Casanova

I liked how this is like a theatre show in an album. Didn't like many of the songs too much though.

Very unique, different style

3.5 - Vignettes that survey English life at the turn of the century, the anxieties, romances, jealousies, struggles… Mixed with a dose of tenderness and plenty of irony. These are thoughtfully constructed songs in the vein of “Parklife”, “The Great Escape” and “Common People.” Unlike those albums, this one feels more squarely rooted to its time and place, lacking a more universal appeal.

Hearing tracks on the radio from The Divine Comedy is enough for me 3*

A bit odd and not something I would normally listen to but very catchy. In a way it makes me think of 80s electro-pop stylistically, but without the electro parts. The first couple of songs were decent, but as the album went on I kind of got bored of it. Favorite Songs: Becoming more like Alfie Least Favorite Songs: Middle-Class Heroes

Started off slow and meh but towards the second half of the album it really got going and turned into something magical. Took a bit too long to get there though imo.

There a few memorable tracks

You think you've heard of all 1,001 of these albums before starting this project? You haven't. Never had an introduction to The Divine Comedy until now. At first, I thought this was a parody of Jim Morrison meets Richard Cheese, as lead singer Neil Hannon songs about sex as often as Morrison. Worthy entry on the list. Have already listened to more Divine Comedy. Hannon is my age, maybe that has something to do with this band's appeal to me.

Pretty enjoyable 3.5

It's good, sounded a bit like a musical to me, also quite David Bowie-esque. Didn't like the sound of the drum kit or bass guitar, that said the production quality is of high standard.

Good stuff, interesting lyrics on top of catchy pop, don't love every track though Fav tracks: Becoming More Like Alfie, Songs of Love, The Frog Princess, Through a Long & Sleepless Night

splendid dynamics but the soundscape of love songs doesn't grab me

alright

Okay, so this album not only introduced me to a band I'd never heard of, but a whole new (to me) genre: "chamber pop." (As the name suggests: very generally speaking, rock/pop music orchestrated with 'classical' instruments.) Enjoyed quite a few tracks. Neil Hannon's voice is great, and I like his sense of melody. Some amazing vocal harmonies on some of the tracks, too. Not something I'll listen to regularly, but glad I got to learn about it.

Странный альбом. Если задуматься - интересный, разнообразный, будто концепцию каку-то завезли. Но всё дело в том, что это именно понимаешь, а не ощущаешь. По эмоциям не отбивается. В начале примерно почувствовав флоу, более просто не хочется возвращаться. Вроде бы и треков немного, но хронометраж воспринимается как Physical Graffiti. Возможно, из-за насыщенности. Но я склняюсь к духоте. К духоте, которую даже объяснить навскидку не способен, ибо цэ ж попс, камон. Я могу представить вселенную, где я закидываю этот альбом на плеер и гоняю между делом, где сурьёзно кайфую с треков и ставлю в пример годного попса как Coldplay. Но эта вселенная отличается от нашей, в этой больше не вспомню. Тем боле на облоге кун с сигой как быдлан, не одобряем.

Da riascoltare bene.

its a good joke and there are some belters on here. however half of it confuses me, am i supposed ot be enjoying it ironically? should i be laughing? should i be enjoying it because i like swing and big band music? i don't know how i should appoach it, but it isn't obvious on its own. however mega big points for writing an iconic comedy theme tune.

interesantan koncept

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Something for the Weekend, Becoming More Like Alfie, In & Out of Paris & London, The Frog Princess Cutting Edge: Middle-Class Heroes, Songs of Love Overall Notes: Very surprised to see multiple albums from these guys, especially since this album was overall similar to their other album in here without the orchestral flourishes. Good songs, but I liked the other album better. They fit in two from these guys but couldn't get one They Might Be Giants album????

3/5 interesting sounds, but nothing much

Nice enough. Bit samey.

I really didn’t expect much from this but I enjoyed the classically inspired movements in this, just not enough to go back to the whole thing

pretty good. reminds me of david bowie and not just cuz he's british

I like the swagger and style. Most of it is pretty interesting, and there's a chance i could get more into it with more time. A high 3.

weird

Ni idea de quienes son pero manejan muy bien el Britpop, bonita sorpresa musical. Todo el disco tiene una esencia de películas noventeras de humor negro inglés hasta el final operístico que saca de contexto

De este sí puedo decir que no había oído nada: ni el nombre del grupo, del líder, ni de la disquera. Aunque el disco no es malo, me llama la atención que se haya colado en esta lista y me hace pensar que pone la vara baja para otras cosas que sí conozco. En fin, me gustó la última parte, muy dramática y teatral, y creo que hoy en día la rola de "Become More Like Alfie" sería prohibida en el radio.

Dramatic pop rock with some classic instruments and a story to tell. A fun listen but not captivating

An interesting palette of sound and snarky lyrics capturing the woes of the middle class as was pertinent by the Britpop sentimentalities.

Yeah this is ok but a bit long-winded, the novelty of whatever genre this is wears off p quickly. Too much "Gen X being all offbeat again!" going on. Seems like the songs are well written, but... meh? 3/5.

Never knew they did the father Ted intro

Bäst: Through A Long and Sleepless Night Dock lite för segt för högre betyg.

It’s whatever, man. I just can’t with the mediocrity of this list

Felt like a Las Vegas Niel diamond impersonator playing songs I didn't know. A little entertaining in an ironic sort of way at best, unsettling at worst.

Terrible lyrics lol

Dette er interessant ei lita stund, deretter står det ikkje distansen for meg. Artig konsept og morosame tekstar, men det kan verke som konseptet er viktigare enn musikken og utover i plata vert det lite engasjerande.

Dette ga meg fint lite. Kan skimta tendensar til noko som kunne ha endt opp som popmusikk eg kunne satt pris på her, men for det meste synst eg det endar opp i vas.

Ass en vrais

This was an odd album. The songs lyrics were odd. Very British. I've never heard of this band before. I didn't love it.

I don’t know how to feel about this. It has a feeling of being from the 70s but it’s from 96. It’s an odd ball. I didn’t hate it but much of it felt like bill nighy. I don’t know how else to express that except just pretend it’s bill nighy and that brought me great joy. Also a lot of this sounds like the music from nightmare before Christmas.

I’m sure someone out there likes this. Doesn’t move me. Not pleasant. Meh. Whatever.

Not sure what to make of this

At least the instrumental tracks were good

Never rated The Divine Comedy, didn't rate them the time their other album in this list came up, and i still don't rate them today...

I get that music is subjective, and I’m sure there are people out there who loved this album. I am not one of them. It started innocuously enough for me, but by the time Charge finished, I’d had enough.

Not sure what about this makes it one of the top 1001 albums.

So, if this music is supposed to be good, I don't appreciate it and if it's supposed to be funny I definitely don't get the joke. And I'm afraid it's supposed to be both things.

Yeah, this was…not good. And I love Britpop.

I really want to love the Divine Comedy, and the tracks I do like hold a special little place in my heart. That said, I don't think enough of them are that witty, and much of the musical styling in this album isn't to my taste. By the end, I found I was waiting for it to be over. I'd never heard the non-instrumental version of the song that became the Father Ted theme before, though, so that was nice.

I am completely missing whatever the appeal of this is supposed to be.

Every now and then I pick up a thread of something I may enjoy. But when I follow it to its conclusion it oozes out into a cheesy, mediocre mess. I want more, and I want less. This sounds like a sketch in someone’s early career, as they’re fumbling through a composition that doesn’t quite live up to their aspirations. Reminds me of that one My Chemical Romance album. A for effort, but you just didn’t get there.

Funny in parts, a decent crooner voice, but mostly too corny to for me to get into. I enjoyed A Short Album About Love from the Divine Comedy but not this one. 2 stars

It was like corny off-off-off-off-off-broadway musical theater. Or since they're British, off-off-off-off-West End. It is very well-performed, which saves it from being a 1 star. 2 stars.

I have never heard of this band before and at number .7 and it was the first album I really struggled with. A lot of the music arrangements were good; it had a 60’s pop feel with a little 90’s mess but I found the songs difficult to digest. I’m going to be generous and assume that all the lyrics are satirical, but I feel if it’s hard to differentiate satire from genuine sentiment then it’s just perpetuating the thing it wants to mock. Apparently, a one of the band members wrote “My Lovely Horse” from Father Ted, so make of that what you will. Favourite song: The Dogs & the Horses Least favourite song: None

Quite generous for these guys to get two appearances on the list. Like I said on the previous, I do like a crooner, but this effort is sillier. The posh voiceover notes push my score down on this one to a high 2. Songs of Love is a stand out song

too weird for me

ts really boring. I don't care enough to give it a 1

This guy has one okay idea for a line and stretches it out over a whole song. Over a whole album.

Je suis pas sûr à quel degré faut prendre ça. Ça me fait penser à Eric Idle. Sans me faire rire. 2.49 étoiles

erhaps a bit too theatrical and cheesy for my taste, qualities that stand out especially in the lyrics and vocal performances enjoyable baroque pop, but that doesnt leave many memorable moments or align with my emotional sensibilities enough to not be overlooked.

I might like this more than the other Divine Comedy album, but still rounding down, because I’m stuck comparing Divine Comedy albums on this list. What are we even doing here, people?!

I can kind of squint and see how under other circumstances I might enjoy the retro lounge vibe - and even overlook the occasional date rapey lyric in the name of cheeky self-aware humor. But 1) the schtick wears thin after a while, 2) I'm not inclined to forgive the date rapey lyrics - there's too much of that shit on here when you throw in all the awful Jarvis Cocker this list has made me listen to, and 3) this mediocre talent is represented THREE times on this list if you count his other solo album and that shit Dagmar Krause album. Give me a fucking break.

I thought this was really rather dull, and very retro in styling.

A return to britpop hell. I feel bad for the orchestra players who studied for so long just to be a part of this.it barely feels worth the production value. His voice is pretty decent, but it felt overwrought and just annoying. While there were parts I individually liked, it never came together for me.

4- / 10

What in the off off off off off Broadway is this?

I compared the last Divine Comedy album I listened to to being sentenced to eternal hell. I think this album may be part of that punishment.

The Divine Comedy bravely ask, what if Jarvis Cocker were 50% more theatrical and 100% less catchy?

Some people might like this kind of schtick, but not for me.

Babe are you ok? You hardly touched your mediocre Brit Pop ruined by some of the lyrics

Not bad per se but felt more like parody than anything

Very strange and overbloated britpop that ticks a lot of the boxes but somehow sounds pretty good and is an easier listen to get into compared to other big britpop acts like blur or oasis. This group is Northern Irish too so yuck them loyalists. The only other album I've heard from the Generator/book that had a track based on introducing the band/record at the end was the Phil Spector Christmas album. That was very weird.

It took me a couple of songs to realize that this guy was serious, and not just doing a parody. Most of it was listenable: one-time and to a point. Next....

If I had not know they had more albums I would have assumed that this was a joke album. Hell, maybe the band is a joke band that found some success and they did not want to let people know that they were a joke band. Maybe their showing up on the list is a joke, all I know is that I don't want to be in on the joke. There are some songs that kind of seem like they are going to be good like Charge, but then I keep getting drawn into what the fuck is this and not in the good way like I was surprised by Tank Battles but more like how do they get record deals.

I'm really not bothered about "Baroque pop"

Just ok.

🎭 👎

just kept getting more annoying

There’s fantastic stuff here but it’s also really annoying. A kind of arrogant irony to it. It bothered me way back when and listening now as an adult I can hear it still. Some excellent songs but yeah. Something about the theatrical nature lands badly for me.

3/10

I think one The Divine Comedy on this list was plenty. I enjoyed the first one, this one, not so much.

Kinda boring, not my thing.

Not very good. Sounds like this should be a soundtrack to an awful play

Lame and boring

What is this horrendous britslop?

Whatever the hell this is, I was just not in the right mood or mindset to be open to this today. Sounds like a comedian's parody of lounge music today. Not for me today.

Not entirely sure what that was. Had some interesting moments and a few catchy songs. But really not my bag.

Remarkable contrast from the cool cigarette smoking dude on the cover to the soft mellow songs on the album. Talk about misdirection. Didn't particularly appreciate this album. Partly because I expected something different, but also because it felt way too soft and "nice around the edges". Lack of danger and excitement is an understatement. Can't come up with a place this could be played where anyone would get offended. Not sure why, but decided to read the lyrics of 'Something for the Weekend'. Quite interesting turn of events I must say, so the record gained at least some regard due to that. Still, it's not my jam and won't save it for me.

I’m not really sure what this aimed to be. At times it felt like a pastiche of 90s indie music like Pulp. Other times it just felt very poppy. Nothing really for me to want to listen to it again.

Зачем вы меня мучаете

Noting of interest here.

It’s … not good. Something for the weekend is by far the standout.

Welp, it sounds like they're doing exactly what they want to do and getting their ideal sound down. The Frog Princess was honestly a pleasant listen. I think it'd be nicer if they copied more about the Beatles than just the goofiest sounding McCartney songs, and had more diverse lyric subjects. But I like it more than Pulp, at least.

Not bad but doubt I would listen again

mid

I really didn't like this. Its cool chamber pop. It feels like it might be a concept album of sort? IDK. It wasn't really landing for me.

i love lentils, beans, seaweed and rice. not for me at all. i’m not sure it’s for anyone, so many other albums could’ve taken its place on the list.

C'est pas bon ça criss

After watching a C4 'Music of the millennium' awards when Neil Hannon said he thought Queen were a joke band, I have harboured somewhat of a resentment towards someone whose band has the word 'comedy' in it. Nevertheless there is undoubted musicality, craft and subtlety in his work and this, his third album has the hallmarks of Scott Walker's early albums in it. I just don't associate this stuff with the Great Britpop boom and feel it's been done better. Sorry Neil, but don't slag off my favourite band!

Why.

Felt like I was on the receiving end of a very long and elaborate joke. These were clearly failed drafts for a musical that was never made.

I don't have too much to say about this album except that the review that says it sounds like a Pulp parody album will be living in my head forever. It had my attention with the first song, which i thought was creative and funny, but very quickly spun out into oddly rapey bullshit.

Two tracks in, I thought I might like this album. Perfectly acceptable glam pop. After that, it takes a nosedive. Mostly corny "tough guy" showtunes. Also, the singer seems like an aggressive sex pest. Pass.

Ikke horribelt, men virkelig ikke min greie.

Syns musikken var kjip og vanskelig å høre på.

Helt uinteressant før, under og etter lytting. Charge er både den mest interessante og den mest irriterende sangen. Skjønner ikke hvorfor denne plata er på lista.

Supposedly influenced by Scott Walker. I can hear it. It's equally as unlistenable as Scott Walker.

I have genuinely never heard of The Divine Comedy before, but i guess that’s because they never really hit it big in Germany. That album cover is amazing, though. Anyways, i had no expectations going into it. Halfway through the album i realized i have no idea what Casanova is aiming to be - it has some comedic qualities (especially those terrible pieces of „dialogue“ in some songs), but the production goes all out with an orchestral backing in other parts, while Hannon’s vocals come across as dead-serious, though powerful and attention-grabbing. Is this a parody of Britpop? The self-seriousness of large parts of 90s music in general? Maybe that would explain why the album in parts leans very heavily into kitsch and pastiche - both things i can enjoy but that left me quite puzzled in this instance. Maybe it would also explain the misogynistic tones in some of the lyrics (I really have no idea what to make out of Cannon and that terrible line „Everybody knows that no means yes“). And that could work if the actual music itself would commit to the idea, but it is so self-serious that at no point did i get the impression that the Casanova in question was a character meant to criticize and parody - yeah, it’s sort of hinted at here and there but doesn’t really feel like a through-line. There’s probably some cultural context i’m missing that would paint a clearer picture.

This is a really strange choice for this band. By far their cringiest record.

i used to really like these, but then i didn't - and i had forgotten why. happy to re-visit, but i now remember why i stopped listening. just too much.

I felt very uncomfortable listening to this, but maybe that’s the point.

Not sure I agree that this belonged to the Alternative genre. Kinda boring - felt like I was in JC Penneys.

No private session used for Spotify. Too dramatic and lounge-ish for me. Add "chamber pop" to the growing list of genres that this site has showed me I don't like. Hearing the original "Songs of Love" was interesting.

I’m not against concept albums but when they don’t hit then they can be rough and this did not hit. I wish I was hit hard enough to forget about this.

Listened to this some time ago and forgot to review, what I remember of it was that it was theatrical and weird, but not grating or annoying. I felt like it was a concept album for someone who isn't me. General memory of it is vague but positive, so feels like a 2.5 rounded down for being unmemorable.

Fun. Makes me feel like I'm inside a children's novel. It almost has a musical theater vibe to it.

He’s sort of a Britpop Tom Jones singing some fairly cringeworthy lyrics. The music itself sounds nice enough, but I’m not a fan of the subject matter. It goes on way too long as well. Maybe one track could be fun in a Britpop mix, but a whole album isn’t necessary. Not as witty as it thinks it is.

Today was is a bit confusing. I'm not convinced I actually like the album, it has an unsettling distastefulness lyrically, and is kind of comedy kitsch but not kitschy enough... IAnyway, some of the stories kind of cut through/are confronting because of a kind of carefree 'give no fucks' honesty. 7: the Frog Princess is one of those. (I carry a fear of Stoneheartedness) . 9: Through a Long and Sleepless Night, for both the words but also probably the track I liked most musically speaking. I chose 11: Dogs & Horses as favourite track on the album as it's an anthemic reminder to make the most of life. It could almost be something to carry in a breast pocket, like a picture of a Queen Anne Chair.

Didn't grab me. Not a very focused listen unfortunately. I found it thoroughly uninteresting and so slightly tuned out without meaning to. Something about the lyrical delivery bugged me I think. At the end I think something a bit more musical and ambitious was happening, so I might have missed a trick there.

An arrogant sound that the songs don't back up

Not really a fan.

I'm not quite sure why this is on this list but it was at least a cohesive concept album about womanizing. The first song was quite good.

This is too much theatrical for me. Some of the songs were quite pleasant with a touch of the Noel Coward. "Songs of Love" has a nice sound with pretty music, can see why this was chosen as the "Father Ted" theme tune.

I thought I didn't like the divine comedy and this album only served to reaffirm that. I just don't get it. Are they supposed to be funny? They certainly aren't good. The leaf singer's voice is annoying and posh. One review stated they're like a Pulp parody. I certainly see that. A really terrible one

I've listened to Neil Hannon on a couple of non-music podcasts and he's clearly a lovely chap who speaks interestingly about a range of things. Because of that I wish I liked his music a bit more. It seems a shame that someone so nice produces stuff I just don't like very much on the whole. I did quite enjoy the instrumental theme at the end of the album – almost a bit of Belle and Sebastian style thing going on there. And there are vibes of that in places, a band I adore. But Hannon's vocals just don't do the thing Murdoch does I'm afraid. Obviously this is largely tongue in cheek I guess, but the theme isn't something I can really get on board with either. So not really for me.

The instrument usually pop more than the vocal in some songs conceptually not a bad album but overall 3.1/10

I didn't even mind the other Divine Comedy album on here, but two is pushing it and this is just not as good. Well-produced though.

As much of a performance or presentation as an album, this one is a swing and a miss for me. Bombastic, musical, singer's voice is actually kind of fun, and at least it doesn't take itself too seriously, which is fortunate as far as that goes. Took a couple spins for me to be able to acknowledge that there is something here worth knowing, just not going to need to come back for this.

Something for the Weekend - 3/5 Becoming More Like Alfie - 2/5 Middle-Class Heroes - 3/5 In & Out of Paris & London - 2/5 Charge - 1/5 Songs of Love - 3/5 The Frog Princess - 3/5 A Woman of the World - 3/5 Through a Long & Sleepless Night - 3/5 Theme From Casanova - 2/5 The Dogs & the Horses - 2/5 Average score: 2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️ is it just me, or do some of these songs sound kinda creepy with all that "no means yes" talk in the lyrics? i never had high hopes going into this album, but i sure as hell didn't expect to feel the need to cover my drink listening to this rapey lyrics aside, i didn't find this album all that interesting, though i'll admit the songs vastly improved in quality once i reached the halfway point. i don't think this belongs in the rank of the worst albums on this list, but it's definitely not among the best

I genuinely got upset when this album got recommended. I have already heard another one from this band and I didn't like it, so my expectations were incredibly low. In addition, I've being feeling very stressed today, so having to listen to this didn't help improving my mood. Fortunately, once I stopped worked and I felt more relaxed, I gave it another chance and it wasn't that bad. Still not good, but at least I wasn't feeling as it was the worst thing ever. As his following album, "A Short Album About Love" (the one I have heard), this is a try to be funny and grandiose Chamber Pop. What carries the record is the orchestral instrumentation, as the vocals can get incredibly tedious. At worst, he is a Scott Walker wannabe (another artists I can't say I really like), having an incredibly pretentious and irritating voice, and at best, his singing is just decent. The lyrics also do anything for me. Some people point them out as funny, but I do not find anything slightly humorous. Coming back to the instruments, while way better, they weren't doing anything that grabbed my attention. Some nice melodies, but nothing astonishing or truly memorable. Furthermore, this album is 50 minutes long and 20 minutes longer than the following one, so it is expected I liked this even less.

It’s pretty pedestrian as it is, but the fact that this came out in the 90s makes it even worse. It’s mid-tier baroque pop with lyrics that seem to take themselves very seriously but come off as only camp and witless snark.

Never heard of them before 1. Oh lord, interesting start with something for the weekend 2. Good vanilla bop 3. Oh no, it's another pervy vampire song 3. 15 seconds in: Pedo vampire???? 4. Back to vanilla bop 5. Stoopid pervy vampire again in black face 6. I'm kind of over this... It's a concept album for sure but good God there are some that just shouldn't be released.

I don't know what this album is. It's quirky and fun. But is it good? I still don't know.

++: Something for the Weekend, Charge, A Woman of the World, Through a Long & Sleepless Night, The Dogs & the Horses +: Becoming More Like Alfie, In & Out of Paris & London, The Frog Princess +-: Songs of Love, Theme from Casanova -: Middle-Class Heroes 5,5/10

Tja. Hadde kanskje falt for dette på 90-tallet. Begynner å bli gammel?

My patience with this album was on the ropes by the third track, which meant the remaining eight were a slog. This feels very adjacent to another favorite of the 1001 book, Pulp—literary, self-satisfied, ironic, and irritating. The music is fine, if a little too Broadway theatrical for me. Another Divine Comedy album is on this list, so there's more irritation to come.

that was pleasant, nothing to write home about though. wondering why he's on here

Campy, cheesy, loungey. Not for me.

This feels like Morrissey's version of a musical. Moody, nonchalant, emoting. And it's not just me. My algorithm agreed, suggesting Morrissey directly after the album finished.

Setting aside the more obvious Scott Walker influence - this sounds like an entire album inspired by the Doors' "Touch Me". While that's not a good thing I can't fully write it off. He seems be having fun here mixing seriousness, self deprication, irony and satire all backed by ample strings. I don't want to hear it again. I get it but I don't care save Theme for Casanova which cooks.

recently listened to Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell, which is in a quirky and theatrical kinda spectrum of albums, somewhat like this one. and i'd say that these two albums go on opposite sides of that quirky and theatrical spectrum. I preffer the Meat Loaf's side. sorry, Neil.

This album was such a mixed bag. There were a few moments that I found genuinely sweet that I enjoyed, but most of it came off so pretentious or cheesy. I’m some of it was meant to be ironic, but it still didn’t sit well with me. I was surprised to see this guy had another album on the list because the first album I listened to from him was such a drag.

Parody is by definition a cynical art form, but it borders on nihilism when no accounting for such parodistic angles really exists. Exponents of 'chamber pop,' The Divine Comedy is at bottom just nineties baroque pop a la Scott Walker, The Associates, etc. Yet while Walker is our baroque genius, able to effect a classic sound made of dying aesthetics, The Divine Comedy has no interest in being taken seriously, happy to make fun of 'making fun of,' except on 'Songs of Love' & 'The Frog Princess,' closer to something that Stephin Merritt would compose, i.e., they're the best tracks here by far b/c they're soulfully eloquent. The rest is drab & insouciant, never in a durable Wildean mode. Irony is a necessary tool, but featureless parody dispirits.

Without the spoken word parts, this might have been good. I get that they are meant to be satirical, but they still aren't funny in spite of that. Plus, the humor of the lyrics is very much lost on me, and his lounge lizard-meets-David Bowie vocals get old by track 4.

Pretentious but I think that was the intent. Some of the lyrics were interesting but overall I didn’t like the sound or the style of music.

Got a little less than half way through before tapping out. This is clown music (derogatory). I want the vocalist to take a vow of silence. It’s a shame because they are doing something musically interesting, it’s just also musically obnoxious. I’m not going to give it one star because I get why this is here but it’s the very first album to make me tap out nevertheless.

Phenomenally stupid and cringe album. Really pretentious musical theatre vibes coming off this lead singer.

Neat. I liked it a lot at the beginning, a bit less in the middle, and then the end was a strong finish.

Huh?

In wat voor rare musical ben ik nu weer beland?

This is so painfully uncool.

Didn’t hate it but felt slightly uncomfortable listening

could not listen in the library

Very funky, not bad

Un band de pop orchestrale Irlandais, pourquoi pas! Les mélodies sont bonnes, mais ça vient peu me chercher, je reste assez indifférent. Je m'en doutais avec le titre de leur album, ce sont des chansons un peu ''lover''. J'ai commencé à apprécier un peu plus le style vers la fin.

The Divine Comedy have crafted their sound and it delivers some good tunes and entertaining lyrics. Enjoyed this album.

An interesting album. Not a huge fan of when this guy talks in the middle of his songs. Some songs were very theatrical in production which made for an interesting listen. Most of the songs, however, don't stand up on their own and I will not be listening to them on their own.

The benign comedy… I can appreciate the production, no doubt about that. But it’s not for me. Songs like 'Songs of Love' and 'A Woman of the World’ brought it up from a 2 to 2.5. Insane voice on this guy btw.

This just isn’t coming together for me. The writing is good, and it’s all well put together and mixed right and all that, but it’s just missing a spark to me

I can't tell if I'm more annoyed by the tongue-in-cheek bullshit that makes up the bulk of the album or the parts that are actually trying to be sincere. Every time it started to work for me, the singer would find a new way to push me away. That said, I get why this works for somebody. Just not me.

Well produced, but too theatrical for my taste. No desire to listen to this again.

< the Beatles

So pretentious!

Sliskigt värre. Svag tvåa

I vissa stunder fick jag verkligen kämpa mig igenom det här albumet. Gillade inte alls sångrösten och fick en dålig vibb. Men musikaliskt ändå mysigt på sina håll så det får ändå landa i en tvåa.

Ganska kul ibland, ganska panguselt ibland. Pulp-Frank Sinatra på hallucinogener.

Enjoyable just not for me

I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a sort of lounge music to my ears. Wikipedia says Britpop and orchestral pop. I really do not care for this and would not listen again.

Rating: 5/10 Sort of in the genre of the annoying theatrical Scott 2 school of music, this was not the kind of thing I want to listen to even though it's adequately made eclectic stuff that is surely for some people.

Gradually worse the longer you listen

leichtes popgeträller.

5 / 10

I mean style was chill but ya lyrics where troubling at times and mostly underwhelming

what is this a fratboy musical theatre

What did I just listen to?

Why is this on the list? Is it suppose to be a joke like Weird Al or something else from Dr Demento? Over the top, theatrical Brit pop that I thought was trying to be funny, but wasn’t. 0 songs added to playlist. Gets one extra star for not being unlistenable.

Dit album, en dan vooral de zanger, voelt als een soort parodie op zichzelf. Ontzettend overdreven, bijna als een soort musical word alles gezongen en daar moet je van houden. Ik vind het niet verschrikkelijk en sommige nummers zelfs best wel lekker, maar af en toe word het mij wat te veel. Ja, dit is ontzettend campy popachtige rock? Singer Songwriter? Musicalfolk? Weet ik veel, ik krijg ontzettend het idee dat dit een soort soundtrack is van een musical die ik niet heb gezien. Nu haat ik musicals dus dat is geen al te goed teken. Een beetje Meatloaf's Bat out of hell, maar dan iets minder fun en rock n roll en meer musical. Helaas, ik waardeerde dan toch de meer fun en rock n roll, al kan ik me er niet helemaal aan het idee onttrekken dat dit meer een soort ironisch bedoelde musical is in plaats van daadwekelijk serieuze muziek. Lang verhaal kort; I am not your Casanova... Ultimate Kaos did it better. FAVO: Becoming more like Alfie, A woman of the world

Not my thing - there were interesting arrangements but i just didn’t feel it

I usually like chamber pop and britpop but this album is too theatrical and kitchy overall. I liked some of the baroque pop songs on this album but not the over the top ones. I am also not sure why it is on the list.

This was so buns i’m sorry to this guy I couldn’t make it through

Musical theatre nonsense.

Blur, Oasis, and Pulp should be severely punished for the onslaught of Britpop. Not saying all Britpop is bad, but *points at album*

The Divine Comedy is better enjoyed in small doses. This is the reason why I liked "A Short Album About Love". "Casanova" was good for the first 5 tracks. After that, it got boring really quickly. Reviewers on this website have also pointed that out. 2 stars for "Casanova".

There's two or three decent songs on here.

Teaterpop som antingen flyter på ytan eller blir överdrivet dramatisk. Neil Hannon jobbar med croonersången, men saknar riktigt djup. Enda undantaget är Frog princess, som svänger lite åt Dexys-hållet.

The singer sort of sings like he's in a stage musical, but not in the style that I like. 1.5 stars

I love the Flight of the Conchords but had a hard time making it through this "comedy" album.

Stays too long. Find it smarmy. Would be 1 star but some of the orchestration/piano/instrumental backing is nice.

Pretty boring music

Erikoinen levy. Ei kuitenkaan niin erikoinen, että nostaisi pisteitä. Silti 2,25/5.

Not for me, sorry!

There's nothing offensive about this record or anything, but something just seems a little sinister about it. Maybe it was the creepy intro on the first track, but I just can't listen to it.

the production is way too clean for my liking and the songs themselves feel like some sort of melodramatic scott walker-esque overdramatic nonsense. not for me

Not enjoyable as a whole. Some songs were ok. Most were not.

If there's one good thing I've taken away from this album it's the burning desire to go and rewatch Father Ted. Honestly whilst I enjoyed this in part, the lyrics and their delivery made me feel icky. "So I suggested. She protested. I persisted til she said Well OK. And I Said WeyHey". Even if the lyrics are meant to be taken as irony, it's a bit much for the full album. Favourites: Something for the Weekend Charge Songs of Love

too quirky for me

Like, is this a play? What am I hearing here. Maybe it’s meant to be a comedy album

theater kids going feral

It was ok, quite catchy lyrics, with his distinctive voice,but not really for me.

Again a little corny for me not my thing

Kinda fun but not really good, the songs feel like a play which adds a unique flair to it so I give it credit for that

I think it's already been well-established that this kind of music just just not for me.

This came out in 1996? Really? I'd believe 1976. It's fine, I guess. Not my thing, maybe? I didn't hate it, but I won't come back to it.

boring

He gets some points for musical ambition on this album, but for the most part it allows him to suck in a variety of musical styles.

2/5 - One album of this guy was enough

Fuck this pretentious tosser and his embarrassing attempts at louche seduction.

I'm sure this is good to whatever niche genre it belongs to. If fact, objectively this is a fine album. I just don't like it. I understand the quality, it appeals to a certain audience. I'm not that audience.

What 2/5

4.5/10

With the knowledge that The Divine Comedy are playing with irony, this album is... fine. I liked some of the songs in the second half. But the two opening songs are so brutal, it's hard to get past them.

Weird British Pop. This gives me Prozzak vibes but way less sexual so whats the point?

I really enjoyed this album at first but as it went on that diminished until by the end I was very much not a fan. It was like a less fun, British Prozzak. Sucks to be you The Divine Comedy

Nah. It for me, it has that quirky feel about it but no substance in my opinion

Really really not my thing

2.5 This was interesting. I’m not against chamber/baroque pop at all, it’s usually smooth and different than most other pop. But the singing and lyrics here sometimes threw me off. Not sure if I’ll revisit, but it’s better than most other 2 star albums so far.

Jemig, wat een irritante muziek. Een soort Nick Cave-imitatie maar dan zo opgeblazen en aanstellerig dat je d'r kriegel van wordt. Meer schurkenmuziek à la Ute Lemper. Ik kende deze gasten verder alleen van de titelmuziek van de hilarische Ierse comedyserie Father Ted (hier herkenbaar als 'Songs of love'), en daar hadden ze het wat mij betreft rustig bij kunnen laten.

Een artiest uit de 90s waar ik nog nooit van heb gehoord. Dat kom je alleen tegen in deze snoblijst. Bij het zien van het genre chamber pop weet ik al dat ik een snobalbum voorgeschoteld ga krijgen. Gelukkig hoeven we nog maar een album of 200, al zullen we daar nog een album van deze Divine Comedy tegenkomen. We begeven ons zuchtend en steunend richting het einde van deze snoblijst, die keer op keer blijft verbazen. De muziek is op zich verder niet slecht. Het zijn een beetje niemendalletjes, soms iets theatraal aangezet qua stem als een croonende David Bowie of Grace Jones. Er zit een melancholisch toetertje in, wat strijkers of iets van een xylofoon. Je zou kunnen zeggen om wat sfeer te brengen, maar vermoedelijk ook om een bepaald snobpubliek te behagen. Kijk een beetje moeilijk, gooi er een half orkest tegenaan, en je ticketprijs kan x2 en je kan een retourtje North Sea Jazz of iets anders high-brows boeken. Het is ergens een vergeetbare 3, maar als je 2 albums van deze snobistische Britpop opneemt in je snoblijst en geen plek inruimt voor Mezzanine, dan is het de hoogste tijd om de minpunten uit de kast te halen.

Why is this on here

Didn’t like this much at all. It was like the true average of every song among the Shrek 1 and 2 soundtracks

Its trying to be really campy and funny about asshole men lead by their dick, but its just falls compeletely flat for me and doesn't land. It just turns into a very difficult to listen to album about some of the worst men you have ever encountered in your life. It's not a 1 because the music itself is really good and it was a case of 1 is not like the others because the last song is a very ernest song about pets dying and it got me.

I didn't care for this much. It may have been huge in the UK, but it just doesn't hit with me. Not bad, but I'm good without it. 4/10

What is this? 2.

Didn’t like

5/10 - not objectively bad but can't remember any song, he is a good lyricist though

It wasn't exactly bad per se, but the sum of the parts did not work for me. 2.1

Not my thing

There’s bands I haven’t seen yet in this list yet I get more than 1 Divine Comedy album. I don’t really remember what my review was on the last album I heard from these guys but it’s more on the weak side than the so so side. Vocals are weak either way no range. That works with very few people. Not working with this guy. So ya, nope. Maybe I’m in an asshole mood but I don’t feel it.

I found this a bit smug.

Don't mind some of the vocals, but a lot of the instrumentals are a bit cheesy. Don't normally pay attention to lyrics, but the few I noticed here were pretty off-putting. A couple decent songs throughout the album, but otherwise fairly forgettable.

The album about having so very much sex - sometimes even without coercion! The teenage-esque levels of horny are only saved by some good instrumentation and vocals, but not enough for me to listen to this again.

This smells like incel. It's not, and some of the music and vocals are quite nice, but it doesn't feel great to listen to.

jsp jsuis pas fan j'aime pas les paroles après la musique en elle même me dérange pas juste c'est là et ça m'est égal

This one did not resonate with me. I like his voice, unique and deep, but the music did not grab me.

Not a style I find compelling, but its fine

Monotonous, unimpressive. Cool but meh.

Hard one to rate, bonus point for being very unique at least. This is some halfway between muzak, music hall and musicals, inhabiting both the best and worst of said styles. The songs are all over the place, some parts I actually quite liked but most of it was really drab and unpleasant. I will most likely never listen to this again, but it's commendable to make a pop album as hard to listen to as this.

I've only ever listened to the Divine Comedy on the radio, so playing a full album is new territory. I knew Neil Hannon did clever lyrics etc, but i didn't realise they were what is known as Chamber Pop. It makes sense after listening to this, as it is all very witty and overblown with hints of classical music. I didn't mind it, I wouldn't say it set me on fire to go and listen to anything more by them. Or even feel the need to play this again.

One of the reasons why I think this book should have had a limit on how many albums from one entity there is is because if an artist is influential enough we were already going to have a bunch of copycat artists anyway. Like this one, I start listening and immediately think of early Scott Walker, who we have already listened to, and now I have to listen to him again, just in these guys' interpretation And you know who I blame for this? Beatles. The way I see it, Mr. Book Author put 40 Beatles albums on the list, because let's be real, they're all different from each other and one of them is even good, and then thought to himself 'Well, if I put so many Beatles albums in there, but not gonna put the same amount of Dylan Bobs, people are gonna think that I think Bob Dylan is less important... Not good, gotta equalise'. And thus long story short at the end of the day we end up with 5 The Byrds albums. Did we have to hear them before we die? Fuck no. Did Mr. Book even expect us to actually listen to all of them? I doubt so. But here we are. Hating on The Beatles

Could do without it, like many, many other albums on this list

Irritating smug tongue-in-cheek tunes. No thanks.

No

It's OK if you like this. We can still be friends.

2/5

boring!!!!

I’m not wild about Morrissey as a solo act, so why would I want to listen to a slightly different Temu Moz? Did not dig it. TBF, I didn’t end up finishing it. 2.5 for the “slightly different” part. Horns and instrumentation was fun.

Did not like, I tried and it was late lonnnggggggg

It was hard to tell if this was a joke or not. Perhaps the title is an indicator? Maybe, maybe not. But in either case, this was a challenging listen that was pretty tough to take seriously. It was one part goofy ass lounge music (sort of), and one part creepy dude trying his hand at smooth talk with an imaginary lady. This record is honestly so fucking weird, and the novelty wears off pretty quick. 2/5

4.0/10

I liked the other album by this group more than this one.

Wasn't really big on this one tbh. Felt pretty dated in some of its terms and just didn't really enjoy it.

Honestly, this just sounded like a mediocre pop album from the 90s with a crooner as a lead singer. Just couldn't get into it.

I really liked the music but my gawd is this dude so corny when singing lmao

Weird fucking little thing? Weird setting for me, too. I need a guide. TWO !

I remember vaguely that they were pretty well regarded back then? If so, standards were low: it's very disposable 90s pop with a tiresome archness. Completely inessential.

pretty schmaltzy for 1996

2/3

2nd Divine Comedy album in a week for me. And that really, really drives home the point that as a rule, there shouldn't be more than one album from the same artist, except for really and truly outstanding exceptions. Beatles, Bowie, Björk and Pink Floyd might get a pass on that rule, for instance. Divine Comedy definitely have their own sound - chamber pop, apparently - so I can see why they're included to begin with. But it really is an acquired taste for most people, including myself. I like the odd song of theirs but when I listen to more it l becomes a bit much, dripping with... A bit of sleaziness, actually, that doesn't seem to be ironic, either.

Maybe after repeat listens I would get it more, but for now it leaves me kind of flat.

Thoughts before listening: I've never heard of this before. Must be British. Review: Yep...it's British. Over the top, theatrical Brit pop to be more precise. I don't really like it. 2⭐️

PK, bbut it doessn't hold up

Perhaps if I was in a good mood, I would be entertained by this album.

I really don't like this style of music. 2 stars or D-.

I've zero recollection of this album from the mid 90s. No wonder really. Questionable lyrics and themes. Talking a load of bollocks really. There is a quirky Britishness to it, sure. However it's a forgettable album, which is exactly what I'll do now.

Cheese

Strikes a droll british tone. It works in only a handful of songs, though I see the musical talent.

Meh. Sounds like something better suited to stage/musical. Pleasant surprise hearing the Father Ted soundtrack though!

Sounds like the lost soundtrack to a 1970s community-theatre panto adaptation of A Clockwork Orange.

Like the original Divine Comedy I went through different circles of thought on this. I didn’t care for it, then I thought meh, then I perked up, then I hated it, finally at the end I was intrigued. I don’t know if that’s a recommendation - but there it is.

Boring music, bad lyrics

• 2/5 • Insipid • Sounds like the soundtrack to a mockumentary

What did I just listen to? I feel like I need a shower now. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): N/A ⭐⭐: Didn't like it, didn't hate it. Saved no tracks.

2.3 1x in BER airport on way back to ATL

This sounded like an old Vaudeville act. Risqué, crass, fun, crazy, strange.

Strangely hammy, weirdly rapey, oddly energetic.

I really don't like The Divine Comedy longer than about a song length.

ook

Best Song: Something for the Weekend. This has a lovely, rolling energy to it. Whimsical and playful. Really nice. Worst Song: Charge. This sounds like three different mediocre theatre songs all merged together into one song that is somehow worse than the sum of its parts. Overall: Another of those British entries that can be broadly classified as "failed theatre music". Were there just entire decades wherein "camp" was the dominant cultural trend in England?

It’s as if the clangers dropped acid and recorded an LP. Worst album on here so far

Even Smiths/Morrisey and Echo and the Bunnymen can make me enjoy this one. Somehow it's a 5 when Belle and Sebastien do it. This just feels boring to me. Not bad, just boring.

This album is not bad, but we're talking about "albums you SHOULD hear before you die". I don't think it deserve a spot.

Sorry but this was honestly annoying

please,,, please stop

I dunno it was just a bit goofy

Catchy, but kind of annoying.

There were some decent melodies here, but something about it was a little off putting. I don’t know if it was the voice, lyrics, show tune like sound, or a combination of all.

This guy sure does like to write about horses. And while this is not quite as bad or annoying as A Short Album About Love, do we really need two albums from this band on the list? This one follows the same feel as the other, which places the listener inside what appears to be a tongue n cheek musical. But I’m not so sure he’s doing it with a wink and a smile. And that is what’s even more frightening.

This felt like mostly a prank that at moments asked us to take it seriously, but just for a sec

This was so confusing. I guess interesting and decent at parts but I really didn’t get it. Charge I’m like “what the eff am I listening to???” And then songs of love!?! And frog princess!?! Props on the range but this didn’t really connect with me.

This was some funny shit but not something I could listen at all a lot of. Musically sounds pretty solid but I can’t take the guy singing seriously. 2.5 goin down.

Really nothing special - so why is it on this list

Disco extraño, un poco dinamitado por el artificio. Las dos primeras canciones suenan bien, pero la fórmula seductora se me cae muy rápido. En algunos momentos me quedé como el meme de Bob de Monsters vs. Aliens. Favs: Something for the Weekend (excepto los primeros 10 segundos, socorro), The Frog Princess (porque suena medio trip hop)

Incluso en sus momentos más tolerables, cuando no es un musical que estoy escuchando en contra de mi voluntad, no hay nada que sus colegas de la época no hayan hecho mejor. Charge seguramente se ha usado como instrumento de tortura en algún lugar del mundo. A la playlist: Becoming More Than Alfie.

Very much like the novelty songs you'd hear on Dr. Demento.

Really didn’t work for me. I can see this working for you but I’m gonna pass. You can just take it all, I don’t want it.

Aldrig gillat sån här klämkäck, bombastisk musikalsmörja. Usch.

Sort of prog-pop I guess? Over the top theatrics in a pop-orchestral package.

Sounded like it was written for indie-adjacent romantic dramas. Songs of Love could have been in a Wes Anderson piece. Didn't care for it though.

WTF did I just listen to?

Hva skal dette forestille? En musikal?