Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 29.02.24]

At end of the 1980s Neil Hannon formed his first line-up of The Divine Comedy. In 1989, he signed a deal with independent label, Setanta Records, which led to The Divine Comedy becoming the label’s most successful chart act of the 1990s.

Author Alan Draper (who also penned a book on Stackridge published by Sonicbond) examines the thirteen original studio albums released under The Divine Comedy banner between 1990 and 2022. The book also covers the two excellent, cricket themed albums released by the Duckworth Lewis Method (Neil Hannon teaming-up with Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh).

This reader/reviewer tended to agree with the author’s take on the Divine Comedy’s albums and songs contained within. To be fair, Neil Hannon/the Divine Comedy have never released a duff album!

The story of the band and their fluctuating line-ups is covered at the start of each chapter dealing with a particular album. The many bonus songs and those exclusive to the two best of collections to date, are also covered in detail.

It had me re-visiting a couple of Divine Comedy albums not heard in awhile, namely ‘Liberation’ and ‘Foreverland’, thanks to the author’s enthusiasm when detailing and describing the band’s music.

The book does lack any real detail of the two official live albums or the EPs. Completists will be a tad disappointed, however, for the casual and new fan this is a good place to start into the wonderful musical worlds created by Neil Hannon and the Divine Comedy.  ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Book review (Oasis, Neil Young, AC/DC, Procol Harum, May 2024)

Book review (Magnum, April 2024)

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---