Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
 Bats right down to number 11 February 24, 2010
Greg Farefield-Rose (Hertfordshire United Kingdom)
A concept album with a difference, The Duckworth Lewis Methodology consist of Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy and Thomas Walsh of Pugwash. They are named after the intricate statistical method by which targets are decided when rain stops plays in the first innings of a cricket match. Quite apt really as the DLM album is all about the beautiful game. It is also probably the best album which Hannon has released in his lengthy career.
Unlike most Divine Comedy albums where a handful of excellent tracks are poorly supported by some unmelodic, over-bombastic weak links, the DLM album bats right down to number 11. Neil has been reined in with much of the credit for this going to Thomas Walsh who also contributes some fine ELO and glam-influenced moments which would be unlikely to find their way onto a Divine Comedy LP. There are however still plenty of classic Hannon moments, the finest of which is possibly the hilarious, vaudeville Jiggory Pokery which recalls Shane Warne's "ball of the century" from the point of view of Mike Gating, its unfortunate, portly recipient. Other songs on the DLM LP which will please DC purists include the lovely Gentlemen And Players and Flatten The Hay which recalls long summer school holidays spent innocently playing the "gentleman's game".
Amongst the best songs on the album probably more musically influenced by Thomas Walsh are the opening Coin Toss and glamtastic Sweet Spot as well as Meeting Mr Miandad which recalls a slightly hippy-ish journey to meet the Pakistani legend. Lyrically the LP covers many aspects of the game as well as providing a cricketing metaphor for more purely romantic subject matter as in The Nightwatchman. The Age Of Revolution meanwhile explores the game's colonial roots in addition to the interesting contradictions around today with the key couplet of "Now we're driving Bentleys, playing 20/20".
Excellent both lyrically and musically, the Duckworth Lewis Methodology is funnily enough, the most accessible album ever made by Neil Hannon and quite probably his very best. Reined in by the equally supreme contributions of Thomas Walsh, it is very highly recommended. An innings victory then with no need to resort to the statistical methodology after which the duo are named...
Simply fabulous... February 16, 2010
Erick Thornton (Mansfield, UK)
Trying not to sound like a obsessed fan is quite difficult when writing a review on an album you have just purchased, but for anyone of similar music taste to mine who enjoys the beautiful English game, it is impossible not to sit back and listen with delight. Even if you were to purchase this purely due to the title, without the knowledge of of The Divine Comedy roots/genre, the lyrics alone would be enough to make this a satisfactory purchase - to say the least.
Wonderful January 29, 2010
Fletch (UK)
Quite simply, you'll be hard pressed to buy an album as good as this all year. From start to finish, Neil Hannon's lyrical wit is fully prominent. All songs are different apart from one thing - they are all wonderfully written.
Whether you like cricket or not, it doesn't matter. This album should be in your collection and will cheer you up everytime you listen to it
 Duckworth Lewis Method is really cricket December 27, 2009
Sark Lover
Some of the songs on this CD are funnier and more apt than others. Overall a very suitable present for an avid cricket lover, who will love all the in jokes and references.
You don't need to like cricket to enjoy this - but it helps November 19, 2009
Finlay (Birmingham)
If it was all about the cricket and clever rhymes then it would only be worth one listen as a novelty record. But this is so much more than that. They are actually good tunes with a lovely gentle summer feel - like being at a cricket match, but with no chance of rain.
Because of this, most of the songs just stand on their own as a great listen, even if you don't like cricket at all. Especially if you're into the type of songs produced by the Divine Comedy.
Then again, if you do know something about the history of cricket you will be rewarded with some smiles and laughs, particulary on 'jiggery pokery', which you will be singing all day after hearing it and constantly marvelling at at the joy of rhyming 'me dinner' with 'leg spinner'.......
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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