Divine - Barrington Levy

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Disadvantages: see text

...“I wanna play with the big boys,” declares the enigmatic Divine Comedy lead man Neil Hannon on the second track, Bad Ambassador, on their new album released on the 12 March. This sentiment, and the title of the album, Regeneration, can almost be considered as a statement of intent for the band. Forget the huge full piece orchestras and dirty postcard attitude and say hello to 7 slightly stern and unremarkable young men who appear on the back of the album. For this is The Divine Comedy. Whay do you think of when you think of The Divine Comedy? The fairytale of the Frog Princess? The whimsy of Something for the Weekend? The humour of Generation Sex? The toe-tapping, almost toe curling optimism of National Express? These are the trademark songs of this most eclectic of British bands. Because of their extravagance, witty... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's perfect. The main advantage is owning it. And listening to it forever. And if you don't hear it for a while, when you do, it'll blow you away all over again.
Disadvantages: Not enough people have it. Dammit, the government ought to make this album compulsary.

...If you are new to the world of the Divine Comedy, then forget about A Secret History - this is the album that will teach you what Neil and the gang are really all about. A musical, lyrical, whimsical Tour de Force from start to finish, the album perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Divine Comedy. Without ever trying too hard, it leaves the listener feeling as though they have actually undergone a worthwhile experience by hearing it. From start to finish: 1) Something For The Weekend: The track that made the Divine Comedy famous. A perfect slice of perky pop, just made to be listened to on a summer's day. Just one question: what IS in the woodshed? 2) Becoming More Like Alfie: "Everybody knows that no means yes, just like glasses come free on the NHS" Genius. It's upbeat, spritely, and never boring, and the video gave... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Seventeen glorious songs, beautifully crafted
Disadvantages: You end up singing one or two all day long, the disc should be 5 hours long

...Thank you Ciao! Thank you one million times! Here I sit, thirty-three years-old, greying, balding, slightly overweight (still good looking, devilishly so Mrs Murphy!), and this great organisation that is Ciao allows me to post in a category for Indie Bands- I thought I was condemned to a lifetime of easy-listening, Ciao's very own answer to Alan Partridge (although twice, nay three times as handsome). A number of years ago I heard a song that was very catchy. It was all about Summertime and sneezing and was entitled, I heard 'The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count'. The announcer on the radio said the group was The Divine Comedy- now as I am clued up on modern culture (yeah, I wish I was anyway), I know that Dante Alighieri might be a little old to sing this song- well, firstly he was Italian and secondly he would have been 737... Read review

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