The Divine Comedy

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The Divine Comedy is a pop band from Northern Ireland fronted by Neil Hannon.

Neil Hannon has been the only ever-present member of the band, being its founder in 1989 when he was joined by John McCullagh and Kevin Traynor. Their first album, the heavily R.E.M.-influenced and now-deleted Fanfare for the Comic Muse, enjoyed little success, though. A couple of equally unsuccessful EPs - Timewatch (1991); Europop (1992) - were to follow, with newly-recruited member John Allen handling lead vocals on some tracks. After the commercial failure of the Europop EP, this line-up soon fell apart.

Hannon, however, was not deterred in his efforts and re-appeared in 1993 with Liberation. Featuring a fairly diverse musical outlook that goes from the tongue-in-cheek synth pop of ‘Europop’ (nearly unrecognisable from the previously-released version) to the classical stylings of ‘Timewatching’, it is also characterised by a plethora of literary references: ‘Bernice Bobs Her Hair’ recalls a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald; ‘Three Sisters’ draws upon a play by Anton Chekov; and ‘Lucy’ is essentially three William Wordsworth poems abridged to music. This led to a degree of critical acclaim, but commercial success still proved elusive.

Indeed, it was only some minor success in France that really enabled Hannon to proceed to his second effort Promenade. Released in 1994, this was heavily driven by classical influences, with Michael Nyman’s stylings clearly an influence.

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indie, britpop, pop, chamber pop, alternative
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Victory For The Comic Muse
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Casanova
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Absent Friends
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A Secret History
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Top Tracks

1	Les Jours Tristes (instrumental)	327
2	National Express	325
3	Something for the Weekend	291
4	A Lady Of A Certain Age full track	265
5	To Die A Virgin full track	250
6	Becoming More Like Alfie	238
7	Come Home Billy Bird full track	222
8	Songs of Love	212
9	Tonight We Fly	207
10	Everybody Knows (Except You)	195
10	Diva Lady full track	195
12	Our Mutual Friend full track	194
13	Generation Sex	191
13	Absent Friends full track	191
15	Perfect Lovesong full track	157

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jonnov wrote:
last week

There's another band that sounds a lot like The Divine Comedy. Check them out - http://www.last.fm/music/This+Is+Seb+Clarke

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_KevMusic_ wrote:
last month

Bring on the upcoming TDC album :) Neil is one of the few out there shining the light. Utter brilliance and I thank you.

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urinol_5 wrote:
last month

Why is there no other band in the world like The Divine Comedy? Neil, you are a true original, rare thing in this days.

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vathorniel wrote:
last month

Happy birthday Neil :-)

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BrilliantColors wrote:
last month

The Duckworth Lewis Method was the best album of 2009, just as the upcoming Divine Comedy album will be the best of 2010.

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mogeansai wrote:
October 2009

my lovely lovely lovely horse!

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Dreamfall wrote:
October 2009

gin soaked boy <3 <3 <3

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lotharmegz wrote:
October 2009

Well, then you probably just don't like Thomas Walsh/Pugwash. He's 50% of it. But I rather love it!

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x-toni-x wrote:
October 2009

I hate the new Cricket album. What have you done, Neil??

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Detectiveli wrote:
October 2009

Либо у него закос под Палп, либо у Палп закос под него

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ilovestarburst wrote:
October 2009

UK people, here is a nice little half-an-hour programme on Neil Hannon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n9pzy/b00n9pzf/Music_Makers_Episode_3/

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SilentPoet82 wrote:
October 2009

Stop complaining about the bad taste of other people! Final round of the first season and the qualifying for the Rock Cup has just started! Join the Irish Rock League now an decide with your vote!

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vathorniel wrote:
October 2009

i'm soooo looking forward to the new album! surely it's gonna be as amazing as everything Neil has done before <3

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FutureGods wrote:
September 2009

COLIN MACINTYRE (AKA MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY) - NEW ALBUM 'ISLAND' OUT NOW IN EUROPE & USA & CANADA!! US/ UK TOUR DATES OCTOBER 2009 http://www.itunes.com/colinmacintyre **** Clash **** Daily Mirror **** Mojo **** The Times Album of the Week: Daily Mirror/Sunday Mail/Daily Record USA Tues 6th Oct : NEW YORK The Living Room (8pm) Thur 8th Oct: BROOKLYN Union Hall UK 15th Oct EDINBURGH The Voodoo Rooms 16th Oct GLASGOW Stereo 18th Oct INVERNESS Hootenanny 19th Oct SHEFFIELD Leadmill 20th Oct BRISTOL The Thekla 21st Oct LONDON The Lexington (Fleur-de-Lys Club) 22nd Oct MANCHESTER Night & Day 23rd Oct NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms 27th Oct BRIGHTON Latest Music Bar 28th Oct BIRMINGHAM Glee Club 29th Oct MINEHEAD (Somerset) The Hobbyhorse 6th Nov LIVERPOOL Zanzibar (Liverpool Music Week) Ticket & info details: http://www.colinmacintyre.com

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j00wz wrote:
August 2009

Very quickly falling in love with your music!

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mightyupsetter wrote:
August 2009

Don't forget Fin de Siecle, which is a brilliant concept album and contains one of my faves, "Sweden"

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okcesar wrote:
August 2009

Bonito proyecto con orquestaciones y buenos arreglos, por momentos afrancesado y por otro un poco más arriba. Sobrio.

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ArtBrutus3 wrote:
August 2009

I think Casanova is a great starting point either that or Fin De Siecle, both have a great mix of all the styles that make them such a great band. Then get Promenade which is the masterpiece! Absent Friends and Liberation are also really worth hearing. They really haven't made a bad album...if you don't include Fanfare.

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AndyTownbend wrote:
August 2009

"I'd say start from the beginning, 'Liberation'. " True dat

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DarHos wrote:
July 2009

I'm listening to them right now for the first time thanks to Neil Hannon's contribution to 'Perfection As A Hipster' by God Help The Girl. What do fans of this band think of such a collaboration?

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