Divine Comedy trades Baroque Pop for Alternative Rock (Regeneration - Divine Comedy)

Member Name: MonsoonBaby

Product:	Regeneration - Divine Comedy
Date:	17/09/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great direction for the band to go in, but they have not completely rejected their old sound.

Disadvantages: Change in sound may not please fans of Divine Comedy who loved their "National Express" type sound.

Regeneration marks the seventh studio album from The Divine Comedy. Released in 2001, this album marks a slight change in direction for the Neil Hannon fronted band.

The change in direction should not be frowned upon however. Yes, the large string sections that we have come to know and love in the previous Divine Comedy offerings is limited, with the band opting for a more alternative rock sound, laden with acoustic guitars, but where the strings are lacking, there is plenty to make up for it. Single "Bad Ambassador" successfully manages to combine the trademark Divine Comedy sweeping strings with this rock sound, thus making it one of the standout tracks of the album, if not the best.

Regeneration carries a rather laidback sound for the band at times, with certain tracks containing the typical happy sound we are already used to with Divine Comedy. We are really able to hear this in "Perfect Lovesong" and "Love What You Do" in particular. For the most part though, Hannon's lyrics carry an element of cynicism, with an edgy guitar sound. Unlike Hannon's previous songs which normally revolve around life observations [such as the National Express], here Hannon takes a swipe at flaws such as vanity in a rather bleak tone.

Bleakness aside, Regeneration is not a disappointment, and still gains many listens from beginning to end from myself. Hannon's songwriting is on top form. Tracks you should listen to in particular are:

Bad Ambassador- A sweeping string section combined with electric and acoustic guitars accompany great vocals from Neil Hannon.

Perfect Lovesong- This marks a return to the typical Divine Comedy sound. Upbeat and catchy, with very sweet, romantic lyrics.

Love What You Do- Another notible upbeat sounding song on the album. The instrumentation in this song is excellent, with a chorus that will be stuck in your head long after you have first listened to it.

Mastermind- Slow and laidback, the chorus makes this song.The combination of strings, acoustic guitars and piano give a rather beautiful sound.

Overall, Regeneration is perhaps one of the best Divine Comedy albums yet. It may not have singles that have the same sound such as "National Express" or "Something For The Weekend" but what is included is memorable and catchy. Hannon and co manage to combine the trademark Divine Comedy strings with heavy guitar sections, giving the Divine Comedy formula a rather fresh feel. A must have for Divine Comedy fans, and a great departure.

Summary: Happy, laidback songs which manage to make Regeneration one of the best Divine Comedy albums yet.