Victory for the Comic Muse

The Divine Comedy

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 19, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Parlophone
• ASIN: B000FDJ2S8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,484 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2006 release by Neil Hannon and friends, one of the most critically acclaimed acts to emerge in the UK during the '90s. Mixing a bit of Serge Gainsbourg with Noel Coward, Morrissey and Ray Davies, The Divine Comedy sound like no-one else and remain a musical quilt that continues to grow with each release. Features 11 tracks including the single Diva Lady. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect: From Start to Finish, July 7, 2006

By	Lina (Singapore, Singapore) - See all my reviews

I've never quite understood The Divine Comedy because they seem so surreal to me. How can a band that first formed in the early nineties sound this classic and seem so legendary in the slightly over a decade they've been around? When Nick Hannon and co. first emerged with Fanfare for the Comic Muse in the summer of '90, no one who had heard them then would forget the remembrance in the charmingly naïve quality in music the world was missing for so long since the legendary acts of the `80s had passed. Although a few chords were used, production was basic and the music sounded more R.E.M. than the Divine Comedy we know of today, there was no denying that first EP would lead to much bigger, better things for The Divine Comedy.

1997's Casanova was the breakthrough album for the band, with lead single "Something for the Weekend" carrying the band to a greater commercial success than they've ever known - the mass audience then being a lot more receptive (at that time most likely due to the success of Pulp) to what has since 1993 (with Liberation) been their signature sound. And year 2006 sees Nick Hannon return with the emotive Victory for the Comic Muse (the title, which suggests a tribute to that first often deleted EP).

First track, "To Die a Virgin" effectively sums up what The Divine Comedy are about before you start listening to the rest of the album. An elaborate tune, bucket loads of wit, and a charm in deliverance all in all make up what's so special about this band - and what always will be. "Mother Dear" is a realization of Nick Hannon of everything his mother meant for him, but never realized because of his own undoings. Such a sweet, joyful song you won't be able to take the smile off your face when listening to it. Then comes "Diva Lady", a seemingly happy song with its chirpy tune but lyrics which describe, well, essentially a diva: `She's a Diva Lady / She's a hopeless case / She needs extra makeup for her extra face / She's a hopeless case'. This is one of those songs you'll absolutely love on first listen. Next is the slower paced "Lady of a Certain Age", Neil Hannon gets all melodramatic about a posh lady in her sixties, whiling her time in the Mediterranean with not much meaning in her life, hoping a young man would buy her a drink. I'm sure Hannon will. "Light of Day" follows the same road of nostalgia and perhaps regret, which ends up being painfully successful in hitting a raw nerve - which I suppose shows how effective Hannon still is. "Threesome", a sunny one minute-ten second piano solo follows to introduce the cover, "Party Fears Two" - which I prefer to the original by The Associates because it seems so much more perfect for Hannon's sweet, soulful voice. "Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World" keeps the tempo up for preparation to "Plough", which is yet another bleak, depressing song about a dull, difficult life of an office boy in a firm full of treacherous people (accountants, in this instance) - which everyone can relate to from time to time. "Count Grassi's Passage over Piedmont" follows, with its Bono-like commentary behind the singing to only bring the album to an end with "Snowball In Negative", which ends Victory on a bittersweet note.

I will go as far as to say Victory may be Divine Comedy's best release to date: From start to finish, it is a wonder that eleven tracks that all sound like they could be released as singles to massive success would be packaged on one album itself. Every song is extremely special, each track being crafted with such subtle wit and self-effacing grandiosity at the same time that at this moment in time, only The Divine Comedy would know how to do it without seeming to contradict themselves.

The band were mightily named after an Italian poem by Dante Alighieri, which is widely considered the last great work of literature of the Middle Ages and the first great work of the Renaissance, and one of the greatest of world literature. And even considering that, they've certainly lived up to their name. From their promising first EP to Victory for the Comic Muse, Nick Hannon, the mastermind of The Divine Comedy, is indeed the music world's version of Dante Alighieri: A living genius of our time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars more orchestral pop, June 20, 2006

By	DJ - See all my reviews

from the always welcome Neil Hannon. As usual 2 or 3 gigantic pop stunners appear when he puts something out. Special mentions for "Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World" a song so impossibly catchy it is hard to actually make it to the next track and also "Lady Of Certain Age" which knowingly reinforces certain cliches about lonely rich people and is just a little 'not quite serious' for me :) These songs alone are worth the fee; dripping with Hannonesque wit and seemingly effortless melody. The final 2 tracks have an instrumental emphasis and weird lyrics ending the record on a strong note and perhaps demonstrating the direction we can look forward to with this guy.....

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It takes a few listens to fully appreciate, but it's worth it!, August 8, 2006

By	Ben Barden (Australia) - See all my reviews

Being a fan of The Divine Comedy since they released Casanova in 1996, I was really looking forward to their latest album. Much like a lot of previous releases by The DC, this album takes a few listens to fully appreciate it. When I first listened to it, I was disappointed with most of the early tracks and didn't listen beyond track 7. However, repeated listens have definitely added a great deal to my enjoyment of this collection. Track-by-track:

1. To Die A Virgin - Amusing lyrics, but the melody doesn't do anything for me. Opinion seems to be very divided on most of the tracks here, this being no exception. It sounds a bit flat to me.

2. Mother Dear - An unusual country track with a catchy melody, but a far too repetitive chorus. Musically it's great, but the constant repetition of "Mother Dear" quickly becomes tiresome.

3. Diva Lady - Not bad, but hardly the strongest of melodies penned by Neil Hannon. Annoyingly it sticks in your head - I'd rather it didn't!

4. A Lady Of A Certain Age - Beautiful melodies, wonderful instrumentation, and moving lyrics. I've always liked Hannon's voice, but this is the kind of track his singing is best suited to. Stunning.

5. The Light Of Day - A bright, upbeat melody, again with some beautiful instrumentation - strings and harpsichord really add to the classical rock style that the DC have always done so well.

6. Threesome - A charming 1 minute piano instrumental that provides a good break in the middle of the album.

7. Party Fears Two - Elsewhere I've hear people calling The Plough pompous; if any track sounds pompous, it is this one. I haven't heard the original but the strings are overdone for a riff that isn't all that special. The chorus is better than the verse, but this just sounds out of place here.

8. Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World - This one's quite odd. I didn't expect to like it at all but it really grows on you. Great lyrics, a very enjoyable melody and plenty of decoration around the various melodies. Very well composed indeed.

9. The Plough - As I mentioned earlier, I couldn't disagree more with the notion that this track sounds pompous. It's an absolute masterpiece. A wonderful build-up in each verse and throughout the track. A similar feel to The Certainty of Chance or Freedom Road, this is one of the best tracks I have ever heard from the DC.

10. Count Grassi's Passage Over Piedmont - The opening melody links well from The Plough. Great melodies throughout, an unusual mix of spoken/sung lyrics, not dissimilar to The Booklovers - but much easier to hear more than a few times over. Very special, and unique!

11. Snowball In Negative - Yet again, the orchestral arrangements are superb. Interesting contrast between the vocal sections and the piano solos, showing that Threesome wasn't such an anomaly after all. The ending is a little unexpected and slightly drawn out, but this track wraps up the album well.

Apart from the first few tracks, this is possibly the best DC album I've ever heard. It's right up there with Promenade and Fin De Siecle and is a welcome reminder that Hannon is highly unlikely to lose his touch anytime soon. Beautiful!