A Short Album About Love

One of those albums that is almost done a disservice by being on this list. On its own terms, it’s decent - some good tunes, nice arrangements, and just when think If… is getting uncomfortably creepy, it becomes clear that’s intentional. But when it’s on a list of albums you have to hear before you die, you find yourself going “really?”

Not really my thing at all, even though I like some of the instrumentation and melodies. The vocals just don't do much for me, and I didn't find the silly lyrics that funny. Everyone Knows is a pretty good song, but I knew that already. It's just a half hour album, but feels longer. Preffered Casanova.

This is, in fact, a short album about love. But to be confused with 69 Live Songs: a long album about love. I've kind of figured out that The Divine Comedy is an alt-rock-y crooner at this point, and A Short Album About Love isn't exactly my thing, but it is fine. This is a little low impact, but it is often funny and clever. If... In particular may be my favorite here because of the wit. Regardless,vI feel that a 2 is fine here, this was a brisk, relatively strong listen, in a genre I don't like, with an aesthetic I don't really like.

I have quite liked other albums by The Divine Comedy, but this is a letdown. This would be entirely forgettable were it not for its juvenile lyrics. I think, if I were an artist, I'd rather be forgotten than remembered as having written lyrics in 5th grade that I wasted a bunch of money and time on by hiring an orchestra to record them.

The orchestra is pretty great though. I could handle a whole album of them playing these songs without the bad lyrics their sub-par delivery. As it is, I'm two songs from the end, wishing I was listening to something else, but I feel too close to finishing to quit. Fuck it. I can guess what the rest of this song and the next one will sound like. I'm out

⭐⭐

This seems to be trying quite hard, but honestly nothing really hits home. The lyrics are meant to be deep and witty, but they don't quite get there. The arrangements are aiming for Disney musical tunes, but only get to direct to video.

'I'm absolutely / & totally / Quite uncontrollably happy.' Save the difference of length, which is substantial, A Short Album About Love is very much like 69 Love Songs. Neil Hannon is no Stephin Merrit - he lacks the stunning & absolute virtuosic element - but Neil nonetheless follows the love theme - the theme none of us can do w/o - beautifully, &, like Merritt, he is able to marry wit w/ sincerity. Count me as surprised - I didn't like Cassanova, & didn't think that The Divine Comedy had it 'em to make music this moving & meaningful - but that's what sincerity will get you. 'But the moment I can feel / That you feel that way too / Is when I might fall in love w/ you.' Add to that a recovery of baroque pop a la Scott Walker, & I'm a happy camper.

i dunno man

Never heard of it, and it's not too bad, but this might be another 2 from me as I am way too generous on this list, and to be honest there is nothing much specialk about this record, it's not bad by any means but kind of average as well, could take it or leave it just fine.

O rany, ale się spocił ten ziomek, a wcale nie powiedział nic sensownego. Nie zapamiętam na długo, pewnie nigdy nie wrócę do tej płyty, nawet nie wiem czy odzyskam te pół godziny z życia.

Second album from this band, I liked Casanova, this one not so much. Every song felt like it lasted forever, and they were so boring. There were a lot of instruments, horns, strings, etc. but they somehow didn’t make the album any less dull.

Loved the music. Might be starting to become a fan of chamber pop.

Opulent Kammerpop‑Gesten, große Gefühle, viel Streicher – und manchmal ein bisschen zu viel davon. Die Band liefert elegante Melodien und pointierte Texte, aber das Album schwankt zwischen charmantem Musical‑Glamour und leichtem Überdruss. Schön arrangiert, clever geschrieben, doch nicht jeder Song trägt die große Geste wirklich.

Short and sweet. Not sure if he meant for the lyrics to be quite so funny, but I'm not complaining. I love weird stuff like that.

Well, these guys get points right off the bar for candidly titling their album, which is indeed a short album about love. Somehow, the singer sounded exactly like I expected him to sound. The music sounds like it came from a musical(theater kid here, I'm familiar with the style), and the lyrics sound like they were written by a poorly written love interest character from a mediocre anime. For those who don't know what I mean by that, all he does is obsess over his crush to the point of ridicule. Maybe that's the point, though. Maybe this record is just taking the piss out of 60s crooner pop by deliberately exaggerating the lovelorn lyrics of the genre. Or maybe it's genuinely shit lyricism at play. I don't know the artist's intent, but I do know that this is far from the worst thing I've listened to in this project. In fact, it's surprisingly enjoyable for what it is. Color me surprised.

This album is ranked #19 of 25 albums for 1997. Other 1997 albums rated by me:
Either Or(4/25)-3
In It For The Money(8/25)-2
Life Thru A Lens(21/25)-1
Let's Get Killed(22/25)-3

A Short Album About Love by The Divine Comedy is a great little album. As the title suggests, it’s short, but it doesn’t waste any time and I really enjoyed listening to it.

It’s catchy, clever and good fun, with some great melodies and lovely orchestral arrangements throughout. Neil Hannon has such a distinctive voice and style, and there’s a wit and charm to the songwriting that gives the album plenty of personality. It feels theatrical at times without becoming too over the top.

Most importantly, there’s very little filler. Seven songs, just over half an hour, and then it’s done. More albums could learn from that! I enjoyed pretty much every track and it never outstays its welcome.

This was a really enjoyable listen and definitely something I’ll be revisiting. Short, fun and full of great songwriting.

Favourite track: “Everybody Knows (Except You)” is a great tune. Easily my favourite on the album and one I’ll definitely listen to again.

Least favourite track: “Timewatching” was probably the weakest for me. A little slow and dull compared with the rest of the album.

Album artwork: Cool cover. Simple but effective.

Somehow, despite my love of queso fundido, this band has escaped my ear. What a treat! They've really done a great job of modernizing the chamber-pop thing and still feeling like they're paying homage rather than carelessly aping it. I, for one, loved it. If you aren't into this sort of thing I can see it grating, but luckily, it lives up to its album title. It is concise and of high-quality. It isn't a perfect album although it is a fine representation for its delegation. I'm like a 3.5 but I can't go 3 soooo...

If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable

Does what it says on the cover. Short and sweet, inoffensive, but not particularly mind blowing. Did lose me a bit when he was going on about his partner being a horse.

Hearing songs by The Divine Comedy, I’m not at all surprised that Neil Hannon went on to do film and tv music.

I'm just not interested. It's well put together, but the songs and performances are not for me.

God awful. Musical songs that were rejected for Adam Sandler movie end credit scenes. There was no shortage of love songs, didn’t need to make an album full of them. The most boring milquetoast type of decorated pop music right here. The only thing this really does well is actually being a short album.