One example perfectly illustrates this quality. ‘If…’ is a love song that starts quite reasonably. “If you were the road/I'd go all the way/If you were the night/I'd sleep in the day,” Hannon sings. He continues with this formula saying, “If you were A, I’d do B”, to prove his devotion. Then, from out of nowhere, comes what has to be some of the most absurd lyrics ever in a love song. Still using his serious, earnest voice he declares “If you were attacked/I would kill for you/If your name was Jack/I'd change mine to Jill for you/If you were a horse/I'd clean the crap out of your stable/And never once complain.” And so on, in a similar vein.
This is the only time when the listener laughs out loud, even if there are quite a few other moments when one is forced to smile. However, while it is necessary to acknowledge this side of The Divine Comedy, it should not for a moment be imagined that this is some sort of Monty Python or South Park album. Hannon is an excellent musician with a knack for writing eccentrically enjoyable music.
‘If…’ is the weakest out of the seven tracks, as well as the strangest, while ‘Timewatching’ is dirge-like and requires many listens before it grows on you. Apart from that, the other five songs are quite similar. With a big, orchestral sound, unexpected lyrics and lovely melodies, they are best described as very quirky and very catchy pop songs. There is also something theatrical and flamboyant about the music, which stands in pleasant contrast to the formulaic pop of the likes of Britney Spears.
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