Songs Of Love And Hate

god this is dreary. someone should introduce this guy to some Sponge Bob.

He's sad and he has a guitar. Fuck yeah!

“Songs of Love and Hate” by Leonard Cohen (1971) I recommend that you don’t play this album as background music while you’re working. This album should be listed to on a cold and/or rainy day, wrapped in a blanket and drinking herbal tea—staring out the window. I’ve never listened to this album before, although I’ve long respected Cohen’s work, chiefly his more popular works like “Suzanne”, “The Future”, “First We Take Manhattan”, and “Democracy”. This album does not disappoint. Cohen is a poet and a prophet (in that order). His genius in this album is found in the dark musical and lyrical moods which he crafts with an entrancingly low baritone voice and skillful acoustic guitar stylings. His production team has found the perfect combination of echo and reverb to accentuate his unique vocal style. Cohen strugglers with pitch control, but more than compensates with sonority. His backing instrumentals and vocals are first-rate (including, I was pleased to learn, Charlie Daniels on bass and fiddle). But the focus here is on the lyrics. The listener is compelled to think about each line, and Cohen’s slow tempo and metrical space provide opportunity for this. The word pictures are evocative, prompting his audience to enter into the narrative as a front row observer, if not a participant. The symbolism is rich and imaginative, if not always decipherable, and finely tuned to the overall theme and mood of each composition. I recommend “Avalanche” and “Joan of Arc” for a serious listen. In his lyrics, he frequently makes reference to historical, literary, and cultural markers in order to serve his poetic expressions, revealing an intellectual engagement with the human drama that is as deep and sonorous as his voice. The lyrics of “Avalanche” would stand alone as poetry, inviting the hearer to consider how his or her physical imperfections affect one who has pity. He writes this poetic monologue in such a way that virtually everyone can relate to both sides of a pointedly touching encounter. The line “You must learn what makes me kind.” is hortatory without being preachy. I’d love to lie on the couch in his office. “Joan of Arc” is a wonderfully inventive love ballad imagined between St. Joan of Arc and the fire that consumed her as she was executed by being burned at the stake. It plays on the theme of ‘love as a flame’, with echoes of St. John of the Cross “The Dark Night”, stanza 3, and “The Living Flame of Love”: “¡Oh llama de amor viva! . . . Matando, muerte en vida la has trocado.” The serious listener will make a penetrating if tearful comparison with Loreena McKennitt’s “Dark Night of the Soul”: “The fire ‘twas led me on . . “ I need a break. Anyway, this album is very good. If you’re interested in digging deeply into your soul, Leonard Cohen is standing there with two shovels. And a match. 4/5

I don’t think I’ll ever understand the appeal of Cohen.

This would depress a puppy.

What a voice, what a poet. Famous Blue Raincoat is a melancholy masterpiece - it doesn't matter how many times it is played.

Probably stomached enough of Leonard by this point. If this was a footballer, it'd be Phil Neville.

Medicine for depression. If you want to be depressed, that is.

Great for listening to when you've had a heavy night on the crack pipe

No Leonard Cohen

it's fine. this is fine.

I really like poetry despite not knowing what it means most of the time. I just think word soup is cool. This album is no exception.

Unquestionably a masterpiece. My favorite of Cohen’s albums. This is what Bob Dylan wishes he sounded like

Don't even need to stick this on to know it's a five. More if it was allowed. Not even his best album, but still holds many moments of transcendent beauty.

This was absolutely hauntingly gorgeous. Cohen's voice is incredibly emotive, and the often bare-bones instrumentation really brought that out.

Man, this is bleak for first thing on a Saturday morning.

Didn't love any of the songs. Did hate a few, so title is half accurate.

I would have bet a fool’s seventh gonad that I would enjoy this, but it was pretty bland and annoying

Leonard's lyrics have always been the best of the best but, except for the album Phil Spector produced, the instrumentation on his LPs before Various Positions was rudimentary.   While some of this is due to his music drifting away from pure folk in later years, I expect another reason is that Hallelujah brought him money so he could afford more studio time to add more layers to the sound.  Joan of Arc, my favourite song on the album, is an excellent example. You can see how the song evolved by comparing the album version and the version on his 1994 LIVE album. Avalanche is a haunting song and the instrumentation doesn't need to evolve one inch. It's my favourite song on the album. Leonard plays the classical guitar. His guitar playing is underrated and he was somehow able to play this and sing at the same time when they played this live. Last Year's Man is another gem lyrically. It's also my favourite song on the album. I like how the children's choir is brought in to sing back up but just for the sixth minute of the song. I guess they didn't have any more rehearsal time lol. The children make another cameo in the last quarter of Dress Rehearsal Rag.  Side 2 has Famous Blue Raincoat which is definitely definitely definitely my favourite song on the album.   The songs that I didn't mention as my favourite are also quite good. Esp Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine, and Sing Another Song Boys.--

Wonderfully mellow guitar sound and Leonard perfectly front and centre without being obtrusive. Genuinely poetic. So many simple but subtle production details with backing instruments and vocals.

5/5. Big Leonard Cohen fan! Always great to see his albums on this list. Best songs: Avalanche, Joan of Arc, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Love Call You By Your Name, Diamond in the Mine,

A masterpiece. Lyrical poems, and what a voice.

No. 104/1001 Avalanche 4/5 Last Year's Man 5/5 Dress Rehearsal Rag 3/5 Diamonds in the Mine 3/5 Love Calls You By Your Name 4/5 Famous Blue Raincoat 5/5 Sing Another Song, Boys 4/5 Joan of Arc 4/5 Average: 4,0 What a great poet and melancolic songwriter. Famous Blue Raincoat best showcases his ability of eliciting feelings from his listeners. Still don't know why he thought Diamonds in the Mine is worth including in this album.

The first time I've heard this for the astonishing work it is. I can't believe it's taken this long. Maybe I was on too much of a Cohen bender first time around, or I didn't have a wide broad enough frame of reference. In a way, it's Cohen at his most rock and roll. Spiritually and emotionally it's raw, aggressive, even violent. The guitar picking--which for all the world should sound delicate, even timid--is somehow muscular. It's got *ass*. As for the imagery: "That's a funeral in the mirror and it's stopping at your face."

Avalanche is great, although a tad bit long. That actually holds up for the whole album; the songs last too long for my taste. The album couldn't hold my attention when listening from front to back either. All in all I rather listen to Nick Drake or Tom Waits when I'm in the mood for melancholic songs.

The last album you want to listen to when the windchill is -35 degrees outside. Unless depression is sort of your thing.

What an absolute piece of art. Nothing less than Masterpiece.

It took me a while before I could appreciate Cohen's work, and this is the album that finally made me a fan. Avalanche is one of my favorite songs of all-time and the whole album has a dark and cynical feeling that I really like.

Good lord this man can write a song! Wish I could travel back in time to the point I started diversifying my musical tastes and slap the Dylan out of my hand and put this in it instead. Not that Dylan is so terrible, or anything, but man I woulda enjoyed discovering Cohen at an earlier age.... Fave track - "Avalanche" is just absolutely tremendous. "Famous Blue Coat" is wonderful... A bunch of the others, too....

5.0 + The most emotionally intense and deeply atmospheric Leonard Cohen album, and also my favorite of his. Absolutely arresting in its poetry, delivered with a dry baritone and hushed finger-picking guitar. Standouts: "Famous Blue Raincoat", "Last Year's Man", "Avalanche", "Love Calls You By Your Name."

I had never listened to Cohen before this list. And honestly he has quickly become on of my favorites from this list. So far this one seems like his best work I've heard yet.

Christ, bad choice of day for this. Been dealing with the emotional fallout of a former colleague being a serial sexual harasser, followed by talking about how to address the horrible effects of inequality of children's services, and trying to find affordable solutions when our government gives no f***s and pennies (I have a weird job). Then I think, well that was harrowing, I'm going to listen to my album to cheer up and it's... Leonard Cohen. It is incredibly depressing. But brilliantly so. Famous Blue Raincoat and Dress Rehearsal Rag especially so. Lyrically brilliant, use of a children's choir. He's also hilarious if your humour skews dark. Can't fault this album.

Not my favourite album of his, but he is one of my favourite artists and this album contains my favourite song of all time 'Famous Blue Raincoat'

I've never listened to this album by Leonard Cohen before. It's a beautiful experience. Very raw.

What an incredible album. Cohen at his darkest and with some of his greatest songwriting (which is saying a lot). One of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time

Great storyteller. Kind of have to listen to words, not just jam to music. Low 5

Well, I stepped into an avalanche, it covered up my soul … Four o’clock in the afternoon, And I didn’t feel like very much … I thought you were a racing man, Ah but you couldn’t stand the pace, That’s a funeral in the mirror, And it’s stopping at your face … And you passed the summers, Picking all of the berries that grew there It’s four in the morning, The end of December, I’m writing you now, just to see if you’re better … Ah, the last time we saw you, You looked so much older, Your famous blue raincoat, was torn at the shoulder …

Haunting. Not something I want to hear regularly but I understand his appeal and influence now.

Leonard Cohen was someone I was hoping and expecting to listen to in this project. I have always wanted to explore his earlier music. I had owned a 1991 tribute album which was how some of his songs were most familiar to me. My favorite song from that compilation was “Avalanche,” sung in French by Jean-Louis Murat. I played it a lot. It sent chills to hear Leonard Cohen’s version with its classical guitar sound and his resonant voice opening this album. I wish I knew why I am so seized by that song. And the rest of the album seized me, for that matter. I walked into work late just to finish a song first. “Famous Blue Raincoat” completely pulled me out of the world and took hold of my heart. This album makes me really, really feel; like I’m plugged in to something beyond myself while I listen.

This was such a pleasure to listen to today. Cohen is on the list of artists like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits who I had to age into. I appreciate him in a way that was never possible before. I have a two-disc Leonard Cohen Essentials CD but haven't ever listened to any of his studio albums. So glad to be doing it now. The guitar work is exquisite, the lyrics emotionally deep. The chorus of children's voices is particularly effective but not overused. I favorited every track.

I know a lot of Leonard Cohen's greatest hits. But I will admit to not being so familiar with his complete discography. This early album gave a real insight as to where Leonard came from as an artist. A very enjoyable listen. Will be adding it to the regular rotation.

A personal favorite.

FIVE Solid stars. Always a favorite of mine.

Ring assigned “Songs of Love and Hate” the day after a Nick Cave double album is a useful accident that has still failed to resolve into a conclusion: I can tell this is great, but the greatness is bouncing off a sun and booze-thickened skull tonight. “Joan of Arc” is playing a cheerful curse as I write this, so I can’t score this lower than 4. Also, “Avalanche”’s opening guitar rush is perfect for the title.

You have to be in the mood, but it's a great collection of songs if you are. I've enjoyed (?) being despondent to a "Famous Blue Raincoat" accompaniment many times over the years (yes, it is poetry: "..and thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes; I thought it was there for good, so I never tried" is devastating) Some of this is quite sparse and intense, and some of this sounds like a drunken minstrel rambling in a demented Wild West saloon, all of which adds to the fun. And, of course, "Avalanche".. Definitely the best of his misery canon, but not for every day

3.5/5

Bit bummed, isn't he?

Leonard Cohen doing Leonard Coheny things. Man sounds like he’s lost all his friends, flung himself into an empty well, and then decided to cut an album.

Can't go wrong with Leonard Cohen!

Oh so great!!! Banger after banger here.

Every song is a selected gem and a piece of art. Perfect!

Leonard Cohen. Beautiful. Is there a better song than Famous Blue Raincoat?

Love "dark Bob Dylan". Famous Blue Raincoat - great song. Love the whole vibe, perfect for fall and Halloween.

I forgot how much I freaking love this album. Love it x 100

I love love love this one. Famous Blue Raincoat is one of my heart songs. It is the best PS3 Singstar song for my vocal register. So many memories, mostly of people groaning when I chose to sing it again. And again. "Did you ever go clear?" The rest of the album is stellar too. I just want to day drink. By myself. And read some Bukowski. Why do I love sad songs so much? I must have some issues. Sincerely, L. Lerner

Beautiful. Just brilliant.

Fantastic album - I feel like it really represents well it's concept.

a canonical album for me. listened to this so much c. 2011-2012. and it's still fantastic[ally depressing]

Arguably one of his best albums and one of the best from any songwriter. That first track with first lines! But of course also the later tracks. Joan of Arc for example is another great one.

Leonard Cohen is such a singular voice and musician. Everything about this album is perfect, haunting, and beautiful.

Ayo, this thing fucking cold, made my heart as still as a pond in heaven.

Exquisite.

Weird

Perfection 5/5

This album really hit, especially in songs like ‘Avalanche’, ‘Dress Rehearsal Rag’, and ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’. ‘Dress Rehearsal Rag’ especially is just so dark and hateful. Honestly, probably my favorite of his albums here. It’s also weird that I got all of them in the first half of this project.

Music for drinking alone.

Exceptional

Well, he got me again. Last time we got a Leonard Cohen album, I mentioned the weight of a life long lived bearing down on me, but that doesn’t apply as much here – he was only 36 at the time of making this album. By comparison, that’s rather short. However, the allegory I wrote of seeing music as art in that classical sense still applies rather deeply here, to me. This is an album of poetry, and while it’s not an album of a life long lived, it is an album guided by experience, hope, heartbreak, and a bit more. In a way, it feels like the midway point; obviously, he couldn’t have known that at the time of writing and composing these, but so much of what guides his spiritual belief in You Want It Darker is present here, without the life stories that lead to their definitive definitions in that album. To cut to the point, I’m rather shocked at the quality of these lyrics – I’ll still need to dive more deeply into them, but the imagery present here simply paints a picture that I still don’t feel like I can fully articulate, appreciate and comprehend. In terms of the instrumentals, I’m at least glad to hear a slightly lighter overall sound on this album; there’s some brighter instruments spread throughout that keep this from feeling overwhelmingly dreary. I could keep trying to go on, but I just deeply, deeply enjoyed this. It’s a damn good album, and I’d be a fool to give it anything other than a 5.

Beautiful.... can't say I understand what the poetry is about

Legend.

I've never had a particular desire to figure out what Leonard Cohen is all about - yeah this may have changed today. Because I should have. Because Greatness. What a beauty. And that's me listening to this album in between my daily chores. Totally saved for a quieter moment when that children's choir gets to *really* grab my heart. Rip it out. File under #1: what I love about doing this project. Ooof.

I should probably read all the lyrics. Nice listen regardless. I feel more cultured & smart now

Leonard Cohen's poetry is always wonderful to listen to. When it's part of his best collections of songs it's truly something special. Listen to this album, then listen to it again.

Dress Rehearsal Rag and Avalanche holy shit

A haunting, thought provoking piece. Amazing.

Not exactly a passive listen. Well worth the effort of making time to hear it properly though, every bit the equal of Dylan but without the annoying harmonica. Love the subtle and delicate instrumentation, really lets the lyrics shine

Very interesting stuff

Cohen’s best work. The album where his poetry and the music come together and make something sublime. Every song is captivating, Cohen uses his limited singing range creatively to great effect and the expanded arrangements embellish without overpowering. An absolute success

To be honest I wasn’t familiar with Leonard Cohen until now, and I’m really enjoying him. Once this album was done, I moved to another one that was in his discography, and I think it’s fair to say that he’s my favorite folk singer as of right now.

Easily my favourite Leonard Cohen album, I hope it’s yours too.

This felt transcendent today. It was overcast and at the end of a week long break with the family. I found myself listening multiple times to songs like famous blue raincoat and love calls your name. Lovely album that feels like a lifetime listen.

He's kindda sad, right? Great lyrics, great melodies, back when Cohen could actually sing. The album with Avalanche, Last year's man, Diamonds in the mine & Sing another song boys. This was always going to be an easy 5/5

I looove Leonard Cohen his voice and style iss insanely good. I only know one song from this album, but I'm sure this is already one of the best albums I'll listen here. It'll be sad, and I'm not sad, so I might not like it rn, but Cohen is too familiar and nostalgic not to like him. First song, fast guitar start, that is still going on with Leo's singing. This is quite an early era I think, so his voice is less raspy maybe. The lyrical mastermindness is a lot here, plus apparently this is based on a poem with almost a same name. And this is God talking as someone said. His vocals are unique too. Second song, no upbeat guitar, but it's still there blantly. There was no pause between the singing that lasted long. He's vocalling every word like Rufus. I was right there is too much singing here, even Cohen thinks so. It's melancholic in a not boring way. I heard the children at some point, ohh again they appeared, love that touch. They're humming now. Third song, much more upbeat guitar strumming than in the last song. He also sings faster, but not happier. Apparently this album didn't sell well, after Suzanne same vibe was expected, I think this one lacks something, but it's not bad. Children again, but they last very short. Songs are quite long, which is good, but they may be repetitive at some point, still his voice never gets boring. Fourth song, fun beat I see. Another instrument appeared, actually there're two other than guitar. Finally women appearance vocal-wise, they always make the vibe much better. This is the first song with a real chorus I suppose. He does this almost angry voice emphasis at some points. Fifth song, this one's again slow and sad aand shorter than usual 6 minutes. I don't like this one as much. Ohhh violins came into play. Guitar is making the same sound I think, I mean different from in the last song, but almost same in the first song. Violins volume increased, but they're gone now. Lyrically I used to dvelve into the songs, but now I'm lazy, though I'm not doing anything else, I just prefer to enjoy the artistry, which is quite a lot here. Sixth song, one of the known songs by him. His voice echoes. Oh women appear with the "da-da". Lyrical delivery is good here, just before the first verse finishes. I agree with that man in the comments that this is a rainy weather album while being cozy in a bed and looking out the window, the main character with a bit of sadness. I didn't know he said "sincerely, L. Cohen" at the end. Seventh song, he talked as if this was a live album. Upbeat melancholic beat. No good delivery, tho there is a little guitar progression at some points. Oh there was a baaad vocal at the end. It sounded quite same as the other songs. Except how it started, plus I don't know lyrics, so can't be sure how good this is objectively. The end is singing "lala", but loud and accompanied by the women. It got slower and less loud, but I guess the last two minutes is this going on. I actually like this part a lot. Ooo a clapping at the end. Eighth song, he mentioned Joan of Arc in the previous song. Same vibe, but I hear the women vocalising. Yess another lalas with him and the women. I love that part it fills the song, and it's his style, buut verses ain't giving, without context it's just a bunch of yapping. There's also his echo sometimes ahead of his or after his singing. This was what I expected in a good way of course, I have yet another album for when I'm feeling down. Obviously this is a 5 star album, that I will come back to in order to make this one of those nostalgic albums that get me back in time when I listen to them in the future.

Started listening to this album on a dark rainy morning, whilst driving to work. It absolutely added to the depression of the situation. Definitely not something to listen to if you're in search of happiness. However, if you want to mong out to some good music, I definitely recommend it. I will listen to more in the future. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An "avalanche" of stellar compositions, striking moods and darkly poetic lyrics. That album opener, bearing the name I've just put between quotation marks, is probably one of the most dramatic things Leonard Cohen has ever played, thanks to its obsessive acoustic guitar arpeggios and minor-key-yet-majorly-cinematic string orchestrations. No wonder Nick Cave covered it by the way (in a quite disturbing "punk" fashion). On the "literal" other side of this great record, "Famous Blue Raincoat" is certainly one of the most heartbreaking melodies the Canadian songwriter has ever written, which is saying *a lot*. And in between (or after) those two cuts, "Avalanche" and "Famous Blue Raincoat", a string of gems: "Last Year's Man", "Dress Rehearsal Rag", "Love Calls You By Your Name" and "Sing Another Song, Boys". In the middle of the dark, dark beads making up that necklace, the ephemeral moment of levity the mock-reggae and out-of-tune lead vocals of "Diamonds In The Mine" supposedly bring to the whole affair sticks out like a sore thumb at first. But listen closely to the lyrics and the raucous voice of Leonard, here in a rare exaggeratedly expressive mode, and soon you'll understand that there's as much passion in this cut as there is on the other ones. The apparent self-deprecatory façade is here so aptly translated to the music itself, you could easily blink and take the whole thing as face value. But the lyrical and musical posture found here also betrays an awareness of the deeper pains that lie behind such a "play". And make no mistake, that pain is the same as the one found in the seven other songs. An avalanche of high art indeed. Number of albums left to review: 286 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 316 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 175 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 231

Makes me want to get Robert Mitchum's Night of the Hunter tattoos on my knuckles. An all time great album from one of my favorite songwriters ever. Last Year's Man ++++++++++++++

Love this album, it's always been on of my favourites

Verry dark-grey - it's Leonard Cohen. You have to love him or hate him. I love him!

“That’s a funeral in the mirror/And it’s stopping at your face.” Is one of the hardest song lyrics I’ve ever heard in my life. Fav: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag Least Fav: none

Cracker

This album is quite strange. I feel like I shouldn't like it nearly as much as I do. The songs are simple, and LC's singing is serviceable but is almost spoken word in its delivery. The songs are incredibly sorrow and dense with allusions that mostly go over my head. Even still the songs still found a way to deeply connect with me and I am excited to revisit this album to understand some of the references it makes.

If Songs of Leonard Cohen presented Cohen as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, then Songs of Love and Hate reinforces that idea Favourite tracks: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Love Calls You By Your Name, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc

Pissy early Cohen with great backing arrangements.

Cohen sure found his niche in melancholy music. It can be really refreshing to hear.

GOAT

Beautiful album and Famous Blue Raincoat is one of the most mesmerizing song I've ever heard, I had to stop what I was doing, sit down for a minute and listen closely to it. Masterpiece.

Not my favorite Cohen album, but even so

This is Cowboy music. Delightfully simplistic in its approach. A voice, a guitar, and a stringed instrument. In the same vein as Bob Dylan in that it is a story told through song, but this is better. I am pretty sure he is one of the bears from the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney. The stringed instruments add an emotional presence that at times is overwhelming in how it affects the songs tone. This album would be best listened to sitting around a campfire gazing up at the stars. 9/10

Really good

Even having some familiarly with Leonard Cohen, listening to this album absolutely floored me. Every song is a world unto itself. The imagery is vivid and tragic and beautiful. There just isn’t a songwriter like Leonard Cohen.