Search - Divine Comedy :: A Secret History

I Fall for This CD Every Time....

Craobh Rua | N. Ireland | 08/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Technically a band, "The Divine Comedy" is centred around singer-songwriter Neil Hannon. Hannon was born in Northern Ireland in 1970 and models his singing style on Scott Walker. Aptly enough for the son of a Bishop, his band provided the theme tune for the classic sitcom "Father Ted". They also recorded a version of "My Lovely Horse", the song Ted and Dougal entered into the Eurosong Contest. (Unfortunately, it isn't included on the album !!). "A Secret History" is the band's greatest hits package, was released in 1999 and covers the band's time on the Setanta label. Two of the tracks had been previously unreleased - "Gin Soaked Boy" and "Too Young to Die".



One of my favourite tracks - "National Express" opens the album. Mocking a British coach firm, it's Neil and the band at their best. A very catchy tune, the witty lyrics and Neil's crooning all add up perfectly. (The song's video was also very funny.) "The Pop Star's Fear of the Pollen Count" is another excellent tune. It's an up-tempo number, with the brass section really adding to the mood of the song. It's immediately followed by "The Frog Princess", apparently about a French ex-girlfriend. Containing snippets of the French National Anthem, the stinging lyrics are so at odds with the gentle tune, I can't help laughing at it. "Everybody Knows (Except You)" and "Gin Soaked Boy" - one of the album's "new" tracks - also deserve special mentions.



Sometimes you find an album so good, it would be easier just to list the occasional 'bad' or slightly average track. While the tracks I've listed above are my favourites, there just aren't any bad tracks here to list. It's an excellent album from start to finish - with a runing time of seventy minutes, it's filled with catchy tunes, very cleverly written lyrics and it will prove to be money very well spent."

A masterclass in POP perfection.

D. Farrell | New york, USA | 09/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a stunning introduction to the world of the Divine Comedy. Its full of catchy hooks, delightful lyrics, stunning arrangement, full of pop splendour and performance. I normally listen to metal, but was introduced to this band at a late night party. And oh how I was converted! This is pop music at its finest, beautiful and melodic, unlike the cynical and bland muck that fill's today's charts. Revel in every moment of this epic album, and then buy the back catalogue, each filled with beautiful songs of love, loss and laughter. Quirky and irrelevent, it amazes me that this Irish group remains relatively unknown while bands from the same country such as U2, The Corrs et.al can continue to produce album after album of patronising crap, which is then gladly lapped up by their guillible fans."

A Romantic & Charming collection

J. Holmes | yokohama, japan | 10/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"do you have any guilty pleasures in life? perhaps you find yourself singing along a little too loudly when that particular Barry Manilow songs comes on the radio. or perhaps you're just helpless when it comes to a genuine pop hook no matter how cheesy or uncool the person who's singing the song can be. well...let me introduce you to Neil Hannon, the songwriting genius behind The Divine Comedy. now, the term "songwriting genius" should probably be used very carefully when describing someone. because basically, almost anyone who writes songs can write a fairly okay song that will find it's place in someone's heart one way or another. that's a pretty safe bet. but what of those singer songwriters who are obsessed with a perfect vision of not just how their songs sound, but of how those songs and their sound affect every visual perception of the band down to the record sleeves and the band's wardrobe. in other words, their songs and their sound become an identity, a personality, and a way of life. Neil Hannon had his vision; armed with a fierce lyrical cleverness, and a gift to write inescapeably perfect pop songs, he managed to release a slew of amazing records whose songs gather the influence from some of those "guilty pleasures" that we all have, and adds a pompous smug and a smooth European smirk to the proceedings (not to mention a snappy collection of designer suits). A Secret History collects many of those best songs from his past albums (up to Fin de Siecle) and for those who have yet to discover The Divine Comedy, this compilation serves as a gateway to a wonderful world. it should me mentioned that if you like kitsch pop music, you are going to love this band. especially tracks like the irresistable "National Express" and "Generation Sex". but there's plenty of good old fashioned lovesongs like "Everybody Knows", "The Frog Princess" and "Songs Of Love." ahh---so heart meltingly beautiful and unashamedly romantic that it hurts. then there's the late night drinking-yourself-into-depression cuts like "Too Young To Die" which has a solemn, reflective tone. but my two favorite cuts are "The Certainty of Chance" with it's lazy rolling bassline and breezy drums that just swoop and glide along with one of the most enchanting melodies that Neil's ever put to tape. the other personal favorite from this collection is the closing number "Tonite We Fly" which just soars with a lovely feeling that makes you think (for a moment) that everything is right in the pop music world. i feel lucky to have discovered the Divine Comedy, therefore rendering their history not so secret; because with talent this pure, the music needs to be heard. Recommended!

*see if you can track down the gorgeously packaged 2 disc version of this album which comes in a hardcover book casing and contains some writings, a Divine Comedy timeline and amazing photographs. the second disc contains wonderful rareties and some demo stuff that is also equally essential as the main disc."