Songs Of Love And Hate

quite boring, not my cup of tea

Very heavy and plodding sort of album. Carries a lot of emotional baggage and conveys it through lots of poetic lines delivered in a somber tone. The guitar is easy and soft similar to a Dylan and there is often layered backing vocals to emphasis specific lines that works really well. In general this didn't hit the mark for me.

typisch cohen, aber noch nicht mit der „alten“ stimme die mir vertraut ist.

Schön wie er singt, dieser Leonhard. Aber der war doch schon mal in der Liste.

Liked this more than I thought I would, although it is a bit situational. Not the kind of album you'll bring out on a summer's day, maybe more on a wintry night. But old Leonard definitely has a type, and he sticks to it with dedication that must be admired.

Too Bob Dylan-ish in terms of singing style. I wish it had more of a band than just a guitar for most of the songs. But Diamonds in The Mine and Joan of Arc were rather good. 3 out of 5

Just okay for me. I'm not a fan of the sound of Leonard's voice and it just sounds monotone.

Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. (See what I did there?) I’m sure the lyrics are deep and evocative, but I found the whole poetry-set-to-simple-rhymes thing a bit tiresome after a while, particularly when combined with Leonard’s grating vocalising.

Not a fun album by any means, but I enjoy Cohen’s songwriting. Not my favorite album of his but it’s pretty solid.

I hate Leonard Cohen. What's the point of even trying, when you can never achieve something like this? 5 stars for Famous Blue Raincoat. 5 stars for Last Year's Man. 5 stars for Avalanche. The rest is 5-star icing on the cake.

Definitely a love and hate relationship... mostly hate.

Is this the original hipster? I'm having a fever dream of going to a concert that sounds like this and feeling my body wither and die. In other words, this was terrible, but in an artistique, soul-sucking way. Like, I respectfully hate this.

Songs of Love and Hate that I did not Love nor Hate.

It's songs of Love and Hate, not Songs of Love, Songs of Hate. And its incredible

Love this.

I think I have to be in the mood for Cohen. Today this didn't hit. It felt even more dreary than usual.

Great songwriting and delivery, albeit with a unique melancholy style.

...

I hope Leonard Cohen found some joy in his life eventually.

3.1 2x decent but not sure i will re-listen anytime soon

I always wank to love Cohen, but seldom do.

Typisch düstere Cohen-Stimmung. Passt nicht zu meiner Lebenseinstellung, ist aber mal ok. 3/5

Great songwriting, great voice, but just not my taste, and well depressing!! 🤣

Dreary

Haven't really listened to too much of his earlier stuff. Love it

Can't put my finger on it but there is something about his voice that does not work for me

How many Leonard Cohen albums are on this list? I much prefer Bob Dylan to Leonard Cohen. I found this quite boring.

8/10 Rich, dense lyrics that go way over my head. Musically it's ... weaker?

A pretty solid showcase of Cohen’s talent. Really enjoyed this one

I fucking love Leonard Cohen, there’s something so beautiful about the dynamic range and the restraint that all his arrangements have. Even with the first track where there are strings it still has an insane amount of range even going almost silent about a minute into the song

The chords are cool and when he sang it was nice but it’s really sad and I like the feel good songs. I also didn’t really like the talk singing in my opinion.

Incredibly haunting atmosphere. I loved how nice the guitar and strings felt, in a way that plays off Cohens dark, brash vocals. Diamonds in the Mine was a standout for how animated he gets compared to the other tracks. And even if at many times I struggled to understand the themes of the lyrics, the emotion was always felt, and I feel upon further listening and further aging and wisdom I will appreciate this album more and more. But alas I am a little boy and so I give it a 3.5 rounded up to a 4.

Beautiful. Just not in album form when all of the songs are so somber.

Dark, understated and supremely refined. I don't often indulge in this level of subtly depressed world style songwriting but this album really drew me in.

What an album! This was a much darker and much more interesting listen compared to Songs of Leonard Cohen. There's more grit to it, it doesn’t feel as clean or polished, and it’s all the better for it. Songs of Love and Hate feels so much more alive and Diamonds in the Mine in particular sounds downright deranged. Also, From Her to Eternity is one of my all time favourite Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds albums, so I've heard their cover of Avalanche countless times, but never sought out the original. I wasn't expecting to hear so many similarities between an iconic Canadian folk musician and an aggressive and noisy post-punk band from Australia, but here we are.

Leonard Cohen #4 of 5. I really enjoyed the first Cohen album I got (You Want It Darker). By the time I get to #4 though, eh. Eh.

Man, Leonard Cohen has been one of the biggest discoveries for me doing this project. His lyrics are next level, and his golden voice has such gravitas you can't help but pay attention to them. I find it interesting how subdued some of the melodies are - sometimes it takes me listening to a cover version to realize just how catchy they are.

A little boring at times. Very vibey

Released in 1971, *Songs of Love and Hate* is Leonard Cohen's third studio album and a profound, often unsettling listening experience. It stands as one of his most emotionally intense works, a raw and unflinching exploration of the human condition that leans heavily into its titular duality . This is not an easy album, but for those willing to meet it on its own terms, it is essential. ### Themes: The Duality and Singularity of Love and Hate The album's title is a clear and deliberate mission statement. It probes the idea that love and hate are not just opposites, but two sides of the same coin—often intertwined and indistinguishable. While some have noted that the two sides of the vinyl record roughly represent the concepts of 'hate' and 'love', the themes are far more complex and interwoven throughout . The album delves into romantic failure, spiritual crisis, self-loathing, and a deep cynicism about the fame and success that had begun to define Cohen's life . Key thematic touchstones include: * **The Self and the Celebrity:** The opening track, "Avalanche," immediately sets a tone of self-contempt. The song is widely interpreted as an internal dialogue between Cohen's authentic, moral self and the persona of a greedy, fame-hungry artist he fears he is becoming. The lines "I have begun to long for you, I who have no greed" depict a soul corrupted by desire and compromised by the allure of celebrity . * **Despair and Suicide:** "Dress Rehearsal Rag" is an unflinching portrayal of suicidal despair. Cohen's delivery is harsh and ridiculing, a stark contrast to earlier, more tender versions of the song by Judy Collins. The narrator's self-directed venom in the line "Where are you golden boy, where is your famous golden touch?" makes his pain palpable and his self-loathing devastating . * **The Doomed Romantic Triangle:** "Famous Blue Raincoat" is the album's most famous track, a letter written to a rival who had an affair with the narrator's wife, Jane. The song masterfully captures a tangle of betrayal, longing, jealousy, and a complex form of forgiveness, making it a cornerstone of Cohen's songwriting legacy. The closing lines, "Your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free," are often read as a suicide note, suggesting a final, passive-aggressive act in a love triangle . ### Music and Production: Stark, Uncluttered, and Intentionally Sparse The music on *Songs of Love and Hate* is meticulously crafted to serve the lyrics. Produced by Bob Johnston, the arrangements are notably spare and uncluttered, allowing Cohen's voice and words to dominate the soundscape . The production is a departure from some of his earlier work, which Cohen had reportedly found "glitzy" . * **Instrumentation:** The sound is anchored by Cohen's hypnotic acoustic guitar patterns . The production uses other elements sparingly and deliberately. Paul Buckmaster's string arrangements are "unobtrusive," rising like dark clouds in the background to add emotional weight without overwhelming the starkness . The use of a children's chorus is cited as an especially inspired touch . * **Cohen's Vocals:** The album also finds Cohen growing significantly as a singer. While he is not a technically gifted vocalist, his ability to project emotion is his greatest asset. He brings a newfound subtlety to songs like "Joan of Arc" while unleashing a raw, almost growling aggression on others like "Diamonds in the Mine" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag" . This dynamic range is crucial in differentiating the songs of love from the songs of hate. ### Influence and Legacy: A Monument to the Dark Side *Songs of Love and Hate* has become a foundational text for exploring themes of darkness and emotional degradation in music. It cemented Cohen's reputation not just as a poet, but as a unique and uncompromising voice in popular music . Its influence can be heard in the work of countless artists who have explored similar dark and complex themes. * **A Touchstone for Artists:** Nick Cave, known for his own explorations of darkness and the human condition, famously covered "Avalanche," a testament to the song's powerful and enduring influence . * **A Personal Low Point:** The album is often viewed as a reflection of a particularly bleak period in Cohen's life. The intense misery and hopelessness captured on the record, particularly in songs like "Avalanche" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag," are considered by some scholars to be the most nihilistic works in his entire oeuvre . Cohen himself reportedly came to regret some of the album's arrangements and would rarely perform certain songs live . This personal struggle adds another layer of depth and authenticity to the project. ### Pros and Cons Based on the critical consensus and the album's nature, here is a summary of its strengths and weaknesses. **Pros:** * **Extraordinary Songwriting:** This is Cohen in one of his finest hours as a songwriter. "Famous Blue Raincoat," "Joan of Arc," and "Avalanche" are among the most satisfying and enduring works of his career . * **Emotional Intensity:** The album is emotionally devastating in the best possible way. It is an unflinching look at despair, self-hatred, and romantic failure that resonates with a rare power . * **Mature Vocal Performance:** Cohen had grown noticeably as a singer, able to bring out the subtleties and raw aggression in his lyrics in a way his previous work might not have allowed . * **Superb, Purposeful Production:** Bob Johnston's production and Paul Buckmaster's string arrangements are perfectly suited to the material. They are spare and intelligent, allowing Cohen's voice and lyrics to take center stage . **Cons:** * **Musically Monotonous:** Some listeners find the spare arrangements and similarly hypnotic acoustic patterns make the music feel repetitive or overly dour, with tracks bleeding into one another. For those not attuned to the mood, this can be a "monotonous" experience . * **Hard to Love/Not for Everyone:** It is not an easy album to listen to. As one critic noted, its uses are "limited—best for late nights alone" . The unrelenting darkness is a major barrier to entry for some. * **Cohen's Own Regrets:** Cohen himself had reservations about the final product, calling some of the arrangements "gimmicky" and "over-produced," and even refusing to play certain songs live . While this doesn't diminish the album's power, it adds a layer of complexity to its legacy.

Four Leonard Cohen albums was too many. This is now the fifth. I've run out of things to say about his drawly voice. He writes good songs but this is overrepresentation in the extreme. We couldn't have one single Interpol or Godspeed You! album but we need five of these???

I tried, there's some nice moments here, but overall his voice and his schtick just kinda grate on me

Really dug this album, there is a warm, weird but cozy feeling I get when I hear his voice. Ever got into him but been liking what I’ve heard

My second Leonard Cohen album after I had You Want It Darker earlier in the countdown. Like that album, this one had a great start and nothing nearly as excellent after it. Unlike the title track to YWID, Avalanche didn’t catch me dumbstruck by how amazing it was. it’s an excellent track all the same though. But again, that’s about where it ended for me. Cohen is a good songwriter, but he has to set a distinct mood to pull off greatness as his voice is relatively inferior. That didn’t happen much for me in this record. A decent listen, nothing I would come back to. 3 stars.

Lots of Leonard Cohen on this list, and this one's right in the middle of the pack for me. Good songwriting, solid vocals, but doesn't carry the same powerful somberness as some of his later albums.

Going to give it a 3. Definitely wasn't in the appropriate listening setting for this album but did find myself listening which is impressive in itself.

I've thought a lot about why this doesn't quite move me the same way that *Songs of Leonard Cohen* does. It's probably an accumulation of things. For one, there is less going on here sonically than on that album - even fewer real melodies, less for Paul Buckmaster to do from an orchestral standpoint. More of mostly just Cohen and his guitar, trudging inexorably through the snow ("Last Year's Man," "Dress Rehearsal Rag," "Famous Blue Raincoat"). Even when we get some pop scraps, as with Ron Cornelius's country-tinged lead on "Diamonds in the Mine," it feels grudging, sarcastic even. There is an angrier, more repellent edge to these songs; presumably it's intentional, and it's certainly valid. But if Cohen is trying to hold the audience at arm's length then he's succeeding, and that has consequences. Something similar seems to be happening with Cohen lyrically. He seems more interested in poetry, to the point of being less interested in storytelling. And maybe that's the quibble I have here: he has become more interested in himself, to the point of becoming less interested in others. The first-person songs are in first person, and the "you" being addressed in "Diamonds in the Mine" and "Love Calls You by Your Name" feels like it's Cohen also. Try as I might, I find him harder to relate to here; even when he turns back more directly to folk storytelling, as on "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Sing Another Song, Boys," the specifics seem particular to him, like Joyceian epiphanies that everyone else can try and connect with, or not. Maybe he doesn't care to be related to, and again, he doesn't necessarily owe anyone that. But nevertheless, I want to love this album and it doesn't seem to want to love me back, and I'm not inclined to chase it any more than I already have.

Leonard fortsätter vara melankolisk, det gillar jag.

Cohen is terrible. 3 of these now and I sweat each one is worse than the last.

It's a beautiful, hot, sunny, July morning so to say this record felt incongruous doesn't quite hit the mark. It really needs to be a damp, autumn, Tuesday evening and I need to be drinking whisky, crying, and staring into the abyss for it to really work its magic. Fortunately though, I'm already familiar with the record, and can appreciate its fragile, haunting beauty regardless of the weather and my mental wellbeing. And it's an extraordinary record - affecting, captivating and generally unforgettable. And it's got Famous Blue Raincoat on it. If it was just this song ten times, I'd still give it five stars.

Perhaps this caught me at the wrong time, but it felt so dreary and tuneless I didn't listen to more than the first 3 songs. I know the high honour he is held in and I have enjoyed him in small doses, just not today. One to return to especially as it has Famous Blue Raincoat on it which is a fabulous song.

Wat een verhalenverteller is deze man toch

Zo mooi en moody. Geweldige artiest was Cohen.

Yeah I need to listen to more Leonard Cohen. Avalanche was a really strong start immediately :0 Holy moly Dress Rehearsal Rag Bangs

Leonard Cohen is basically just speaking through this album but he’s somehow SPEAKING out of tune - it’s almost impressive. This album is very strange. The inclusion of the creepy children’s voices is strange. The incoherent mumbling over one note guitar is strange. Is that an anti abortion sentiment in Diamonds In The Mine? Hard to tell because I was so distracted by his awful screechy vocal tone but booooo if so. Booo boooo boooooooo. This is getting a 2 instead of a 1 because the lyricism is often really beautiful and I’m not HATING listening to it as I am with the ones. I like Love Calls You By Your Name… sort of, partly because he’s describing being found by love again in such a unique way. Ok Famous Blue Raincoat is sort of hauntingly beautiful… I like this too… I keep changing my mind mid review am I giving this a 3? Maybe ?! Ok it’s a three… I think… Or is it ? Sing Another Song, Boys is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard - his voice breaks half way through and the Na Na Na Na Na bit was a tough listen. Joan of Arc is ok … it’s still a 3 I think … for now …

a compelling voice used well, and some pretty solid arranging. the mood is well set, but the lyrics writing isn't quite enough to carry all the tracks for their full duration

3/5

Snnzzzz....

Very very good album.

Dress rehearsal rag is enjoyable but the lyrics are very religious and so damn depressing (2/5) From another review: This could even give a puppy depression

Non really my thing

I wish I enjoyed the lyrics of songs more

(Light to decent 8/10) Wow, that was pretty great. Immediately opening up with one of the most harrowing breakup songs of all time, this album is heavy. It's an emotionally complex record that will leave you questioning if love is even worth it at all, and Cohen's vocal delivery really sells you on that tired and beaten down feeling of it all as well. Definitely a bit exhausting tbh, but there's no doubt this LP wonderfully written and powerful.

After listening to this and other similar artists on this project, I am finding that there is a continuum of poets and musicians with the likes of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell to name a few. And I am finding that very few of these artists accel at being both a great poet and musician... but rather it's one or the other in varying degrees. And so while I found the poetry on this album fascinating, often I found the music lacking. Case in point, lyrically I really liked Diamonds in the Mine... but that thing that Cohen kept doing with his voice was so off-putting that the song is nearly unlistenable. This is a tough one to rate... I want to like it more, but I frankly don't see myself listening to this again anytime soon.

There is some truly special lyricism going on here. Cohen proves himself to be quite masterful at pairing his words with his delivery to convey such powerful, often uncomfortable emotions. The instrumentals mostly provide a fitting, adequate background while Cohen’s voice is interesting and regularly adds to the feelings and environment of these dark tracks. This was a cool listen that I’m looking forward to diving into deeper at some point. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat

Don't like it, don't dislike it, which is pretty much my definition of a 2.

There were no songs i loved or hated so the album title is a little misleading

Likes: Calm and easy-to-listen vibe; world building lyricism Dislikes: Kinda monotonous/droning; not a lot going on musically; none of the songs gripped my like Songs from a Room Overall, I didn’t care for it.

I was dreading this guy, him and Nick Cave. Not as terrible as I thought it would be, likely won't go back to it but I could deal with it

Give me the most depressing album you've got. No, that's too depressing.

I’ve heard this before and I own it. I love this album. It’s pretty stripped down compared to his later albums and while it lacks some of the beautiful weirdness, it’s far from conventional for what was going on at the time. Also as it’s lacking that beautiful weirdness it also doesn’t include the weirdness that hits completely wrong. Another interesting thing is how on a few of the songs he actually sounds excited, which is really rare. Altogether a beautiful and classic album.

I just find Leonard Cohen musically lacking any dynamic. Songs are just a bit boring. He's no Dylan. 2

The 5th and final cohen album I’ve listened to from this list. He’s in that Bob Dylan tier for me, great songwriter with a voice that I have to be in a specific mood for.

Eh, some of the music is nice. Don't much like Cohen's vocals. "Diamonds in the Mine" would probably be pretty good if he wasn't just growling the entire time. Not for me.

Deadass think they had this playing at a GBC show before the concert started before. Instant PTSD. On one hand, this is miles and away better than the last cohen record. On the other hand, is that really saying anything 💀 The one is produced by Bob Dylan’s long time producer who also did Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde. Love the desolated atmosphere here. Cohen sounds like a mix of Lou Reed and Nick Drake here. Maybe I’m just really fucking down bad because life sucks right now, but sing another song, boys is an absolute slapper. The opener and famous blue Raincoat are other highlights here.

Nope get this guy away from me he is depressing and slow and sad and I know it’s good and Famous Blue Raincoat is beautiful and poetic it’s just bad vibes

Oh the drama! Leonard Cohen was a true Canadian treasure. His songs are simple without a lot of musical complexity, but they hold massive weight, mostly because of his voice and his ability to deliver his words with the perfect power or tenderness that the moment calls for. Truly one of a kind.

Generator random is wild. Three Cohens in ten days. Guess the generator just wanted to get Cohen over with, because this is the last one I needed. I would be 100% not surprised in the slightest if this album were the defining influence for Nick Cave. This is such a Nick Cave album. But yeah, easily the best of the Cohen albums on the list. Ping pongs between dark folk cuts like Avalanche and Dress Rehearsal Rag (the best songs on the album) and stuff that's closer to the first two albums (albeit better). Really great album.

Por falar em hate, eu me odeio, mas não tanto

I can't say that I'm excited for another Leonard Cohen album, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt. I like the instrumental bit of avalanche. 'One by one she had to tell them that her name was Joan of arc' is a banger line. Diamonds in the mine - hey so what was that Leonard Cohen, what did u mean by all that about witches and abortion. This album left very little impression on me other than that I do not care for this man or his songs.

Grimy, like it

I fear that this project and its tendency to favor certain artists has turned what was previously passive indifference into active hatred. I was once happy to ignore Leonard Cohen's music and just get on with life. Now, I wish he was still alive so I could mastermind an elaborate public assassination (or at least shout mean things at him from a distance.)

Een vroege Cohen, opvolger van de twee eerste platen van 's mans oeuvre die we al gehad hadden. Hier is het nog heel erg de zingende dichter, met simpel gitaarspel en wederom teksten opgebouwd uit de standaard dicht-legoblokjes als vuur, goud, pijn, regen en noem maar op. Verder veel ijle zang en spel. Enkel in Diamonds in the mine mag het wat meer up-tempo met een geinig country-arrangement. Ik ben best vatbaar voor Cohens aanpak, maar ik vind het niet allemaal even goed. Af en toe denk ik, man, neem toch wat extra gitaarles, als hij weer poing-poing loopt te doen. En toch is er iets in het geheel wat me aanspreekt, de tournures die de composities nemen, de verstilling, geen idee. Een naar boven afgerond cijfer.

Ik heb inmiddels het vijfde album van de man doorwerkt en in totaal zijn er twee nummers die ik kon waarderen (Suzanne en First we take Manhattan). 4 Van de 5 albums zijn uitwisselbaar. Alleen het jaren '80 album 'I'm your man' biedt iets aanvullends. Ook dit album is tergend saai. En nee, dan helpt het ge-lalala op het eind niet mee. Zeker niet als je dat twee nummers achter elkaar doet. Dat levert aftrek van de 2 sterren die Leonard standaard oogst.

Genoeg gezegd en geschreven over de man met de diepe kraakstem, want dit is inmiddels album nummer 5. Ik heb het 3x een 4 gegeven en 1x een 2. We krijgen hier classic Cohen, dus ik kan het wederom wel waarderen. Maar ze hadden uiteraard een selectie moeten maken en het voegt verder helaas niet zoveel meer toe na de eerdere albums. Ik zal dus wederom streng moeten zijn en dan kom ik uit op een enigszins vergeetbare 3. Al weet ome Leonard ook hier prima zijn eigen sfeertje neer te zetten.

3/10 Aburrido, medio deprimente. No se si decir que es malo me canso

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected I won’t lie

pelamor de deus

Leonard Cohen answers the age old question of “What if Bob Dylan was Canadian?” I can definitely tell songwriting was his strong suit compared to his objective performing abilities. Honestly it’s probably sacrilege but I thought his lyrics were maybe a bit better than Mr. Dylan’s from what I’ve heard. I liked Diamonds in the Mine quite a bit, definitely my favorite song from both a lyrics perspective and a sound perspective. Honestly a decent amount of variety in here I don’t think he’s a particularly talented vocalist, though for the most part it’s not bad enough to bring down the songs. There’s some solid songs on here but you can’t help but think it’s a little…boring when you’re not engaging with the lyrics much. The instrumentation for most of these songs is minimal enough where there’s not a whole lot of substance Either way, it’s more than passable but probably not my kinda music. I can’t hate on it too much since I can absolutely see the kinda person that would profoundly be affected, but it’s not quite complete enough for me

i dont like the way he makes his voice go all rough. making it sound like it hurt to sing doesnt magically make your song better

The lyrics on this album are hauntingly beautiful and I'm convinced that you'll be able to get more out of them on multiple listens. However, where the songs fall short to me, even those that I liked, is on the musical side. While everything is played well and the instrumentalisation sets the mood really well, I don't think it goes beyond that. The music and Cohen's voice are, while pleasant, quite monotonous. Most of the time, Cohen keeps one melody over the course of the song and that melody just loops and loops and loops and loops and loops and loops and loops for five and a half minutes on average. It seems to me that I would've enjoyed some of the songs more had there been more variety and I wonder if these lyrics couldn't have been done better justice.

Love Leonard Cohen and his velvet carburetor voice.

#53 Songs of Love and Hate has been a long-time favorite of mine, and slightly edges out Cohen's first two albums for my favorite in his catalog. It is my go-to album for dark and rainy days, or full-blown depressive episodes. It's a masterpiece of dirge music. I love the dark, angsty, and brooding atmosphere that is delivered through both the lyrics and also the guitar playing itself. Cohen's lyrics are pure poetry, and clearly convey the stories and ideas his songs explore, while leaving plenty of room for the listener's own interpretations. His raw and imperfect singing adds so much more emotion and impact to the overall sound of the music than a polished voice would. Cohen is an artist who could do more with less in his arrangements, and proves that stripped down instrumental arrangements can still be intricate and unique (I am directly shading Joni Mitchell's "Blue" and Nick Cave's "The Boatman's Call" here, both of which earned only 2 stars from me for this exact reason, despite having high hopes for both). Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine, Famous Blue Raincoat, and Sing Another Song Boys are all personal highlights, which is most of the album, but I can't pick just one or two.

Fine, I am just not a fan of contemporary folk and might be too young to understand Cohen's poetry.

I can’t man. My dude is a worse Dylan. He’s not even trying to make himself sound interesting. Story of Issac is an amazing song. But it is TERRIBLE here. Go listen to the cover by American bluegrass band Mighty Poplar. That’s how Cohen’s songs could sound.

Couple goodies and a couple baddies.

I don't care that it makes me a bad Canadian, I hate Leonard Cohen

I think I said this about the other Cohen album(s) from this list: I don't connect with this guy. But boy is he depressed and depressing! I can see where someone could potentially take his lyrics or at least be inspired by him, but his style just makes me want to sleep.

Vastly prefer deep voiced Leonard Cohen, this was a good one. Joan of Arc having a chat with the fire burning her at the stake is a vibe and a half

Eu até me atraio mais por sad songs mas isto é a depressão crónica em forma de álbum

Nice folksy album in the Dylan - Waits vein. Nice stuff.

I can see the influence. I probably need a few more listens.

Oh wow a third cohen already, this is one i’ve been meaning to listen to so this works well, also i’ve received them in chronological order which is fitting. Already this is better than the second album as theres no weird instruments here, just back to basics with what’s already proven to work, also more strings which helps. As always he can send you to a beautifully descriptive and spiritual world with each track. Standouts are Last Year’s Man, Diamonds in the Mine (even if the vocals are a bit interesting), Love Calls You By Your Name and Famous Blue Raincoat.

Could someone record an album this dark and dense and moody and score less than a 4?

Love Cohen, but won't be in rotation

Yeah, this certainly belongs on this list. One of rock music's greatest artists. And this album is a classic. Even Christgau gave it an A-. 5 "play this at my funeral" stars.

Bastante desapercibido pasó el disco. Estuvo normal.

While Leonard's debut was a refreshing take on standard folk, with his meandering lyrics and flamenco inspired guitars, this album finds itself too far down the path. The songwriting hasn't evolved much, and I'm not very blown away with the vocal performance or lyrics. I'll hold onto Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat and leave the rest.

I had no Leonard Cohen albums generated for me until #713 and by #776 I’ve officially had them all. This might actually be my favorite of his, and that’s a surprise to me. Aside from his moving final album, I haven’t been impressed with anything I’ve heard. But wow. This was fantastic. So many great songs but “Avalanche,” “Last Year’s Man,” and “Sing Another Song, Boys” were my favorite ones. I knew pretty early on this was going to get 4 stars from me, and depending on how much I end up replaying “Avalanche,” could wind up with 5 stars later on. The best Leonard Cohen on the list.

That was rough! Not a fan.

When I am on a pedestal, you did not raise me there. Your laws do not compel me to kneel grotesque and bare. I myself am the pedestal for this ugly hump at which you stare.

not for me

I dont like this

too sad for me

Not bad but could have been better.

Excessive Leonard Cohen Limit Reached. Please no more.

If you want to spend an evening of melancholy, this one is better than some of his other albums.

Spooky Bob Dylan.

Booooorringg. I know he’s a poet but I just can’t get over how bored I was.

Not my fav LC effort. Moody AF

leonard cohen reminds me of bob dylan except that i actually prefer cohen to dylan, idk. this was nice

Introspective folk

Probably Leonard Cohen’s best album probably

The Leonard Cohen albums on this list have been hit-or-miss, but this was largely a hit. Weird that he's smiling on the cover of an album of sad bastard songs (but they're good sad bastard songs). The people who love Cohen appreciate his poetic lyrics. I'm not one of those people--I read the lyrics to a few songs, but other than maybe "Diamonds in the Mine" I couldn't tell you what the hell he's trying to get across beyond a vibe. But what a vibe! This album has the clearest throughline to The National (fantastic baritone vocals, sad bastard vibes, poetic/opaque/deep/I-don't-know-exactly-what-you're-saying lyrics, slow folk music) and I found it fairly easy to get on board. Random observation: I use "but" too often in these reviews. Pretty much every review is either "this part didn't work, but otherwise it was pretty good" or "it's fine for what it is, but it wasn't for me." I've rated 732 albums and used "but" 798 times. *This is why so many lyrics are lost on me: I'm a friggin' robot.* Or maybe I'm just a but guy. 4.2

Love the lyrics, but I'm still not thrilled with his singing. Famous Blue Raincoat and Joan of Arc were both pretty good.

Damn man cannot sing for shit but he can write a fn tune and a half. Kinda what I wished Nick Cave sounded like.

- you who wish to conquer pain you must learn what makes me kind - the skylight is like skin for a drum i'll never mend - there's a funeral in the mirror and it's stopping at your face - the river is swollen up with rust cans and the trees are burning in your promised land - shouldering your loneliness like a gun you will not learn to aim - you're living for nothing now, i hope you keep a record - she will learn to touch herself so well as all the ship sails burn down like paper - i long for love and light but must it come so cruel and oh so bright? fave track last year's men

4/5: This album has some very interseting lyrical imagery and the guitar and strings act as a nice canvas for all the lyrics to be delivered. Avalanche was my favorite song and Dress Rehersal Rag was the most interesting musically even though it was very weird. I am not always a fan of singer songwriter music like this, but this one was really interesting because of the lyrics. The repeating guitar chords with little intsrumentation got a bit boring at times, but I think the album was paced pretty well and didn't overstay its welcome Avalanche 4.5/5: Beatiful guitar and crescendo intro, simple song structure but the song is very emotional and the vocals sound very emotive. The instrumental string sections are a nice way to bridge the verses. Last Year's Man: 3.75/5 interesting lyrics paint a descrptive picture but are also crptic, guitar and strings are pleasant. The kids singing at the end kinda threw me off. Dress Reheasal Rag 3.5/5: The concept of talking to your self in the mirror is interesting (at least that is how I interepted it lol). Not a huge fan of the simple guitar strumming. It is cool the lyrics ended with Dress Rehearesal Rag Diamonds in the Mine 3.75/5: The vocal delivery is kinda crazy but unique (almost sounds like a psycho). Sounds epecially crazy with the woman background vocals. The bass line and guitar riff are cool. Love Calls By Your Name 3.25/5: The guitar riff sounds too similar to Avalanche to me to be a seperate song, so I was a little bored by the instrumentation. Some intereseting imagery in the song and the title of the song is a nice hook. I like the lines when he says "between the..." Famous Blue Raincoat 3.75/5: Interesting title, the wind chimes are nice background sounds. The chorus melody is nice. Intersesting concept about Leonard Cohen addressing the letter and writing about an afair Sing Another Song Boys 3/5: Cohen really likes talking about fingernails. More interesting imagery in this song about a relationship that went bad. All of the "la la las" at the end of the song got annoying. Joan of Arc: The backgroud vocal that sounds like a delay almost is interesting Interesting that the fire is talking to Joan of Arc. Not a huge fan of all the "la la las" again in the chorus.

I'll need to revisit this and give it a proper listen on a moody somber day. It's obviously a good album lyrically and instrumentally, but I did struggle to enjoy Cohen's voice

I think I would describe this as dark, moody folk music. The lyrics have a brutally honest nature, and the vocals are abrasive at times. But the acoustic guitar parts are beautiful in many of the songs.

Leonarc Cohen is probably an acquired taste, luckily it is a taste I have acquired. It’s the type of music I put on when I am home alone, dim the lights, pour myself a few too many whiskys and contemplate life.

Even for Leonard Cohen, this album is depressing.

Brilliant.

I've always struggled with great poetry - I can tell there's something sublime at the core but I can only grasp at its edges

great voice, great stories, but ultimately to much of a plod for me to really enjoy all at once

6/10

Dreary.

Sort of mid

It was OK, feels like one too many albums for leonard on this list.

Fitting title.

Good album

A very pleased and interesting folk album. His voice and intonation is unique and the writing is excellent.

Unlistenable dirges, sung by someone who should never have been a singer. I don't care how great the lyrics are, he should have got someone else to sing them. Genuinely nearly turned this off halfway through because I couldn't bear to listen to another identical dreary song

It's great, but where's the "In Dub" version?

Leonard Cohen rules. Avalanche is an all timer.

Not another one!😭

Solid, but not very intrigued by this one. Respect, and probably rounding down for this one.

just inoffensive sounds that blend into the background for me. cohen works better in writing than in music imo

Mooi…

Also songs of Beauty and Pain Cohen is still one of the best storytellers.

I really do understand why people might not like Leonard Cohen, but I’m a lyrics-forward listener and he’s a lyrics-forward songwriter, so it always works for me.

Kind of like baby Leonard Cohen, when he was more Dylan-wannabe than, well, Leonard Cohen. Sometimes the lyrics are too absurd or abstract for their own good here, but other times they do hit. The thing is, I’ll never be blasting these tunes in my car on a sunny June day.

Where Lenny hit perfection. Sparse and very importantly no Jew's harp in evidence. He's become very confident in his voice here, which makes his lyrics come alive.

I've heard a lot of Leonard Cohen albums via this list and while many of them are somewhat dark and dreary, this one may take the cake. I get that Mr. Cohen was in a depressive headspace during the recording of this album, but still. The poetic chops just barely kept this one afloat for me.

Un peu boring

Le mec est décrit comme un poète donc j'imagine qu'en écoutant à fond les paroles c'est pas mal mais là au fur et à mesure sa voix m'a un peu fait chier

2 - not for me

Yes, it's an iconic album. Yes, Lenny is a talented songwriter. No, I didn't particularly enjoy it.

Songs for depressed people. I thought it was okay but it won't be one that I put on the play rotation.

Diamonds in the mine features growling so that's cool. 3.7/5

Avalanche - 5/5 Last Year's Man - 4/5 Dress Rehearsal Rag - 5/5 Diamonds in the Mine - 3/5 Love Calls You by Your Name - 4/5 Famous Blue Raincoat - 5/5 Sing Another Song, Boys - 3/5 Joan of Arc - 4/5 Average score: 4.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cohen is a poet and I love his rich baritone voice. His voice isn’t as good here as it gets later in his career, but it is still gorgeous. Seems to be really channeling Dylan on a couple of tracks on this record. Such a warm record that envelopes you. It’s dark and sad and devastating and beautiful. Not the pinnacle of Leonard Cohen though, so only giving it 4 because I know there’s another level out there.

Day 308 One I may need to relisten to in a more suitable setting. Not sure in the garden on a roasting hot day having a few beers is best. Highlights Diamonds in the mine Sing another song boys

I’ve never liked Leonard Cohen and this album hasn’t changed my opinion.

he should be ashamed of himself

Not to my personal taste but can understand the talent and sheer love gone into the record

"Tell Me" by Smilez And Southstar, "X" by System Of A Down, "Hey Ya" by OutKast, just to name a few.

The soundtrack to drowning yourself in a bathtub.. Could have been made by the schizophrenic homeless guy behind my local grocery store.

Very Leonard, much Cohen

I’ve been reluctant to listen to Cohen. Probably because I like Bob Dylan so much, and can plumb those depths endlessly so why add more esoteric singer/songwriter stuff. The first couple tracks I was like, okay I get it riding the curtails of Dylan, but from then on he goes to some places Dylan doesn’t. Cohens more art poet and he stays in this lane while Dylan is chameleonic. I really liked it, the plotting cyclical guitar under droll vocals, and goes wild when he wants to. I couldn’t decide if I liked the child choir thing, it felt a bit dated.

Linda, listen. Leonard Cohen is not a musician. He's a poet. He's a good poet (not for me, personally, I much prefer not to be clinically depressed) who owns a guitar. One such album belongs on this list. Multiple do not.

Gifted songwriter, but not really my cup of tea.

It's alright but I definitely thought songs from a room was better

I hit the wall hard during Diamonds in the Mine. Don't understand the appeal.

I think this is my third Leonard Cohen album on here. I think sometimes people overuse the term 'ambivalent' but it's the best word I can think of. It really doesn't get sparser. That can be a good thing in music. But sometimes I feel like there's a song in his head that is maybe larger and fully instrumented and you can almost hear how great it could be. I don't mean to say they would be better suited as like giant baroque covers. I'm sure there's whole albums of that somewhere. Lyrically he kind of hovers around a few topics but there are definitely some good lines in there. A track that really just took me by surprise was 'Diamonds In The Mine'. I'm really glad to know about that one. I'm sure it's infamous among fans but that is just the kind of thing I like.

Some of the most amazing lyrics ever written.

My favorite Leonard Cohen with "I'm Your Man", a close second. Such a great, powerful album.

Some songs weren’t all bad but the vocal gymnastics really threw me off.

I'm not sure how Cohen's voice simultaneously sounds good and bad. I hate speak singing, but there are songs here where it isn't bad and others where it's annoying. There are great songs on this album and a few I don't care for. I'm just really not sure whether or not I like Cohen, but the great songs are more great than the bad songs are bad.

Some really solid songs here and some meh ones. I do think a whole album of Leonard Cohen is too much, but I really enjoy him in smaller doses.

I did it, I made it through the ridiculously over-listed LenCo. God he’s horrible. He’s unique, and some people apparently think that’s all it takes, but he’s a Weird Hard Thing You’ve Heard Is Good So You Try To Like It, *not* one of the great singer-songwriters beloved by all. Go ahead and have one album on the list (not this one, it’s ghastly), the way you have one Jaques Brel or one Einsturzende Neubauten. I dislike this music more than the average listener, but hey average listener, AT BEST you’re not missing anything. Special day though! I’m pretty sure ‘Diamonds in the Mine’ is the worst song I’ve ever heard. Can’t say that every day. And! The coda of ‘Sing Another Song, Boys’ might be the worst *part* of a song. Thanks Curator, and LenCo, I guess.

Fantastic. Cohen sounds like a poet, and I like his singing far better than Bob Dylan's (sue me)

Heard Before? Once, a long time ago, when i was working through his whole discography. Notes: - i can't think of an artist i respect more yet listen to less than Cohen. maybe it's the minimal (and often cheesy) arrangements, or the lack of vocal ability. as I've said about Dylan, i prefer my music with more going on musically. - at the same time, Cohen wrote a number of my all time favorite songs (The Future, Tower of Song, You Want it Darker, Bird on a Wire, etc). - of course, not every song hits that level of genius. lots of them are either a moderately clever mashup of faux-transgressive religion/sex/death musings or a dark and difficult story darkly and obtusely told. - "Diamonds in the Mine" is actually awful, borderline unlistenable. I love it. - as for the other tracks, they need more listens than I'm willing to give them just at this moment. too bad, honestly. it's part of a larger problem with this list - any album worth five stars is going to benefit from and perhaps even require serious listening, spread over a few days. I'm starting to think that listening to a new album every day for three years is teaching me less than i thought it would, or at least isn't the best way to approach the best albums on the list. Verdict: Poetry fans rejoice. Everyone else, be patient. Listen Again? Probably!

Previous to this I’ve only listened to various ‘Best of’ compilations, so some of this is familiar and the rest is completely new. There’s always that tension in Leonard Cohen’s songs, they seem simple on the surface, naive even, but then the lyrics are beautiful poetry. I always wonder if he was a much better singer than he let on, performing the drunken troubadour, or if talent was outweighed by ambition. An album of contradictions, just as the title says.

Slowly figuring out whether or not I'm a Leonard Cohen guy. Now 0-2

Good, but not my favorite Leonard Cohen

I know I might be on my own here, but I am not as moved by Cohen as many others. I think the music monotonously repetitive and the lyrics faux-profound. There are some interesting lines and images, yes, but half the time I find myself wondering what if anything he is trying to say. Seems high-schoolish. For example: Between the dancer and his cane Between the sailboat and the drain Between the newsreel and your tiny pain Once again, once again Not getting it.

There are some Leonard Cohen albums that transcend as art greater than the sum of its parts. This record was just OK.

I like Cohen, but this one really bummed me out. maybe i just wasn't in the mood for it.

Maybe the timing was just off with me today because this Leonard Cohen album didn't hit as hard as he usually does for me. I mean...it's Leonard Cohen but I was getting tired about half way through and wondered if this is what people who don't like Dylan feel when they hear Dylan

Wow, I expected a crooner with great lyrics. Instead I got a monotonous croaker with depressing tales that were mostly uninteresting. Someone get this guy a Xanax and a puppy.

声が好きじゃない。終盤まで聞いたが面白いと思う箇所がなかった。

really impressive lyricism, good dark sounding record

His poetry is fabulous and I like the guitar work across the album. And, yeah, I like bleak music. I’ve listened to enough of Cohen at this point to appreciate his youthful voice and understand what makes him special as a songwriter. His work still isn’t something I’ll just throw on, but if I’m lonely at home and it’s raining I could see myself revisiting. Could really, really do without the children’s choir.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 😄🔠⬛ Production: 🎧🛠️🤔 Music: 🌟✍️😐 Rating: 🥀🥀/5

good background

3,5

Can we please stop w/ the Leonard Choens? I most definitely can die w/o listening to any more of his albums

I knew Cohen leaned toward the somber side but SHEESH, this album is bleak. Love the sparseness of this record. Stripped down arrangements with that deep, haunting voice just sitting on top of them. For most of it he's not really singing in a technical sense but that almost works better here. Lyrically there's a whole world in these songs and you can just hang out in it. Very much my shit. Favorite tracks: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc

Some really nice moments in this. I really enjoyed Avalanche and Joan of Arc. Probably just me and my 3rd grade reading comprehension level, but it felt a little slow. Especially on a sleepy Tuesday morning the day after one of the greatest thrash metal albums (Master of Puppets).

3.25

one of my favorite albums of all time. favorite tracks: avalanche, last years man, love calls you by your name, famous blue raincoat, and joan of arc.

"He's gonna get us! He's gonna turn us into vampires, and we'll all be dead, and yet still alive... like Leonard Cohen!"

Okayy

Very cool to listen to two albums by the same artist almost 50 years apart. This one was good but I liked You Want It Darker a little more.

Lyrically good. Musically and vocally poor

Nope, not today. We already listened to one of his albums. That was enough.

I like Leonard Cohen a good deal, but it is strange to me that this is the third Leonard Cohen I’ve come across in 1001. 1, or maybe 2, Leonard Cohen records probably would’ve been fair enough representation. I wouldn’t say he’s quite at the level of “if you’ve heard one of his records, you’ve pretty much heard all of them”, but apart from some different instrumentation on his various records, he does remain pretty consistent with himself. All that said, I do like this record a good deal. Lyrically rich and kind of somber in tone, Songs of Love and Hate appeals to my cynical and depressive side, just like all the rest of his records I’ve heard. It does help to be in a mood for it though. 7.8/10

Un autre 10/5.

Le plus monotone à date. Ça m'a pas ben ben plu.

Le beau leonard avec sa belle voix grave. Préféré celui-ci à son debut album, mais I'm Your Man reste mon pref. La toune d'ouverture est bien bonne, bien déprimante. Bien aimé Diamonds in the Mine quand il commence à se fâcher et perdre le calme dans sa voix. Et Sing another song Boys, en live au contraire de tout le reste.

80

Voice like a drone.

Decent album.

A little more self-indulgent than I’d like. Would be more effective if it didn’t outstay its welcome.

beautiful

Back to back LC. Writing is just so good

Wild listening to this back to back with I’m Your Man. I’m giving this a 5, but only because I’d probably flip the ratings. Or maybe both are 5’s? Just amazing range writing

Phenomenal song writer who sounds like a dying cow, his songs are better sung by others

Like Thom Yorke, Leonard Cohen has a voice I like even if I don’t like his singing. The lyrics are interesting if enigmatic. The music is well crafted. I am certain this is a great album but I just don’t get it. At least with a Tom Waits album I tap my toe.

Ooh, a young Leonard Cohen. No songs I’ve heard before, I'd better have a read as well as a listen. Lot of reverence in the reviews here. I tread carefully when ppl say eg “Famous Blue Raincoat” is their all-time favourite song. I realise from the reviews, that if my first pass is a background listen, I would be missing out. I manage to make myself stop and focus on one side, then later the other side. I respect what Cohen can do - not easy to hold an audience's attention while slowly reeling out words over such simple music. (Or maybe anyone can take an audience along with one slow and wordy song - but they may not stick around for the next bracket.) Anyway I respect it - but I don't exactly dig it. First listen alone wouldn't motivate me to wrestle with the poetry - but since there's so much reverence, I do some time with Genius - result that I respect it more, but still not motivated. And some of the lyrics grate on me. (Joan of Arc: a conversation between her and the fire? No way, being burned at the stake was a horrible way to die, no sweeteners.) So, no offence to the fans, but I'll just say it's Okay, 6/10.

Not my kind of music

I liked this a lot and I've not really listened to Cohen before

Overall: 7/10 I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Leonard Cohen. I love his poetry and his views on life but I'm not a big fan of his voice. He's written some absolutely incredible songs (a couple of them on here) but even the ones I enjoy I don't exactly love. I appreciate this for what it is, and I agree that everyone should listen to it, but it's not something I'll be coming back to for a while. This is quite possibly my most negative 4 star review. Fav Song: Joan of Arc

There’s really no universe where I would have liked this. I see the artistic merit in the lyrics. Everything else is quite drab and thin.

:/

Should be called songs of boredom and depression 3.5/5

Lyrics not compelling enough to get me over the musical hump on this one

4/5. That Leonard Cohen guy really knows how to tell a story, huh. This album sees Cohen going much darker and moodier than his first few albums. The guitar playing is simple, as is the singing. and that’s intentional as the main focus is the words, the stories being told, which tracks considering Cohens background as a poet. For me, the best song here is “famous blue raincoat”, a song that’s formatted like a letter and seems to detail a relationship that’s crumbling due to an affair while also painting imagery of Cain and Abel. Essential folk record In my opinion.

Holy snoozefest 3/10

Unironically the first album I had to skip songs in. Just incoherent rambling over repetitive guitar grooves. This is what I’d expect Charles Manson to play to brainwash people.

ich mag es sehr gerne, moody und slow, ähnlich wie johnny cash i guess, das was ich erwartet hab

ganz gut

melankolisk rackar han här kåhen

I’m a sucker for anything by Cohen, and this isn’t an exception to that rule

Just when I finish telling people that I’m more of a singer/songwriter fan the 1001 gives me more Leonard Cohen and now people will think I was lying. Some Cohen albums get there for me but this one never got to window gazing levels for me

I like leonard cohens song here.

1. "Famous Blue Raincoat" 2. "Dress Rehearsal Rag" 3. "Joan of Arc"

Lovely and sad. Avalanche was my favorite.

Comin' out hot! Leonard is very intense here. I love it. This is definitely one of the top uses of a children's choir ever. Like they're a gang in the shadows behind the man.

I was familiar with precisely one Leonard Cohen song before listening to this album, and it isn't even on here. What is on here are 8 tracks of depressing story songs with sparse instrumentation and Cohen's unique rasp of a voice. It shouldn't work for me, but for some reason it absolutely does. "Last Year's Man," and "Joan of Arc" are the highlights for me, but every song works as an ode to mankind's despair.

dreary

3.50

evil billy joel

I love Leonard... But not this album.

eh. its alright

Enjoyed a lot

Pretty good very mellow but a needed chill album. Great voice as expected and a couple of notable songs but the album as a whole is a pleasant listen through.

Best Song: Famous Blue Raincoat. Cohen's writing is so honest and strong here that the song feels epistolary. The guitar is wonderfully but minimally played, only giving more room for Cohen to breathe. Worst Song: Diamonds in the Mine. My enjoyment of Leonard Cohen is inversely proportional to how mainstream he attempts to sound. I don't want him to sneering and snarling like Mick Jagger, doo-wop-ing to a family-friendly folk chorus. I want him weird and unconventional and articulately sad. Overall: One of Cohen's finest albums from his youth. Despite the title, the album feels far more full of love than hate, as it contains a sort of optimism even in the face of that melancholy strain that runs through much of his work. "And let's sing another song, boys. This one has grown old and bitter." I feel like this lyric shows the youthful earnestness of the album best. Let's not worry if things get sad. It's okay, we can always sing another song.

only one of those sentiments trully relates to how i feel about this album.

Pretty good and cozy

Last Year's Man Dress Rehearsal Bag Famous Blue Raincoat

Dragged a bit.

Some beautiful word crafting, but a young Cohen doesn't have the gravitas of an elder Cohen.

I just wish he sang with more emotion.

malisimo, no me gusto nada. me irrito la mayoria del sonido, me parecieron oscuras los temas, y me molesto la voz

Can't say anything bad about Leonard Cohen.

He's got a decent voice, but his style isn't really my thing.

Jesus Christ on a bike no. I almost fell asleep listening to this.

I'd never really bothered with Cohen. I now realise I am stupid

Lindo

I didn’t know I would like Leonard Cohen Burt I do

Campfire sitting, whisky drinking type of album

Great folk album here, I was always a fan of Leonard Cohen for his ability to convey emotion through simplicity like Nick Drake. Plenty of amazing songs here

Leonard Cohen war und bleibt eine Legende. Markante Stimme, sparsame Instrumentierung, Inhalte zum Nachdenken. Zeitlos!

maybe he's a great lyricist and this album was important for something. But here, his voice i find it atrocious. I don't know how an album with decent instrumentation and sounds, has such a contrasting and uncomfortable voice.

Nice VOICE, don’t get the lyrics/ poems.

Actually a good listen overall.

really lovely listen

Fuck, why is he so damn boring?

Not familiar with this guy but right away seemed like Bob Dylan light... I like it more than BD though.

LC is such a powerful poet and has a huge emotional depth.

i guess i could have been paying more attention to the music but i was frequently confused fav song: Diamonds in the Mine

It's fine.

8 songs. 44 minutes. Thats good. But it was gay. Very country. Very gay. 0/8 0.00%

Artsy!

Just impossibly boring. I'm sure there are depths of meaning and feeling that I'm missing but I literally can't stay awake long enough to process it.

The end of Sing Another Song, Boys was great The first half doesn't do much for me but the second half is decent Its okay, its better than some worse than others but id prefer no more of his albums on the list

I liked this one. Solid songs and a good use of his voice.

I might be being overly harsh to this one, but this is a cheap imitation of Bob Dylan (who I already only like approximately 50% of the time anyway). There was only 1 song on here that I thought was great and I already forget what it was. There were about 2 more that I thought were okay. 2.5 Stars. Maybe I'm just not in a good mood (I'm not).

I regret the hours of my life lost suffering through these way too many Cohen albums. They’re nearly indistinguishable; just one, at the absolute very most, would have done as a representative sample.

★★★½

The last song in this one might have saved it, I found myself enjoying that one. But man, everything else, I just can't get into it. Not enjoying listening and most times his singing feels way off. Maybe that's intentional, but I'm just not liking it.

more largely spoken word. Hard to finish this one. While it is kind of interesting, I won't listen to it again and would even change the song if it comes on again

6/10

I really liked the music. the chord progressions were interesting. but the vocals were boring. I just yawned the whole time.

Hated it

Sounds like if Bob Dylan was depressed and sucked at writing music

This album clearly has a lot of lyrical depth that I think would require multiple listening sessions to fully appreciate. I like the moody-ness, but it’s not super melodic, so I would have to be in a certain mood to listen again, but I can imagine that happening! Not a good or bad thing, but the way he speaks instead of sings and makes a lot of metaphors reminds me of Bob Dylan.

Typical Cohen - somber, downtempo, spoken-word'sh. It's not always my favorite to listen to, but it has its place in the music realm. Iconic voice and mood that he sets. Always a decent listen, but nothing that explicitly grabs me.

I love Leonard Cohen, I love this album. Definitely deserving of a listen.

I know its good, I like how he kind of makes the most of limited abilities as a singer/guitarist. I'd love to listen closer with more attention to the lyrics....some songs I really like like "Avalanche" and "Last Year's Man", others drag and feel a little much like "Dress Rehearsal Rag".

Im probably too depressed for cohen. His voice is iconic of course and I do love some songs, but overall it's not for me

ni lo escuche después del primero de este dude en la lista, no todo lo que se escribe tiene que ser awebo música

pocos discos hay con tan mala vibra, 5/5

Fifth album from this guy and you're telling me you couldn't find a single thing to play instead? Maybe some Hank Williams or Patsy Cline or The Chieftains or Bob James or Billy Idol or Bikini Kill or the Cranberries or literally anything else that doesn't make me want to throw what I'm listening to out the window? I've got 84 more to go and didn't need to hear this before I died. So stop lying to me and give me something, anything, interesting and with a pulse before I do finish this exercise and eventually shuffle off this mortal coil. Please.

yeah no

This is the 3rd Leonard Cohen album I've encountered here. I really don't get the appeal.

Ingen kan nånsin övertyga mig om att Cohen är något annat än smörja. En man som tar sig själv på så stort allvar att Mikael Wiehe framstår som en skojfrisk spjuver. Helt utan tillstymelse till självdistans sitter han och klinkar på sin gitarr (ganska jävla outhärdligt dessutom) och svammelsjunger sin gymnasiala poesi med sin "åh så sexiga röst" och med sånt allvar och tyngd att det blir löjeväckande Man skulle kunna lyssna på Loke Martinzon (Killinggänget) och fá honom att framstå som oironisk i jämförelse. Cohen är så kvasipretentiös och så långt upp i sitt eget jävla arsle stt man baxnar. Vi får inga grekiska delfinkörer (eller vad det nu va vi lyssnade på under nån årsbästakväll?) så Cohen har den usla smaken att ta en barnkör istället, det är minst lika illa. Några doa-tjejer körar också, men dom är väl mest där för att det stora geniet ska kunna bli avsugen mellan tagningarna Det här är så provocerande dåligt och vedervärdigt att jag saknar fler ord. Gå direkt i kloster utan att passera Gå, ...och stanna där

The Avalanche rullar in som en smygande jordbävning. Trots nedtonat komp väldigt kraftfullt. Cohens begränsade sångröst låter redan här uråldrig som klagomuren. Mycket stark inledning på skivan. Bra låtar här är även Last years man, Sing another song, boys och Joan of Arc. Men det hade inte skadat med ytterligare någon Diamonds in the mine, en mer uppsluppen ovh stökig låt som bryter av.

En fin samling sånger. Mest hat och en liten del kärlek. Ibland blir det obehagligt mörk som i Dress rehearsal rag. En oerhört stark låt, men inte något man kan lyssna intensivt på allt för ofta utan att börja tvivla på om det finns någon mening med något överhuvudtaget. Soundet är avskalat. Men till skillnad mot gitarrplinkare vi tidigare lyssnat till vet Cohen precis hur man fyller ut soundet med lite blås, en kör, smygande stråkar eller en subtil basgång. Alldeles utmärkt i Love calls you by your name, där blåsen förmedlar en känsla av hopp precis på det rätta ställena.