find that he is better than he ever was. Read more
Published 21 months ago by inez
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must for all diamond fans
all songs composed by Neil. This cd takes the listener throuh a good variety of musical tempos from slow ballad to fast catchy tunes. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful self-penned CD by Neil
Well this has certainly been worth the wait. Neil pulls out all the stops on this excellent CD. We have songs covering the full spectrum of emotion. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2001
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