Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Oorraid nyt päästiin og-runopoikaan levyvalinnoissa. Tunnelma hyvä, laulu herkistelyä. Musiikki tietty aika pelkistettyä, jotta runosuolen prööt prööt -pulputus pääsee oikeuksiinsa. Ongelma toki sitten siinä, että kun ei jaksa perehtyä lyriikkaan, niin jää 70% pois. En nyt tee tämän suhteen poikkeusta ja hae lyriikkavihkosta googlella, niin mennään perstuntumalla. Iha kiva, ei kyl tuu kuunneltuu.

Vaikutti siltä että vaatisi enemmän keskittymistä kuin mitä projektissa töiden taustalla pystyn antamaan, joten arvostellaan pelkän musiikillisen ensivaikutelman pohjalta, joka oli kenties vähän liiankin "rentoa" kitaran näppäilyä omaan makuun

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

Ihan yllättävän hyvä. Cohenia en ole kauheasti kuunnellut, kun oikeastaan en ole ikinä pitänyt miehen tuotannosta. Mutta tämä oli ihan kivaa kuunneltavaa, ei ihan niin taidepläjäys kun se tuotanto mikä entuudestaan oli itselle tuttua.

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.

Is a challenging listen for me as the unitiated. Not because it's bad, but because it's so unconventional. It's not traditional music in the usual sense, yet Cohen somehow extracts profound emotion and atmosphere from the barest arrangements. You don’t have to love it to appreciate how much he achieves with so little. Somewhere between a 3 and 4, depends on the mood, the moment, even the verse. Let’s just call it good and leave it at that.

This album has the same great song writing and atmosphere of Cohen's later albums with a crucial difference: The more melodic delivery of his sing-talking makes this significantly more pleasant to listen to. Its a lyric heavy album and it will take me multiple listens before I can fully appreciate their meaning, but even on the first listen of this I can tell how well crafted the verse is. One of those rare songwriters that fully synthesises the wording with the meaning with the music, often resolving all three elements simultaneously to create moments of awe. It's poetry but with an extra dimension. A quick nod to the intimate recording and production which is very much to my taste and sympathetically done here. Not so light a touch that there aren't some interesting discoveries such as the stereo reveal of the fairground backing to "Sisters of Mercy". I am fully invested in this and will definitely be revisiting this album to fully explore it's depths.

Good album. I think Leonard Cohen would be amazing if he were a better vocalist

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".

My favorite Leonard Cohen and one of my favorite album ever. So warm, dark and introspective. An album that grabs all my attention from start to finish!

Leonard Cohen songs give you descriptor after descriptor that paints a beautiful and sometimes heart breaking scene for you. The words are poetic and his voice so sweet. It gave me this rich melancholy feeling, in the best way. It's overall just great songwriting. I was already a fan of Cohen but I'm really going to dive into his works now.

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.

I absolutely love this album. It's such a timeless masterpiece, these songs sound like they've been around for centuries. Leonard Cohen started as a poet and it's very noticable in his songwriting. I've listened to this one more than any other album on the list and I'm still puzzled by the lyrics and what they mean. There are stories told, yet everything said here remains a sort of mystery where you never know the true meaning or intent behind the song. I think Cohen's guitar playing is also at his very best here. He went on to do more lush works as he furthered into his career, but the songs here just being accompanied with his guitar and the occassional other string instrument or voice really aids the songwriting. One of the best albums of all time.

Boring old man rock. Fine as background music but it doesn't have anything that excites me or speaks to me on an emotional level

Not his best but still beautiful.

sehr ruhig, schön

Jag vill gilla detta mer än jag gör. Försökte verkligen känna "men det är väl grymt". Men i ärlighetens namn känner jag inte mycket. På pappret är det musik jag definitivt kan gilla. Det lågmälda och stillsamma. Men jag vet inte vad problemet är. Tror det är avsaknaden av melodi, eller iaf lite roligare arrangemang. Det är förstås inte dåligt. Men jag kommer nog sällan/aldrig välja att lyssna på Leonard frivilligt. Det är inte ett gott betyg.

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.

Not my jam. Found it boring.

I’m good. Didn’t finish it.

This guy seems like a pompous asshole that likes the smell his own farts

Leonard Cohen brings all of his strengths as a novelist and poet to his songwriting. Very easy listening but the lyrics are so deep and powerful. The beauty in this album really lies in the emotions of the characters he is describing.

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” 🥹

This was so good, I really don't know Leonard Cohen except from The Hottest Sex Playlist, and this was a great introduction. So Long, Marianne really is a perfect love song.

Very strong storytelling album.

Not my style of music. Bored me to death.

Возможно, это великий альбом, но я его, честно говоря, не оценил. Это такой набор старых балладных песен для грустных мыслей, если вы пенсионер. Может, оно и не так, но я ощутил это так. Не знаю в общем, красиво звучит, но что-то не вкатило.

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

10,000,000,000 times better than Bob Dylan, but still not that interesting. Maybe if he would sing about something other than sexy legs or whatever.

The storytelling aspect of this album is off the charts. The melancholic tone, while appropriate to the subject matter, is…polarizing.

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

This was an excellent album, full of original songs that have been covered by many artists.

A very relaxing album, not a regular listening but I won't be mad to hear it in a restaurant 3/5

This is not my jam, and if it played on the radio, I'd very probably change the station. That being said, it's pretty crazy to just hear a guy's voice and not have it be autotuned to high heaven.

Amazing. Just amazing

Silda and ela rate 3 out of 5 stars, Adam rates 3 as well. I liked it, chill. 1st song very good

Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.

A pleasant buffet of melodic medieval mastery. Feels like a story book desperately needing to be read by someone who had little choice in the matter but a great sense of pace, channeling his ancestral bards.

Wasn't planning on feeling melancholy today but the Lord(e) had other plans. First time listening was interrupted with the classic 'turn down to think'. Second time listening through the trusty plug ins and I could show the undulating poetry some respect. Master Song - Hardanger Fiddle - the vibrations are their own notes. The Stranger Song - "Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild. He'll never need to deal another. He was just some Joseph looking for a manger" - tea. So Long, Marianne - makes me feel like Julie Andrews/Sound Of Music mountain spins. Stories of the Street - "We are so small between the stars, so large against the sky. And lost among the subway crowds, I try to catch your eye", the week of cosmic connection. End of - One of Us Can't be Wrong - haunting. Why do I get the impression he was a playAh

Pretty solid

Folk music full of 60s vibes. Themes are love, lost loves, infidelity, drugs, independence, war. Depth in most songs to unpack.

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.

Kudos to the late Mr. Cohen for his lyrical prowess, but I just don't really like the music. On all but a couple of the tracks, I find the arrangements too sparse to distract me from the dull timbre of his voice. I would happily listen to the album again if my arm was twisted, but I wouldn't be likely to deliberately seek it out.

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.

Very clear vocals and good lyrics. Didn't hit me terribly hard though.

Bekend van de titel 'Suzanne'. Vond de rest van het album hier erg op lijken.

Pretty decent, most songs have a good start, but the religious undertones kinda throw me off. instrumentally, it’s amazing, until some obscure or random instrument (during my time) starts being used and it throws off the whole vibe for me. 3.49/5

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

I know, I know, I’m supposed to like this guy. He’s one of the greats. All I can say is zzzzzzzz. Go be a poet.

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!

At some point Will Toledo from Car Seat Headrest had a public Spotify and he had a playlist called “Workout” or something along those lines and it was just Suzanne by Leonard Cohen 10 times

Whoo Haaa! Looks like a young to middle aged Al Pacino gracing the album cover. This was relaxing and easy listen. I liked “So long , Marianne”, and “Hey, That’s no way to say goodbye”. 3.5/5

A perfectly fine listen and a good debut from someone who was just finding his voice, long before it matured into what I know Cohen to be. Most songs had the same feel, but I particularly liked “So Long, Marianne” with its instrumentation and 3/4 waltz time.

A very different vibe than his later work. It was fine.

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

I seem to like the songs of Leonard Cohen more when they're performed by others.

A Canadian legend

A little too samey for me

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

A poet.

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.

Overall, great piece of work with tons of lyrical meaning and Dylan-Esque to it. I thought that So Long, Marianne was the song that stood out the most. A guy and his guitar, ya can’t go wrong.

I wanted to love it, but just liked okay.

I love this Album. It reminds me of summer days with the windows open and a nice breeze flowing over you. No worries. No stress. Just pure serenading by Leonard himself. 10/10 no notes.

meh

Enjoyed this one a lot!

Pepite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thought I would like this. I really didn’t.

Boring

Slow Leonard Cohen

This album feels like a long lost relative: both familiar and brand new. From the opening track with Suzanne, I sighed a breath of relief as if to say “oh thank god” even though I never heard it before and that sentiment carried through the rest of the album. Especially with the chaos that my phone is bringing me right now, a peaceful album, sonically, is exactly what I needed. One where the words demanded attention so that my mind could not wander.

This is a guy who put all his skill points into lyrics. The music is pleasant. Sometimes his words grab something inside of you and twists out before gently letting go. The second half of the album is especially good. The last song is my favorite.

Bruh, this thing keeps using the review from the previous album and not saving my notes. This album is not my favorite of Cohen’s but it’s very singer/songwriter and calm and very much of its time. I enjoyed the listen. Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye was probably my favorite song.

Suzanne hits like heroin. Father John Misty is just a Leonard Cohen with a beard and better voice. Someone asked the question “what if Lou Reed had a bigger brain and got way more ass?” Then Leonard Cohen came to answer. This dude be yearning like a mf’er This is songwriting on a different level. It feels like poetry put to music. But it’s still music. This feels like he hasn’t hit his stride musically but he knows who he is as a songwriter. That was a rough outro to the album.

What a lovely album

Like Bob Dylan… but American. They’re both American! And he’s also not as good. Pretty boring album.

this album was so boring not even gonna lie

8/10

Deep.

He is so boring.

Pretty sad but something about it is appealing to me.

Lekker rustig, weer luisteren

yes

Leonard Cohen’s early albums are completely unique in the 60’s singer/songwriter genre. They are such a vibe to me. Musically they are very sparse and haunting pushing his voice to the front of the record. I’m not a poetry or even a lyrics-first guy but I find his combination or voice and lyrics otherworldly. Listened to this album countless times on headphones while reading or walking around at night. An absolute classic.

Great stuff. Wonderful songs. Fantastic arrangements. The Master Album.

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

Poetry done to music. Like my poetry free music free. Not for me.

This is some of the most pretentious drivel I’ve ever heard.

really nice!

Old songwriter simple songs

Hard album for me to review. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve struggled with the more lyrical compositions on the list. Lots of interesting imagery and story telling here, but as far as “music” goes, it’s let’s rhythmic. For that reason I think it’s probably a 3- I didn’t mind it, but I’m also not sure I would go out of my way to listen again personally.

Chilled if repetitive

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

Love the story telling in each song and remember listening to this as a kid. Brought back memories of innocence. Thanks for putting this on the list.

Bleak and dark. Definitely need to be in a sad mood to truly appreciate this.

Finally done with Leonard Cohen. god gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers

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

He has a recognizable style and I do enjoy it but I feel like most his songs or at least this album has the same energy

Very Folky, Glad I finnally listened to him

Honestly the album grew on me, delicate in ways I didn’t expect to like

Creo que Cohen merecía un Nobel de literatura tanto como Dylan. Me parece una de las maravillas que dejó el siglo XX. Estilo reconocible, pero a la vez variedad musical, una voz limitada pero que canta desde la cima de una montaña, melodías que mecen el alma y letras afinadas hasta la última coma. Es un talento de época y aquí se presenta probablemente en su versión más pura. No debemos ignorar los arreglos, que aunque sutiles, son de una belleza enorme. Por supuesto, casi todo lo que publicó merece cinco estrellas.

People fall into two categories with Leonard Cohen, those who deeply and implicitly understand his genius, and those who just don't get it. Unfortunately I fall into the latter category. So many people whose taste I respect love him, but I've never gotten it I've tried to like him so many times and I just can't get over line, he's just too sentimental for a flippant soul like me. It sounds like a cop out but I just find his music boring and a bit self indulgent and his voice does nothing for me. This album is inoffensive and I enjoy So Long Marianne so I'm not gonna slam it too harshly

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

2/5. Из вежливости переслушал.

Old fashion

not interested

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

Fantastic voice, not really my cup of tea though.

Overall: 9/10 So glad to see the best of Leonard Cohen after not having the best experience with another of his albums on this list. I think his lyrics shine through the best with minimal instrumentation like this. Reminds me of Bob Dylan or Nick Drake. I think his voice sounds really great on this album as well. He doesn't have a huge range vocally but it's pleasant to listen to. I'm not afraid to listen to his other works now that I've heard this. Fav Song: So Long, Marianne

Tickle me taint there young feller

Nelabai.

Going through my backlog, I really wasn't expecting this to make me look forward to Baby One More Time coming up next.

2 stars. I know this guy because of Hallelujah

Sooooo slow and sleepy

I found this to be very boring

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.

Not a bad listen, but I did almost fall asleep. Better than I thought

Thoughtful lyrics set to calm, soothing acoustic folk. - 2.5/5

I don't know what to make of this. He looks he would be crooner like Sinartra bur it's more like beatnik spoken word poetry jam. It reminds me of William Shatner's attempts at singing but Cohen has some talent. His prose throughout is too similar in the vast majority of his songs. So Long, Marianne is the best song in a sense that it's a more melodic song than others. He is songwriting is good but I just see anytime I would listen to this beyond this list. 2 only because it's more interesting than good.

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.

Knew the name but had never listened before. Classic, authentic folk songs—definitely not my usual taste, but a reminder that I should keep my ears open beyond my comfort zone.

It was ok.

Melancholic and soulful

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

It's my first time listening to this album, it captivated the moment it started. Omg 1967 is such a magical year for music. Leaning towards a somber mood compared to other masterpieces of the time, it also has a lovely whimsical charm, really great album I already love it

I dont remember this album being so doleful.

Jesus Christ, this made me want to throw myself off the Tyne Bridge 💀 If this has to be on this list, it needs to be album 1001, because you'll want to end it all before it's finished.

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.

Almost hypnotically boring and mumble-y

Me gustó mucho, todas las canciones tienen una guitarra muy linda. Mi favorita fue "Master Song".

Hyvä albumi

umm… what is he talking about?

The whole album is very ominous and sometimes creepy but not usually in a way that I like

Хороший альбом, гарні пісні. Мабуть лише Teachers не сподобалась.сподобалася

i only have one thing to say about this album: leonard’s got BARS.

Medio aburrido el ritmo (algo que detesto) peeero la letra es hermosa asi que le doy puntaje por la lirica

Not a fan.

Gode vibes - røget bodega/chill/shelter

Leonard's singing and storytelling carries this one, because I was fully prepared to dismiss it as another boring folk rock album, but the way he sings and the lyrics he uses is very good and quite clever.

What kind of drugs was this man on?

(98/100)

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

Nett, wenig besonders.

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

He sounds like the kinds of guy who believes that he is the smartest guy in the room, is bummed about nearly everything, and has disdain for a lot of people. Even though, that describes me a lot of the time, I found this album boring and depressing. Go figure?

point8.

Not as good as some of his others

Tbh this album is poetry set to 4 chord acoustic guitar. It does what it sets to do, and doesn't deviate from that, imagine Bob Dylan without harmonica and a better sounding voice.

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.

his songwriting is so pretty and his voice is so soothing

Not as refined as his later work. Good listen, but wouldn't put it on again.

Possibly the greatest lyricist in popular music, before he was regarded as a legend. Disarmingly simple yet moving

A dark and mellow atmospheric ride. A bit too much similarity between the songs do cause it to be a bit monotonous (is that a real word?) for a whole album stretch. It has it's time and place, but I'll stick to Dylan for my 60's folky stuff for now. Enjoy the lyrics though. Favorite track: The Stranger Song

2.5

Lyrically, I really enjoyed this. It was eloquent, evoked proper emotions, and was more thoughtful than most of the song writing you find here. You're living the story Cohen is painting as you listen. The acoustic guitar is also soothing. The primary issue is that Cohen's voice is pretty monotone, and the album begins to get boring quickly in every other aspect. It feels so incredibly long despite being only 10 songs.

Tell you what troops, this has done me in. Never sat down and got through a full Cohen album. Regretting every choice I've made that made that the case. This is absolutely beautiful, it's dry, the guitar is lovely, track after track has these beautiful little bits of poetry. Going to come back to this again and again. Might buy it as a record. Amazing. Best tracks are Susanne, Stranger Song, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong, and So Long, Marianne, but every single song on this album is good. God, I'm glad I found this.

Strong lyrics, voice puts me to sleep.

Couple of great ballads, made Quin very chill

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

I'm not one who pays attention to lyrics, so this was lost on me. Nothing personal.

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.

Calming

Classic

I was very surprised the moment he started singing. I find his voice to be beautiful, enrapturing, and maybe even haunting. I loved that just hearing him sing hit me so hard; I couldn't tell you the last singer, that I hadn't heard of, has made me feel that way since starting the list. Even though his music was coming out around the same time as The Beatles, I couldn't help but think they took some inspiration from Leonard. I didn't quite connect with the older structure, or lyrics, that he uses but really enjoyed myself either way. Favorite songs: Suzanne Winter Lady The Stranger Song Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

7/10. Música tranquila, conocia una sola cancion “I’m your man”

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

I had a headache all morning, so I was relieved this album was nice and gentle. Though the headache also probably made it so I wasn't fully listening to the lyrics most of the time. I wanted to like it more, and maybe in other circumstances I would.

This guy is a Canadian legend, wrote one of the most beautiful songs I know ('Hallelujah') and is utterly beloved by a ton of people I respect. Here's the problem: I don't get it. He writes lovely music, it's all just so very, very slow. My hottest take is that Leonard Cohen songs are better as covers. I've just never loved his voice; it's deep and fairly soothing but his music (when performed by him) always plods for me. And for a singer-songwriter (especially one with a reputation for meticulousness), there's no one else to blame. If you don't fall asleep during 'Winter Lady', I'm very impressed by your alertness. Highlights: 'Suzanne' and 'So Long, Marianne'. 3/5 because everyone loves Cohn except me, and even I like his songwriting. Check out any tribute to Leonard Cohen; they're all pretty good.

Not the one that is for me

While Leonard Cohen certainly has his many fans, I can't help but to think that he may be, in certain spaces, one of the most underrated artists in his nook. He is an underrated singer, guitarist, hell, depending on where you ask he may even be an underrated songwriter. Frankly, I think more people need to be honest about where he sits in the discussion about the "Great American Songwriter". Songs of Leonard Cohen is a great showcase of his talents, and probably one of the greatest debuts of all time. At times beautiful and earnestly sweet, very often profoundly sad, this album shows Cohen as a fully developed songwriter already. His guitar playing is understated and chilly, occasionally launching into a stunning classical guitar passage here and there. The arrangements (controversial to Cohen himself) are very creative and well utilized, when this becomes larger than a man and a guitar, it has some real impact. Almost most importantly, his lyrics are just fantastic. There are so many lines that I just love. He combines biblical allusion, visual poetics, and some incredible characterization across this album on the major hitters and deep cuts alike, all held together by his grimly self serious, and deeply expressive vocal performances. Running down classics here, Suzanne is one of Cohen's most celebrated songs, Master Song is chilling and kind of mysterious, Stranger Song is absolutely gripping. And Sisters of Mercy and Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye have also been cemented as absolute classics, among others. Personally, two of my favorites are some of the deep cuts here. Teachers is written in such a way that every line feels kind of shocking, it is just incredible writing. And one of my absolute favorite Leonard Cohen songs is also here: the deeply underrated One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong. This song's emotional palette is kind of horrific honestly,the lyrics are very specific, but also sort of surreal, and *incredibly* dour. And, it ends with some of the most true and honest sounding screaming I have ever heard on a song. It is just the kind of horrible, miserable, beautiful art that I crave. This album is just fantastic, there's no one else who can fill the place in my heart designated for Cohen, and music like this is why. This is just fantastic from front to back, with many of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs. This one is incredibly special.

Alright, some Leonard Cohen! I still think he looks like fuckin Al Pacino! lol I love his voice. It's so smooth and deep. Lot's of story in his songs. Meh, this one wasn't that great. 2 stars

So longgg mAAArieeeeeEEENE

Good songwriter for sure, but I don’t connect with the voice

First album I liked of his tbh.

I guess I like the overall morose sound but its very same-same and I don't care to listen to the lyrics

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

Good voice and guitar

Heat

## In-Depth Review: *Songs of Leonard Cohen* (1967) ### **Lyrics: Poetry as Songcraft** Leonard Cohen’s debut album elevates lyrics to the forefront, blending literary sophistication with raw emotional honesty. As an established poet and novelist, Cohen approached songwriting with a rare depth: - **Narrative Complexity**: Tracks like "The Stranger Song" and "Master Song" unfold as cryptic ballads, exploring power dynamics in relationships through biblical and historical allegory . "Suzanne" merges the sacred and sensual, juxtapressing Christ’s "almost broken" body with a woman serving "tea and oranges" by the river . - **Imagery and Ambiguity**: Cohen’s background in poetry shines in lines like "You held on to me like I was a crucifix" ("So Long, Marianne"), where love is both salvation and burden . His use of place (Hydra, Montréal, New York) grounds existential themes in vivid settings . - **Emotional Range**: From the wistful resignation of "Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye" to the chaotic despair of "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong," the album navigates love’s dualities—freedom vs. entrapment, ecstasy vs. decay . ### **Music: Minimalism as Power** Cohen’s musical arrangements prioritize intimacy over grandeur: - **Guitar Work**: Predominantly acoustic, with Spanish-influenced fingerpicking ("Suzanne") and sparse chord progressions that create a "dreamlike" atmosphere . The simplicity allows lyrics to dominate, though subtle shifts (e.g., the key change in "Master Song") reveal melodic ingenuity . - **Vocal Delivery**: Cohen’s "reedy baritone" is an acquired taste—described as "hitting every note but receding to an atonal place between them" . This "disturbing" quality amplifies the emotional weight, particularly in "Avalanche"-like recitations . - **Instrumental Embellishments**: Producer John Simon added strings, choruses ("So Long, Marianne"), and a Jew’s harp against Cohen’s wishes. Though initially contentious, these elements now feel integral, adding "drafty" texture to songs like "Winter Lady" . ### **Production: Tension and Legacy** The album’s production reflects a battle between Cohen’s minimalism and Simon’s lush vision: - **Clashes**: Cohen sought a "veil of satire" for arrangements, but Simon’s additions—Muzak-like strings on "Marianne" and Marty Robbins-esque guitar on "Teachers"—were criticized as "ridiculously inappropriate" . - **Atmosphere**: Despite conflicts, the production enhances the album’s "sepulchral delight." The muted guitar and hovering strings create a confessional, late-night ambiance . - **2007 Remaster**: Bonus tracks ("Store Room," "Blessed Is the Memory") and improved clarity reaffirmed the album’s timelessness, balancing instrumentation with vocal prominence . ### **Themes: Love, Spirituality, and Duality** Cohen explores existential dichotomies: - **Sacred vs. Profane**: "Suzanne" intertwines desire with divinity, while "Sisters of Mercy" frames a ménage à trois as chaste salvation . - **Freedom vs. Shelter**: "The Stranger Song" depicts rootless characters "reaching for the sky just to surrender" . - **Artistic Discipline**: Cohen’s "craftsman" approach—working "eight hours daily" without awaiting inspiration—shapes the album’s cohesive vision . ### **Influence: The Blueprint for a Legacy** - **Cultural Impact**: Judy Collins’ cover of "Suzanne" popularized Cohen, but the album itself became a lodestone for songwriters like Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, and R.E.M. . - **Genre Defiance**: It redefined folk music by prioritizing poetic complexity over conventional melodies, paving the way for Cohen’s genre-blending later work . - **Enduring Relevance**: Tracks like "So Long, Marianne" and "Suzanne" remain standards, celebrated for their emotional universality . ### **Standout Tracks** | **Track** | **Highlights** | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Suzanne** | Spiritual eroticism; hypnotic guitar . | | **So Long, Marianne** | Joyful despair; iconic imagery ("held on to me like a crucifix") . | | **The Stranger Song** | Narrative mastery; aphoristic depth . | | **Hey, That’s No Way...** | Bittersweet resignation; melodic simplicity . | ### **Pros and Cons** **Pros**: - **Lyrical Genius**: Unmatched poetic depth in popular music . - **Emotional Resonance**: Creates intimacy through vocal vulnerability and spare arrangements . - **Timelessness**: Themes of love and spirituality remain relevant; sonically undated . **Cons**: - **Vocal Limitations**: Cohen’s voice polarizes; some find it "monotonous" or "atonal" . - **Uneven Production**: Simon’s embellishments clash with Cohen’s minimalism (e.g., "Marianne" chorus) . - **Doggerel Moments**: "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" descends into self-parody with "drunken" backing vocals . ### **Verdict** *Songs of Leonard Cohen* is a landmark debut that marries literary gravitas with musical restraint. Despite production missteps and vocal challenges, its exploration of love’s complexities and spiritual yearning remains profoundly influential. As Pitchfork notes, it captures "the wisdom of a diverse existence" —a testament to Cohen’s enduring genius. > **Key Takeaway**: This album is not "folk music" but a transcendent fusion of poetry and song, proving that "bleakness can be beautiful" .

Really makes you think.

Ooft. Sorry to say, today, some of this felt like doing homework. A bit of a chore

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.

🥰

Not for me. I get why its popular though

i think on second thought i don’t actually like leonard cohen

3.5/5 I really enjoy the storytelling of this album. The layered imagery, stories of humanity, and emotional conflicts. That said, there’s a time and place for this album, otherwise it can easily feel boring

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

Not really for me. I can understand how it is influential to the genre, but every song sounds the same to me. I prefer complex melodies and instrumentation more than lyrics so there was nothing really special on this for me. 2/5

Folk music and its poetry just isn't for me.

I've never really bothered with Cohen, but I'm not sure why. This was beautiful.

Not my cup of tea.

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.

estuvo ok

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

Well crafted songs and a lovely voice but a lot of the same format. Chilled album but somewhat repetitive.

Just a bit boring for my tastes. Also too gentle.

His most "uplifting" when it comes to music. The lyrics remain undefeated. Such a master.

love his voice and his work, i don't think this one is his strongest work but still an enjoyable one! 3.5/5

на любителя.

love his voice

3/5 Favourite Song: Master Song Least Favourite Song: Teachers

Dark, poetic, LCs voice is rare and for me best in smaller doses than a whole album

Kind of dull, and not really music, more poems set to very minimal acoustic guitar and a tiny bit of instrumentation.

Towering, monolithic artistry the likes of which the world will never know again

Ok

Superb! A classic :D

My goat

Brassens en pas drôle Mais sympatoche

Almost feels like it was made train-of-thought. It's certainly easy to listen to but it doesn't connect with me. Maybe if I were driving a lonely road in the fall I might feel different. But the summer months this just doesn't fit.

pussyslayer

This is mostly just someone (barely) singing a bunch of weird stories over basic guitar rhythms. One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong wins worst song by far.

not for me which has sorely disappointed my husband ha.

I've never really listened to him outside of a song here or there, but this was delightful. Reminds me of dramatic Finn Andrews (Veils)

classic.

Listened to it at dinner with Maggie and the girls. A beautiful early Cohen masterpiece.

Not for me

Was alright but I didn't really have an emotional connection to the music so just sounds a bit slow and sad

Wonderful. The poetry overcomes the slightly cheesy string arrangements.

Perfect album for someone recovering from surgery and heavily sedated.

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

Now I get the Leonard Cohen thing!

a slight bit of redundancy in the b side imo, or at least a demonstration that cohen's musical vocabulary at this point had a few distracting limits...note tho that im saying this within the boundaries of all the musical austerity which still pays off amazingly. cohen's lyrics are a lot weirder and squishier than i remembered but theres almost always some kind of emotional or sensory component that sets off a domino and creates an overall effect thats genuinely difficult to describe...more desperate and Fleshy than dylan but at times even more inscrutable. whenever a slight change in arrangement happens it feels like the tide rushing in.

Scene: Animal House frat party. Bluto finds a guitar player serenading female students on the stairs to the basement. He grabs the guitar and smashes it against the wall. “Sorry.” I’m not sorry. I’ve known this album since the seventies when my family played it a lot. My opinion hasn’t changed; it’s self-indulgent twaddle designed to get girls into bed. Apparently it worked.

Sleep-inducing. Very tough to get through, even whilst cutting songs short.

I liked the lyrics, but not my genre.

mopey

Classic Leonard, amongst his best. Strong songs great tunes. A winner.

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.

Fierce dreary 🙁

I just can't get into Cohen. Too little.

Leonard Cohen is arguably one of the greatest storytellers every and an incredible poet and songwriter. Compelling lyrics, beautiful structures and arrangements abound. But Leonard Cohen the singer/performer just makes me want to take a nap while stoned out of my mind.

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.

i dont listen to songs for lyrics so leonard cohens whole schtick is kinda lost on me

lento lento

Didn’t love. Reminded me of a non mumble Bob Dylan without catchy melodies.

I can’t explain but it gives me the heebie jeebies. Not bad but not good.

Very beautiful, pensive, poetic. good for the winter months but not something i constantly want to listen to

Dad- 7 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 7 Michael- 8 Miles- 7 Cole- NA Avg- 7.4

Better than I remembered it. It felt underwhelming when I listened to it as a teen, but his world makes more sense to me now. There are some really good songs, although the arrangements are dated, and it conveys a poetic imagination that forces me to think about what he is saying

I love Cohen's voice but I would love to hear something accompanying it. To.me this album is like Bob Dylan albums of the same era where after a time the lure of the poetry wears off and everything begins to sound like stream of consciousness nonsense.

I like his soft, melodious voice, and his lulling guitar. Very calming and the selection of songs are very story-like.

Boring and whiny

I dream when I listen to his music***

Soft and sparse. Enjoyed listening to this but probably not something I will revisit too often, alot sounds the same. Suzanne was the peak imo

not a bad album, but I don't like slow-paced songs.

Je suis un admirateur de Leonard Cohen du début à la fin de sa carrière.

De superbes chansons à texte. Je connaissais déjà bien, mais une énième me fait réaliser 2 choses. 1) le hand picking style flamenco de Cohen. Très joli. 2) la monotonie de l'album. D'où le 4 étoiles. Dans le style chansons à texte, je préfère Dylan.

Du bon Leonard! Malheureusement je trouve l’instrumentation un peu simple sur certaines pièces. Ça donne toute la place à sa poésie, mais c’est moins pour moi. La meilleure clairement: So Long, Marianne. Aussi bien aimé Stories of the Street.

Muy agradable, es un género musical para mí delicado porque muchas veces me cuesta y se me llega a hacer aburrido, pero sin duda, Leonard Cohen era un genio y es una pasada de álbum

Easy listening. I like the songwriting and storytelling. Overall, nothing crazy, probably won’t go back to it.

Suzanne

Perfect

One of my favorite singer songwriters shows off his extreme talent in his debut album. With some of his biggest "hits" included it is a delight for my ears that loves a minor key much more than a major.

I was just not into this at all. It was slow poetry set to some low key guitar and occasionally some other instrumental music in the background. The lyrics were ok, I just couldn't get invested in the storytelling. Standouts were "Suzanne" and "So Long, Marianne" "Teachers" - the guitar is really nice in this one. In the end, it was just kind of boring. There were a couple of ok sounding tracks, but nothing really that captivating musically. This could have been an email. 2/5

Holy his voice changed SO much since then I prefer this version tbh, less lung cancer-y Calmth

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Total classic. Beautiful music and words

bored

Cohen has always felt slow to me. Recently, I’ve been feeling slower than ever before. I enjoyed this a lot more this time around, but not sure I’ll revisit very often.

I’ve loved LC ever since hearing him on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack.

I tried to give it chance but I wasn't able to find a way to enjoy it. The lyrics and songwriting are fine. But the performance was just boring throughout.

I never really listened to Cohen other than heading songs here and there. I've always liked him, tho listening to a lot of him in a row reveals how much he likes certain song structures. Still very good storytelling, and many some are compelling while you hear them even if it's hard to remember the melodies, such as they are.

Song writing is great but his voice takes a little getting used to. Also, his picture on the album cover looks like a still from the Godfather.

it's raining out and this album is perfect

I like his early stuff so much. Great folk album + artist

Brilliant album. Never tired of listening to this.

Han er meget ikonisk for at have stille og rolig klavespil og guitar for at fremhæve hans stemme. Minder mig meget om Nick Drake. Han skriver meget emotionelle sange med stor følelsesmæssig dybde som man stadig kan resonere med i dag. Han har inspireret mange store artister bla bob dylan. også på tværs af genre. Jeg synes egentlig det er meget godt og rigtig hyggeligt at lytte til.

Cohen is a masterful storyteller. There is a quiet intimacy to his songs that makes you listen, rapt, and ask for more.

A masterpiece.

Good songwriter and interesting lyrics, really pulls you in. Just really not what I want from music and not for me. I can imagine that if you're really into quality songwriting over sparse instrumentals that you'll love this.

Whingy and dull

not my vibe but i get it

as much as the other sad girlies love leonard cohen, he's just not for me. one song at a time is my limit.

I see why some people might like this but it is not for me

This is my kind of thing! I think with more listens it could be a 5. Update: it’s a 5!

Not Bad. Most of his songs are mood songs for me, meaning I have to be in the right mindset to listen. But I do appreciate his poetry. Once in a while it is good for a listen.

Leonard Cohen really just wrote two songs and called it a day, didnt he? All the same cadence, some short, some long. No variation in tone. How he became so revered as a songwriter is beyond me

Everyone talks about this album as if it's mostly lyrics (and don't get me wrong, the lyrics really are *that* good!), but I love Cohen because he writes such good songs in every other aspect too, and that's something people rarely talk about! In particular, I think the arrangements on this album are so pretty and just so perfect for his voice. This album (and especially her backing vocals on "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye") even made me go out and look for Nancy Priddy's solo album many years ago! (It's not really worth it, unfortunately.) Plus, "So Long, Marianne" is great accompaniment for dancing around the kitchen!

Good but I don't remember a thing about it. 6/10

One of my favorites thank god someone told Leonard Cohen to move to Italy instead of writing books. Suzanne played at my wedding and is on the mistake Claudia made for me for our first anniversary

All these songs are in the key of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Pretty good I will never listen to this again)

Such a wild era of songwriting. Cohen is up there with the best

Poetry, yes. Music? Barely. Poetry to music? Yes.