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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Got this after hearing 'Songs Of Love' on Radio 2.
It's the only song I've heard since The Beatles to have made the goosebumps stand up all over on a first listen.
You have all heard the song before... but not this version. The DJ and listener who requested it agreed it was 'one of the most beautiful songs ever written'. They're not wrong. It's worth buying the album for this track alone.
Then of course, there's Generation Sex with its foreplay of incredible melody & chord sequences, brought to orgasmic fulfilment with fully-orchestrated key changes.
The melody, humour and sharply observant lyrics of 'National Express' and 'Something For The Weekend'... and so on.
This album is aural prozac.
Do yourself a favour...
BUY IT NOW!
It's the only song I've heard since The Beatles to have made the goosebumps stand up all over on a first listen.
You have all heard the song before... but not this version. The DJ and listener who requested it agreed it was 'one of the most beautiful songs ever written'. They're not wrong. It's worth buying the album for this track alone.
Then of course, there's Generation Sex with its foreplay of incredible melody & chord sequences, brought to orgasmic fulfilment with fully-orchestrated key changes.
The melody, humour and sharply observant lyrics of 'National Express' and 'Something For The Weekend'... and so on.
This album is aural prozac.
Do yourself a favour...
BUY IT NOW!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Plenty of artists only release a 'Best of' when they know their time is over. Not so Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy, who released this compilation at the height of his popularity back in 1999, and yet is still going strong today (there's a new album due at the start of 2010, and the brilliant Duckworth Lewis Method, a collaboration with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash, has just been released at the time of writing).
'A Secret History' is a joy from start to finish, and although it leaves out some true DC classics, that's forgivable as this was clearly designed to be as commercial and accessible as possible, and to be an introduction to their eclectic range of music. Indeed, I first discovered The Divine Comedy with this album - and I promptly went out and bought their entire back catalogue within the same week!
It's a must-have for any fan of real, intelligent music, played with real instruments and with a truly powerful voice at the helm.
'A Secret History' is a joy from start to finish, and although it leaves out some true DC classics, that's forgivable as this was clearly designed to be as commercial and accessible as possible, and to be an introduction to their eclectic range of music. Indeed, I first discovered The Divine Comedy with this album - and I promptly went out and bought their entire back catalogue within the same week!
It's a must-have for any fan of real, intelligent music, played with real instruments and with a truly powerful voice at the helm.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Divine Comedy
An excellent cd and it's easy to forget how many hits Divine Comedy had until you listen to it. It has the hits Becoming more like Alfie and National Express (my favourite!).
Published 5 months ago by lyallie33
clever stuff !
Whilst National Express remains my firm favourite I've kept the CD in my car for a lot longer than most other albums and that says something. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Clipper 314
Present
Love the album so bought a copy for my friend and one for my sister. Both of them are enjoying it, under strict instructions to really take the time out to listen, not on the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Tony
Great place to start!
If youve heard a few Divine Comedy tracks and want to hear more, this is a brilliant place to start... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kevtek
Eclectic, vivid, unique.
A Secret History is one of the better albums i've bought this year, even if it is quite old now. There are some great individual tracks to be enjoyed, some of which jump at you... Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by T. West
I could listen to his voice forever!
With so many classic songs on one CD this was bound to be a real treat. Along with the more well known songs such as 'National Express' and 'Everybody Knows (Except You)' are gems... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2000
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