Friday, October 12

THE DIVINE COMEDY - PART 1

THE DIVINE COMEDY is the nom de pop of NEIL HANNON, an Irishman who deserves a place alongside JARVIS COCKER, MORRISSEY, and NEIL TENNANT in the mordant-wit pantheon of contemporary songwriters. Like those gentlemen, he is more than capable of joining a killer riff with a cute-yet-cutting couplet.

In the beginning (the late '80s), the Divine Comedy was content to channel R.E.M.-styled jangle-pop. But with the subsequent success of Britpop (generally) and PULP (specifically), the sound began to change. SCOTT WALKER suddenly seemed to become Hannon's muse. The music became increasingly baroque; lush; melodramatic. And the lyrics turned smarter; sharper; tongue-in-cheekier. It was around this time (2000) that I happened upon the "best of" collection A SECRET HISTORY. It was bewitching. I never looked back.

Until now. Over the course of two posts (this one and this coming Monday's one), we will be taking a look back at the Divine Comedy's career to date -- starting at the end; ending at the start. (Well... not QUITE the start. I am omitting album #1 (1993's LIBERATION) for the simple reason that I am neither fond nor in love with that particular release. My apologies, Mr. Hannon; it just doesn't move me.)

THE DIVINE COMEDY on MySPACE.

From the LP VICTORY FOR THE COMIC MUSE, 2006 >>>
[
MP3] "The Light of Day"
[
MP3] "A Lady of a Certain Age"

From the LP ABSENT FRIENDS, 2004 >>>
[
MP3] "Absent Friends"
[
MP3] "Our Mutual Friend"

From the LP REGENERATION, 2001 >>>
[
MP3] "Perfect Lovesong"
[
MP3] "Mastermind"

From the LP THE DIVINE COMEDY: A SECRET HISTORY, 1999 >>>
[
MP3] "Gin Soaked Boy"
[
MP3] "Too Young to Die"

1 comment:

Spence said...

Good stuff! The last couple of albums in particular have been truly brilliant, with Our Mutual Friend probably being the pick of the bunch. Check out the stunning live version from the Jonathan Ross show here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEixi67WjTA