Songs Of Leonard Cohen

I recognize the talent, but it's not really for me.

It was pretty good. Feels more like poetry with a musical backing... Which I guess can be said about a lot of music ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I found it strangely hypnotic at times.

Fine but just couldn't get that into it

For hippy story music it was ok.

Oh boy, another challenge. What do I do when my respect is a 4 but my enjoyment is a 2?!

Beautiful voice and fantastic lyrics

Good

Alright album, very mushy but sometimes that's the best type of music

Not my favorite by him. But good background on a cold day while you clean the house.

Classic folk stuff , always enjoy the genre even if I get 5 this week , I think I prefer an older raspier cohen… a notch below Dylan and Joni Mitchell, a mid level 3 .

Tiene muy buenas canciones pero creo que hay que estar en un mood muy específico para disfrutarlo. Me encanta la voz de Cohen, pero no me veo volviendo repetidamente a este disco. Está bien, pero siento que me gusta más Cohen de viejo.

Extra star for the 3 McCabe/Mrs Miller songs. They work great in that film, but less so for general listening.

Very stripped down man with guitar. There was nothing particularly bad here but a full album of it gets a bit repetitive. Stand-out: Stories of the Street

It's overrated for sure. Some great songs, some forgettable. This is what pretentious people play in college to complain about how this city doesn't get them.

Good album. Some great lyrics!

Akustisia tarinallisia kappaleita. Ei saa oikein kaikista sanoista kiinni. Ei omasta mielestä niin hirveen ihmeellistä. Parhaat: The Stranger Song

Probably best listened to when in a certain mood. Good singer and some beautiful songs, but a bit too boring for a full album. I also think it's an interesting choice to end an album with otherwise good singing with what sounds like drunken shouting but what do I know...

For shame, I was about to disregard and skip this record since I felt I had already suffered enough from the croaking crooner. You hear one LC album where he must have swallowed a toad and a bucket of gravel - you've probably heard them all. Imagine my astonishment as I first heard the voice that was lost to time and cigarettes. The LC of 1967 had a delightfully light baritone voice and enchanting lyricism. He was a jester poet; if it were conceivable, Bob Dylan but without the absurd donkey warbling. Now I'm intrigued to find where Leonard's voice took a leap down into the Grand Canyon.

I generally enjoy Cohen but I don't think I've listened to a whole album of his before (mostly it's been "best of" playlists). I didn't have a great time with this album today. "So Long, Marianne" is the only song here that I'm really enthusiastic about (a few others like "Suzanne" are alright). Seems to be a strong sameyness to a lot of the songs here.

First song made me feel like I was in a movie. Absolutely transcendent. The rest of the album was alright.

Usually I hate talk "singing", but for some reason Mr. Cohen gets away with it, for me at least. This album still isn't amazing though. It was tolerable. One listen is good enough for me.

Cohen hadn't quite found his deep silky smooth voice on this debut album.

Relaxing album to listen to, but maybe a bit too relaxing. It was nice as background music, but a little sleepy to just sit down and listen to. I love Leonard Cohen's voice and he's a great lyricist, but he has better albums than this. Great music for a relaxing coffee shop vibe, but not something I'd listen to every day.

Solid album. I just wish there were more strings and Leonard used his range more.

slow

diese stimme! unverkennbar. die songs sicher einzigartig, gitarre und das „erzählende“ im gesang. mir gefällt der opener Suzanne am besten, ich habe das album aber wegen ferien nicht ganz gehört.

The issue with folk music for me is that I nearly always prefer it with more instruments/layers. The singer has to have amazing vocals and guitar playing for me to really like it stripped back (Elliott Smith for example). This album is a great example of that problem, his vocals are pretty good, guitar playing okay, but when there’s some backing vocals or more instruments involved it is really good. Therefore certain songs did stand out to me, e.g. So Long, Marianne. However the rest I found quite boring and repetitive at times.

Yeah it was nice, I’ve tried listening before I realised the fact that Dylan can’t sing in tune is exactly what makes his music more interesting to me

Classic! Not my every day listen, but great album

A triumph for weird lil guys everywhere. I feel like this is as good as everyone says Dylan is.

I cannot stand this guy's voice, but the songs were mostly well-written and instrumentally well-performed. I just really don't enjoy his voice at all.

Good

Need to come back to this when I'm on a different vibe - first listen was not in the right mood.

This one has a couple really good songs but altogether it isn't good enough for me to love. All the songs sound a little too much the same I think. Still, I don't dislike it. The Vibe: Sitting in the rocking chair on your farmhouse porch at night.

Lots to dive into Couple songs I enjoyed alot Poetic

Leonard Cohen’s voice might have about as much personality as a wet sack of gravel, but you know what, I will concede it. The man can write some songs. Best song: So Long, Marianne

I think Leonard Cohen gets better as he ages. His songwriting is still very impressive but I liked the other two albums by him better than this one. This got a bit monotonous. Rating: 3

It was alright. Liked 2 of the songs on there. 1st and sixth track I think

Was a peaceful, serene listening experience. Very relaxful. But alot of the songs blended into eachother.

I really liked Suzanne and So Long, Marianne. But I couldn’t say much about the album as a whole.

Nice to listen to on my drive

Got repetitive at times but generally very good. Very similar to Bob Dylan

Very Bob Dylan Esque

Didn't finish this but the B side is definitely more my jam. Cheer up sleepy jean! But the boy can write some nice lyrics. So long Marianne! I'm drunk in an Indian restaurant

LC is a yearning sad boy! but knows how to write a damn poem! nice stuff :)

Interesting lyrics but the music is a little flat. It's not a bad album. Minimalist music with poetry. My favotite track was, "So Long, Marianne".

Songs to sleep to. Really though Leonard Cohen is a great song writer but absolutely no edge to his music, but its not designed that way and its perfectly fine for it.

Really lovely song writing but I don’t think I’ll return to it. Not sure when I’d be in the mood for this kind of music

Simple guitar, which fits his voice. Nice

It's not bad, but I didn't like it as much as I had hoped I would. I think his voice is pretty basic, and the music itself sounds really dated. I'm not sure if he's known for being a lyricist, but the lyrics didn't really connect to me; I'm not sure if it's a generational thing or something else. I've heard the name for so long but never got around to listening to him. I have to say, again, I don't dislike the album, but I don't at all understand why it or he is so influential.

Songs like poems -- very much of the 1960s. Kind of a sad, melancholy album.

Not bad

Relaxed music with nice melodies. But a bit boring in the long run. 3/5

Nice songs. I’d never listen to a full album of this. But I see the appeal in each song. Aight.

I knew "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" and "Suzanne"before this album, I like it for those quieter moments.. although he may be a more acquired taste based on his vocal style.

Once again the singer-songwriter genre is lost on me. I did enjoy more on the second listen through, but it just seemed boring to me - whether this was Cohen’s dry monotone singing, stripped-down backing guitar and lack of ensemble, or my own ignorance and lack of appreciation, I don’t know exactly. I can understand why people may both love and hate this album. Quality musicianship, but I think I just need more. 2.5/5

i was neither too drunk or too depressed at the time of listening to really enjoy this album. it feels very emotional and im sure if i just went through a significant life changing trauma and had a bottle of red label it would hit different, but as it is i didnt feel like the intended audience and most of the tracks kind of breezed over me. still good sounding, just not my thing

Before Deftones and the Smiths, male boomers had to listen to this to fuck weird chicks. Leonard Cohen has famously said he doesn’t like making music and only does it so he can make money to support his weird artist lifestyle. This album, as well as Songs of Love and Hate, are best seen as Cohens poems put to simple instrumentals. It’s definitely not for everyone and it definitely lacks musical variety. Overall, it’s a good album the highlights for me are Suzanne, So Long Marianne and Teachers. I do prefer his later albums as a whole but the highlights on here are just as good as anything he made on I’m Your Man.

it was fine. not particularly exciting, kinda chill. had a cool storytelling element to it that i liked.

If you tell a good story in the most boring way possible, is it a good story? This isn’t my thing.

I like his lyrics, they evoke an image that hits home with me. Sadly the music was a bit too simple and instead of turning it into an intimate whole, it felt bare-bones instead. That's what makes it a difficult album for me. I like Cohen's voice, I like the lyrics on this album but as a whole I didnt feel as much raw emotion as I shouldve. That puts it in the middle-of-the-road category.

I wanted to love this and just didn’t. I like his voice but I felt like he was just barely singing and was almost more chanting/speaking the lyrics.

Not that big a fan of his, and the songs here aren’t that great, but I liked a lot of the instrumentation/arrangements, which brought a 2 up to a 3.

Quiet Contemporary Folk. As described before a bit repetetive. Most well known song is probably "Suzanne".

Lekker rustig

A strong 3. If the whole album felt as robust as the second half, if probably would have been a 4. But, the first hand was a little thin and one-note. I'm not sure if I'd heard any of Cohen's early work, but this would all slot nicely into a Wes Anderson soundtrack.

I do really like Leonard Cohen but I don’t love this album.

A solid offering of folkish melancholy. Leonard Cohen's voice has always been hit or miss for me, and this album is no exception. But I really appreciate the musical rawness and simplicity of the songs. There's something about just and their guitar that is so powerful despite being so simple. And this album captures that spirit well. Top tracks: Master Song; So Long, Marianne; Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Requires close listening, not casual.

Have to admit, I thought that this was better than I expected it to be but still didn’t really enjoy it. Not my bag I guess.

Love me some Leonard but only listened to this album in full last year I think. Terrific stuff. Couple of all time gems on here.

Pretty decent for what it is, All of it sounds the same after awhile.

Very peaceful album, nice and chill for background listening. Nothing too exciting nowadays but at least it's relaxing, so not too bad.

I like Leonard Cohen, but not listening to an entire album. Good songs generally.

Sleepytown

Songs of Leonard Cohen defies expectations by offering more than just melancholy. While introspective, the album's emotional range surprises with moments of vivid storytelling and poetic grace. Tracks like Suzanne and Sisters of Mercy exemplify Cohen's ability to weave rich narratives through his profound lyrics and deep, resonant voice. Despite its strengths, the album can feel somewhat repetitive, with songs blending into each other. So Long, Marianne stands out as a poignant highlight, breaking the album's continuity with its heartfelt melody and sincere lyrics. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - So Long Marianne

Alright

5.5/10

More poetry than songwriting. Half decent stories though. It has a 'nice' classical, earthy feel to it. The voice can grate a little. I prefer later Leonard when he knew he was a parody of himself. A talent, for sure. But not an everyday artist to reach for.

Still not a fan of Cohen, but I heard this album so often when I was a kid... still, it has almost all the flaws I find in Cohen's music, but it has So Long Marianne, so it got an extra point. Also, I had to check but yes, the gothic band Sisters of Mercy are called like that as a reference to the Cohen's song.

There's a weird line drawn in the sand of the Singer / Songwriter genre that divides weird, folky pablum and the seedlings of an interesting genre. Leonard Cohen's 1967 'Songs Of' straddles that line with a good chunk in the former and a small minority in the latter. But songs like Suzanne and So Long, Marianne propel this album into the stratosphere and cue up the stage for the likes of Bobby D to fill in the holes. Cohen will go on to give us much better music, but here he's developing his niche for a good follow up. 3/5.

That was actually lovely! Favs: Suzanne, Winter Lady and Teachers

Pretty good, I am just not the largest fan of singer-songwriter stuff, so didn't really appeal to me

Correcto

Given his voice, it is difficult to listen to Leonard Cohen's songs back to back but as background music I wouldn't complain. Of course the lyrics are phenomenal but it shows why his songs in different hands are so striking

The guitar talent present in The Stranger Song is just awesome. This has lots of the elements that I like about Simon and Garfunkel.

Dirgearama

Nice voice but the album was too slow for me. I like how soft it was though

6/7/24. Don’t have much to say to be honest.

Meh

Had a couple songs that I enjoyed. But his voice hadn't gotten “there” yet, def prefer later works. Also there wasn’t much variety of sound and it was heavy on the biblical references. But at least we eventually got Hallelujah out of it.

Canadian poet picks up a guitar and starts singing his poems

This album is a typical Leonard Cohen experience for me: love the lyrics and the melodies, but not a fan of the presentation.

Poetic

Leonard Cohen is one of my favourite lyricist and many of his songs is on my all time favourite list. This album is a bit before Leonard Cohen really finds his stride and while the lyrics are there the melodies are not always on point and can be a monotonous at times. You can tell that he sees himself as a poet foremost maybe. Still I think the instrumentation works and that these songs are good in their own right. Maybe it's because I've listened to Cohen a lot so I'm not really neutral. There are a few classics here, "Suzanne" is the first song to to come to mind. While maybe not the place to start if you want to get in to Leonard Cohen I still think it is a good album.

Some good songs, mostly snoozy

Not the deep voice I was expecting from later releases but overall not a bad listening experience

Very lovely , such a Perfect moment

I really thought I wasn’t going to like this one. I started off thinking this was pretty boring, but the longer I listened the more I grew to appreciate it. It’s still not spectacular but there is a real subtle beauty to this one that I really enjoyed. The music feels hauntingly beautiful.

I love his songs but never cared for his voice.

It's a guy singing. Nothing bad, nothing special.

More Lenny, already, OK.

dude doesnt sing. talk sings but its pretty.

So long, Marianne

Some interesting ideas but pretty boring overall. 2.5/5.0: Mixed

I guess I never really listened to Cohen, save a couple of "hits." First time listening to this one. This is a very somber album. I love the song writing. He is clearly a great lyricist and story teller. It is mood music, for sure.

Lyrics aren’t typically what I come to music for, but that’s undoubtedly the highlight here. Nothing wrong with the music itself, but I felt like this could have been just as good as a poem.

Not for me. Felt like he was holding back vocally. Wish the female harmonies were on more tracks

This was a good album. Cohen's songs have such a story-telling kind of feel to them.

Those vocal stylings get a little irritating after a while don't they?

It got better as the album went on

Good, but not my style. It was a little too sleepy for my liking.

Some songs were alright but they all sounded a little too similar to each other

Better than I thought it was gonna be

Wonderful singing, with a mood somewhere between plaintive and pensive and positive. Enjoyed the collaborative songs. Overall not my cup of tea but the entire album is a nice listen.

It's OK. Light folk-y songs that easily slip into the background. I'll give it a couple of more listens

Love the mood but it can get tiring. I couldn't listen to the whole album in one sitting. It made me think of Soledad Bravo and other latin american singer-songwriters of that nature.

Sehän oli hyvä

Great song writing, if just as stereotypically depressing as you’d expect.

It's a fairly boring album. The first few songs are dull, Cohen isn't really singing. There's more melodies in the back half. "Sister of Mercy" is a great song, which saved this album from getting a 2.

Rating: 2.9

Smooth asf but it's too slow. Only 41mins but feels like each song is an hr.

While I enjoyed most of the album, his voice and singing is way too monotone for me to listen in one sitting. That alone makes me wonder how this album is on here.

Leonard Cohen had wat moeite om een glimlachje in zijn mondhoeken te toveren voor de shoot van de albumcover. De mugshot op de verder zwarte plaat doet dan ook geen gezellige plaat verwachten. En dat is het dan ook niet. Leonard is zijn hele leven de koning geweest van de moody songs met zwarte teksten uit het geloof. Niet iets waar je als simpele ziel zomaar even bij resoneert. En toch zet Cohen een paar bijzondere arrangementen neer op deze debuut plaat. De oneindige zin in het refrein van So Long, Marianne is een onwijs hoogtepunt. De vibe zorgt er voor dat dit de rest van de dag in je hoofd blijft plakken. Uiteraard staan er nog wat meer pareltjes op het album. En ook al zijn de nummers niet allemaal even uniek, is dit een goeie plaat. 7,5/10 Highlights Suzanne The Stranger Song So Long, Marianne

Good album

This would be a good live concert to go to, but to listen to at home 60 years later brings down the rating.

This wasn't bad, but nothing outstanding.

There are many good songs on this album, but as an album it is just too monotonous to be a great album. Only So Long, Marianne breaks up the constant ballader with a nice pace and a variety of instruments. I also enjoy the few times a female vocal appears, but it is not often enough.

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye was my fav on this album. Overall it’s a good album but I like it less than I want to if that makes sense… it’s a bit one note but there’s no denying it’s great songwriting and imagery. Glad I listened but feels kinda meh.

I liked the album, funny when this came out I was barely in high school. This many years later, I finally listen to the whole album. This what makes this little project fun.

This is my second Leonard Cohen album to review, after You Want it Darker. I listened to You Want It Darker before starting this project, but I’m unfamiliar with any of Leonard Cohen’s other albums. This album was fine overall. It definitely felt like it was written and performed by a poet. They lyrics were deep and well written, and the musical arrangements were simple and melodic. The lead-off track, “Suzanne,” was one of my favorite songs on the album. It had some great additional strings to accompany the guitar playing, and I enjoyed the yearning heartbreak of the lyrics. “Sisters of Mercy” also had some really nice arrangements of other instruments, which gave the song a nice depth of sound. “So Long, Marianne” was really nice too, and I enjoyed the backing vocals that were present on the chorus. Cohen’s vocals aren’t anything remarkable, but it works really well, as his voice fits well with the overall tone of the album. Overall, this album was fine. The lyrics are far and away the star of the show, but the music is pleasant and accompanies the lyrics well. I think my biggest complaint about this album is that a majority of it just wasn’t very memorable, and some of the songs felt like they dragged on.

Ah yes, Leonard Cohen, the Canadian who composed "Hallelujah," which was later famously covered by Jeff Buckley. "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" is a super chill and sparse album — I understand that his songs may be overtly dull or underwhelming for some, but personally, they were alright to me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Will I return to visit his works in the future? lol no.

Not bad!

I'm a very instrumentation-forward listener. I can recognize that this album is great, but I have a lot of trouble processing the lyrics in real-time when it comes to great artists like Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. That said, the instrumentation is very nice and cozy, but this is a very lyrics-forward album, which isn't my cup of tea, per se. I would be very fine with this as background music, but I'm not getting a ton out of it. Favorite tracks: - Suzanne - The Stranger Song - So Long, Marianne

Great guitar. English troubadour

“Teachers” I enjoyed. Background of chaos. Not the most musical album, but great lyrics

Really haunting and very sad

Don't really dig Leonard's jam. Seems talented, but it's just not my flavor.

Ok album

Calming peaceful

Glad I listened to this, my only exposure to him prior was Hallelujah, which his rendition did NOT do justice (though he conceptualized it) this album is a lot more coherent and nice. 3.0

It’s like one really long good song, but it’s also just the same song

Dudes a poet and he knows it. Enjoyable listen but not something I'd revisit I think. Might throw on if I host brunch and want to sound sophisticated

Mostly enjoyed this look inside the mind of Lucy Dacus

Store brand Bob Dylan

Nicer dan ik dacht maar niet echt mijn ding . Te veel hetzelfde ook

There is folk, and then there is sweet poetry readings to slow plucked guitar. If the latter is for you, then you've come to the right place.

Old one

Classic yet not my fav

Interesting album. Good lyrics Standout songs - Suzanne, so long ng marianne Teachers

A decent listen to help you relax.

I can appreciate not for everyone and I'm too basic to get the 'poetry' but I like the mellow. Would be good on a Sunday morning. Lol at the final wail though

Look, I like Leonard Cohen - but he’s not a full album guy to me. Some of these are great songs and some are just okay.

This was good. Think I like it slightly better than Songs from a Room, but it still doesn't wow me

Great but too depressing for me!

Schöne, einfache Melodien. Zunächste angenehmere Stimme als Dylan. Nach einiger Zeit aber dünn.

too qwiet

Respetable

I do want to like this, but lyrics alone just doesn't cut it for me. I would have bought a novel written by Cohen, but I wouldn't buy this album. It isn't particularily bad, just not something that excites me.

Thoughts before listening: I like Leonard Cohen for the most part. His best known songs are very powerful, but his slow, almost talking, baritone singing can be a bit of an acquired taste. Review: This album starts out with its best song in "Suzanne" which is a great slow burn of a song that subtly builds throughout its runtime. The rest of the album is similar in style, and while I certainly know it is all high quality music, its just not really my style. 3-stars.

Certainly an exceptional poet with incredible song writing talent. The music is presented at face value, which is not a bad thing, it just means that some songs shine through with their beauty and the others are just thin singer-songwriter experiences.

So long, Marianne!

Am I wrong to wish he had a better singing voice? The lyrics are masterful and the accompanying instrumental tracks are lovely. But his vocal melodies are almost monotone. I would love to hear this entire album done by Jeff Buckley (RIP). 3.4

Hmmm. Is Leonard cohen a lyrical and musical genius? Or is he a failed poet who lucked into music? I still don’t know. There are some gems on this. But am I - are we? - being hoodwinked? 2.5, so zero if it’s a con, 5 if it’s what its fans claim it to be. Rounded up

Guy singing and a guitar

So many great songs but I don’t think i like listening to the whole album in one sitting.

He’s very talented with song writing

Respect....but I was more into Stones,Animals, "real"Fleetwood Mac and Steve Miller than poetry.He was better when he got older....much older.

I've heard about this guy for a long time. Super chill music, better than I thought it would be.

Highlights: The Stranger Song, Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye, So Long Marianne. In a nutshell: wry heartbreak poetry set to stripped down music. This is where it all began for Cohen, a Canadian poet who became a singer-songwriter. No baritone singing here, more folk standard singing voice akin to Donovan. The overuse of "and" as a sentence starter was irritating. Some songs were longer than necessary. BUT, there are fantastic lines within ("you held onto me like I was a crucifix" from So Long, Marianne). It's a decent debut, but not spectacular album for me. Overall: 7/10

Enjoyed the lyrics more than the voice or the music.

for me, folk is one of those genres that’s nice to have on, but not something I reach for nor a genre that particularly moves me… hopefully I’ll find an album in this journey that changes that. I unfortunately don’t think it’s this one.

Many of the songs sound the same. Not going to lie

Poetic and interesting lyrics but have to listen again sometime, as we fell asleep. After the album was over my 10 month old immediately woke up. Will remember this album when he needs to sleep

Not my type of music. A little boring, but I respect what it is.

Apart from a couple of decent tracks I found this quite forgettable. Don't think I can see myself forcing a relisten or anything along those lines. I do have to say it's on the better side of music but I wasn't particularly blown away and thought it was amazing.

A very heavy handed and thought provoking album. Very warm melodically, with plenty of open space for each individual instrument help improve emotional response I presume Cohen was going for. This album is incredible, I often never reach for it but this excercise allowed to me reminisce.

Leonard Cohen I want to like him but each song is a hit or miss.

Great lyricist, deserves a second listen. Overall a beautiful album, though I might prefer the other album of his on this list. 3.5

It was fine. Not something I am going to go out of my way to listen to again. Decent background music

Before I was really got into music, it was OK, hubbies did not care for it.

Decent, he has some pretty classic stuff, but not exactly my favorite type. Better than most modern country by a hundred miles, still. 3.5.

The entire album felt like an extension of the holdovers soundtrack.

Ugh. This is the first album I couldn’t finish. Beautiful, poetic lyrics. Accessible, everyman voice. Incredible songwriter. But just too depressing for me right now.

Like one song. Not a big Leonard Cohen fan at this time.

It was OK. Just not a fan of his voice

Not for me

Mr Cohen, you are welcome in my playlist, but just pop by occasionally cos too much of you gets on my tits apparently.

A rarity in the back half being weighted heavily. The album builds to the final track. While his voice is extremely unique and definitive, the over-enunciation of the final syllables gets to be a bit vexing. 3.25/5

The religious allusions—of which there are many—were completely lost on me, but the bleeding heart romanticism—delivered in equally ample supply—spoke to me loud and clear.

Good album

Nice voice, but the album is too slow and melancholic. Personally, I like something like this remix more: Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Paul Kalkbrenner Remix).

Not used to hearing Leonard without his raspy voice. Very lyrically good album with some haunting instrumentals at times. 3/5

I don't usually listen to this type of singing style because it's almost spoken word, but there's something about Leonard Cohen that I respect. I always found Suzanne a beautiful song. Part of it is the lyrics

Liked it but wouldn't necessarily reach for it.

Good album. Leonard Cohen is one of those artists where I like their music but it's not anything I would ever pick to listen to.

Even after listening to a few of his albums, I'm still not sure i'm completely connecting with Leonard Cohen's music. This is definitely the favourite so far though, the playing on this one is so beautiful, mostly just a quiet acoustic guitar and his voice. The opener 'Suzanne' is a highlight with it's gorgeous melodies and sweet lyrics, also 'So Long Marienne' which has a bit more instrumentation surrounding it than most of the other songs, along with some female backup vocals in the chorus to really bring it to life. I'll be back to it soon to try and get into Leonard more, but I did enjoy the listen.

Meh. A three.

The songs are Beautiful obviously very poetic. Found myself pretty bored with the listen however. I think this is one I’d need to have on vinyl to really appreciate a full listen through again. But I’m proud of this good ole Canadian boy even if he’s a habs fan (probably) -B

I’m just not into it

2nd Leonard Cohen album. I liked You Want it Darker better but this was good too

Favorite Song: So Long, Marianne Leonard Cohen tells an incredible story with each song on this album. It is no wonder he is praised as a lyrical genius. I give this album a 3.0/5.0. My favorite songs on this album were "So Long, Marianne" and "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong"

At first I was enjoying it a lot more than I thought and then I was waiting for it to be over. 3 because of that

Sisters of Mercy, and So long Marriane are favourites. Bonus points for Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye as couldn’t remember it.

Ok, maybe I am not a fan of cohen. The lyics must be good.. 2.5

3,5

Don’t really have that much to say. It’s pleasant music with good lyrics but doesn’t really get me going

I had never heard this album before and it sounds like a much darker Paul Simon to me. Of the three Leonard Cohen albums we’ve heard this was the one I’d most likely listen to again. “So Long Marianne” was a highlight for me. Would do a 3.5 if possibles

Very chill listen. I like the vibes a lot. The stories that each song bring are very nice as well as the stripped back instrumentation. Musically compared to others I've listened to, it's a respectable 3

Bit boring. Might not have been in the right mood to listen to it. Going to give it a re-listen

Very nice

I suppose I get why LC is heralded among Dylan, Paul Simon, and Townes Van Zandt as the great lyricists. He leaves a little to be desired on the vocal delivery. Still an enjoyable listen.

все таки либо его надо слушать еще и еще либо это слабее чем поздние его работы, тексту много внимания не уделял, музыкальная часть местами скучная. но хороший материал есть, это появление леонарда коена, это хорошая лирика, некоторые песни действительно оригинальны, так что ясно, почему альбом в списке. 5 из десяти

Just a wordy man with slow(?) TLOU playing

I love Leonard Cohen, but man his music improved when he discovered his basso profundo. This had some fun layers but overall is not my favourite.

Good voice. Not really my style of music though. Not bad though.

Pretty slow but peaceful for the first few songs. So long Marianne was a nice little pickup that song was catchy. Kind of all sounded like one song with the quiet guitar and his singing. The album ended with him screaming faintly and I was listening to it on a plane and I was concerned that someone on my plane was screaming.

3rd Leonard Cohen album. Gave the first two 3's so lets get it Lenny. Really enjoying Master Song. The rest was on in the background but still enjoyable. This must've been before his voice got gnarly. Leonard "3" Cohen.

Cohens voice is much better in this album than some of his later ones. The song writing is good but doesn't hold up to what i know he's capable of. It's a good album, I'm tempted to go up to 4 but I dont think I can. Repeats: Suzanne, master song, so long marianne Skips: stranger song

Leonard Cohen is undeniably an incredible songwriter but this album is not the height of his abilities. Loved a few tracks but it drones on with little variation. It'd be great for a dinner party but I can see why this album didn't make a large splash when it was released.

Easy listening, Suzanne is a standout track. I'd be okay if i never heard this album again though

This album is mostly a bunch of folk acoustic arrangements. It’s meh, it’s been done way better. The songs are rather bland, as is the whole album. It kind of picks up by the end though

Love me some Leonard Cohen. But I found over the years, that you have to be in the mood for him. Yesterday was not it.

The Stranger Song, Sisters of Mercy, and So Long, Marianne were instant favorites. The rest of the album is good and every song has something that makes it worth a listen, but he keeps going back to this one cadence that irked me. I get the feeling I'm going to revisit this at some point and rate it higher.

One of my favorite artists from the 60s. I love much of his music. I will say that this album isn’t the best for everyday use, but an excellent add for intimate dinner nights and a relaxing cleaning Sunday. Parents used to sing me some lines off this album growing up. Album isn’t as good as some of his stand alone songs so leaving at 3

Definitely not my kind of music but it wasn’t bad, very slow but nice background music I could understand vibing to this. 2-3

I've always heard good things about Leonard Cohen's music but I was a bit disappointed by this album. His songwriting is good, don't get me wrong, but some of the tracks seemed kind of... bland? Some of the extra instrumentation didn't help in my opinion. I wish he went for an old-school folk sound with just his voice and a guitar.

This album is lyrically dense. It’s almost aggressively poetic in how I felt it demanded me to pay attention to the details packed into these songs, and yet, try as I might, I couldn’t keep up. I could instantly see that the stories this album tells and the pictures this album paints are rich, vivid, and layered with meaning, and yet after the songs ended, I was left with only vague impressions. This is the kind of album I would rather read as a collection of poems than listen to — I can properly sink my teeth into it that way. The instrumentation in several of these songs doesn’t offer much to elevate these lyrics, and even though Cohen’s velvety voice is pleasing to the ear, I’d still rather hear him read these lyrics than sing them so I could pay more attention to his storytelling. The album begins to soar around the midpoint, though, where the lyrics and the instrumentals seem to be working in harmony, and it left me wondering why the rest wasn’t like those songs. The orchestral flourishes, background vocals, and subtle electronic touches do a lot to add to the bittersweet atmosphere on the best tracks, so why weren’t they applied to the rest? Fav tracks: Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, “So Long, Marianne,” Stories of the Street

Nice and mellow. a good debut although the last track is weird

Chill

I'm more a "music vs lyrics" listener so this album didn't really hit me. I have to Gove LC a closer listen/lyrics analysis in the future because I think that os why he is so revered

This album is ok. Nothing amazing. Nothing terrible. Very solid 3 out of 5.

Buen álbum, ni excelente ni malo. Sorprende y se sostiene durante toda su extensión por su variación de arpegios, aún así carece de matices en las voz. La ausencia de percusiones y batería mimetiza todo y le contrarresta. Conjunto de canciones que individualmente funcionan muy bien y generan lo que desea, pero en conjunto cansan el oído. Hitazo: Suzanne Canción favorita: Winter lady Sorpresa: So long, Marianne

I almost really liked this. When it was wasn’t sounding like most other 60’s psychedelic singer/songwriters, it had some really interesting moments. Crazy to hear his voice as a young man too, since I mostly only know of his work from the 90’s on. 3.4/5

If I could give 3 and a half stars I would. Really like ‘So long Marianne’ but some others are a bit meh

Incredible melancholy songwriting. Such a raw, distilled sound. As an album though it begins it suffers from a lack of variety in my opinion.

Oops all my notes are gone. TL;DR The album is good, but boring by the end. Lyrically there's a lot going on, sonicly it can be very interesting, but man are there some stinkers in there.

Classic album but not quite worth a reputation it has.

one thing it's got going for it, is that it's on the shorter side

Not my style but i aprecciate the penmanship, because the lyrics are beautiful. I never got into Leonard Cohen voice so maybe thats way i wasn't too keen on this album. 6.8/10

So long, Marianne One of us cannot be wrong

Has a haunting quality to it. His voice leans a bit monotone. I liked the more melodic tracks, ex: The Stranger Song, So Long Marianne, Stories of the Street.

Спокойно, мелодично, но не запоминается.

ok

Fell asleep listening to this. Not in a bad way though.

Listening to this after another day of pining over someone whom I know doesn't share my feelings has something rather poignant to it. The lyrics are not necessarily relevant to any experience u may have, but the stories they tell resonated with me on a level I can't quite describe. Suzanne particularly touched me. Cohen's slow, steady, but at the same time melancholy delivery is something I have discovered I quite enjoy.

done it

Had an appreciation for the lyricism of the songs and themes on this album. However, felt the album was a little monotonous and therefore wasn't as moving or provoking as I had expected at the beginning.

gentle and clean, just not my favorite

Cohen sings well and puts a lot of complex metaphors in his songs; therefore, I can't follow what I'm listening to.

Leonard Cohen is an original in style and sound.

65/100 Started strong but got preachy and samey

Belles mélodies. Je devrais vraiment écouter plus les paroles lors d'une seconde écoute et ça améliorerait probablement ma note.

Not too bad.

I quite liked a few of these tracks but the overall effect was a bit... dreary?

So long, Marianne is the easy standout, the rest blurs together a bit

While it still isn't quite as good as You Want It Darker, I liked this one much more than the last album of Cohen's I got. It's more interesting that his songwriting talent never got stale or deteriorated over half a century than anything else. Definition of a generational talent even if I'm not an avid fan. I especially liked So Long, Marianne.

Rich lovely voice but a bit slow

Very strange album. The lyrics are the main selling point here I think, because there are a ton of lyrics and you really have to pay attention to even start understanding what is happening. I do enjoy when the guitar is being plucked at about 600 mph. You kind of have to really get into the mood for this one. It's like a fever dream while adam sandler stares at you on the cover. Score: 70 Art: 100 adam sandler moment

Good songwriting and good nap time vibes.

suzanne didnt feel like a good opener really liked master song winter lady was similar but just passed by marianna very good closing three tracks possibly my favourite

This album had a strange problem for me. When it was at its most masterful lyrically, it had its most boring melodies and arrangements. When the songs themselves were more interesting, the lyrics weren't up to the bar I'm used to for Lenny boy. I still liked it for sure, but I know he grows leaps and bounds from here.

LOVED the poetry. The guitar playing was a really nice surprise. Overall the foundational songwriting is pretty awesome really. Overall this music is too glum and repetitive for me to give a really great review. So Long, Marianne is the big outlier for me - that is a legit fantastic song and something I plan to pop into many playlists. The rest of the music is good but not great enough to make a 4 for me. Close though.

Good listen. Probably wouldn’t play again.

calm and nice tunes but give it an OK overall

first time giving Leonard Cohen a listen. Only ever heard his most popular song before. Something about his voice doesn't resonate with me. Musically, the songs are cool, got a bit of a Simon & Garfunkel / Bob Dylan vibe to them. Don't know that I would revisit this album. Winter Lady was probably my favorite on this album.

Leonard Cohen doing Leonard Cohen You’ll either love it, like it, tolerate it or hate it. I rather enjoyed it, but it’s not a must have in my opinion.

first song: sounds folky and slow. voice sounds like a cleaner bob dylan; lyrics are reminiscent of a joan baez mixed with laura marling. quite chill, but maybe a little too much for me right now. Meh. I have to be in the right mood for this. Def saving some songs onto my "folk" playlist tho!

Great songwriting but many of the songs are similar

My verdict near the beginning was correct - this isn't my favorite, but I'm not offended by any of it. It's simple and pleasant, it does what it does well. I don't think it's outstanding but I can see why some people do. One complaint I have is that it's a little repetitive, The Stranger Song and Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye (along with another song I can't remember; Master Song, maybe?) have similar vocal melodies. It's very easy to notice similarities because it's so sparse. It also gets more boring in the last few tracks. But it's nice!

It’s nice, but I think I like Leonard Cohen in smaller doses.

I do like a decent amount of this. I really like the interesting layers of guitars, and the quite complex picking that serves as an undercurrent for most of this album. It's just very dense. There's lots of storytelling and lots and lots of lyrical content, and after a while it gets a bit samey. The standout for me is 'So Long, Marianne' (which I'd already had as a favourite before listening to this album). It's got a really nice driving rhythm to it, but most importantly it's just way more direct in terms of the song writing and message. It's feels more heartfelt and is just a really well written pop song.

I had first heard Cohen play "Suzanne" on the Isle of Wight Festival recording I have. That performance was 1970. I felt the solo performance was even more haunting than the original here. The other songs are just as eerie to me with the sparse instrumentation. The lyrics are pretty morose and introspective, but they're supposed to be. It's a quiet album, something to play late and night and have a cup of tea with right before you go to bed. Not exactly the best bedtime album, but there you go. I don't know if I would listen to it (except for maybe "Suzanne") because it does get rather depressing.

Doesn't have Jazz Police on this record, so that is a minus. Overall sounds like so much else that I have heard from the 60's, good stuff, but definitely not nearly as interesting as his later stuff. Quite a change of an artist to hear his songs across his career, respect that.

This is giving some Dylan vibes, so far (am up to 'So Long, Marianne') Of the two Cohen albums we have listened to in the group, I much prefer the other one - 'You Want It Darker', and yes I do, darker Leonard, much, much darker! I've heard 'Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye' before, and 'Suzanne' rang a bell. Hmm, I don't feel that it ever really got going. Still a decent listen though. 3 / 5 stars.

Okay. Half of the songs sound the same to me.

Such a good storyteller while creating vivid imagery. I had only heard one of his songs (The Partisan) which is a great song.

Nice calm album. I have heard some of the songs before. I will explore Leonard Cohen more after this album.

Not familiar with this album. I've heard other songs by Cohen, and I'm pretty sure we studied one of his poems in high school. I generally focus on the music rather than the words, but that doesn't work here. The lyrics do all of the heavy lifting, the music is like a cushion they're casually resting on… but that cushion is comfy. Cohen's voice is more musical and lighter than I was anticipating. I guess he wasn't always quite so gruff as he is on his later recordings. Some moments here sound almost like Syd Barrett but with less idiosyncratic time shifts. Standout tracks: Master Song, Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye 3.25/5

Three stars. An enjoyable enough listen, and many of the songs are standards. But I'm not that sold on Laughing Len.

okay but boring

It was good, a bit weird. I have no clue what he was singing about in half the songs, but it felt pretty passionate. 6/10.

Nice songs

love the guitars on this, probably won't listen to it again after today but thank you for sharing

Not my favorite. I understand why it is acclaimed, the instrumentation is smooth and easy to listen to, and cohens voice is great. Maybe I’m just not in the right mood for it today, but not my favorite album. Favorite song: the stranger song

Pretty good and chill.

This entire album definitely made me think of Bob Dylan, but sooo much more tolerable. While Bob and Leonard have similar singing styles, and this album is also folk like Bob was putting out during the time, Leonard's somehow just seems more serious. Maybe it's the significant lack of harmonica and nasal voice, but the general sound here is more pleasant to my ear. If this album shows one thing, it's that Leonard Cohen's songwriting was a tour de force from this first album. He's telling folk stories with deep, passionate, masterful, and poetic lyrics. Also, Leonard wasn't as dark and gruff out of the gate, but you get that glimpse of that future dark lean nonetheless; there is a layer of melancholy across the album and his voice is not "velvety" by any means. Ultimately, The music and lyrics are just "chill" enough to invite you to slow down and listen more closely and to be actively engaged. Therein lies the Cohen darkness in its infancy. All in all, I liked this more than I though I would. It darkens the doorstep of a decade that was kind of known more for its happy counterculture music. While I'm not really what I would call a Leonard Cohen "fan", there is just something about his darkness that draws me in.

bra men tråkig

Every time I hear more Leonard Cohen, I realize he is more amazing than I imagined. 3.5 stars

Songs of Leonard Cohen: The Soundtrack to the Color Beige.

3.5

I've liked Leonard Cohen's albums so far. This, his debut, however, did not grab me. It's decent enough, but lacks a consistent style and seems a little Cohen-by-numbers. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Suzanne Date listened: 10/02/23

Never listened to Leonard Cohen before but I know he’s a big deal to many people. Think this album needs more than one listen - got Dylan vibes from it. Probably sacrilege to say this isn’t it? 3 stars and will do a second listen at some point

This paints a sepia mood. The constant barrage of words blends pleasantly into nostalgic reverie. It’s nice.

A very good singer-songwriter album - the lyrics are great, the arrangement and production are also great, only the music is subpar sometimes. A remarkable debut by Leonard Cohen.

Good stuff, it's a lot to listen to all at once but I often find that true of his albums.

While I do like several Cohen songs, I’m not usually a fan of listening to an entire Cohen album. But I enjoyed this more than I thought expected. 3.5/5

Teachers

Very lovely and compelling poetry, guitar picking and deep morbid vocals. Good and the 10 songs don't overstay their welcome, even if a few begin to sound samey. High 3.

I've never understood the hype for Leonard Cohen, so this one surprised me a little in its consistency. The closest approximation I can think of is that it sounds like Simon & Garfunkel, though the lyrics are more rooted in "the real world" rather than literature and art. Sometimes if you close your eyes his voice has a Lou Reed quality to it, though maybe that's some of the lyrical content. A couple of interesting tracks ("Sisters of Mercy", "Stories of the Street") but the rest isn't really my cup of tea. I have to grade on a curve though as I have with other "influential" records on this list that I don't find all that appealing myself.