Songs Of Leonard Cohen

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

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

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. 7/10

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.

Gillade det mer än jag trodde ärligt talat! Så svag för amerikansk folk, och man märker att texterna verkligen är lysande. Vissa låtar är så vackra att man bara drömmer sig bort

pleasant, interesting, feels calm and safe

I felt like I was listening to a talented storyteller. Really enjoyed this one.

Great songwriter

Enjoyed this more than I expected. Very Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash-esk, more peaceful and calming but staying true with slightly depressing and existential sounding lyrics 7/10

s.s., 1969 -> 4

Vrlo mirno, ambijentalno i ugodno uhu

Liked this a lot, probably more than I expected to. His singing is great and the lyrics are very interesting. This is one where I see the appeal and understand the inclusion here.

This was a great album. Some of the best songwriting I maybe have ever heard. I like the minimal instrumentation. It compliments the storytelling well. I had to listen to it multiple times to get a focused listen. It's worth being attentive for, and the whole album paints a picture of a man's genuine, dim, appreciative, and lost perspective.

This is so beautiful, from what little I knew of Leonard Cohen I had no idea it would be so heartfelt. Gorgeous stripped back songs that feel like a man bearing the painful parts of his soul.

I really enjoyed this album. Very cozy, comforting acoustic folk. It was the perfect soundtrack to being cozy inside on a cold winter day.

Deep, man, deep.

Favorite Track: Suzanne

I don't get it. The music is limited. The vocals are limited. Most songs are almost indistinguishable from every other. I have no desire to listen to the whole thing again. And yet, I like it. Why is it so alluring? Why am I giving it four stars? I just must be predisposed to enjoy this, against my better instincts.

Not too bad. Reasonably enjoyable but I’m not sure if I’d listen to it again.

To misquote Blixa Bargeld of Neubauten, it's not often that I want to listen to Leonard Cohen, but when I do, there's nothing else I'd rather hear.

Confession: I own this album. I've never made it through it. I think I maybe got through Side A once. It's just such a HEAVY album. Dude had pathos.

’ve heard of Leonard Cohen my whole life, but it seems like he’s been old my whole life. As a kid, you don’t want to listen to old people's music, even though classic rock is nothing but old people's music. I’m sure I’ve heard Cohen songs because they’re a got to for movies and tv shows. But I’ve never sat down and listened to a full album. Songs of Leonard Cohen is a full album, his first album, and it's kind of what I expected, but better. It really reminded me of Simon & Garfunkel and the folk movement of the 60's, the spare instrumentation and the song lyrics being more poetry than song lyrics. Each song tells a story, with some easier to decipher than others. For instance, The Stranger Song is about a time he met two women on the street who needed a place to stay and invited them to his aprtment/room. Sounds like a Penthouse letter, doesn’t it? While the two women slept in his bed, he sat and wrote The Stranger Song. It was finished by the time they woke up. Besides the incredible poetry in his songs, a lot of the music is acoustic guitars in a folk style of the 60s. In fact, Cohen actually wanted the instrumentation to be even more sparse, but the producer used strings and drums on several tracks. Cohen was furious when he heard drums. He wanted no drums used on this album, but I think it all works. If there weren’t other sounds to break up the acoustic guitars, I think the songs would get monotonous. I think this is an album you need to hear before you die. If you’re in the right mood, I can see this being your favorite new album. In fact, this is Fall music to me. It sounds like something you’d put on with a hot toddy and a roaring fire and watch the leaves or snow fall. If you’ve never heard Cohen before, this is a great place to start.

On one hand, Cohen's tunesmithing is best described as "uncommitted," and I can't tell whether he really *can't* sing or just isn't trying hard enough. Just like his characters, he has to make everything hard for himself. On the other hand, what characters! Cohen's poetry cements him as an heir of the Beats - tales of addicts, vagabonds, ladies of moral turpitude, boys who fell in with the bad crowd, all seesawing between depravity and ecstasy. No wonder this album has been a mainstay of bohemians (actual or aspiring) for half a century now.

Leonard Cohen is who Bob Dylan wishes he was. Usually I have a distaste for 60's Folk, but I'm extremely surprised that I enjoyed this album... 4 stars?

Amazing but after five songs it’s too depressing, gotta take a break

Some eerie folk, perfect even (if unnerving) for the winters night walk that I listened to it during. 4 stars

Leonard is an interesting guy. Great lyrics and very understated arrangements. Not something I would listen to every day but in the right mood it is very moving.

He's very good at what he does but not quite good enough here - not fully formed. Again, very good but some of the narrative tics reveal themselves like when you can tell when a supposedly abstract pattern repeats itself, breaking the illusion. Small thing but it took me out of the otherwise great work. Very of 1967 and also of any time at any point.

WOW

Leonard Cohen has achieved legendary status in the realm of folk music. This album is an excellent example of 1960s folk music.

I love Leonard Cohen, even though I'm leaning more towards his later material. Of his very early records, this, his debut - aptly named Songs of Leonard Cohen - is his best. It's not perfect; not all of the songs are equally good, but any album with songs like Suzanne, The Stranger Song, Sisters of Mercy, and So Long, Marianne deserves an above average rating at least. So this is 4/5.

En principio debo decir que me gusta más la música de la última etapa de Leonard Cohen, un estilo mucho más oscuro y blusero. Este álbum tiene una esencia más folk. Sin embargo me encontré disfrutándolo mucho. Tiene un energía muy relajada y melancólica, perfecta para el día en que me tocó escucharlo, una primavera fresca pero nublada y con lluvia. Las letras tienen una poesía más tradicional de la época (sobre amor y desamor), siendo que Leonard Cohen ha tenido su reconocimiento por escribir sobre contenido político y de consciencia social. La voz suena muy limpia y joven. Me gusta que no intenta impostar nada en la voz, en muy sencilla, y con el paso de los años simplemente la dejó madurar naturalmente. Insisto en que prefiero al Leonard Cohen en sus últimos álbumes, pero esta es una linda experiencia de escucha.

Romantic, meloncholy, moving. Lovely album but one I'm probably picking and choosing song to when I'm in a sad sad mood.

Contemplative autumn vibes - slow, nostalgic, and warm. Light a fire, pour a whisky or a cup of tea, and let time linger.

Fremragende debut.

This year (2025) I had a moment where I was really obsessed with the final track on this album, "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong". The lyrics are so manic and oddly specific that when I first heard it I had to play it again and I did over and over, and then I learned the lyrics and then I memorized the chords so I could play it and then I paused and thought "ok it's a good song but take your time bub". It was definitely one of my obsession songs for this year of my life. Usually I'd copy and paste some specifically poignant lyrics over into here but I think I'd end up copying the whole track because they are all good. There's a lot of storytelling on the album. While I love a good singer-songwriter, sometimes the focus on telling a story tends to be one of the facets that make me not love the genre and a reason why it's been hard for me at times to fully embrace acts like Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen. In my opinion the hard part of this focus on storytelling in music is that it has to get so many things right for it to click with me. It has to be a good story of course, but it has to be believable too (I need to believe that there is some kind of true lived experience here, like it's hard for me to hear about a folk country songwriter talk about a hard upbringing when he grew up in a mansion), it has to be good enough that I want to go back and revisit (how many times can you watch the same movie before you want something new?), and it has to be musical enough that I get pulled in and it's not just someone talking over chords. Thankfully, when Leonard Cohen gets it right, he really gets it right, like on "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong". I'm pretty sad today even though I've gotten some great news over the past week. I'm moving soon and my usual sentimental self is starting to mourn the end of my time at the apartment that I've called home with my wife for over a decade, and today is the day where it's first hit me as I'm packing things up. This record was a really nice listen as I spent my day working / packing / reminiscing while I'm putting away random polaroids, random concert tickets, random trinkets that I've collected, and random memories I've made with friends in this place. This was a really nice accompaniment to today.

Impeccable lyrics, nothing to write home about instrumentally but it gets the job done

I really, really like Leonard's voice and delivery. The guitar playing is soothing and technical. Lyrics run the gambit from thought provoking to a bit try-hard. Fairly enjoyable listen.

Great album, didn’t love every song but appreciated the lyricism and melody to most songs.

I find myself bewitched by how much I've liked this album. Some songs are simply beautiful... And that's not a simple thing at all, to be fair. Some songs are not much interesting musically, but, as an overall, the album is fantastic. Most of the songs are a delight, with such precious arrangements. It's a really warm and beautiful album, for sure. Even if there are songs that haven't convinced me, I must say I've liked it a lot.

He’s going to bring you lyrics every time.

cool, calm and collected

Soft and pleasant.

Fantastic album. My first intro to Leonard Cohen's music was his work from the early 00s and it's just terrible. The poetry is there but it's incredibly hokey when paired with whatever budget instruments it sounds like he's using. But here, in his prime, he's fantastic.

Tykkään kovin Cohenin alkupään levyistä, kun niistä huokuu herran countrytausta yhdistettynä tällaiseen kivaan runoiluun. Ihan viittä tähteä vaikea antaa, koska kappaleita vaikea tulkita ja saada täysin tarinoista kiinni. Mutta jos vähän jaksaa tutkia tarkoituksia kappaleiden takaa, niin saa paljon enemmän irti. Lähes täydellinen levy omaan makuun. Ei mikään helppo levy kovinkaan monen tykätä.

Cohenin melankolinen ääni pääsee hyvin oikeuksiinsa, kun soittimia lähinnä käytetään tukemaan kappaleiden sanomaa. Haikeaa ja tehokasta.

I really enjoyed Suzanne and Winter Lady! This was a cool album.

Suzanne is a beautiful start to the album. A lovely atmosphere. There is generally a beautiful quality and solitude to many of the tracks, early on in the album especially. Enjoyed the folksy turn on So Long, Marianne bar the backing vocals. The Teachers was weaker though. All told a very good album, though maybe the less Leonard inclined would score it lower.

I need to be in the right mood for Leonard, but damn, when I am? I find that few songwriters match his prowess. 4/5

Good stuff

Cohen's music is unimitable. There's such a warm vibe that collides with a sense of drama and tension that only he can deliver so perfectly.

This guy heard Bob Dylan and told himself "Yeah, this guy really isn't depressed enough".

Et veldig fint og koselig album. Perfekt for høsten.

If only he could sing too

I could listen to So Long, Marianne every day.

There’s something about this that I just really like. Good guitar skills. The lyrics are good too. Fun and interesting and introspective. I saved a lot of songs "Suzanne" "The Stranger Song" "So Long, Marriane" and "Teachers" but I'm only going to rate it 4/5 stars because I don't think I would ever just throw this record on.

Not his best but still beautiful.

sehr ruhig, schön

Avskalat, inlevelsefullt och bra storytelling om man tar sig tid att lyssna på texterna. Suzanne och So long, Marianne (bästa låten) sticker ut och hade önskat ett par till av den kalibern, men en fyra åt det lite svagare hållet blir det oavsett.

Okay I knew I loved Suzanne and So Long Marianne, but That’s No Way to Say Goodbye and One of us Cannot be Wrong are amaaazinggg. I don’t know. Lyrically it’s almost too much to take in, and I like him best when he’s singing about love vs other existential topics… not a perfect five for me but I really love these love songs. “Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme” 🥹

If anything, I'll leave this list a Leonard Cohen fan.

Bob Dylan from a more accessible time line. But not as good. Still good though.

Pretty solid

The album is like a dish that's too rich to eat in one setting. Here's some palate cleansers: The Jarvis Cocker radio show where he speaks with Leonard Cohen is quite good. Leonard has a dry sense of humor to accompany his wisdom. The highlight of the show, however, is Betty LaVette's version of Sleep to Dream. Check it out. Leonard Cohen's paternal grandfather was born in the same town in Poland - Suwalki - as two of my great-grandfathers (one Catholic, one Jewish, both fleeing Cossacks conscripting young men into the Tsar's army.) The area is known for having the shortest distance between Belarus and Kaliningrad. This chokepoint is of great strategic importance to NATO. My former therapist did a 10 day silent retreat where it turned out one of the other retreaters was Leonard Cohen. The experience of sharing space with one of his heroes without being able to speak to him had meaning which I have forgotten. Back to the record itself: so many good songs, taken all together a bit overwhelming.

That's more like it: low-key, tuneful musical accompaniment to chronic depression. This one has a couple of classics too.

It’s like a 3 or a 4. 3 if I’m actually listening to it and 4 if I’m trying to impress people. It's not as good as Madvillainy.

Very strong songwriting, haunting ballads, with some of his best songs.

Pretty interesting album. The lyrics are pretty poetic and conjure up some nice imagery. One that stands out is whisps of smoke looking like a highway. Music is pretty as well. Think what is the draw of this album is that that even if I don't understand what the lyrics mean, they make me want to find out. Also makes me interested in Leonard Cohen as a person as well, the context in which the songs are placed. All of that wouldn't really mean much if the music wasn't interesting which I'm glad to say it is while I am listening to it. Heaping a bunch of praise on this so think need to justify my 4 star rating, i think doesn't really have that wow factor for me. Quite a personal and intimate album and feel like if I related to it more or if there were stand out lyrics that put me in awe I would give it a 5 stars. Music as well while good also not really that interesting on its own to compensate for the lack of oomph power lol. But still good album and would like to look into the lyrics more when I have more time.

Soothing voice, interesting lyrics, somber delivery. Still a bit same-y through the whole album but did finish this one.

i see why he's so beloved! i might get this on vinyl. the music is all lovely and moody. the songs blend into one another for me in a sort of lullaby haze... a foggy night. overall very nice!

Getting this album after Tay Tay's 1989 gives me a bit of whiplash...I mean, I know this is thought of as a better album (a classic even) but can I say I enjoyed it more than 1989? Maybe not...but also maybe so. I dunno, man. I do know this is one of the albums I have from my mom's vinyl "collection" so it does hold a special place in my heart. And that's enough for me to round up. 3.5/5

A Canadian legend

Buen disco. Vibras tranquilas, tengo que volver a escucharlo prestando atención a las letras

3.7/chill vibes with good instrumentals. i like it

Len is so unique, he is a literally a poet, he uses his vocal limited as strengths. 4 Star.

Enjoyed this one a lot!

What a lovely album

8/10

yes

Nice and folky. A great poet accompanied by a steady timbre — it's an album experience that puts me beside a fireplace in a pub after a hike in the rainy, rolling hills.

Such a vibe and important artefact in music history

really nice!

Chilled if repetitive

I hadn't listened to this album all the way through. It was overall more spare than I was expecting.

4.3 oh leonard. for sure his best faves: suzanne, hey that's no way, so long marianne

Noen nydelige sanger her. Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne... Meget bra.

a great album - I should listen to it more! #albumsky #musicsky

Ugh. Leonard Cohen is such an amazing songwriter. All the feels on this one.

It's a great album, just not for now, or any time later, since I'm over my depression.

I can't wait to listen to this again and really absorb the lyrics. Perfect for a lazy Sunday with coffee, laundry, and a joint.

Un classique très agréable à écouter, mais néanmoins un peu monotone…

Never actually sat down and listened to Cohen despite reading about him for years. Praise warranted. This will be a great record for a long drive on a rainy day.

Enjoyed this

Lovely folk album, arrangements are beautiful and I love Cohen’s vocals. Need to relisten to fully digest the songwriting.

Hyvä albumi

Musik zum Einlullen, aber ich fands deswegen nicht schrecklich. Hat sicher seinen Platz im Plattenschrank, aber man muss dafür auch in Stimmung sein

Molto bello. Non so se lo riascolterei tutto, ma pezzo per pezzo è veramente notevole. In più per me ha un grande valore sentimentale

musically it seems like they might as well have been improvising, but the poetry is good, and cohen has a good voice, so it actually works.

at times too monotone in my opinion but all in all a really beautiful and chill album

I like this album. The sounds are calming and I can see myself listening to it at a beautiful slow morning. But at the same time it is in a way predictible. Every song has the same whispery voice with some guitar accords in the brackground. Leonard Cohen is no men of surprises or new interpretations of what music can be. Dont get me wrong, I like his music, it warms my heart. But its nothing to hyperfixate about.

Almost hypnotic melodies with lyrics which make you work to uncover the layers of meaning

23/1089 - birthday album ☺️😅 really enjoying his vocals, the reverb on it with the instrumentals is so atmospheric. The Lana Del Rey fan in me is loving these first couple songs. The Stranger Song is great, the rapid guitar plucking in the background works so well will his deep voice and rambly lyrics over the top not a fan of the clock/creaking sounds in Sisters of Mercy but the guitar and Cohen himself sound good Teachers has a very nervous and unsettled energy which is enthralling This being a debut album is pretty wild, it doesn’t have that feeling at all in a positive way That was a pretty magical project and i can hear the influence it’s had on artists I adore like Lana etc the only reason it’s 4 stars and not 5 is that it had a section of songs from Sisters of Mercy to Stories of the Street that didn’t stand out/click to me faves: The Stranger Song, Teachers, Suzanne least fave: Sisters of Mercy 4 stars or 81/100

First album I liked of his tbh.

Nice album! Dylan-esque.

What an amazing poet/songwriter Was not a fan when this came out, I was 13 I rediscovered this lp in the mid 70s and had a big change of heart Listen to this and know what a wonderful poet he was We need Leonard Cohen today

This is my second Leonard Cohen album. I loved “You Want It Darker” and gave it 5 stars. I knew this would be very different from that record, and it surely is. Initially I wasn’t that into it, but after a couple of songs I got into the vibe. Listening on my AirPods helped, I think, to appreciate the accompaniment more than I would’ve otherwise, and I found it almost a hypnotic experience. I won’t rate it above YWID, but I do get the love for his music.

🥰

Suzanne is a good track Edit Apr 10 2026: 3 --> 4. I am growing to quite like Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen's voice is not very... Good. I hate to say it, but it's never clicked with me. On his final album, You Want it Darker, it worked in the greater context of that album. Here it just sounds... Fine, at best. But his songwriting is so beautiful that it makes up for the weaker singing. It's evocative, the stories are thoughtful and artfully written. You can tell he was a poet before turning to music. "So Long Marianne" and "The Stranger Song" are probably my favorites.

Leonard Cohen is a poet, and Songs Of Leonard Cohen is evidence of that.

love his voice

Quiet but charming. Goes places no-one else goes quite so well. Fs: Suzanne

Now I get the Leonard Cohen thing!

Basically a superior version of his second album which I heard first, he’s a great storyteller and the acoustic guitar works so well as background noise, I find you can either go deep into Cohens lyrics or just simply enjoy the tame sound of his voice with the music in the background, favourites: master song, the stranger song, sisters of mercy, stories of the street and one of us cannot be wrong. Overall, 7/10.

Loved this a lot, gorgeous tone, amazing song writer. I do firm understand its spot in this list and Cohen proves his ability on this album. It melts in the background and eases the soul, at least it did for mine.