The Divine Comedy
Charmed Life - Sony 2022
Tracks: 1. Charmed Life / 2. National Express / 3. Norman And Norma / 4. Something For The Weekend / 5. Songs Of Love / 6. The Best Mistakes / 8. The Indie Disco / 9. Ambassador / 10. Lady Of A Certain Age / 11. Becoming More Like Alfie / 12. Come Home Billy Bird / 13. Have You Ever Been In Love // 1. Our Mutual Friend / 2. Generation Sex / 3. How Can You Leave Me On My Own / 4. Perfect Lovesong / 5. Daddy’s Car / 6. You’ll Never Work In This Town Again / 7. Absent Friends / 8. Everybody Knows (Except You) / 9. The Certainty of Chance / 10. Sunrise / 11. To The Rescue / 12. Tonight We Fly // 1. I’ll Take What I Can Get / 2. Don’t Make Me Go Outside / 3. Who Do You Think You Are / 4. The Adventurous Type / 5. When When When / 6. Home For The Holidays / 7. Amo España / 8. Perfect Lovesong 2021 / 9. Simple Pleasures / 10. Those Pesky Kids
Comments:
"Charmed Life" is in fact a brand new album from The Divine Comedy. It comes out as a 2 CDs best of collection; which indeed it is; but I think it is very much underplayed in relation to the third CD, which is called a "Super Extra Bonus Album". I think that's a shame, as these numbers are far from elaborate or just semi-good outtakes. This CD is easily strong enough to stand on its own; one song is in fact featured on CD 1 among the many other classic Divine Comedy songs.
In addition to noting that the 24 "Best of" songs are very well chosen and that together they give a good overview of The Divine Comedy's distinguished series of strong albums - apart from the slightly pale debut album, the others are probably represented - I will concentrate on the "new" songs; there is no indication that any of them might be of earlier date.
"The Best Mistakes", which actually came out as a digital streaming single this fall, is the number that is found among the selected 24; well deserved. The track is classic Divine Comedy; melodic, catchy and with intelligent lyrics.
"Home for the Holidays" was also out as a streaming single, and this one is also a classic D.C. - catchy with electric piano and a good beat.
"I'll Take What I Can Get" is another track that confirms that this CD is not a scrape on the bottom of the jar. A really nice song, with humor and irony; rhythmic and catchy. There's something about the vocals that reminds me of David Bowie.
"Don't Make Me Go Outside" is a quiet song accompanied by violin picking and strings. Nice song, which, however, hardly will make a longlasting impression.
"Who Do You Think You Are" is almost funky – very much in "Office Politics" style. "Office Politics" is, by the way, probably the D.C. album I am least excited about, and therefore it is an extra joy that Hannon with this "bonus" CD, comes out with new strong material.
"The Adventurous Type" is a humorous number in musical / music-hall style.
"When When When" is a melancholy song, with piano and strings.
"Te Amo Espana" is musically Spanish inspired, with lyrics in both Spanish and English. A nice pop song.
Hannon decided to re-record the "Regenation" song, "Perfect Lovesong". The new 2021 version is really nice, but I probably still prefer the original version. A strong song in any case.
"Simple Pleasures" is another song that could have been hailed from "Office Politics" – a good rocking beat.
The album closes in a grandiose way with "Those Pesky Kids". A great song, with a fine melody and biting comments to today's corrupt decision makers; who fortunately has to deal with "Those Pesky Kids".
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