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Writer and editor Home > Blogs > Brain Droppings > Archives > 2008 > May > 20 > Entry
Clay and Neil, Neil and Clay
Yay! Our CDs du jour:
Neil Diamond: HOME BEFORE DARK
Clay Aiken: ON MY WAY HERE
If Neil Diamond was just getting started today, he’d probably be Clay Aiken. Which isn’t necessarily a compliment to either of them.
Aiken’s newest album finds the former Idol-man still caught up in a strange sort of puppyish earnestness and inescapable preference for songs about his feelings (typical line: “Has anybody else but me / ever felt this way before?” Gosh, d’ya think?).
You almaost have to feel sorry for somebody who gets more irritating the harder he tries to please — but then again, considering that Aiken has found a way to turn his drippy style into a pretty profitable career, maybe not. Key to success: Make older women want to hug you!
To which point, it’s a bit surprising that a few cuts from “On My Way Here” punch up the pop-rock a bit. And it’s even more surprising that it’s the uptempo cuts with a little edge (note: little) are the ones on which he sounds most assured, at ease and in command of his material. “Ashes” and “Falling” work particularly well on that score, the latter turning out to be a darn good song for anybody — even Clay Aiken.
Alas, what to say about Neil Diamond at this point? He is teaming up again with Rick Rubin, the producer who brought Johnny Cash and some other aging musicians back from career zombiehood. And while the musicianship and production are top-drawer, and Diamond’s singing is as oaken as ever, the self-adoration that seeps through anything the guy writes is just too much to bear with a straight face.
Don’t know what I mean? Just note this: The CD booklet contains a seven-page (!!!) essay by Diamond on how he wrote the 12 songs. The whole thing reads like this sentence: “I’m as hungry as I ever was: the ‘emptiness deep inside’ me aches even more. Making music is my life, the one thing I can’t live without. It’s more than a desire or a yearning: it’s a necessity,”
Yeah, well, sometimes, so is throwing up.
Aiken: C
Diamond: D+
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Comments
By marie stellabuto
May 26, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
IF ANY ONE DOESN`T HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT CLAY,JUST KEEP IT TO YOUR SELF.NOW FOR CLAY HE IS BEST OF ANY OTHER IDOL, HE HAS A VOICE FROM HEAVEN.CLAY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD WITH HELPING CHILDREN AND WORKING WITH UNICF.WHAT DO YOU DO RON BUT CRITICIZE A WONDERFUL PERSON LIKE CLAY, YOU MUST HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT BASH PEOPLE, YOU WILL BE JUDGE BY GOD AND YOU WILL BE THE BIG LOSER IN THE END.RON YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO JUMP IN THE RIVER.GOD BLESS.MARIEBy Connie Weaver
May 24, 2008 1:29 AM | Link to this
I do not know where to even begin. In fact I wasn’t even going to comment on your review of Clay and Neil’s CD’s. But after thinking long and hard I just have to vent. Love Neil for his song writing, his way with a song, he is an entertainer in concert and I feel good listening to his music. He is getting older but he still has the talent to keep going evidenced by his sellout concerts. Comparing Neil and Clay in any way is totally assinine. I agree some of the people who have been on idol are no better than karaoke singers but certainly not all of them and certainly not Clay. Even Sinatra started out on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. Why do you so called critics make us the fans of Clay (or Neil or Barry etc) feel like nobodies? Especially we fans of Clay you have just bashed unrelentlessly. As for the songs on this latest album of Clays I can’t for the life of me see how you can discount the lyrics of these songs! They are beautiful lyrics that have words that actually mean something…..words of love, sadness, heartbreak, hope, humanity, loneliness. I’ll take these kind of lyrics over most songs that are out there in the music world today as some other people have already commented on. Why do you always want songs that have an “edge”? Who wants to listen to Madonna or Timberlake or Beyonce or JayZ or Mariah or Fergie etc. all the time?! You critics love these people for some reason but have nothing good to say about Clay! And besides you are always bashing him personally eith for his looks, his sexuality, the way he talks, the way he laughs etc. etc. What has he done in his short career that causes you to do this?! Most of you all agree he has a fantastic voice and that is where it ends. Then its on to “let’s bash the hell out of him”. Why?! I love music, all kinds of music. I’m not partial to alot of todays music or artists but if I were a critic I certainly wouldn’t tear them apart as a human being. I assume the job of a music critic is to critique the music intelligently and not like you are a clown trying to get laughs. I hope Clay doesn’t listen to any of you people. I hope he always stays true to himself. He is the gentleman that you are not. God, I am so frustrated over the attitudes of you and a lot of your fellow critics.By jean
May 23, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Wow! Bashing Neil and bashing Clay. I think your brain DID drop.By sioux
May 23, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Uhh - “Clay Aiken is barely a snger?” What rock did you just climb out from under? Whether you like his music or not, the man has a 2 1/2 octave range and a voice with perfect pitch and clarity. It’s comments like yours that take away credibility from your opinions. I agree with whoever said the Clay bashing is getting old and trite. I see no similarities between Neil Diamond and Clay Aiken other than they are male singers. The genre and their disparate age make comparisons ridiculous.By ebert
May 22, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
I am a long time fan of Neil Diamond’s and a new fan of Clay Aiken’s. I’ve seen both in concert and they are both remarkably talented. I don’t understand how someone can appreciate the natural talent of Neil Diamond and not the natural talent of Clay Aiken. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I consider myself an excellent judge of true talent and both these performers have IT.By Lou
May 22, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
I am a fan of both Clay Aiken and Neil Diamond, as well as many other artists. I have never understood what makes music critics tick when it comes to reviews. I think it’s way past time to put away your collective and unabashed bias, disdain and downright bashing of certain artists and begin basing reviews on quality of voice, performance and all the other intangibles that make great performers and entertainers like Diamond and Aiken. By the way, Aiken has writing credit on this CD, not that it makes a difference in his vocal talent! And believe it or not, this song has been well received by most (gee, who would have thunk?) And, speaking as a Clay fan, his “5 minutes” many predicted a long time ago has now turned into 5 years and still going! Admittedly, I have never understood why Aiken is a lightning rod and but the fact remains, he is. I think his success must be disappointing to a lot of people…By cp
May 22, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
Neil himself has said many times he began as a songwriter, not a singer, and songwriting, not his voice, is his strong point. His voice, while pleasant, is certainly nothing extraordinary, but his appeal lies in his style and stage presence. I’ve enjoyed Neil for years, but Clay, well, I admit, I’m crazy about the guy! I will never understand why Clay is constantly subjected to such negativity and bashing. If people would just give him a chance and “really” listen to him - as well as see him in concert - they’d be eating their nasty comments about him. Clay has such a pure, clear voice (you can actually understand the words he sings!) and a vocal range and strength that is seldom heard among today’s singers, and this is a natural talent, folks, he has a completely untrained voice. I don’t understand why so many people seem to think a singer must have the ability to write their own songs??? While Neil has admitted that he is first and foremost a songwriter, Clay doesn’t hesitate to admit that he is a singer, NOT a songwriter, and he wants to do what he does best. It’s pretty sad that so many people have to bad-mouth Clay when they know little or nothing about him as a person (and I won’t even get started on that), and I can’t understand why they feel compelled to waste so much of their time doing it if they really feel that way, unless they have nothing better to do.By Hope
May 21, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
So. You don’t like the words to Clay’s or Neil’s songs. I agree with you. They’re so awful I have to cover my grandchildren’s ears so they’re not tainted with such trash. I have them listen to Sarah Connor and TQ’s Come Back To Bed, Boy. The lyrics are just perfect for children. “Pull up to the dough we drove for you And I Miss Sarah, I wanna wear you like a Gucci sweater To get you all alone in a tong I’d do whatever Get me a bottle of Dom, I do it better Wake up in the morning baby stuck together” Yep. Now that’s good music.By Matt
May 21, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
Clay does qualify as a songwriter. This critic didn’t mention the most hauntingly beautiful song on the CD. “Lover All Alone” is the first song that Clay wrote all of the lyrics and there was a song on his previous album that he co-wrote as well. He will never catch a break because no matter what he does there will be bashing of it. If he recorded fluffy fun songs with catchy beats he’d be accused of lacking substance. If he records songs that are meaningful to him, which he did on this album, he’ll be bashed for being too deep. How about if critics and bloggers make an attempt to find the good instead of breaking their necks in a rush to slam and find fault. Go to a concert. You’ll change your tune. More and more often you read critics that write ” Clay Aiken is Awesome. There, I said it!”By john galt
May 21, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Don’t listen to Ron, the worst music/TV critic I’ve ever read. The Neil Diamond CD “Home Before Dark” is great, just like “12 Songs” before it. And you can’t compare a singer-songwriter to a singer. Plus Clay Aiken just plain sucks.By shirley
May 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
As Neil Diamond said on AI…if you enjoy what you are doing then keep working at it.(that’s not a quote) In other words critics are just people writing for a living, some better than others(obviously)Neil Diamond is an entertainer as is Clay Aiken and both of them are extremely talented and humble.The awards and accolades are not the important things to them. They love what they do and I hope they both keep making wonderful music for years to come.By SuzyQ
May 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
I’m a Full blown ‘good’ Claymate, and I have always liked Neil Diamonds singing. I had the opportunity to hear 1 song on Promosquad the other day, and was impressed that his voice sounds like it did 30 years ago.Anyone who has that staying power is a legend… to me.More legends… Madonna,Garth Brooks, and Eminem (my second favorite singer, behind my Clay fetish) Clay has a voice that will also have ‘staying power’. I wouldn’t see the need to bash either of them, but let’s turn our thoughts to some ’ Touch My Body,’ or how about’ My Hump, My Hump, My Lovely Lady Hump, or how about Rihannas’ Take a Bow?? Is this what you want us to ‘settle for’? Is this what America calls music now?? We’re supposed to have a gag reflex working, for the lyrics of a Neil Diamond, or Clay Aiken song, yet pander up to these other songs?? Truly the music industry has fallen, and fallen hard. No wonder this generation is without morals, respect, and a conscience.By connie
May 21, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Neil and Clay can be compared head to head except that both are hard workers at their craft and are excellent in live performances . Newbee Clay has the better vocal tone and range and has a wicked sense of humor . I didn’t fully ‘get’ him until I saw him live . He’s fabulous . Neil has passion about his music and I applaude him for his body of work and the ability to succeed long term in this brutal business . He’s a champion . Again , in person he’s fabulous . Why all the personal bashing by writers and commenters alike ? Why attack someone you don’t care for in an effort to build up your favorite ? Ron . I would love to hear about what music you like and why it is meaningful to you . But wait .. I just read the title of your blog . Nevermind .By JT
May 21, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Excuse me? Comparing Clay Aiken to Neil Diamond? I’m not a fan of either but even I recognize that Neil is a singer/songwriter, Clay is barely a singer. Did he write the songs on his album? Even if you are not a fan of Neil’s, it is hard not to respect him for his song writing catalog. Clay is a karaoke singer that can barely rise above his material. Neil is definately past his prime and he is a pretentious jerk but I do think he has earned the right not to be compared to some wannabe pseudo star like Clay Aiken. The problem with American Idol is that most of the contestants are nothing more than karaoke singers that haven’t had to struggle to get where AI prematurely places them. With a few exceptions, most of the idols have not lived up to expectations and rightly so.By Toby's mom
May 21, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
“I’ma buy you a drank/Then I’ma take you home with me/I got money in the bank/Shawty, what you think ‘bout that?” So I assume those lyrics are more meaningful than the ones you quoted? Something is all kinds of wrong here.By Rich
May 21, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
In the interest of full disclosure, I have a close family member who should admittedly be called a “Claymate” — she loves Clay’s music and the undeniably good person he is. (While I don’t share this adoration, I don’t find it hard to bear him, since he IS a talented singer who does what he does pretty darned well.) Having said that, I just wonder about the need far too many people have to bash Clay Aiken almost unmercifully. Yes, you give his latest album a “C”, versus Neil Diamond’s “D+” — I can’t comment on that, not having heard any of Diamond’s latest effort — but exactly what is the point of making a backhanded compliment like saying one of Clay’s songs turned out “to be a darn good song for anybody — even Clay Aiken”? How condescending and shallow. For sure, he’s not the singer for many (even most) people, but then who is? Usher? Or Mariah Carey? WHO? There’s never any accounting for taste, particularly in art or entertainment, but what’s the purpose of Clay-bashing? People really need to give it a rest.By Chuck Schick
May 20, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
“If Neil Diamond was just getting started today, he’d probably be Clay Aiken”. The only way to top the absurdity of that statement is to say “If Beverly Sills was just getting started today, She’d probably be 1/2 of Milli Vanilli.” From the womb Neil Diamond had more talent than Clay Aiken ever will.