Reviews (page 7 of 14)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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