Reviews (page 7 of 13)
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
Man in turtleneck croons.
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.
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.
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.
Can't explain it, but i feel like I joined a cult
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.
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.
This was my second listen to this one and I didn't rate it very high the first time. I think I was busy and not paying much attention on that listen. This time I focused on the music and it was much better than I gave it credit for, Cohen is a good songwriter and his voice is warm. There are a handful of really good songs, with Teachers being phenomenal. It is still a bit too slow paced for me to sit through the whole 41 minutes, but I will be adding a few of these songs to my streaming playlist.
Suzanne // 3.5/5
Too religiousy for me
3,5
Good and pleasant album with few hiccups. Solid 3/5.
Sad. Beautiful acoustic guitar depresses me infinitely. Top song: hey no that’s no way to say goodbye. Good album wouldn’t listen again in full unless feeling very melancholy.
En av vår tids mest överskattade. Ett barn jämfört med Bob Dylans alster. Hursomhelst trallvänligt i moll.
Svag trea
Basic nice
pretty
Loved the Gothic sound style, guitar felt kinda meh. First half of album was ok, really loved 'So long, Marianne,' 'Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye,' 'Stories of the Street,' and 'One of Us Cannot Be Wrong.'
Sleepy good
There is something endearing about Cohen with his haunting vocals and tight songwriting. I spent most of my time listening to this thinking I recognise the songs but don’t know where from. I guess he is often imitated? Ultimately the songs and album don’t really get going and have limited appeal.
Nothing objectionable. Boring in general.
Se siente como un recuerdo.
It's nice...
mme, ni fu ni fa
-the songs are nice.. i could feel my attention wandering away from it at times. not sure if it was because of me or the album. i love cohen's lyrics, and i like his minimalist approach to music, but sometimes it doesn't quite land for me.
Like
Han lyder godt i sine unge dage! Stemmen er mere min stil end det heeeelt bassede i moderne tid, og albummet lød bare rigtig fedt. En stor stor 3'er, lige på nippet, 3.5
This is so much better than Songs of Love and Hate, what the heck?! I took my time getting to this one because I didn't want to deal with it after how much I disliked the last album I got by him, but this is actually pretty good! It's 3.5, I'll probably round down because I don't think I'll come back to it much, but I could just as easily go up to 4. Also, what's up with the Adam Sandler picture on the cover, am I right?
3/5 It has some raw moments where his voice can expand or twitch and it really reflects authenticity. It has thoughtful songwriting that I might have not been able to appreciate in just a day. This album might grow on me as I age. Simple, thoughtful. I really liked that song about Marianne.
I can hear poetry in the lyrics here, but the voice and arrangements are so sparse it’s almost cold. I suspect I’d like it more if I listened a few more times
The music is fine, with moments of brilliance here and there. Cohen's vocals are a little underwhelming for me. "So Long, Marianne" is the best song by a good bit. "Teachers" is the worst. I enjoyed the music well enough, but Cohen is a bit boring for me. It was alright, but certainly not enough to convert me.
Pretty great songwriting- not a whole lot melodically so I am kind of uninterested overall, but you'd be a fool to deny he was a talented lyricist and guitarist.
Content d’écouter un album de Cohen C’est bien mais ça me retourne pas
It was alright. There was a couple good songs I forgot the names of. Overall, I would give it a 3.5/5!
Pretty, calm, a bit pretentious. Still, nice to have on in the background while working. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: Suzanne
I did think it this was pretty dull, as with all the cohen we've had so far - perhaps with the exception of that synth album a while back - but his voice was the strongest i think its been on any of the albums. So while not on the pony express, I was pleasantly impressed here. So long marianne was my highlight track
3/5
unfortunate reality is I constantly confuse this man with Lynard Skynyrd Went in only knowing Suzanne. I’m enjoying this, mellow easy, likely never to be listened to again 😂 Oh he's canadian! Omg he went to McGill 💀 Okay English major poet king becoming a musician in his 30s! I was handsome l was strong I knew the words of every song "Did my singing please you?" "No, the words you sang were wrong" HA folk music is funny Listening to some later songs and sir where did this deep af voice come from
I get why some people would not enjoy this style, as it seems like he's just reading a book. But I think his words hold a deeper meaning than just blatantly reading them.
Favorite songs: Suzanne, The Stranger Song, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye, Stories of the Street, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong Like Dylan I think sometimes I prefer other people's versions of his songs.
Equal parts haunting and pleasant, oddly enough. Definitely unique but not sure I would revisit.
I generally don't listen to too much singer/songwriter stuff. I generally appreciated the songs with a bit more instrumentation. So Long, Marianne was my favorite.
Mooie vertelling, wel iets te christelijk
I am afraid I just don't get the paroxysms of fervour the Leonard Cohen seems to inspire. Certainly some great lyrical twists and turns and the melancholy sound and delivery is always entertaining. So Long, Marianne and That's No Way to Say Goodbye are standouts for me, but I can't get all hot under the collar about the album.
Not my type of music, but is good.
It's okay. I don't think I was feeling it. There's a lot of emotion in it but it felt too tame for me.
His voice is so calming, and feels almost nostalgic?
Pas désagréable mais assez osef, hormis "So Long, Marianne" qui sort un peu du lot. Sûrement une tuerie pour qui aime la poésie anglophone (pas moi).
For me, when his songs are satisfying musically as well as lyrically they're mind-blowing, but when they're just streams of poetry backed by guitar, not so much so. Pretty impressive for a debut album though.
only got halfway through. great music but it is not happy. 3/5 cause that's all the effort i'm putting in this. i may relisten to the whole thing later
On another of his albums in the 1001 I referred to him as being obviously an acquired taste. This album reinforces that opinion.
isnt my type
I’m not really into fault but it was OK I’ll give it like a three.
3.5
7.5/10
pior que o vozerão nem tinha se formado como uma característica dele ainda nesse né mas eh decente. folkzim, os instrumento tranquilim e o mano soltando as letra mais baixo astral do mundo. apesar de não ser mto minha pira, eu achei bacana até
He sure says a lot of words. And plays a lot of guitar. The Canadian Bob Dylan. But not as good. To be a fair judge, I'd have to stop everything else and sit and listen to all those words, which I'm not inclined to do. I didn't hate this, not at all. Between a 3 and a 4. "Suzanne" I already knew, and it's a good one. I'd do a 3.5, but I'm struggling to give it a 4. So, 3 it is. Sorry, Leonard. I'm not your best audience.
Someone called Leonard Cohen the Shakespeare of pop music, and at first glance that sounds fitting. However, I’m not aware of whether Shakespeare himself always played the leading roles in his plays. On his debut album *Songs of...*, Leonard Cohen focused almost exclusively on writing the lyrics. Those lyrics, however, actually deserved better music—and that music, in turn, deserved a better voice. Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon I’ve observed in many singer-songwriters in this project. It’s a shame—there could be so many better albums out there.
An enjoyable folky album that goes to capture depth of human feeling rather than make political statements and such. Cohen can paint a picture with his words and round out the vibe with the vocal sound and music. Every song probably has something worthwhile in it, though this is an album I think needs to grow on someone. Stuck between a 3 and 4, my initial listen seemed a clear 3 but my appreciation had grown by the end of the day. I’ll still stay there for now, but could revisit.
the guitar was tranquil, the lyrics were lovely, no complaints, def not a 4 though
It was fine Fav song: Teachers
no hallelujah 0/10
album #19 I like Leonard Cohen:) ꩜ average track rating: 0.0/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): ꩜ least favourite track(s): ꩜ album rating: ★★★☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,070 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 9 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 3 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 14
Enjoyable and very peaceful, solid listen but would not sought it out.
Leonard Cohen's debut features the trademarks that would be common on this albums. The music is minimal, with repeated melodies backing the songs with little interruption. The trumpet on "Master Song" is subtle but stands out due to the lack of such flourishes on other songs. The lyrics are detailed and evocative, coming across as poetry set over music. That density makes me feel this would work better as poetry than music. The lyrics are great, but so complex that digesting everything while listening is difficult; I'd rather read these words and have time to let them sink in. "Suzanne," especially the second verse, is beautiful, and the backing vocals on "So Long, Marianne" are also a highlight. But too much of the rest sounds too similar and slight.
This just didn't really make me feel much of anything
A really decent album. Nice debut. Decent 3
Some fab chord progressions but overall not my favorite.
I've only heard his later stuff, so I found it interesting how his voice has changed over the years and how he built his music around the sound of his voice.
Otro álbum para pasarla chill
Obviously a very talented storyteller and lyricist, but musically this puts me to sleep. I can respect the talent but I won't be putting this on again.
Songs seem strong, but vocal range is small and difference between songs appears minimal. Suzanne will always remind me of Plan B.
I love Leonard, but I’ve never been able to get into this album. Not sure why. Too folky? Too quiet? It’s missing a gravitas i expect. I know that’s because this is his debut and rarely does any artist arrive fully formed. I can hear what I love about latter Leonard Cohen forming in these tracks, but I can’t give full marks. 3.5/5
actually kinda beautiful....not sure why my other thoughts didn't save but liked the one w strangers in the title :)
nice sound, songs kinda got repetitive by the end lyrics were kinda odd/didn’t melodies for me
Je ne savais pas que je connaissais déjà cet album... il me rappelle mon amoureux
3.5/5 don't think I get it
Not my favourite Leonard Cohen album, but still pretty good - and an interesting glimpse at the birth of an artist in the process of inventing himself. I’ve always loved Cohen’s sullen, flat delivery. I totally understand how it would sound like spoken word to some people ; but for me, it lends an almost ceremonial dimension to his music. He’s also one of the only lyricists I can tolerate in the “singer-songwriter” genre, with his wonderfully dark and soulful tone. His debut album is certainly not without flaws – Leonard Cohen didn’t know he was Leonard Cohen yet, and his voice hadn’t fully matured. He was still working under the shadow of the 60s folk revival, trying to be some kind of biblical version of Bob Dylan. The instrumental parts are a bit basic, with very average guitar work. But Cohen is already starting to introduce the quasi-religious choruses, violins and keyboards that will later define his best creations, and his themes of predilection are already well fleshed-out. The sombre and haunting mood he’s trying to convey is still hit-or-miss - but when it succeeds, it cuts deep. 5/10
Leonard Cohen is a classic, and compared to the album from this weekend it suddenly feels deep and dark, miles away from yesterday’s squirrels. I don’t know Cohen’s work that well, but this is basically what I hope to hear when I put on one of his records.
3.9
I like this album so far
Dropping this in the late 60s just adds another layer to that folk sound of the day. I'm not certain it was his intention but So Long, Marianne is catchy as any pop jam at that time. This is as strong a debut as any artist can get.
esta bueno,muy tranquilo
Have I ever heard this before? - it sounds sort of familiar, and yet not at the same time Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, Goodbye - wow! I'll take this over Bob Dylan and Paul Simon when I need some 60's folk guitar And not as gloomy as some of his later stuff
60s folk rock. Debut. Gentle folk album, nice voice. A bit one-note.
It's more like spoken word poetry than music at times. Gonna need a few more listens to appreciate the lyrics and the allusions but dig it
The album is a bit sleepy, But you got to respect the songwriting and lyricism here. It's a chill and peaceful listen that is good for certain moods and weather.
I can’t shake the sense that he’s making each lyric up on the spot. It’s fine but once was enough
Nice, but very samey and a little bit weird here and there. Not sure Cohen's style is one that suits me very well, however I can hear the craft in the songwriting. I saved one for long-term listening, but otherwise I don't think I'll be back.
good background listening
The Stranger Song
Fav is “So long, Marianne”
Such a cornerstone.
Kreeg een beetje Boudewijn de Groot vibes van, af en toe worden er een beetje cheesy achtige geluiden gebruikt, stijkers, hoge stemmetjes. Maar hier kan Bruce Springsteen nog een puntje aan zuigen, de liedjes hebben duidelijk meer inhoud, t gitaarspel klinkt ook fijn. prima plaat 3 sterren.
Nice. Languid. 3 stars
Really nice lyrics. Melodic folk sad boy vibes. Lamented, danced, pranced, sat, and swayed to this in my backyard. "But the room just filled up with mosquitoes / They heard that my body was free"
OK
It just sounds a lot like bob dylan, unfortunately. It isn't bad! But his later stuff sounds much more unique.
Not for me
Very similar to Bob Dylan but less whiny. I suppose I need to read the lyrics. Nothing outstanding musically on first two listens.
very pretty, story telling, although I do sometimes think of a newer version of story telling (Taylor Swift) with a similar style of singing perhaps
Music when we were young. So many memories of a time we crew up.
Sad man in a cliff vibes
Very cohen but nothing on the album that grabs you by the short and curlies
In my last review I said that I find folk pretty dull and repetitive but this is an exception in my opinion. It feels pretty sincere and I felt like there is definitely more to it than most contemporary folk albums.
I've heard Suzanne covered by someone. Lyrics are amazing in all the songs. It's really well done, but I'd prefer the songs interspersed with something more upbeat. Reminiscent of Bob Dylan.
I can recognise his ability but I find his songs a bit slow for me.
This was ok got a bit meh at the end
Its been a few years since I've heard this one. I find him to be much more of a poet than a musician. That is still true but I certainly appreciated this much more this time around.
BEST SONGS: - So Long, Marianne - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbay
precisely okay. mostly i think this is not something that overly interested me, or perhaps i was just not in the mood for it, as i can see why someone would enjoy this a lot. cohen has a nice calming voice over top very relaxing instrument. his lyricism and general style to me feels more evocative of poetry than traditional songwriting, such is how folk often leans. all of these broadly blur together in a way that makes me want to sleep, but it's Nice to listen to at least.
My favorite Cohen is You Want it Darker, I wouldn't say this is the kinda music I would listen to on a regular basis though. I certainly don't hate it, but its not exactly the most exciting album I've ever heard. Depending on the day I imagine this'd either be contemplative or downright boring, but today I do feel more the former. I've seen some people in the reviews on the site say "just write poetry", which is a common thing levied at spoken word folk, but to me this really does blur the lines between being a music album and a poetry reading with musical accompaniment. I think if you're open minded to the idea of that, which tbh its understandable why many people aren't, there's at least something to find here. My favorite two songs is probably "the stranger song", which I interpret as a sad look at the cycle of women who are used in relationships by men and "hey, that's no way to say goodbye" which I think is complemented by the backing singing pretty well. It isn't incredible, it kind of dragged for me and if someone hated it I'd be like "that tracks" but I thought it was fine.
Cool
The songwriting is good. The stories are great. Musically, I appreciate the haunting, beautiful sad vibe, but at other times bored. Perhaps this record asks for your full attention, which I am unable to give today, only picking some of the pieces of the puzzle. There's no doubt that the ceiling of this album is higher than I am giving it credit for, but this is my first listen. There is a type of record, which I find difficult to rate, which I describe as a masterpiece in which I don't yet love. This project is exposing my bi-polar relationship with rating music.
Totally agree with ksigz about the songs - great poet, great songwriter, but 60's Leonard singing is torture to me. Love 80's Leonard once the ciggies and whiskies did their work. (it's fun to search just about any song on this album on Spotify and hear better singers bring game to what great songs they are)
They kind of all sound the same, don’t they?
I felt this one was really mid. I'm learning that I just don't love his music
Not my favorite of Leonards albums thus far. Felt like the other albums we've had thus far just had more to offer. To be fair I wasn't paying all that close attention to the lyrics on this one, which I think is important with his music, as storytelling is a key factor. But one mustn't forget about the instrumentation and I felt as though it took more of a backseat on this one aside from So Long, Marianne, which was by far my favorite on the album. Also, the wailing on the last song was unnecessary Leonard... whatever that was... Idk...
I thought I liked Cohen for a bit when I was 17, but it wore off quite quickly. I do enjoy his final album, but also feel he has a lot to answer for in influencing Nick Cave's overly melodramatic oeuvre.
not bad for Leonard
1,001 albums and I get three Leonard Cohen in a week. Not bad, but not his best.
I guess it’s ok , but a little boring for me
Alright singer songwriter. I think I liked a different album from this list better. This one sets a certain mood and vibe that I wasn't in the mood for but it wasn't a bad album
I couldn't listen to the entire album, but I really liked what I heard. nothing out of this world but some very special lyrics and rhythms, I had never heard them before, and some very catchy ones.
Fint
Double feature?! Lät bättre än det förra.
Trevligt, men mindre trevligt direkt efter hans andra album.
Hade det inte varit dubbel-Cohen hade jag kanske satt högre. Det är fint, men det är också sömnigt i längden.
Leonard Cohen is so damn cool. It’s interesting to start on this and then listen to how his voice has changed over the years. But it’s also interesting to hear how the Leonard Cohen vibe doesn’t change much from record to record. This guy writes some sad, tortured bastard music, but I’m into it. 3.5/5
Ok
Nagyon nyugis vibe, jo dallamok, a mai kornak kicsit lassú, meglepően popos
This one is a project. Good though
Re chill. Me gustó. Lo volvería a escuchar.
+ Kul stemme, fin gitar, tror det er mye å hente i lyricsa. - Veldig repetativt, ikke så spennende, connecter ikke gelt med plata. 3/5 would buy the record on sale
3.3 I'm torn on this. Previously had a huge aversion to Leonard Cohen, felt like old sad bastard music. However, his first release I can see in a new light, it's less old, but still very much sad bastard. On the one hand it invites the listener in to read what are effectively his poetry. Reminds me a bit of the Freewheelin in that way. On the other hand, unlike the Freewheelin, none of the songs actually make me happy, make me enjoy the musicianship, make me laugh etc. If I'm going to listen to music when I'm feeling like wallowing in pity, there's a 1,001 albums ahead of this in the queue so I don't know where it fits in. I can appreciate the artistry, but it's just not doing too much for me.
I liked some of the songs here a decent amount, like Suzanne or The Stranger Song. But something about Leonard Cohen just makes me feel like I’m in church. The instrumental of Sisters of Mercy was probably the most interesting part.
You can definitely hear that Cohen has the same folk songwriting sensibilities that his contemporaries like Bob Dylan or Paul Simon. Once again though, I struggle with the disconnect of trying to have meaningful poetic lyrics juxtaposed against incredibly frantic instrumentals. They are often so fast and intricate that I would get distracted focusing on them, and realize I hadn’t been listening to the lyrics for some time. Maybe this is an album I need to give another listen to really digest, but for now it was fine.
Not my era but beautiful lyrics
The way Cohen is more a story-teller than a songwriter brings on a different listening experience that I wasn't used to. There's an ambiance that your brain isn't sure if it should focus on or not. I love the classical-inspired nylon guitar used in many of the songs. Like a mix of a bolero and corrido, I can't help but feel there's a lot of Spanish and Latin influence behind these songs, despite their distinctly western folk feel. "Sisters of Mercy" even utilizes some European folk instruments, indicative of the Renaissance fad of the 60s. Ultimately, what makes this album great is Cohen's song writing. At the end of the day, he's a poet and this album is pure poetry. "So Long, Marianne" was a favorite off this one. The lyric "You held onto me like I was a crucifix," sticks with me.
Leonard Cohen was a writer (poet if you must) - not a musician. That alone is not disqualifying for me, it could even bolster his place on the list. The problem for me is that rather than producing what may have been the first audiobook of Cohen poetry, we're given what everyone claims is a music album. If I review it as a music album, it is unadulterated trash. As a novel poetry concept, not for me, but actually fairly brilliant. Influence 4. Quality 3. Intangibles 3. Hits 3. No thanks, I choose life 1.
Maybe it was being in nature while listening to this album, but for a singer-songwriter album, I felt it was quite a pleasant listen. His voice is a lot nicer than it was in his recent few albums.
Liked the guitar but what was he talking about?
J'ai aimé ! Mais pas son meilleur album :)
This genre just wasn’t really for me. It was a nice album though.
Another Leonard Cohen album and better than the last, more recent one but still didn’t convert me. Just don’t like the vocal style and too many songs in 3/4 time!!
Yeah it was nice. Fairly one note but I appreciated the song writing. Never been too into him so it was good to listen to a full selection.
Very chill, melancholy vibes
6.5/10
enjoyed this much more than the other cohen one we listened too but still not my favorite
Good vibe, wish I had listened more closely
Leonard Cohen is a great songwriter but his music just doesn't move the needle for me
classic and calming
Mjög þægileg hlustun
A Street (2014) Alexandra Leaving (2001) Almost Like The Blues (2014) Amen (2012) Anthem (1992) Anyhow (2012) Ballad Of The Absent Mare (1979) Banjo (2012) Bird On The Wire (1969) Born In Chains (2014) Chelsea Hotel #2 (1974) Closing Time (1992) Come Healing (2012) Crazy To Love You (2012) Dance Me to the End of Love (1984) Darkness (2012) Different Sides (2012) Everybody Knows (1988) Famous Blue Raincoat (1971) Field Commander Cohen (1974) First We Take Manhattan (1988) Going Home (2012) Hallelujah (1984) Happens To The Heart (2019) I'm Your Man (1988) It Seemed the Better Way (2016) Joan Of Arc (1971) Listen To The Hummingbird (2019) Lullaby (2012) Master Song (1967) Moving On (2019) Nevermind (2014) Puppets (2019) Seems So Long Ago, Nancy (1969) Show Me The Place (2012) Sisters of Mercy (1967) Slow (2014) So Long, Marianne (1967) Suzanne (1967) Take This Longing (1974) The Future (1994) The Goal (2019) The Night of Santiago (2019) The Smokey Life (1979) The Stranger Song (1967) Tower of Song (1988) Traveling Light (2016) Treaty (2016) Waiting For The Miracle (1992) Winter Lady (1967) You Got Me Singing (2014) You Want It Darker (2016)
Middagsmusikk
Bon, Mr Cohen, c’est un incontournable effectivement, des pièces très belles et envolées poétiques et tout le tralala… certe, mais là, je vais reveal mon 1000e albums, pis j’le trouve un peu plate le Léonard, donc j’ai juste envie de générer le prochain album
Suzanne - Slow, melodic and vaguely religious. Master Song - Wistful and eerie. Feels like an adventure story told from an outsider's perspective. Gets dark towards the end. Winter Lady - Classic sad song. A bit generic The Stranger Song - Odd mixture of Bob Dylan and Jose Gonzalez vibes Sisters of Mercy - Nice use of bells and ratchets. Feels a bit like a RenFaire song So Long, Marianne - Sad love song about an Ex. Not bad in its own right. I really like the chorus. Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye - Lots of generic love songs. Stories of the Street - Fun little Western tune Teachers - Oddly dark song, a little disappointed it wasn't actually about teachers. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong - Sad old man song
Naja. Verstehe warum Mans gehört haben muss, aber mit zu depri
I liked this album but I think I would prefer a greatest hits Leonard Cohen album better
Decent, a bit depressing
Very calming.