PopJunkieTV and Victoria’s Jukebox has been asked by those lovely people at the free, legal music sharing site We7 to nominate our most underrated albums of all time. Sean is filling in for PopJunkieTV and has put forward Gene with Drawn to the Deep End. Nice choice but my money is on the magnificent The Divine Comedy and their 1998 album, Fin De Siecle.
The foppish image, but not the suit, was ditched for this more somber album although ironically its biggest hit, the jaunty "National Express", a song about the national coach operators, belied its more intimate, soul-searching tone.
Some people felt that The Divine Comedy lost their way with this album I am not one of those people. I consider Neil Hannon a genius in many ways and with this album it is obvious they made one hell of a journey. They took in elements of the classical music world and fused a classical orchestra (The Brunel Ensemble) with their own band.
Couple that with the acerbic wit and sarcasm that will have you splitting your sides in laughter as you marvel at Hannon’s incredible lyrical ability and you are on to a corker…and definitely a contender for most underrated album of all time!
Track highlights include the wittily, vicious attack on the paparazzi, the tabloids and all the muck spreaders who use sex to sell – generation Sex. It’s a classic album opener and I love the juxtaposition of the women nattering over the delicate harpsichord.
Eric The Gardener is often regarded as the weakest song on the album but once again I disagree it is a searing song about the Britain around us and how we often take it for granted…albeit with tongue firmly in cheek it always makes me a little tearful
The one that everyone remembers is of course “National Express” and comes with achingly funny lyrics, a brilliantly catchy chorus hook, and a quite bitingly sarcastic broadside on everyone's favourite coach company. Top my friend! The fade out into the reverb on each track is very clever, but maybe I'm the sort of person who likes good production...most people just love the song.
"On the National Express,
There's a jolly hostess,
serving crisps and tea...
She'll provide you with drinks,
And theatrical winks,
For a sky-high fee:
Mini Skirts were in style
When she'd danced down the aisle
Back in '63 -
But it's hard to get by,
When your arse is the size
of a small country...!”
So there you have it. My only criticism is that I wish it was longer. The songs are mesmerizing and no-one upon no-one has written anything like it since, sadly not even The Divine Comedy. Hannon and Talbot are master songsmiths, the performances by all the ensembles involved are first rate, the production is very fine, and the vocals are truly something original.
Search it out and then go back me on We7 as this little baby deserves to win!
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