Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Scott Walker influenced chamber pop. Pleasant songs. The humour in the songs is good, occasionally odd. “If you were a horse, I’d clean the crap out of your stable”. If this didn’t make the list, nobody would have noticed. I do like a crooner mind. Low 3/5
It kind of seemed like a joke album. I’ve never heard it before. It was definitely interesting.
pretty good! extremely dramatic depiction of loving someone and i’m kinda obsessed.
Not my bag.
I have mixed feelings on this one. I just don’t know the guys intent enough. If it is earnest, then it’s really not good. If it’s tongue-in-cheek, then it’s slightly better. The instrumental arrangements are mostly basic and don’t add much, his voice is not good, and the lyrics are corny. As a satire of a crooner from the 50s, it’s not bad. As an earnest work of art, it’s somewhat endearing but kind of a mess.
I don't think this is his best work. As short as it is, it struggled to hold my attention.
72% Best: In Pursuit of Happiness; Someone Must-Hear? No
Although the first track kinda irked me, I grew to really like this. Halfway through, I learned that it was made in Ireland in 1997, which blew my mind, and doubled my enjoyment of the back half. Thanks a million!
Orchestral, brooding songs
I had to listen to this album a few times to solidify my opinion. It was pretty good. Some songs are very strong (In Pursuit of Happiness), some have a meh start and an amazing end (Someone, I'm all you need), one is annoying but gets stuck in your head (everybody knows) and a few are meh/less than impressive (if, if I were you, timewatching). All around a positive experience but not one that blew me away. Would rather listen to 69 love songs. 3/5
Not memorable
Cool vibe, nice ochestral elements, great baritone voice.
Meh.
I found this all quite amusing. But was he in love with an actual horse or what?
Honestly kinda enjoyed this one
I suspect this is very good, but can't decide if I like it.
I’m honesty a bit confused about all the hate for this album, like it really isn’t all that bad. I mean it isn’t amazing either but this was more than digestible. I even enjoyed some parts I would say. I will admit however that I am a bit confused also by the actual contents of the album too. I was expecting going into this album with its title and the band name this would be some sort of satirical album in some way remarking the over saturated cliche of love songs and love albums that are out there. And yet what I got, at least as far as I could tell listening to it, was a completely unironic unapologetic album actually about love. So that was interesting. Maybe I read it all wrong but that’s what I got at least. Really not bad though.
The Divine Comedy - A Short Album About Love I’m ending up as a high 3 on this after a couple of listens. It made me laugh a few times (in a good way) but I also rolled my eyes a couple of times. I find the orchestration hit and miss, when it sounds like Bacharach I love it, when it gets too bombastic it tips the whole thing over the edge for me. Anyone got any other albums by this band they recommend? ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This album is pretty good. Not what I would expect from 1997. I never listened to it before, and I ran through it twice. It may grow on me more over time, but for now, I give it a 3.
Havde ikke forventet mere end et Divine Comedy album i den her bog, men det er selvfølgelig ekstremt britisk! Kunne godt lide det, det er mega over the top på en fed måde. God længde, "short album" i titlen og de mener det!
this is cool and unique. i am glad it's short though. it feels wrong to rate this the same as bad when it really doesn't have a banger and bad has multiple, but there's only five stars. just know i would have this lower than bad but still 3.
It's one of those albums I didn't love or hate. I think Neil Hannon was born in the wrong decade, as he's quite the crooner. He also has a decent, self-deprecating sense of humour. It's an interesting album to listen to.
Pretty good
Like if Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, and Father John Misty had a baby together, but not as good. The music itself is actually fairly top notch but the singing just feels derivative, and the lyrics feel like Father John Misty (especially on If...), but without his weirdness and whit to stop them from feeling dumb. Throw this on the pile of albums I honestly don't think belongs on the list. Apparently the album's biggest claim to fame (aside from being used as a theme for a British TV show) is being included in the book, so thats the biggest tell to me.
I think this is my last album on this list. I started doing this in January of 2021, and it is not March of 2025. It feels weirdly anticlimactic listening to this album just the same way I have 1088 other albums. I can't say that this album grabbed me the way some of the albums on this list have. It's fine, it's just not for me (a sentence I've written a few hundred times while reviewing albums for this list) 3/5
A similar concept to 69 Love Songs in miniature, though this was released 2 years earlier. Semi-sincere and semi-ironic love songs, more interested in interrogating the form and conventions of the love song than true feeling. I don't mind the cheesy orchestral arrangements, they remind me of early Scott Walker. I like Neil Hannon, his voice and his posture, though he's no Scott Walker. This also points forward to Father John Misty, and makes me want to go listen to him. Also Father Ted, which uses a Divine Comedy song in the intro. I should give that a rewatch. I just watched The Quiet Man and The Departed for Saint Patrick's Day, so I'm all Irished out at the moment. Maybe next year.
Fine. I don’t get all the hate for it.
A pretty good album, I liked Someone the most.
Don’t remember it, think it was fine.
It was fine. I enjoyed the other Divine Comedy album more. Outside of this project, this is a pleasant album but in the context of this project I'm not really sure why it's here. I think I've enjoyed enough of their music to warrant a deep dive in the future. Rating: 3.4
I've already forgotten what this album sounded like
ended up enjoying more than I initially thought I would.
"chamber pop" apparently, lots of instruments, overall sounds nice and would listen again but kinda melodramatic
There's some subtle power in the songs even though I dislike his over singing.
Teatraalista poppia, mutta ihan hyvää sellaista. Parhaat: Someone, If...
5/10
Honestly, I liked it, some corny lyrics aside. Britpop flair and cinematic songs about being in love. It doesn't fully land lyrically. Good shades of Scott Walker here, though.
Rating: 2.75
at several points throughout this album i thought he was gonna start singing sweet caroline for some reason sounds pretty but overall couldn't really grab my attention. if only it were shorter
Just kinda feel good poppy ballads really, enjoyable though, the end of if… was pretty cool with a sudden change into a dramatic ending. This guys obsessed with animal metaphors as well.
There's a lot to like about this album. The overall sound is refreshing. Like progressive crooner. This might have have been 4 stars if so many of the lyrics weren't so ridiculous. 3 stars.
I was prepared to not like this very much as baroque pop isn't a genre I really gravitate toward, but I thought this was pretty cool. "Everybody Knows (Except You)", "If..." and "I'm All You Need" were my favorites. 3.5 stars.
3.5
As another reviewer put it: "Outrageously beautiful and beautifully outrageous". I can see most reviewers didn't get much enjoyment out of this one, but something tells me Neil Hannon wasn't taking it too seriously - most evidently indicated by the iconic line “If you were a horse, I’d clean the crap out of your stable” It's nothing too memorable, but the instrumentation is solid and the whole package is a tight 30 minutes, which I appreciate.
Good pop
Big, sweeping, orchestrated love songs, most of them with some sort of sardonic twist that splashes some poison in with the sugar. God bless this guy, he’s doing his thing. It’s not totally for me but I respect it. Just when I started to crave something more from these songs, “If…” cranked up the humor and the weirdness. 2.5
Even though it's short I do have to give credit for the ambitiousness on this album. It's dense and cinematic and the singer's voice is quite nice, although it took a little bit of time for me to get used to I think "If..." is my favorite track on the album, these lyrics are great and hysterical: "If you were a dog, I'd feed you scraps from off my table Though my wife complains" This artist has come up before on the list and it's nice listening. Hearing this I can hear some influence in more recent acts like Father John Misty and maybe a bit of the Arctic Monkeys as well.
Not terrible. Probably in the 2-2.5 star range but bumping up for its brevity.
Standouts: In Pursuit of Happiness Timewatching
Ich habe Fahrstuhlmusik erwartet, war aber doch ganz in Ordnung. Nichts Besonderes, aber auch nicht schlecht.
A fun, quirky album. Though sometimes a bit quirky for its own good. It's chamber pop, there's some channeling of crooners here. Which in and of itself is fine, but "Everybody Knows (Except You)" is a bit... much. That said, "Someone" is divine, and the lyrics of "If..." need to be heard. Fav tracks: In Pursuit of Happiness, Someone, If...
Weird one. It’s like crooner/60s cheesy pop. I didn’t find it offensive, the orchestration was kind of cheesy but fun. The lyrics, same. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be funny or ironic or something? I went back and forth between a 2 and a 3. I think it’s mostly a 2.5.
The last one of this artist's albums I listened to on this list was bad, this one isn't, plus it was short. Seems like growth in multiple dimensions. I wonder if there are any regrets about the artist's name, it fit the first album but they (he?) seemed to have grown out of it by the time this one was made.
It sounded okay, the lyrics were quirky, but I probably will not go back and I did not really need to hear it.
I liked this because it was short but remember little else
Some funny lyrics. Musically bland, but that's likely what they were going for in a generic love song kind of way.
High 3
"A Short Album About Love" is the fifth studio album by Irish chamber pop band the Divine Comedy. The album was recorded in one day (October 20, 1996) at the Sherperd's Bush Empire in London. The bandmembers included Neil Hannon (vocals, guitar), Ivor Talbot (guitar), Bryan Mills (bass), Joey Talbot (piano, orchestral arrangements), Stuart "Pinkie" Bates (organ) and Miguel Barradas (drums). Horns and a piano begin "In the Pusuit of Happiness." The pace picks up with a prrancing piano and strings are added. Hannon's vocals and the music are very dramatic, slightly over-the-top. He is totally in love with his partner in this mostly instrumental song. "Everybody Knows (Except You)" starts out in chamber pop ballad territory. As with most of these songs, strings, drums, horns and a guitar are added. Hannon's in love and everybody knows, except his partner. "If..." is a softer song. Piano, strings and drums. There are very poetic lyrics as he'll do anything for his dream romantic partner. "I'm All You Need" starts with in a more traditional rock song structure -guitar, bass, organ and drums. Strings and horns are added and the song gets louder. Hannon's in love with his partner and they shouldn't let things get them down. The title is an extremely apt description of this album. Seven songs about romance or at least about love. Hannon's vouce sounds great. The orchestral and vocal arrangements are well done; the vocals gives the music space and nothing seems rushed. Most of the songs build dramatically. Yeah, this is decent album and if you're a chamber pop fan you're sure to like this.
easy listening. solid album.
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.
it was fine but not really notable other than that one thing. some nice instrumental parts here and there and some sinatra-esque vocals (though you really get the sense he's trying super hard to do them) but it all evaporates in an instant when he starts talking about his lover being a horse. c'mon man. favorites: in pursuit of happiness, everybody knows (except you), timewatching, i'm all you need
It's fine I guess not really my thing but guy can sing. Favorite line was "If you were a horse I'd shovel the crap from your stable"
Listenable but I don’t really get it. Low 3*
As someone who doesn't listen to lyrics this was alright. Then I read reviews and people are upset about horses. Didn't even notice it. The music was decent Will I listen to again: 1%
Inte hört förut men jag tycker det här var ganska bra.
Too dramatic. Kinda boring tho
Liked this way better than the first Divine Comedy album we listened to. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Not as good as last week’s offering by this artist, but I still kinda like it. Has a Bryan Ferry vibe at times. It’d be fine if I never hear him again, though.
I liked the style and maybe with a few more listens it would grow on me. I liked the lyrical style that was both silly and overly dramatic.
Ganska bra faktiskt. Vissa låtar är tråkiga som fan
I liked the strings and instrumentals but I’m not too keen on the vocals.
Me gustan más otros discos que tiene
Short and sweet
It took a few listens before I was able to appreciate the charms that this album holds. On first and even second listen it sounded too schmaltzy for me. The vocal sounded like a bad impression of chamber pop singers of the 60s and 70s (can you say Neil Diamond?) But by listen number 3 his voice started to grow on me, and the craft of the arrangements revealed themselves. A beautifully crafted album that will, I imagine, continue to gain esteem. 3.5 stars
Ah, a mixed bag overall. Initially I was really on-board with it. I love the musicality. I’m a real sucker for orchestral bits, strings, brass and so on, so that side of things was always going to win me over. I like how optimistic and unabashed it is, and particularly love any grandiose moments of musicality. I fucking love a big soar, me. And then initially I thought it was super funny about comparing a lover to a horse. For Father Ted fans, he’s someone who’s famously written a song about a lovely horse, but crucially not about being IN love with it – so it’s nice to hear the other side I guess! And then in the next song he keeps going on about grazing on grass… peculiar. I’ll be honest, I like the silly elements less. Some of the songs are quite affecting, and as the musical bits are done so well it feels like he could achieve something more consistently earnest. The later songs started to slow down a bit and weren’t as appealing as the earlier ones. 3.5 rounded down.
Cute
Fin De Siecle is one of my favourite albums of all time but this one is just too lovey dovey. We get it bro you like her. This is not an album for the chronically single. It’s a low rating for the album not the artist.
Orchestration is the nicest part. Man some of those lyrics are reaaallll cringyyyy.
oooh… quite good 3.5
I listen through it twice and somewhat enjoyed it. While the album had a little grandiosity to it, the feel of the album was a tad contrived in my opinion. As I was listening to it, it felt like a slog to get through a 32 minute album. I wanted to give it a fair shake so listening though it a second time I could see the vision a bit more, but still kind of a middling album for me. A soft 3 for me.
Exactly what it say on the tin. Nothing groundbreaking but a pleasant listen all the same, with the brevity being a big plus.
закос про Синатру но мейк ит комеди. слыхала комедии и посмешнее
Sure, fine.
I kind of enjoyed this. It was short.
Hmmm. Det er slet ikke mig. Men det kan et eller andet.
Well, it's been about 800 albums since the last album by The Divine Comedy. That was one of the first ones I rated. Now I understand what baroque / chamber pop is, which these guys deliver in spades. I liked their other album a fair bit though maybe it was the novelty of it. I'm not exactly sure what made this album (their follow-up) so unique compared to their own work or that of Jacques Brel or Scott Walker, or even Richard Hawley. I guess they recorded it with an actual orchestra. It definitely has a full sound. I still liked it and it's as quirky and cheeky as their last album (listen to Everybody Knows, If..., If I Were You, I'm All You Need), just not sure I'm gushing about it.
Pleasantly surprised at a 90s album.... someone who can actually sing and hold a note... shame about the lyrics
King of crescendo Building up so-so love songs Into blissful pop
so much personality. . . if this were a list of 1001 people to have at a party, I'd like talking to this person
Seems like a cinematic soundtrack. Solid 3-4
Okay not really my cup of tea
Ok, second appearance now by this absolutely bog standard and slightly-less-than-mediocre band, so obviously the list owner seems to really like them for some strange reason. It's a classic 2.5* album, absolutely nothing endearing, but inoffensive at the same time. It's the musical equivalent of a dry Jacobs cracker, or a flavourless rice cake. It's technically sustinence, but no one's enjoying it
Apart from the first few songs, theatrical, enjoyable album. If I could, I'd give a 3,5/5.
a bit kitschy but okay
Interesting/questionable pick for the 1001 list. Spotify shows that it only has so many plays, and wikipedia says that the one single from this album (Everybody Knows) peaked at #14 on the UK charts. I dig the orchestral background, but the only track that really stood out for me is Timewatching.
Could be ok while making dinner. Some big band and big voice
Dude loves his horse alot, just not sure I get this, musically kinda interesting but lyrically just a bit weird.
this should really be my thing and it is good but doesn't rock my world
A selection of slow and sometimes sad sounding love songs, not really something i'd go out of my way to listen to, but not terrible.
Normally this guys great voice would’ve been sent to the new wave gulag in the 80s so it was nice to hear it be used for a more unique type of pop even if the music itself still wasn’t super memorable.
so-so. I don't know much of Divine Comedy's work, but the have some better songs than the stuff on this album
Never been the biggest fan of them. Have their moments, but for me, none of them are on this album
Quite original and well put together but nothing really grabs me 3.4
Very much an album about love. Could get lost in it for a brief moments but despite it's short run time, it still feels a bit long to listen to the same pace and mood.
6/10
Oh, Jesus, no. Not another one. I haaated the first album I was assigned from this group. I have to admit, this one is a big step up from their last piece of garbage I listened to. At least these sound like songs. I think this album is what would happen if Weird Al wrote a Broadway musical and cast Tal Bachman (remember him?) as the lead — it would be like Reefer Madness or Cry Baby but less tongue-in-cheek. The first song sounds like they listened to “The 13th” by The Cure the previous year and decided to try to emulate it, but they’re a bunch of theater nerds, so it came out sounding like Neil Diamond instead. That’s actually exactly what this is — it’s the camp of goth music with all the edge taken out of it so it just comes full circle to theater again. The guitar solos on the second song kind of slap, not going to lie. And I wasn’t expecting that heavy distorted guitar at the end of the third track. The mariachi players are doing a lot of the heavy lifting on this album. I don’t think that’s what they are, but I don’t know how else to describe the Desperado-esque sound on the first couple of songs. “If I Were You” is a blatant ripoff of the melody from “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul, and Mary. “Timewatching” is legitimately beautiful, but it’s hard for a song with a cello ensemble to not be gorgeous. And the lyrics somehow manage to toe the line of being too much without coming off as insincere. It’s also the most goth song on the album. I feel like the album gets at least two stars just for this song. The music on the last track is cool (minus the annoying organ), but the lyrics are so dumb. And therein lies my biggest problem with this band. I feel like these guys can’t decide if they want you to take them seriously or not. It comes off as snobby theater kids who are too “above it all” to commit to writing a serious song so they have to disguise it in cheese and cynicism. 3/5 — I wish there was an instrumental version of this album without the dumb lyrics.
Ok, definitely better and less wanky than I thought it would be
Charming little album.
The excellently arranged orchestra and witty lyrics don't quite add up to a must-listen, but it is good. Best tracks "everybody knows' & "somehow" 'Casanova' is a sbetter album.
En osaa ottaa Neil Hannonia vakavasti. Ehkä siksi jopa vähän tykkään tästä.
So much more swag than Casanova
gáfumannapopp. bachbacharach. lag um hest gladdi. 3,5.
Um, OK. I don't know if I really needed a second album by the Divine Comedy. Casanova was pretty good, I admit -- but this is just more of the same, and not particularly interesting, in my humble opinion. Enough crooning.
Everyone Knows was a banger and I enjoy the whimsical lyrics. But too many slow songs.
idk what about casanova didnt click with me, but i liked this one a lot more. 3.5/5
kind of a laid back easy lounge pop album.
If I’d have just met the girl of my dreams then this record would be the soundtrack of that meeting. I guess those circumstances are what this record was made for. But I met the girl of my dreams (well a few of them before I found the right one) many years ago and the music then to accompany my heartfelt love was by Bread or Clifford T Ward. Never had The Divine Comedy down as producing a love album but this is an admirable effort. I like a good love song and there are one or two on this album which fit the bill but none come anywhere near Home Thoughts From Abroad but for me no love song ever will. A nice album which I enjoyed. 3/5 8/6/24
They didn't lie. It was short.
What a terrible name for a band. I feel like Scott Walker did this better?
Unusual inclusion but not unwanted. Some quality work but still a bit contrived.
I'm not sure what to make of this. The music was interesting, probably because of the orchestra. It was let down lyrically though.
Tämä on outo levy. Alkuun todella vaisu, mutta hetkeksi kun päästää irti ja antaa sävelten viedä, muuttuukin tunnelma "elokuvamaiseksi". Kolme kertaa pyöri läpi ja tykkään kyllä laulajan äänestä ja kiva kokonaisuus.
A little bit forgettable, but at least the orchestration is great.
I’m somehow at a 3. I pretty much wrote my opinion of this album around Track 3, and even though Tracks 5 and 6 kind of picked up for me, this album is just aggressively OK. To copy and paste what I wrote after listening to “Someone”: I’m at a weird point with this album so far; it’s technically sound, the production is good, and his vocals are fine, but nothing is blowing me away. Every song is nice to listen to so far, but when you really dig into it, it’s all just homages to the past. This song in particular felt like a cheap version of a 60s Frank Sinatra trying to do a 90s Bond theme, which is fine on paper, and in terms of the execution here, was done pretty well. It just didn’t really have the charisma or a unique personality to really make this song work. Objectively, the horn section in this song was bombastic, it was glowing, it represented the sort of heartache and loneliness the song was going for really well… but I just didn’t believe in the song. Really, I just don’t believe in the album. It’s not that these are bad songs; they’re all fine, they’re decent to listen to, and the instrumentation gives a great energy to each track. The problem is that nothing truly stands out on its own; everything feels taken from another artist. In terms of the album’s structure, everything just blends together. If you do the big bombastic instrumental part in every song where the strings swell and the vocals hit a fever pitch… then no song feels special. When nothing feels special, you just can’t believe in the album. There is a skeleton of a great album in here, but this just never really sheds its skin to become something that actually stands out. It’s aggressively OK, and no higher than a 3. It definitely doesn’t feel like it belongs on this list.
Nice enough.
Silly, witty, and romantic popish music.
Chamber pop as a genre is kinda new to me. I think it's got promise. This guy, though. I actually laughed out loud at some of his lyrics. Maybe I was supposed to, though?
Catchy killer album. Not sure if it’s to be taken seriously. Reminds me of englebert humperdick.
fun and campy! would probably have gotten a 4 if i was deeper in the throws of love when i listened
Спустя неделю после прослушивания остались приятные впечатления, но я не помню ничего из альбома.
A bit overwrought but I enjoyed moments.
This was a ho-hum background album that blended too much into what I've already heard.
This was going so good! I was really enjoying the orchestral power and the theatricality of the music, but then there was that weird song about "If you were a horse, I would clean the crap out of your stall...", "if you were a dog", etc. The lyrics turned me off so much that I'm taking my rating down an entire star.
I was surprised by this album, since I hadn’t heard of the band. Because my previous album was Eminem, I was excited by the first track and settled in for a good listen. The way I feel about this album is this: the lyrics are not strong enough to give them attention but the music alone isn’t interesting enough to play the album as background music. Again, like so many on this list, it really needed tightening. An editor or a strong voice offering direction could have saved this.
I don't know if it's beautiful, boring or annoying because it moves between the three so frequently I don't know how to feel. 3 it is.
This album is not very overwhelming, but it’s not a bad listen at all. Favorite Tracks: “Timewatching,” “Everybody Knows(Except You),” and “I’m All You Need”
This is my second Divine Comedy album I've gotten on this generator. As stated before, this guy wrote the theme song to Father Ted, as well as the song "My Lovely Horse" which was used in the show. There's a song on this album where dude is singing about being a horse. Made me laugh given the fact he also wrote "My Lovely Horse". Dude loves horses apparently. I love this guys lyrics. This song called If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me) he says: If I were you, I'd end my days, In fields of stupid sheep just grazing, The grass so succulent and sweet, If I were you I'd be through with me This dude loves barnyard animals in general. Makes sense given the fact that he's from Northern Ireland, and there are a fuck ton of sheep up there. I really love this guys obsession with singing about animals. The final song on the record, I'm All You Need, begins like this: 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... This guys fascination with horses is hilarious. Favourite songs: I'm All You Need, Everybody Knows (Except You), If..., If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me) Least favourite songs: Timewatching, Someone 3/5
No sé de dónde vienen esas reseñas de 1 estrella
As advertised. About half an hour of crooning love songs. Not bad. Pretty sure this guy wants to bang a horse tho.
It grew on me on the second listen. Not bad if you keep an open mind
These songs would sound a lot better with a different lead vocalist.
2.5/5⭐️ Best song: If… Worst song: Someone Comments: Kinda silly
Whackadoodle. Super funny. Very strange. Didn’t love. Didn’t hate. I want a horse.
I got strong Rufus Wainwright vibes from this artist and album, from the orchestral pop motif down to the sultry, crooning vocals. This wasn't bad by any means. From a composition perspective, it actually seems quite well done and deeply emotional, with an air of tragedy. I am not quite sure if this falls closer to a 2 or a 3 for me, honestly. But it's somewhere in between. I will err on the side of positivity because unlike some albums on this project, this intrigued me.
I was surprised at how grandiose this album was but it just couldn't get under my skin.
Didn’t care for it…seemed average
Hadn’t heard of this before. There was definitely some morissey influence. Decent overall.
There are many and much worse albums on here.
This was weird, experimental but very poignant, goofy kinda bizarre lyrics mixed with lots of mentions of horses. I kinda dig it. 3.3
Second Divine Comedy album from this site. Liked the first one better.
A rock opera about possessive love. Very well orchestrated music and tragic, sometimes troubling lyrics. Great juxtaposition between the music and themes
Chamber pop is one of those genres that is very distinctly its own thing. Even if it borrows elements from many other folk-adjacent pop genres, when you put on a chamber pop record, you know what you are getting. And there have been people who have mastered this sound. Sufjan Stevens definitely comes to mind. So I was interested to hear what a different artist’s take on the sound was, since I have very little experience with it. And the title of this album does not lie. This is a relatively short album, that is entirely made up of love songs. Truth be told, these are probably some of the sweetest and most sincere love songs you will find from the 90’s. This is composed of very ornate and decadent sounding orchestral instrumentation, with building horns and swelling strings. But the addition of more folk and even soft rock guitars and drums creates a nice in-between. Honestly though, this isn’t as consistent as I would like it to be. Some of the songwriting feels plain in comparison to the more emotional and powerful moments. I also feel like the singers voice throws off the album a bit. It is another one of those voices that takes some getting used to, and I wasn’t fully there by the end. Because this is so short, it maybe doesn’t get enough time to really play around with its own ideas. But it also doesn’t overstay its welcome, so if you aren’t a fan of this sound, you won’t have to suffer for very long. Rating: 6/10
Love the Divine Comedy!
Nice sound
At first I did not think this album was going to be something I enjoyed but as I went along for the majestic ride I found the orchestral pop to be endearing. I especially enjoyed the closing track with its dissonant chords and near transcendent heights it reaches at its crescendo.
I have not heard of this album or artist before. I didn’t know what to expect from this album and I’m still left a bit confused on how to feel. The songs were slow and supposedly about love which isn’t typically what I listen to. Alas, I found a couple songs that were nice to listen to: Someone, and If… I probably won’t listen again unless it’s for background music.
It was ok. The music was good and the vocals were good on most songs
An LP with very lush arrangement, ultimately let down by the corniness of its lyrics and the age of its aesthetic. Without any electric guitar, and with more sultry things to say about love without all the cheese, it could have gone further. That said, the LP is dulcet and inoffensive to the ears, and relatively well-produced.
It's better than the other album by TDC on this list, but it's not for me. Less annoying though.
Ok
Little generic, but nice enough
Fine, nice songs performed well, but nothing to come back for.
The song "If..." is hilarious. The rest of the album is mid.
I enjoyed this album. It was calming..almost melancholic.
Odd
Overall I couldn't get into this album. I enjoyed someone quite a lot. But it just didn't fully come together. Nice music but the singing didn't quite catch the grandiosity of it all. Light 6
pretty corny
Sounds OK but disappointed it's not really in the style I know them for. The lyrics are kinda silly but the music doesn't put you in the mood to laugh.
For all it’s grandiosity, it’s still feels slight. I want Better lyrical content to match the ambition of the musical content. I understand these are short love songs, but I still feel like they deserve something more.
I liked some of the song, but not all of them. Also, many seemed very similar in sound to me.
lovely horses
Lovely little album
Decent music but nothing too inspirational aside from the guitar line in I'm All You Need which captured my attention.
This album is a bit of a mixed bag. Musically it's trying to put an older style of music - orchestral pop of the likes of Burt Bacharach - a more modern (for the 90s) twist. Production-wise it's very good - learning it was a live stage recording. Lyrics are quirky but not sure if their deliberately absurdist like They Might Be Giants. I'm kind of conflicted with this one, not sure if I genuinely like it, or like it in a "so bad it's good" way. Everyone Knows and If I Were You are the standouts on this one.
Another album that I can recognize as being "Good", but just isn't my taste. I wouldn't mind listening to this but I'll never seek it out. The dude has a nice voice, though.
Ok
More enjoyable than most of these croony types, still not my thing
Hmm not sure I like his voice. Scott Walker vibes. This seems like its tongue in cheek, but I'm not sure it is. Does this guy want to be a horse? Is this an album about bestiality? Timewatching is so dreary. So much prefer I'm All You Need. This song is great. He's well into horses though. Fave Songs: If..., I'm All You Need 2.7/5
Ok but doesn't really move the meter for me.
I actually get it! Years of listening to this music as a teenager and all the way through I was like ‘oooook then.’ This time around, his voice is so gorgeous and the lyrics, hilarious and darkly satirical. Coming back around for this lot.
eccentric
What a gem! First impressions: this is Hawksley Workman if he were from Ireland. Stylistically, it's uncanny how similar, yet unique these two artists are. This album is a feel good record and its accompanied by beautiful music. The strings and orchestration are lovely. I'm unsure if they are real, or synth... But regardless, they are placed perfectly. And they really add emotion to the vocals, which are full of emotion and range. Vocals remind me of Danny Elfman in Nightmare Before Christmas. That might sound silly, but it's a positive. The way he uses his voice, that alone, conveys depth and emotion that gives his lyrics a sense of honesty. I think I'd like to revisit this album despite it not being something I would typically throw on.
3.3/5 Reasonably enjoyable. Best track: Everybody Knows (except you)
Solid album with a rich orchestral quality Fantastic discovery for me, offering a captivating musical experience
1. in purzuit of happinezz - 0 2. everybody knouuz - 1 3. zomeone - 2 4. if - 1 5. if you uuere you - 1.5 6. timeuuatching - 1 7. im all you need - 1.5
Overall sound is OK, lyrics are not great
Una mena de Scott Walker dels temps moderns. Arranjaments de luxe sobre cançons de crooner de nou mil.leni. Sent un disc tan curt, podria ser més rodó, però temes com 'If' o 'Everybody Knows (Except You)' ja fan que valgui la pena
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Sinatra, then always be Sinatra. Or, perhaps, Freddy Mercury.
Meh
The beginning of "A Short Album About Love", feels camp. The over the top instrumentals and overbearing singing on the first few songs (In Pursuit of Happiness and Everybody Knows) feel as though this album is a joke that I just don't understand. This deviates with "Someone". While the song still has incredibly overbearing instrumentation, the song feels real, raw, and actually fits the Neil Hammon's voice. And yet, we go back to cheesy, overdone, and straight up weird songs with "If...". "If I Were You" feels like it comes out of a musical, and I'm not sure how to feel about it. The next song, "Timewatching" continues the musical theater trend, but feels deep and brooding. It's one of the more serious songs. The album concludes with "I'm All You Need", an extravagant yet surprisingly self-aggrandizing song. The instrumentation is amazing, and yet the lyrics really make you dislike the singer. Overall, the musical backing is entertaining and intriguing. The live orchestra adds something that many albums miss. Unfortunately, the singing and lyrics hold this album back. At many times, it's hard to tell if we're supposed to laugh or take the album seriously. To me, The Divine Comedy gives theater kid energy. In some songs that really works, and in others it really doesn't. Best Songs: Someone, Timewatching Worst Songs: Everybody Knows (Except You), If...,
Was interesting but then everything sounds the same after
Better overall than Casanova, in part because it's trying less hard to be wry/humorous. Its length also works in its favor. A high 3.
Not a bad album actually. But bad timing for nothing but love songs lol
Not loving this one. It kind of sounds like James Bond theme music from two or three or more decades ago.
The title sums the album up perfectly. Witty, emotional, and just a wee bit strange chamber pop, The Divine Comedy appears to be, in this form at least, a 50s lounge act given a Gen X makeover with a bit of Irish wit thrown in for good measure. Curious about their other work. Not sure about Neil Hammon’s singing voice: at times it is powerful and full of emotion, other times it sounds underdone, like he should have gone for another take. Overall enjoyable, though not exactly memorable.
Lives up to its title in that it’s a short album and is indeed about love. Overwhelmingly sincere, almost to the point of being saccharine.
I truly enjoyed the other Divine Comedy album we had (Casanova), despite and partially even because of all of the shtick, kitsch, and the near overwhelming amount of pathos, with just the right tongue-in-cheek feel to it. This one has all of the same ingredients. But the mix just doesn't quite do it for me like Casanova did. I guess it's hard to tread the line between convincingly over the top with bland kitsch on one side and overdoing the pathos on the other side.
No tracks stood out but I enjoyed the album.
It's aight
There's no jokes on this. False advertising. Honestly good though - love the orchestral stuff.
Lovely album! Almost Tony Bennett esqe at times. Loved it. Makes the five star rating system frustrating. I want to give it more than 3 but have to rate based on other albums 72/100
I like how the songs build with some nice instrumentals. Solidly okay.
Really good, but I especially love the demos that have smaller arrangements.
Not bad, but fades to the background pretty quickly.
Het album is wat het belooft. Kort, en over de liefde. Ik vond het niet slecht
Lovely enough musically, cheeky enough lyrically.
i like what he’s trying but again i’d probably reach for any scott walker record before i’d reach for this
Solid, big fan of Timewatching. Still not as good as uzi
It's kinda fun. Would probably get a better rating if I listened to it more closely
Decent listening. Not highly offensive but not extremely interesting either
I have a hard time picking out lyrics when casually listening to music. Purely considering the sound of the album, it wasn't so bad. Nothing particularly stood out as something I'd seek to listen to again in the future, but also nothing was bothersome to listen to.
First listen: 2 stars. Second listen after realizing that I didn't need to take it so seriously: 3.5 stars.
Music wasn't bad, weird lyrics. I just kind of zoned out on those and it was pleasant.
In Pursuit of Happiness is wonderful, but I've always felt this album tails off very quickly. Lots of dirges.
Well, what else can be said about it? It is a short album about love. While not as boisterous and empathic as such a concept required, The Divine Comedy uses whatever he had in his arsenal to do his job well. It even has a tinge of late 60s/early 70s Scott Walker influenced orchestration that is easy to spot at points. Good stuff. Favorites: Everybody Knows (Except You), If, If I Were You (I'd Be Through Me), Timewatching.
What a strange record, interesting take on a pop album, it feels like a theatre production tried to do Brit Pop. Lyrical it's very silly with comparisons to sheep, horses and dogs. Nothing stands out it was fun.
It was fine.
I've got a kinda soft spot for Neil and DC. It's so easy listening and camp but inoffensive. You can only take so much of course.......
I have tried over and over again to be interested in albums by this group, and never succeeded. Not terrible, just not for me. Perhaps too clever for his own good?
The length is acceptable. Dunkin’ on last 2 long albums. Might be a 4 without Timewatching. 7/10
good length, didn't annoy me, nothing special. most 3/5 album ive ever heard.
Short and sweet, like my butt cheeks
Sardonic orchestral love songs is probably a good summary of the album. It is also a short album, as promised... thing is with The Divine Comedy it's very much a mood thing - some days I'm into them, some days, not. Still, this record is short enough for that fact not to matter, as it's funny, soaring and doesn't overstay it's welcome.
A short album you say?….
Pop orquestal. Ni fu ni fa.
Pop orquestal. Ni fu ni fa.
this was alright, but i can't help but feel sad it isn't the national express 7 times.
Too long
Almost felt like I was listening to a musical.
I feel like this was pretty good, but just didn't make enough of an impression
3.5/5. Pretty good. I've heard of The Divine Comedy before, but this is my first time listening to them. The voice sounds a little similar to Jim Morrison, which I found interesting. Overall, a pretty tame but enjoyable album for a morning.
These songs sound like they belong in a musical stage show - sort of chanson. Not unpleasant, but not to my taste.
Something nice about it. 3/5
Decent production, good ideas, middling execution, giving it a 3, since I wouldn't be as hard as it seems some others are.
Has some clever songwriting and some moderately catchy tunes.
Yeah it’s exactly what it says, I don’t love it nor do I hate it 3/5.
What a great Scott Walker album. Seriously though, they wear their influences on their sleeve don't they? I enjoyed it for all it's bombastic pop glory. Some very interesting tunes for a post Britpop world.
Kinda somber and smooth. 3.5
Yawn.
This one was completely new to me. There are definitely some catchy moments on there, although some of the chamber pop sound was a bit over the top for my taste. Overall, not a bad album and possibly one that would grow on me over time.
this was, indeed, a short album
Valiant effort to recreate sounds of the past (i.e. soaring orchestral ballads of the likes of Sinatra and others) by modern means. The singer even has quite a potent baritone. But somehow the songs themselves are not really there, and without excellent songs, the project falls somewhat flat. Well, it was worth a shot. 3/5
Zach has good taste in music
Epic sounds and funny lyrics. But doesent have quite THAT to make it higher then 3 stars.
Welcome surprise. Doesn't feel like it's from 1997, more from the older decades. I somehow really like "Timewatching", it kinda sounds a bit haunting.
More enjoyable than the other album in the list by him, not sure if there are any others or if having any of them in the list is appropriate.
Took a few songs to get into it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Will be a good one to keep on the shelf for winter time or a rainy day.
3.5/5. Lives up to its title at least.
I guess I kind of get it. I like the wry sarcasm of say, the Magnetic Fields more. But I might listen to this again.
Not great, not bad. Chamber pop will never be something I truly enjoy.
Название как бы сказало нам всё даже до прослушивания. Ну да, это сентиментальный альбом о любви. Ну и всё тут. Слегка скудноват по аранжировкам. В целом автор играет с ритмом, с темпом, с настроением, но как-то... ну, всё равно очень похоже друг на друга. Даже музыкально. С текстами и так всё понятно. Возможно особняком стоит отметить Timewatching, поскольку из всех 7 треков только она смогла что-то выбить из меня, на небольшую слезинку продавить. Она вся такая минорная, про влюбленность и её безвременье, какие-то страхи. Very melancholic. Послушать можно. Благо, что пластинка короткая.
3 +1 за то, что вроде проникнулся этими песенками -1 за то что подзаебался к концу. Надо было делать шорт шорт
Catchy but too annoying. Like a very twee Sinatra
So, this is cheesy. This is desperate. But what a voice! I love this big crooner voice and to be honest, except for some whack lyrics about if you were a horse etc.., I sort of got sucked into the album while cooking dinner. Interesting orchestral sounds and it wasn't until the last song that I was kind of fully put off by the cheese.
A Morrissey look-alike, not bad though
This is a self indulgent production.
A cross between Belle and Sebastian and Magnetic Fields. Good, not great.
Never heard of this before. It's pretty gushy and over the top. This is akin to Scott Walker's early era of numerical releases (Scott, Scott 2, Scott 3, Scott 4) of baroque pop and chanson, but Walker executes it with far more conviction. It's more than fine and perfectly listenable, but I see this as second fiddle.
Trop d’amour
Listened to on 2/8/23 3.5/5 Favorite song: timewatching I didn’t like this album the first time I listened but the more I did the storytelling got even better
It's a nice album. Kind of surprising that it made the list, to be honest, because it doesn't seem to be *that* highly regarded, in the grand scheme of music history. But the writing is often clever, and the melodies are pleasant, if teetering on the edge of saccharine. The lyric "if you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable" got a laugh out of me, though. That's true romance.
Very operatic, but with a good blend of rock in there
Very unique album, and I enjoyed it. Using an orchestra in this setting really enhances an album when used correctly, and they did. Favorite track: Someone
Suave
A less clever but more polished Magnetic Fields type thing. Couple of funny lines. Not bad.
Never been a huge fan of the divine comedy and that speaky singy kinda thing. Some amusing lyrics and I knew the single from the album so was sing-along-able. Probably wouldn’t listen again.
Je vois les références cinématographiques et rétro, le lien avec l'Italie même avec le nom du groupe. C'est intéressant, mais je trouve souvent que c'est chargé.
Generally liked it, nothing too outstanding for me
Nice little ironic baroque pop album.
It's a decent listen. They set a nice mood but its a tad overdramatic at times. The lyrics are also a bit hit and miss. Good, not great
Not my thing really, but it definitely has a vibe that I could see folks enjoying and it's well put together.
5/10. Why would a frog get me down? And why do these guys get multiple albums? At least it was short and had that creepy song about wishing a girl was a horse so he could ride her.
Le titre disait vrai
I had not heard this before. This album is strange and interesting and I could imagine it might grow on me over time. The production and musicianship is excellent despite it being recorded live. I'm not completely converted by the high theatrical sound and humorous lyrics but definitely intrigued ...3/5 for intrigue
Så mysigt!
3 Very moody and dark. At first I couldn’t get into the vocals but by the end I was pretty sold. This group seems like they know when to let the music rest in order to earn a catharsis, or in some cases an anti-catharsis. Oldies sound with a the aggression and malignancy that came along with the 90s. Didn’t blow me away but I think I might look into them more when I want a change of pace.
Kinda like The Magnetic Fields doing Scott Walker. This SHOULD be up my alley!
Non conoscevo affatto questa band. Una scoperta interessante. Inoltre è un disco abbastanza breve e le canzoni parlano d’amore, quindi a livello di marketing mi sembrano onesti.
Pop sinfónico. Lento. Aburrido
Its okay i guess. 3
Nice album. I like Everybody Knows and If I Were You.
Unexpectedly chill.
Really pretty chamber pop arrangements. Lyrically it's a bit trite but it's bearable.
Reminiscient of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Not my thing, but worth a listen.
bello allegro, un filo ironico credo.
Не то
So this is what Chamber Pop is? I have to admit, i don't dislike it and the more I listened the more I was interested and drawn in. Didn't know this existed and glad I had a listen. ***1/2
There were some things I liked about this. Some of the instrumentation and the humor especially, but I didn't care for the singing style - that sort of dramatic, over-the-top, broadway type of singing. 3 stars.
I can only take Neil Hannon's idiosyncratic, Scott-Walker-lite vocal style in small doses. But I really enjoyed the big, sweeping sound. This sounds like some long lost orchestral pop gem out of the 60s. Fave Songs: I'm All You Need, Timewatching, Someone, Everybody Knows (Except You), In Pursuit of Happiness
Not something I’d ever listen to outside this project, but it did enjoy it!
I don't know if it's because I listened to this after Iggy Pop, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Humor was dry, but good at times.
3.5 - A cheeky British trifle with clever lyrics, tight orchestral arrangements and baritone crooning. Fun and frivolous.
Not bad but just not something I'd normally like to listen to. People love the Divine Comedy but I kind of just don't get it. I don't think it's bad by a long way but just doesn't seem that good.
way too over-dramatic
This album has so much potential but ultimately suffers in its execution. I’m a big fan of chamber/symphonic pop but was disappointed with this album. First of all, the lyrics are melodramatic to the point of being over earnest drivel. The vocal delivery is somewhere between Jim Morrison and Frank Sinatra which is a cool sound, but paired with the often obsessive lyrics of unreturned love, they come off as incredibly cheesy. All meaning here feels forced and for me it just doesn’t work. It gets a three for the musical execution and the grandiosity of its vision, but it is closer to a 2.5
Huh; this was very strange, but I kind of liked it. If Henry Mancini ever went through a post-punk phase it seems like it would sound like this.
This was cool
Author and spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, writes in his intriguing book, 'The Power Of Now': ‘Unless and until you access the consciousness frequency of presence, all relationships, and particularly intimate relationships, are deeply flawed and ultimately dysfunctional… The reason why the romantic love relationship is such an intense and universally sought-after experience is that it seems to offer liberation from a deep-seated state of fear, need, lack, and incompleteness that is part of the human condition in its unredeemed and unenlightened state.’ This is, I believe, the fundamental flaw in the theme of The Divine Comedy’s otherwise musically luxuriant 'A Short Album About Love.' Opening with a moment of rich, deep horns, courtesy of the Brunel ensemble in an enticing chord progression, they are just as quickly replaced by the fast strumming of an acoustic Irish guitar… and off we go in an exuberant musical explosion accompanying the lyricist in his ‘Pursuit of Happiness.’ The song builds to a joyful climax as singer/songwriter Neil Hannon raises his voice to a near scream, ‘Just as long as we are together forever I’ll never be anything other than happy!’ It’s a terrific song and I was eager to listen to the rest. Unfortunately, the next song found his love unrequited, the remaining theme for the duration of the LP. Rather than exploring other options, one song after another grew into a relentless quest for his self-confessed 'need' (a word repeated many times) for romantic love. And despite the lush orchestral accompaniment and wonderful arrangements, by the fourth track I was growing weary, and relieved when I reached the end. I would’ve welcomed this 'Short Album About Love' (true to it’s word at a mere 32 minutes running time) to have been even shorter, eliminating tracks four, five, and seven. The second to last song, ‘Timewatching,’ was a wonderful bit of music (I’m a sucker for the minor key), but again, Hannon expressed his dependence upon his love interest for his wholeness. I want to encourage the listener to consider if this ‘in love’ is really ‘love’ at all, or as Tolle suggests only a misplaced attempt to achieve completeness both physically and psychologically from a pre-enlightened and redeemed broken state of being? ‘Love is a state of being. Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you. It is not dependent on some other body, some external form. In the stillness of your presence, you can feel your own formless and timeless reality as the unmanifested life that animates your physical form. You can then feel the same life deep within every other human and every other creature. You look beyond the veil of form and separation. This is the realization of oneness. This is love. What is God? The eternal One Life underneath all the forms of life. What is love? To feel the presence of that One Life deep within yourself and within all creatures. To be it. Therefore, all love is the love of God.’
Loungey and weird but nice.
Definitely interesting, especially lyrically, but in the end none of it really clicked. This one deserved a revisit down the line.