Songs Of Leonard Cohen

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LC is one of my all time faves. Through many pub conversations, I've come to the conclusion that some people just derive more value from lyrics & storytelling, others from musical and technical ability. I'm the former. It's poetry set to music really, this is. THAT BEING SAID Cohen has like, 4-5 albums which are far better, and more enjoyable, and interesting than this one.

Not a bad album. Not really my style tho. Has some good songs.

Enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Iconic Canadian! Enjoy some of his music. There's a lot I haven't heard though, including on this album.

Love Leonard Cohen, but this isn't his best work.

where is HALLELUJAH as featured in SHREK by rufus wainwright/john cale/leonard cohen/jeff buckley/pete wentz's suicidal depression? it's not here. i thought that was his only song. i don't really care for his other music do i this reminds me of a sleepier simon & garfunkel. it's sort of a transitional folk album that almost becomes rock sometimes but mostly stays the same. highlights for me are his lyrics and i didn't hate the overall vibe. so long, marianne was the only one that i really got into. but i did get really, really sleepy listening to this, which was NOT good because i was driving. having given our s&g album a 5, i can't deduct too much from this, because the biggest difference is that one has sentimental value for me and one doesn't. weirdly intense album cover. 3/5 i think i need to give paranoid another shot

Good songwriting. Very pretty. It was nice to hear his older albums when he doesn't sound like he is on the verge of dying. I appreciate this album, but it doesn't move me like some of the other albums we have had.

This album bought an incredible amount of goodwill with me with "So Long, Marianne". I find 60s folk usually deeply boring, I'm not much of a lyrics guy and the artistry of "grand poetry atop sparse instrumental" is often lost on me: guy who likes Charli XCX a whole bunch. That being said, Leonard Cohen does show some solid ability to put together something interesting under the vocals. I don't have a ton of love for this album, its just too slow and sparse for my liking, but Leonard Cohen shows flashes of his ability to arrange a hell of a song on here. You can see how he eventually created "Hallelujah", but he's not there yet.

Found this the weakest of the three len albums we’ve had but can see a lot of his later stuff in this

Decent.

I remember my dad warning me that Leonard Cohen was 'pretty dark'. I was big into Joy Division at the time so whatever. Anyway this album is just the same sad folk song over and over again. There isn't a lot going on musically until Sisters of Mercy halfway through when you get some accordion and bells. So Long, Marianne is has a mandolin and fiddle and backing singers. None of it is any better than the tracks that are just sparse guitar strumming. Stories of the Street is the highlight employing some more interesting scales and feeling a bit more full bodied without actually adding any extraneous instrumentation. Cohen's lyrics are effective but this is 1001 albums not 1001 poems.

Heck of a first album. Not quite there yet, but as proofs of concept go, it’s awfully solid.

Cohen's debut is quite unusual as far as debut albums go. Him being already pushing 40 meant he was a mature writer from the get go, and his experience as an author gave him a different approach to writing lyrics. What I do associate this album with the most is that my father sometimes randomly sing the chorus of "So Long, Marianne". He does it hopelessly out of tune, but in an endearing way. Key tracks: Suzanne So Long, Marianne

Not bad, not great.

Some good sad vibes

Was expecting a higher rating, but the musicality just isn't that interesting for too many re-listens.

Some excellent guitar playing on teacher!

Wasn’t the worst I heard. I like singer songwriter type music content bad but it didn’t give me any energy that was great to me.

Hadn't heard this one at all. A master of lyrics but not my kind of general listening. love the stranger

With the mostly sparse musical content, the lyrics have to carry so much weight and while he’s obviously a brilliant song writer, I was kind of hit and miss of whether a song captured my attention or not. Probably need a few more listens to rate it properly

Well, 1960s music poetry....You can see where the legend of the great poet singer came from at least even if you don't love the music per se.

Deep, needs a few listens

Perfect, sleepy little album. Great for a late afternoon nap outside in the hammock.

Not terribly interesting to me, but not terrible.

I hate when artists get the title of their album wrong. This should definitely be called The Sad Ass Songs of Leonard Cohen. In all seriousness, the folk genre is one that I never thought I would enjoy as much as I do now. Yes, it’s a sad ass album but hidden there is a beautiful gem, the songwriting shining through and touch us all. Beautiful album and I’m always a fan of a good melodic whistle to end an album.

(listened twice, was also working on my pc both times) A lot of women being mentioned. Suzanne, Winter Lady, Sisters of Mercy, Marianne, Teachers. Interesting. One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong was my favorite, what an incredible song, and beautiful ending to the album! Suzanne was also a banger, but I knew that. So Long, Marianne was cool as well with the girl singing in the chorus Never listened much to Cohen tho. But I liked it. The songwriting was great and interesting. Although it didn't really hit as deep as I thought it would. But every song can't be Hallelujah I guess. I like the minimalism as well. Mostly just guitar and him. Besides the 3 songs I mentioned, I can't really differentiate the other songs from one another. They kind of just melted into eachother. And again... i got kinda bored tbh. Actually so much that I'm not giving it the highest rating. Would have given it 2,5 if I could. That doesn't mean I won't listen again. I think I'll even buy the vinyl. It just didn't grap my attention that much. Funny to think this is almost 20 years before Hallelujah.

Easy listening with stories from the heart.

Hmm. This is my third Leonard Cohen album, if memory serves. So far, I've liked his late 80s album the best. This was a little bit too out there for me. I'm more of a music person and less of a lyrics person. Since I listen to these albums when I drive, it's hard to give the lyrics the full attention they deserve. I didn't dislike this but I didn't particularly care for it, either.

This slow, melancholy music worked out well on a somber St. Patrick's Day morning. Favorite Track: "One Of Us Can't Be Wrong".

3.5⭐

6/10 Best track: "So Long, Marianne“

Much prefer his early years. Does he really stand out and above others of his era? Probably not but it's a good listen.

Good songwriting but it does feel repetitive about 4 tracks in. The arrangements and background vocals work nicely with Cohens singing.

debut album from this legendary artist. he often utilizes the “sing-speaking” style of vocals. good listen, although some of the songs seemed a little too long.

unauffällig

I like Leonard Cohen but I'm not going to pretend I love his songs with all my heart, like a wannabe intellectual.

un poco rollo pero melancólico

Lyrical poetry. And yet so boring at the same time

Favourite Track: Winter Lady Honourable Mention: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye An atmospheric, soft album that prioritizes lyrics over musical complexity. I definitely need to be in the right mood for this one (i.e. A cozy bookstore nestled in a quaint neighbourhood during the fall season). Cohen's whispery, conversational vocal style is definitely an acquired taste too.

This is #day207 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this turns out to be my first ever listen of a Leonard Cohen album. By chance, it’s his debut. What can I say? I find the whole thing rather inoffensive, though it’s easy to lose track of the narrative, and I guess that's typical of the folk-rock and singer-songwriter genre. As a result, I can’t tell the songs apart. I'm quite unlikely to revisit this record anytime soon, if ever. The Album Explorer feature here says there are 4 more albums of Cohen down the road. Oh well... This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day208.

I've only heard a small sample of Leonard Cohen, but this album was pretty much what I expected. I dug about half of this album, but the other half all kind of sounded the same to me. Not a bad album but probably nothing I'll want to relisten to.

Depressing and I feel like I would really dislike him as a person. I do love sad music though so I guess 3 stars.

Very kind of mellow album, pretty inoffensive music for most of it but feel like it just falls a little flat some of the time.

Some pretty good songs on here. Very enjoyable!

I'm not huge on Cohen, but he's a great song writer and lyricist. His very late stuff is incredible.

Very much not his best work, but it’s ok. Nothing more than middling.

Prima album Ik kan niet kiezen tussen Sisters of Mercy & So Long, Marianne welke van deze twee mijn favoriet is

Look, Leonard is a great songwriter but the album is very slow. Some of my favorites of his are on this one and we're highlights in the never ending song that is this album

Nice nice songs to have on while you do stuff. Favourite: so long marianne

Favorite Track: Master Song

Such a wonderful songwriter. I still put this on from time to time.

Slow, but interesting musical elements/lyrics

I was gonna give it a 4 but then he started loudly moaning at the end.

not into the creepy undercurrent

Has a lot of great ballads, some uplifting and some depressing. I wouldnt downplay his songwriting. 3/5, as it's memorable but only with a few listens in the bank.

Good

He has one note that he really likes singing

Songs Of Leonard Cohen was a pretty good album. The music here did it's job pretty well and even had some cool elements like the little parade like instruments in Sisters of Mercy traveling throughout the audio channels. The songwriting here is also very solid. The main issue i have with this album is the fact that since this is Lenny's first album, It falls into the traps of one as in he didn't have a fully established style yet meaning that the songs here all sound like typical folk songs rather than sounding like Leonard Cohen songs. I still think that this album is good and has it's moments, i just think the later albums are better due to having Lenny's established sound. Best Song: Sisters of Mercy Worst Song: Teachers

Has the best of Leonard Cohen from what I have heard so far

Decent solid album

This is the 3rd Leonard Cohen album I've had. The others I rated a 2 - because his voice was that bad. So I fully expected the same from this album To my surprise, his voice isn't as bad here at all! Songs were alright, nothing that stood out massively 3 ⭐️

About 15 years ago, I almost got into a fist fight with a guy outside of a bar. I recognized him from another city. Dude sold poems on the street for a dollar a piece. I appreciate hustle so I bought a few. They were not particularly good, but art is relative I guess. I later saw him in this other town and said, "Heeeeey, I recognize you" and made the poetry connection. He was super rude and basically said who gives a f**k. In retaliation, I told him his poems weren't worth the dollar I paid him and should reconsider his business model. He proceeds to tell me that I was full of it, and that he was on par with Leonard Cohen. I took great umbrage to this (had been drinking) and the situation escalated to near fisticuffs as I tried to make him see the error of his ways. Anyways, there was no street fight that night and the issue remains unresolved. This is a solid record and I do enjoy the poetry and lyricism from one of the best Canadian artists of the genre/era, though though some of the faith content doesn't really resonate. The busy finger picking on several tracks is also pretty dope.

It’s pretty and great for a rainy day.

A truly wonderful songwriter, but definitely more "vocal stylist" than "singer" as a performer. :-)

Leonard Cohen twice in a week is a lot of Leonard Cohen for me. This isn't as dark a record as Songs of Love and Hate, but still one has to wonder if Canadians are okay, or if we should bring over a lasagna or something.

Obvious why he is so revered as a poet and songsmith. The Canadian Dylan

There’s no denying he’s one of the GOAT storytellers, but I just personally like some more song-to-song variation on an album. It’s a weird one where I just didn’t connect with it, but I can see why it’d be a favorite for a lot of people.

Geen banaan op de cover, dat is natuurlijk al jammer en een puntje in mindering! Wel fijn; de diepe stem waar Leo toch bekend om staat. Zijn zang, die eigenlijk geen zang is maar voordragen van z'n teksten en de vrij minimale instrumenten op de achtergrond. Ik kan er wel van genieten, alle albums van Leo ademen sfeer! Moet wel zeggen dat ik de nieuwere Leo albums beter vind. Dit is zn debuut album en dat hoor je ook wel een beetje. Hier kun je het nog een beetje zingen noemen wat hij doet, en zn stem is nog niet zo diep en duister zoals op latere albums. Wat wel nu al opvalt; zn teksten. Deze man draagt voor wat er gebeurt en je word meegezogen in zn wereld. Maar eerlijk; hij probeert op dit album meer te zingen, en dat moet ie gewoon niet doen. Ik wil een veel te diepe stem die me vertelt wat de fuck er aan de hand is terwijl er op de achtergrond zachtjes een piano speelt ofzo. So long, Marianne is wat mij betreft een dieptepunt. Veel te hard aan het proberen te zingen, man práát gewoon! Uiteindelijk vind ik het geen vervelend album om te luisteren. De sfeer druipt er van af en nog steeds is de stem van Leo prettig om naar te luisteren. Wel is het duidelijk zn debuut en is hij nog zoekende qua sound. FAVO: Suzanne, The Stranger Song,

3.5

as que são boas são boas e as que não são tão boas são muito, muito longas

Super chill listen. Not something I’d reach for all the time, but i wouldn't turn it off if I was like at a dinner party with my in laws or my parents, and we were having like some charcuterie. 3⭐️

bob dylannnnnnnnnn sure why the hell not

3/5

eh.

Leonard Cohen is just not my vibe. I definitely know him and have heard of him but just not my vibe. Will give him 3 stars for an average rating.

This one was just ok to my tastes. I don’t enjoy him nearly as much as Bob Dylan.

Kind of blows my mind that this album came at me immediately after a Kanye album. Everything is the polar opposite here. Bombast is replaced by understatement. Vulgarity is replaced by poetry. This will be hard to get through for a lot of people, it offers so little sonically. Its success hinges almost entirely on the poetry of the lyrics, and to a lesser degree on the delivery. "So Long, Marianne" comes across as the only song approaching pop, with some extra production flourishes, but it goes on for five and a half minutes. Take THAT, pop radio! Suzanne, Masters Song, Marianne, and especially Sisters of Mercy do it for me. I'll take that as an EP and feel content. "If your life is a leaf That the seasons tear off and condemn They will bind you with love That is graceful and green as a stem" Nobody's proclaiming the glory of their big black balls. Hallelujah for that.

Nothing special musically but good lyrics and also relaxing which i like

very chill, and Leonard Cohen definitely has a very calming voice to listen to, but every song felt veeery samey, with what felt like the same guitar tempos and chords throughout. the calming effect really carries this one.

It's a fine album, but no single song jumped out at me and it goes on a bit

Acoustic guitar is very nice and he has a great voice but getting a little bored.

I would categorize this as folk music with complex lyrics. Enjoyable to hear what Leonard has to say in each of his compositions.

Lenny, we meet again! This is so old it sounds like Simon and Garfunkel. Very peaceful. Not a top album cover. Also not my favorite Leonard Cohen era, apparently, although maybe I'd change my mind if I listened a few more times. But as of now, it's a little bit boring, I fear. Highlights: 'Sisters of Mercy' (a bit like I'm playing a 90s RPG), 'So Long, Marianne' (classic)

a sweet calm listen

Not my favorite but definitely worth an occasional listen. I do live many Cohen songs though.

Found it a bit samey across the whole album but I like the vibe - quite recognisable

Not as bad as the other Leonard Cohen albums. Still not my favorite, but a few decent songs.

Enjoyed the meandering tunes and quirky lyrics

Didn’t mind this one at all. Very poetic. Didn’t even have hallelujah on it.

World’s most serious man competition winner 1967. And it was tough sledding back then. You had nothing but serious fellas. Look at this guy though. Depressed? Check. Looks to be disgruntled? Check. Stressed about a multitude of things?? Check again. Whether you incorrectly call him Leonard Nimoy or you just call him the guy that wrote the second most famous shrek song, I call him, a friend. Let’s get on with it you zany old Canadian. Welp. I mean I knew that this would be the general tone. The lyrics are interesting if not a little cringeworthy at times. This does feel LIGHTYEARS ahead of its time. Really in its own world, which earns some points, but the melody isn’t slaying me. The melodies are not meshing just yet. Two odd, rudimentary song structures that don’t fully appeal, BUT this song is still pretty cool. The lyrics are worth a second pass which this will probably get, and the odd instrumental makes this song a good experience overall. I am keen to see if we get some songs that can keep up with the poetry and atmosphere. Winter Lady probably takes the best swing at what could be considered a conventional song. Short and sweet. Pretty song. More spoken word, which typically may irk me, it the instruments are varied and bare. They create an excellent atmosphere and a backing for the stark poetics of the Canadian eccentric. Is “poetics” a word? I like it, either way. I’m just a Joseph looking for a manger pal. This album is super cool so far. Another interesting song. Mouth clicks forgiven. I absolve you Lenny. Drink some water though. While kinda cool, I don’t know how I feel about the circus instrumental break. This one is not as much for me. Not bad by any means, but not as gripping. Is fatigue setting in? Is my feeble brain struggling against the weight of poetry?? I suppose we’ll never know. Suzanne??? Marianne?? Lenny is plowing through these Anne based names. The lively female backing vocals are nice here. Create a very folk feel and add a ton of energy. A little “godfather in Italy” near the end, but not a bad track. Pretty enjoyable actually. Hmm. This has to be the same as another song we’ve heard. A rare lowlight. Stench Town USA. I trust Lenny Co more than anybody to regale me with tales of the street. Buddy has been up and down the blocks and posts up regular on corners from the mean streets of Ottawa to the tumultuous avenues of Mississauga. This song is fine. “One hand on a hexagram, one hand on a girl.” Math teachers are flooding to MySpace to post that lyric. This one is kind of frantic. Interesting, but again, we struggle a little bit from bad melody syndrome. Not terrible. A little same-y once again. He doesn’t have much variation in range. The shrieking outro is pretty interesting. Well Leonard. You did it again. With what is essentially a spoken word album, sometimes the music can take a backseat. The bare guitars along with Cohen’s soulful vocal delivery create an enjoyable musical experience in amongst the poetry slam. While not resonating with every line, the poetry is intriguing and worth revisiting while the music takes me along for the ride. The songs themselves range from excellent to middling and some repetition lets down what is a super cool listen that feels fresh to this day. Combine these lyrics and atmosphere with a better songwriter and you’ve got yourself a classic. The songs of Leonard Cohen delivers in the end despite its shortcomings. 3-3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Master Song, Winter Lady, The Stranger Song

Leonard Cohen - another guy I heard of often but know nothing about. Is he a broadway show writer? Or is he just a folk singer? Why is Dustin Hoffmans picture on the cover? Ok he is like a cross between Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. I like it. Actually he may have been on this list already. Must not have left an impression. Update confirmed first time on this list. Three stars. Final answer.

Creo que prácticamente no se puede decir nada sobre Leonard Cohen que ya no se haya dicho. Sus letras son perfectas, pero eso se lo podemos atribuir a su carrera como escritor. Su talento para la guitarra, sencillo, pero eficaz, es destacable considerando que no es un artista que nació como tal. Songs of Leonard Cohen podrá no ser el mejor trabajo del crooner, pero definitivamente es una forma espectacular de comenzar una carrera icónica que inspiró a cientos de otros artistas similares.

Hey that’s no way to say goodbye is very good. And Suzanne

Have to be in the right mood to enjoy this. It’s fine. Good songwriting.

This album feels like a series of lullabies, softly whisking me away to sleep. The lyrics are well-written and conjure vivid imagery. It's not bad, but it does start to blend all together and I doubt I'm going to revisit any of the tracks on it.

Repetitive but in a nice, calm Sunday morning kind of way

God damn Leonard, lighten up a bit x

I have only recently began, last 2 years, to listen to Cohen and I think he is brilliant. This album however is not my favourite although still enjoyable.

No disrespect for the man, just not really my sound.

Very good album. I can see why this would top some lists. Of course great writing, but I found it great that I didn’t hate his voice. Always thought I did. Not my favourite album but definitely a good one.

Pretty good but its very clear that this was made for the 1960's audience. Did not age that well in my opinion. 3/5

I'm really depressed "diet" Bob Dylan. Not for me. It's well done. But I won't come back to it

I liked the vibe of it.

You know, I’m a bit happy that the first Leonard Cohen album I get is his debut (I assume there will be others) because I wasn’t a huge fan of this. It’s far from bad. Cohen’s voice makes this a cozy album to listen to and his songwriting is most certainly his strong point. But a lot of the songs kind of felt…one note. They just feel similar as Cohen sings through them, not really adding any variety to his vocals. It becomes more poetry to me than music, which is alright. But I’m not really into that and I want to brush if off on the fact it’s his debut. Maybe some of that will change deeper into his discography, but as is, this one was ok. Favorite track: So Long, Marianne Other hits: Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye, Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

Very pleasant to listen to. Haven’t listened to much LC before and will probably revisit this. Suzanne, So Long Marianne, and Teachers.

I just said Van Halen are serious musicians but not serious songwriters. Leonard is a VERY serious songwriter, maybe too serious. Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave both exist as artists I respect and can get into at moments but both seem to pretty explicitly want me to kill myself. The outro of "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" made me audibly laugh...lookin' like Michael Corleone on the album cover and just HOWLING in pain. Maybe this is what Michael listened to after Apollonia got blown up. At the outset of Suzanne you can immediately tell he's a storyteller...I owe this album more listens to fully appreciate all work he put into his poetry. For the time being I'd rather listen to Paul Simon or Bob Dylan, but Leo is OK in my book.

Sounds for the background of my dad's dinner party (which he never has)

It's a good album, to be sure, but the minimalist instrumentation becomes grating.

#80 Really good voice.

Bob Dylan meets Simon and Garfunkel. The whisper/monotone singing gets pretty old after a few songs.

осенние вайбики, мили. вайбы джона леннона немного

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