Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Heard before?:✔️ Will listen again?:✔️ 4.5

Quite liked it

Тихий, камерный и меланхоличный альбом, в котором мрачная лирика постоянно уравновешивается теплом, мягкостью и едва заметным ощущением света.

snooze music. made me feel sad in the bones - it gets a 4 for being able to affect me so deeply even though it was quite unpleasant. undeniably poetry though.

Love that dude's songs

This really, truly is one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time. It feels so ghostly and haunted with its subtle incorporation of choirs and strings, while still remaining firmly grounded by Leonard's voice and guitar. A masterclass in how to write contemporary folk songs.

so sweet 4.5

Lovely acoustic.

None of the songs are going to be added to any of my playlists, but there is a certain vibe that I quite enjoyed. 4/5

Such a beautiful and soothing voice

Iconic - some songs a bit more hit or miss than the stand outs

Bob dylan if he was good

This is one i’m almost positive will grow on me the more i listen, but i did really get a good amount out of this. I’d heard So Long, Marianne before but i can’t for the life of me remember where. 3 albums in and i think i really like Leonard Cohen y’all.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Cohen, but I don't think he needed 4 albums included on this list. However, this and You Want It Darker are the 2 I would pick as they are so distinctly different but both display his talent for such tender emotional delivery and writing. I have to shoutout the mixing and instrumentation on this one, it is so supremely tasteful and perfectly suited for the lyrical and vocal style. They seriously enhance the feel of this album without getting in the way (the muted trumpet of Master Song, the ethereal harp of Winter Lady, the circling background vocals of One of Us Cannot Be Wrong). It’s very authentic and raw and definitely album people should hear before they die.

Songs of Leonard Cohen is a landmark debut because it introduced an artistic voice that was already unusually mature, intimate, and unsettling. It is not a perfect album, and its narrow mood and occasional musical stiffness keep it below the absolute top tier. But its strongest songs are extraordinary, and its influence is not based on mythology alone. This is a record that changed what a singer-songwriter could sound like: less entertainer, less confessor, more haunted literary presence.

sizo tekstovi ali bas mi je prijalo u setnji sa zucom

A dark album but really beautiful and moving. Easily my favourite of the Cohen albums that have come up so far

Great songs and they sound "modern-ish" (for folk music anyway) while being almost 60 years old.

Leonard cohen is life changing. His words, his monotone delivery and his familiar repetitive patterns of music. Fall into this like you would an old friend, share some tears of loss and joy, reflect with it and let the melodies and lyrics sit with you.

Took a bit to get hooked, but I really got into this by the end! It’s got some vivid and unsettling imagery. I don’t think I gave him enough props before I started the 1001 project. Glad I had a reason to put this on today!!!

Pretty stunning lyrics, and several songs stood out musically to me. Stands out amid other music of this era. I look forward to revising this one!

Love Leonard Cohen, but this one isn’t my favourite. The lyrical/poetic quality is there, but I think his later work gets more melodic and musical. Some of these songs sound like poems set to music, and kind of run together in terms of the sound. Farewell Marianne is a standout to me though- fantastic melody, great song!

This is one of those albums my dad owned, but he only ever played "Suzanne". Which was a fine song, but it never struck me enough to want to play the rest of the album myself. But I finally did, about 30 years later. My favorites are the darker and the kind of cryptic songs like "Master Song" and "The Stranger Song", but really, I enjoy the album as a whole. This is the kind of folk I can get behind.

LOVED this. faves were ‘suzanne’ and ‘so long, marianne’

And so Leonard Cohen concedes to joining the music biz and his journey begins with a debut album just as cryptic and beguiling as those that would come to follow it. Due to mundane circumstances, my listens this time were not as engaged as I would prefer. As a result, on beginning writing, I could only conceive of reviewing the album on sonic aesthetic terms. From my point of view, this is not ideal when the subject is Leonard Cohen. What I did manage to do though just before beginning this, was to read the lyrics. I now realise this is a rather legitimate approach, Cohen considering himself a poet set to music; I’ve got the vibe and atmosphere sonically and been suitably embraced by the sparse arrangements and Cohen’s semi spoken lilt. Then I have examined the poetry. My next realisation was that even by separating the words as their own experience, I am probably no closer to any firm understanding of their true meaning. This is fine. It’s poetry; mystery, layers and ambiguity are its prerogative, its bread and butter even. If the meanings of these words were meant to be clear, then I wouldn’t need to be pondering them. Instead this poetry has been pored over for almost 60 years. People still discuss and debate, striving for the true meaning. For me this has been an unusual review to write, but the bottom line is I find great joy in listening to all the Leonard Cohen albums I own and I get more from them with every listen, this being no exception. Soon, I will hopefully get the opportunity to give this a “deep” listen; I don’t expect to unlock a deeper understanding, but actually writing this review might actually allow me deeper enjoyment.

Dope

bueno pero no de mi agrado

I liked this a lot. I think I am a Leonard Cohen fan. This is good stuff.

Leonard Cohen's music is like poetry. It's crazy how good and well-rounded is song-writing is even on his first album. This is a folk/singer-songwriter classic but somehow feels so ahead of its time too. The songs are really timeless and there is so much to discover throughout. I wish there was a bit more variation in them, but so good either way. Top Songs: Suzanne, Master Song, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Sehr ruhige Musik fast nur mit Gitarre. Sehr entspannend

Today was an unusually cool and muggy morning; I took a detour from my usual walking path to see the elephant tree. I'm still surprised at just how much less gruff and gravelly Cohen's voice is here in comparison to how it will sound later in his life. There's even sparser instrumentation here than on Songs From A Room, almost just his guitar and his voice with some occasional supporting choir vocals. As always, there is such beautiful poetry in his lyricism, with words so captivating and moving I wound up trying to sing along with songs I was hearing for the first time right then and there, and usually I could pull it off. There's also a particularly wonderful moment of additional instrumentation with what sounds like a marching band drum on So Long, Marianne, which serves as a powerful moment on the album; any time those additional musical elements crop up, they hit incredibly hard. There is a bit of a lack of progression on some of these songs, leaving them feeling a bit listeless and repetitive despite their beauty. I'm glad that this is a songwriting quirk Cohen would go on to work out as soon as his very next album. Highlights: Suzanne, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye, Stories of the Street, Teachers, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

After suffering through two later Cohen albums we finally reach the pristine source, before his voice was ruined by smoking and he unwisely swapped out his hypnotic guitar for cheap keyboards. These more spartan arrangements let the poetry of the lyrics shine through.

A poet who can't sing, but sure can write some incredible songs. He would later come into his own as a performer -- I saw him in 2012 and he sang and danced for four hours with only one 5 minute break between two sets, then took three encores with no breaks, at 78 years old. Amazing!

We love Leonard but this does get samey after a while

A great collection of folk songs. While i do prefer you want it darker, it's still a solid debut album full of fantastic tracks in it.

I wish every track on this debut was as good as Suzanne, but I don't think such an album can even exist. Cohen comes pretty close a couple of times, though, and that's honestly a marvel. I'm not in love with every track on the album, a couple of them do become a bit too deadpan for my taste, but it's an overall beautiful set of songs. The guitar brings an unique sense of serenity and the lyrics speak for themselves, just wonderful. The sparse moments of backing vocals bring freshness and depth to the songs. Cohen's somewhat one-dimensional delivery and range are an acquired taste, but I consider them integral to his work, especially in contrast to the music and the lyrics. I think a better singer would ruin, or at least diminish, this album. That would be a shame, as this is an essential listen. Favourite track: Suzanne

Obvs he’s amazing but this album made me too sad

I did not expect to like this as much as I did. I've never listened to Leonard Cohen before. I feel like I need to listen to it 100 more times to get everything out of it!

issuing a disclaimer before my review: i’ve decided to be more stingy with my fives, coat of many colors and electric warrior are ACTUALLY a 4 for me . and I’m going to save my fives for albums that really stir me. melodic and beautiful, the lyrics are poetry and i’m not always like always sure what’s going on like. narrative wise but it reminds me of folk tales and obv very heavy with biblical references the background vocals on so long, Marianne are so lovely when they come in after “and the angels forget to pray for us” chefs kisssss i love in a couple of songs how the blonde woman is referred to as a storm. blondes have more fun joke here coconut rice with egg favorites: suzanne, the stranger song, hey that’s no way to say goodbye

I’m biased as a Leonard Cohen fan. In my opinion, no one crafted songs as well as he did in this era.

Brilliant songwriting, probably some of the best I’ve heard. I had to actively listen to each track to fully appreciate it. Still not sure what I think of Cohen’s vocals, but they were growing on me by the end. Definitely adding this one to my regular rotation.

I have not heard this one but I'm a big Leonard Cohen fan so Looking forward to it. Loved it his lyrics make me want to keep listening so well written

Lyrics are important, but sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they are just the vehicle for the groove and the vibe of the song. However, here lyrics are key as the music and voice are so spare. And, oh what lyrics. Glimpses of the sublime, that tell us universal truths about love, loss and sacrifice. Suzanne May singly be one of the greatest songs ever

I found this set of poetry set to music both relaxing and mentally stimulating. A few songs don't work as well for me, but I'd definitely listen to the whole thing again. Didn't hit me quite the same as You Want It Darker, but I'm glad to hear more of Cohen's music.

Cohen picked up the ball Dylan set down and ran in an entirely new direction, mixing his own sense of poetry with plain, simple instrumentation. It's a heady mix, and Cohen isn't the most skilled musician yet so it's also pretty similar across the board. But the songs are deeply intoxicating and alluring, threatening to spiral out of control (as indeed Cohen does purposefully near the end of the album). It's not perfect but it's a strong record and one worthy of being here.

I'm from Belgium. Well 4 songs of this album (So Long, Marianne, Suzanne, Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye and Sisters Of Mercy) entered the Classics 1000 (Radio 1). As of today (or this year) two of them are still in the list (So Long, Marianne and Suzanne). I'm not familiar with any of Cohen his albums but I understand why. This album doesn't contain any bad song or any boring song. Really enjoyed listening to this album. I think i'm going to explore more of his albums very soon. 4/5

Ballads that grab you by the heart and don't let go. So beautifully soothing. Legendary voice too.

Cohenmys

I liked this much more than the darker album. Very pleasant and good calming vibes. 7/10

I've never really listened to Leonard Cohen. Seems to be out of the NYC/Simon and Garfunkel type folk school, although he strums more than fingerpicks. I find his songs to be a bit boring. So Long Marianne is his best here.

Leuk

Like Dylan, only much better. The lyrics are still mysterious, but Cohen's words hit much harder for me personally. The meat of this record is Cohen delivering his poetry in speak-sing manner with some acoustic guitar and some minimal strings yet it is so haunting and beautiful. "Sisters Of Mercy" inspired the band of the same name, so I'm going to consider this an early goth record. I'm only half-joking with that statement, as the dark feeling this record creates clearly influenced that movement despite the genre differences. There isn't much variety on here, but the vibe it creates is immaculate. Don't let the album cover that makes Cohen look like a math teacher fool you, this record is brilliant!

I wouldn’t appreciate back then, at least I do now.

Nothing I could have appreciated back then, but I can now.

There is obviously a lot of art here, but it doesn't reach any strong heights. It's just consistently paced with some great poetry. I do think it pushed folk and lyricism for the time, but his later work is where he actually found the power of his voice, style, and created albums that stand up better today.

That voice and the poetry. Suzanne is just a classic. Beautiful. As for the rest of the album, it’s all there. But I don’t think it’s nearly Cohen’s best. Drags a little. But again, still beautiful music.

A dark album but really beautiful and moving. Easily my favourite of the Cohen albums that have come up so far

Great songs. I do like this album, and Cohen got even better and better with time.

Opnieuw mooi!!

No private session used for Spotify. This album was mellow gold and vintage Cohen. Sometimes when I listen to Cohen I don't get the hype, but with this one I do.

Kind of actually enjoyed his vibe, maybe a better Bob Dylan in my eyes if that was possible

The masterpiece of the Canadian lyricist, which is not grandiose either in lyrics or in musical complexity, but offers a great insight into young Cohen's state of mind. The arrangements are nothing extraordinary and his voice is not his forte but despite all of that, the lush imagery of concrete images provides a very tangible and evocative experience. 9/10 [KEEP]

leonard cohen has a voice that can't be imitated. -1 point for some ehh lyrics

Folk music. Very Bob Dylan-esq.

Beautiful Love it, got into Leonard Cohen late, but never listened to this in one go. But I love it and it’ll go on rotation now Favourite track: so long, Marianne

I already loved Suzanne but I really enjoyed the whole album. I like an idiosyncratic voice and the poetry is very stirring.

I first heard part of this album when I went to see McCabe and Mrs. Miller. I was taken with how well his songs added to the darkness of the film. The poetry in the songs here is what I’m drawn to. It’s so insightful and beautiful. Great production, too.

Folk music up to this point was stupid for me, but the musical accompaniment and deep lyrics of this album amazed me, and made it clear that there is no need to bypass the side of this genre. I can’t say that after this, I’ll only listen to folk music, but I won’t ignore it anymore. I consider this album a wonderful opportunity to study this genre of music.

Mixed feelings about this one because of a past relationship that went sour; they introduced me to Cohen. I love the melodies but they are repetitive, essentially a base on which to build Cohen's poetry. A lot is lost without hearing the words, making this not so much a background album, but art to be experienced with one's whole focus. I'm a big fan of the sisters of Mercy, who took their name from the Leonard Cohen song, and the name of their early singles compilation, Some Girls Wander by Mistake (into the mess that scalpels make), from another song on this album. Reconciling Cohen and Eldritch's philosophies and music has been an interesting thought experiment.

Fav song: Suzanne

Resonant.

4.5/5

First song stands way above the rest! but I liked it

He can’t really sing . It’s just him and a guitar playing songs that all blend together . This just should not work but it does

another first listen. i dont think ive heard any of these songs before. another artist ive been meaning to check out for ages. really nice sound. i can see why this is so beloved. his voice is lovely. the lyrics are great as well. favorite tracks: Master Song, The Stranger Song, Sisters of Mercy, Teachers

I stopped my chores mid-way through track three and decided I'd give this a proper sat-down, distraction-free listen. The songs weave together images and phrases that circle round ideas and imagined objects rather than depict them directly. But the circling is hypnotic. Or, as my mum put it: "the thing about Leonard Cohen is he was clearly a shagger and a cunt." And the amazing thing about his music is that this does come across somehow, not in spite of but in harmony with the ethereal beauty of the lyrics and singing. Some of my favourite similes and metaphors from Cohen's dysfunctional and creative brain: "your love is some dust in an old man's cuff who is tapping his foot to a tune" "there's a highway that is curling up like smoke above his shoulder" "your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm" "I'm cold as a new razor blade"

Great album, great lyricist (although I don’t understand most of what he’s singing about)

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.

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

i could be rating this too highly?? i had it on in the background but i did really enjoy it

Beautiful and mellow!

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.

Qué simple! Qué bonito! Me guardo Suzanne, Master Song, Sisters of Mercy y One of us cannot be wrong.

Really great songwriting

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.

I didn't know what to expect but this was quite lovely and gentle.

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

Wow, very beautiful and subtle. I can tell this will be a grower that I'll probably like more on repeated listens

The lyrics are so good, even if the music is quite simplistic

Good songwriting.

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

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

“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

Beautiful lyricism throughout, nice melodies, simple but fulfilling sound yeah I liked it

Gorgeous for what it is, but best in small doses

It's a great record that makes me contemplate the end

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.

Lyrics are great, sounds very modern for its age.

That was great

Full of melancholy songs.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 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

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.

Leonard stands tall on this debut, weaving poems as songs over dynamic, purposeful instrumentation. These songs are dense, evocative, and beautifully put together.

Very good album by Mr Cohen. So warm.

I love Leonard. He makes me want to blow my brains out

- I enjoyed this - very chill vibe - would listen again

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?

leo, there's more pretty girls than one

Elegant and haunting. Gorgeous arrangements.

Love this album. Some amazing songs. Would give five stars but just lacks a little variety as several of the songs sound similar.

Börjar hu helt magiskt men blir lite enformigt i melodierna efter ett tag för att bli en femma.

love me some leonard1

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

Aye this was excellent

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!

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.

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

Despues de una escucha me quede con la sensacion que hay mas... Lo voy a volver a escuchar y voy a buscar las letras.

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.

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

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

really good lyrics, really nostalgic vibes

8/10 Favorite: Suzanne

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

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 :)

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 love it so cute

His voice and deadpan delivery are an acquired taste, but there is something to these songs that draws you in.

Good

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.

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.

Pas objective parce que grosse attache émotionnelle à 4 titres mais vraiment un chouette album dont j'aime bien la vibe ballade médiévale

Wistful

(5/7) as musical as speaking can get

sehr angenehm, schöne gitarre, ruhige stimme. hab nicht so viel auf den text geachtet aber is sicher auch ganz gut. sehr angenehm.

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”

didn't realise I was such a big fan of when lyrics have religious imagery

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

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.

A bit biased, but I love Leonard Cohen.

Nothing but love.

overall liked it, nice change of pace from previous albums. def need to relisten to it again sometime later. liked suzanne and winter lady

Lowkey majestic sounding

Og Midwest emo

Very good album

Great album, lots of classic songs on here. Very peaceful

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.

Leonard’s got bars

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.

First Leonard Cohen album with some of his best songs

I have that album. One of the great ones.

Déjà écouté avant. Top : Master Song Flop : One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

I own two Cohen albums and this is not one of them, so looking forward to listening. I can hear some Dylan in this music. Not sure if that's a cause or effect thing. I've listened to Sisters of Mercy since high school and somehow did not know until right this minute that their name came from a Leonard Cohen song! Christina Applegate's mother on backing vocals! I've realized lately how much my rating of these albums depends on my mood on whatever day I am listening. I could see myself giving this album a 3 some days, but today I was in the right mood for it. 4 stars and glad I was assigned this today.

7/10

I'm enjoying all the Leonard Cohen we get on this list, having never listened before this.

Is that Leonard cohen or Al Pacino? Great album.

Review - love the simple arrangements, love the very occasional addition of something other than voice+guitar, love the lyricism. Great album Rating - 9/10 Need to hear? YES

Дуже ніжна і приємна музика, 4,5

....

Nice and mellow.

Enjoyable

Ótimo álbum. Os vocais são o destaques em músicas com uma grande carga emocional. QoA Adonis New.

Not my favorite Leonard Cohen album, but it's still a great one. It's got some of his strongest songs from his entire catalog peppered throughout.

Great songwriting, a little fatiguing to take it all in one go, just dense and the melodies can be easy to tune out--a little bit of a dated perspective in some ways but several incredible songs and some absolutely gorgeous lines. Great instrumentation and recording quality. Suzanne - Absolutely insane--Gave me physical chills. Reminds me of The Lighthouse and Harold and Maude Master Song - fantastic arrangement, love the upright bass, tremolo guitar, muted trumpet with delay/reverb is insane!! "angel glands" Winter Lady - Lovely guitar tone/recording quality in general--reminds me of Haley's Martin through the OC818 + Focusrite ISA one Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye - lovely love long One of Us Cannot Be Wrong - amazing, hopelessness, mistrust, disappointment, hypocrisy. Awesome laying of final texture--flute(or recorder) layered with scream-singing which then pans away and across, whistling in the middle. mouth noises.

I've heard the name Leonard Cohen before, but I don't think I've ever listened to any of his music or can remember anything ever said about him, negative or positive. At first when I saw that the album was called "Songs of Leonard Cohen" I was little annoyed... 'cause yeah no shit dude. It felt a little pretentious, but now I don't care because it's so good. As I'm reading more and trying to understand who Leonard Cohen is, I'm understanding a lot of people view his music as highly intellectual and think of him as almost a musical Shakespeare. Some people even feel as if his music is unreachable because of how intellectual it feels. I'm getting a little bit of that sense, especially when I tried to understand "Master song". I clicked on one reddit post who was analyzing the song, ready for a quick, easy explanation, but was met by a longgggggggg, extensive one backed by a COLLEGE PROFESSOR. I did not know it went that deep. Maybe one day I'll be ready to go that deep into the lyricism, but today is not the day. I can appreciate it without understanding it completely. Towards the end of this album I got tired of looking into songs too deeply and my note taking faded off... * Susanne: a breathtaking song. it's beautifully melancholy and melancholy in its beauty. It's supposedly based off of a poem in a book of his. It certainly feels like a poem. * Master song: this one feels a little sinister in its tune. I like how it guides the listener through the story. I've read a little bit about it because I wasn't quite understanding it as I was listening. I'm pretty sure it's a love triangle between the master, the narrator, and the lady he is singing to. I'm also pretty sure this has connections with the father, son, and holy spirit, but I'm not going to delve into that today. * Winter lady: lovely, also similarly melancholy, "I know I'm not your lover" * The stranger song: the comparing a dealer to a lover is interesting. I think he's trying to say that he completely controls the lovers he takes on and is the sole decider whether they continue on the next day. He's always looking for the "best card" or true lover/soulmate. Another religious reference (joseph and the manger). It's a song of someone who is being tossed from person to person, while the narrator watches from a distance wishing they could love them because they know they'd love them right. * Sisters of mercy: this feels like a diss on someone. Is that the sound of velcro in the background? Whatever it is, I'm not a fan. "We were lovers like that and besides it would still be alright" * So long, Marianne: this song has a jaunty, sea-tune feel to it. "I forget to pray for the angels so the angels forget to pray for us". I was walking around when the woman's voice joined in and I got spooked because I thought it was a sound coming behind me... * Hey, that's no way to say goodbye: it's okayyyy * Stories of the street: I really like the melody of this one * Teachers: "teachers of my heart" is fun * One of us cannot be wrong: it okay

Now we are talkin. Not my favourite of him, though, but still extremely enjoyable.

The whole album feels like one flowing journey with Cohen's rich vocals and the simple melodies perfectly complementing the powerful lyrics. This album doesn't quite reach the very top tier for me, but it's certainly an essential piece of the Cohen catalog. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Suzanne - Sisters of Mercy - So Long, Marianne - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Ok. This is not for the casual listener...or for the casual listening. You need to be in the right mood. But, if you are, this turned out to be really great. Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy. Really good songs. At least 4 stars even if it didn't catch me in the first listen.

I don't usually go for a singer with an acoustic guitar and some strings and such in the background, but Leonard Cohen is an exception. His lyrics are so strange and absorbing, and the tone of his voice and the guitar give it a an appealing edginess that I wouldn't expect from material like this. I already knew a number of these songs, of course, but some I hadn't heard before. (Though I swear I know a different version of "Sisters of Mercy.") I don't think I'll go out of my way to hear the whole album again, but I'm glad to have heard it this evening.

No esta para nada, me gustan los álbumes con antigüedad. Lo guardaría para una noche de peda con amigos. 8.0

rlly rlly great :)

De la bonne dépression.

Een klassieker, en persoonlijk wel fan van Leonard Cohen. Zelf ben meer gecharmeerd qua stemgeluid van de latere doorleefde stem. Teksten met zoveel symboliek dat je van elk album een halve studie moet maken. Wat ik prettig vind is dat hij als singer song writer over de kleine persoonlijke dingen schrijft en minder de protest of koetjes en kalfjes schrijver is wat in die tijd misschien wat gangbaarder was. Het album is muziekaal heel minimalistisch waardoor dit album misschien wat tijdlozer is dan zijn latere mid carrière albums. Het gevaar is ook als je niet in de gelegenheid bent om dit album heel aandachtig te luisterren (vooral textueel) dat het een beetje saai kan worden en elk nummer in elkaar over kabbelt. Als met al iconisch album en voor mij persoonlijk op de 3e plek van beste cohen albums

I listened to the Songs of Leonard Cohen, and i admit most of the songs werent really for me. Even with that, I can clearly see how talented he is as a song writer and singer, and I don't like knocking things for not fitting in my personal taste. Looking it up, this was a very early career album for him, and id be curious to see how he evolves as an artist. if 1001 albums let me do half stars id do 3.5, but given they dont ill round up to 4/5

Love Leonard Cohen, very stark.

Oh yeah - he didn't always have that deep gravely voice!

I knew Leonard Cohen is one of the greats but I never realized HOW great he is. This album gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and I really enjoyed it. Not the biggest folk fan but I liked this album.

A breath of fresh air after a couple of mediocre albums.

Classic man and his guitar album. Canadian icon

Wanted to like this more, but still liked it a lot. Best song So Long Marianne

When I was a child, my parents had this album in their record collection. I remember the face of the sad boring looking man staring out at me while I grabbed something by ELO with a spaceship on the cover. This is about what you’d expect from Cohen. Poetic and literate and well worth the time.

Great songwriter and arrangements. His voice is very unique and I am assuming this is one that you either love or hate

Definitely one of his better albums and deserves to be on this list.

Beautiful

Some all time great lyrics, with some of his best songs. Musically it is a bit a monotonous, though there are some great moments

holds up to anything put out today.

Incredibly beautiful album! Can get slow and repetitive, but overall it's a really nice listen. Absolutely loved So Long, Marianne and Suzanne. The lyrics especially piqued my interest; they're just so poetic. Very close to a 5, but I think a 4 is fitting.

He certainly has a way with words. Understanding the inner workings of his mind is the effort of a lifetime but well worth it.

I really enjoyed this album. I wish it was a bit longer though.

4 Leonard Cohen is one of those artists who I always have felt I should like more than I do. Like, a depressing singer-songwriter? Sign me up. I do like Hallelujah… but prefer the Jeff Buckley version. And I am a fan of Chelsea Hotel #2… but think The Menzingers did it a touch better with Sun Hotel (specifically the demo version from On The Possible Past - give it a listen if you’re a fan of the song or the band). However, I feel like things finally clicked with this album. In my limited knowledge of the guy, it seems he may have gotten a bit more melodramatic as his career went on, and I think his blend of storytelling and songwriting pairs much better with the more stripped back approach to it here. Musically, it’s simple - one might even say a bit repetitive - but incredibly enchanting nonetheless. Although seemingly minimalist at surface level, there was something so calming and welcoming about each every one, despite the oftentimes depressing lyrics, like it’s inviting you in to commiserate fireside with a warm cup of coffee in hand… or maybe a bourbon (it’d be a beer for me, but something tells me that wasn’t Lenny boy’s vice). Case in point, I had an absolutely s#!tty day at work today and wanted to put something familiar on, but I played this instead in some weird sense of duty to this list, and still ultimately felt at ease after. It reminds me of a quote I read once (I think from a YouTube comment) - “It doesn’t put me in a good mood, but it makes me feel a lot better about being in a bad one”. True that. I wish I would have had time in the past day or so to dive more into the lyrics, as I’m sure there’s a lot to unpack here, but in some ways, I find the aura of mystery just as alluring. I’m really not confident what any one song here was about, but the hints of them that I picked up I found fascinating all the same, with Suzanne, Master Song, and The Stranger Song being ones I found the strongest in that regard. Really, I think it’s Leonard’s biggest strength - the guy is a brilliant storyteller that knows how to captivate with lyric alone. I mean, there’s certainly a reason Hallelujah has been covered eight million times. I will say this though, I remember being put off by his voice in what I’ve heard in the past, but I didn’t mind it here at all… largely because it sounds entirely different? Like, not Mariana Trench deep? I’m just going to assume this was either long before or very early on into a two-pack-a-day habit. As a big Conor Oberst and Bob Dylan fan, I had a feeling I would come around on this guy eventually (hell, Kurt Cobain even name-drops him on Pennyroyal Tea). I’m definitely looking forward to checking out more of Leonard’s work and seeing what else this particular album has to offer (probably lots).

I think that I should have enjoyed this album more than I did. The songs were varied and they told a story, but honestly, there wasn't a single song that really spoke to me. I heard it, I listened to it, and I can even mention a few of the titles of the songs, but if you were to ask me to hum or sing any or part of one of the songs on this album, I just couldn't do it. It was interesting hearing Leonard's voice before it became croaky.

This has good vibes. Like that "Bob Dylan" coffeeshop experience I had, but with more melody. I can't appreciate this album for what it is, because I can't follow the lyrics as they're sung. Also, the first song is romantic-themed, and is about captivating the woman's mind. Which is a total turn off for me and I hate it. Didn't finish listening but would recommend to someone else.

I actually really liked this. Leonard Cohen is one of those “he was HOW OLD?” Artists a you just kind of appreciate where they ended up. The poetry on this album is first class and honestly, even Dylan probably took notes.

Classy, thoughtful, uplifting

Melancholy songs which bring tears to the eyes

I'm generally not a fan of spoken word poetry masquerading as music but the fact that I really enjoyed this album goes to show just how good Cohen is.

Just like listening to an album by Bob Dylan for the first time, this one gives me the same feeling of listening to something great and timeless. And just like with Bob Dylan’s guitar playing, I’m super impressed by Leonard Cohen’s guitar playing. The arrangements are also quite good and the instrumentation is suitably subtle. When I listen to music I generally don’t latch onto words right away but for some reason I’m pretty entranced by Leonard Cohen’s words and singing style. I’ve really been missing out and need to go back and listen to all his albums!

LC's debut record, including some of his best songs. "Suzanne" is incredible, with poetic lyrics set against a tender guitar and a nice chord change. The other big hits off of this one are almost as good, and the deep cuts are nice. Not a bad Monday afternoon. FOUR STARS

Leonard Cohen is my undisputed goat

Excellent.

8/10 Favourite: So Long, Marianne Least Favourite: Winter Lady

What Cohen did here is so great, his songwriting is amazing and he is such a respectful artist.

Amazing lyrics, songs are good

Lovely. Top opener and nice vibe.

This is the fourth Cohen album I’ve listened to, and I think I’m starting to get it. There’s not much in the way of instrumentation – neither here nor on future records – which forces the listener to engage in the lyrics. Oh no. (I’m the victim here.) Normally I’m not one to pay attention to lyrics unless they’re heinously bad or life-changingly good. These ones are closer to the latter. I still didn't try to pick up the lyrics – sue me – but even without paying heed, something about the rhythm and eloquence calls to you. Reminds me of Dylan and (vaguely) of Waters. And to make it about gender inequality at the same time? Releasing “mainstream” music concerning institutional inequality in 1967 is no small feat, putting it up with VU&N (also in 1967) as one of the most daring musical releases in history. It’s no wonder this Cohen guy caught people’s attention. I feel that the music is clearer, more youthful, here than in later works. Maybe I’m crazy. But his vocal is closer to a bell-like McCartney timbre than the "whispery" huskiness he’d develop later. (Another reviewer complained that his voice sounded whispery on *this* album. To that, I ask: seriously? Did you even listen to a single song here?) Couple that with some great understated string arrangements and guitarwork, and you have a near-perfect background to a political statement. It's almost too simple, though. The chord progressions get a bit predictable and the lack of percussion and musical innovation makes this just a little more monotone than the listener would like. Exceptions include So Long Marianne, which has a wacky fiddle-folk thing going on, really separating it from the pack. The album opener, Suzanne, is another standout, mostly for its relatively catchy melody. The deranged singing at the end of One of Us Cannot Be Wrong is questionable. 4/5 Key tracks: Suzanne, Master Song, So Long Marianne

Super chill listen

I really like it. Suzanne made me cry and I don’t even know why. I think it’s biggest flaw is not every song hits that high for me. Master Song is just awful. Winter Lady is tragically beautiful. And on it goes with those peaks and valleys.

I love albums where the artist just tells a story and Leonard Cohen crushes it. 4/5

beautiful

Beautiful song writing and lovely melodies. It's an album to float away on!

Leonard Cohen rocks - watched McCabe and Mrs. Miller recently, didn't realize the soundtrack was essentially lifted out of this album. Nice

Leonard Cohen is great and this is a great album!

suzaaaaanne takes u doooown

somber and filled to the brim with lyrics. the instrumental composition was so alluring and it kept me in it, even when every song was about that one woman whose body was tea, but he couldn’t love her.

He can sing! Liked this one more.

Very folks. I miss the time when people could sing politically relevant songs without fear of being canceled. I really enjoyed his songs.

What a pleasant surprise. Most of the songs on this record still feel relevant sixty years later.

This is going to need multiple listens, but I was pretty blown away with the lyrical writing. I'm not sure I've listened to Leonard Cohen before? But it was a big surprise tbh. Definitely going to have a few more listen throughs, really good recommendation

Really struggled to rate this. I appreciated the artistry but 40 minutes of this was just So. Much.

Great voice. Sad, comforting songs.

excellent 4.5/5

enjoyed this a lot more than rest of his albums. idk this is just more engaging to listen to

#20/1001 🇨🇦🖤 Marvelous stuff. I bought this on reputation as a teenager and loved it. His poetry of love and heartbreak made a big impression on me at the time. It still sounds magnificent now with its simple instrumental backing. Best tracks: Suzanne, So Long Marianne, Teachers.

Quite the vibe

awsome vocals and enjoyable.

Some classic tracks

Je kiffe

Po czasie muszę napisać, że bardzo przyjemny, poetycki album, często słucham go do zasypiania, albo do pisania w pamiętniku, więc dość często go słucham.

Susanne

Classic Cohen. Favorite track: Suzanne Other picks: So long mariane, hey that’s no way to say goodbye

Hm, historically so mi bolj pri srcu coverji njegovih komadov (zadnjič od Buckleya "Hallelujah", recimo). Sm pa bila na njegovem koncertu, ko je bil prvič v Stožicah. Prvi, "Suzanne" je ful lep komad. "Master Song" in "The Stranger Song" sta mi bla med ljubšimi komadi, ki so sledili. "So Long, Marianne" nism slišala že leta, ampak sm ga v življenju že tokrat, da je prijetno familiar ga spet slišat. "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" sm slišala že miljonkrat, ampak prvič prav od Cohena, ker rada poslušam Father John Misty verzijo. FJM verzija je bl čustveno izvedena, itak je live posnetek tud. Na splošno mi je všeč. I guess so mi njegova besedila všečna v vsakem primeru, glasbene izvedbe so mi pa velikrat boljše s strani drugih izvajalcev.

3.5 stars This feels ahead of its time for 1967. Cohen’s distinctive phrasing, often more spoken than sung, makes it seem like he’s saying something important, even if it doesn’t immediately click. I respect the literary depth and understand his influence, especially knowing how much artists like Father John Misty admire him. Still, while I appreciate it intellectually, it didn’t fully draw me in emotionally. Favorite tracks: One of Us Cannot Be Wrong, So Long, Marianne

Este jueguito me va a sacar fanático de Cohen. 8/10

Dette er bra. Tidløst. Kritikk: lite variasjon, litt labert

Really good, love the voice, love most of the songs. Drifts a bit towards the end.

Beautiful record. I haven't spent enough time with Lenny. His fingerpicking is way more intricate than I expected. Of course a generational lyricist.

I’m biased, as this is the only LC album I’ve ever spent any real time with, but it’s definitely the best.

- soft and calm feeling - simple yet poetic - I get a “sit back and relax” feeling - simple track - very few instrumentals - “songs around a campfire” kind of vibes - the songs don’t look to reach some kind of goal or climax, the lyrics are intentional enough where that kind of thing isn’t necessary

Obviously a genius. Just not for me.

I’ve heard this album many times before, but it still took a couple of relistens before I felt ready to review. The entire album is hauntingly beautiful, in both the imagery evoked by the lyrics and the atmospheric arrangements. It’s clear that Cohen started out as a poet, and then slowly built up a sonic world to surround them. His performances are perfectly complemented by John Simon’s production: from the widget orchestra on “Sisters of Mercy” to the competing harmonies and discord of “So Long, Marianne.” An aside: John Simon remains inscrutable to me, and seems completely unsuited to the music he managed to elevate. He’s outspoken about his dislike for rock music, and I once saw him perform a cabaret-style set live, singing such lyrics as: “Like a monkey looking at a banana / That’s me in front of my pian-ah” An utter mystery perhaps best left unexplained. Alas I can’t justify five stars because, beyond the surface imagery, I couldn’t really tell you what these songs are about.

Hauntingly beautiful in parts (Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye) and psychedelic in others (Teachers), Cohens first album showcases his exceptional skill on guitar and unique lyricism that only evolved from here.

“I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new In city and in forest they smiled like me and you” I knew Leonard Cohen almost exclusively as the man who wrote “Hallelujah” (also my mum really likes him). This left me with a bit of an idea what I was in store for which I think was helpful for being in the right headspace for the album. I can imagine Cohen being a serious marmite artist for many. His delivery is completely monotone and emotionless and I would completely understand anybody telling me that they find listening to him a slog. However, I think the beauty in this record is in the profundity of Cohen’s lyrics juxtaposed with the simplicity of both the music and his vocal delivery. Leonard Cohen is first and foremost a poet and what you get with this album is a wonderfully basic conduit for his poetry.

3.8

uu

very nice and calming

I liked this one

Very chill, only really liked So Long, Marianne.

-A genuinely creative album. I like the subtle instrumentation and overall sparse vibe. -The songs are really centered on Cohen's lyrics, so it's a bit like listening to an audiobook (not derogatory). Even though it's largely acoustic, with lots of story songs, I don't really consider this "folk" music. It's its own thing. -Few have written better double entendres.

Very nice calming vibe, a very enjoyable listen and definitely more my vibe.

Fajna muzyka, brzmi nostalgicznie, fajna na poranki. Smutne teksty o miłości

Some imperfect songs but when the song hits man it’s a beautiful thing

Beautiful

Been a long time since I listened to this. Still good. Ends a 6 album dull streak, but it has lost something for me. A solid 4 is nothing to sneeze at. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes: 41/162 (25%) Will I get? Already have

Track 1. (Suzanne) This is totally my vibe, such a great love song, the lyrics are incredible. 8.5/10 Track 2. (Master Song) This is the first album where I was really impressed by the lyrics, a total standout for me. 8/10 Track 3. (Winter Lady) I just wish this were longer, but it’s so good. 8.2/10 Track 4. (The Stranger Song) 7/10 Track 5. (Sisters of Mercy) 7/10 Track 6. (So Long, Marianne) 9/10 Track 7. (Thats No Way to Say Goodbye) 7.5 Track 8. (Stories of the Street) 8/10 Track 9. (Teachers) 5/10 Track 10. (One of Us Cannot Be Wrong) 8/10 Overall Score: 7.6

I liked it a lot. The sad but happy tone of it. It's difficult to describe but it made me feel something. It felt like The Holdovers vibe. Want to listen to more of him.

Masterpiece in song writing

This was a lovely time. Made me appreciate the poetry on his songs.

aw very delicate his voice is added to THE list

robert altman’s cameron winter

I liked the warm feeling of it while also enjoying the kind of nostalgic feel that it brings. Ironically I got this album when I was in my feels .

7/10… folk / singer-songwriter / *1967

Such a staple and I haven’t listened to much of his work before I love it

Really enjoyed - melancholy, but beautiful

This is WAY better than I expected. It's actually pretty nice folk music. I never thought Leonard Cohen would appeal to me, but I guess that is the benefit of this exercise.

I love this album. It is intense and rich in tone with sparse production.

Really liked a few of the tracks and the guitar work.

these guys have a naaaasty flow 😮‍💨 not super practical for me but i enjoyed it faves/new discoveries: break, thin line, after school special album art: very cool i know diddy was jealous

Nice album

Always nice when the opening track has your name :D Nice easy listening

Torn between a 3 and 4. I love his song writing style, style of singing and playing guitar. I think he just writes really tight songs. I think some variety would have made this album jump off the page, as most of his songs were finger picking and a bit slow and melodramatic. Going with a 4 because I think it’s a showcase in excellent writing and compelling rhyme schemes.

I enjoyed getting to go back and hear Leonard Cohen’s singing voice when he was younger, it was fantastic. Loved the mellow vibes and the lyrics were hauntingly beautiful in places.

I like this a lot more than I was expecting. I'm not entirely sure why though. He has a Bob Dylan -esque songwriting style which I typically don't like, but he has a much more soothing voice.

good. a bit borign musically, but lovely songs.

8,5/10

Really mellow and beautiful. I don't really understand what specifically it is that makes this sound like poetry. I know he is very much a poet but it comes through in the music so much more than Dylan or lou Reed or Tom Waits and I don't really know why. The accompaniment to the beautiful words feels so thoughtfully out together. The whole atmosphere is spot on. It's all very dark, but music should be dark sometimes I guess

i like it

The two tracks with female first names are absolute musical icons. Fun album.

Stellar debut with beautiful arrangements, poetic words, and great songwriting. "Suzanne," of course, but there's not a dud to be found. I especially like "So Long, Marianne." Still, there's something that keeps this from being a 5 star album for me. Something about the way Cohen's voice and lyrics often keep me at arm's length from the emotional truths of his songs.

Piękny głos, nastrojowe melodie ale nie moj vibe.

Leonard Cohen’s debut is a quiet gut punch, a record so stark and intimate it feels like he’s reading secret letters aloud in the next room. The lyrics are breathtaking, the mood unmistakable, and the whole thing radiates that Cohen mystique people spend their whole lives trying (and failing) to imitate. But for all its beauty, the album is also monochromatic. Once you settle into its dusky palette, it doesn’t really shift. No real valleys, but not many peaks either, just a steady, unbroken current of solemn, poetic murmurings. It’s moving, admirable, iconic even, but it doesn’t reach that transcendent tier where every track feels essential. In the end it’s a gorgeous listen and an important one, but not a five-star experience for anyone who occasionally likes variety in their melancholy.