Reviews (page 3 of 14)
Leonard Cohen is a source of pride for Canadians and Montrealers, and I can see why after listening to his debut album here. I don't have the best education on his music, and I was more familiar with his later, raspy years. Sidenote - at first glance, I thought the album of the day was songs by Leonard Nemoy. I'm so glad I read it wrong.
Maybe when I am older I will understand...
Great album, great lyricist (although I don’t understand most of what he’s singing about)
good folk music! it's not really the type of stuff i listen to, but the storytelling is really good. definitely a great album within the genre
pretty songs with lyrics that I really like, in a genre that I love
Bro IS by the campfire and telling stories.
I rathed like. The moodiness of Leonards voice really pulls you in with some fantastic story tell and great instrumation. Shy of a 5, as I found it repetitive at times but not enough to take away from the clear beauty of this album.
Starting to realize I’m just not a Leonard Cohen guy lol
Mellow album. Super minimal with mostly acoustic guitar and vocals. 2.5/5.0
This man is one of the greatest songwriters to ever put pen to paper. This is his debut album so he sounds much younger but I like him through all the stages of his life. Canada's answer to Bob Dylan.
1/2
Okay, 4 Cohen album are pretty excessive ...
Great album. Some great songs, including Suzanne and others that he was still performing to the end.
beautiful poetry being sung by the author, with minimal accompaniment. eventually starts to sound repetitive. Best to read the lyrics while listening otherwise you miss the point.
begging a taylor swift fan to listen to this songwriting and tell me she compares even remotely
Flawless
No real songs but mostly just a guitar riff dragged on for an excruciatingly long time with monotonous low-energy "vocals" on top of it.
This was not bad for a debut album. Cohen tends to ramble a bit in these songs. Don't go into this expecting typical song structure or rhyme scheme. Some songs are catchy, but this album mostly shows the potential for the songwriter.
i could be rating this too highly?? i had it on in the background but i did really enjoy it
Beautiful and mellow!
I mostly know Leonard Cohen's later stuff, where he sounds like the saddest old man in the world saying poetically terrifying shit over a beat, so this was very different. It's still poetically terrifying and depressing shit over a beat, but he's not as old, and it's more musicey. Quite a few of these, especially Winter Lady, So Long Marianne, Teachers, and One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong, are amazing. I may just be super into this dude.
So much done with so little. As for the music, I like the production ideas often more than the actual execution of them. Sometimes it works, and there’s some very original ideas there, other times it just sounds cheesy or dated. As for the lyrics, woah. It’s hard giving this 3 stars because the poetry is, well it’s often great. But as an all around album it’s an experiment that doesn’t fully work. There are major tracks on here though, stories that one could spend a long time exploring, and my interest in Cohen is massively peaked
I really enjoyed it, and I feel like he has an intangible, intimate quality that makes it sound like he's performing only for you. Not quite a 5, but a 4.5 at least and I'm rounding down unless I hit a true 5.
Some really nice songs in here that I already knew, and some other ones that are quite good, butttt some others that sound really similar that aren't as good
This went down better than the previous Cohen album I’ve had on this list. It’s nice for what it is, some of the lyrics are good, and it is executed well. Not really for me though.
Qué simple! Qué bonito! Me guardo Suzanne, Master Song, Sisters of Mercy y One of us cannot be wrong.
Decent. Enjoyed this more than usual for a Cohen album
Boring but Suzanne and winter lady like winter woman is raye song names maybe she got inspiration
too sad for me
Again, I think I prefer Cohen's songwriting to his performance; there always seems to be a version of one of his songs that I greatly prefer - in this case it's Courtney Barnett's cover of So Long Marianne, which is great.
Really great songwriting
such a gorgeous album. leonard cohen’s lyricism is such a big influence for me and the soundcapes he makes are so intimate yet mystifying. i absolutely adore this album.
I love his songs
1. Suzanne (★★★★☆) 2. Master Song (★★★⯨☆) 3. Winter Lady (★★★★☆) 4. The Stranger Song (★★★☆☆) 5. Sister of Mercy (★★★★☆) 6. So Long, Marianne (★★★☆☆) 7. Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye (★★★☆☆) 8. Stories of the Street (★★★★★) -Fav 9. Teachers (★★★★★) -Fav 10. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong (★★★☆☆) TOTAL = ★★★⯨☆ (3,8) -Lo escuché dos veces, exploré el trasfondo de las letras y definitivamente además de sonar bien, está bien escrito y no merece menos de 3,5/4 estrellas, de base, como mínimo.
Pretentious rubbish
I didn't know what to expect but this was quite lovely and gentle.
favs: hey, that’s no way to say goodbye rating 0.5/5
Æjj, er ég ekki bara leiðinlegur að gefa tvær?
This album is always so tasty. It’s kinda dry but grows on me every time
Great
To state the obvious, no matter how foreign an album sounds at the start, the more you listen, the better it gets, and none more so than this. Top tracks: so long marianne, hey that's no way to say goodbye, teachers
Easy favorite. Used to be a 10 but alas whatever. Incredible piece of art. “Suzanne” is simply one of the best songs of all time, with some of the best one liners ever, most notably in my opinion being “there are heroes in the seaweed / there are children in the morning / they are leaning out for love / they will lean that way forever while Suzanne holds the mirror.” Another song that continues to blow me away to this day is “Master Song,” a brooding, surreal number, chambery yet minimal, calm but almost snarling. “Winter Lady,” a prettier song, resembling something of a sentimentality, is real good. “Master Song” is another song similar to “Stranger Song,” though in the place of Cohen’s passive anger is an apathetic, conversational mood, with some excellent lyrics to go along with it. Other notables from there are “So Long, Marianne,” which even as I like it less than most, I cannot deny the strength of a chorus as good as this one is. I much prefer, however, “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” which is just all around one of the best songs here, from the chord progression, to the woeful lilt in Cohen’s voice. The rest of the songs don’t leave as much of an impression on me, yet they all stun in their own ways. I suppose the only real criticism I have of this album is the way that it gives away some of its minimalistic intrigue after the first 4 songs. It’s all incredible, but songs like “Sisters of Mercy” and “So Long, Marianne” are much too openly warm and commercial for the rest of the album (and please remember that I love commercial music; I just desire consistency throughout my albums). That being said, whenever Leonard Cohen makes a song, be it depressive, religious, angry, hushed, or loud, it is and always will be completely worth listening to. 9.7/10
I'm not really interested in scrutinizing the lyrics, might be higher or lower
Creo que cumple con un buen álbum de folk, este genero no es totalmente mi fuerte, pero siempre se puede apreciar, creo que es un buen álbum.
Wow, very beautiful and subtle. I can tell this will be a grower that I'll probably like more on repeated listens
BOOOO GET OFF THE STAGE
I guess it was nice to listen to, and his lyrics are very poetic, but it's just not my cup of tea. All of the songs were very similar in tempo, tone and subject matter and none were particularly interesting musically
I mean, he's the best isn't he.
The lyrics are so good, even if the music is quite simplistic
Good songwriting.
It's Leonard Cohen, what did you expect?
It’s like if Bob Dylan sounded worse …
A lot different than I was expecting. A calmer voice in his earlier days and folksier. Great songwriting. Highlights: "The Stranger Song" and "Stores of the Street"
There's a world before and one after this record.
First and last song are beautiful poems. Very coherent album.
First Listen; 3.5; While this is a little slow and not terribly diverse, what is here and what is done is done really well. I really enjoy the lyrics/storytelling. I don't know exactly how, but it is a very affecting album. Very intimate. An album that I am glad is on this like and one I will probably listen to again. Favorite Track: Suzanne
I've tried but it's just so far away from the music I like to listen to. I find it unbelievably boring, sorry Leonard.
not my style but its good, reminds me of childhood for some reason.
The lyrics are better read than accompanied by pedestrian guitar.
Great vocals and a great lyricist. Definitely has some of that 60s folk vibe as well, which I definitely appreciate and those bands were such an influence in rock, it's just something I usually don’t listen to. It was still a good album though.
Love the atmosphere of this album. Very dark and moody, not in any hurry to tell you its story. But if you put it on during a rainy Sunday, you may hear it whisper its sad poetry and put you in a thoughtful mood
во-первых 67) во-вторых скучненько, реально как сегодня в обсуждении было сказано музыка для вязания но не так плохо как вчера
master song
A little too dark and melody-less for my tastes
Beautiful
Cohen sings from the darkest depths with such elegance and grace that its surprising that this is his debut - he sounds like an old master. Its almost all centered around simple, subtle, baritone vocal and guitar melodies. So much so that when even small amounts of chamber instrumentals are added into the mix it feels like a radical change; equally when he moves slightly up in the vocal register on the superb So Long, Marianne, the difference feels stark and the listener receives a big whoosh of energy. It doesn't rush to reveal itself - but there's plenty there.
Settling on a high 4 for Leonard Cohen, a big missing piece for me in the singer songwriter folk scene, loads of things done here better than in other places i already love and more my pace than Dylan
Mitchell. Drake. Simon. Dylan. Young. Stevens. Chapin. A legacy of storytellers and poets with a six-string in their hands. Yet, in my estimation, Mr. Leonard Cohen stands above them all. A true giant of his craft. There are simply not enough adjectives to describe the works of Leonard Cohen. This album is aptly titled, as it provides the listener with Mr. Cohen at his most human -- longing, desperate, woeful, lonely, and doubtful; yet filled with conviction, faith, and hope. This album, like Leonard's collective body of work, taps into an emotional well that few of his contemporaries can so easily do. The second that resounding E chord hits my ears on "Suzanne", I am presented with no choice but to pause whatever it is I am doing and sit in reverence of this man's songwriting. This is an album that I cannot wait to introduce to my future children. Favorite track: Suzanne, which I would argue is one of the best songs of all time
Sisters of Mercy was really interesting! The rest was a decent audiobook (stole that joke from someone else).
The faint screams from One of Us Cannot Be Wrong really hit.
“I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm. Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm.” -Cohen’s undeniable masterful word-play at its finest!
4*
Love it
There are some bangers on there I must say, such as So, Long, Marianne. But prob not really my vibe
Beautiful lyricism throughout, nice melodies, simple but fulfilling sound yeah I liked it
Probably better if you take the time to fully listen to the lyrics and stuff. I listened to it while cooking dinner so couldn't do that and then found it just got kind of samey after a while
He may be a genius but he does go on a bit. Good vocals, average songs, weak arrangements.
Love him!
Reminded me of Dylan in some ways. Lyrics were good throughout. Musically bland at times and decent at others.
High number of unique words, interesting story telling. Just a hair pretentious. Well produced but his voice is just a little grating.
Ist mir ruhig ohne viel Abwechslung.
Albums are all good but similar. Not my thing
Not a fan, great song writer
2/10 I gave it a fair shot but this ain't my cup o' tea.
He’s definitely in the top three best singer songwriters. This album has some of his most iconic songs and he was just getting warmed up in ‘67.
Lou Reed if he was whimsical and liked folk
Gorgeous for what it is, but best in small doses
It's a great record that makes me contemplate the end
I managed to listen through and like a couple of songs were quite catchy, but I didn't overly like the lyrics or the way they didn't really fit.
Want to do 1.5 cause I didn’t mind it, but it was putting me to sleep at work and isn’t my favorite genre of music.
I liked both of Cohen's previous albums quite a bit, so let's see how this one fares. Immediately, you know that this is a Cohen album. His voice is more melodic than on most of his later albums, and his lyrics emerged fully formed. It has the spare, beautiful folk arrangements of his other albums, showing that he knew exactly what he was doing when he made this. In many ways, this album shows exactly what to expect from Cohen and is a good starting point for a dive into his discography. However, I personally would say that he peaked on "Songs of Love and Hate", which I found to be a phenomenal folk record at first listen. Both albums are still great though.
#356/1001. Songs of Leonard Cohen. Review by Tomi Knuutila.
Lyrics are great, sounds very modern for its age.
Such a gorgeous album. Leonard Cohen is so lovely to listen to. Fav song is ‘Winter Lady’.
I sat and listen to every part of this and it is beautiful , it’s like poetry beautiful story telling
That was great
- That guitar and how Leonard is playing it while singing just sounds really lovely. - I really liked Suzanne’s and Masters song accompanying instruments - Bible references in some songs - Songs so narrative I’m daydreaming animated music videos
What an album. Unbelievable. Such soft tender songs, so moody. So God fearing. They feel like hymns at times. Lyricism at times umatchable. I fucking love this record, one of my prized possessions. 5.0/5.0 Best Song: Suzanne
A masterclass in song writing, think this album when it came out made him the greatest song writer on earth. Not saying he had that title forever, but he held it after this album was released for sure. Beauitful and sad and sexy the way all good Leonard Cohen songs should be. Best Track: It's like choosing a favourite child? Maybe So Long, Marianne
Full of melancholy songs.
Not for me but not bad
The man is a gifted storyteller and musician and every song is like hearing someone sing a tale to you. But I had a hard time relating emotionally to his lyrics, so I can appreciate his artistry and also say that this album is not for me.
Leonard Cohen is a storyteller and a poet, but he'd not a great singer and he's not a great musician. This album is something you should read, not something you should listen to. Ive got two of his albums this week and I figured out I don't have to take Ambien, I can just let Leonard put me to sleep with bedtime stories. Im rating this one a 3 and the other one a 2, because this one seems better even though they're pretty much identical. The 3 is for the lyrics alone, but musically it is dull.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 right now, may descend to a 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 depending on my mood and repeat listens So I knew it was a terrible idea to start with Leonard Cohen's last album/magnum opus as per this list, but I'm glad to have still given his first album a chance. Since my wretched vice is looking at global reviews before seeing what I think for myself, I always end up with some standoffish opinion based on the loudest consensus, and Songs of Leonard Cohen is no exception. Oddly enough, my hesitation is because of a five-star review, and once again, guilt for not really "getting" what's so emotional for people. I've had this working theory going into these albums that thinking-oriented people enjoy lyric-oriented and sparser music (ranging from folk to rap) because there's generally a logical (even if artful) articulation of the feeling being conveyed, whereas feeling-oriented people enjoy musically-oriented, uh, music because sound is a pre-rational expression of feeling that cuts past the ego. Granted, there's more to it—I feel like technically impressive musical acrobatics also tend to be enjoyed by more thinking folks—but I've been pretty assured by this claim until I saw a five-star review of Songs of Leonard Cohen saying the opposite. Essentially, their deal is that because lots of non-english speakers get Leonard Cohen, you have to feel him first, and so more feeling-oriented people like him. Well, coming from the feeling camp, now I'm a poser, because I'm not totally overwhelmed by the connection. Clearly, it's more complicated than I thought. That's not to say I didn't like Songs of Leonard Cohen (duh)—both musically and lyrically, this was a really interesting experience. Like most folk music I know, there'll be notes of weirdness that I wish they'd crank up like 25% more—as it currently is, the subtlety only allows for twinges of off-kilter emotions, which isn't really enough to bathe in. That said, I bet this would've been spellbinding to see live, and maybe that's the component I'm missing. Even so, there were lines that I'd ooh and ah at, consider sending to a friend or pinning on the fridge, and the sparseness of the music largely benefited the atmosphere it was aiming for. Essentially, this is a textbook 4 as per my scale—technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally. However, considering I've only rated 4s so far, that's about the best I could expect anyone to do, so go gettem, Leo. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
Sound of a more well spoken Bob Dylan.
I liked this album, it's so full with a sense of wanting to say something, and it felt that it had a good flow, it was calm but nice to listen to. Very good.
I liked it more than i thought i would for some reason. Should have had more of an open mind, second listen went good. Feels like the vibe of songs i would choose for a movie soundtrack - like a band of merry thieves going to their next adventure.
It's not a bad album but he *is* a bad singer
I like the overall vibes.
not my cup of tea
Leonard stands tall on this debut, weaving poems as songs over dynamic, purposeful instrumentation. These songs are dense, evocative, and beautifully put together.
Slow, boring annoying
i dobt care
Pure magic
This was my second listen to this one and I didn't rate it very high the first time. I think I was busy and not paying much attention on that listen. This time I focused on the music and it was much better than I gave it credit for, Cohen is a good songwriter and his voice is warm. There are a handful of really good songs, with Teachers being phenomenal. It is still a bit too slow paced for me to sit through the whole 41 minutes, but I will be adding a few of these songs to my streaming playlist.
Suzanne // 3.5/5
A readily identifiable voice, almost hypnotic. Easy going, pleasant, poetic. Excellent lyrics. Very stylistic. Not my style but my rating is my personal preference and not at all a reflection of the quality of the work, especially for its time.
Too religiousy for me
Very good album by Mr Cohen. So warm.
I'm sure it hit different in its time but this just doesn't do much for me.
I love Leonard. He makes me want to blow my brains out
3,5
- I enjoyed this - very chill vibe - would listen again
Warm vocals and chill guitar but most songs are extremely similar in sound and content. Highlights: "The Stranger Song", "So Long, Marianne", "Stories of the Street"
Listening to Leonard Cohen gives you the feeling as if the guy was born a thirty-year-old directly from the gutters of a big city, which is partly true, as the guy was "reborn" a singer from the life of a poet. Anyway, Songs of Leonard Cohen is a good album by a man who clearly has a lot of experience dealing with heartbreak, loneliness, and existing in a world that doesn't tolerate those without nerves of steel and those who don't learn from their mistakes. I could go into each song individually because the quality of each one begs the listener to delve deeper into the matter, but I'll refrain from doing so. Instead, I'll leave you with this: none of the ten songs overstay their welcome, all of the songs are at least worthy of a listen and are more than just poetry, but damn good pop songs, and more than half are monolithic songwriting achievements by which all songwriting should be measured. That should be enough to warrant a listen, right?
Sounds ok, but this genre is not a thing i can dig
leo, there's more pretty girls than one
Suzanne — Im not super sure I’d vibe with this 60s album.. Master Song — I feel quite iffy on it Winter Lady — maybr im just sad but this song isnt that bad The Stranger Song — okay I’m not living for the folk nor the religious themes unfortunately Sisters of Mercy — i could’ve sworn that i didn’t check the box for folk and country So Long, Marianne — oh em gee women i like women Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye — Stories of the Street — it was okay Teachers — this one was pretty alright too One of Us Cannot Be Wrong — The yelling hello 😭
Elegant and haunting. Gorgeous arrangements.
Good and pleasant album with few hiccups. Solid 3/5.
songs of love and hate ist ausreichend
Amazing. No notes.
Sad. Beautiful acoustic guitar depresses me infinitely. Top song: hey no that’s no way to say goodbye. Good album wouldn’t listen again in full unless feeling very melancholy.
Love this album. Some amazing songs. Would give five stars but just lacks a little variety as several of the songs sound similar.
I don't know what playlist these songs could possibly be a part of
En av vår tids mest överskattade. Ett barn jämfört med Bob Dylans alster. Hursomhelst trallvänligt i moll.
Svag trea
Överjävligt vackert i all sin enkelhet. Elegant utan överdåd. Inte helt opåverkad av att de här låtarna präglade barndomen, inte minst ”Suzanne”, ”hey, thats no way to say goodbye” och ”so long, Marianne”. I synnerhet den sistnämnda är ju för fan otrolig! Nära till bölet när refrängkörerna kommer in.
Basic nice
melankolisk king
Börjar hu helt magiskt men blir lite enformigt i melodierna efter ett tag för att bli en femma.
# Album Name: Songs Of Leonard Cohen # Artist: Leonard Cohen # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: What a banger of an album. # Top Tunes: Suzanne / master song / Marrianne / Say goodbye / stories of the street / Teachers / cannot be wrong # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Schwieriger Fall. Er kann nicht singen und die Kinderchöre sind schlimm. Dann doch lieber das erste Album von Georges Moustaki (1969). Das ist natürlich nicht auf der EN/US Liste. Wird ja auf französisch besungen.
love me some leonard1
pretty
Loved the Gothic sound style, guitar felt kinda meh. First half of album was ok, really loved 'So long, Marianne,' 'Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye,' 'Stories of the Street,' and 'One of Us Cannot Be Wrong.'
Derivative
Love his voice. This was my first time really diving into Leonard, after reading about him for years. Like a mix of Bob Dylan and Lou Reed.
Very pretty album, I love the ballad focus and the soft guitars. The audio equipment used adds to it further and it just has a homely sound and vibe. Very good album 4/5
An amazing album. Not a single song on here not worth listening to. Easily one of Cohen's best albums. Favorite Songs: Suzanne, Master Song, So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye
Aye this was excellent
Fantastic
Sleepy good
It's very good
Ok. At first I thought it was too slow for my, but after becoming a bit slow myself, it is very beautiful.
Great album. He started of writing poetry and his songs are of that type. Some sung better by others mind
Feared I wouldn’t like this but was pleasantly surprised. It was actually very good. Ok so a couple of tracks in I thought it was all going to be the same and rather dull but then it changed and picked up a bit and became more listenable. After a couple of listens it had really grown on me. Not too dissimilar to Bob Dylan in places but without all the annoying parts!
There is something endearing about Cohen with his haunting vocals and tight songwriting. I spent most of my time listening to this thinking I recognise the songs but don’t know where from. I guess he is often imitated? Ultimately the songs and album don’t really get going and have limited appeal.
Well here’s a turn up for the books. I’ve really disliked his previous 2 albums we’ve had on the list. This one is a beauty though. I can therefore draw 2 conclusions. 1) he actively taught himself to sing worse over time, 2) his Dylan phase wore off quickly.
Hardly world changing
Nothing objectionable. Boring in general.
When I was younger, this was music to kill yourself by or watch Eastenders! Now I am older and wiser I appreciate the tone and lyrics much more. Suzanne and Hey that's no way to say goodbye are classics. Cool album!
Piękne. 9/10 Ulubiona piosenka: Sisters of Mercy
I think I hear a fog horn: "Boooooooooring!"
Se siente como un recuerdo.
Es mejor que el anterior, la calma, el ritmo suave, las voces femininas como banda sonora y el vocal primero es dorado.
Despues de una escucha me quede con la sensacion que hay mas... Lo voy a volver a escuchar y voy a buscar las letras.
Almost perfect. The lo-fi recording gives the album gravitas. The lyrics tell detailed stories. A master poet and songwriter. I don't think he ever surpassed this debut.
It's nice...
mme, ni fu ni fa
Nah
-the songs are nice.. i could feel my attention wandering away from it at times. not sure if it was because of me or the album. i love cohen's lyrics, and i like his minimalist approach to music, but sometimes it doesn't quite land for me.
Like
Boy have I been waiting for the day I would get to Leonard Cohen and his 1967 all timer debut, Songs of Leonard Cohen. If it wasn't clear by a lot of my listens late last year and still going into this year, Folk as a whole has grown on me so much and has easily became one of my favorite genres to hear. Whether it is more modern acts like Alex G and Jessica Pratt or more legacy acts like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, it is a timeless sound that even still today feels so old and yet so new because of the simplicity of the sounds involved. Leonard's vocals, while not amazing like some singers of his time, is so bold and memorable even with the more rough edge he brings. It feels so down to earth and human in a relatable way, almost like sitting down and talking to your grandpa and hearing the world from his rough yet mature perspective. Listening to this album feels like opening a book and reading a collection of beautifully written poems all handcrafted with the finest of details while never oversharing or boring you with the details. The music here is gentle yet the words are like knives as they cut into you and leave some lasting scars to keep this album in your memory. It is a really beautiful piece and yet it is somehow his debut album?! I hope to get more into Leonard Cohen someday but for now I have to say this album is quite a bar to be set.
Han lyder godt i sine unge dage! Stemmen er mere min stil end det heeeelt bassede i moderne tid, og albummet lød bare rigtig fedt. En stor stor 3'er, lige på nippet, 3.5
WAUV Vanvittige tekster, sindssygt lækkert at lytte til. Unbelievable. Jeg er rigtig højt oppe her. Utroligt, at jeg ikke har haft et forhold til det her album før. Det er jeg virkelig træt af. 4.5
Overrated artist. I hate his voice and his slow monotonous songs.
hugely brave of me to relisten to this album - including So Long, Marianne and Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye! - for the first time since the dissolution of wonderful relationship with a massive LC fan. i'd hoped to be taken back to the wind-raked Minnesota winter when i first listened to this instead of to our sunny Auckland kitchen, making dinner together, but oh well. it's still nice to be wrapped in Cohen's poetry, and to listen to this so close to You Want It Darker. it made me more able to locate in this severe, stentorian work the soul of quite a young man, someone with a whole lot to prove, who could imagine himself into a stage of life that's older and more experienced very well but hadn't actually reached it yet. i love the heart-on-sleeve simplicity of the two songs mentioned above, and the excoriating (self?) portraiture of The Stranger Song even more, which casts upon a male manipulator type a supernaturally evil shadow. it's all still wonderful, despite the circumstances and the perspective and the gorgeous weather outside, which admittedly might be coming together to bring my rating down a number. the kind of thing that could've made a legacy had he recorded it and promptly disappeared, but we're very lucky he was able to move on towards warmer, funnier, funkier provinces
This is so much better than Songs of Love and Hate, what the heck?! I took my time getting to this one because I didn't want to deal with it after how much I disliked the last album I got by him, but this is actually pretty good! It's 3.5, I'll probably round down because I don't think I'll come back to it much, but I could just as easily go up to 4. Also, what's up with the Adam Sandler picture on the cover, am I right?
really good lyrics, really nostalgic vibes
3/5 It has some raw moments where his voice can expand or twitch and it really reflects authenticity. It has thoughtful songwriting that I might have not been able to appreciate in just a day. This album might grow on me as I age. Simple, thoughtful. I really liked that song about Marianne.
I can hear poetry in the lyrics here, but the voice and arrangements are so sparse it’s almost cold. I suspect I’d like it more if I listened a few more times
The music is fine, with moments of brilliance here and there. Cohen's vocals are a little underwhelming for me. "So Long, Marianne" is the best song by a good bit. "Teachers" is the worst. I enjoyed the music well enough, but Cohen is a bit boring for me. It was alright, but certainly not enough to convert me.
Guy looked like Al Pacino
i tried hard to get myself to focus on the lyrics so i could at least give this a 2 but it's so hard when the performance is this monotonous and devoid of emotion. the greatest lyricist in the world couldn't get me to care about his music when it sounds like the audio version of stale bread crusts fave track: so long, marianne
I really thought I would enjoy folk music more than this project is showing me I do. This is so fucking boring.
Ties with Simon & Garfunkel as the worst album so far. So corny.
8/10 Favorite: Suzanne
Pretty great songwriting- not a whole lot melodically so I am kind of uninterested overall, but you'd be a fool to deny he was a talented lyricist and guitarist.
2.5
Content d’écouter un album de Cohen C’est bien mais ça me retourne pas
What a beautiful album. Well written (no surpised there with Cohen) and some intricate ear catching guitar playing. "Suzanne" is incredible
I got Songs of Love and Hate bit as this is his first album I listened to it first. I kinda get the hype, Ibreally like the minimalist approach with guitar and vocals, and the guitarbplaying os quite good. Bit obviously Cohen's forte is on his lyrics which are really good, although his voice and delivery although part of his charm, do get in the way. I can see myself coming back to this every now and then. 4/5
8/10
Not the voice of Leonard I'm used to, but the beauty and class is incomparable
Most albums I give 5s to are 4.5s. This one is 10.
Not an album I'd return to in a hurry. Mundane and fairly depressing.
It was alright. There was a couple good songs I forgot the names of. Overall, I would give it a 3.5/5!
j'aime quand on me raconte des histoires avec une voix suave
Pretty, calm, a bit pretentious. Still, nice to have on in the background while working. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: Suzanne
Tiene un estilo muy marcado, tenés que estar de humor. Pero si lo disfruté (al menos esta vez)
melodic, very nice to listen to while getting ready for bed. i havent paid too much attention to the lyrics which is a bummer bc hes a story teller. next time i will :)
Made me sleepy. I was a tad bored. Leonard isn't for me. I could definitely see this being part of a soundtrack for an indie film, though (the question is: 'would I watch it?' probably once).
Still, eindringlich, poetisch bis ins Mark. Cohens tiefe, brüchige Stimme trägt jede Zeile wie ein Gebet, die Arrangements bleiben bewusst schlicht und lassen seinen Texten Raum zu leuchten. „Suzanne“ ist reine lyrische Magie, „So Long, Marianne“ ein warmes, menschliches Liebeslied, und „Sisters of Mercy“ ein tröstender Klassiker, der bis heute wirkt. Das Album ist geschlossen, zeitlos und bereits ein voll ausgeformtes Statement eines großen Songwriters.
I did think it this was pretty dull, as with all the cohen we've had so far - perhaps with the exception of that synth album a while back - but his voice was the strongest i think its been on any of the albums. So while not on the pony express, I was pleasantly impressed here. So long marianne was my highlight track
Fifth Leonard cohen we’ve had. Either we’ve had these songs before in a live album or all his stuff literally does all sound the same. I’ve turned the corner on it now though, 2024 I called him a one trick pony and now I’m on the pony express.
I listened to most of it. Not something I would ever run out and buy. Had to listen to some Rolling Stones to get me moving again.
I love it so cute
3/5
It has so many of his classics, pure poetry 5/5
unfortunate reality is I constantly confuse this man with Lynard Skynyrd Went in only knowing Suzanne. I’m enjoying this, mellow easy, likely never to be listened to again 😂 Oh he's canadian! Omg he went to McGill 💀 Okay English major poet king becoming a musician in his 30s! I was handsome l was strong I knew the words of every song "Did my singing please you?" "No, the words you sang were wrong" HA folk music is funny Listening to some later songs and sir where did this deep af voice come from
This was a nice sight to see when it popped up, used to be a comfort album for me. It’s a gorgeous, soothing and spiritual experience, Mr. Cohen is a true poet and really makes you think with every line. Bonus points for being his debut, it’s pretty rare to start with arguably your best. My standouts are Master Song, Sisters of Mercy, so long, Marianne and Teachers.
I get why some people would not enjoy this style, as it seems like he's just reading a book. But I think his words hold a deeper meaning than just blatantly reading them.
The man speaks the words in a very sad voice, accompanied by sad music.
His voice and deadpan delivery are an acquired taste, but there is something to these songs that draws you in.
its so calming... i love it so much :)
Good
Favorite songs: Suzanne, The Stranger Song, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye, Stories of the Street, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong Like Dylan I think sometimes I prefer other people's versions of his songs.
Calm nice wow
Wasn't expecting to like this album. But I listened to it at home on a rainy morning which I think added to the vibe. I would out three stars but the surprise that I enjoyed it bumps it up.
Equal parts haunting and pleasant, oddly enough. Definitely unique but not sure I would revisit.
I generally don't listen to too much singer/songwriter stuff. I generally appreciated the songs with a bit more instrumentation. So Long, Marianne was my favorite.
Album No. 210 on my list. Leonard Cohen has always been one of these artists of which I kinda new they were important and highly influential. But I have to admit that I've rarely listened to his music so far. "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" was my first full album of his, and I was kinda curious about what kind of music he had done exactly. "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" is pretty much what I expected. He really does live up to his reputation as a great poet, even though I think that the music accompanying this poetry is rather bland. Not at all bad, actually, but it's really just a backdrop for the lyrics. The album is actually a collection of poems, ballads, little epics, with some laid back, gentle music in the background. Mostly love songs, or rather, well, love poems with a musical supplement. I'll add "Suzanne", "Winter Lady", and "So Long, Marianne" to my playlist. In the end, I really value the great lyrics somewhat more than the "just" decent music. I'll give it three stars, although four would also have been an acceptable rating for me. 3/5 stars.
music is love
....
best album ever best lyrics ever leonard cohen im in you
Loved it
A solid album. Not as good as Songs of Love and Hate, but a solid album. As with most Cohen songs, the songwriting is better than the performance, but he holds his own.
Mooie vertelling, wel iets te christelijk
I cried in the boole (unknown if related)
Boring ahh album, bro just spoke over a melody. First rap album? Also how many bihhhs did this guy have?? About 40 songs about different women
In the late 90s, I moved, to a new city by myself, to a house-share full of strangers, thinking it would be a great way to embrace a fresh start. I ended up spending an awful lot of time sitting by myself in my room, drinking too much and listening to the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. And it was great. Although it did actually end up being the new start I was looking for, for a while there, I was happy to wallow in this music, and listening again now takes me right back there. And I think that's what you need with music like this - you need something to hang it on. In isolation, I suspect it's a rather hard listen but it soundtracked a few pivotal months for me - it was wonderful company then, and it's wonderful company now.
I am afraid I just don't get the paroxysms of fervour the Leonard Cohen seems to inspire. Certainly some great lyrical twists and turns and the melancholy sound and delivery is always entertaining. So Long, Marianne and That's No Way to Say Goodbye are standouts for me, but I can't get all hot under the collar about the album.
Classic folk, ok
Not my type of music, but is good.
It's okay. I don't think I was feeling it. There's a lot of emotion in it but it felt too tame for me.
His voice is so calming, and feels almost nostalgic?
Pas objective parce que grosse attache émotionnelle à 4 titres mais vraiment un chouette album dont j'aime bien la vibe ballade médiévale
Pas désagréable mais assez osef, hormis "So Long, Marianne" qui sort un peu du lot. Sûrement une tuerie pour qui aime la poésie anglophone (pas moi).
Always been a fan of this poet,singer/songwriter.
Wistful
For me, when his songs are satisfying musically as well as lyrically they're mind-blowing, but when they're just streams of poetry backed by guitar, not so much so. Pretty impressive for a debut album though.
(5/7) as musical as speaking can get
only got halfway through. great music but it is not happy. 3/5 cause that's all the effort i'm putting in this. i may relisten to the whole thing later
sehr angenehm, schöne gitarre, ruhige stimme. hab nicht so viel auf den text geachtet aber is sicher auch ganz gut. sehr angenehm.
On another of his albums in the 1001 I referred to him as being obviously an acquired taste. This album reinforces that opinion.
isnt my type
meh
Like Bob Dylan but 1000% better. This dude is quite the storyteller. Very very peaceful music, interesting lyrics, and massively solid for a debut. Maybe it's a bit simple and sparse, but for 1967 I really can't complain. - Suzanne - Winter Lady - The Stranger Song - So Long, Marianne - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye
Having lived in Montreal where his face adorns the side of a building I’m predisposed to liking Leonard Cohen and I am perfectly content with that. His lyrics are devine, but the guitar and voice are fairly simple. Faves on this album are of course “Suzanne” and “that’s no way to say Goodbye”
I’m not really into fault but it was OK I’ll give it like a three.
didn't realise I was such a big fan of when lyrics have religious imagery
Not a fan of later cohen but this one is classic
3.5
7.5/10
porra eu tenho um ex-sogro que colocava esse no carro toda vez que eu tinha que pegar uma carona particularmente eu não pego o trabalho geral do cohen, mas esse álbum eu gosto bem, é a medida certa de instrumentos animadinhos com letras soturnas
pior que o vozerão nem tinha se formado como uma característica dele ainda nesse né mas eh decente. folkzim, os instrumento tranquilim e o mano soltando as letra mais baixo astral do mundo. apesar de não ser mto minha pira, eu achei bacana até
I don't know if I've ever heard any of Leonard Cohen's music, but this was very good. He has a beautiful voice and a lot of talent for composition. This was Another campfire storyteller type of album. It seems that his signature on the acoustic guitar is that sextuplet (?) pattern from songs like "the stranger song." The somber songs were very compelling, but my favorites were those in a major key, especially "so Long Marianne" and "hey, that's no way to say goodbye." the female vocalist accompaniment was also one of my favorite things about this album. on a couple tracks there was a stringed instrument that played countermelody to his singing, and I was wondering if that was just another guitar or some kind of world instrument. It's hard for me to rate something like this because it's pretty minimalistic, but it did hit a lot of the right notes for me so I'm stuck between three or four.
He sure says a lot of words. And plays a lot of guitar. The Canadian Bob Dylan. But not as good. To be a fair judge, I'd have to stop everything else and sit and listen to all those words, which I'm not inclined to do. I didn't hate this, not at all. Between a 3 and a 4. "Suzanne" I already knew, and it's a good one. I'd do a 3.5, but I'm struggling to give it a 4. So, 3 it is. Sorry, Leonard. I'm not your best audience.
I think his song writing is lost on me. It seems like good poetry but I can't follow it on the first listen so it doesn't do much. I don't like how he goes back and forth between two chords a lot. . . . lazy I like the one man band sound on "Sisters of Mercy" Maybe I'm just not in generous mood, but I think he would have been better as a poet: I don't care for these songs
not bad but wont remember or revisit
Couldn’t get into it, found his voice too droney
The vocals are very Dillonesque, but I prefer Dillon. This was a bit too folksy-treacle for me.
A bit biased, but I love Leonard Cohen.
Someone called Leonard Cohen the Shakespeare of pop music, and at first glance that sounds fitting. However, I’m not aware of whether Shakespeare himself always played the leading roles in his plays. On his debut album *Songs of...*, Leonard Cohen focused almost exclusively on writing the lyrics. Those lyrics, however, actually deserved better music—and that music, in turn, deserved a better voice. Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon I’ve observed in many singer-songwriters in this project. It’s a shame—there could be so many better albums out there.
One of my musical idioms is that I'm not a lyrics guy but realize their power. To me, Voice and Lyrics are 2 intruments just like a songs guitar, bass, drums, keys, etc. You don't have to have lyrics & you don't have to understand them. BUT, lyrics have the most power over any other instrument when done correctly. This album is a 0.0 on music, voice, instruments, skill, & originality, but (probably) a 10.0 on lyrics. I'm sure this would be rated differently if I listened to it 10 times, but don't have that in me. You can see his greatness but more as a poet imo.
Need to revisit this one in December by a fireplace
Breaks the cardinal sin of "music shouldn't be boring" One guy only singing two notes with a guitar
Nothing but love.
An enjoyable folky album that goes to capture depth of human feeling rather than make political statements and such. Cohen can paint a picture with his words and round out the vibe with the vocal sound and music. Every song probably has something worthwhile in it, though this is an album I think needs to grow on someone. Stuck between a 3 and 4, my initial listen seemed a clear 3 but my appreciation had grown by the end of the day. I’ll still stay there for now, but could revisit.
Very calm vocals, a relaxing musical atmosphere, and a notable variety of instruments and sounds.
overall liked it, nice change of pace from previous albums. def need to relisten to it again sometime later. liked suzanne and winter lady
the guitar was tranquil, the lyrics were lovely, no complaints, def not a 4 though
It was fine Fav song: Teachers
no hallelujah 0/10
album #19 I like Leonard Cohen:) ꩜ average track rating: 0.0/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): ꩜ least favourite track(s): ꩜ album rating: ★★★☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,070 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 9 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 3 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 14
25 - Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen - Rating = 1 Folky, soft vocals with some “oooh” soft backing… this is Americana folk, 60’s jangle… um… I’m not getting more than 30 seconds into any of these songs… slow, folk, ramble… The two starred songs are just boring… no.
Indie before indie. Perfect for a soft, rainy morning tho no one song stood out to me 2/5
I have no idea why people like this crap. He sounds like a traveling minstrel. So f-ing boring.
Enjoyable and very peaceful, solid listen but would not sought it out.
He’s got poetry in him
Not sure what you have to be on to make this something you want to listen to.
Lowkey majestic sounding
Og Midwest emo
Very good album
Great album, lots of classic songs on here. Very peaceful
Leonard Cohen's debut features the trademarks that would be common on this albums. The music is minimal, with repeated melodies backing the songs with little interruption. The trumpet on "Master Song" is subtle but stands out due to the lack of such flourishes on other songs. The lyrics are detailed and evocative, coming across as poetry set over music. That density makes me feel this would work better as poetry than music. The lyrics are great, but so complex that digesting everything while listening is difficult; I'd rather read these words and have time to let them sink in. "Suzanne," especially the second verse, is beautiful, and the backing vocals on "So Long, Marianne" are also a highlight. But too much of the rest sounds too similar and slight.
I think I've literally gone through Leonard Cohen's discography in reverse chronological order thanks to this list. I haven't been super high on what I've heard from him so far, but maybe his debut album will change my tune! The pieces are put in place here; intimate arrangements, poetic delivery, a calming and melancholic sound. Not always my cup of tea, but I've heard more than enough Leonard Cohen to at least appreciate his craft. Within the context of Cohen's overall discography, this is a quality debut.
Some of the best song writing ever
Leonard’s got bars
This just didn't really make me feel much of anything
263/1001 Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ This may not have been as immediate as As You Want It Darker, however I did like this a lot. It's far more stripped back and obviously Suzanne and So Long, Marianne are great tracks. A revisit and deeper dive is in order.
Has to be one of history's best debuts. 'One of us Cannot be Wrong' will forever be in my top 10 songs. Even Lou Reed admitted that Len reached song writing nirvana on that one. I stand by my previous assertion that there are too many Cohens on this list.
Apparently, folk is a genre I don't like. Why does it always sound like drunken men waxing poetic about nothing?
A really decent album. Nice debut. Decent 3
Some fab chord progressions but overall not my favorite.
I've only heard his later stuff, so I found it interesting how his voice has changed over the years and how he built his music around the sound of his voice.
Otro álbum para pasarla chill
Obviously a very talented storyteller and lyricist, but musically this puts me to sleep. I can respect the talent but I won't be putting this on again.
First Leonard Cohen album with some of his best songs