Reviews (page 7 of 14)
So beautiful, so sad, so romantic
Stranger song is such a good track. I do like Leonard Cohen, been a while since i heard this. Knocking it down to a 4 though because it gave the animal house vibes when Belushi smashes that fellas guitar.
I enjoyed this album. 'Stranger Song', 'Master Song' and 'One of Us Cannot be Wrong' were quality. I also like how he looks a little like a young Dustin Hoffman on the album cover.
Everyone knows Leonard Cohen for his song, Hallelejah, which is undoubtably a masterpiece. But I can admit beside that and a couple other songs, I've never given him much of a listen. All the songs on this album were new to me. His voice was so different than I'm used to. The wailing at the end of the album was off-putting. A few of the songs are a little too similar in melody. On first listen I felt it was just ok. However I found myself enjoying it more and more with each additional listen. It is hauntingly beautiful. Sisters of Mercy and So Long, Marriane are the standouts for me. For a debut album, this is a strong start to what will be a great songwriting career.
Have never really given this one a fair shot - 4 stars
At its worst Songs is just Dylan: Praise by faint damning and hardly creative. I did appreciate hearing a much, much younger Leonard and think this one deserves more time. Scott Walker lurked within, too.
Rólegheitakósísnilld.
it is really great. suzanne is an amazing opening track on a debut album
Poetic
I'm always a little unsure about this period of Leonard Cohen but I think this is still a stellar album. Although I really am not sure what on earth is going on with Jazz Police.
Reminds me a little of Ct Stevens who was writing and recording at the same time. Maybe the other way round!
1st album in this 1001 list. Great album as a whole. My favourite Cohen is you want it darker.
Lyrics are sublime. He wasn’t yet in his experienced voice.
Suzanne-3 (How is this the most popular?) Master song-4 (way better) Winter lady-3 The stranger song-5 Sister's of mercy-5 So long Marianne-4 Hey, that's no way to say goodbye-3 Stories of the street-4 Teachers-3 One of us cannot be wrong-4
Again. No real theme hear so just feels like all his other albums. But some bangers on here
Sombre, powerful baritone voice
A lot better than I expected, I’m not normally a fan of just a guy and his guitar, but this was really cool.
super
Teachers is a smart and strong song. That one song proves Leonard is the real deal. Strong album, but not a strong as you "want it darker" by him before he died.
Very compelling and I don't know why. I guess it's just good to go along for the ride.
enjoyed it although some songs were slower than others but it was still good almost have like a Lou Reed vibe which I liked
Nice
Some fab songs on here. Not enough to push it to a 5.
Прослушано! Спокойный мужской вокал, есть несколько композиций. любопытным звучанием.
My third Leonard Cohen album that I'm rating through this challenge now. As a fan of his music, I definitely liked it. Heart wrenching lyrics in some, all delivered in the signature voice. Good stuff Saved tracks: 'Suzanne', 'Sisters of Mercy', 'So Long, Marianne', 'Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye', 'Stories of the Street', 'One of Us Cannot Be Wrong'
would be good in bed caresses and cigarettes very open heart
Sparsely ornate, quasi-flamenco folk songs populated by literary landscapes which revel in existential reflection. This is a stunning debut album, quite unlike any other in the contemporary western canon. Leonard Cohen’s music definitely demands a deliberate listener, there’s nothing here which is melodically accessible. Yet the production manages to elevate the barebones musical approach with some incredible flourishes of punchy acoustic guitar lines (on “Teachers”). If the yardstick of a perfect album is the manner in which it achieves what it sets out to do, then this would be a 5/5. But that’s not the basis of my ratings, but rather the impression it leaves on me subjectively. And in this regard, a few songs on this album are frankly less engaging. Favourite tracks: “Teachers”, “Stories of the Street”, “The Stranger Song”
I’ve loved the song “Suzanne” for many years and it remains a favorite of mine. The rest of these songs are also starkly beautiful. It is easy to see why LC was so immediately compared to Bob Dylan. Leonard Cohen seems to be so comfortable speaking to others about uncomfortable things, about his feelings and his vulnerabilities, and he is so charming in the way he does it. This first album has a fairly low production value; it seems like many tracks could have been takes on the first attempt. But the depth and the beauty of the songs are both so great that they need little embellishment.
Super calm great songwriting
This debut album certainly sounds just like Leonard Cohen, and I've discovered, thanks to the three Leonard Cohen albums the generator has already given me, that I like Leonard Cohen. Cohen's voice and the sparse arrangements pretty much guarantee the songs are all beautiful. The lyrical content is, of course, lovely, haunting, sad. But to me this album doesn't quite pull all those elements together as perfectly as later albums will. Favorites So Long, Marianne, Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye, and Teachers.
Mooie zwijmel-liedjes, rustig
Awesome lyricist, the delivery is a bit of an acquired taste but at least it's not nasal and there's no harmonica
He does his thing very well. I'm not always in the mood for it, but it's objectively good.
Haven't really listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen. This was a chill listen that was pretty enjoyable. So Long, Marianne is great. Great guitar work and emotion throughout.
There are 5 Leonard Cohen albums on this list and none of them have Hallelujah
Neat
There are some classic Cohen songs on here and others that deserve to be regarded as such.
Beautiful, elegant. Sweet little songs.
you don't get much better songwriting than this. deducting a star for that shriekfest at the end of the album
Beyond the imagistic lyrics, what makes these records are the subtle touches – strings, backing vocals, the odd guitar riff or drumming. Listen to the end of Suzanne” you barely notice the ethereal strings and backing vocals coming back in in which elevates the haunting. The electric guitar flourishes on “Master Song” and is that a harpsichord on “Winter Lady” along with the plucked guitar. The accordion (I think) and piercing backing vocals on “So Long Marianne,” which is a real highlight, the drums and accordion (again) on “Sisters of Mercy,” and the whistling outro on “Both of Us Cannot Be Wrong,” a most fitting bookend to “Suzanne.” “No Way to Say Goodbye” is also classic. The quieter and more controlled singing here is more effective than the gruff and growling than “Love and Hate.” The knocks (fair) are that's it's a bit samey in tempo and style across songs and yes, a bit wallow-y, downgrading melancholy into something like entropy. Still, it's LC, so 4.
I already enjoy this album - so many faves on there. So Long Marianne is my all time and always makes me want to cry for some reason. LC is a gritty poet more than anything, unbelievable lyrics
Great stuff from Leonard
Beautiful tunes, and so different that what I'm used to with Leonard Cohen (Hallelujah).
Beautiful, nostalgic, poetic melancholy. I listened to this endlessly when I lived with Jen. We'd study and write term papers to the slow songs and dance around the house together to "So Long, Marianne". I've wanted to learn "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" on the guitar for about 20 years.
Best song was So long, Marianne. It was fun to listen to but it was a bit droany for my tastes. Love Leonard Cohen though.
Beautiful 8/10
Better than I expected. Poetry read over acoustic guitar, but nice.
Easy listening. I'm definitely more captivated by its poetry than the music. I would listen to it again, maybe not first thing in the morning like I did now, but on a rainy evening. 4/5 No songs were highlights for me. All of them kind of felt like pieces of a whole.
Fun listen easy going
I appreciated it, but need to be in the right mood. Certain sections of songs were great, though others felt repetitive
Cohen is a true bard. He writes poetry, sings them tender, and leaves you longing for more. He does so much with his acoustic guitar, I'm often in awe at how precise each song is. This may be Canada's greatest offering to the world.
ALBUM RATING: 3.6 ALBUM GRADE: B- TRACK RATINGS: 1. Suzanne - 3.5 2. Master Song - 4.0 3. Winter Lady - 3.5 4. The Stranger Song - 4.0 5. Sisters of Mercy - 3.5 6. So Long, Marianne - 3.0 7. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye - 3.5 8. Stories of the Street - 3.5 9. Teachers - 4.0 10. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong - 3.5
Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye's chorus is one I find myself singing randomly. I first listened to this album when I was 17 and my parent's were going through a divorce. I think that is why I remember all of them so well. I love this album. There is some repetition, but I like that its intentional and a mood.
Nice and smooth sailing
Somewhat haunting at times, I was captivated by this. I hesitate to give 5 stars because I didn't fully digest the lyrics, but this is something I will revisit soon!
Much better than the later albums I have heard. Enjoyable in the right mood and setting. Lovely words.
Pretty good for a first album. But Cohen was, largely, a one trick pony, wasn't he? (A fair-to-good trick, to be fair. And in any case, I'm playing the man not the ball. And there is, too, Manhattan.)
Swaaaaagggggg
A stellar debut, superbly balancing minimal instrumentation with Cohen’s cryptic writings
Bongs of Leonard Smokin!!
The best lyricist to date on the album list. I was so drawn to the words. However, the albums is lacking musically with the guitar and vocal tracks missing something more to differentiate each recording.
"Suzanne" might be one of the most beautiful songs ever written. In my opinion it is his best song very closely followed by if not tied with "Hallelujah". The rest of the album is beautiful, albeit not nearly as special as the the first. While the second most popular song on the album, "So Long, Marianne" just didn't do it for me. It would have been strange buying "Suzanne" as a single and then experiencing that on the B-side. A beautiful album by an amazing songwriter.
+So Long Marianne, Stories of the Street, Teachers -The Stranger Song Did I say all singer-songwriters sound pretty much the same? Well, I stand by that, but that's not a bad thing, either. Leonard Cohen takes his expertly-crafted poetry, and wraps it with a loving blanket of audio that effectively conjures up imagery of the story he's telling. So Long Marianne has that psychedelic, folksy, hippy-dippy feel that was prevalent of the era, but none of what's here is that. It's all very melodic and engaging; You can't help but to listen to Cohen's tale.
Wait... Is every Leonard Cohen song the same? Fast triplets on a classical guitar or slow strumming and one of the most monotome voices in the world. 4, for suzanne though And I'm sure it grows on me
Cette version vivante de Leonard Cohen est bien plus convaincante que celle en décomposition entrevue sur l'album You Want It Darker. Un point à prendre en compte pour les futurs artistes décédés.
The voice and the tunes, always a great listen
Importante para conhecer melhor a obra, e não fica apenas nos hits.
Ovi tekstovi jaoo. Suzanne mi je jako lijepa pjesma. I da stvarno izgleda ko Adam Sandler.
Opuštajući, lagan album od Leonarda poete. ALbum koji više paše na tmurno/kišovito pa čak i noćno vrijeme nego obrnuto (jesenska aura). I da, na coveru izgleda kao Adam Sendler.
Very good album
Nice, prefer his voice here to his later stuff that I’ve heard, though admittedly I haven’t paid much attention to that yet.
Very simple yet beautiful my fav track was Suzanne
The voice & soul of Hallelujah.
That brilliantly miserable bastard.
More lovely acoustic singer-songwriter ish stuff. A big gap between the great songs and the good ones though.
He’s really good as usual
Sounding like a man whose lived and then some, there is an appealing simplicity to the music and a frustrating complexity to the lyrics which renders Cohen a little elusive at times. For a musician where the poetry really matters, there is also something to be said for letting the music wash over you in a mood, although, in truth, if you do this, you may commit the heresy of thinking all the tracks sound alike.
I listened to this a few times before.
Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen (1967) Now this is a fine anti-pop record. Leonard Cohen’s debut album contains the mesmerizing “Suzanne” and several other top quality tracks. And there’s nothing here that is uninteresting. It’s helpful to be aware when approaching this album that Cohen was a recognized (if only modestly successful) poet and novelist before he was a singer/songwriter. In fact, he had already been featured on Six Montreal Poets (1957), a spoken word album with Cohen reciting his poetry on eight of the forty-three tracks. And it’s also helpful to keep in mind that Cohen is consciously and unapologetically Jewish, unafraid of expressing both his faith and his doubt in a predominantly Christian environment—he draws freely, imaginatively, and sometimes critically from images in the gospels. So in Songs of Leonard Cohen, the poet picks up the guitar and gives the listener compositions with well-matched chord progressions and near perfect poetic cadences. The album was recorded and released with the encouragement of Judy Collins during a period when Cohen was hanging out with Andy Warhol/Nico/Velvet Underground crowd. So one should be neither surprised nor put off by the surrealism of his songs (although it’s ironic that such an ‘anti-pop’ album would emerge from a community known for ‘pop art’). He is supported by delicate backing vocals (sometimes, as in “So Long, Marianne”, very 60s-ish) and sensitive if sometimes idiosyncratic instrumentals. The opening track “Suzanne” features haunting if perplexing sentiments of the listener’s need for trust, longing for love, and being commensurate with nature. The mysterious, “half crazy”, and entrancing Suzanne is juxtaposed with reflections on the “almost human” Jesus, who “sinks beneath your wisdom like a stone”. Beware of over-confident declarations of the symbolic meanings. It is deliberately opaque and provocatively obscure, but vivid nonetheless. Cohen’s voice provides a soft, pulsing dynamism to his words, but lacks tonal precision. Melodies are a conventional and unenigmatic mismatch with his most enigmatic lyrics. His guitar stylings are unexceptional, and lacking in variety. But these musical weakness serve to drive the listener to the lyrics, always delivered with understated power and authority. These tracks beg for a slow listen, without distraction, perhaps while feeding on “tea and oranges that come all the way from China”. Highly recommended. 4/5
Pleasant, good words, half-decent melodies; I liked it.
I don't think any of the songs on this qualify as "flaming shits" as the original Rolling Stone review reportedly said 3 did. Several I think qualify for Chris Knox's lyrical dig at Cohen's tendency to "try to make a song out of speech". The big songs on the album sre of course among the best in any league. Extra star for a debut with such an absolutely distinctive voice.
nem comecei e já suspeito que vou gostar... veremos! É bom, não pirei mas gostei
Very nice :)
First time listen - loved the stripped back simplicity of the folk. Will be listening again to really dig deeper into the lyrical content
4/5
Seriously strong songwriting let down by dull delivery.
This is just the same song ten times and I love it.
I have definitely become more familiar with Leonard Cohen through this 1001 project. I had never listened to this album, although I was familiar with a couple of the songs. I like the album fine, but I found that the tracks lack variety...maybe even hearing similar musical themes on later albums. So, I tended not to love the album.
Interesting to listen to Cohen's first album not long after listening to his last. Not a lot of variety in this one --- most of the songs are easy to mistake for Suzanne. But Suzanne is a lovely song so not much harm in that.
I started this album with trepidation because I absolutely loved the album YOU WANT IT DARKER from but really didn’t connect with SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE from 1971. I wasn’t sure where I might fall on an album from 1967… “Suzanne” started and I immediately recognized it. I was familiar with the cover version by Judy Collins. I love this song, and the instrumentation and backup vocals were good. I really liked this song. "Master Song" followed up with a really interesting song that I also liked pretty well. Again it had arrangements that kept the interest level up for me. Great lyrics on this too, as on all the songs on this album. As the album continued it was clear this fell somewhere between the two previous Cohen albums I listened to. Parts of it were a little repetitive, but after listening to the album several times I started to pick up more of the lyrics and that made the repetitive parts more interesting. My favorite song was "So Long, Marianne" but other standouts were "Sisters of Mercy," "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye," and "Stories of the Street." Cohen's delivery of these songs appealed to me much more than "Songs of Love and Hate." Still not quite "You Want It Darker," but I enjoyed this album.
Definite shades of 60s folk which made it sound derivative but lyrics and complexity made up for it
Dude looks like Adam Sandler. I wonder who pulls more strange.
Leonard Cohen is the man. One of the best songwriters who ever lived, and this might be his best album.
he is an acquired taste that took me decades to acquire. his songs are still done better by other artists.
Canada’s Bob Dylan. National Treasure. Icon. This is a wonderful debut album, it’s emotionally driven and poignant music.
Great artist. Very compromised with his epoch
A warm autumn's afternoon of a listen
pretty good. I can see where a lot of the stuff from bob Dylan comes from
I had never heard this before. Very nice work
That's more like it
Very graceful/ quaint album. First time hearing his stuff. I did appreciate it, as I found it comforting and definitely peaceful for the ears. Describe him as a combination of Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond. No tracks, I can say, stood out. As they flow fluently amongst each other. Suzana although, sets the mood well. Only issue with this is, it ain't that experimental. All the tracks sound the say, stylistically. Country. Country. Country. Just wish it would've tried something different in terms of instrumentals, as all Cohen uses is a guitar. Still reccomend tho, for those gentle souls out there.
un álbum muy bueno en general. tiene una vibra particular que llega muy profundo, y sus letras son completas obras maestras. a pesar de que las canciones pueden llegar a sonar repetitivas, creo que cada una tiene su toque especial y en conjunto conforman un muy buen trabajo.
Debut album of Leonard Cohen. Melancholic 1967 folk. The album was more popular in Europe. It spent over a year on the UK album charts.
cohen was one hell of a poet. i've always thought so but it's been a while since i sat and listened to this cover to cover and it's kind of devastating to be reminded of it
klassisk, har lavet bedre, men dæleme god
I guess I knew of Leonard Cohen, but I never knew anything about him. This album was an enjoyable introduction, but boy did it feel like a lot to deal with. The lyrics are dense and left me with a sense that I barely had a grasp on how to handle the english language. I was impressed with the elaborate storytelling of every song and I defintely couldn't just passively listen. Rather each song pulled me in and nearly forced me to delve into it's narrative. What I felt the music lacked was an emotional connection that existed on an involuntary level. The connection required work.
Songs of Leonard Cohen is the debut album by Canadian folk singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released on December 27, 1967, on Columbia Records. Less successful in the US than in Europe, Songs of Leonard Cohen foreshadowed the kind of chart success Cohen would go on to achieve. Cohen had received positive attention from critics as a poet and novelist but had maintained a keen interest in music, having played guitar in a country and western band called the Buckskin Boys as a teenager. In 1966, Cohen set out for Nashville, where he hoped to become a country songwriter, but instead got caught up in New York City's folk scene. The album received mixed reviews at the time of its release, with Arthur Schmidt of Rolling Stone writing, "There are three brilliant songs, one good one, three qualified bummers, and three flaming shits."
This is the second Leonard Cohen album I've gotten on this list. I will say I have have trouble distinguishing one Cohen album from another, since they tend to have a similar sound. However, I always enjoy the experience. He's both a gifted singer and a gifted songwriter 4/5
So Long, Marianne is too much of a sentimental favorite for me to be in any way objective about this album. He can be pretty rambly and I wonder if he really wanted to be a singer at all. Maybe he really just wanted to write and this is what started paying first. Regardless, he's one of a kind and I can't fault any of this. I like the whole dark vibe even if I don't get into some of the songs themsevles. But also, the way the Master Song ends, just so suddenly... I love all that.
Gimme “The Stranger Song” all day long. Love it. And look at that dude on the cover! He’ll either kill you or sell you a car. Maybe both. Great marketing.
Peak singer-songwriter that could only compete with the likes of Van Morrison or Nick Drake. Storytelling technique is engaging and clear, a very difficult skill to master when it comes to songwriting. The highlights are "Suzanne" (my favorite Cohen song that reminds me of Sufjan) and "So Long Marianne" (the most accessible to audiences, and the deepest display of emotion; I love how he diverges from the chorus). "The Master" is a personal favorite due to how mysterious in nature it is. Every time I listen to it I pick it new details piecing together what the song is really about. No poor songs, just some less interesting ones. Now a compilation of Cohen's best songs would surely deserve a perfect score out of me (except his hit "Hallelujah"; I hate that song).
Not an ideal Tuesday soundtrack but beautiful nonetheless
Gentle and nice
One of the greatest folk albums ever. Absolutely beautiful. Suzanne is one of my favorite songs ever. 9/10 1. Suzanne 2. Sisters of Mercy 3. Master Song
Beautiful, haunting, above my mental pay grade
Mijn moeder draaide dit plaatje altijd grijs. Ik had vooral een hekel aan Suzanne. Blijkt nu toch best een goed nummer en een leuk plaatje. Jezus, wat worden we oud!
Mooi, mooi, mooi.
Great storytelling and captivating melodies
Nice chill folk with great lyrics and occasional instrumental flourishes that really bring it together. Another one I should probably pick up on wax.
Great lyrics and storytelling, fantastic vocals, deep and personal, introspective yet inviting
nice guitar stuff
Classic Cohen, Master Song has mesmerizing guitar and Hey, that's no way to say goodbye is one that makes it in my Cohen favorites.
7/10
I’m the same as he was when this came out, his debut album. Wild. Obviously, he’s a great songwriter. Not the best singer, but his voice works well for his music. This album kinda seems perfect for a wistful, sunny summer day.
Great lyricist
I have listened to this album many, many times and it's one of my favorites.
I really only knew Cohen for Hallelujah which is a bit genre-less in it's ubiquity but really enjoyed this album! I like his story telling melodies and voice. Would like to learn and listen more.
A really really pleasant surprise - great lyrics and melody that sticks - will explore more - could see this getting a better rating after more listens
Laughing Len's debut. Classic. Best Tracks: Suzanne, So Long Marianne, One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong
Love early Leonard Cohen
amazing
Het is Cohen dus je weet wat je kan verwachten! Ik vind het wel de moeite waard
It’s good. There are some really beautiful songs on here especially in the second half but as an album it didn’t really hold my attention. 3.5
Apparently I should listen to more Leonard Cohen. I liked the album as a whole, and So Long, Marianne really got me. 4+
nice album, i dont know why but i really like this album and i cant really tell why. bit of the same each song but still weirdly good
Enjoyed this. A lot simpler than his later work and it benefits because of it. Suzanne and So long Marianne are stone cold classics. Poetic rather than melodic but that his style and it works. 4/5
Jamás un disco que escucharía por iniciativa propia, pero me gustó. Tiene una vibra melancolía-wholesome. Creo que la canción que más me gustó fue Master Song, desde la tensión que crea la guitarra hasta lo bien que queda el canto con ello, es hasta un poco dark digamos; me pareció la más interesante del disco en cuestión acústica. En cuanto a letras, no tengo idea. Mood: Sadness trascendental folk
Nice. Very cute beautiful nice well made little songs. It's not something I would listen to but if you consider when it was made, it's realllly good. Great debut by Leonard Cohen.
Cohen's quiet intensity, expressed forcefully through his poetic lyrics, clear baritone, simple flamenco-esque fingerpicking guitar, spare production. Beautiful.
Still Leonard Cohen, still good. I like his voice more here but the production quality is obviously lower. He's got some strange lyrics too but that's just Leonard Cohen.
Senación tranquila.
Leonard Cohen también me intimida porque mucha gente dice que ufff, que wow y no sé qué más, pero a mí nunca me ha llamado mucho. El disco está lindo, me gusta su voz, eso sí y muy buen letrista. Las canciones que me gustaron fueron "The Stranger Song", "So Long, Marianne", "Teachers" y "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong". 7.5/10
He calms me I like him
Liked it more than I thought I would, had a very cohesive feel to the album as a whole
Flott album! Litt synd at favorittlåt av Cohen everybody knows ikke er med her. Og avslutningen på sistelåt høres ut som noen fulle sjømenn på nachspiel.
Not bad. I didn't know that "The Stranger Song" was by Cohen, I only knew the version by Guilt Machine.
So this is what singer songwriters are aiming for
A bit hard to get into it but then : oh baby what a smooth ride.
Enjoyed the intimate aesthetic of the album, the storytelling was brilliant.
Phenomenal, definitely will come back and listen to. His story telling is great especially with his voice that almost is drained of care
Very similar to the Randy Newman I had a couple days prior. Strong lyrics and melodies, singular voice.
Less is more
This is one melancholy dude
Fenomenalan. Stari lisac razbija
I like him, a bit slow, but it's good imo
+
sad, but i do like sad.
Weird.
Great lyrics, a little repetitive, 3.5/5
Great collection of his songs!
Well worth a relisten
8/10 FT: The Stranger Song
Closer to 3.5-3.7
a lot of bible references? master song and the stranger song i like the style and lyrics are very curious
Melancholic vocals. Great lyrics. Sound musicianship. Love this album.
This is like the soundtrack to The Graduate. It's just as sparse and follows a template to Songs From A Room with some melodies like "So Long, Marianne". Though they follow a repetitive pattern in line with verse-chorus-verse format.
Not really my vibe
I’d listened to this album before, and when I did I put down in my notes that it was boring and gave it a 2 stars. Yesterday when I got it I thought that it was actually not that bad - just more lyric driven than anything else. As it went on, however, I did somewhat see why I’d thought it was boring on my initial listen.
Couple of belters for sure
Very L. Cihen!
I respect his work, but I think his early work was anchored in that era. It doesn't resonate with me.
I enjoyed it more than I expected to, though it still wasn't particularly thrilling.
An interesting collection. Not my favorite Cohen songs. "So Long, Marianne" is memorable.
Perfectly good and nice, just not really my style tbh. Incredible longevity on this album though
Boring, fine, nothing special.
My favourite Leonard Cohen album. May he rest in peace. He was a cool cat, chilling on the Greek island Hydra with his girlfriend writing poetry and playing guitar. What a dream!
Beautiful vocals and lyrics. Favorite tracks: Suzanne, So Long, Marianne
You’re watching a movie and it’s the late 60’s and you’re in some kind of college house situation with a bunch of kids in their late teens who are starting to question everything and one of them puts on a record but the filmmaker doesn’t want to be too cliched and have them play Bob Dylan, this is the album they put on instead.
Great lyrics, but many of the songs have quite similar, repetitive, and limited range in the melodies. I guess that's part of the folk tradition, but doesn't make for very interesting listening IMO. Some standouts: Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong. I think I prefer Leonard Cohen a song at a time, rather than an album at a time.
Kind of a softer Bob Dylan. More peace and less political. Some Christian influence even tho Jewish. Male soft vocals with guitar background
Today is a momentous day! The absolute and definitive last time I'll ever listen to Leonard Cohen in my life! I can't believe this day has come at last! 4 albums on the list. That's ridiculous. I'm one of those people with the gene that makes Leonard Cohen taste like soap. Still, I give every album as open-minded and objective listen as I possibly can. This one, for me, is his most palatable work. There were actually places on this album that were actually enjoyable, which is first for me with this artist. Usually, I find him completely intolerable. Fuck it: ⭐⭐.75
Good songwriting, voice reminds me of Dylan. Guitar adds a star.
JL : 3, Master Song
lowkey bored tf outta me maybe i just dont get it but he was kinda just rambling can really admire the guitar work tho 5.5/10 best song - so long, marianne
Some exceptionally good songs here bookended by songs that are pretty good too.
Stor 3
Some nice moments and beautiful poetry, didn’t quite pull me in, but was still a pleasant listen.
Karret seg såvidt opp med noen brukbare låter i midten. Dette var rimelig tynt, hvis jeg vil høre på dikt kan jeg lese dem høyt selv. Forventet mer av selveste Leonard C.
Felt more like stories than songs, but I enjoyed it.
Cohen has adulatory fans. I am not one. I was on team Cohen when he crept back into modern awareness and then took off like a meteor. But now for me he seems a little mannered or precious. Not bad, but not profound.
This sounded like one long song. On its own, that song would be a 4. As an album, not.
With the Dylan album just before, it’s in direct comparison with a single guitar and voice album. It’s good, but lacks a bit of variety. 6/10
Día 6 de 1001 albumes Realmente es un album muy limpio, acompañado en muchas ocasiones de una guitarra. Letras preciosas, y melodías diferentes entre una canción y otra.
Mysle ze jakbym byla starsza to bardziej by mi sie spodobal. Troche nie moj gust muzyczny, ale 3 piosenki mi sie spodobaly wiec wsm spoko.
This was different than later Cohen. More melodic voice. I thought it was pretty good but got a little old by the end.
Listening to Leonard is like looking at the Mona Lisa through foggy glass. The songs have an underlying supremacy and beauty that is always obscured by the blandness of the performance.
Easy enough listening Bit depressing Fine
suzanne
I like his 80s stuff better; this is a little too spare and poetic for my sensibilities. But I can see how great it is and will probably grow on me with time.
Simpler times. I actually liked this album. Added to my likes
I’m not very familiar with folk music, but this was a pleasant-sounding debut. It’s very traditional and achieves this pure and wistful essence. It’s sort of bland vocally with some commendable instrumentation, overall not the type of thing I usually enjoy.
I need to relisten to this when it feels more appropriate. But I think I liked it.
Okay but not something I want to listen to again. Suzanne is a great song, but then it became a bit monotone and also the background vocals I found a bit annoying
Suzanne just grabbed me right off the bat, liked Sisters of Mercy and So Long, Marianne as well. My complaint is some of the other songs are too same-y despite the lyrics. That said, I would definitely listen again when I am in a contemplative mood,
Very calming like a lullaby with gorgeous and timeless words
Can’t really get into Cohen, whose stuff seems fine but not anything I really feel despite them being stories. Sisters of Mercy and the guitar on Teachers the highlights of this
Still don't like Leonard Cohen, but this may be his best album.
Kinda samey but I liked the sound
Leonard Cohen is overhated
very pretty, but it was a lot of lullabys. Not my jam. But the more i listened the more i enjoyed it. So long Marrianne is a great song
iconic but all songs very similar
Starts strong, but after a while it begins to sound a bit repetitive.
Lyrical juggernaut but the songs can be hard to listen to. They kind of drone on and on. The backup singers are not a great addition either. But you can't deny that some of these songs are incredible.
I know it’s a classic but he kinda bugs me.
I simply cannot enjoy something so stripped down on a summer afternoon. Maybe I'd revisit on a winter evening but even then, I think there are other solo singer-songwriter men who do this better.
De leonard cohen machts guet. Glaub de old’neduzen wo i de 40er jahr gebore isch fänd das ganz glatt. Und wärs melancholisch inere alte kuche am lose. Aber ich bin de 93er neduziner und das isch mir doch biz zu alt. 3 fuegos
Soothing ballades.
Better than most other of his albums here on this list. Alas, also my last Cohen album.
I’m still not fully sold on him but I definitely liked this more than the other one I had. I actually really like So Long, Marianne but it also annoys me because it shows he did have the ability to make the songs slightly more interesting instrumentally. The minimal instrumentation of most of his songs is what puts me off his work. I know the point of Leonard Cohen is the lyrics but he is releasing these as songs, not poems. There’s a debate here about what music is and what it is for but I’m not going to touch that in a 1001 albums review. This is longer than most of my reviews so maybe you can give him credit for that. Side note on the lyrics, there is a LOT of religious imagery here. I personally don’t connect to this as much as a lot of people seem to do. I was raised in a « if you choose to follow a religion that’s fine but we’re not forcing you to » way and ended up having very little connection to any religion. As a result of that, the impact these references seem to have on people, in Cohen’s work and otherwise, gets completely lost on me, even if I understand the background and what it means.
Man in turtleneck croons.
I have experienced none of what he's talking about
Ok, this is my second Leonard Cohen album on this list and I liked it better than the first one I got (You Want It Darker). I don't necessarily think I'd go out of my way to listen to this album again, but I found it to be mellow and relaxing. I actually was able to pay attention to it instead of zoning out like I did not long into the first album I listened to.
I like the simple style and Leonard cohens song lady midnight is in my recent rotation. Wasn’t crazy about this and was expecting a bit more. Was pretty meh.
Pretty solid
Yes he’s great at writing music and I want to love this album but I just don’t love it. The songs are just too similar for me despite the brilliant lyrics. I think I’m just not much of a lyrics ONLY person. His voice is also great in this.
151. Songs Of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1967) 7.23.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 2 Emotionality: 3 = 3.4 rounded down to a 3 INTRO Wow, we get the a Cohen album on the list just a few after the Jeff Buckley with Cohen's most well known song. Which isn't on this one. Or any of the 5 - count them, 5! - Leonard Cohen albums on this list. Dylan's got 7, so I guess here's some parity there? But even two of the Dylan ones are stretches in my opinion. Anyway, to get back on topic - Cohen is a dude who I've tried and failed many times to get into. I like a lot of his songs, but the handful of albums I've listened to have been very samey, utterly morose affairs ( I like my depressive music to also be danceable - when are we going to get some Bauhaus?) that kind of all blend together. Of the ones I've previously listened to though, ( it has been a LONG time) I think I might have liked this one the best? It has several recognizable songs, but we'll have to dig in and see if Leonard has grown on me or not. There are a LOT of noteworthy and very good covers of his songs, and I'll be offering up some of my favorite for as many tracks as I can manage. "For now I need your hidden love/ I'm cold as a new razor blade" THE TRACKS Side one "Suzanne" - A strong start with one of his best. A very pretty acoustic number that highlights Cohen's warm but detached vocal style. I know that Cohen gets a lot of praise for his literate and poetic lyrics, and that's not out of order I guess. I find that most of his stuff, which this is a prime example of, leans towards obscurity and metaphor ( often with a spiritual/ religious bent) which works fine enough, but isn't really on my mind as I'm listening. I don't think that well of meaning is as deep as some would have you think, but I think that it's great for another reason - it's all vague and open-ended enough for a deep dive examination and interpretation for those so inclined ( though I think any meaning they fish out is going to be WILDLY speculative) AND it provides just enough of a skeleton of a well organized, easily understandable narrative that you can half pay attention to the lyrics and assume it's just a straight up traditional narrative. That seems like a lot of work to be put into narrative fence straddling, and I appreciate it. It allows me to appreciate the melody, vocals and instrumentation without being distracted by the lyrics, which I think is the downfall of a lot of folk music. Cohen wants to entertain first and foremost, and if he can sneak some poetic nonsense in to let you imbue whatever meaning you want, then awesome. Long story short, I'm not going to be examining his lyrics too much unless something stands out. I could honestly care less about the lyrics in a song unless it's an explicit message song. We'll see how much of that there is here, but all you need to know about this one is that it's very pretty and has some unexpected chord changes that add a patina of darkness and longing sadness to the affair. Cover by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkIo7ipD1is&list=PL3xoFh_xaljFbwZV14rdkTeqO7wYK919q&index=14 Cover by Gregory Porter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHTLNRKWw4 "Master Song" - A whole song built around those unexpected chord changes. This time a much darker almost apocalyptic, medieval troubadour number that's just as pretty, but with some classical guitar ( maybe a flamenco influence?) work. This sits up there with something like Dylan's All Along the Watchtower as far as impenetrable, mystical, almost alchemical lyrics go, and the atmosphere feels both oppressive and romantic at the same time. The tremolo effect from the electric guitar and the Spaghetti Westernish accents add a ton of extra layers here for a song that instrumentally does not ever veer very far off the path. Awesome. Maybe my favorite track of his. Cover by John Bergeron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Cay9LFB-o "Winter Lady" - A delicate romantic ballad that also feels heavily influenced by that English folk tradition, so much so that I had to check and see if he had adapted or reinterpreted an existing song. Nope, all him apparently. A prefect example of how the man can mine quite a bit out of very simple ingredients. Cover by Nathaniel Rateliff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBL0zYWgFzQ Cover by Will Oldham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g90oBqeMtq8 "The Stranger Song" - More classical acoustic guitar playing here that opens like it was already playing in the room when we opened the door. This is another of his more well liked songs, but it leans just a hair too far into the self-serious for me, and doesn't offer enough of the dynamics that his better ones do. The vocal melody is there, it's just not very memorable in comparison. If someone wanted to do a Cohen parody, this one would provide an ideal skeleton for pastiche. Cover by Emmylou Harris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4shDJvXWXd4 "Sisters of Mercy" - More casual in his delivery, and with a guitar line that varies a lot more nicely, this is another lovely folk ballad in the English tradition, with an added nautical feel from the variety of instrumentation, including a mandolin and an accordion, along with some mechanical little clockwork noises. Beautiful stuff. Cover by Beth Orton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j3pQairEUw&list=PL3xoFh_xaljFbwZV14rdkTeqO7wYK919q&index=6 Cover by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9P2kHsKM0k Side two "So Long, Marianne" - Side two opens with some more traditional folk, fiddles and even a drum! This would sound equally at home ( with slight adjustments) wafting out from the cramped stage of an English pub or an Appalachian bluegrass festival amphitheater. Easily the best playing on the album so far, and proof that Cohen is more than a one trick pony. Damn, now I want there to be a Leonard Cohen bluegrass album. Supposedly he played in a country folk and western band in his youth, and many of his songs have been notably covered by country stars... Cover by Courtney Barnett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDSSbMqpUhY Cove by Cheshire Carr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5k0JFpZ7SQ&list=PLX6o3UDvULDpL2lWa168tHOjz_-tLlH9Z "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" - This one didn't work as well for me, and sounded fairly generic compared to the better tracks here. Not bad, but very middle of the road and not as much to set it apart from a lot of the folky balladry floating around the same era. Cover by Roberta Flack ( I like this much more than the original - all of these actually): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz38Vxkyow4 Cover by The Decemberists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jicc4HnaNME Cover by Feist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfqCMLDLb8s "Stories of the Street" - This had a Spanish guitar flavor to it that was interesting, but the core melody left me a bit cold. The instrumention was the best part of this. And I could hear a bit of the influence from this on Beck's Mutation album. Speaking of... Cover by Beck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvzFapYMAxA "Teachers" - the classical/ Flamenco guitar work makes a hard return here, and along with some very interesting and much more successful version of the sort of thing that didn't quite work for me on "The Stranger Song", but hits the spot here. I think the twangy almost middle-eastern guitar accents and much fuller vocal performance drive this one over the edge into a very pleasing result. Cover by Omnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w6e-3228Zo "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" - Another fine enough track, that has a decent but pretty basic melody, that sounds as basic as any track on the album. The highlight was the whistled and wailing ending, which i think also had a recorder under it? Cover by Gregory Alan Isakov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05B1O8Dl7F4 HIGHLIGHTS - "Suzanne" - "Master Song" - "Winter Lady" - "Sisters of Mercy" - "So Long, Marianne" - "Teachers" MIDLIGHTS - "The Stranger Song" - "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" - "Stories of the Street" - "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS There was a lot to like about this album, and no real weak spots. As much as I really liked a good portion of this, there was plenty of unremarkable, if decent filler which sort of takes the shine off a bit. I like it more than I remember though, and thought there was a lot more variance in the mood and atmosphere than just the doom and gloom that stuck with me. Though there was plenty of that to be had as well. Not sure Cohen will develop into much more of a greatest hits compilation guy for me, but that remains t be seen. We've got 4 more to get through. At the very least though, that greatest hits album might be of the double disc variety, so that's a step up on most. There is a world where I could see this one growing on me enough to hit a 4 on some re-listens though. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Drop those highlights and add the rest to the best of playlist! FURTHER LISTENING - John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan - John Prine by John Prine - Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying by Lab Siffre - Townes Van Zandt by Townes Van Zandt - Desertshore by Nico - The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Letting Go by Bonnie "Prince" Billy
His voice demands to be listened to, but the album as a whole was a bit boring.
calm, ballads and interesting lyrics. (2.5/5.0)
For me his finest vocal performance from this list with the best-known "Suzanne" and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye".
I was a bit disappointed. I enjoyed the first song. But then it seemed to repeat for the rest of the album. 3 stars for songwriting.
Songwriting obviously immaculate, but stodgy instrumentation and Cohen's own lackluster voice keep me from loving this.
The first time I ever heard of this guy was earlier in this challenge with his “Darker” album. So hearing his debut was fun.
These certainly are the songs of Leonard Cohen, for better or for worse. I get the appeal, just I'm more of a music over lyrics guy so he just don't really do it for me as much as some other folks. Great lyrics, but I need some riffs or something. I dunno.
Kind of boring, but his voice was good and the songs were solid.
Bien
A sweeter, more earnest version of early Dylan. Nice songs with a melancholy undertone. A relistener for sure. 3.5 rounded down.
A pleasant singer songwrighter album. Well written and a soothing listen. 3.4/5.
Okayy
Can't explain it, but i feel like I joined a cult
depressing ahh songs
Great and legendary songwriter. These songs are more like poems set to music. They’re all good, but after a whole album, they start to sound the same. A 3.
This isn't bad music, but just doesn't resonate with me it's unremarkable in the background and is ok but not great.
3 - decent
Sleepy folk music that is perfect for a Sunday morning. Some of the songs are monotonous but the album contains a few of the best songs he has ever written - "Suzanne" and "So Long Marianne", in particular. Solid, but not spectacular...perhaps something you hear before you die.
Fine, a little boring though emotive and poetic. Subdued Paul Simon.
Good but boring (to me)
fue relajante
Good, but a little too sad for me right now. I appreciate the lyricism, but after about 4 songs or so I'm pretty bored with it.
I enjoyed this a lot more than the 80s Cohen album I previously encountered from the list. If I had discovered this around the time I discovered Dylan in high school, I would be more attached to it.
Decent but don’t think I’ll revisit really
A tough one to rate, as Leonard Cohen’s music seems to really polarise opinion. I liked some of the music - Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne, Suzanne - and his early career voice was certainly also much better than I’ve heard on other later songs. However, as an album it can drag a bit in places and . So a low 3 overall.
Leonard Cohen's voice certainly did not improve with age, in this album his voice is still young and fresh, a big plus. He certainly could wright some song lyrics. The overall sound is not something I'm completely in love with, although I've heard the album before, as one of my sons has it on vinyl.
Eh
Fairly ok, excellent voice!
i feel like i’m disrespecting Piero Scaruffi
One of the most normal Cohen albums. Wasn’t bad. Very relaxing.
It's a bit repetitive after a while. 2.5
He's very good at what he is doing but thoses songs aren't really my thing.
Amazing how high his vocal range is here compared to future songs. So Long Marianne a standout track. Always loved the folksy dream-like qualities of these earlier recordings. Like hearing classic literature as music
This is better than a lot of the "guy with a guitar" from this era, but I prefer his later work. 3.5 rounded down.
If you like your songs to be filled with religious motifs and to not vary in tone, then boy, is this the album for you! 2.5 stars rounding up.
I know the famous Hallelujah and You Want it Darker, so was expecting the gravelly voice, and disappointed he didn't always sound like that. However the guitar playing is extremely cool and the songs do sound good. Teachers is probably my favourite 3 stars
Sometimes his voice creates a great atmosphere (telling stories at the campfire) and other times it distracts—some of his songs seem to want a more melodic voice. Would happily listen to again but wouldn’t go out of my way for. Some tracks overstay their welcome and not a lot stands out, but So Long, Marianne was delightful. Rating: 3
Theoretically I should love Leonard Cohen. But his voice bugs me, and I don’t find most of the music interesting. I think if he had confined himself to writing lyrics and left the music and singing to other people I would probably be a fan. I can’t really see myself choosing to listen this again.
I liked this, though it did get a bit samey by the end. It’s a chill, soft and story driven folk album worth listening to but probably not worth coming back to
A bit miserable but lovely lyrics
Not bad just kinda boring
A classical album featuring two classics, in my opinion, and otherwise more of the same. It’s lovely music, so I’m giving it 3 stars…
Leonard Cohen is a source of pride for Canadians and Montrealers, and I can see why after listening to his debut album here. I don't have the best education on his music, and I was more familiar with his later, raspy years. Sidenote - at first glance, I thought the album of the day was songs by Leonard Nemoy. I'm so glad I read it wrong.
good folk music! it's not really the type of stuff i listen to, but the storytelling is really good. definitely a great album within the genre
Bro IS by the campfire and telling stories.
Okay, 4 Cohen album are pretty excessive ...
This was not bad for a debut album. Cohen tends to ramble a bit in these songs. Don't go into this expecting typical song structure or rhyme scheme. Some songs are catchy, but this album mostly shows the potential for the songwriter.
So much done with so little. As for the music, I like the production ideas often more than the actual execution of them. Sometimes it works, and there’s some very original ideas there, other times it just sounds cheesy or dated. As for the lyrics, woah. It’s hard giving this 3 stars because the poetry is, well it’s often great. But as an all around album it’s an experiment that doesn’t fully work. There are major tracks on here though, stories that one could spend a long time exploring, and my interest in Cohen is massively peaked
Some really nice songs in here that I already knew, and some other ones that are quite good, butttt some others that sound really similar that aren't as good
Decent. Enjoyed this more than usual for a Cohen album
Again, I think I prefer Cohen's songwriting to his performance; there always seems to be a version of one of his songs that I greatly prefer - in this case it's Courtney Barnett's cover of So Long Marianne, which is great.
I'm not really interested in scrutinizing the lyrics, might be higher or lower
Creo que cumple con un buen álbum de folk, este genero no es totalmente mi fuerte, pero siempre se puede apreciar, creo que es un buen álbum.
I guess it was nice to listen to, and his lyrics are very poetic, but it's just not my cup of tea. All of the songs were very similar in tempo, tone and subject matter and none were particularly interesting musically
It's Leonard Cohen, what did you expect?
A lot different than I was expecting. A calmer voice in his earlier days and folksier. Great songwriting. Highlights: "The Stranger Song" and "Stores of the Street"
First Listen; 3.5; While this is a little slow and not terribly diverse, what is here and what is done is done really well. I really enjoy the lyrics/storytelling. I don't know exactly how, but it is a very affecting album. Very intimate. An album that I am glad is on this like and one I will probably listen to again. Favorite Track: Suzanne
not my style but its good, reminds me of childhood for some reason.
Great vocals and a great lyricist. Definitely has some of that 60s folk vibe as well, which I definitely appreciate and those bands were such an influence in rock, it's just something I usually don’t listen to. It was still a good album though.
во-первых 67) во-вторых скучненько, реально как сегодня в обсуждении было сказано музыка для вязания но не так плохо как вчера
A little too dark and melody-less for my tastes
The faint screams from One of Us Cannot Be Wrong really hit.
There are some bangers on there I must say, such as So, Long, Marianne. But prob not really my vibe
Probably better if you take the time to fully listen to the lyrics and stuff. I listened to it while cooking dinner so couldn't do that and then found it just got kind of samey after a while
He may be a genius but he does go on a bit. Good vocals, average songs, weak arrangements.
Reminded me of Dylan in some ways. Lyrics were good throughout. Musically bland at times and decent at others.
High number of unique words, interesting story telling. Just a hair pretentious. Well produced but his voice is just a little grating.
I managed to listen through and like a couple of songs were quite catchy, but I didn't overly like the lyrics or the way they didn't really fit.
Such a gorgeous album. Leonard Cohen is so lovely to listen to. Fav song is ‘Winter Lady’.
- That guitar and how Leonard is playing it while singing just sounds really lovely. - I really liked Suzanne’s and Masters song accompanying instruments - Bible references in some songs - Songs so narrative I’m daydreaming animated music videos
Not for me but not bad
The man is a gifted storyteller and musician and every song is like hearing someone sing a tale to you. But I had a hard time relating emotionally to his lyrics, so I can appreciate his artistry and also say that this album is not for me.
Leonard Cohen is a storyteller and a poet, but he'd not a great singer and he's not a great musician. This album is something you should read, not something you should listen to. Ive got two of his albums this week and I figured out I don't have to take Ambien, I can just let Leonard put me to sleep with bedtime stories. Im rating this one a 3 and the other one a 2, because this one seems better even though they're pretty much identical. The 3 is for the lyrics alone, but musically it is dull.
I like the overall vibes.