Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Opulent Kammerpop‑Gesten, große Gefühle, viel Streicher – und manchmal ein bisschen zu viel davon. Die Band liefert elegante Melodien und pointierte Texte, aber das Album schwankt zwischen charmantem Musical‑Glamour und leichtem Überdruss. Schön arrangiert, clever geschrieben, doch nicht jeder Song trägt die große Geste wirklich.
WTF did I just listen to and how did it end up on this list?
Easily a 5. Very magnetic fields. Gorgeous lyrics
Number: 242 Familiarity: Aware (2) Rating: 3 Before: ======= I do like a few songs by The Divine Comedy a lot. In fact 3 of my favorites are on the album Absent Friends, but sadly that one is not on The List. I don't see any songs on this album that I recognize but surely I have at least skimmed through it once before? After : ======= Overall I'd rate it three. Nothing I'd care to listen to again. Not bad but not particularly enjoyable either. I did listen to his album Absent Friends yesterday as well. Turns out it's also a 3 for me. Aside from 3, 5 star tracks, the rest were all 3's. If you get a chance, I highly recommend these three tracks from that album: Absent Friends, Our Mutual Friend, & Freedom Road. That last one Freedom Road is in my top 3 from 1997, right behind Your Fucking Sunny Day by Lambchop, and Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve.
A short, enjoyable set of songs with a couple of slight inconsistencies. It shows its age at times, but it's a pleasant listen even then. I do appreciate how the band manages to carry an unique and recognizable sound, despite sticking to mostly conventional songwriting techniques. It's romantic and grandiose, yet moody and melancholic. The key to pulling this off is Neil Hannon himself, truly an intriguing vocalist. I need to remember to edit my rating of Casanova as well, it's a better album than I gave it credit for during my first listen. Favourite track: Someone
Belle orchestrazioni ma niente di impatto
2.8 2x
Suitably dramatic and grand for its subject matter. I liked this more than the other Divine Comedy album on this list by a wide margin. The cinematic production and all-in vocal performance were pretty convincing. Sinatra is an obvious influence, for better and for worse. So I liked it more than I expected to, but I don’t think I’ll be reaching for it again anytime soon. It’s just not the kind of music that gets me going. But it is pretty lovely; I could see myself revisiting it on a rainy day and being moved by it. Consider this a strong three.
Cool. Second and final Divine Comedy. I was surprised to learn a couple of months ago that The Divine Comedy had two albums on this list. They technically have three if you count their extensive collaboration with Ute Lemper on "Punishing Kiss" as an album within their discography. I thought "Casanova" was a fantastic album and is one of the few on this list that I regularly revisit. "Something For the Weekend" and "A Woman of the World" are notable favourites of mine as well as their "Birds of Paradise Farm" B-Side. I'm such a fan of Casanova, in fact, that I've begun watching Father Ted simply because the theme tune for that show was reworked into the latter half of "Songs Of Love". Also because the IT Crowd is my favourite comedy show, so I kind of owe it to Graham Linehan. I listened to a bit of this album promptly after learning it was on this list, and I dunno. As far as this long, arduous list is concerned, I certainly commend it for being a short album about love. There's only seven songs on here if I'm remembering everything correctly, though none of those tunes I listened to managed to hook me. The album played things a lot straighter when compared to the bombastic, eclectic set of songs which feature on Casanova. I'm favourable to giving this album a second chance, though I will most likely be replacing this with "Absent Friends" come the end of this review. Chamber pop is quite underrepresented on the list and I think it's both a better album and a better representation of where The Divine Comedy would go with their future endeavours. Anyways, play that thang. Yeah, what a bummer. It certainly has that Divine Comedy flavouring but without any of the candor or grandeur to really pull off what Casanova so effortlessly gets right. If I am to look on the bright side of things, this album has a solid foundation. Neil Hannon's distinctive baritone vocals are always a treat and the symphonic backing music is well-performed - particularly in the brass, piano and string departments. However, like I mentioned earlier, none of these elements are put towards anything substantial. Just as an aside, I was curious to know if the extended horse verse on "If..." was a wink and a nod to the "My Lovely Horse" song from Father Ted. I consulted the Genius page for that song only to discover that one lone annotator had written a bunch of comments interpreting the lyrics as an S&M roleplay fantasy while all of the other page contributors seethed in the notes and votes. That's pretty fucking funny, not gonna lie. Book time. This album released on Valentine's week. The album is more strait-laced in comparison to The Divine Comedy's previous ventures. The album name was lifted from a 1988 Polish movie with a similar title. The album was recorded with an orchestra comprised of 26 people when The Divine Comedy were touring at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, though Hannon would later re-record his vocals. The curator considers the largely joke-free style of this album to be superior to that of Casanova. They're similarly let down by "Generation Sex" and "National Express" from the band's succeeding release, which is kind of nuts. National Express is a great song. Wikipedia says that the critics were favourable to this album, with it also peaking at No. 13 in the UK and No. 8 in Ireland. Yeah, I'm switching this out for Absent Friends. It's the more substantial release, and I think it serves as a good blend of The Divine Comedy's comedic stylings and songwriting prowess. I switcharoo this inclusion.
Ok Baroque/chamber pop of the 90s. Sure is overblown, but I like Baroque pop from the 60s and have to admit this made me smile. Is it essential listen, hell no but doesn't stop me enjoying it. I just like that overwrought, wring out every cliche emotion vocals. The melodramatic orchestration, the cheesy backing vocals. It's fun. 4 Star
Something about overly operatic or theatrical songs like these really turn me off. Not for me.
Álbum gostosinho de ouvir. Vale a pena experimentar outros
3 - BAD
2.0 Neil Diamond's brain on DRUGS
Chamber pop and orchestral pop built from lush strings, brass, piano, and Neil Hannon's rich baritone feels like being taken to an extravagant romantic dinner where everything has been arranged beautifully and the host is determined to make sure I appreciate the occasion. The elegance and theatricality are undeniable, but for me the romantic grandness can feel a little too carefully staged. There are moments of genuine charm, yet I often admired the arrangement more than I connected with the sentiment.
I don't hate his voice and the overall sound. But he is just too much and a just love bombing. I appreciate he says I'be be through with me but like come on man maybe don't be so over the top and maybe it wouldn't be so bad. The over-emotional nature of this album along with his lyrics just kind of put me off.
This album cracked me up. He comes across as an obsessive lover in very dramatic fashion but then there are lyrics like, "If you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable and never once complain." The drama mixed with the levity really worked for me.
First Listen Favorites: If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me) Everybody Knows (Except You) I'm All You Need Honorable Mentions: In Pursuit of Happiness
high 3 i like albums that sound like a random bloke having a go
I should probably rate it more than 2 stars, because it started really nice and I really appreciate what the album is trying to do. But it just didn't click for me at all.
Short and sweet. Not sure if he meant for the lyrics to be quite so funny, but I'm not complaining. I love weird stuff like that.
I really wanted to like this, kinda just mid tho. It's the vocal I think. Almost a good Belle and Sebastian thing
Jerry Smith if he could sing
Correcto
in 1 woord : kort in 2 woorden : te lang
Вже був один альбом) У них все з оркестром, цікаво?
Find it very hard to separate the Divine Comedy from the fact that they were the band that did the theme tune for Father Ted and songs like My Lovely Horse from that series. The song "If' here on this album almost descends to that level of farcial comedy.... If you were a horse 🐎 I could ride you through the fields at dawn. Which is a shame as otherwise this album with Neil's baritone voice and the lush sounding orchestra is quite gorgeous sounding and songs like 'Everyone knows except you.' are great songs about love, loss and unrequited love. The comedic elements don't work for me. Still, I think 3 stars here but could have been 4.
corny
Nice enough
Cheesy, lams, and strange. 👎
WTF is this list? We’re officially in a rut.
Well, these guys get points right off the bar for candidly titling their album, which is indeed a short album about love. Somehow, the singer sounded exactly like I expected him to sound. The music sounds like it came from a musical(theater kid here, I'm familiar with the style), and the lyrics sound like they were written by a poorly written love interest character from a mediocre anime. For those who don't know what I mean by that, all he does is obsess over his crush to the point of ridicule. Maybe that's the point, though. Maybe this record is just taking the piss out of 60s crooner pop by deliberately exaggerating the lovelorn lyrics of the genre. Or maybe it's genuinely shit lyricism at play. I don't know the artist's intent, but I do know that this is far from the worst thing I've listened to in this project. In fact, it's surprisingly enjoyable for what it is. Color me surprised. This album is ranked #19 of 25 albums for 1997. Other 1997 albums rated by me: Either Or(4/25)-3 In It For The Money(8/25)-2 Life Thru A Lens(21/25)-1 Let's Get Killed(22/25)-3
This album was just OK. Wasn't bad, but was great either. Probably something I wouldn't normally listen to
I was unaware of this Irish artist but actually enjoyed his orchestral pop style.
shitero
3 stars
Visst är det fina arrangemang och sådär, men allt jag vill är att han ska hålla käften!! Äcklig röst och ännu äckligare texter, bara you you I I you I I you som kulminerar i "if you were a horse i'd clean the crap out of your stable"
Snark
Som Frank Sinatra på prozac. Verkligen ingenting för mig, men kul med artister som gör sin egen grej. Sista låten tyckte jag dock var riktigt bra!
Pretentiös piss
Låter som filmmusik
I have never heard of "The Divine Comedy." I guess they were very popular in the UK, but were not as big in the US or at least were never on my radar. I got this album the Frank Sinatra & Albert Jobim album. I guess Divine Comedy are going for the same thing. Maybe they succeed. I did not like the Sinatra album for the sameness and blandness and this does not improve on that formula 30 years later. I will give this 2 stars because though I do not care for it at least it is only 31 minutes.
A turd
Some songs are SO thematic! Others are like the Barry Manilow, Anne Murray, Neil Daimond songs of the late 1990s. I'd say it's disjointed, but its not. The album works as a whole. It's not my cup of tea, but it's a solid choice that I can understand why it's on someone's list
meh
Loved this, much more than similar stuff like Scott Walker. I think the lyrics are better and wittier, and the arrangements and melodies are stronger. It reminded me a bit of 69 Love Songs.
Great little album. No fat and straight to the point. Recorded live in the studio, so it has a extra warm sound. And for being so short, Neil Hannon still found room to re-record one of his earlier songs, "Timewatching". This album serve as a small bridge between the other two great The Divine Comedy albums, Casanova and Fin de Siècle. It might be too twee for some people, but find it endearingly charming. Key tracks: In Pursuit of Happiness Everybody Knows (Except You) If...
Same as last album that showed up of theirs, alright music with some amusing lyrics if you really pay attention to what's going on. I could argue maybe one of their albums should be on the list, just for exposure, but not sure why they e shown up multiple times
A Short Album About Love by The Divine Comedy is a great little album. As the title suggests, it’s short, but it doesn’t waste any time and I really enjoyed listening to it. It’s catchy, clever and good fun, with some great melodies and lovely orchestral arrangements throughout. Neil Hannon has such a distinctive voice and style, and there’s a wit and charm to the songwriting that gives the album plenty of personality. It feels theatrical at times without becoming too over the top. Most importantly, there’s very little filler. Seven songs, just over half an hour, and then it’s done. More albums could learn from that! I enjoyed pretty much every track and it never outstays its welcome. This was a really enjoyable listen and definitely something I’ll be revisiting. Short, fun and full of great songwriting. Favourite track: “Everybody Knows (Except You)” is a great tune. Easily my favourite on the album and one I’ll definitely listen to again. Least favourite track: “Timewatching” was probably the weakest for me. A little slow and dull compared with the rest of the album. Album artwork: Cool cover. Simple but effective.
The one saving grace is it was short
More new wave homoerotica
NOT SHORT ENOUGH
Give me some José José instead of this watered down Scott Walker
Lol
i really did like it on a first listen
1,7/5
Strange album, not sure what I think.
Fuck this guy for some reason. At least it was short.
Somehow, despite my love of queso fundido, this band has escaped my ear. What a treat! They've really done a great job of modernizing the chamber-pop thing and still feeling like they're paying homage rather than carelessly aping it. I, for one, loved it. If you aren't into this sort of thing I can see it grating, but luckily, it lives up to its album title. It is concise and of high-quality. It isn't a perfect album although it is a fine representation for its delegation. I'm like a 3.5 but I can't go 3 soooo...
Not for me this one, nothing grabbed me. Much prefer the DC's more jaunty creations. Nothing to dislike though, so I won't score it too harshly.
Felt like a musical. 2 point 5.
I’ve been scarred by hearing The National Express enough times in the 90s for the everyone on the planet to have a gag reflex initiate on hearing The Divine Comedy. This, like all Divine Comedy albums, has a few decent tracks and the rest are sub-par at best.
2.75. Not really sure what this is, but I kinda dig it.
I found this both super charming and super cheesy. It felt like a fake Vegas lounge singer hamming it up for a comedy movie in some places. I didn't hate it though.
2.25 - Alright.
Music arrangements are not my style but I can see why people would like them, but the lyrics added to it? Just not for me.
Don’t get why other reviewers absolutely hated it, but I also didn’t love it. A solid three stars, didn’t dislike it but it’s an ok listen. “Someone” is the highlight of the album.
Corny. Sometimes in a good way. Sometimes in a bad way. I just really don’t like this guy’s voice.
generous 4/10 = i've seen divine comedy cds downstairs that my parents have and have never got round to listening or enquiring about it and quite grateful i never bothered, almost good at points before he just gets so over the top that it feels like a parody, i did see that fjm probably got inspiration but he did it better and calling it similar to scott walker is insulting
Very theatrical vocal performance; all the material is about love but the details are just vague enough to suggest that he just got a nice girl’s phone number and now has a runaway imagination. 2.5/5.0
Kind of great bandleader, if oft overweeningly arch. Enjoyably hammy but almost feels like parody.
At least it was short
A collection of boring soundtracks in search of another overrated RomCom.
I think I listened to this on the wrong night. Feels like a Temu Belle and Sebastian who didn't take their meds.
If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable
baroque irish pop is really not my thing. i cannot stand belle and sebastian despite numerous attemps and the divine comedy is also not really doing much for me here.
Osa kappaleista oli ihan hienon kuuloisia, tylsiä tai humoristisia. Ei ihan kauhean toimiva kokonaisuus. Kestoa ei ollut liikaa, aivan niin kuin albumin nimi lupasi.
Wer hat denn die Theater Kids aus dem Käfig gelassen?
Interesting sounds. Witty and sarcastic. I liked this more than I thought I would.
Love is releasing a 30 minute album and calling it short. 5/5
5/10
I enjoy The Divine Comedy although the jokey nature of the music can wear thin after a while. Fortunately, this album is only half an hour long so that never really happened. I prefer Hannon's poppier tunes, but A Short Album About Love still gets a four from me.
This album grows on you. The first time I heard it, I wasn't impressed. I thought it was kind of cheesy but his great voice and exceptional lyrics won me over. This album is clearly not for everyone based on the many 1-star reviews. Those that are into this kind of quality music will definitely enjoy. I also got into the four bonus songs from the European Edition just in case they were supposed to be included. Favorite Songs: If...., Everybody Knows (Except You), If I Were You, 5/5
Funny and entertaining but still good enough to be taken seriously
4/10 Not bad but not the kinda music I'll come back to
I’m actually like this, is it an album I would pull out often, no. Is it essential listening? Probably not, but I like the Scott Walker like lush musical arrangements and I can live with Neil’s affected croon because he wrote My Lovely Horse for Father Ted. 3.2
I liked this more than I thought I would. Great arrangements and reminded me of John Grant a bit. Will listen to again.
Felt like cheesy musical vibes. 2
Some of these lyrics are super silly, but I actually love them
As much as I hate to agree with the folks on this site, this is indeed an extremely cheesy album and that line about the horse is fucking awful. At least it's short. Also it sounds pleasant enough if you ignore the lyrics. Favorite track: In Pursuit of Happiness Least Favorite track: If...
Album cover I really like. Can't say I was the biggest fan of most of the tracks tho. Very theatre kid vibes in a not-great way. Bro literally said 'if you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable' ..... Favourite track / only one I took interest in = Everybody Knows (Except You) but not even the version on the album, it was the early demo version that was good. Strings and vibes were actually real nice in Timewatching. Actually listening again to a few I don't hate them at all. 'If...' is alright too. 6.2/10
Very garbo.
Meh
Interesting idea that just missed the mark. At least it was short.
Never thought I would hear someone crooning about cleaning horse shit, but here we are.
was never super bored with it, but no desire to really spin it again....not totally bad
#1009. Not that great, if we're being honest 2/5: nah
Meh
"A Short Album About Love" maintains the drama of Neil Hannon's previous album but cuts out the hammiest, most knowingly over-the-top moments until the result is almost sincere. "If" is a good example of the difference, as it starts out with lovely sentiments until it evolves into a set of ridiculous comparisons. The songs are carefully orchestrated to sound lush but not too grand, hitting the sweet spot between the two. The album's biggest issue is that the range of topics covered is rather narrow, as nearly every song comes off as fawning and admiring. "Everybody Knows" may be my favorite song, with its self-deprecation, but it casts the narrator in the same light as the rest. I would have liked to see love approached from a few different angles, maybe with some sincerity, but the album is still a nice one that lives up to its title.
No. 415/1001 In Pursuit of Happiness 2/5 Everybody Knows 4/5 Someone 2/5 If… 3/5 If I Were You 4/5 Timewatching 4/5 I'm All You Need 3/5 Average: 3,14 Voice reminds me of Bowie. Somehow I quite enjoyed this quirky record.
Album was okay - may listen again
Un po’ tosto
Could be a 4 in time. Nice tunes and interesting execution. Father Ted earns him brownie points too.
Actively did not like this album. Lyrics were terrible - super cliché and the whole album screamed 'white man with nothing better to do than think we are all interested in his yearnings'. Nothing interesting to say about love or anything to inspire, inform etc. I think it's maybe supposed to be comical but again, that was missed on me.
Just boring 3/10
Dollar Tree Scott Walker.
At least it was short.
If a super rich guy used his money to make an album it would be like this. He would dismiss the nay sayers and drink up the lavish praise from those riding his gravy train.
Weird
90% confident that each song is about different kinds of love and people would have a different opinion on the album if they knew that the song about wanting your lover to be a dog and a horse and your sister was about toxic love and control. BUT that 10% is also putting up a good fight and there are just enough mentions of dogs and horses for an album about love for it to be suspicious, so… 4 stars
Meh... The tracks are okay-ish, but none of the songs are particularly original or memorable. 2.5/5
Jazzy, good instrumentation, kind of chill! "If..." is such a funny song, I kind of love it. Alotta horse metaphors.
Rate: 7/10.
I have to give this a 5 as a counterbalance to all those unfair 1s. This is fun, engaging, listenable, and performed beautifully.
This was fine.
Some interesting ideas here and there, but ultimately forgettable.
This is pure cheesy crap, but hey, at least it’s short.
Does what it says on the cover. Short and sweet, inoffensive, but not particularly mind blowing. Did lose me a bit when he was going on about his partner being a horse. Hearing songs by The Divine Comedy, I’m not at all surprised that Neil Hannon went on to do film and tv music.
Not exactly inspirational. Also, I could not tell if the horse analogy was a joke lmao.
Not my thing at all but liked last song
Corte que las capitales.
Wasn’t short enough.
pompous, smug, mannered, pseudo-dramatic - there is nothing here that was not done much better and much earlier by Scott Walker and by Jacques Brel one star
"Someone" and "I'm All You Need" are fantastic. This is almost a perfect album
I'm glad it's a short album.
It was chill, some good singing and good lyrics but idk about returning to this genre…
Sounds fine and I'm sure its pure english poetry in lyrics. But its America's 250th God damn Independence day and I had to listen to some English hack. Fuck the red coat tyranny!
not bad
Perfectly competent. But sounds like a satire. Like it's simultaneously taking the piss out of Nick Cave and musical theater.
Can't stand his singing style or arch lyrics. Not funny, not clever.
This was a beautiful little album. Funny, well delivered and half an hour in length. Bliss when you've had a barrage of 2 hour albums recently.
I did not need to hear this before I died.
Listening session: june 28th, while crocheting a gift for my roommate Listened to before: no Thoughts: after listening twice I still don’t know if these love songs are supposed to be ironic or not because of lyrics like “If you were a horse, I’d clean the crap out of your stable”. This reminded me a bit of Scott Walker but then with weirder lyrics and I don’t know if I will be coming back to this. The orchestral instrumentals were really nice at some points though Favourite tracks: Everybody Knows (except you)? Someone & If…
I'm just not interested. It's well put together, but the songs and performances are not for me.
God awful. Musical songs that were rejected for Adam Sandler movie end credit scenes. There was no shortage of love songs, didn’t need to make an album full of them. The most boring milquetoast type of decorated pop music right here. The only thing this really does well is actually being a short album.
A (barely) competent album, it’s music, his voice is nice. I mostly did not like ti
*Nice musicianship but its gets a little TOO heavy and serious over the course of the album
sounds like most boring 90’s music lolol the track “if…” was pretty funny imo lots of comparisons to animals????
It’s exactly what it says on the tin, and it’s great. Everybody Knows is the highlight but the rest is brilliant. If… starts of sweet and ends up sinister by the end. It’s an album which encompasses love from many angles and does it in its own tongue-in-cheek manor.
We saw them at the Rudolstadt Festival four years ago. We found the music too bombastic and left after barely an hour. The album being reviewed here was recorded 25 years earlier and sounds different from what we heard at the concert. It is still bombastic, though—featuring plenty of orchestration, strings, trumpets, trombones, French horns, oboes, cello, and so on. It’s worth a listen; the vocals and the record's mood immediately remind me of Bryan Ferry from Roxy Music—an artist I would prefer. I’ve since read that this style of music is called "chamber pop." Well, I’m giving it a 3, but as for listening to it again? Probably not.
Actually really enjoyed it. Orchestral, sad, intense
Quality crooning
Muito cinematográfico, com letras ultra melosas e uma ambientação bem teatral, algo que já mencionei não curtir muito anteriormente. O som deles me lembra Pulp, mas bem menos pervertido. Como o nome indica, é um disco bem curto, mas ainda assim é possível sentir a pegajosidade das letras e do melodrama apresentado. Não me agradou muito. 3/5
No
Boring and more creepy than romantic.
I don’t dislike Hannon but this is just not that compelling at present. Was it more of a surprise in the mid-90s amidst britpop’s more rock/lad posturing? His just this side of naughty lyrics play as thin or lightweight now, but may’ve stood out a la Jarvis, et al at the time.
It's 3.5
What more can you ask for? Bring out the romance, give me all your strings, bombast for everyone. I'm old and in love and enjoyed every second of this. Its not layered and era defining but you'd have to live a miserable life to take issue with its love and joy.
нудная скукотень
Still cheesy and a little creepy, like cigarettes and the tacky feel of a bar not cleaned in a while.
I think I kinda ragged the other The Divine Comedy album, because I thought he was a self-serious artist making something ridiculous without realizing. I think I realized with this one that he’s in on the joke, which makes me enjoy it more.
노래가 잔잔하고 분위기가 꽤 좋았다. The song was calm and the atmosphere was quite nice.
Kjedelig coroner?
Bastante teatral y dramático
I have to hold back from giving this a 1 star because it was at least listenable. But dang, this was just really boring and felt unmotivated. Likes: In Pursuit of Happiness
zzzzz
Pretty mediocre.
I won't remember this album even exists a week from today.
Sounds like Willy Wonka, Neil Diamond, and Ben Folds had a threesome.
Some very interesting lyrics
Slow pop
a short album about horses and dogs (and frogs)
Ég segi já, alveg ljómandi. Fékk nokkur rennsli núna og svo verða þau vonandi fleiri síðar.
Kitsch but not in a good way.
I've had double albums feel shorter than this 30 minute snore-fest. The lyrics to "If..." made me embarrassed to be listening to them, and I'm sitting in my house alone.
5.5/10
How can anybody hate this? Euphoric music here, hilarious lyrics, especially "If...". Nothing else really needs to be said, just a banger album that speaks for itself
I was honestly expecting to hate A Short Album About Love but it was surprisingly pretty good. This album pretty much says exactly what it is on the tin, its a short 31 minute album where the lyrics are about love so i will give points for honesty. This album feels like a mix between Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Morrissey and RPG town themes. The strings on offer were rather nice and the lyrics were pretty alright for the most part. I also like that this album was short just like it says in the name. I will admit that there were points where the constant orchestral instruments and the lyrics could be a bit pretentious but i don't think its really enough to tank the album too badly. Overall, it's a pretty good listen. Best Song: Timewatching Worst Song: In Pursuit Of Happiness
Very fun album, and an unexpected amount of horse references. If... was pretty funny. Everybody Knows (Except You) and I'm All You Need were my favorites though. 6.6/10
I had not realised so much of Divine Comedy's oeuvre was about horses.
At least it was short.
I can't imagine why this one is on the list.
Not much to like. Not much to hate. Not sure why this is on here, some songs were okay but forgettable.
Utterly shocked to come rate this and see it as released in 1997?! I missed that upon listening, because I was passing this off as some cheesy 70s pop rock bullshit. Somehow it being from the 90s makes this even worse?
Not bad but so schmaltzy. I’m sure that’s what he was going for, just didn’t hit for me today
Kanske lite bättre än förra, men ingen "Alfie" och gôrtråkig som helhet
Betydligt bättre än Casanova. Riktigt bra till och med i Everybody knows och Someone. Som Dexys på lättmajonäs.
Ett kort album som inte är kort nog (Someone undantaget).
Väldigt mycket bättre än det förra Divine Comedy-albumet. Nästan helt befriat från trams. Låter rätt ofta som soundtracket till en disney-film. Precis godkänt. Bästa stunden på skivan är avslutningen på Someone (efter att sången har tystnat).
Horseplay
Chamber pop. Doesn't seem that noteworthy and I'm mildly surprised to see the group has a second album on the list. "If..." starts to sound downright sinister at the end, like he's finally made up his mind to cast a spell to turn the woman into a dog or a horse.
This fascination with crooners and their orchestrated albums is going to drive me insane. I just don't care for this stuff. I do hope someone gets more out of it than I did, but one listen was more than enough for me.
This was not good to maybe just ok, kinda annoying voice
Orchestral pop.
Stinky cheese levels of ga-ga
I really enjoyed the divine comedy. Both albums I’ve had. Great vocals and lyrical themes. I wonder why less of a household name than other acts of the time
I loved this album! Very interesting orchestral background. I want to listen again.
Unremarkable
Actually awful.
Nice quick clean 32 min
Fairly unremarkable but fine listening. Mistook this for Nick Cave that we listened to yesterday
At least it was different than all the rest of the boring Britpop
This album really is exactly what it says it is, and I don't mean that in a good way. The fact that it's so short is actually a really good thing, it really just doesn't need to be any longer. Just front to back generic sounding, and generic lyrics about, well, you guessed it. It doesn't feel particularly meaningful or heartfelt, just singing about love because why not? Everybody else is doing it. There were a few moments that maybe I thought were kinda cool, but to be honest looking at it, I was really forcing myself to enjoy those parts, while trying to come across as epic and passionate, they end up just sounding more whiny than anything really. Real shame actually, I really liked the other Divine Comedy album on the list, but this one just doesn't do it for me at all.
Notable Textzeile: If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable And never once complain Eine Band die ich nur dem Namen nach und aus Rezensionen kenne, die ich gelesen habe, die mich irgendwie angesprochen haben, aber nicht genug um im Laden wirklich reinzuhören, weil das in dieser CD-Kauf-Jahrtausendwendenzeit was Besonderes war. Und dann auch später wo alles verfügbar war, hat mich nichts dazu gebracht. Jetzt weiß ich, dass ich nichts verpasst habe. Ohne damit sagen zu wollen, dass ich das jetzt schlecht finde oder das es ansonsten schlecht gemacht wäre. Aber genau dafür was das ist (bittersweet, orchestral, Lovesongs mit Trief und Seltsamkeit) reicht mir Nick Cave, da gibt es zumindest mehr Doppelbödigkeit, Spannung und Darkness.
Schrecklicher Schmonz weil alles gleich und gleich dramatisch. Einzelne Songs funktionieren schon, auch gut, aber schon eine halbe Stunde ist zu viel. Weil es ein Album ist
Das wirkt irgendwie aus der Zeit gefallen. Aber nicht kacke. Kenne eher neuere Dinge von TDC - was für mich alles noch wilder und weniger retro-gestyled wirkt. Das hier ist in the middle of the limbo und verwässert irgendwo.
This is the second album by this band in as many weeks. If this had been my first two weeks of this project I would have dropped this venture post haste.
The last time I came across The Divine Comedy they were backing Ute Lemper on an album that was so overcooked as to be just unpleasant. And so here they are again with a sound that seems like a Broadway show tune that didn't know when to say "enough". That melodrama is at the service of songs that display all the wit and profundity of a toothpaste jingle. All that meat and no potatoes.
A Short Album about love, duurt net aan 30 minuten, dus ik ben in elk geval al tevreden dat ze zich aan een deel van de titel houden. Met een naam als The Divine Comedy was dit wel een beetje wat ik verwachtte. Super extra popindierock. Je hoort bijna de theateropleiding die de bandleden allemaal gevolgd hebben. Het is wel campy, maar wel op een goede manier. Zang is prima, niet ontzettend bijzonder en instrumentaal is het heel erg filmisch. Dit had zo in een musical gekund zegmaar. Nu ben ik niet de grootste fan van musicals, maar een half uurtje trek ik nog wel en dan kan ik nog net de lol er van inzien dat dit van die super extra okestrale muziek is. Bombastisch instrumentaal en dan zingen over de liefde, als dit niet in een Romeo & Julia musical had gezeten dan weet ik het ook niet meer. Ja ach, dit is een ok album. Ben er niet heel erg weg van. De lyrics zijn wel echt dramatisch, "If you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable" Sorry, ik begrijp de Comedy opeens, dit is hilarisch. Is dit een ironisch album? Het zou een hoop verklaren, en al ben ik geen fan van ironische albums trek ik het hier wat beter omdat het juist muzikaal zo superserieus is. Ook de meerdere keren dat hij het 'succulent' gras bezingt. Ik krijg meer en meer het idee dat ik in de zeik genomen word. Ook dat hij volledig zou begrijpen als de ander klaar is met hem. Is dit een album over liefde? Misschien toch niet, of misschien wel, maar dan alle fases van liefde en niet alleen maar de romcom verliefdheid waarin je elkaar pas net leert kennen. Juist ook de fase waar je al 40 jaar samen bent en je partner eigenlijk nooit de vaatwasser goed inruimd... FAVO: everybody knows(Except you), If...
Wederom brengen deze figuren een soort reserve-Nick Cave. Een wat aanstellerige stem en theatrale trekjes, maar die licht-ironische aanpak werkt deze keer wél heel goed, doordat ze het wat ingetogener brengen. Wellicht zeer verstandig om het kort te houden, maar daardoor juist effectief. Erg vermakelijk.
Een beetje een concept, een beetje ouderwetse zang, een beetje gestaar naar schoenen, een beetje slechte humor: een beetje vergeetbaar.
Dit album lijkt meer op een parodie van iets, dan dat de artiesten zichzelf serieus nemen. Want als ze zichzelf wel serieus nemen, dan is het echt wel heel corny. Het is een halve kerstplaat met al die toeters en bellen. Het is eigenlijk lachwekkend dat ze er uberhaupt 1x in staan en dan staan ze er nog 2x in ook. Het werkt bijna meer op de lachspieren dan op je irritatiezone, zeker als je teksten hoort als "If you were a horse, I’d clean the crap out of your stable". Ik hou het maar weer op 2 sterren net als hun andere plaat. Het is mij allemaal te theatraal en te lachwekkend.
We liked it a lot. Not listened to this specific album of theirs before but enjoyed it - very theatrical. Except You is a particularly good song.
Big three! I liked this a lot! So many albums on the three train ranging from I don't hate this enough for a two to I don't love this enough for a four. This is a mess.
Another album that sucks in its own right, but really extra sucks in the context of all the great albums left off this list.
Increíble. Doloroso. Nostálgico. Amé.
Ahhh - love a bit of the Divine Comedy! This is a short and sweet album. I just find the songs lovely. Highlight being Everybody Knows (Except You). I get why the Device Comedy are an acquired taste (and you do need to be 'in' on the tongue in cheek approach they have), but they're worth it. The Greatest Hits (A Secret History) is a great introduction to their peak years. Solid 4
This is a difficult album to talk about, because while it's clearly very good, it did nothing for me on an emotional level. This a very symphonic, theatrical take on pop, with immaculate orchestral arrangements and dramatic vocals. Neil Hannon is a great frontman, both technically gifted and emotionally expressive. His lyrics, while sometimes cheesy, do a great job of capturing a romantic, lovelorn energy. He brings to mind a protagonist in a romantic Broadway musical, over-the-top and passionate and absolutely commanding everyone's attention. Unfortunately, nothing about this really appeals to me. It all feels a little too tasteful and methodically composed for my preferences. I like a little more mess in my music than what The Divine Comedy provides here. I can see why someone would love this, but it's just not for me.
This was aggressively boring. 2/5
I found this fun
2.5/5
It's weird, but I kind of like it.
A short review about loving this album.
Wtf are these lyrics.
I really dig a few production and arrangement choices here, but overall, I just don't dig this type of music that music and I really don't like these types of vocalists. 2.5/5
Came to enjoy it more than I thought I would on the first listen. Lyrics are a bit goofy, over top of a theatrical arrangement. I think a lot of these songs would be better served as part of a musical with a stronger vocalist. It was definitely a unique stop on this journey.
I think it’s not too bad. A bit slow. And it gave me a wrong impression of making music is so easy.
interesting enough to be a 3 star album, but didn't really do much for me.
What the fuck are these lyrics? Reminds me of a Richard Cheese album but this guy is being serious. Better than the last one but only because it was short.
"If..." and "If I Were You" might be the funniest song combo I've ever heard. It took me awhile to key into the lyrics, but the contradiction from "I would do anything for you" and "If I were you I would get away from me" is hilarious.
another divine instantly forgettable comedy album
It delivers on the title exactly, I cannot emphasize how much that makes me enjoy it too. Everybody Knows hooked me in pretty well, and while I dont know if I'll return to this one, it was also just composed pretty well too. You want to hear songs about hopeless love with some fun arrangements? Here you go.
Enjoyable as hell! Interesting songs about love DUH
“…About Love”’s romantic clown is better company than “Casanova”’s cheesy creep and the arrangements holler and bound when they’re meant to. I enjoyed this a few casual playthroughs and wonder if Mercury Rev et al called back to this a couple of years later when that strain of orchestral psychedelia took off briefly.
An odd one this, the period when the quality of the music and its chart success started to diverge drastically. Recorded (in the soundcheck, I think?) at the Shepherd's Bush Empire with a full orchestra, the songs don't always justify the effort of the arrangements. Features (I believe) Neil's 4th variation on "Timewatch(ing)", each subsequently less charming than the original REM-ish John Allen baggy version. But you didn't come here for musical analysis, right? What's the gossip? Well.. that night was the last time I seriously indulged in a large amount of stimulants, and I must sheepishly admit that I missed the whole thing, spending the entire evening in the upstairs bar annoying various people. Still quite ashamed 30 years later.. The concert was intended for release as a live video; there was even a glorious introduction narrated by Tom Baker over a starry backdrop but it never saw the light of day for some reason. I've always liked "Someone" and "If". Contrite 3*
Good
I liked it. Didn't love it. Love the Americans reviewing not clearly not understanding what tongue-in-cheek is.
Was pretty excited for this at the start, but soured on it as the album continued. I liked albums that are this short, but these songs were all nothing Favorite Songs: Everybody Knows (Except You), If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me)
You just don't get it, do you. The clue is in the name. Divine Comedy. So it's not a comic album but it's gloriously satirical and ironic. There are obviously a lot of people working their way through this list that are totally up their own ass.
Nice tunes
Божественная отсылочка к Кислёвскому получилась, я в шоке, что знаю отсюда одну песню
Просто великолепная музыка, очередной прекрасный подгонн
Ура, мы послушаем весь андеграундный околобритпоп. Альбом просто голд весь от начала до конца. В лучших традициях Ричарда Хоули. Лучшее десятилетие в этой стране фо ми. Моя прикормка.
как-то не запомнилось, не буду никого звать приходить ко мне слушать старые пластинки divine comedy - 3
I said I wouldn't remember the other album by him in a year in my review, I was right and it wasn't even 6 months. His voice suits the music and it is all very inoffensive. At least it is a short album about love and not four discs containing 69 love songs... .... Looking at you magnetic fields. Just on the fact that this guy had the decency to make it half an hour makes it 3 stars
Some things here I liked. Glad it was short. Overall didn’t connect though.
This was a great listen and I was hooked from the first song. Pretty consistent and I will definitely save some of these songs. 8/10
Lovely. Though arguably Promenade is the album that should have made it onto the list.
Das nordirische Kammerpopp-Projekt The Divine Comedy – in seiner Kernform das Solowerk des Sängers, Komponisten und Produzenten Neil Hannon – nahm dieses fünfte Studioalbum am 20. Oktober 1996 im Londoner Shepherd's Bush Empire auf: nicht im Studio, sondern live auf einer Theaterbühne, begleitet vom 30-köpfigen Brunei Ensemble. Setanta Records veröffentlichte die sieben Stücke pünktlich zum Valentinstag 1997, und das Ergebnis war weniger Konzertdokument als orchestraler Bewusstseinsstrom über ein einziges Thema: die Liebe in all ihren absurden, sehnsüchtigen und selbstquälerischen Spielarten. Hannon bewegt sich hier klanglich in der Nähe von Scott Walker und dem großen britischen Songwriting der sechziger Jahre, ohne je ins Pastiche abzugleiten. Die Arrangements sind üppig, aber nie schwergewichtig; Streicher, Bläser und Hannons präzise geführter Bariton halten einander in elegantem Gleichgewicht. „Everybody Knows (Except You)" – der einzige ausgekoppelte Single, der bis auf Platz 14 der britischen Charts kletterte – ist das offensichtlichste Meisterstück, doch auch das existenzielle „In Pursuit of Happiness" oder das lakonisch betitelte „If…" zeigen, wie sicher Hannon zwischen Ironie und aufrichtiger Emotion zu navigieren vermag. Das Album schafft in gut 32 Minuten, was vielen Doppel-LPs misslingt: einen eigenen emotionalen Kosmos zu eröffnen und zu schließen. A Short Album About Love steht in der Diskographie The Divine Comedys als konzentriertestes und homogenstes Werk – kein Füllmaterial, keine Ausweichbewegung, nur konsequent eingelöste Versprechen. Dass es 2005 in die kanonisierende Liste 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die aufgenommen wurde, überrascht nicht; es überrascht allenfalls, dass es dort nicht weiter vorn steht. Ein Album, das beweist, dass Kürze und Größe sich nicht ausschließen.
this from a musical?
Much like Dante's original Divine Comedy being about his time in hell, listening to the full playtime of this album felt like I'd been sentenced to the same eternal agony.
Очень понравилось читать хейтерские комментарии на этот альбом, даже жаль, что он мне на самом деле понравился
At least it was only a half hour.
Day 277 A couple of nice songs. Highlights Everybody Knows.. If..
A fine slice of chamber pop - though without the standout tunes of Casanova.
The album name implies that this is either an ode to Shakespeare or a joke. I'm guessing the latter. I'm puzzled why this was included, there are other takes on standards that are done better. Favorite songs: Someone
Me gustó bastante, un buen cambio de genero con los últimos que escuché. Lo instrumental del album las verdad que muy buenos. 8/10
This is its own thing. Reminds me of the Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs" - although this was first. The lyrics are often meant to be humorous or comic. Love can be humiliating.
Nice Nick Cave album so not as fun or interesting.
No idea how this got on the list of 1001 albums to listen to before you die.
I'm going to open with "this dude might have issues." I'm at least partially convinced this album is about a dude who loves a horse. That said, it's a great short album. In Pursuit of Happiness is a neat intro, Everybody Knows (Except You) is when I decided there was something wrong with this dude, and If... brings in the horses. If... may genuinely be up there as one of the more insane songs I've heard. After that, If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me) is also a solid song. Also, the whole album is only 31 minutes so that's a nice quick wrap up.
Pa onako, underwhelming lagano, ništa posebno nisam čula. Bilo je nekih kul dijelova, ali osim toga prosječno rekla bih. 2/5, 3/10
Well... that's different. Certainly not in my wheelhouse... the constant love-song crooning gets on my nerves after a while. He sounds like a cross between Sinatra, Dave Vanian and... (ready, here it comes) Bono. As predictable as that comparison may be, it also happens to be true. The loose concept is, of course, love, so why do I quickly get sick of the love-song vibe across the whole record? Probably because I'm not terribly interested in the music itself. On a more positive note, it is superbly produced and full of clearly capable, if not top-tier performers. It's very impressive that this was more-or-less a live recording that they essentially banged out at a soundcheck. The recording sounds really good as well. While it's not really my thing, I can understand the appeal.
everybody on here is complaining about him comparing his lover to a horse, BUT WHAT ABOUT „IF DOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO LET YOU GO“????? that’s the real crime here
the first song's lyrics are a little cringey. the whole album is kinda cringe
Scott Walker if he had an obession with horses or dogs, the lyrics are a turn off for me
Well, it does what it promises. This just kinda… is. It's maybe overtheatrical, definitely a little lounge-acty. It's the EP version of 69 love songs in some ways, though I think there's more genuine brilliance on 69LS. There's nothing BAD about it per se. But it doesn't hold me. I like the reinterpolation of “when i fall in love” on Timewatching, and I'm All You Need is more what i expected (and males me a bit hopefully for the other Divine Comedy stuff), but this just sort of passed by. This is also where I wish the star system was more descriptive. Something like 45% of my ratings lean to a 3-star, and this, I think, would too. But there's such a wider range of meanings on a 3 star. There are the “this is good” threes, the “this is fine” threes, the “this is generic but not bad” threes. There are lots of sorts of threes out there, and it's not really fair to say this is the same as Tommy (or on the other hand, the same as The Rising). It's just 3.
Grandiose in some ways and has some beautiful melodies and instrumentation. But rather boring and didn't strike me too hard. Low 3?
Całkiem śmieszne na 3, ale nic porwyającego
Ne Zeitlang ganz witzig, aber irgendwann ziemlich ausgelutscht. Das soll aber wohl das satirische Konzept dahinter sein. Musikalisch ohne große Höhen.
Ich mag deren Sound, aber keines ihrer Alben hat mir bislang wirklich gefallen.
Не можу сказати, що сильно альбом сподобався. Ніяка пісня не зачепила, хоч і сказати, що вони якісь погані, теж не можу. Не вистачило якихось гачків щоб зачепитися.
Несподівано для мене непоганий чембер-поп, пісня Someone взагалі дуже сподобалась.
Enjoyed a lot of the instruments and sounds but found his voice overly somber and melancholy at times. Liked Pursuit of Happiness best.
Not unlistenable, but not enjoyable either.
Overly theatrical chamber pop that doesn’t have the songwriting chops to pull off what it’s trying to do. Despite the attempts at bombast and humor, the endeavor comes across as flat and tiring.
no.
If this album were a horse, I would pet it. But I wouldn’t love it like our protagonist here
WHHHYYYYYY!!!!!????? 😭 WHY are there two albums by this person on the list?
If… is certainly a rollercoaster
Better than I expected
Sad, dreary, romantic, pathetic, yearning
I feel assaulted. Again.
Hurrah! one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists, though I do prefer Promenade by them. This is a sublime album who would think that an album full of love songs could sound so fresh and non-syrupy and Neil Hannon’s sonorous voice is just the icing on the sugar free cake. Just listening to the opening bars of this filled me with the same excitement I had when I first bought it.
very romantic but not really my genre. I liked "If I were you" and "everybody knows"
If I were me, I'd be through with you and this album more quickly
i want to be adored
Eh. I get why the author chose to include this in this collection of records. It fits neatly between Scott and Rufus Wainwright. There is certainly a thread of music like this in pop culture. But on its own, this is nothing. It’s fine, just not at all necessary.
I actually sent the song “If” to my children, because 790 albums in, this was the oddest song I’ve ever heard. I.5 stars for this album overall. The lyrics are weird enough that I probably will give it 2, but musically not enjoyable.
C'était fort sympathique, j'hésite encore entre un 3 et un 4, parce que même si c'était finalement assez classique, l'instrumentation plutôt riche et l'interprétation que j'ai trouvée intense compense, il y a une vraie maîtrise. Et comme il n'est pas long du tout, t'as pas vraiment le temps de t'en lasser. Par contre, on en parle des paroles de If... ? C'est quoi ce délire de "If you were my little girl/I would find it hard to let you go/If you were my sister/I would find it doubly so" ? Qu'est-ce qu'on est censés comprendre ? Et toute la chanson est un peu bizarre avec aussi "You'd never have to think again/And we could be together till the end". C'est censé être attendrissant ou flippant ?
With a meta album title like this, you already know it's not going to be good. Boring and bad. Coldplay but extra mind numbing. I cannot believe this artist got two albums on the list.
This album is way too long.
Very over the top with cheesy lyrics but it commits so hard that it sounds good. Overall pleasant to listen to.
4/10
Mildt sagt interessante kjærlighetssanger, typ baroque pop. “If you were a horse, I’d clean the shit out of your stable.” Desperasjonen er tydelig…og tidvis creepy. Top 3: In Pursuit of Happiness, Everybody Knows (Except You), If I Were You (I’d Be Through With You)
Not sure why all the other reviews hate this so much. It's a perfectly enjoyable little capsule of witty love songs. Cheers, Neil.
This is the sort of music I am generally not fussed about, very ballady, not particularly emotional, meh, however with the light hearted, witty lyrics I was drawn more into. I enjoyed the musical highs, particularly when paired with bizarre love simile lyrics and it drew me into tracks I suspect I'd have otherwise dismissed. I don't know that they were funny enough to make it a great album, but it was fun and I will happily listen to more of their stuff.
Kinda weird
yeah this is how it feels to be in love no notes
Not quite my thing. Xo
It sure is about love. There are some interesting moments, harmonically moves in an interesting way and has some nice string arrangements. Won’t be coming back to it. 2.5
Super tof! Jaren 60 vibes
The title is no lie. Decent songs.
“If you were a horse I’d clean the crap out of your stable and never complain” is an actual lyric. I have to listen to this stable full of crap, and I’m doing plenty of complaining. How the hell did this lounge singer shit make it onto this list?
One of the toughest listens yet…
Utter self-suck dogshit!!!!!
Chud Scott Walker vibes. I think I secretly wanted to give the other Divine Comedy album a 4 so here you go buddy.
This was a ROUGH listen. Maybe I just am not in the mood to listen to something like this, but I can't imagine a world I ever would be.
Nose medio elvis la voz?
This was a strange little album. The first word that popped into my head while listening to the first track was "gaudy". Neil Hannon is a pretty good since and it certainly was interesting. Probably wouldn't listen again though.