Regeneration [Import]

The Divine Comedy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B000059N0N
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,016 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Divine Comedy singer and songwriter Neil Hannon has always been a frustratingly erratic talent. At his best, he is a ballad writer and singer without peer among his contemporaries, capable of producing songs (such as "The Dogs & The Horses" or "Sunrise") of which Tom Waits might be proud. At his worst, he is an insufferably smug perpetrator of bumptious novelty hits, notably the fatuous sing-along "National Express." Following his career is like witnessing the spirits of Scott Walker and Jonathan King fighting for control of the same mind. Regeneration hopefully marks the point at which Walker finally triumphs; there is, happily, not a single joke, punch line, or zany sound effect to be found. Hannon has taken his inspiration from his previous best effort, A Short Album About Love, but replaced the rueful gloominess of that record with a heartfelt optimism: "Perfect Lovesong" and "Love What You Do" are guilelessly joyful. And even when anger manifests itself on "Dumb It Down" and "The Beauty Regime," there is the righteousness that comes from fighting the good fight. The tunes and arrangements are exquisite throughout. Hannon is back in top form. --Andrew Mueller

Product Description

Japanese edition of their 2001 album (their first for a major), includes two bonus tracks. 13 tracks in all including, 'Timestretched', 'Bad Ambassador', 'Perfect Lovesong', 'NoteTo Self', 'Lost Property', 'Eye Of The Needle', 'Love What You Do' and many --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new direction - lots of promise, March 26, 2001

By 

Poor Napoleon (TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Regeneration (Audio CD)

Whenever Neil Hannon comes out with an album, one is usually treated to clever, catchy pop tunes full of massive orchestral arrangements with humorous, witty lyrics not heard since the days of Noel Coward or Cole Porter. On all DC's prior albums, that was the case. On Regeneration, Hannon takes a step in another direction while not abandoning his roots. The massive arrangements are abandoned in favor of a little bit more experimental production ala Radiohead (note: the producer's the same), but the witty lyrics and pop hooks are still in tact. Songs like Perfect Lovesong illustrate this with such where he writes of writing a song "with a divine beatles bassline and a big ol' beach boys smile." Other highlights inlclude Bad Ambassador, which may not be a far cry from Fin De Siecle's "Thrillseeker," and the album's finale, "The Beauty Regime." It's a shame this album will probably not see the light of day in the US, as Hannon's songwriting is very much at its peak.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Neil...we didn't need more Radiohead, January 7, 2002

By 

T. Murphy (San Jose, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regeneration (Audio CD)

Like lots of good musicians with slightly eccentric styles, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy has made the grave misstep of trying to make a more conventional album. On this outing, Hannon has trimmed away all the flourishes, winks, and lush orchestration that made the Divine Comedy such a pleasure, replacing it with Radiohead-haze tinged with Pulp-y trip hop. That said, this is a very good album, for what it is. If you like things like 'OK Computer', you might like this.

That said, pick up any of the other Divine Comedy albums if you want to see what the cult of fans is so taken with.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars briliant....after a while....so be patient, August 21, 2003

By 

Alice C. Teeple (State College, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regeneration (Audio CD)

I have to say that I initially HATED Regeneration. I thought it was whiny, too much like Radiohead, and boring. But something happened after the third listen...I fell deeply in love with this album. Perhaps it was what was happening to me personally; perhaps I just wasn't listening to it well-enough the first couple of times. But this album is absolutely sparking underneath, like a tarnished piece of silver. The lyrics are brilliant, the music hypnotic, and Hannon's singing superb. I love the fact that Divine Comedy CAN play anything from these serious tunes to the novelty-esque stuff of yore. Bravo to Mister Hannon for this slow musical seduction of the aural sense.