A Short Album About Love

If you were a horse, I'd shovel your shit! This one was weird. While I liked the sound and the David Bowie and Scott Walker influence, the lyrics and subject matter left something to be desired. Maybe I'll have to come back to it.

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

Nothing to write home about

It kind of seemed like a joke album. I’ve never heard it before. It was definitely interesting.

I found the style of this album to be annoying having a kind of Tom Jones throwback sound that is awash with grandiose sentimentality.

It's okay, but not an experience to be repeated. If... is quite funny, and the arrangements are high quality.

I thought I was partial to a soppy love song with comedic twist, I’ve certainly tried to write some myself, but I didn’t enjoy this album. The closest I got was the excellent If… which is the only one which nailed the balance between romance and comedy, with enough focus on the latter to sufficiently undercut and take the curse off of the former. Overall though just too many songs in a row about the same thing that aren’t that funny or entertaining.

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.

Lush and smooth. But the formula gets a little old a little too quick with the fancy music and the, at first, "normal" lyrics that turns slightly absurd halfway through.

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

just... so... boring. why is this on here?

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!

Way too much of a lounge act for me. Another surprising choice for the list.

What a stupid album

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

A theatrical and well performed singer songwriter album. I'm shocked I had not heard of this guy before.

Sounded like pure musical theater, commercial music

Not memorable

i don't know if it's ironic or sincere scott walker worship but it's quite good

Cool vibe, nice ochestral elements, great baritone voice.

is this supposed to be ironic??? i dont get it

No idea why this album is on this list. Is this really one of the 1001 albums you need to hear anytime? Certainly not.

DC at it's peak. Majestic vocal performance demanding an orchestra and a world of yore to muse upon.

I genuinely don't know what to think of this one but I think it's on here because the guy who made the list is from the UK - I've always heard the list put a bit too much emphasis on british isles based 80s/90s stuff but wow. That said, I didn't hate it? Like the instrumentals were fun. But also: why.

It tries hard via the kitchen sink production but ends up being rather trying instead. The vocals are dour, the melodies are all very insipid and samey, while the orchestration is often overwrought and just swamps it all. There's also plenty of rather dubious lyrics. Disappointing, as some of their singles from the 90s are quite good.

Like his voice and the odd song but found this quite dull and a chore

Not short enough

Meh.

I found this all quite amusing. But was he in love with an actual horse or what?

this is what rye bread sounds like

I'd clean the crap out of your stable. Honestly, better than Casanova, but still really bad. At least it was shorter. I really hope this is the last Divine Comedy record on this list.

Pretty terrible if I’m being honest

Good chamber pop, even better lyrics. Improves on relistens, worth checking out the rest of his work

Didn’t completely hate it but definitely a weird album. I love my horse wife.

Honestly kinda enjoyed this one

is this a satire album? this shit is CHEESE and a snoozefest

I suspect this is very good, but can't decide if I like it.

It was a short album. And it was about love. Promised delivered. Generally uninteresting. Kinda sounded like musical/movie music, especially the first track. So not my taste. I’m surprised it wasn’t written within the last year based on the track “If…” cause it low key sounded like something a guy would write after his girlfriend asked him if he would still love her if she was a worm.

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.

Rank Sinatra

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? ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Так себе

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.

OK, not for me

jamen jaja da. Jeg kunne vist bedre lide den sidste med dem

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!

A lot less over the top than the other Divine Comedy album we've heard

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.

Never rated The Divine Comedy, never my taste, and this just reinforces that belief

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.

It's just too subtle. Maybe if it grabbed my attention better I would care but I just don't. It's not bad it's just not good either. Sorry if this is ur favorite album 😢

There are times when I might like an album like this. Today doesn't feel like one of those days. A great vocalist who I've never listened to, but I'm not connected with any of the songs - they seem like they should be nostalgic like Barry Manilow, but they are unknowns to me and really fall into the background. Hard to identify anything noteworthy or memorable.

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 feel like this is a joke. Like, who said “Yes, chamber pop! Let’s make an album!” Awful

For an album all about love, be sure does seem to focus on himself a lot and rarely the other person in the relationship. The vocals are uninteresting. The lyrics are absolutely meh at best and offensive at worst. The best part of this was its, promoted, short length. The orchestral arrangements were pretty good, too. I quite enjoyed them. Otherwise, big whatever from me. 2/5

Vocals didn’t do it for me, lyrics didn’t do it for me, album didn’t do it for me.

4/5

Meh

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

Sorry everyone, I love this so much. I’m the exact kind of sappy romantic this was meant for. That line about the horse IS dumb that’s what makes it great. It’s so bombastic and over the top and dumb. It’s like falling in love. It’s wonderful

Not short enough.

A Mercifully Short Album About Love

There's something very calming about this

It wasn’t that bad. He’s a crooner for sure. Listening with this on in the background was alright, until any lyrics caught my attention. Trite, weird, not good lyrics.

Rather forgettable, unfortunately.

Cómo podría describir este disco? NO 2.0

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.

There's another Divine Comedy album on this list? Why?

What a weird little album.

Are we sure this isn’t Spinal Tap masquerading as a horse loving chamber pop group once they realized their idea for a rock opera Saucy Jack was a failed venture?

Ummmm….what? Didn’t love this. Voice kinda got to me after a few songs.

Does this guy want to fuck a horse?? 2/5

Fine. I don’t get all the hate for it.

Shocked there are two Divine Comedy albums on this list...must have hit harder in the UK. Nothing I would ever choose to listen to. 1.5/5

Not Short Enough🥀

Precious. Twee

A pretty good album, I liked Someone the most.

Don’t remember it, think it was fine.

Jesus, this is a more pretentious, less skilled Father John Misty.

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

In a way, this album reminds me of Pulp. Obviously, the vocal style is different, but there are many aspects that feel similar, from the direct and wry lyrics that have some dark humor and romanticism, which also reminds me of Magnetic Fields. I know I have heard The Divine Comedy before, maybe even this album, but I never really got into them. I definitely want to listen to more of their albums, though, after this one. Ultimately, this album doesn't jump out and scream, "One of the greatest albums of all time," to me. However, it is very good, and I could see this being an album that will instantly connect with some people and grow on others and be an album a lot of people would go back to over and over due to the lyrics.

I thought the first Divine Comedy album I had to rate must have made it on here by mistake. But here we are again, listening to another one. Thankfully it's 30 minutes long. Just confusing....crooner pop chamber music. Good on him for doing his thing, I just don't enjoy it.

“If” is really for the real yearners. Other than that most of the songs were more or less the same. Not great but not awful

This made me laugh and I enjoyed it

This album was great and I forgot about this band. Very pleased this came up. Lyrics are quality 😄

Not bad but so schmaltzy. I’m sure that’s what he was going for, just didn’t hit for me today

One of my favorite discoveries so far with this project. It reminds me of early Scott Walker, especially Scott II which is also on this list. I enjoyed the focused theme, brevity (I love sub 40 minute albums), and the cohesiveness of the record. Opening track is outstanding.

Not short enough. Did we really have to hear from this clown TWICE?!

I've already forgotten what this album sounded like

ended up enjoying more than I initially thought I would.

I love the orchestral pieces, and the lyrics are pretty good (especially If...). But generally, it seems kind poorly rendered, for instance the vocals waver between great and lousy. 2/5

Theatrical, tender, maybe even a little silly? Doesn't matter. Nice digestible album of love songs with a great flow to it.

"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.

Last Shadow Puppets showed us a turn of the century Scott Walker rip-off can work. This is just incel tripe with a veneer of humour to mask the stench of piss

Not sure how this made it. Nothing redeemable whatsoever

Wow, I really hated this. Out of curiosity, I looked up the lyrics to If on Genius, and now I feel like I'm kink shaming by hating this album and those lyrics. But there's nothing about any of this that's for me, and the general tone for almost every song gave me the ick. Everybody Knows (Except You) is major stalker vibes, like no means no, man.

Teatraalista poppia, mutta ihan hyvää sellaista. Parhaat: Someone, If...

5/10

The Good: It’s a short album… The Bad: One would hope that love would get more attention The Ugly: This is album isn’t short enough, divine enough, and it made me cry… What a heaping pile of absolute horseshit. If I would want to listen to music that emulates, in the worst possible way, crappy ‘70s music, I would play crappy ‘70s music, instead of this pile of excrement. I am seriously starting to doubt the fucking sanity of the author of this list, or his taste… Overlooking some massive albums from the ‘90s, yet including things that are “different” in the hopes that 4 people will actually like it and maybe go visit a show in a bingo-parlor when The Divine Comedy has paid for the right to make us want to gauge our ears with sharp-ended pencils… Should not come as a surprise that I give this 1*

I didn’t hate this, but it’s kind of weird. The vocalist is a wannabe crooner, but doesn’t quite have the pipes for it. And some of the lyrics are just plain inane. It gets just two stars, and I don’t understand why it made this list.

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.

This doesn't sound like an album released in 1997. the closest you can get is Nick Cave which begs to question, why not Nick Cave on this list? 2.5/5

The lyrics and delivery on this make the cringiest of Morrissey sound perfectly normal. I hated this so much that I'm almost tempted to listen to it over and over again, like a tongue searching for the exposed nerve on a broken tooth (see, I can be a poet too).

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.

Tretti minutter med endimensjonal og drøv smørsang. "If" fikk meg i det minste til å trekke på smilebåndet.

Hello, the 60's are calling....I had no idea what this was going into it and had to verify this was from 1997 and not 1967 when the first song started. This seems more like a parody than a serious album about love.

eh

This was an interesting listen, and I sent this to my college kid thinking they might like it. Overall I enjoyed it, and laughed at some of the wacky lyrics. Maybe a 4?

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.

Not funny enough to be satire. Not good enough to be this far up its own ass. Whole thing feels like a theater geek’s wet dream of the album that will finally make regular people appreciate musicals. Worthless.

Did not know it and discovered that I did not need it ! Like if there was not enough of Nick Cave album

Why is this in the book

Not terrible, but didnt really enjoy it. Standout song: Someone

2.5

This really seems like an album I should not like it's very theatrical has a very '60s movie theme feel to it. Almost a Tom Jones or Petula Clark feel. I don't think I really like his voice or don't think that it's outstanding at least. But Man, the songs and the production really bring me in. The second time around probably even more so because I really was able to kind of listen to his lyrics and they were so tongue and cheek I find myself laughing and it really fitting the theatrical music around it. The song "If..." has got to be the strangest set of lyrics for a simple love song I have ever heard in my life and I was just about howling listening to them. (9.3) ★★★★½

Hesvy orchestration, crooning voice and 50s/60s influences, reminds me a bit of Richard Hawley in the 00s. 4 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

Would have preferred a longer album about love by a different artist with a less dronier and annoying voice and a music accompaniment that wasn’t so pompous and pastiche-heavy. There were touches of Bacharach I liked towards the end but for a short collection of songs it is also very spotty and uneven. 2.5 stars.

Banger

My hopes were high for this one after reading its description, but I’m afraid it didn’t live up to those hopes. I just had a hard time finding many musical ideas or hooks to hang onto here. There are some exceptions, the ending of “Everybody Knows (Except You)” with those ‘ba-ba-baaaa’ backing vocals was really fun. The album was so short that I listened to the disc 2 remaster, and enjoyed “Bath - live” a good bit too. But outside of that, I don’t think I’ll remember much from this one, nothing made a lasting impact on me. Not bad, just not exceptional.

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

Croonerpop

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...

Nope

• 2/5 • not sure the world needed a revival of Bacharach-esque 60s orchestral pop - at least not this one

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.

I've been at this for exactly a week now and this is already the THIRD boring Euro-pop band that's come up! Enough with this late 90's crap, too! I hope I'm getting front loaded with all this garbage and the good stuff is coming later. Also, I assume the douchey, pretentious cover is supposed to be an homage to Blue Note Records. Is it an homage, though, if it's a blatant rip-off? Lyrically, this album is some of the most vapid songwriting I've ever heard: "If you were a dog, I'd feed you scraps from off the table though my wife complains." Musically, it sounds like a cheap, off-off-Broadway theatrical production, and the lead vocalist wishes he were David Bowie so hard but falls well short of getting the imitation quite right. If it were possible to give 0 stars, this album would deserve it (or worse). As it is, however, they should find themselves fortunate that I begrudgingly award them 1 star.

I'm going for it. This album is the sort of thing I love about this list. It is kind of weird, very direct, full of passion and its own style, and is great to listen to. I was fighting between a 4 or 5 but after my fourth listen I realized I was fighting it down because it felt odd to give it such a great rating; I'm doing it the same way they did. Putting something down that feels right and makes me smile even if other things could be better or more fitting. Great voice.

When I started this album during my morning drive I did so with apprehensions. The chamber pop and humorous nature at times had me cautious. I also realized I had heard the opening track before. As I reached the end of my first listen, and thought about it I didn't have any complaints. The production was solid, the album length appreciated. Second listen during my lunch I found myself getting lost in it at times. Felt some Bowie energy. During the drive home (third listen) it crossed my mind that I think this is a four or five. Fourth listen writing this whole review. This is an album. Cohesive, thematic, not repetitive and not over compressed like many albums of the era. Each track kind of keeps building until the end. Some nice trumpets

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.

Another great, if a bit odd, product from The Divine Comedy. Not quite feeling the full 5 stars for this one, but very close.

It sounded okay, the lyrics were quirky, but I probably will not go back and I did not really need to hear it.

4/5. I appreciate the very tongue in cheek and non-serious lyrics under a backdrop of classical pop. With a voice like Frank Sinatra, it's funny to hear curse words and hear ideas and thoughts we have all had, and then some weird ones, about love. There are self-deprecating lyrics here as well which still feel relatable while also fitting in a concert hall with a big band. He does not take himself seriously at all and anyone who does when listening is not getting it. The instrumentation is simple, not deviating much. By the end, it feels like I need to look around to see if I need to give a standing ovation, but like an awkward one. A great album, even if some songs sound a little too similar. Best Song: Everybody Knows (Except You), If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me), If...

Not sure if I'm missing something from the big picture, but it just seems overly corny and too overproduced for it's own good.

I liked the last one, but this one not so much

Rat pack wannabe that feels like he's the only one in on the joke he seems to think he's making. The "if..." song came across downright creepy. Would not listen again.

Grown up theater kid makes Niel Diamond/Morrissey crossover in the worst way possible. I was relieved this was a short album. At multiple points I questioned if this was supposed to be satire, I still think it may be, especially due to the name of the artist? I don't know, but I won't be relistening

most of my reviews for this series are my first impressions upon completing a full listen of the album in question, but this one beckoned me to listen to it twice. I'm extremely glad I did. across just 7 songs and 32 minutes, Neil Hannon and The Divine Comedy manage to capture romance from every conceivable angle and emotion. lovesick euphoria, desperate loneliness, deeply toxic codependency, melancholy self-reflection on one's wrongdoings in a relationship. if you've ever been in love with somebody, especially if it didn't end well due to your own shortcomings as a partner, some of this stuff will wreck you. the one-two punch of "If..." and "If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me)" almost brought me to tears. Joby Talbot's orchestral arrangements are stupendous, oozing with just the right amount of melodrama and cheese, and a few genuinely shocking moments, particularly the screeching cluster chords at the end of "If...". I love the live feel this recording captures. a lot of orchestral pop can feel like the orchestra and the pop are in two separate rooms, and that's very much not the case here. I was reminded a lot of the Scott Walker album I listened to just a day before this, Scott 2, though I think I'd much sooner return to the songs offered up here. there's some fantastic compositional and orchestrational moments strewn across all these tracks, and they range from bombastic symphonic rock to tender chamber music. again, it's a lot of stylistic and emotional range squeezed into a pretty small package. I love moments in this challenge where an album I'd never heard of before just completely captures me. decent 9/10.

Not for me. Definitely talented musicians and vocalist but the style of music was a bit too pop for me. Some of the lyrics were fun but I think I prefer a little more depth and complexity to music.

Really funny really clever album that pokes fun at every love song that’s every existed

A interesting collection of love songs that had some nice moments but ultimately didnt really capture my attention. A little hokey at times. Overall- probably 2.5/5 but not quite 3

Another band I have wanted to listen to a complete album by, for a long time. Just never got round to it. Did it live up to expectations, quite frankly no. Not that it's not a decent album. The music is performed brilliantly, he has a truly superb voice. It's just the material droned on and on. Thank God it was a SHORT album of love songs. I'm surprised the woman it was written for didn't strangle him by the end of it. That said each track taken on it's own, varied from ok to good. It's just that as a collection it was a bit much. I'm pleased to say it has definitely not put me off listening to another album by them, but I don't think I'll be adding this one to my must get list.

I’ve never liked this dude. Pretentiously unfunny. Feel like I’ve just listened to a sound track to a Hugh Grant rom-com. Thank God it was indeed a Short Album. I’ll give it 2 stars as it’s not Jazz, Ganstaaaa rap or Country & Western.

I don't understand why this is on here, surely it's not even their best work? I liked it, but it really isn't a standout album i feel I need to listen to before I die.

Normalet

I liked this because it was short but remember little else

A Short Album About Love has some really lovely arrangements, musically it hits all the right spots, but the rest of it lets it down. The vocals are okay but come across as a pale imitation of more sophisticated crooners, and it's unclear whether it's a pastiche or just a bad attempt at trying to be good, and the lyrics are so bad at times I can't overlook it. A 2/5 on balance.

This was a bit quirky, 90s crooning. Musically it's decent, I quite like his voice but it's not Buble let alone Sinatra, and the lyrics to a lot of this are pretty woeful. Don't think this qualifies for a 3, so 2/5.

Some funny lyrics. Musically bland, but that's likely what they were going for in a generic love song kind of way.

I somehow haven't forgotten about the other Divine Comedy album that's on this list, so I kind of knew what to expect here. But man, this was campy as all hell. I guess I have to give the album some credit, naming it "A Short Album About Love" is accurate and not misleading at all. That's quite literally what you're in for as a listener. I guess there is some comedic aspect to this, but it all just teetered on being TOO ironic for me.

im sad ive never heard this piece of baroque pop before! almost as sad as i was to learn that "everyone knows (except you)" was the breakout hit, when it is objectively the worst song on the album

I actually enjoyed this album way more than I expected. Well done.

High 3

The music wasn’t that bad actually but the lyrics where awful.

"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.

Very quickly learning that if there is a UK band I've never heard of on the list, it's for a good reason. There is absolutely no reality in which it was necessary to listen to this, ever. 2 stars for being shit, -1 for wasting my damn time.

I don’t like overly dramatic music in the first place and maybe I’m just extra special grumpy today, this sounds like something that came out of a Seinfeld episode. Bonus star here for ambition and because my friends liked it, but it’s a no thanks for me. It is worth a listen so that you can appreciate the other albums more though.

Vocals, at times, reminded me of Neil Diamond - in a good way. Soaring strings, lots of drama.

easy listening. solid album.

Herkkää oli. Ei ehkä ihan mua varten muttei tässä mitään vikaa ollut. 2/5

Hieno ääni ja ylipäätään komea kutulevy.

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.

maybe i'm missing something but i found this quite corny and overdone. is it supposed to be like that?

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

This is a good album. I don't like all their stuff, but I surprisingly have to give this one a 5. Kinda like a happier magnetic fields, or a piano-forward jam band.

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"

Not my thing, never liked DC, that hasn't changed with this album

Listenable but I don’t really get it. Low 3*

Bit dull.

Having already had a sample of TDC's music by seeing their contributions to the Ute Lemper album I got a while back, I was excited to get a proper album of theirs, especially with how short this is (the title is not a lie thank god). The sound of Neil Hammond's voice is simply wonderful, perfectly melodic and fitting the old styles of baroque pop and some chamber pop without feeling too saccharine or overwrought which is usually why I never quite click with either genre. I think the briefness and simplicity of the music makes the whole love theme and love emotions feel more interesting and fun that they otherwise would. Honestly feeling like digging into this band more so far they've been a treat for a genre that I don't care for much

Well? What can ya say? He wants to be a crooner, like Frank, but ... can you imagine Frank Sinatra singing those lyrics? Come on man ...

Got nervous after seeing some of the reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised with this. Brand new to me, I was into the strange comedic lyrics, very well produced, this is much more solid album than the ratings give it credit for. 3.75/5

I'd never heard of this guy-I can appreciate him, but I was disinterested after 2 tracks. He reminds me - at least at one point he did.. of Lloyd Cole, who I love, so I ended up listening to him for most of yesterday : )

This album is fantastic! "If..." was my favorite. The lyrics are great - weird and dry. It's a nice change of pace. I imagine seeing this performed on a stage off broadway.

Impressive in many levels. But to what end. I don't feel anything. It's like an immaculate coffee table book. Seems he just wasnt made for these times.

It is pretty silly, but I found it charming. And it delivers on the title.

I can’t help but like this a lot.

15/12/24 Just could not work this album out.

There are some interesting musical arrangements here, but for an album that's claiming to be about love there's a lack of heart. Dude may be crooning about love, but I'm just not feeling it come across. It sounds like he's working hard to come off as clever instead of being genuine and honest, which doesn't satisfy me at all. This is yet another album that's far from being a "must hear" in my book.

Decent humour in the lyrics, but the music and vocals just didn't do it for me.

Has a nice voice but reminds me of the music from Spain that I don’t like

Okay okay, this is fun in a throw-back 60s trippy way, but kind of out of time for its era.

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%

David Fonseca

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

Nah, I really don't know what the point of this album was but it honestly is complete meh

A Short Album About Love is the fifth album from the Devine Comedy, an Irish "Orchestral Pop" group. The group's work could be placed alongside that of Andrew Lloyd Weber; these are akin to showtunes, pop songs that are played with a full orchestra. These are melodic, reasonably performed, but not very interesting songs. They fall flat - between the over-produced sound and the melodramatic lyrics - these sound more like 60's movie soundtrack material, very produced but not actually popular music.

Inte hört förut men jag tycker det här var ganska bra.

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

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

I was happy to listen to this once but I'll be just as happy to not listen to it again. This is not really my cup of tea - orchestral pop. The lyrics are kind of dumb and the guy has a good voice, but it does kind of get old after awhile. It's the sort of music I imagine my grandmother would listen to. I can appreciate that while I don't enjoy this much, it is well done.

Too dramatic. Kinda boring tho

No.

Niet mijn ding, over the top, niet origineel

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

Enchanting songs. It sounds like Casanova, but a little less intense. The production is lovely. The Divine Comedy is one of the artists i now listen to when i want to feel like Oscar Wilde.

although it's a short album, it was still too long for me. Just not a fan of the sound or the style.

Интересная музыка, со своим настроением

Whatever, I enjoyed this.

These people who write music are supposed to be good with words, so why is it so hard to understand the meaning of "short"? More than 1 hour is not short. Let's state once and for all that your irony and/or sarcasm is not as good as you think it is. Never. Annoying album with 1 or 2 highlights here and there.

Ugh. Theatrical, with the music better than the lyrics, which veer to the ridiculous. Seems to be striving to be as alternative as possible.

Crash Test Dummies guy meets Sinatra to sing songs about shoveling horse crap. Hard pass.

1 stern

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

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

At least it was short

I was pleasantly surprised by The Divine Comedy’s previous album Casanova, a ridiculously over the top orchestra-backed witty deconstruction of the archetypal ladies man. A Short Album About Love started ok and the instrumentals were mainly very strong again, but the songs were nowhere near as gripping, with forgettable melodies and uninspired lyrics - the self-aware wit of the previous album was replaced by schmaltzy pap, with the last song in particular being very basic. A shame

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.

2/5

I really like comedy albums. When I was a kid, my favorite albums were Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D and Monty Python's Contractual Obligation album. This album is funny, but you can tell that they didnt really mean it as a joke or maybe even bitter Irish irony. Its pretty bad, and I have no idea how this ends up on a list like this. 1/5

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

Everybody Knows (Except You)

Trying to sound like making a James Bond theme but failing spectacular. Dreadful stuff.

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

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

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

A little slow and droll for me, with a hint of Shatner vibes (without the talk-singing, much more musical than that). It's okay.

Thankfully it was only 30 minutes!

Never heard of this band, and it is not clear to me why they would be on this list.

“if you were a tree you wouldn’t cry bc cause trees don’t cry” come on man….. some of the instrumentation is genuinely beautiful but holy shit the lyrics are fucking ASS

Really wanted to like the Divine Comedy if for no other reason than National Express, which I never get tired of listening to. But this is just shite.

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

boring

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.

I don’t get it

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

Cute

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

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.

Ambitious orchestral and cinematic a bit like Nick Cave or Tom Waits, but with a 90s indie sensibility. Slow and melodramatic songs with a big crooning baritone vocal. The best songs, at root, are blues piano & guitar based rock dressed up to sound like an opera, the worst ones ditch the rock and go fully orchestral arrangements and composition. Respect for the songwriting and performances, but this really has 0 appeal to me and I can't understand who the audience for this maudlin grindingly dull bloated stuff is? A few good lines though - "If you were a horse, I'd clean the crap out of your stable" - that have enough of a sense of humor to save it from being the most up itself thing imaginable. And the trumpets are pretty cool. Favorite: I'm All You Need

Orchestration is the nicest part. Man some of those lyrics are reaaallll cringyyyy.

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

Het grootste pluspunt van het album wordt gespoiled in de titel: Het album duurt slechts 32 minuten. Enigszins overgeacteerd, traag croonen met dramatische strijkers en een orgel. Het is te doen, maar heel enthousiast word ik hier niet van. Al moet ik zeggen dat de composities wel lekker in elkaar zitten. En "If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable" vind ik wel een prachtige zin. Over de liefde raken we nooit uitgeschreven, zo blijkt maar weer. Het theatrale doet me een beetje denken aan Bowie en aan Richard Hawley die we hier ooit voorgeschoteld kregen. Tussen de 2 en 3. Omdat het zo kort is overwoog ik even de 3, maar dat is eigenlijk waanzin: Ik zet dit nooit voor m'n plezier aan.

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.

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

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

Exactly what it say on the tin. Nothing groundbreaking but a pleasant listen all the same, with the brevity being a big plus.

It’s like a homage to Nick Cave, without his wit or talent.

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

закос про Синатру но мейк ит комеди. слыхала комедии и посмешнее

Sure, fine.

Love hurts. So did this. And yes, it’s short, yet somehow still too long.

I kind of enjoyed this. It was short.

Weird one for me dog

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

Den var heldigvis kort - Ikke at det gjorde ondt at høre den igennem, men god og skelsættende det var den ikke.

Jeg har allerede glemt den...

Hmmm. Det er slet ikke mig. Men det kan et eller andet.

It's like the worst Neil Diamond but mixed with shit.

This is bad music. So bad it’s almost funny. Almost. Instead, it made me angry.

I went from finding this bland to actively disliking it at track 4. I hope there's no more of this band on the list.

There should not be two albums by this artist on the list. This one doesn't even have Songs of Love on it, so it's completely useless.

Despite loving some other chamber pop favorites, this wasn't for me. The album's remaster included some extra odds and sods material, and I surprisingly enjoyed the demo material more than most of the finished songs.

This does not spark joy

It was ok. Kind of forgettable

Did not enjoy.

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

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

WTF was this BS

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

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

King of crescendo Building up so-so love songs Into blissful pop

The juxtaposition of the orchestral music and the oh so clever lyrics just doesn’t do it for me. I toyed with giving this a one but apparently it was recorded live which is pretty impressive

Thoroughly meh. 2/5

so much personality. . . if this were a list of 1001 people to have at a party, I'd like talking to this person

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

It's not a bad album, but it's not something I want to listen to all the time.

Some promising songwriting, unfortunately held way back by utterly unconvincing vocals and often cheesy, over-the-top arrangements

Lovely

I didn't really like this very much. Not sure why. I guess because it is so melancholy.

to be honest, I didn't really care for this one. what I really didn't like was the production which was so bright that it felt disjointed. the songwriting here did nothing for me and overall I felt like it was a slog, even for how short the album was. not my thing!

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

Seems like a cinematic soundtrack. Solid 3-4

🎧This feels like a bad Stephin Merritt/Magnetic Fields knockoff, though I believe The Divine Comedy came first. Regardless, no one needs to hear this album before they die. As noted by many listeners, “If…” features the lyric “If you were a horse I’d clean the crap out of your stable.” Listening to this made me want to put on a much better equine-themed love song, “Since She Started to Ride” by Jonathan Richman.

Certainly Walkerian in manifesting Scott's strengths and weaknesses, the latter being schmaltz and schlock (primarily manifested in instrumentation and arrangements). As for the strengths ... wait, did Scott Walker have any strengths? However, ironic this was meant to be, one senses it was lost on many who bought the record. For instance, the jokes on "If..." are too covered in cheesiness to land. Shame to waste such a good band name. But, on the plus side, kudos for truth in advertising and keeping this brief.

While musically not the worst I heard on this list up to now, the rest is boring and sometimes really bad.

I don't really get this crooner thing. It does nothing for me. A bit French in a way.

Okay not really my cup of tea

- the joke is good ..... once. -