I'm becoming more like Alfie..... :) (A Secret History - Divine Comedy)

Member Name: sparkymarky1973

Product:	A Secret History - Divine Comedy
Date:	04/05/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some great catchy numbers you will recognise and be able to sing along to...

Disadvantages: A few weaker tracks in the second half of the album...

A Secret History is basically a greatest hits package assembling many of The Divine Comedy's best known hits. At one time, this band was always in the charts but, in recent years, they have faded away into the realm of devout fan following only and have established a kind of cult fanbase. This album takes us back to their hey-day with hits such as the catchy National Express and Everybody Knows That I Love You (Except You).

In fact National Express opens this album to great delight from me as it was always one of my favourite songs from the band and the video was absolutely and uniquely sublime featuring lead singer, Neil Hannon, being wheeled around a mental home!! Something For The Weekend comes next with equally catchy lyrics followed quickly afterwards by Everybody Knows (Except You) which was perhaps my second favourite track when it was first released much to the chagrin and amusement of my friends who considered this band and all their music at the time to be pants!

But in fact, the whole album is full of songs you will know or will at least have heard played at some stage .... the theme tune to Father Ted is here along with Frog Princess, Generation Sex, The Pop-Singer's Fear Of The Pollen Count and Becoming More Like Alfie- all recognisable in their own way and how many Greatest Hits packages truly have songs that can trigger such a vast array of memories and emotions whilst still being quirkily poppy and catchy at the same time. Divine Comedy are one of those bands that have a lot to say from the gentle humour of Alfie to the highly witty and unusual tribute to Noel Coward (entitled I've Been To A Marvellous Party in which a posh, public school toff's monologue is interspersed with a banging house and rave track- it has to be heard to be believed but it really works well!) to the biting satire of Generation Sex which has a dig, amongst other things, at the public's hypocrisy over the outcry at Diana's death but whom still bought the tabloids in the millions that contributed to her accident in the first place. This is a prime example of how Divine Comedy are a highly talented and versatile band that have much to say and are not afraid to say it in their music!! For me, the first half of the album is far superior to the second half but this is still one of the best buys of Greatest Hits packages around and, if nothing else, you get your moneys worth of songs you will find yourself singing along to in no time......

Summary: But it's hard to get by, when your arse is the size of a small country......