Two of Diamonds
by Mick Harvey

Album details

US: 17 July 2007 on Mute
UK: 23 April 2007 on Mute

‘Diamonds’ is the fourth solo album for the Australian musician and producer best known for his work in various Nick Cave-affiliated groups (including The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds). It’s primarily a covers album, although many of the artists covered may not be too familiar to American audiences.

BUY THE CD: DOWNLOAD IT:

The critical consensus

Although Mick Harvey has been quite a prolific artist over the past thirty years, his long-running working relationship with Nick Cave has understandably left the former in his more famous colleague’s shadow. Could Diamonds be the album to move Harvey into the spotlight? Well, no–it’s a covers album–but with a musician of Harvey’s talent, it’s hard to find critics with too many negative things to say.

In fact, it’s easy to find reviewers with plenty of positive things to say. Aversion hears an album similar to Harvey’s previous work with Cave, but doesn’t mind at all, calling the artist "a master of finding the nuances in other’s work and exploiting them to claim projects as his own." Brainwashed find Diamonds "a gem" that’s not only stronger than its predecessor, but also "one of the finest albums he has ever put his name to." Delusions of Adequacy, too, calls it better than One Man’s Treasure, and also "far more than just a side-project" (although acknowledging that it will not expand his fanbase). Exclaim! sums it up simply as "compelling," while All Music Guide gets strangely poetic in its praise of the album: "Sadly beautiful, it’s one of those sleepers that deserves to be heard, whispered about, and imprinted in the heart." And Treble compares Diamonds to late-period Johnny Cash, writing that it is "haunting, beautiful and sometimes just makes your hairs stand up on end."

Artist Direct isn’t all that fond of Harvey’s singing–or all the material being sung–but notes, "While the slower songs get the general mood right, it’s the busier arrangements (and better songwriters) that give Two of Diamonds its resonance." Filter also admits that "Harvey is not a great singer," but he makes up for it: "Luckily, his chops save the day." And though Lost At Sea likes the album overall, they would prefer the songs in a more live-sounding setting; as recorded, they feel "cold and remote."

By the way (and as you might expect), it’s not a happy album; The Onion thinks Diamonds would make "a great double feature with a Mark Lanegan or Tindersticks album, so long as someone hides the noose."

Dark, cool and collected, Two of Diamonds anchors a surprisingly strong hand.

- Chris Whibbs, Exclaim!

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Photograph
   
   
2. I Don’t Want You On My Mind
3. Sad Dark Eyes
4. Here I Am
5. Blue Arrows
6. No Doubt
7. Everything Is Fixed
8. Walk On The Wild Side
9. Little Star
10. Slow Motion Movie Star
11. Out Of Time Man
12. Home Is Far From Here

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Mick Harvey @ MySpace
• Mick Harvey @ Mute