Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Hmmm yeah I get it

This is an undeniable classic, although I'm sure it's too solemn and meditative for a lot of folks. I'm kinda there too tbh, but I still appreciate the artistry even if I'm rarely going to be in the mood to listen to it front to back. It's unique and poetic for sure, just not exactly "my thing" I suppose. A 4 it is.

This is a pretty impressive piece of work. It's hard to classify, but it's remarkable how an almost poetry session with background ambiance music catches me so much.

I largely enjoyed this. On a different day I can easily imagine myself thinking "this was dull" and giving it a 2, but it worked pretty well for me today (although it was a bit dull). 3.6

There's is a time and a place for this record and a random assignment is neither. This is a mood record through and through.

Poetic af. Nick drake better tho

Lyrically, it’s a 5. Musically, it’s a 3. We’ll split the difference at 4.

This is poetry, really good.

Relaxed pretty music

I only really know Leonard Cohen for "Hallelujah", and then again, I don't know if I'd really listened closely to his version. At least I thought he looked like Leonard Nimoy so I thought his voice would be deeper. I don't have much more to say except I enjoyed this album. I like the softer, solo acoustic stuff. The standup for me was Marianne, and I don't know what happened there at the end when he just started wailing. In the rotation for soft quiet morning music with sad lyrics.

4/5

Pretty good. I haven't been super high on the other Cohen albums on the list but I found myself enjoying this one more than I anticipated.

Brilliant poetical songwriting. Everytime I get a Leonard Cohen album I always think, “He’s just better Bob Dylan”. 7/10

Simple music made to compliment beautiful lyrics - like sung poetry.

What a beatiful voice and beautiful album too. *Suzanne* and *Hey, That's no way to say goodbye* were already favorites and the whole album is in that same pleasant tone. The reason only reason that this album didn't get a 5-star rating form me is it can get a bit too sleepy for my taste.

I hadn't heard much Leonard Cohen before but this is a really solid debut album. Singing-songwriting at its finest. Simplicity reigns in it with masterful lyrics and chilled landscapes. I have the feeling I will come back to this at some point. I can't decide if I should give this a 3 or a 4.

I can't say anything bad about a man with such big sad brown eyes.

3.5

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Never heard anything from him besides Hallelujah, this album was gorgeous although the lyrics were a little dense.

It was pretty sweet and soothing

Outright incredible storytelling. Leonard Cohen, one of the few exceptions to the rule I want to impose on this list of only 2 albums per artist. This album proves that this guy should’ve got the spot the Bob Dylan took in the pop culture lexicon

delicate and powerful

This album was really nice to listen to. "Suzanne" is the best song. Cohen had a lot of talents, singing and songwriting are two of them. The album could've done with a bit of variety. That, along with being a bit boring, is what prevents this album from being legendary. 4 stars for "songs of Leonard Cohen".

Great album, anything he sings sounds intruinging. It's a bit back heavy, but man once you get to "So long marianne" it's bliss the entire way through.

suzanne isch meeeega schön. super simple song aber passt irgendwie. master song baut huuere guet uuf d e-gitarre isch geeil wo ine chunt und d striicher au. winter lady au cute, aber nöd so guet wie die zwei vorher. stranger song sehr coole gitarre part. wenner lüter singt compressts irgendwie? uuh sisters of mercy? sehr cool produziert mit glockenspiel und so. so lang marian (reimt sich uf dütsch). seeehr geil do heter zum erste mol background sängerinne. huuere geile bass au. seeehr geile song. hey thats no way to say goodbye isch cool, stories if the street nochli besser, lieb wies uf moll abegheit und wieder vo vorne afangt. teachers meega dramatisch. meadgitarre suuuper.

Leonard Cohen my love einehalb jahr ide uk charts isch insane de hindergrundgsang isch huere schön vo suzanne find die recht reduzierte string super, tünd die ganz atmosphäre mega guet untermale winter lady isch jz nöd gad en banger d lieder sind echlii z lang minere meinig na sisters of mercy hani sehr cool gfunde aber was au immer das gloggespiel oder so isch findi chli ass hhahha d handorgle on se oser händ sehr cool so long marianne isch doch recht so es LIED sehr coole refrain und ah er isch eifach so cute stories of the street findi sticht wieder chli meh usse wieso? kei ahnig was frögsch mich teachers findi d gitarre mega, ich chegg nöd waser speziell macht aber egal WOW one of us cannot be wrong isch unglaublich schön de schluss tönt mite flöte zwar schräg aber poah isch das schön schwanke scho fest zwüsche 4 und 5

Love Leonard. So simple. Feels pure. He gets you on his wavelength.

Really good. This one grew on me and won me over by the end of the album. So stripped back and free of embellishment. If I imagined adding high flying harmony or additional textured background music, it morphs and shifts into other folk and folk-adjacent music I've enjoyed.

ok I'm getting worried about giving too many albums in a row 4 stars now

Some of these get just too far into singsongy folk for a 5 but it's a high 4 love my weird little guys

Hipnótico, pero me gusta aún más su trabajo posterior.

Fav: So Long, Marianne Least Fav: Master Song Some nice easy listening songs, enjoyed this more than I expected

An incredible collection of consistently emotive and intimate songwriting, bolstered by commanding instrumentation. It’s one of the most sacred and heralded singer-songwriter albums, and for good reason. It is one of a special select few albums where its lyrics can genuinely be held as poetry in themselves. A truly timeless piece.

Not exactly my bag, but you can tell the Cohen is firing on all cylinders. The production is well done, the composition is well done. He's not a strong singer, but it does not make much of a difference!

poetic masterpiece that is very pleasant to listen to. High 4* from me.

Very nice, much better than expected and easier on the ear than Dylan.

This is not a folk album. It's it's own thing.

A good album, I liked Master Song and One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong the most.

I was expecting a much more depressing listen but either my preconception of Leonard Cohen is off, or it's based on later work once he's become old and sadder. Either way, I really enjoyed this; his songwriting and delivery are both excellent, understated but also grandiose. I'm looking forward to listening to more of his work and seeing how wrong I was to expect the worst.

Ik heb hier geen anekdotes bij. Dit is gewoon mooie luistermuziek. Heerlijke composities die gemaakt zijn om lekker in het gehoor te liggen met een zangstem die er eigenlijk perfect bij aansluit. Waarschijnlijk vertelt 'ie nog goede verhalen ook maar als holbewoner is dat niet aan mij besteed. Mooie geluidjes klinken mooi, ooga booga. Ik zie in de reviews veel mensen dat het saai is, maar ik ervaar het eerder als comfortabel. Misschien staan er wat nummers op die iets teveel op elkaar lijken of gaat het album een track of 2 te lang door, vooruit, maar wat maakt het allemaal uit.

Some instrumentation choices were... interesting, so not as refined as his later work. But his songs still cut.

I was wondering if and when Leonard Cohen would appear on this list given the bias towards British pop. Glad to see him here. His lyrics are poetry set to music. Album features "Suzanne" and other notable songs include "Sisters of Mercy" and 'Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye".

You’re not going to get me to say anything bad about the national treasure that is Leonard Cohen. First and foremost he is a poet and this is not an album of songs but of poems set to an acoustic guitar. He is a wordsmith and is obsessed with heartache and drugs. The melancholia is almost palpable and will sit with one for days. There are huge amounts of beauty in there, often there is with sadness. He’s amazing, and the prose is very good if his gift is not yet fully explored. Nothing sounds anything like the compositions of his older gravelly years, but on ‘So long Marianne’ you can hear the seeds that will blossom later on. I couldn’t listen to this daily but once every couple months it would be a great reset.

Man, this album was great. I enjoyed every song, not a single miss on this album. It really reminds me of a mix of Bob Dylan meets Townes Van Zandt. The vibes were sombre, and I actually really enjoyed how almost nothing rhymed. I was so close to giving this a 5, but for me, it just is missing /something/ that I can't put my finger on. It's not a 'perfect' album. I am definitely keen to listen to some more Leonard Cohen, and hopefully a future album is deserving of a perfect score.

This was a nice listen. I found some of the lyrics just ok but the general vibe of the album is very cosy, good for headphones. Saved So Long, Marianne to my playlist.

Live this record although it’s a bit depressing. Love him. Love his guitar playing and lyrics

This was a nice album. It was very peaceful and pleasant to listen to. I think my favorite songs were the same ones as everyone else, "Hey that's no way to say goodbye" and "Suzanne". It was very samey by the end, but the 41 minute run-time made that OK. It felt like a combination of Simon&Garfunkel and Jeff Buckley? 7/10

I think I picked the perfect times to listen to this, first in the afternoon after work, then on a slow Friday. These songs were very easy to mellow out with, and I got to appreciate the lyricism here (the real highlight of the album) since I didn't need to focus as much on other things at the time. I am conflicted on how to score this though, these really only just pass as music, rather than poetry readings on audible. Cohen's voice is not unpleasant but you can tell he is not exactly trying to wow anyone with his singing and is letting the writing do the work for him. The only songs where I find he comes to closest to really singing are Teachers and So Long, Marianne (coincidentally, two of the better songs on here 😲) Similarly, the instrumentals are very basic and feel like they are only there to justify all of this being an album. But these simple tunes work because they don't overshadow the draw of the album, Cohen's writing. Highlights Master Song, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne

I'm familiar with Leonard Cohen as a poet turned folk singer-songwriter, having heard "Hallelujah" before. This is his debut album, and I must remind myself of that because it's impressive how good he was at this early stage. There's something magical about Leonard's soulful low-register delivery, as he croons his way through songs of yearning not for love but friendship or fond memories. Likewise, his acoustic guitar work is spectacular, like on "The Stranger Song" where he pulls off some nifty tremolos. There is a contentious point with Leonard Cohen's early work in that they tend to consist of minimalist compositions. That is why his debut album is largely him with his guitar save for a few tracks with drum, bass, and background vocals. Could there be more involved to engage the listener more? Perhaps. But that said, this is still impressive with just his presence alone. If you are curious, give it a chance.

Strange Coincidence I literally listened to this album for the first time on my own a couple days ago. An album where every Second Song is a Masterpiece and every third song is just alright or just good. Suzanne, The Stranger Song, So Long Marriane, and Teachers are insane. 8/10 Fav tracks - Suzanne, Master Song, The Stranger Song, Sisters of Mercy; So Long, Marianne; Stories of The Street, Teachers, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong Least Fav - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

One of those albums you gotta listen to and not just toss on in the background. And I gotta say its a good one, Kinda sad too but also happy and some moments, this emotional roller-coaster hit me something different given I found out a friend of mine passed too. So overall this came at the right time for me. 4/5

Lyrics are top-notch, he was a poet first and foremost. Musically not very interesting.

LP

I am a big fan of Leonard Cohen. This is not the first time I've listened to this album. 'Suzanne', and 'Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye' are my favourites. It's not for everyone, and I could see how people could consider this generic 60s folk, but I like it, and I just think his lyricism is beautiful

He sounds like what a kiss on the cheek from your grandma feels like. If I’m ever listening to this album randomly someone needs to check on me. It was v good though

must it come so cruel, must it be so brave?

This album is so chill it got me through a white knuckle driving experience without losing my shit. Good stuff.

very good

Je crois qu'il serait très honnête de dire que cet album est un classique de la folk mais qu'il doit prendre toute sa saveur grâce à une bonne compréhension des textes. C'est certainement les mots du poète qui me manquent le plus pour saisir la qualité d'écriture de Cohen. Il n'empêche que je ne boude pas mon plaisir à l'écouter !

I really liked this album. Specific tracks I liked: "Suzanne", "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye", "Stories of the street".

So much better than the last one of his we listened to. Genuinely very strong album. Enjoyed it a lot.

An album my mum had that sort of sat there without me playing it for years until I slowly decided to explore some of the back catalogue. It's sort of brilliant, whilst also only understandable if you get that he's a poet not a musician and he's got his own kind of style.

Not his greatest album but contains o9ne of his greatest songs, Marianne

Pretty good.

I like this one a lot but it’s still probably a 4/5 for me as much as I respect Leonard Cohen. The lyrics are great but it’s lacking something for me.

¿Qué decir de Leonard Cohen? Un romántico melancólico empedernido. No porque todas sus canciones sean sobre parejas sino por el amor con el que le cantaba al desamor, a la frustración, al dolor de vivir en éste mundo. En éste disco está en una línea vocal similar a la de Dylan pero más cálida. Menos nasal y más triste, evocativa, que nos mece y nos relaja, dejándonos en trance. Ideal para escuchar de mañana. Puede ser para un paseo en una mañana fría, nublada, con una garúa ínfima o una mañana de otoño o primavera, fresca y con calidez: éste disco abarca todos esos estados. Ponemos en pausa el reto porque mañana entro en vacaciones. Nos vemos a la vuelta del viaje.

Young(er) Cohen rulz. It’s interesting how one world-famous song (not on this album) can overshadow a life-work. I was genuinely surprised, and had the same feeling with Urban Hymns earlier.

Enjoyed this one. Cohen has written some truly timeless music, and this album is no different. 4/5 Will listen again

Excellent song writer

Lyrically unsurpassed.

Grande disco de folk. Lembrou-me bastante a sonoridade do "Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", mas talvez com uma abordagem lírica mais cotidiana. Muito louco pensar a diversidade de ramificações da música popular em 1968: era esse disco na praça ao lado de um “Eletric Ladyland” ou o próprio álbum branco auto-intitulado dos Beatles. Destaco “The Stranger Song” e “Stories of the Street”, sonoridade me confortou no recorte dessas duas canções.

Cool lyrics, well writte, a bit sad

Wonderful storytelling + reminds me of my dad

One of the great songwriters in history.

刚听别人推荐今天就刷到了，可惜不怎么听得懂

Characteristically excellent and iconic work from Cohen. Just noticed how "Mama's and the Papa's" sounding the backup vocals are for "So Long, Marianne". Everything I want from Cohen is here, dark and romantic, poetic and soul-stirring. He strikes me as a man that is far too aware of the psychology of human behavior and the fleeting beauty of living in the present moment for his own good. Clearly we are the benefactors of his past reflections, however. These songs are beautiful and give meaning and drama to our own reflections.

I am no longer a pearl jam hater

Launch of the more Canadian, hornier Bob Dylan

This album has the sound of a chill friday night pub where some bloke is playing excellent music in a corner but noone is paying attention. I might put this on on a slightly hungover sunday brunch. So Long, Marianne is my favourite track of the album. 4/5

I didnt expect to like this as much as I have on first listen

It sounds very French:)

Great album. This album has excellent songwriting and storytelling dealing with the typical personal themes (e.g., love, desire, anger, etc.) but with a maturity and tactfulness only a 30-something poet-turned-musician could do. The music itself won't necessarily knock you out, but the arrangements are crisp and understated in a way that both serves and complements the themes/lyricism. There's an enjoyable, mellow, trance-like quality that allows you to follow the stories and lyrics. This challenge will activate my deep dive into Leonard Cohen, whose music, up to this point, I have had minimal interaction with. ****

Wat hier ongelooflijk knap aan is, is dat met minimale middelen een maximaal effect bereikt wordt. Het eerste nummer is direct het beste en het zet geniaal een tegelijkertijd beklemmende en betoverende sfeer neer. En dat met hoofdzakelijk een akoestische gitaar met af en toe wat kleine tierelantijntjes. Op een of andere manier krijgt Cohen het hier voor elkaar, dat iedereen in een overvolle kroeg van het ene op het andere moment stil is, wanneer hij begint met spelen. Of in moderne termen: dat iedereen opkijkt van zijn smartphone. Het was dat ik aan het werk was, maar eigenlijk wil je even stoppen met wat je op dat moment aan het doen was en alleen maar luisteren. Naar hoe de beste man een soort van verhaal praatzingt met zijn zoetgevooisde stem. Op een gegeven moment weet je zijn trucje wel een beetje en wordt de betovering wat verbroken (eigenlijk vanaf So Long, Marianne), al gaat het nog een paar nummers door. Maar het goede gevoel overheerst toch wel. Prima 4 sterren.

What I think should be categorized as “emo folk”, haunting, cryptic lyrics over often a lone, plucking acoustic guitar. The language is evocative, which is good because the lyrics are the main draw. Excited to dive in further.

If you know, you know.

A classic of melancholy folk. The music is sparse, despite frequent arguments with producers who wanted a larger sound. It's hard to blame them. Before hearing a complete Leonard Cohen album, it might have been difficult to imagine his iconic sound compared what else was available in the mid 60s. This debut has some perfect moments. Even if it's a bit rough around the edges, the complete album still works well as whole. It marks Cohen's first steps into music making that would influence people across genres. In some ways, the music is less than important than the tone and the feeling of the songs. Describing it as mere folk music doesn't do justice to the beautiful bleakness of Cohen's voice. Time has been a lot kinder to this album than the contemporary reviews would have you imagine. But if the reviews on this site are anything to go by, it remains a controversial record for many.

His voice isn’t as gravely as on later recordings. The lyrics are great.

what a voice, and obviously incredible lyricism. deeply deeply moving. sometimes a little samey though

The poet laureate of popular music

So much good. I wish Leo would take more chances musically and vocally but it’s beautiful.

I used to listen to this album during my uni years to look more sophisticated. Very samey but So Long Marianne is an amazing song.

Great. Just great.

Beautiful poetic imagery and a hell of a mood, but rather musically limited at this point in his career.

Maybe a bit too depressing, but nice voice

Gefällt mir sehr gut, sollte ich in meinen Katalog für ruhige Musik geben

This was very low key. If it has some magic I'm not sure I unlocked it off one listen - would need to really pay attention to the lyrics I think. It was pleasant though.

2024-04-28...

this guy is always nothing but hauntingly beautiful

romântico bom pra sexo caminho al pacino Saul sério

Pretty slow and dreary. I like You Want it Darker better. Good canadiana tho. Remarkable talent.

Really hard to rate this fairly as it's one of my first listens as a boy and I loved it immediately.

Love leonard

I feel a smidgen depressed after listening to that. Still I think Leonard Cohen is rather brilliant.

Beautiful and poetic, what a wonderful lyricist

Un debut antológico de uno de los personajes más brillantes de la historia del Rock. Su voz aún no es tan cálida y grave como adquirirá con el paso de los años, pero temazos hay para aburrir: Suzanne, So long -Marianne, Sisters of Mercy, Master song... es obligatorio escuchar a Leonard Cohen al menos una vez en la vida. Este disco puede servir de perfecta excusa ; en realidad cualquier disco suyo (el del 77 también). Otros excelentes debuts de ese mismo año fueron Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Doors, Scott Walker, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, y también aunque menores los de Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, Bowie o First Edition. Otrs discos fundamentales del 67 fueron: Sgt. Peppers y Magical Mistery Tour, Forever Changes y Da Capo, Surrealistic Pillow, Axis:Bold as Love, The Who Sell Out, Days of Future Passed, Disraelí Gears, Bee Gees´ First (en realidad el segundo), Younger Than Yesterday, Evolution y Butterfly, I never loved a man the way i love you y Arrives, Something Else, Wild Honey o Happy Together...

Not my favorite album of his, but this is definitely a strong contender.

Went into this expecting to dish out another steady 3 star rating, like I gave Songs From A Room. Like Songs From A Room, SOLC’s sparse charms grew on me the more I listened. Unlike Songs From A Room, this album is chock full of great songs - musically, as well as lyrically - there aren’t any skips on here. I’ll dock half a star because, despite this, I wouldn’t say I personally *love* any of the tracks, as much as I respect the songcraft, and I think that should probably be a requirement for a 5 star album. Still, a masterful debut. 4.5

Music to reflect to. I don't think it's perfect lyrically, but I do think it's compelling. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "The Stranger Song", "So Long, Marianne"

Liked this a surprising amount. Easy listening, smooth, rolling, interesting lyrics from what little I caught. A clear influence on Danny Schmidt, who I've listened to in the past.

This was really good. Quite a unique sound. never listened to much leonard Cohen for some reason. Will dive into more!

Poems sung in wonderful melodies.

Good music, even if it's nothing flashy. Favorite track: "So Long, Marianne."

Subtle songs with calm arrangements, always a pleasure to listen to.

When I was 18 I'd have given this 5 stars easy. It's nice but melancholy doesn't seem to have as much range or depth now that I'm getting old. I've always liked the Stranger Song. In retrospect it seems like one of few times Lenny tries to do a human woman's perspective, not some mythologized muse thing - best he can do is a song about either being used as a mythologized muse or a reprieve from chasing muses though. "he'll say one day you caused his will to weaken with your love, and warmth, and shelter", because of course he will, this dude who thought "I told you when I came I was a stranger" passes for emotional awareness. very evocative of relationship dynamics everybody knows in some fashion music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

I don’t have much to say about Leonard Cohen except for that I more or less like it all. These first ones are a trip, it’s almost impossible for me to imagine him as a youngish man, but there he is. Good good good.

Loved

He grows on me with everything I listen too.

some very beautiful music, could be a bit more up tempo

Hey not bad!

Decent listen.

you hate him or you love him. I personally like him

Love this album.

I liked this more than I thought I would.

Lovely stuff.

This is like a book of poetry that you have to judge on a first read. I knew Susannah, and the last song was lovely. The rest deserves more consideration. But I want to read it more than I want to hear it.

Amazing voice

I really liked this album. It feels very cozy. Like sitting by a fireside on Christmas Eve when everyone else is asleep. I think my favorite was The Stranger Song because of the guitar. I’ll be real, I did not know what a single song on this album was about. I feel like the need for Genius might be part of what makes people like this album.

Solid sad Leonard

My first time listening to this guy. The lyrics are amazing but the music is kind of repetitive and Cohens singing doesn’t do it for me, he sounds like such a drag, but I guess it’s the writing thats the attraction here

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While I prefer the albums he produced later (when he lived in the bass range much more than he does here), this one still has some of the same lyrical power and a couple really, really good songs.

Case study in quality songwriting. One doesn’t need to be a great vocalist, although it helps. Cohen is emotional without being whiny, dark(ish) in a matter-of-fact way, and an overall treat to listen to.

I'm a fan. It does take a little priming to get me into the mood for LC and I think I enjoyed You Want it Darker better, but I did really enjoy listening to his debut album, and it got even better on a second listen. Wow, his young voice is so different.

Wonderful

Great voice

I feel like I should find this boring given previous reviews, but Cohen's voice has something magical that makes it wonderful.

Rustig maar mooi

4-

It's brilliant, but I was already depressed before I put it on. What a lyricist.

Haunted and haunting. My theory is that, as much as the lyrics, it’s the production that makes these records. Specifically, the choice of instrumental flourishes plus the lyrics plus LC’s distinctive voice that add up to such affecting and memorable work.

I really enjoyed the first to listen. Plan to listen to it many more times. I can't believe I missed this album more than 50 years ago.

Songs of Leonard Cohen is a beautifully cohesive debut. It creates a haunting, poetic atmosphere from the very first track and never really breaks that spell. The songwriting is the real strength here. Suzanne and Master Song are genuine masterpieces, lyrically rich and emotionally weighty. There is a quiet intensity to the whole album. It does not shout for attention. It draws you in slowly and rewards patience. So Long, Marianne is my personal highlight. Heartfelt, melodic and timeless. It carries warmth alongside the melancholy and feels like one of those songs that only grows stronger with age. There is not a bad moment on the record, although Sisters of Mercy is probably the one that resonated with me the least. Even then, it still fits the overall mood perfectly. Favourite song: So Long, Marianne Least favourite song: Sisters of Mercy Album artwork: Iconic and understated. It perfectly captures the introspective and enigmatic feel of the music within A powerful debut and a defining early statement from one of the great songwriters

Really enjoyed this album! Especially loved the guitar throughout the entire thing. Honorable mentions: Suzanne, Stranger Song, Stories of the Street

8/10 Excellent. Lovely songs, great delivery Voice reminds me of Lou Reed Mostly sparse production, love the songs that have hints of instrumentation Best: Master Song

Great, but short

Leonard Cohen excels at writing songs about women, and as that’s most of what this album was I had a blast. Favourite track: Winter Lady.

This is great, very melancholy, easy to listen to. Only gripe would be the weird screaming on the last song. Every other song had a clear message, easy to listen, and was calm easy and relaxing, whilst hitting some rough topics.

Eins og ég var með mikið ógeð á Cohen vegna Hallelujah þá hefur hann fengið uppreisn æru í gegnum þessa síðu. Mér finnst hann bara mjög skemmtilegur. Þessi plata er ekki eins góð og You want it darker en samt gef ég henni jafnmargar stjörnur af því að ég get ekki gefið hálfar stjörnur.

Dig Cohen over acoustic guitar. Suzanne is maybe his best song

So torn between 4 and 5

Listened before and love

Great listen. 2x at night, 3x total. 4.1

My cat really loved this album. It’s excellent.

Most of the album was familiar sounding to me. Although not too in depth, I found the songs to be easy listening and enjoyable. I recall his name from many years ago, that was a nice blast from the past.

Great songs... awful production

Great lyricist and songwriter but can't sing for shit.

classic Canadiana, what's not to like? So Long Marianne a beautiful track with the female singers.

LC has a very unique poetic delivery, but I find it to be too samey at points on this album. Quite a few songs feel like they are diet versions of Suzanne. Tracks like Sisters of Mercy with its Christmassy foley sounds are more engaging to me. Fave Tracks: Suzanne, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong 3.5/5

Eine gutes Album - wenn man in der passenden Stimmung ist.

Reminds me of Montreal

I like this album much more today than I did 20 years ago, perhaps its gloomy tones more reflect my mental attitude today. it sounds like a complete album from start to finish and not something that has been put together patchily. I think I need to listen to it again.

Classic

Very haunting and nostalgic of a quieter time. Classic folk singing.

Poetry!

GRAVELY LIKE MY PEE HOLE

I liked it, it was mellow, 4 stars

Not for me, but I respect the talent.

Loved it - sounds like it could have been released today. Will definitely relisten in the future.

Leonard Cohen has a one-of-a-kind voice and sound that really makes his music stand out from similar artists. It's a classic sound that defines that genre.

Love this album. Poetry in melodic motion.

Ich mag die Stimme und die relaxte Stimmung.

Cohen is great

I really didn't like the other Cohen album I listened to on this list, I'm Your Man, but this was a pleasant surprise. The clever uses of instruments and backing vocals, the mixing and production, the songwriting, all if it just clicks here. It's like Cohen is staring into my soul and my soul is listening. Really Enjoyable.

Album 280 of 1001 Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Suzanne I've gotten really enjoy some Leonard Cohen. Awesome songwriter, interesting guy, wonderful recordings. He has became a favorite.

Early Leonard Cohen lyrics are cryptic and sometimes inexplicable ("an ape with angel glands"), but this shambling debut has a magic charm. Despite its easy pace and gentle existence, there is an arresting, almost dangerous and indoctrinating quality all over this album that will hook and hypnotize the right type of listener into the cult of Cohen. Best tracks: 'Suzanne' and 'One of Us Cannot Be Wrong'

No. 82/1001 Suzanne 5/5 Master Song 4/5 Winter Lady 4/5 The Stranger Song 4/5 Sisters of Mercy 4/5 So Long, Marianne 4/5 Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye 3/5 Stories Of The Street 3/5 Teachers 3/5 One of Us Cannot Be Wrong 4/5 Average: 3,8 Mostly liked the toned-down and melancholic sound Cohen creates with this album. Lacks some musical diversity to become one of my all-time favorites.

I don’t really get down with Cohen too much. I just never seem to be in the mood for it. But this album is pretty astonishing considering the year it came out. Reflective and personal lyrics that really make a lasting statement.

Lovely stuff.

So again, another singer/ songwriter that I like more than Dylan, which is cool. His style is kind of rambling, lots of sentences and statements that continue on and on, but it kind of has a charm that I like. I'm ready for something different though, feel like I've gotten a lot of these singers from 1968-1972 in the last 2 weeks.

Classic

Really love the guitar work on this one.

Best Song: Suzanne. Iconic, pleading, romantic. His best early-career song. Worst Song: Teachers. Has a kind of repetitive droning that Cohen already has a negative tendency towards. Overall: I always love Cohen's lyricism, and I've listened to him enough that I've come to appreciate his no-frills style of delivery. The songs here have a youthfulness to them, and although I prefer his work from later in his life, this is still an excellent offering.

Lovely. 4 stars.

Nostalgic and very nice

Great storytelling. All his lyrics draw me into a world that he is creating. This is one you have to sit and really pay attention to. Everything seems purposeful from the subtle instrumentation to the use of background vocals.

inherentemente humano

Yeah this was cool definitely makes sense to compare it to Tom waits. Really pretty playing

Sad but beautiful

Surprisingly really good. Wouldn’t think I’d actually like a Leonard Cohen album. Not many songs I can pick out as being the best, they’re mostly equally good. 7.5/10 Top 3: 1. Master Song 2. Suzanne 3. Sisters of Mercy

I ended up liking this album more than I expected! Leonard Cohen is like a better sounding Bob Dylan and the songs were like poetry set to acoustic guitar. "So Long, Marianne" was the stand-out hit, but the overall vibe of the album was just cool and folksy. There was a certain zen to listening to this on a cloudy day, driving down the highway. There is a bit of a same-ness to these songs but in the end I think it was just the right length too, and if there was even just one more song it would have started to get grating.

Really really liked this album. I feel like this is a very accessible Cohen album and the production of lightly strummed kind of lo-fi guitars really pairs well with his voice and poetic verses.

LC is growing on me a bit. As the title suggests this isn’t really an album - every song ends pretty abruptly before going onto something new. But The Stranger Song; So Long, Marianne; and One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong were all really strong and the rest was good enough if a bit, as Josh would say, samey. Cohen’s talent is clearly as a lyricist and when that coincides with good music I love the result.

Really lovely stuff. The music and delivery really forces you to focus on the content of lyrics, which is luckily very good. Very poetic. 8/10

Some good songs. Very mysterious

like talking to a calm, sensible, serious and not flashy person, who also happens to be a poet. loved taking subway with Cohen

This one isn't about the music, which goes from from clumsy to perfunctory. It's about the lyrics and the mood. This one feels like an old friend, who you invite over to share a beer and life's troubles. The Stranger Song stands above the rest.

Some fine tracks. Enjoyed it.

Cd

Calm chill music

There's something so distinct and profound sounding in the late 1960's folk scene. Maybe it was that life was different and people were living out the songs they were writing. Maybe the lack of existing content allowed for more simplistic freedom of expression. Either way, an excellent debut from Leonard Cohen

Listened Before? Yes Album Art: 4 / 5 (I love the apparent lack of effort here. Some lazy word art style lettering with a sadboi portrait) This album was actually recommended to Mehie and I at our baby shower for Desmond as good music for naptime. I can't say it was bad advice, but at the time I think we were both confused. I didn't listen terribly closely, but this was an extremely solid folk album with Leonard Cohen sounding the cleanest I've ever heard from him. Often erring on the melancholy in tone, I suspect that if I gave a close listen to the lyrics I would be rewarded. Ultimately though a lot of this kind of ran together for me so I can't go stronger than a 4. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists:

So I'd already heard this one. Very much like it, strong 4 (8.5 out of 10 type shi). So Long, Marianne got stuck in my head for ages. The album is a little depressing sounding, rainy day type one.

First song, by all takes, this is hauntingly beautiful. Why have I never sat down and listened to Leonard Cohen with good headphones? This is everything I want Simon and Garfunkel to be. The backing vocals don't distract. Almost a 5/5. Not sure what doesn't make it total banger. Maybe it's the lyrics. They're petty sappy. Talked about this later and the story telling I also didn't really like.

I liked most of the song and I enjoy the style but his storytelling songs feel a bit like diluted Bob Dylan attempts that didn’t quite hit the mark of good rhythm

It's pretty good but not his best album by a long way...

Heard it beofre. RIP, Bard.

Tvö klassísk lög og mörg önnur góð. Lágstemmdur en hæfilega fjölbreyttur hljóðheimur, og röddin ekki enn orðin hrjúf. Afskaplega áheyrilegt, en ekki eins áhrifamikil og lokaplatan.

Really good one to close your eyes and relax to. The only parts I didn't enjoy were when it was less musical and more spoken poetry with guitar plucking, although he kind of rode that line throughout.

Dette likte jeg! Eventyrlig historiefortelling. Albumet som en helhet er også tydelig planlagt, som var gøy å oppleve. Det er definitivt en "aktiv" lytteropplevelse, hvor man må leve seg inn i teksten for at alt virkelig skal puste. Favorittlåt: Master Song

Classic

wow, his poetry is incredible

Great lyricist

I find Cohen's voice quite haunting, especially Suzanne,Overall very mellow & enjoyable album

Very good album. Made me think of things like Tom Waits but played more straight. 4/5

I have a hot take about Leonard Cohen that I’ll save for another day. I do really like his music for the most part, and this has some incredible material. More lyrical than musical, but there are some killer harmonies and his voice leaves such an impact that it’s hard to deny. I can see a case made for this being his strongest LP. B+

I’ve really enjoyed getting into Leonard Cohen off this thing. Hope there’s some more.

Een rustige plaat die wel eens opstond in mijn studententijd. Fijne soundtrack bij enkele mooie momenten. Poëtisch, zou Schlangenmann zeggen. Hier staan veel pareltjes op die in een arthouse cinema soundtrack horen te pronken. Ooit One of Us Cannot Be Wrong nog ‘gecoverd’ met een gelegenheidsbandje. Een mooie herinnering hoe we dat toen min of meer verbasterd hebben tot een heel ander beest. Was Leonard Cohen 1 van de Groten der Aarde? Waarschijnlijk wel, maar ik ben nooit dieper in zijn poëtische wereld gedoken dan een paar platen. Op muzikaal vlak wordt alles ondersteunend, folky en sober gehouden, alle aandacht naar die verhalende teksten. Als ik hem nu nog eens opzet heb ik wel meteen zin om met een zwarte coltrui aan en een verfijnd brilletje op mijn neus wat zinloos te gaan discussiëren over ‘t leven in een ouderwetse koffiebar. Maar om dieper in zijn oeuvre te duiken dan zijn eerste 3 platen… het zal nog niet voor morgen zijn. Ik heb met die eerste platen wel genoeg meesterpoëet Cohen denk ik. Misschien is Songs Of Love and Hate wel meer op zijn plek in de 1001 before you die lijst. Ik vrees dat Cohen meer en meer alleen gekend zal staan als ‘die van het originele Hallelujah’, en dat zou jammer zijn, maar eerlijk: een gigantische muzikale navolging heeft hij niet gehad. De maatschappij is hier te hard voor versneld. Misschien zingt die van Warhaus nog geheel op zijn Cohens, maar Maarten Devoldere is wel een betere zanger. Ik besluit met eeuwig respect voor de poëet, en een adequate hoeveelheid respect voor de muziek die de poëzie draagt, met een 4 voor deze plaat. Zonder die mooie herinneringen weet ik niet goed welke score ik er zou aan gegeven hebben. Ik zou dit mss best even nalezen voor coherentie, maar hey er is weer een album te reviewen. Ain’t nobody got time fo that!

Vind ik wel eens leuk. Alles in detail bespreken hebben er al genoeg eens gedaan he, laat ons eerlijk zijn. Kom.

Regroupe certains des meilleurs textes de Cohen (Suzanne, The Stranger Song, So Long Marianne). Si les arrangements musicaux sont simples, ils ne détonnent pas par rapport à l'époque, et les mélodies mettent bien les paroles en valeur. Je pense que cet album résiste bien aux critiques habituelles de Cohen. Par contre: certaines pièces se ressemblent beaucoup.

Haunting and beautiful.

I love the idea of Leonard Cohen of singing in a Renaissance court or something, just strummin his little mandolin.

Absolutely beautiful, Suzzane just fills me with longing and melancholy it's crazy

It was good. Fav song So Long Marianne

Seeds of greater songs, albums to come. Still a worthy listen in its own right.

Ein schönes Album, klingt gemütlich und werde ich mir speichern, um es noch öfter zu hören.

A good album. I liked it.

A fantastic debut with some incredible songs, but track for track I don’t think it quite holds up with Songs of Love and Hate or New Skin for the Old Ceremony

Sad as fuck w

ahhh, this did not disappoint me in the least. i listened to "you want it darker" prior to this, and it was great, so an album right at the start of his career peaked my interest and it's even better! "suzanne", "master song", "so long, marianne", and lest we forget "one of us cannot be wrong"! very excellent, my opinion of this might rise over time but for here it'll get a 4/5.

Beautiful Music, supporting beautiful lyrics

very pretty. he looks exactly like young al pacino holy fucking shittttt. fav songs: suzanne, sisters of mercy, hey thats no way to say goodbye.

Cohen is one of those artists often mentioned but rarely encountered directly. His debut album reveals impressive singer-storyteller talent. The songs are lyrically dense and sophisticated. Yet, the music seems more a mere vehicle to showcase Cohen's poetic chops and ability as a writer. In fact, the arrangements on the album feel over-produced with the folksy fashions of the time it was released when a one-man-with-a-guitar treatment would likely be more powerful for Cohen's elaborate, winding, narrative style. The fact that this Canadian treasure is often mentioned along with Bob Dylan is revealing and reasonable, albeit a stretch as Cohen's body of work never reached the peaks, proportion, or preeminence.

One of Cohens best, and that's a high bar

I've said it before, I'm not a big fan of Leonard Cohen, I appreciate his early work for what it was, but I found his talking poetry set to music tedious at times. The sparseness and lyrical genius of, Songs Of Leonard Cohen gave Cohen the showcase to show poetry set to music can be great and it's influence and classic songs makes this essential. A Canadian treasure!

Some excellent songwriting and storytelling. Not my usual cup of tea but I can appreciate the craft

Fabulous, but not his best.

I'm really glad I listened to "You Want It Darker" before listening to this one. That album was much more akin to my taste, and made me go into this one with a much more open mind. Cohen's always been a brilliant poet and lyricist, and that's something I probably would've skimmed over for this album had I not been introduced to his last work.

4.5

Heel ingetogen, zonder overdreven melig te zijn. Kende niets van Cohens eerdere werk, maar dit kon ik wel smaken

Cohen is often put on the same shelf as Dylan. Although I hear the resemblance, I think Cohen is much more poetic than Dylan. And I like that.

I love Leonard Cohen

An amazingly powerful debut. Undoubtedly a gifted songwriter. The only thing preventing this from being a 5 for me is that the heavy, somber tone remains fairly constant throughout. Song for song it is brilliant, but as an album it comes across as somewhat overbearing, and not something I'd return to often, unless in the absolute proper mood.

I first heard this about 6 years ago in the Winter which felt right. I was just thinking that Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen are two sides of the same coin: Waits shows the sacred in the vulgar and Cohen brings the vulgar into the sacred. I’m a fan of Cohen but most of his albums are a mixed bag. “Suzanne”, “So Long, Marianne”, “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye”, and “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong” are great. The rest of the tracks are just “fine” for me. I’d almost wish this was an EP of those 4 songs alone and this would be a straight 5. Unfortunately due to those duds, for me it’s a 4. Definitely 5 for legacy though and a great introduction for Leonard Cohen.

Great poet and songwriter. Not a great singer. Understand why his songs are so often covered. RIP.

Вот! Вот это - прям 1 в 1 бардовская песня. Жанр написан - современный фолк, значит вот так и будем определять бардов. Блин, я не знаю почему, но мне так зашла эта музыка! Может быть, действительно влияет как-то место прослушивания (слушал альбом, пока шёл к его могиле в Монреале). Но она так подходит тому, что я наблюдал вокруг: маленькие 2-3 этажные кирпичные домики, небольшие скверы с прудами, планировка улиц "сеточкой", брутальные тротуары из бетона и огромные автомобили. И эта музыка прям попала в контекст, ей богу! So Long, Marianne и Stories of the Street - любимые

Good.

Suzanne and Marianne are pantheon songs

love is tone of voice, very soothing

I did not need the depression, but this one's good

A great listen. One of the debut albums on this list that truly belongs.

Beautifully haunted

lapsenkirkuna...nuorimies kuvassa, suulievet mutrussa (he knows what is about to happen) horrifying eyes... ei osaa vielä laulaa kuin tupakanveto kilpailija konsanaan. albumin nimi huono, voisi olla esim. harrows in the heart of god.. ehkä lenniltäkin tulisi hymyhuulet esiin. hyvä että genreissä laulaja kynänsauhuttaja stories of the street

Love the guitar but its a little slow for me

I need to listen to this one more closely. It’s poetry with a little musical backing.

Beautiful debut by te late and great Leonard Cothen. The lyrics are striking and musical playing not overstated and supporting the story like telling vocals. I do need to be in the mood for this since it’s so somber and morose. But I do find it worth listening from time to time! 8 out of 10

Very nice and relaxing music, with fantastic lyrics.

Really enjoyed this... delicately sung and played. Cohen's voice carries a certain cadence that leaves you waiting for the next line with interest. Best demonstrated on Suzanne which was my highlight of the record.

Leonard Cohen is a gift.

I really love Leonard Cohen's writing, his lyrics are really captivating, though a lot of his early songwriting feels like it follows the same meter and has a similar picking style. That may be because he was becoming a more experienced guitar player and this was his debut album but either way this album is still full of good songs. My only critique would be that it starts to feel a little repetitive after a while because of the instrumentation. Standout Tracks: Suzanne, Winter Lady, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

All the classics very charmingly arranged, morose and uplifting, occasionally dour but satisfyingly burnished.

I wish this had come up before now, as I feel I have slightly overlooked and under-scored the other Cohen albums offered up so far. He certainly has a way with words.

Top 3 LC albums.

Lovely, wholesome album. Favourite song: Suzanne

The song was really good but not the best i have heard as a rookie i would say it is pretty good.

Worthy of more listens. Dug it

Classic

8/10

I was vibbing

Leonard cohen is not the best singer or anything but just like bob dylan he’s got such a warmth and his song lyrics are so moving :) so long marianne a banger

A lovely album, so pleasant to listen and enjoy

Sad and intimate banger after banger

Loved the folk-y vibes of this album. The lyrics, Cohen’s voice, and the minimal instrumentation with just an acoustic guitar created a nice, mellow vibe. Favorite songs: Suzanne, Winter Lady, So Long, Marianne, and Stories of the Street.

Good

This was a beautiful album. The songwriting is absolutely phenomenal, the tone of melancholy is palpable, and it just is pleasant to listen to on both and active and passive scale. Suzanne is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard—the use of the female voice as a sort of distant descant which is used throughout the album is such an amazing touch and something I'm surprised I don't hear more in other music just from how beautiful the effect is. Some of the songs blend together slightly as there is little musical variety on the album, which keeps it from being a 5 star, but the writing keeps it heavily in the conversation, and it is easily one of my favorite albums in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Why did nobody tell me Leonard cohen could write god damn. Tempted to give it a 5 but I don’t know it like that yet

Amazing debut album.

I liked it! It felt kinda monotonous at times but the songwriting is really good and the music itself is sick. the vocals get boring BUT the songwriting slaps. the religious stuff was super interesting bc iirc he wasn’t religious??

honestly it's a comforting vibe, I love how he sounds like my great uncle and all the songs sound similar and random lines are just described so unabashedly, but other ones tell a story that's just so. entrancing. definitely got lost a couple times in it. but things that feel semi-infinite get a special place in my heart, for certain.

Gentle, folky singer-songwriter

Lyrically stunning, and love the delicate instrumentation that feeds on the cadence of the lyrics. Didn't know until reading the wiki on it today that David Lindley was one of the musicians on the album.

I had a friend who was attracted to crazy girls, and I never understood that. Why would a man want to borrow that kind of trouble? Was there such a lack of interest in his own life that he had to manufacture it? Maybe he just wanted to look in the crazy mirror. Like Cohen, he failed at relationships again and again. Was it all an unconscious self-sabotage? Knowing it wouldn’t work out, and being able to blame it on the craziness of the girl?

Beautiful songs, dated well. Would struggle to get a record deal nowadays with songs like this, which I guess is pretty sad. Classics on here (Suzanne/so long Marianne), but a couple that just don't resonate, a couple have the same lyrical structure up as limericks, which is odd.

Great album when listened to in full. Separate numbers were kind of hard for me to get into the vibe.

Leonard Cohen is obviously a terrific lyricist/poet but what really stands out alongside that is his strength as a songwriter. Suzanne, So Long Marianne, Sisters of Mercy, Hey That’s No Way are just great songs

It’s good, but it seems the music is primarily just an accompaniment for Cohen’s poetry.

Never been a massive fan as u found him too dour however my son loved him and he has now passed away. On reflection it has a lot of soul. He weaves stories of mystery and yearning with sparse beautiful arrangements.

A very eloquent and skillful writer and storyteller.

Well that was lovely

This is very much my speed. Will definitely try to get more into Leonard Cohen soon. Standouts: Suzanne, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Erg fijn album als je in de juiste stemming bent. Het hele album is mooi, met een aantal hoogtepunten erop. Ik geef het 4 sterren.

There isn’t much going on here aside from the lyrics. Guitar stays on the same level of intricacy the whole album. The other instruments aren’t very impressive, either. None of it, including vocals, is bad, but it’s nothing special. What really makes this album are the chords and the way he flows all of those elements together as well as his lyrics. If the album weren’t as repetitive, it may have gotten a perfect score. 4/5

Très Leaonard Cohen. Très bon!

Listen to lyrics more

Enjoyable album with a chill, afternoon evening vibe.

nice instrumentals

Leonard Cohen is a real songwriter’s songwriter, and I feel like a lot of his music requires a much more active listening than I’m often willing to give. Still, very pretty chamber folk with good melodies and the lyricism I did pick up on seems spot on. Like this one more than Songs of Love and Hate, I think.

Old guy singing. It's good though.

had an out of body experience listening to this. 10/10 thank you leonard cohen

my fourth leonard cohen album on this list! songs of leonard cohen is his debut album (you can't say the album's title wasn't apt). i am hearing a lot of similarity between bob dylan and leonard cohen here. songs of leonard cohen was released in 1967, arguably in dylan's hay day. this album is straight folk, plain and simple. instead of focusing on the political like dylan, cohen focuses on love and religion. as with other leonard cohen albums, what truly stands out is the songwriting. (of course, that's what just happens in folk music.) throughout his entire life, he was able to use beautiful imagery to create such a lifelike world. it's lovely to see his ability in full force in his debut album. my suspicion is that he was heavy-handed in the lyrics here, especially in comparison to later albums, but i can't fault a debut album. cohen makes for easy listening, in a way. it isn't jarring and is easy on your ears, even if the lyrics are dark and his voice isn't smooth. some of the album is too similar to itself; when i initially listened, i thought the album restarted when i was halfway through. i've said before in my reviews i'm not generally a fan of folk music, but leonard cohen makes folk so bearable. 3.5