The Divine Comedy - Fin de Siècle (CD)

All Music Guide

Fin de Siecle contains many of the touching, excellent, and suave sort of songs for which Neil Hannon and the Divine Comedy are known. There are quite a few stellar tracks to be found on this, their final fulllength album of new material for Setanta Records. Humorous, stylish songs are present in the form of "Generation Sex" and "Sweden." "Generation Sex" contains some simply joyous wordplay, alluding to the death of Princess Diana, the struggle between the classes worldwide, and genetic engineering in the cosmetic industry. "Sweden" is a tongueincheek exploration of the beauty of Swedish citizens, which culminates in the loud proclamation of an obsession about Nina Persson of the Cardigans. The other high points of the album are in the emotional extremes of "Commuter Love" and the monumentally touching "Sunrise." "Commuter Love" is a touching ode to subway love. "Sunrise" is perhaps the most pristine, chilling, and heartwrenching song ever written or recorded dealing with the swirling... chaos of unrest in Northern Ireland. Any music critics who have dismissed Hannon as an empty mimic of Scott Walker would eat their words after hearing "Sunrise." The remainder of the album is quite strong, though "Thrillseeker" and "Here Comes the Flood" are a bit too bombastic to be completely enjoyable. The band is simply too talented, though, for a few missteps to darken the charms of its albums. With "Sunrise" and much of Fin de Siecle, the Divine Comedy continue in the mode of beautiful ballads and pop divinity found on A Short Album About Love. The band has raised the bar sky high for any future releases. - Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide Read more Less