Customer Reviews

Fin De Siecle

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Make no mistake: this album, like the "band" that recorded it, is definitely an acquired taste. So, by means of explanation for those, like myself, who had previously never heard of the band, here's a bit of what I thought I heard when I played this the first time: Burt Bacharach, Francoise Hardy, The Pet Shop Boys, Roxy Music, Dusty Springfield, "I Am The Walrus"-styled Beatles, Tom Jones, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. This is very wry, very urbane pop, loaded with textures and sounds, rich in orchestration and choral work, framing Neil Hannon's oh-so-fey-yet-oh-so-winning voice gorgeously and effortlessly. It sounds like nothing you've heard yet cribs from the above shamelessly, unapologetically, successfully. Listen to it at the wrong time of day and you'll think it the worst indulgence by someone who's clearly gifted. However, listen to it at the right moment and you'll hear nuance and subtlety buried beneath a rich canvas of guitars, strings, trumpets and harpsichords. From the kick off of "Generation Sex" to the surrealistic lyricism of "Sunrise" (perhaps the only song about Ireland to dispense with the usual trappings of uillean pipes and pennywhistles and opting, instead, for an Eric Carmen "Boats Against The Current" feel) Fin De Siecle is a tribute to all that came before and a singpost of how pop can succeed in the face of rap, thrashcore punk, new country and pseudo-latino disco-pop. A noble album with plenty of style and panache.

Generation Sex sets the tone for the album - one of stunning melodic beauty with bleak dark undertones.

Sweden is, I feel, a minor blemish. Its a blemish quickly forgotten, though, as the strings of Eric the Gardener sweep over... and then the trumpets proclaim the the arrival of one the tracks of the year; National Express (its a coach company for all you dear american friends). With the line "Its hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country" empirically proven by the numerous times I've had a lady with an arse the size of Belgium barge past.

Then on, via some more sweetly delivered warnings of impending doom to a memory of past conflict. The album ends with this uplifting theme (sunrise); an autobiographical track about Neil's Northern Irish upbringing.

This album shows that Neil can write without hiding behind a sartorial sceptcal screen and is much the better for it.

Its hard to sit here and write a review of an album that cannot be put into words, yes dear readers (and listeners)...it really is that good. Neil Hannon is probably the most underrated artist of our times...and these twelve tracks on Fin De Siecle do well to argue my point. "Fin..." is many things: a look at love in its most natural settings (Commuter Love), a desperate plea to end violence in Northern Ireland (Sunrise) even the desire to be Swedish (Sweden). However, as the album title suggest, this is basically a humourous and romatic look at this century and the problems we face as we walk into the unknown terrain that is the future. Neil takes us everywhere...sweeping us up and over with stirring orchestrated numbers and a vocal range that would have the three tenors in amazement. Definitely a pop album ahead of its time...for a world (I gather Neil seems to believe) lives behind the times.

Fin de siecle is a wonderful, lush, dramatic, wry and articulate album rivaling the beauteous genius of Casanova. If you love life, literature, and film, or if you have good taste without being a snob--buy this album or any of his others. Neil Hannon is a hero for our time!

Where are the bonus tracks? My player(s) go from track 1 to track 10 and back to track 1
Is there something that I'm doing wrong? This CD is EXCELLENT, but I have the original.
Are the bonus tracks hidden?

give a few listens to the albums of the Divine Comedy and you cannot help but feel that no one deserves that accolade "songwriting genius" more. his talent for penning perfect tunes is without question and it's done with such charm and wit and a smug cleverness that just sinks in. if you like really great music (and have a soft spot for some of the more "guilty pleasures" of pop) then you'll find yourself in the clutches of this band and you'll never escape!
Fin de Siecle is the album that contains two of my favorite Divine Comedy songs: the great and clever opening song: "Generation Sex" and the beautiful strains of "The Certainty Of Chance." two songs that are quite opposite of each other in their lyrical content and musical mood; but show strong similarities in the fact that they are brilliantly written and performed with a flawless sense of purpose. "Commuter Love" (notice the clever Kraftwerk influence?) is another standout cut that is very moody and contains quite a dramatic rush of orchestra and electric guitar. the song is about a person who is attracted to a woman on the subway who reads "novels by french authors with loose morals." it's a bleak and rainy soundscape that matches the grey colour scheme of the album and it's photo layout. wonderful album

Much as I like this album, I don't think it deserves 5 stars (unlike the fantastic Casanova) It's still great though. 'National Express' is pure pop, 'Thrillseeker' sounds like it came straight from a Bond film and 'Commuter Love' hits straight at the heart of shy, heartstopping, unfulfilled passion. 'Sweden' is dark and witty and 'Sunrise' is a beautifully moving, hopeful song. Nonetheless the tracks don't hold together quite as well as Casanova. Still, Hannon's voice is as fantastic as ever and Divine Comedy fans will not be disappointed.

I have finally found a voice that matches the heart meltingly gorgeous voice of Thom Yorke, Neil Hannon- HURRAH!

Neil Hannon returns with an album concerning the end of the century, the hope for peace in Northern Ireland, and the UK National Express Coach Service... This is every bit as good as his previous four albums, and the single, Generation Sex, defines the decade in three minutes of exuberantly confident pop brilliance. Simply Gorgeous.

Fin de Seicle was worth waiting 100 years for. This is absolute brilliance from Neil Hannon, and is certainly as magnificent as his previous works, and in some cases better. It starts of with "Generation Sex", which is probably one of the weaker songs on the album. Despite this, it is a bridge from the last LP "Casanova" (Not including Short Album About Love). Then Hannon launches into the triumphant "Thrillseeker", swiftly followed by a change in tone for the heart wrenching, yet pitifully funny "Commuter Love". Soon "Sweden" raises the tempo before "Eric the Gardener" lets you into the life of an earthworm. Other highlights include "National Express", a very funny, and furiously paced joke on the British transport system. Before he leaves you thinking that this album wasn't as sceptical, and irony-laden as his previous works, the penultimate song "Here comes the flood" sets that straight. In a break with tradition, Hannon puts a definitely optimistic tune at the end of his new album, "Sunrise". This is a beautiful observation on the prospect of hope with the troubles in Northern Ireland, which plays on the different names that nationalists and unionists call the same towns. It's the best of 1998 so far.. and I can't wait to see another release from this brilliant guy.