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.

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.

“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

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.

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.

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)

A short album of shit.

Terrible 1/5

This band is not good

Bloody shite

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

Awful

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

A great listen throughout. Highly recommend it

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

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.

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

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

Kinda goofy, but I like his voice

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

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!

Great album not something id listen to but great 👍🏾

A perfect slice of chamber pop with show tune qualities.

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

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.

Didn't know them. Love it.

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

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.

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!

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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"

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.

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

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

This one caught me by surprise. Though I'd probably never load this one up again, I enjoyed it.

название обещает альбом про любовь, я получил альбом про любовь музыкально это просто крепкая троечка, но я ощутил какой-то музыкальный концепт в этом. какое-то вот это торжество и пафос в конце каждый песни. невероятная яма на предпоследней песне. этот тот редкий случай, когда идея и концепт сильно добавляют альбому.

Für Freunde des Melodrams wirklich ein gutes album

c'est un peu court jeune homme, 4/5

Surprisingly good Album

Zu pompös, um es normal zu hören aber echt cool!

What a lovely album... shades of 60s and Blur and Pulp. Will give TDC more time for sure

ну не короткий альбом же)) Но вокал очень мощный + приятные музыкальные партии с оркестром небольшим Алкоальбом: говорить о любви на крыше дома, попивая дешевое вино

If Jim Morrison, Elton John and David Bowie had a baby. Took a while to get into, but it’s actually good. Weird good.

Pleasantly surprised! I'll listen to more of this band.

A voice like velvet, great lyrics, clever songwriting, beautiful arrangements... what a joy this album is.

Certainly very short - about 30 minutes - but also very good. Neil Hannon is a great singer and lyricist, with a slightly skewed perspective on the world. Wonderful, if perhaps a bit one paced and similar sounding. I really liked it

It’s sort of histrionic and the lyrics are a bit silly but I got into the proto-elo vibe

I enjoyed this. Unique pop music and the singer was also good.

Intriguing and often mesmerizing, although the occasional odd lyric feels out of place with the tone of the album. But well done and I was hooked throughout.

A classic example of good trustworthy advertising. It is short, it is an album, and it is truly every sense about love. The vocalist's voice soars as he tells you how we can be together forever, how you would not cry if you were a tree, and how if you were a horse, he'd clean the crap out of your stable and that's when it really hits you that you're in love.

This was actually great. Started off feeling very twee, but I grew to like it a lot.

Has some really good moments and also cringe moments

very good, unexpected gem. kind of a mellow sound.

Absolutely soulful and swanky album, quite tightly packed as well. Huge Surpise here.

A surprise smash hit out of left field. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Gorgeous songcraft, funny and witty lyrics, and a nice melodic ambiance.

honestly… i loved this album. usually this type of music (theatrey) is something i am SO against, but i kind of ignored the lyrics and just listened to the music and the trumpets made it sound so happy and it was just really fun.

Never heard of this before but pretty pleasantly surprised, really like the vibe and the orchestral bits really add something

I love Neil Hannon. A man out of time, a voice from the 50s and the wit of Noel Coward but with 90s instrumentation. It's so enjoyable. He can break your heart in one line and make you laugh your arse off with the next (is there a better delivered line than "I told the passers by/I made a small boy cry"). I have always loved Everybody Knows. If is a revelation - big swelling orchestration and a writer's challenge of coming up with as many situations as possible. If I Were You feels like Frank Sinatra retold by Morrissey (in a good way, not a racist way). This actually feels like a lost Scott Walker album! I really like it. Not everything on here is essential - which is a shame with its brevity, but at it's heights, it soars.

Une des premières bonnes surprises du générateur, évidemment mal reçue par la communauté trashmétal-friendly de celui-ci d'un mauvais goût assez objectif.

Sounds a lot like Magnetic Fields. Pretty listenable

Just lovely, and exactly what it says it is. (The 2020 extended version has some noteworthy material but it makes it a not short album about love and that gets to my nerves)

I've never really heard anything of this genre before outside of straight up musical theatre, which is obviously right up my street. This album was really cohesive and was a pleasure to listen to. My favourite moment was the orchestra at the end of 'If...'. Beautiful music.

I got into this album more and more the further through it I got. Felt very nostalgic of when I used to go with my grandparents to little pub/clubs ( the lax working club kind)

There should be more short albums about things. As the title suggests, this is a sweet, shot and idiosyncratically romantic chamber pop record. It's not subtle, but it's really good. The lyrics are direct, full of imagery and amusingly truthful all at once. In all literature, music or art I'm not sure anyone has ever described the devotion of being in love better than 'If': "if you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable, and never once complain, if you were a horse, I could ride you through the fields at dawn, through the day until the day was gone"? Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Everybody Knows (except you) Date listened: 30/10/22

Interesting! Somewhat eerie love songs with strange lyrics (if you were a horse).

Short and sweet. Playful, unpredictable, tender, with great melodies. I definitely need to listen to some more 'The Divine Comedy!

New to me, i liked it

One off 60's orchestra and single singer style. Enjoyable.

Never heard of The Devine Comedy. This is such well written music. Very full and layered. Like an Ogre. I'm interested in hearing more.

I really quite enjoyed this album.

not the worst thing ive ever heard. this will prob grow on me but for now i stick with this rating. last three tracks are highlights.

Neil Hannon probably thinks he is very clever. That can be annoying sometimes. Here's the thing: like it or not, Neil Hannon is in fact very clever. Composition, arrangements, lyrics. And singing. It's all on point and creative. It's great

Solid album from one of my favourite artists. Does exactly what the title suggests and more.

Enjoyable and somewhat amusing album with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, surprisingly good