Reviews (page 14 of 14)
Leonard Cohens debutalbum från 1967. Fantastiska melodier, men det som gör albumet till ett av de bästa folkalbumen någonsin är främst texterna, poesin. Cohen berättar dystra historier om kärlek på ett extremt vackert och uttrycksfullt sätt. Det är svårt att inte bli påverkad. Om han hade levat idag är han nog i mitt tycke den musikpoet som efter Dylan mest förtjänar Nobelpriset. Jag hade lyssnat mycket på tre låtar tidigare, Suzanne; So Long, Marianne; och Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye, och hade även lyssnat flyktigt på albumet i sin helhet. Förutom dessa tre toppenlåtar är det några andra som sticker ut extra mycket, främst Master Song, The Stranger Song, och One of Us Cannot Be Wrong. Den sista avslutar albumet, och handlar om Nico, som Cohen var förälskad i en period. Hon kallades för "The Ice Queen", och låten visar hur hennes kyla påverkade alla som kom i kontakt med henne. Han sjunger om hur han berättade om sina känslor för en terapeut, som bara genom att höra Cohen berätta om Nico blir kär i henne, och tvinga stänga sin klinik. Då hela albumet kännetecknas av sin poesi, och hur skicklig Cohen är på att använda ord, blir det extra påtagligt att sista låten avslutas med ett ordlöst jämrande från Cohen, efter att han klivit in i Nicos snöstorm. Då albumet är en poetisk uppvisning så kommer här några av mina favoritformuleringar: "And just when you mean to tell her That you have no love to give her Then she gets you on her wavelength And she lets the river answer That you've always been her lover" - Från Suzanne "And while he talks his dreams to sleep You notice there's a highway That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder It's curling just like smoke above his shoulder" "And then leaning on your window sill He'll say one day you caused his will To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter And then taking from his wallet An old schedule of trains, he'll say 'I told you when I came I was a stranger'" - Båda från The Stranger Song "I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea" - Från Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye. (Den kanske kändaste raden - "Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm" - är också vacker). Bästa låt: Svårt att välja en. Väljer fyra: Suzanne; The Stranger Song; So Long, Marianne; och Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.
Not really my thing
didnt listen much not my thing
nice guitar stuff
This is not the album to listen too when you've just had your second covid jab, you're heading to work feeling awful, and you need a pick-me-up. Inspite of that, its fine, it's Leonard Cohen doing his stuff....2.5
So far I've listened and rated almost 50 albums on this website, and this is my first 5 star rating. Everything about this just resonates with me. The lyrics paired with his voice and guitar playing is just .. perfect.
Mellow, thoughtful and engaging.
An unenthusiastic bard
Love Leonard Cohen. Great album.
Classic Cohen, Master Song has mesmerizing guitar and Hey, that's no way to say goodbye is one that makes it in my Cohen favorites.
Not my favorite style of folk but still an enjoyable album. The often almost spoken word story telling Cohen deploys isn't nearly as effective or engaging to me as his more melodic contemporaries (Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, etc.). That being said he still has some beautiful arrangements throughout and the lyrics can often be really interesting even if their density can make it challenging for me to stayed personally engaged.
-Kind of cool acoustic riff in "The Stranger Song" -ok the fact that Leonard Cohen wrote "Hallelujah" makes this album so much worse -Its basically just guitar and Cohen reciting poetry kind of singing for the entire album -there is like no change of emotion across the entire album -this would be a 3 for a lot of other artists, but it was so boring and Cohen was capable of so much better
I wake up each morning and get a bit excited about the album I'm going to get. My mood shrunk instantly seeing my dads judgy face staring back at me. Hey I know; maybe smile if your face is going to be plastered on the album. Or spend less on the flashy font, and more on a photographer. First song made me want to crash into a ditch. The eventual accident report would read. "Poor bastard, another SUICIDE by Cohen."
Chill, calm old rockish
A bit samey, not really my thing
Boring
7/10
Sounded like Lou Reed. Some interesting songs but pretty samey.
Pleasant and nice lyrics, but really boring
I don't know what to do with Leonard. He's a clever writer, but I never quite feel like I need more of his music. Some of the backing vocals cement this album into a earlier time, and this album has a number of strange songs to women. "So Long, Marianne" and "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" came closest to being a potential repeat listen. This album took some work to get through. I don't feel like rounding up --> 2 stars
very nice!
Beloved on RYM. Its too soft and samesy for my tastes. I like the brill building backup vocals on So Long Marianne.
false
I’m the same as he was when this came out, his debut album. Wild. Obviously, he’s a great songwriter. Not the best singer, but his voice works well for his music. This album kinda seems perfect for a wistful, sunny summer day.
"Suzanne" et "So long, Marianne" sont des classiques à juste titre mais je trouve le reste de l'album peu intéressant
Good ol' Folk music from Canada! Leonard Cohen's voice is so soothing to listen to and it blends perfectly with his music.
I read somewhere once that Leonard Cohen was essentially a poet and the music was just a way of releasing his poems. This albums fits with that theory. It's very lyrically dense and musically pared back. It was a decent listen, but not really my kind of thing.
Its nice is what I can say about it. I appreciate leonard is weaving these fantastic stories and I love the atmosphere they create, but the whole album being the same tempo is just a bit too meh. I still enjoyed it, but I felt like the album was just coasting really, I got very few emotional or energetic highs or lows. All that said so long marianne is fantastic i love it
The vibes are immaculate. I love the blend between singing and storytelling, and how everything feels uncomplicated. Every element in the music contributes to the atmosphere, and it feels like adding or subtracting any part of the songs would ruin them. Overall I really love this album so far, and I definitely need to listen to more Leonard Cohen in the future as it's totally up my alley.
I enjoyed this a lot but it didn't really grab me. If I could I'd give it 3.5 stars because it's not wowaweewa to get 4 stars but it's not so average that it deserves only 3.
it was ok. not into this kind of songwriting.
pretty good chill folk album, I am not a huge fan, but decent.
It was really good, but not my favorite. He does really interesting things with singing past when a measure or instrument stops it’s primary attack, and that just lends to totally cool vibes. I got bored after a bit, but my attention span also isn’t the best.
Great lyricist
4/10 It was alright for me, all songs kind of sounded the same, might have to listen again, wasn’t paying much attention while listening through Favs: None
I have listened to this album many, many times and it's one of my favorites.
I really only knew Cohen for Hallelujah which is a bit genre-less in it's ubiquity but really enjoyed this album! I like his story telling melodies and voice. Would like to learn and listen more.
I love the vibes of the 60s. In general, from the point of view of the lyrics, the songs are beautiful. 6-above average (you can listen to).
слишком спокойно и однотонно
No particular favourite track.
Some interesting vocal progressions, but I am just not a huge fan of Cohen's voice
Not my favorite of the artist, but very solid.
Slightly eerie and off putting. Songs sound the same.
Este disco me recordó que, cuando era cachorro, mi perrito se dormía escuchando “Suzanne” <3. No soy muy fan del género, pero sí reconozco qué hay letras muy bellas, y creo que es lo que más rescato
I mean, it is LITERALLY one song! Again, I've tried Leonard Cohen before - not for me I think.
A bit mournful
Such good songs and simple staging, and that voice
I find this guy so boring... It's funny how he had this squeaky voice before he got old and went on just talking over a soundtrack
Some moments of greatness but overall a tough listen
'Suzanne' and 'So long, Marianne' are great. Some songs has beautiful storytelling with understated music. The rest of it is boring.
A really really pleasant surprise - great lyrics and melody that sticks - will explore more - could see this getting a better rating after more listens
Didn't finish it
Leonard Cohen is amazing. This is earlier less noir and gritty, but still exactly what he does best.
Dated; presentations like that don't cut it anymore. Cohen's later albums are way better, IMO, even if they didn't achieve the same cult status.
Amazing song writer. Folksy with deep lyrics ala Dylan. Grew on me as the album progressed. A lot of slow, beautiful finger picking songs. Music that makes you think/feel. 3/5
Eu gostei mais quando terminou o album e tocou outras musicas dele
Laughing Len's debut. Classic. Best Tracks: Suzanne, So Long Marianne, One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong
Some classic Lenny songs
.
- [ ] Production: 9/20 - [ ] Songwriting: 16/20 - [ ] Innovation: 11/20 - [ ] Bangers: 5/20 - [ ] Emotional response: 13/20 - [ ] =54 Lovely stuff
Love early Leonard Cohen
Disco perfecto.
amazing
muy pajero I guess, primera impresión no tan wena pero podría gustarme con más escuchas
This feels old school, but somehow not in a way that makes me feel nostalgic. I found the recording quality to be a tad bit distracting, and although I don't feel particularly strongly towards the music, I wouldn't mind listening to this again.
Acoustic guitar melodies with Leonard singing. Each song kinda sounds the same? Meh.
Het is Cohen dus je weet wat je kan verwachten! Ik vind het wel de moeite waard
One of the greats
Music and voice alone are not enough to keep me around to listen to the lyrics. Has to do more for me to stick around for long
Leonard Cohen and his music are a national treasure. Unfortunately, you need to dig through some dirt muck to get to the gold, and this is it. I was bored, but was also listening through a lame car stereo which probably lost the finer dust of this album. 2.5 stars and rounding up based on the catalog to come. ### side note - I was introduced to Leonard Cohen from the Movie “Pump up the Volume” - when Christian Slater dropped the needle on LEonard’s “Everybody Know” I was hooked for life. Surprisingly, his version doesn’t make the soundtrack, but a solid Concrete Blonde cover does. The soundtrack also has another LC cut - “If it be Your Will” among many other nuggets - I encourage you to listen. This is the second time I’ve referenced it since we started the 1001…
Yawn!
Que clase, que delicadeza! Como no querer a Cohen
It’s good. There are some really beautiful songs on here especially in the second half but as an album it didn’t really hold my attention. 3.5
Apparently I should listen to more Leonard Cohen. I liked the album as a whole, and So Long, Marianne really got me. 4+
No thank you Leonard. I didn't like the singing or the music, and I feel like it's bs that he's on this list tbh.
nice album, i dont know why but i really like this album and i cant really tell why. bit of the same each song but still weirdly good
Not a fan, this could've put me right to sleep if I wasn't actively doing something else.
Enjoyed this. A lot simpler than his later work and it benefits because of it. Suzanne and So long Marianne are stone cold classics. Poetic rather than melodic but that his style and it works. 4/5
lots of weird storys but just background folk works too
por ahí no ma
Zzzzzzz
A low 5, and I like it slightly less than You Want it Darker, but also it's a little more chill to listen to which is nice. These albums are hard to judge because I can't get much of a feel for them if I listen to them while I do something else.
Jamás un disco que escucharía por iniciativa propia, pero me gustó. Tiene una vibra melancolía-wholesome. Creo que la canción que más me gustó fue Master Song, desde la tensión que crea la guitarra hasta lo bien que queda el canto con ello, es hasta un poco dark digamos; me pareció la más interesante del disco en cuestión acústica. En cuanto a letras, no tengo idea. Mood: Sadness trascendental folk
I heard about Leonard Cohen but to be honest it sonund not so attractive... What an error!!! It is a wonderful album. From the beginning to the end you find quality in capital letters: the music, the voice, Great.
Very pleasant but probably wouldn't go back to it. 3 stand out tracks
Nice. Very cute beautiful nice well made little songs. It's not something I would listen to but if you consider when it was made, it's realllly good. Great debut by Leonard Cohen.
Cohen's quiet intensity, expressed forcefully through his poetic lyrics, clear baritone, simple flamenco-esque fingerpicking guitar, spare production. Beautiful.
5
holy fuck resident sleeper
Ich hör ihn ja immer wieder gern und auch hier wertet dass Herz höher als das Ohr. 2.8
Da schweben alle möglichen flüchtigen Aromen vorbei, und keines von denen kann ich so richtig fassen. Ich erinnere Anklänge von/Assoziationen an Reinhard Mey, ABBA, Serge Gainsbourg, Johnny Cash, Tony Marschall. Das bescheuerte ist, ich kann überhaupt nicht einordnen ob ich glaube dass er sich irgendwo in diesen Universen bedient hat, oder die sich in seinem, oder ob das sowieso alles in der allgemein geatmeten Luft lag. Irgendwie ist das Kirmesmusik, dann aber auch wieder hochseriös, und siehe auch sein gottgleicher Status. Man merkt: ich bin verwirrt und mir fehlt der Kompass. Keine Ahnung wonach ich da die Note gebe - gefällt mir supergut? Nein, sicher nicht besser als 3,5. Superschlecht? Auch nicht schlechter als 2. Ok, dann ... 2,8? 2,9? Hm. Na gut: Diese Platte bekommt von mir eine 2,85. Hier und jetzt und for the Ladies.
Melancólico. Buena voz. Pausado
Ouin je ne suis pas un gars de texte ça par mal, l’ambiance et la guitare est là mais ....
Muy relajante
Still Leonard Cohen, still good. I like his voice more here but the production quality is obviously lower. He's got some strange lyrics too but that's just Leonard Cohen.
It's really different than I expected it to be.
Senación tranquila.
Not my bag
Leonard Cohen también me intimida porque mucha gente dice que ufff, que wow y no sé qué más, pero a mí nunca me ha llamado mucho. El disco está lindo, me gusta su voz, eso sí y muy buen letrista. Las canciones que me gustaron fueron "The Stranger Song", "So Long, Marianne", "Teachers" y "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong". 7.5/10
Decent album, some forgettable tracks
2.5. some are good background, some are annoying.
Mellow and complex. Have to be in the right mood for this. Kind of like how I feel about most Dylan.
Good but a little boring
Tres beaux textes. Mon hit: The stranger song. Sur la désire d'être en relation mais la difficulté d'y être heureux.
He calms me I like him
Leonard Cohen is so cool, but I think I like his older, more gravelly voice more.
If you Dylan is too exciting for you, you might love Cohen, who delivers every line on every song in the same whispery tone. Instrumentation was clearly an afterthought, if it was even a thought at all.
Excellent
Liked it more than I thought I would, had a very cohesive feel to the album as a whole
Nope
Very cool. Very easy listening.
For lite rødvin i arbeidstiden til at dette gir fot
Flott album! Litt synd at favorittlåt av Cohen everybody knows ikke er med her. Og avslutningen på sistelåt høres ut som noen fulle sjømenn på nachspiel.
Not bad. I didn't know that "The Stranger Song" was by Cohen, I only knew the version by Guilt Machine.
So this is what singer songwriters are aiming for
A bit hard to get into it but then : oh baby what a smooth ride.
I shockingly was super into it. His voice was so smooth and his lyrics felt like they really told a story. It was hard not to listen to it
It's pretty solid. Definitely a folksy introspective Paul Simon vibe with clearly the focus on deeper than average lyrics. Though good, not something I'm likely to revisit.
Enjoyed the intimate aesthetic of the album, the storytelling was brilliant.
I love the later work of Leonard Cohen, at least the handful of songs I'm familiar with. I don't love this so much though - the songs are vaguely creepy. 2 stars.
Phenomenal, definitely will come back and listen to. His story telling is great especially with his voice that almost is drained of care
trippy, outside expectations even for bowie
Great imagery and interesting writing.
Very similar to the Randy Newman I had a couple days prior. Strong lyrics and melodies, singular voice.
Exceedingly pleasant. Classic 60's folk. Nuff said.
Lyrical, but samey sounding as a full album
No
Some pretty songs
Not my jam. The songs were very similar, best one was So Long, Marianne but i didn’t listen to the whole thing
Less is more
Ok
Too slow and boring for my tastes. A couple of listenable songs mixed with a bunch of throwaways.
Melancholic and slow. I love the songs "Suzanne" & "How Long Marianne". Everything blend together otherwise. It made me want to listen to Rodriguez
This is one melancholy dude
Didn't like it as much as the other cohen. Still pretty decent tho
The compositions themselves are beautiful, but often last 1 chorus or verse too long. There's an inherent mystery in the progressions, but repetition wrings out any interest before the tracks have ended.
as holy as it is human fav track: hey, that's no way to say goodbye
Super chill listen. Not something id reach for all the time, but i wouldn't turn it off if I was like at a dinner party with my in laws or my parents, and we were having like some charcuterie
He is quite the mellow singer/songwriter. There is no urgency in his music, just peacefully goes through the words. I know he inspired many cause I’ve enjoyed covers of some of his songs.
Sugar Man? Awesome for the sixties. I am going to listen again in mono.
I know it’s great songwriting but not really my cup of tea.
Fenomenalan. Stari lisac razbija
3.5 stars. Lyrically awesome album. Unfortunately it's the type of music I have to be in the mood for. Best to listen with head phones while relaxing to hear the lyrics properly
6/10 Not really my style, but very good. He's a brilliant storyteller and it shows.
Easy vibes
Morose and monotone, minimalist in composition. A folk style from the Viet Nam era. Vocals and acoustic guitar predominate with garnishes of violin, harpsicord, flute and other uncommon instruments. Percussions are almost entirely absent this album, save the occasional glockenspiel (or whatever that was). The sentiments conveyed are surely nostalgic to the boomer, but this music is inaccessible to later generations.
Day 35 of Albums You Must Hear.. Today’s albums is Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen, released in 1967. Leonard wrote the song Hallelujah, covered by more than 300 artists and is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, however, that song is not on this album. I don’t recognize any of the songs on this offering and I honestly found this to be a pretty boring and dull record. Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!
Not my style...sorry Leonard.
Leonard Cohen is obviouslly an overlooked song writer. I just don't know if this is the album that needs to be on this list.
Really like his voice, not so much the music.
I like him, a bit slow, but it's good imo
I honestly don’t know what the fuss is. Sure Hallelujah is a masterpiece but nothing else of his even comes close.
Not my style...
Yeah I can appreciate Leonard Cohen as a poet and artist but only in small doses. Once song at a time is probably enough for me. That said he was an inspiration to generations of other artists.
+
Perfect album.
sad, but i do like sad.
Not a huge folk fan I guess
Got distracted by life, should probably give it another chance.
Weird.
false
I remember this album from my youth, my parents loved this albam
It was oke. But will not be my favorite music.
Couple of classics already
.
Great lyrics, a little repetitive, 3.5/5
Great collection of his songs!
Was a bit like listening to some gospel music. Kind of visceral, in a weird way.
Leonard Slowhen.
Better than other LC album but still only meh
Great chill out and get work done music.
Like the voice
Cohen is an undeniable songwriting powerhouse but his performance on this album is just ... boring. Musically, every song is strikingly similar even while the lyrics are deeply different and, frankly, brilliant. This is also Cohen before his voice went pear-shaped so his singing is pretty dang good for Cohen. I want to like this album more than I do. But I don't.
Not my steez but i liked it better than old man Cohen
High two
booo so boring and weird barely liked a single song
There are certain albums that are ‘of one.’ There are only a few songs that, separately, I would mention. But as an album, they all become parts of a masterpiece. Sparse but melodic, the focus goes instinctually to the words and the overall ‘feel’ of the album. Great, great album.
Well worth a relisten
8/10 FT: The Stranger Song
Too slow not interesting
4.5. I really liked this, will be visiting this again. Great folk.
I'd listened to Leonard Cohen before and not really liked it. I enjoyed this album though.
Closer to 3.5-3.7
a lot of bible references? master song and the stranger song i like the style and lyrics are very curious
I've never actually heard this guy outside that annoying song Jeff Buckley covered. Aaaand it's American 60s folk rock, hoorah. I was expecting he'd be able to at least sing but he can't. It's so fucking amateur! I guess the lyrics are what sucks all the wannabe hippies in. Also, for 40min album this goes for a fucking AGE. Legend status denied. 2/5.
chl
So many classic songs, incredible arrangements. A great start to an unbeatable catalogue of albums!