A Short Album About Love

Now this is peak fucking Gen X garbage lol. At least it's only half an hour. Congrats man, it's the 1990s and you're pretending to be Sinatra. Aren't you just fucking ironic. 2/5.

“A Short Album About Love” by The Divine Comedy (1997) Love songs including such laughably memorable lines as “If you were a horse, I’d clean the crap out of your stable” and “You are the way, the truth, and the life” (Where have I heard that line before?). Look, a good love song has to have lyrics you’d imagine singing to your beloved. Not on this album. These songs tread aimlessly in the broad space between passion and goofiness. Frontman/lyricist Neil Hannon is either joshing, deranged, or both. Quirky compositions with startlingly conventional arrangements poorly sung with backing instrumentals performed with eye rolling you can actually feel. Orchestra abuse. This sound is a late 1990s throwback to the worst aspects of late 1960s commercial pop. Not fit for a serious listen. He’s putting us on. 1/5

I gave this album three listens, trying to give it the benefit of the doubt. But every listen, the only part that caught my attention was when he started talking about how he wished his lover was a horse or a dog. Okay buddy.

Lo, as the generator has felt it necessary to unleash a period of unprecedented fallowness one year into my journey, ‘tis befitting that the wretched beast of recommendations should bestow upon me a band whose moniker is The Divine Comedy…For now, truly, I must ponder which of the nine circles of hell I am now forced to inhabit.

This should have been cleaned out with the stable

Outrageously beautiful and beautifully outrageous (If... you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable and never once complain). Orchestral and theatrical, first impression was Bowie but I think it's more Scott Walker. I assume Father John and Kirin J take a lot out of this kind of thing. Pretty impressive it was all recorded live as well.

Just what I’ve been looking for. Thank you.

If the lyrics took a more serious or less comedic tone, this album could easily be a 5 based on its production and composition. It was a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable listen.

Oooh look, it's more 1990s British indie rock. I remember the name, but not any of their songs/albums. To be fair, this one is reasonably decent. Although considered a studio album, it was recorded live in a concert hall with a small orchestra and an audience (though thankfully you can't tell on the album that this was a live show). They are songs... about love, ranging from the romantic to the absurdist and twee. "If you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable" is a great line to sing with earnestness against orchestral accompaniment. I'm not opposed to orchestral pop, and the guy's voice does suit this setup. A bit like the Springsteen record, I can appreciate the craft and I wouldn't object to hearing their other material. But I'm not falling in love with this record. 3.5

Nice, but what’s with all the horses?

His deep, baritone croon has never sounded more affecting, and his songs are easily among his best, making A Short Album About Love much more than a record for hardcore fans.

Divine? No. Comedy? Perhaps. Short album? Not short enough.

Hated it at first, but some of the lyrics grew on me. Still don't need it in my life.

Wow I really hated this. This is the closest I've come to giving a one star since U2. Gonna have to really think about it.

I think their greatest hits would have been a better option here. It includes the Father Ted theme song.

The only thing comedic about this album is how astonishingly bad it is.

This band is not good

A short album of shit.

Terrible 1/5

Awful

Another one my Irish relatives won't be pleased about. Can't stand this band. Can't even muster any objectivity. 1/10 (ahh yeah that felt good)

Bloody shite

I gave this a try but failed to see the magic.

Maybe it's because I'm lying sick in bed, but this Album gave me a nice trip without any drugs 5/5

The Divine Comedy are one of my all time top five acts so I loved this album. It was released at a time when love was an all consuming desire, and the comic turns of phrase made me feel like I was in on a joke. No one can make me dislike this album.

Really enjoyed this all the way around. Don’t have a favorite song, all were lovely.

Alright, I'll admit it, I have loved The Divine Comedy for more than thirty years. I almost knew what my review was going to be before even having to listen - until I read some of the others here. Couple of general (and one specific) retort. First and foremost - the clue is in the name of the band. Third word, six leters, starts with C, ends in Y. For this album, the comedy comes both from the absurdity of romance and its destructiveness. It's a version of "would you still love me if I was a worm?" set to massively indulgent orchestral music. Hannon's previous work was more overtly whimsical, and there is an argument that he owes considerable success to his involvement in one of the most popular comedy television shows of the 90s (Father Ted, now impossibly tainted by the repugnant views of its creator) - but people coming to this album without that context may not be clued in to that. It is tempting to quote Mansun's Open Letter to the Lyrical Trainspotter, from the year before this album - "The lyrics aren't supposed to mean that much, they're just a vehicle for a lovely voice" - but that does Hannon a disservice. The lyrics are crucial to appreciating (not enjoying) this album. You can enjoy it just fine by regarding the lyrics as the vehicle for a lovely voice - because Hannon really does have a lovely voice. To really appreciate the album though, you have to acknowledge that the lyrics are deliberate. Juvenile, outrageous, puerile, vicious, ecstatic, and above all - absurd. Just like love. Hannon really knows what he's doing, and this mostly very good album fits snugly into his ouvre. It nestles between the burnt bitterness of Cassanova and the introspection, soul searching and awakening of Fin de Siècle, and knowing any of this should help with the appreciation of it. If you want to. If you don't, then just use it as a mechanism for hearing saccharine orchestra and a beautiful baratone singing stuff. Or don't. You see, the thing about us Gen Xers is that we don't really care what you do.

Yes, he nicked Scott Walker's sound, but the music does sound like Scott Walker, so 5 stars.

Don't listen to any of these retards spouting nonsense about this album being bad, this is for the lovers only. So far the highlight of this whole thing along with L.A Woman (day 16)

I liked the bit about hanging out with sheep in succulent pastures xx

timewatching is kind of a dip, but can’t be denied that this is strong!! sounds great & has some of his most clever writing

A perfect slice of chamber pop with show tune qualities.

Epic

I’ll be in the minority and say I loved this. It was way better than Scott Walker, IMO. The lyrics weren’t dumb, they were purposefully ridiculous at times. I liked it.

Love this lots! I was just listening to Neil Hannon singing with Ute Lemper the other day and remembering how much I love him and The Divine Comedy. I don't say this often, but I wouldn't have minded a longer album about love.

I think we’re at the point in this project where 75% of my notes are going to start with, “Really? [insert name of artist] again???” Other than my being surprised that I must listen to (at least) two (and a half if we count Ute Lemper’s Punishing Kiss) albums by The Divine Comedy before I die, I really enjoyed all the theatrics. We’ve had some dramatic outings here in the last several days and I am here for it!

My biggest complain about “a short album about love” is the ‘short’ part. Fortunately, the 2020 Reissue more than doubles the runtime with some additional great tracks, including a Bert Bacharach/Hal David tune (Make It Easy On Yourself) - something I’ve wanted to hear from The Divine Comedy since listening to the previous album. What can I say, this album is a glorious collection of love songs! “Hey, don't be suprised, if millions die in plague and murder, True happiness lies beyond your fries and happy burger.” “I told the passersby, I made a small boy cry And I'll get through to you if it's the last thing that I do.” “I need to be someone’s somebody.” “If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable And never once complain.” “And if I were you I wouldn’t let the shit you get from me get the better of you.” “When I fall behind in the quest for pleasure I shall treasure this short time with you.” “Don't look a horse in the mouth, Don't let a frog get you down, Dragging you round like a dog on a lead, I'm all you need.” I LOVE this album! TERRIFIC!

Great album not something id listen to but great 👍🏾

Didn't know them. Love it.

This came as a surprise. I never before heard of this band. Pleasing songs with a fantastic instrumentation—both the arrangements and the execution in collaboration with The Brunel Ensemble.

Neil Hannon is one of the most underrated songwriters of the last 30 years.

Love love love it, uplifting and wry all at once

This was really weird and unexpected but I love crooning so 5 stars hell yea

Was going to give it a 4 but giving it a 5 to balance out everyone who's given it 1 or 2 because "the lyrics are silly"

It’s a hard tightrope to walk - bridging a gap between swooningly earnest romance and knowingly humorous cynicism. But with great songs. And an orchestra. This is the absolute apex of Neil Hannon’s Divine Comedy, where the band synthesised The Smiths, Scott Walker and 60’s pop into something truly magnificent. Only 7 tracks, each one perfect. In Pursuit of Happiness is breathtaking in where the orchestration runs to from the single guitar it starts with. Everybody Knows is just a great pop song - and has a genuinely laugh out loud line about making a small boy cry. Someone just a great love song about longing If… I wrote about this for my English A Levels. Just so clever the way the nasty heart of the song is hidden inside what initially seem comedic lyrics. If I Were You is another great pop song Time watching is an update of a track from his first album and is starkly dramatic with just the strings and his voice. I’m all you need another great orchestral piece I wouldn’t change a note on this album The covers of Johnny Mathis’ Feet and Make it Easy On Yourself on the extended edition are well worth checking out as well

Here is a prime example of why I wanted to start this project: To discover some unique hidden gems like this mini album. It's definitely niche, but 'a short album about love', and the Divine Comedy, is a real treat. Imagine a Bryan Ferry/Paul Banks like crooning on quirky songs about love running through a familiar vien of Jens Lekman and the Magnetic Fields backed by some impressive orchestration with a crisp brit pop sheen. This is my crude attempt to describe what I hear. And no, this isn't meant to be taken too seriously. It's supposed to be a bit campy and definitely fun, helmed by what I can gather is a bit of a savant.

Beautiful, fun, elegant, great simple concepts executed extremely well. Varying instrumentation keeps me on my toes and gets this album the edge it needs to be wonderful, even if it's only following its title's instructions.

Fun album - love the orchestration, the melodies and lyrics are clever. My favorite piece is Timewatching - homage to Nat King Cole - he's singing with only string accompaniment. The strings are exquisite.

With the obvious shades of Scott Walker, I enjoyed this album a LOT more than I expected to. Beautiful.

10/10 The Divine Comedy has to be one of the coolest musicians I’ve ever heard he’s got such a great style; I love the way he composes music

5, Of course. Canciones: Everybody Knows (except you)

I don’t think I’ve heard of The Divine Comedy before. The name makes me expect comedy music for obvious reasons, but I can’t see something like that being considered an essential album. Let’s listen and find out! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Everybody Knows (Except You), If I Were You (I’d Be Through With Me) This album was wonderful. Apple Music says it’s pop, but that’s far too reductive for this. It’s symphonic with crooning vocals, but I wouldn’t know what to categorise this music as. What I can say is that it sounds fantastic, there is the running theme of love and self deprecation, and it is a fairly quick listen at just over half an hour. I liked this a lot and would definitely recommend you give it a try.

Short but epic. Wonderful stuff from Mr Hannon and his marvellous melody makers.

Another exciting and wonderful surprise in a shape of a band, The Divine Comedy, thatcI have never heard of! From the first song onwards, this album was full of baroque splendor and glamour, orchestral motives and actually great singing by the main guy in the band, Neil Hannon. I never knew this, but he was a composer that recorded music for IT Crowd and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. This album let me appreciate him even more. Basically every song on the record is a hit, or at least a single worthy track. I am certainly adding almost whole album to my everyday playlist. Great job Neil, easily 5 stars.

Wow, I was not expecting this! How is this from the 90s? Let alone considered pop? Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but this never what I would picture if you said that. The voice is absolutely magnificent, and the orchestral backing is gorgeous. Are some of the lyrics a little cheesy? Sure, but I don't care, it sounds amazing, and while this isn't technically an "album", so maybe it shouldn't be on this list, but I'm so glad it is. Fantastic. Reminds me a lot of Nick Cave.

A great listen throughout. Highly recommend it

Kinda goofy, but I like his voice

Cinematic, epic and really unique. Lovely orchestration and enchanting vocal tone. Very impressive for a live album, an unexpected 5.

Loved it! So unique, definitely going to listen again.

Talk about an underrated love/break up album. Genuinely some of the most beautiful melodies and movements on this short, grand album. Highlights: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7.

5. Of course. Canciones: Everybody Knows (except you)

Só conhecia The Divine Comedy pelo nome. Foi uma agradável surpresa.

I do love Neil Hannon. His voice and his humour always win me over.

I feel like this album is a big joke that nobody is getting. Sure it's not particularly funny, but it has it's moments both good and bad (not one but two songs about how your girlfriend would be happier as a dog). I guess the point it's trying to satirize is that heaps of love songs are creepy and stalkerish. Reading the review in the book, seems like it's gone over most peoples heads.

Somehow have never heard of this guy despite his music being very up my alley. Love a concept album and this one def hits me in my new wave/emo heart.

Интересная музыка, со своим настроением

Whatever, I enjoyed this.

No idea why the rating for this one is so low and so many people are having negative reactions to it. This album has some of the most unique and interesting string parts and vocal melodies I've heard from this list in a long time. Mid 4.

At just 32 minutes, A Short Album About Love doesn’t waste a second, delivering a tightly packed exploration of romance in all its glory and folly. It's witty, theatrical, and deeply heartfelt—a testament to The Divine Comedy's talent for making the grandest emotions feel intimate.

It’s amazing what good, honest songwriting can do! To be so for real, I thought I was losing my mind when I realized I was enjoying A Short Album About Love. Casanova is maybe one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard in my life, and easily the low point of this list so far; a brief revisit only solidified that opinion. But aside from his vocal tone, there’s almost no similarities between this record and its predecessor. While Casanova insisted on forced bells and whistles, A Short Album About Love keeps it classic, and that restraint is a large reason why this works. I also this The Divine Comedy’s voice is more fitting of this traditional pop sound than his suave ‘90s melodrama. But also, the difference is that this record has some great songs on it! I think “Everybody Knows (Except You),” “If…,” and especially “If I Were You (I’d Be Through With Me)” are all brilliant, well-written, funny yet honest, and just catchy as hell, based on the fact that I’ve been humming them for days. It’s not to say that the other tracks are bad, because they aren’t; I may not personally love the slow pace of “Timewatching” or the more eclectic “In Pursuit of Happiness,” but they’re all enjoyable while showing a lot more maturity and restraint than anything on Casanova. Now, don’t get me wrong, The Divine Comedy’s lyrics are still dripping in post-ironic ‘90s irony, which can be annoying, but I think there’s a deeper, more sincere level of self-deprecating reflection that makes these tracks work. A love song by a weirdo who knows he’s not worth loving is interesting, and an improvement over forced machismo. It’s also a lot more tolerable when it’s 7 songs and 30 minutes, which is a huge strength of this album. Overall, I know this is pastiche. I know it’s inessential. I know I could easily apply a lot of the same criticisms I had to his previous entry to this. But somehow, this little record won me over. It’s fun, it’s got some good songs, and it’s a quick listen. It might not be influential or important, but an ear worm is an ear worm is an ear worm, and considering how short this record is, it’s got an extremely high hit rate.

A refreshing take on the easy-listening genre. Truly an easy listen for me. Its beautiful arrangements, pacing of the album and overall melancholy speak to me the most. It brings honor to the name Divine Comedy.

I hadn't heard of The Divine Comedy before. From what I can gather, they are a chamber pop group from Northern Ireland, whose sole constant member is frontman Neil Hannon. What I will say about A Short Album About Love is that I can accept it for what it is—a farce. Think about it—Neil was able to pen seven songs with various jokes themed around the pursuit of love, with Joby Talbot's orchestral compositions ebbing and flowing in the background. I couldn't help but laugh at some of these lines like addressing the obliviousness of the partner on "Everybody Knows (Except You)" with "I told all of my friends again and again and again/I drove them 'round the bend, so now you're my only friend", or how one of the various allusions the narrator could make to show their affection on "If..." was "If you were a horse/ I'd clean the crap out of your stable/And never once complain." He's taking the piss and I can accept that as the intent. I wouldn't say this album is all that mind-blowing in its execution, given how prevalent comedy music acts have become since. Plus, I can accept that humor like music is subjective, and not every line will land well. Regardless, I had fun with this album, and it is indeed short as it does not overstay its welcome past half an hour. Give it a shot.

I liked this one! I haven't checked this album out before although I've heard a couple of songs from it before. Someone is a fav. I love Neil Hannon's voice.

At first, the album felt a little overly melodramatic. But then "If..." came on, and WOW. I understand that a lot of these songs were released as b-sides, and it was a very spontaneous type of thing. But it really doesn't feel like, it feels a lot more rehearsed. I think that if the album was shorter, I might not have been so up for the album. But it gets in, hits the feels, and gets back out again. I did feel a few of the songs were a little pedestrian, like "Everybody Knows (Except You)". But for the most part, simple can be pretty effective. Top tracks: "If...", "Timewatching"

After an earlier album by The Divine Comedy (Casanova) I had added their albums to favorites for future listening. Then sometime ago I was watching some DVDs I hadn't watched for several years one of them being "When Brendan Met Trudy" which features the first track on this album "In Pursuit of Happiness" So I had already listened to this album. Liked it just as much as "Casanova".

Love this album and the classic sound because the vocals remind me of Sinatra. I am a fan of ballads and crooning vocals, so this was a pleasant listen. Great vibe and use of an orchestra. The lyrics are silly, but with love songs, you gotta be unique sometimes lol

so this is what father john misty sounds like to guys who still talk about social justice warriors 8/10

Lovely

Actually vraiment bon. On dirait de la musique de film.

I love Divine Comedy but this is a really odd 2nd pick, it's not that different to Casanova and not as strong throughout. One of my least favourite DC albums actually. Of course, I still like it. Should have included Fin de Siecle or Regeneration. Or even Absent Friends. Only really In Pursuit of Happiness (remember when that was the new theme to Tomorrow's World?) and Timewatching (which is an old song anyway) stand out. I do like how If takes a horrendously sinister turn at the end. All these one star reviews though, what do you people want?

Mostly ballads but with some rock influences here and there. It also felt a little tongue in cheek with some of the humor. Overall a good listen all the way through.

Fíla þessa vel. Enn betur í öðru rennsli heldur en því fyrsta.

Jacques Brel meets the Magnetic Fields = my kind of music

7.5/10 One of the kings of chamber/baroque pop. Hannon is a treasure. Excellent album, beautiful instrumentation, great songs, great singing. Best : In Pursuit of Happiness

I liked this one a little better than Casanova. Probably a 3.5 but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. The songs were easy to catch the meaning of, the album was consistent but approached love from different directions in each song. If... felt dated and tacky, I'm All You Need was my favourite song.

This was a surprisingly fantastic album. A beautiful voice that deserves an orchestral backing and music that holds the two together in simple, but feeling filled songs of love. Definitely a surprise. Definitely recommended.

first listen a grandiose album, although short

A side didn’t catch my attention but the b side had my jaw on the floor. 👍

Very good production and music and mostly clever lyrics imo. It‘s only 30 minutes long, so I will definitely will give it another listen or two.

Really good

Chamber pop, baroque pop. An interesting album, very lush and romantic. I had a great time but nothing really stands out, just a solid album. 4/5

Surprisingly, a four. I think it hit a grandiose stride and I liked it a lot.

This kinda stuff is jut really up my alley sometimes, y'know? This orchestral pop crooner thing. I'unno. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's more Bublé than Sinatra, and it wears out a quite bit during the last half of the album, but I found the first half just so much fun and the record (true to its word) is pretty short anyway at only half an hour, so I'm still able to come out of this saying I dig it. And the first track, melodically, really sounded to me like it could be sung by the guy from Sparks, and that's a non-zero factor.

Tender, poignant, and humorous. Scott Walker could have learned a lot from this guy.

Lovely music, some wacky lyrics. My first thought was omg this is Irish Scott Walker. And then it occurred to me that the Magnetic Fields made a similar concept album (69 Love Songs). This album came out first, though, so maybe the Magnetic Fields took the idea as a challenge (how many songs can *you* write about love?) and dropped the mic with a 3 volume album clocking in at almost 3 hours long . Okay, that's about a different album, but my point is, if this album inspired Stephin Merritt, it gets props from me. Sure, I have never actually listened to the whole 3 hours of 69 Love Songs, but I love what I have heard. Ooh interesting tidbit - I am seeing on the Wiki page that one of this album’s bonus tracks is actually a Magnetic Fields cover. AND 69 Love Songs is on the list so we’ll all get to listen at some point 👏👏👏

decent enough, short albums are always a plus too

I quite enjoyed this. Instrumentation kept me interested, and the tone seemed playful and joyful when it needed to, and morose at other times. Reminded me of Pulp in a lot of ways.

I see that this album is not very popular and do I think that this album is a masterpiece? No, not at all. However, I felt it to be kind of tongue and cheek at times which I appreciated and I'll admit that it was an entertaining listen. You know, I really loved the ending of "I'm All You Need" and I was a big fan of the horse element. Really added another level of charm. I've already said this but I really wish there were half star ratings because I would give this a 3 1/2 stars but I'm tired and don't have much time to think so I'll round it up to a 4 because life is short and I have no time to be a hater!

Lately, it feels as though I've been wandering through a desert of 2-star albums. It has left me yearning for something to quench my thirst for musical creativity and depth. "A Short Album About Love" by The Divine Comedy appeared as an oasis in this landscape, offering a refreshingly unique sound that I wasn't at all prepared for upon my first listen. The album's distinctiveness caught me off guard, prompting not one, not two, but three successive playthroughs to fully immerse myself in it. The Divine Comedy is undeniably niche, blending quirky lyrics with compositions that stand out from the mainstream offerings. The lyrics, while unusual, have a wit and charm that is amusing. As for the lead singer's voice, it certainly made an impression. His vocal quality occasionally brought Morrissey to mind, yet there was something uniquely compelling about his delivery that stood out on its own. Calling this album "stunning" might seem like high praise, yet it feels wholly appropriate given the experience it provides. "A Short Album About Love" isn't just a collection of songs; it's a journey that surprises, delights, and challenges its listeners. While its distinct sound and unconventional lyrics might not cater to everyone's tastes, for those willing to dive into its depths, the album proves to be a rich, rewarding experience. Favourite Tracks: In Pursuit of Happiness, Everybody Knows (Except You)

I suppose your liking for this can be broken down to your tolerance for: a) The sweeping, orchestral Big Pop sounds of the 1960s, and; b) Neil Hannon's oaken, stentorian baritone, an eccentric and seemingly anachronistic voice for the time of the Divine Comedy's pomp. If you like both - and I do - there's much to enjoy here. It's graverobbing, undoubtedly, but the larceny is done with immense brio and elegance. A dialled-down Hannon evens sounds tender on 'Timewatching', and would you believe it? It's beautiful. Any road, I'm always going to look favourably on the composer of 'My Lovely Horse'.