Songs Of Leonard Cohen

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.

not really my cup of tea but iconic

I like the vibe, but I think Leonard Cohen just isn't for me.

Smooth. Easy listening and very cosy.

Kerronta on kovaa, tarinaa ja kielikuvia eikä tuo Cohen ole mikään huono laulajakaan.

C’est joli

I'm not really familiar with Leonard Cohen.....but he wrote Hallelujah. Yes, THAT Hallelujah......the one literally everyone in the world knows. This is a complete surprise because I thought this was one of those songs that was like hundreds of years old........apparently not. Written in 1984. The "hit" song on this album was Suzanne....which I do not get. I read that the first time he played it, the crowd went crazy. For this? I liked So Long Marianne better. This is as folk as folk can get really because it feels like he wrote poems and then started playing the guitar to it. So if you're into lyrical storytelling, this is probably a great album for you.... I don't know what was going on with One of Us Cannot Be Wrong with the background screaming. It seemed out of place and just weird. This song and Teachers were a weak end to the album. Overall, this album isn't for me, but he's a very poetic songwriter, which i'm sure a lot of people can appreciate.

Leonard's voice is one that can often be found narrating my dreams. Either ghoulish nightmares or an easy breezy afternoon in the shade. Never going out of my way to listen. Wasn't the worst, but still the adoration of this guy at times confuses me.

Debut album. Folk. My second Cohen album in four days. More of the same really. A barely sung poetry recital with good storytelling and simple music. It's a thoughtful journey and well put together.

As a not big Cohen guy this might be my favorite. He's good but maybe its just my style too much. I liked the few songs with the plucky later guitar. Those are good but the rest kinda just washes over me and its gone. If I cared about lyrics im sure id get much more but I don't so I dont think ill ever really get him or those like him. Thats on me for sure but he gets a middling look caur of me.

I have never been so impressed by an opening track to then be so underwhelmed by what follows. There is some lovely lyricism on display here, but musically it’s just quite samey isn’t it.

это почти приятно слушать! он нормально поёт! они не добавили завывания шансона! интересного я тоже не нашла но хотя бы не отвратительно

At first I was like... hm idk, but the album got better with every song. I still think it's a little depressing, so it didn't fit my mood. But that dosen't matters. My favourite Songs are "So long Marianne'' and "The stranger Song"

honestly not a huge fan of leonard cohen. its not bad, and i think i like his earlier work where his voice isn't as gravely. all in all, its a fine album.

Not bad but a lot of the songs sound really similar, especially in the first half of the album. It doesn't help that his singing is very monotone and repetitive. Favorites: Teachers

Droll

Fun to hear where the Leonard Cohen journey started. Great songwriting here, and of course the poetic lyrics and buttery voice the man is famous for. Kind of plays like adult lullabyes to me. Could be easily mistaken for Neil Diamond at times, which isn't a criticism.

Downtempo, evocative story-telling; a good fit for a very specific kind of mood.

This is clearly well written and made but it's all just a bit too drab and feels like a drag to get through.

Beautiful voice, lyrics, and instrumentation Would have to be in specific mood to listen Favorites: Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne, Hey That’s No Way to Say Goodbye

Folksy, great lyrics. Each song is like a little story or poem.

Nice album, wouldn’t turn it off but wouldn’t seek to play again

Alot better folk album than the one I was recommended last night 'Bert Jansch'

Pretty much all sounded the same I like his voice so will give a 3

Since I'm not a lyrics-first listener, I probably can't score this one as accurately as I should based off of just one listen.

when a lion whispers, you listen

not anything I'm super crazy about but it had a nice feel to it generally. nice listen overall

The perfect album for when your playing cards with your parents and things are on the precipice of coming to blows

it’s good, but it’s not really my style. i defo like it better than you want it darker, but it’s still not really my thing. but i can respect it.

I wanted to like this, Leonard Cohen being a Canadian icon and all, but this album was way too slow for me.

Leonard Cohen has a very deep and full voice. The instrumentation is subtle but thoughtfull and the album really thrives on his beautifull voice...

I think I understand why this is so popular with depressed people

I wish I liked Leonard cohen more but I just can’t get it

Actually didn’t mind this one as much as I thought I would. Very chilled out background music

Brilliant lyricist. Some great songs. But not a fan of his voice - or the universal melancholy. Not the sort of guy you’d take to the pub for a fun evening….

Although I’m not crazy about his voice, and I think the lyrics are a bit pretentious, I didn’t mind us all together. It’s a low three star rating for me.

Not a bad album! I listened while being out and about in Portland OR in the rain and cold. The atmosphere brought a little moodiness to the music that was fitting for Cohens style.

Really beautiful album. Felt like a lullaby, especially Suzanne. Master song’s guitar feedback sounded great. I felt like it got a bit repetitive after a while though.

The sing songy melody lines, spare arrangements, voice from the grave, and smart writing make Cohen a pretty good hang.

Meditative off-center melodies and lyrics. You hear the folk and other traditions he comes from, but he makes them his own. I would need to listen to this a number of times to fully appreciate.

I say this every time he comes up, he should have stuck to the poetry side of things. I can’t take to his voice at all and the songs are dreary for the most part

This was an easy listen but it didn't stand out to me and I don't think I would put it on the list

Oh man, I thought I'd hate it, this is something I don't usually like. However, like a movie you don't like as it doesn't resonates with you, but you can definitely see why it could resonate with others, this was a surprisingly well spent time. This is what an exercise in 1001 albums should be.

вроде канадец, а звучит как будто с американского среднего запада. ну в целом норм

I was previously familiar with Leonard Cohen, but not this album. This album does well represent what you think of with him - brilliant lyrics, stripped down arrangements, and his voice. I appreciate this for what it is, and while I would listen again, I am not exactly rushing to do so.

Good

2.75-3.25 pretty standard folk, lol zero sauce, wonder what else he has cooking.

He's got a nice voice

3.2/5 debut leonard actually better than i thought very si get songwriter mostly voice and guitar

I’m pretty sure this is the first folk album I got, and it’s fine. I don’t think I would listen to it again.

Coincidentally, I have now spent two consecutive days listening to Leonard Cohen's early work, as part of working through this list: yesterday with his second album, "Songs From A Room", and today with his 1967 debut, "Songs of Leonard Cohen". Overall, the debut is an agreeable listen, characterized by plaintive, minimalistic tracks gently adorned with swells of orchestration here and there. The guitar work, both acoustic and electric, serves mainly to add subtle colour. Cohen's vocal delivery is purely utilitarian, designed solely to articulate the lyrics. "So Long, Marianne" was probably the stand out song for me. That said, the backing vocals sounded somewhat twee and out of keeping, otherwise a fine song. While I recognize the considerable influence Leonard Cohen's song writing has had, as evidenced by the familiar covers, this album doesn't strike me as essential listening for my personal taste. Between the first two, I marginally prefer "Songs From A Room". (3/5). On a final note, the visual presentation of the debut seems as questionable as Cohen's second album; I find the cover art for this album equally poor. Side one 1 "Suzanne" (4/5) 2 "Master Song" (3/5) 3 "Winter Lady" (3/5) 4 "The Stranger Song" (3/5) 5 "Sisters of Mercy" (4/5) Side two 6 "So Long, Marianne" (4/5) 7 "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" (3/5) 8 "Stories of the Street" (3/5) 9 "Teachers" (4/5) 10 "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" (3/5) Total - 34 Average - 3.4 157/1001 86/157 albums reviewed were new to me.

This is my third Leonard Cohen album on the list so far, and as I've gone back in time I've enjoyed them less. This one is a bit inconsistent for me. There are some songs with really interesting lyrics that warrant relistening and analysis, some are pleasant enough slightly Dylan styled numbers, and there are a couple of skips.

The lyrics are gorgeous but the music gets old fast.

Listened Before? N This was better than his other stuff. Before he got TOO weird. There's still some weirdness here but not to the level of his later albums. I didn't hate this one - but I'm not sure we needed of his albums on this list. This is may fave though. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Cohen’s lyricism is undeniable, he is a poet at best and a man at worst. Likewise, this album is enchanting for better and for worse. The songs start to drone into one another about halfway through with similar pacing and sound, which contributed to a seamless album listening experience, yet leaves no distinction track to track. “Suzanne” as an opening track had me hooked because it reminds me of my partner and I sitting in the back of his mom’s car, driving to his sister’s housewarming party through a ravine-esque area with large trees and dancing leaves. We held hands, gazing out the window, humming and feeling. Favourite song(s): Suzanne Least favourite(s): Master Song

I think this highlights a problem with listening to a new album every day - if I had more time to get into this, to really feel it and get in the mood, then I think I would really enjoy delving in and analysing it. But, just listening to it for today, it's kinda boring.

Not really my cup of tea, tbh. I'm not very into the singer/songwriter albums, even though I understand the power and impact they had. Especially Leonard's. I liked it more than Bob Dylan's records, but I guess that is because of the tone of his voice and a more polished approach to the record, but lyrically I prefer Dylan. A solid and cohesive record, just not my genre.

GOOD MUSIC

He’s good but nothing standout

I don't really have much to say about this one. I had a hard time paying attention to the lyrics because of a busy day at work. Sonically, I feel like his vocals and guitar pair very well together. I could see how this would be a boring record to a lot of people but I found it to be a pleasant background listen. There are many other singer-songwriters/folk records that have a little more umph that I'd listen to over this. It feels wrong to rate a Leonard Cohen record a 3 but I'm gonna do it.

Man, Leonard Cohen is one of the strangest songwriters of the mid 60s Greenwhich folk revival. His songwriting is incredible. He's a poet. And yeah, a lot of it is sad and dark, but also really pure and human. Love and joy and heartbreak and heart ache. Its kind of everything. Its also mundane, its hard to tell one song from the next. His vocals are dull and droning. But his songwriting makes for great covers. I love a Leonard Cohen cover usually more than the original. Notable songs: Suzanne, So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye.

No doubt the songwriting ability is apparent and the minimalist production pairs well but it ain't my cup of tea.

Good singer, unique voice. Some good songs.

Highly respect his gift of writing but I just do not enjoy listening to him. Even younger.

I don't mind his voice or the storytelling. Nothing remarkable though. This album would be much better with more instruments, backing vocals, really anything... 3/5 Favorite song: Stories of the Street

Songs of Leonard Cohen, is a masterpiece of poetic folk. Focused almost entirely on his intensely personal, literary lyrics, the album established Cohen's signature style: that deep, meditative voice set against sparse, melancholic acoustic arrangements. Some easy classics like "Suzanne" and "So Long, Marianne" really lift this up from its depths.

This was really great. I had never listened to one of his albums before and this was terrific. Really enjoyed this.

3/5

Kinda boring but okay

Suzannes a great song to start the album off. Good for a calm sunday before you stick on ITV to watch a James Bond film.

Bit dull.

Im not not into this, but Cohen doesn't really excite me. Covers of his songs always slap tho.

Cohen is a master songwriter, just wish the musical accompaniment on this one was a bit more varied.

Beautiful songs and storytelling. Vibes are just way too mellow for me. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): N/A ⭐⭐⭐: S'alright. Saved no tracks.

This was ok, I wouldn’t be rushing back to it though

favorite song from the album: Suzanne

A lot better than I expected from "the most boring voice ever". 3/5

A few good ones here

Kind of Bob Dylan-esque. Slow but I'm sure the lyrics are powerful. 6/10

A nice, gentle and easy listen. It is good but didn’t stand out to me. I’m not smart enough to explain why this is so much worse than stardust, but it is

very different than his first album, reminds me of simon and garfunkel but with less instrumentation going on. Love the sneaky bagpipes and general upbeat turn in so long, marianne. Another highlight was the aca and digeridoo moments in hey that's no way to say goodbye

Quite samey. Enjoyed So Long, Marianne

7/10

Very interesting, his voice is not bad at this point in his career. Not my thing but I'll say interesting again

I liked it and can appreciate the skill displayed here, but I didn’t love it. I think perhaps Cohen isn’t suited to the quick fire listen-once-and-make-a-snap-judgement nature of this 1001 album journey. It’s probably a slow burn that needs multiple listens to unwrap fully.

Very relaxing for an afternoon in the kayak.

I’m not about to rush out and listen to more Leonard Cohen but this was kind of good, Needs a beat thiugh

Oli mielenkiintoista kuulla Leonard Cohenia hieman kirkasäänisempänä hänen myöhempiin julkaisuihinsa verrattuna. Levy oli aika tasainen paketti laulutarinointia/-runoilua ja akustista soittoa. Ihan ei saanut kaikkea irti, kun sanoituksiin ei ihan täysin kyennyt keskittymään, mutta yleisfiilikseltään levy oli "ihan hyvä". Mennään taas tylsällä kolmosen arvosanalla, koska ei tämä nelosta ansaitse, muttei ole kakkosen arvoinen keskiarvoa heikompi suorituskaan. Joku Cohenin tuoreempi levy saattaisi saada korkeamman arvosanan, koska pidän hänen vanhemmalla iällä olevastaan tummasta lauluäänestä, esimerkiksi "You Want It Darker" on huikea kappale, joka on myös musiikillisesti mielenkiintoisempi ja monipuolisempi.

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

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

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

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

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

Very strong storytelling album.

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A little too samey for me

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

I wanted to love it, but just liked okay.

Slow Leonard Cohen

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

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

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

Deep.

Pretty sad but something about it is appealing to me.

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

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

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

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

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

Fantastic voice, not really my cup of tea though.

Tickle me taint there young feller

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

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

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

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

umm… what is he talking about?

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

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

Gode vibes - røget bodega/chill/shelter

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

Nett, wenig besonders.

Not as good as some of his others

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

his songwriting is so pretty and his voice is so soothing

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

Strong lyrics, voice puts me to sleep.

Calming

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

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

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

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

So longgg mAAArieeeeeEEENE

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

Heat

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

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

Not my cup of tea.

estuvo ok

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

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

на любителя.

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

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

Superb! A classic :D

Brassens en pas drôle Mais sympatoche

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

Not for me

Perfect album for someone recovering from surgery and heavily sedated.

I liked the lyrics, but not my genre.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He looks like Michael Corleone. Kinda melancholy album.

Solid album but not as good as his other work

It's alright. Nothing really amazing, but nothing terrible either.

Was ok. Kinda relaxing

i can't really follow the lyrics. nice i guess? pretty one note.

I found some of it fairly boring, but there were a few standouts. "So Long, Marianne" will stay with me. Unlike some of the other reviews, I don't find Cohen's voice particularly annoying - and do really like his backing guitar work. I do wish he would do a little more at points. 3/5

J - 3/5 Best Track - "So Long, Marianne" F - DNL

Second time listening to this on the 1001 album thing. Still grates quite a bit, although I appreciated the guitar playing a lot more this time. But stop droning on and on and get to a chorus or something. Some good songs, but not a 'driving home from work on a 28°C Friday' album listen

Better than I expected

So Long, Marianne slaps

Best Song: Suzanne This was a first for me. I listened to this with my 18-year-old daughter who said, "all the songs sound exactly the same." I may blame this on naievete but the fact of the matter is, she was right. Not my thing.

Was really not into this one today. I get this guy is respected but just did not do it for me. Specific rating - 2.5 Fav song - stories of the street Least fav- one of us cannot be wrong

I thought all of the songs here were beautiful, but this is still a really generous 3 - the timbre of Cohen's voice just doesn't sit right with me

6.5/10. I found this album a tad boring, but the songwriting is incredible.

Back half from So Long, Marianne is where it’s at. Didn’t quite make a 4, close.

eigentlich wäre es eine 2 aber weil mir letztes lied so gut gefällt kriegste 3

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. The singing all sounded the same but the words were great. Way more a poet than singer. The last couple songs I liked best.

Works when you think of it as a poetry album. Cohen's delivery is very much like Bob Dylan, more so than his later albums.

It’s ok.

beautiful voice, unfortunately not my cuppa overall. open to hear more from him tho.

Probabilmente da riascoltare

Perfectly good music that doesn't suit my tastes.

= the Beatles

Surprised by how much I liked this, even though I think the second half of the album is largely a let down. It has a melancholic nostalgia to it that's hard to dislike.

Tender, dark and beautiful. Then it gets weird. Favourite tracks: Master Song, Teachers, One of Us Can't Be Wrong

Full of strong Melodie’s and very easy listening.

Pretty solid but nothing special, had some good listens on there but just sounded like the average 60s folk album to me

Great songwriting mediocre performance

Poetic, melancholy and timeless. Some beautiful songs but ultimately rather dour.

Was a bit dull for most of it but the songs sister's of mercy and so long Marianne save it

Each of these songs is fascinating, beautiful, compelling, haunting - and all of them are absolutely screaming for a more capable vocalist + better instrumentals. If he’d let someone better pick them up and run with them, this album would be incredible. As it is, meh. And frustrating because greatness is like, right there.

Definitely out of my wheelhouse but very good. Beautiful songwriting , so poetic. I don’t think this is an album I can listen to in full, just out of personal taste, but certain songs like “Suzanne” and “Teachers” I see myself coming back to. 3.5/5

My first experience with Leonard Cohen. More of a poet and lyricist and less of a singer, like Lou Reed. I can see the appeal, but not something I would go back to a lot.

I get it, just not my cup of tea.

Not bad. Was probably peak in its time but not really for me. A little too slow

Pas mon style mais c’est pas désagréable à écouter.

Bom álbum. Verdadeiras canções de um intérprete muito bom!

Would give 3.5 if I could. We love him but other albums better, a little too calm and sleepy for my liking.

It’s hard to rate this as an album that contributes to music as a whole. It’s not a “bad” piece of work. I respect it. It’s storytelling with raw vocals that walk a fine line between singing and talking over acoustic guitar. As someone who likes the production aspect of music, it’s not really my thing. But I’ll give it a respectable 3. 3/5

Good Album but expecting better to come 3.8/5

Not bad

Toppnivået er bra, bunnivået er fyllerør. Dette er stort sett heismusikk.

This is great poetry and pretty good music.

That's not my taste in music - But ok

I like it. It reminds me of Bread (the band, not the food) which I got into during Covid to help with my anxiety. It's literally so chill and mellow it pairs perfectly with a glass of wine and your two best friends -- that is only if super chill nights with your friends is something you enjoy.

Okay this one was better than the last Leonard Cohen record. “So Long, Marianne” is a good one. 3 stars

i dont typically choose to listen to mr leonard cohen but i am glad that this was the album for the day. this was the first time i actively listened to his music. i really love bob dylan so this felt like a toned down version of his music. i like the storytelling aspect of his lyrics. he sings with a peaceful tone and i think that it is good background music. i can definitely see how he may have influenced paul simon's solo work. but overall, this album was gentle and lovely. however, i still wouldnt reach for most songs from this album. my favorite song was "hey, thats no way to say goodbye". i would rate it a 2.5 or a 3, but im feeling generous so ill rate it a 3.

Solid.

Clearly brilliant song writing but I have to admit I find it a little boring, just not to my taste.

I like the quiet nature of this album.

3.5, it’s great but not elite by cohens standards

bro just did spoken word poetry over some guitar

10/10 makes me feel melancholy and moody

3,5/5 Melkein jopa nelosen levy. Jotenkin miellyttävää kuunneltavaa.