Songs Of Love And Hate

The back half of this album is full of some incredible songwriting (Songs I Love), while the front half has kids singing (Songs I Hate). Best track: Famous Blue Raincoat

Surprisingly good.

Poesía musicada de Cohen. Ningún megahit. Un 4.

Thanks to that album, Cohen can be considered one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all times. There is all in there (7/10) FT: Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat, Diamonds in the Mine

Love and hate are very close to the surface here, and Cohen sounds like he's defeated by them both. A dark and emotional album. The juxtaposition of a children's choir on the very dark subject matter of "Dress Rehersal Rag" is very striking. One of the few situations in which a children's choir is ever acceptable. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Dress Rehersal Rag Date listened: 13/06/22

Cohen is always welcome in my ears

I just love this album; no hate involved.

Such a voice, *excellent* playing in the background.

4.5

As unsubtle as LC’s voice is, the lovely and light-touch accompaniments make the record. Consider the quiet, pointed strings, barely audible aria-like vocals and picked flamenco riffs in the background of “Blue Raincoat.” The piano on “Sing Another Song” is more prominent, but plays the same role, both underpinning and elevating the emotional power, and enriches the quite engaging singalong. The lilting backing vocals on “Joan of Arc” (and another mini-singalong chorus).

Another killer album from Cohen. He's remarkably consistent.

I don't think famous means what Leonard Cohen thinks it means.

first listen lovely fingerpicking

Another solid string of Cohen folk pieces. Much darker, much more anxiety-inducing. None like "So Long Marianne" here. There are several reoccurring themes like the idolized Joan of Arc figure. "Avalanche" is a very eery opener, with the dramatic strings and that shifty plucked guitar at the forefront. "Diamonds in the Mine" is a crazy surprise, I really like Cohen's chaotic voice here. But of course the star of the album is Cohen's outstanding writing. Very poetic and dark, often melancholic. You really get a feel of Cohen's emotions through his choice of words and metaphors that project the intensity and images he sees in his head. This is best represented in his masterpiece "Famous Blue Raincoat." There are few songwriters out there who can tell such deep and involved stories, but Cohen has shown to be able to do so time and time again.

Haunting and great.

Vinyle

A classic!!

Good album.

This is my second Leonard Cohen album generated, and he has improved significantly since the last one.

Another Leonard Cohen

Dásemd. Cohen klikkar ekki.

4 Saf7at Men 3l Bouheli Mte3 Dostoevsky. Got Sick Zeda

Poesía musicada de Cohen. Ningún megahit. Un 4.

Some classic Lenny tunes - not my favorite but still a great album.

Amazing how Cohen can tread a dual path that leads in opposite directions, yet he follows them both simultaneously: one leading to nothing but a scrapbook of women, the other to a place where love calls him by his name. I can't imagine he didn't understand the full meaning of love calling someone by his name. This is dangerous music because if you're alone and have access to alcohol, this could be...unhealthy. The music is so close, so corporeal, and the lyrics are so detailed they're confessional. No one succeeds at failing at love the way Cohen does. And he's got a huge crush on Joan of Arc. But why? Because of her bravery, her conviction, her virginity? No, because her heart is a fiery brand. He longs (lusts) for that fire, but he fears getting burned. Unlike the saint, though, he is not fearless.

dude sounds gnarly as fuck in that diamonds song jesus other than that nice

1 down 999 to go baybeeeey I liked it a lot!!!! I’ve never listened to a full Leonard Cohen album all at once before. I’ll be honest it’s not exactly jam packed with Bops, and when ol Lenny started yelling about how there’s no chocolates in the box Spoons got spooked. However Avalanche slapped, the lyrics across the album slapped, I did tell Len to cheer up but that was one time and the song was six minutes long so forgive me. Overall? Very good! (But fr cheer up Lenny)

I actually really enjoyed the bit where he yelled about no chocolates in the box! Also I love the way the guitar sounds all twingly and pretty

Quem não se arrepia e se emociona com Leonard Cohen? Dói fundo no coração. Sempre.

Liked it for the most part minus the Bible references which I didn't understand. Being a huge Bob Dylan fan, this was a welcome surprise to discover a similar sound that I like about BD.

Sad, somber, sweet

Love a bit of Leonard!

Don't know this album at all. My primary experience with Leonard Cohen is his overplayed Hallelujah which I run from screaming at this point. Hmm, even with the lyrics, some of the songs are hard to understand the story / concept he's trying to get across. Seems like you'd need several listens and maybe even some outside information to finish solving the puzzle.

7/10 nice album but not my favorite of his.

It's usual Leonard Cohen. 8/10

Really enjoyed this one. Not your typical album when it comes to lyrics or vocals. Refreshingly unique at a time when the genre had a lot of good albums to stand up to.

I like Leonard Cohen, and this is a good album. I always feel morose after listening to this though.

I don't know. I liked it a bit better than You Want It Darker but track to track my enjoyment varies pretty widely, so minus one star for that. Of course this doesn't change the fact that Cohen is an excellent songwriter, and ultimately that is why you listen. Fave track: Avalanche

Always hard hitting and sincere. There are some lovely songs but also some which are too sparse to be genuinely enjoyable.

Beautiful lyricism, musical arrangements that are like Ringo - not overly flashy but perfect for the song, and Cohen’s moody baritone. I love it.

Does what it say on the tin which is no mean feat. I prefer the more synth type numbers from his later career though.

It's got Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat on it; what more do you want?

Much preferred to the other Cohen album on here, found this one a great listen

Pretty good actually, but I think you need to be in the mood.

I am not familiar with Leonard Cohen's catalog. I heard a cover of one of his songs done by some friends once and have always thought that I should dig in and examine his work. Unfortunately, my day today did not lend itself to a focused listen on the lyrics, so I think that I may be missing some of the beauty in his art. I found the music pleasant though and will continue to explore this and other albums in the future.

it's refreshing to hear full 5 to 6 minute songs. reminds me very much of Piero's music. very relaxing, the music is beautiful.

I’m a big Cohen fan going way back, I have memories of pulling this LP out of the stacks for one of my college radio shows back in the 90s (I was particularly fond of inserting Tonight Will Be Fine from Songs from a Room into a midnight to 2 am show). For that, I never owned this one, and was surprised at how unfamiliar I was with the deeper tracks. Some surprising gems (Diamonds in the Mine displays Cohen in a shade of crazy I hadn’t encountered before). The standout hits are what they are for a reason though, Last Year’s Man and Famous Blue Raincoat stand well above the rest here.

A lot like Dylan, in that his voice isn't great and sometimes the covers are better, but he writes amazing lyrics.

Sublime. Melancholy.

I really enjoy this artist, always had a soft spot. I always have to listen to every lyric when he sings and his tone and delivery are perfect. Great album

Leonard Cohen, the great singer/songwriter from Canada, is on his third album here. He's continuing the dark and somber feeling from his last album, Songs From a Room, and knocking it out of the park. Each song here stands on their own in excellency. He weaves incredible stories and drenches them in ambience, not just in his guitar but in little flourishes of strings and backing vocals as well. Beyond instrumentation, Cohen will sing with an unbridled passion, even in the quieter and more subtle moments. Some might find him boring but I find his stuff compelling. I mean, Cohen will always be considered one of the best. He's just too damn good.

Great album. Cohen begins to branch out from his normal finger picking style. Possibly my favourite album of his. Best Tracks: Avalanche; Diamonds in the Mine; Famous Blue Raincoat

Leonard Cohen por donde se vea (oiga)

4.5 / 5 I hadn't listened to Leonard Cohen that much until now, and I really thought he was great. It is clear that Leonard did not have the best voice in the world, in fact I am not even sure that he was singing, but reciting the lyrics in several songs, however, he can convey a powerful feeling, which made my skin crawl. This album may be a bit heavy at first, but you get used to it fast. In short, I really enjoyed it, especially for the lyrics. Fav tracks = Diamonds in the mine, Sing another song boys, Dress Rehearsal Rag

This is an album I’ve previously heard, and I really love it. Brilliant songwriting and great performances of Cohen’s signature sparse guitar playing.

VERY HIPPY, BUT GOOD

I get the criticism. Like many others, I didn't think too highly of the music or the lyrics. But there will come a time—it wasn't today, but it will be some day, maybe even years from now—when I am going to need this album, and only this album will do. On that day... it will be perfect.

First time listening to a Leonard Cohen album and I really enjoyed it. Will be coming back to this one for sure

Nice, subtle. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but I still don't really get the lyrics.

Actually really good. Cohen might not have vocal chops, but his songwriting is beautiful and artistic.

Moving and powerful. Don't like 'Diamonds in the Mine' though. Atypical and unhinged.

Melancholy, slow paced. Reflective lyrics. Good for a candlelit dinner/journaling if needing some introspective ambiance.

buenas letras

odustah na pola plakyy, ali respect his depressed ass

Loved it

This album fit my mood very nicely today.

De Canadá también salen cosas buenas.

3 1/2

I really love this era of Leonard Cohen. He's at the top of his game. Favourite track: "Famous Blue Raincoat"

Ite sadish prob listen more here ***

I like Leonard, but some of these are depressing and hard to listen to.

Avalanche is a beautiful song, interesting vocal deliveries. That goes fit most of this album, beautiful, raw, interesting expressionist vocal delivery. I wonder if his early music was so good and so overwrought and sincere that he had to go into parody mode in later life, a call and response. One critique is that this blurs the line between music and spoken word. Still good, much better than previous Cohen album.

This is the Leonard Cohen we know and love. Moody and brooding, ecstasy and sorrow. It might be a bit one dimensional, but I like that dimension

Heeft een aantal zeer mooie liedjes maar ook wat minder mooie liedjes

Not my sort of music, but Leonard deserves stars

Varying in quality wildly.

Leonard Cohen sings as if he is in prayer, his poetry lilting somehow from his baritone, like Dylan but less absurd. The orchestration is sparse but his gypsy jazz guitar is what shines. When you open with a song like Avalanche you know you're enraptured. And all of a sudden, I'm with you in the east village, you walking away in your famous blue raincoat. This is beauty and pain. Love and Hate.

Very emotional and unlike current music today

My kind of Cohen. The depressive Dylan. How great is the yelling on “Diamonds in the Mine?” I would completely listen to an entire album of that. Anyway, off to watch McCabe & Mrs. Miller…

classic

Atmosphere and story. Need to revisit.

Man this is dark. Not so much enjoyable but it’s really powerful

Aptly titled. Soft and full of emotions, enjoyable ride.

Some smooth songs

More serious and darker not a bad album just not for me

Would have chosen another one

The big man. It feels like this album kind of references itself a lot. Mood shifts a lot which is cool. Diamonds in the mine & Love calls you by it's name absolute stormers. V v good just don't think it's for me, too manly x

Occupies the same place for me as a lot of Bob Dylan songs. Really interesting to see Cohen develop from his second to his third album. "Diamonds in the Mine" was a great ending, as was "Sing Another Song, Boys"

Reminds me of Sun Kil Moon.

4/5. Some of my favorite Cohen material (Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Famous Blue Raincoat) and some of my least favorite (Diamonds in the Mine)

Really good shit to be honest

Fuck, this was good right from the first line. "I step into an avalanche. It covered up my soul" Leonard Cohen is what I feel like I should be hearing when I put on a Bob Dylan record. I honestly don't have much to say about this album. It goes by in a blur, but every song is good. No one knows how to pick the bit of diamond out of a fist-sized lump of coal the way that Cohen does. Every song is dark, imperious, but beauty always shines through. I will definitely come back to this one (4/5).

The deep vibrating voice of leonard cohen and the amazing and simple guitan make a calm and strong 45 minutes of an amazing album.

Cohen has an incredible way with words and his talk-sing manner fit perfectly with within this context. The focus of the album are the stories. Stand-outs: Diamonds in the Mine, Joan of Arc

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

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.

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

6/10

Sort of mid

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

Good album

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Gifted songwriter, but not really my cup of tea.

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

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.

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.

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

really impressive lyricism, good dark sounding record

good background

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

Okayy

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

Decent album.

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

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.

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

ganz gut

melankolisk rackar han här kåhen

3.50

I love Leonard... But not this album.

eh. its alright

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.

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.

Can't say anything bad about Leonard Cohen.

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

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

Actually a good listen overall.

really lovely listen

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

It's fine.

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

★★★½

6/10

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 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

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

Många bra låtar. Produktionen kunde varit roligare på en del av dem. Dress rehearsal rag hade tjänat på något instrument till. Å andra sidan är Cohen själv sämst ju större produktionen är. Diomonds in the mine är country. Men hur sjunger karln? Sing anither song boys är också bra tills Cohen får för sig att han ska skråla. Hade han låtit bli hade fyran varit given.

Started out pretty good but was honestly getting bored towards the end

My only exposure to Leonard Cohen is through Hallelujah, and even then moreso through the various covers of the song. Outside that one song, I have no history with Cohen's music. • Avalanche is a striking opening track, it feels heavy, and the occasional horn strings that gradually become more prominent give it a thick feeling. • Last Year's Man and Dress Rehearsal Rag are both fine songs • Cohen's vocals have a lot more roughness to them in Diamonds in the Mine • Joan of Arc is a good closing track, I like the backing vocals I think by now I can pretty safely say that singer-songwriters aren't my cup of tea. I've had a few different folk albums like this so far and none of them have really stood out to me. I'm rating this a 3 because Leonard Cohen is clearly a talented musician, and the songs all do have substance here, but I don't see myself revisiting anything from the album. Favourite song: Avalanche

Haven't had time to digest the lyrics. Averaging sound (2) with suspected lyrics score (4-5) [6.5 / 2 = 3.25]

There's definitely a time and a place for this album, it just doesn't come up very often. If I ever have all my family killed or when Bruno Fernandes leaves United I'll put this one on

He’s cool. Or is he a worse bob dylan. Hard to say.

I like his song writing, but don't care for his voice.

*snap* *snap* Sounds like weird beatnik music. This barely works singing wise. Beatnik musical voice styling. What works is the lyrics. The weird, dark, somewhat bizarre lyrics. Cohen's a weird dude but I like this one. It's better than the Eating a Banana album. That was awful. 3 *snap* *snap*

I liked the first song on the album, but after that I just couldn't quite get into it. I absolutely hated Dress Rehearsal Rag and Diamonds in the Mine. The rest of the songs were fine.

I like a bit of Leonard Cohen every now and then but this not really landed today. A few too many words on this and not enough tune.

A well-regarded album in the Cohen canon, this one doesn't land as sweetly as his more melodic debut, or the soaring swansong 'You Want It Darker'. In fact it feels like the debut, but sucked of any vestiges of hope, to deliver something incredibly stark. The lyrics are even more cryptic here than usual, and go deep into religious imagery and analogy. A weighty tome indeed. The album generally delivers the classic Cohen approach of quickly arpeggioed finger picking, or plain strumming, typically centred on one or two chords, no chorus. There's barely any harmonic movement or progression, this is all about a coiling narrative, delivered completely emotionlessly. It's an easy album to admire but quite a hard one to love. I couldn't much warm to it, although I certainly find it enigmatic.

This is my second Leonard Cohen album over the last few weeks. Cohen's songs are always all about the lyrics and not so much about the music in my mind. This one is pretty dark and depressing. The music is pretty morose. Kind of appropriate of a rainy Sunday morning.

Often a sad mood

i like lenny but i have to be in the mood for lenny. it’s a good listen. maybe for a depressing saturday night in alone. i prefer “songs from a room”, i think.

Solid music, no real stand outs for me.

Je dois dire que Leonard Cohen a une sacrée voix. C'est son deuxième album sur lequel je tombe dans la liste et jeune comme vieux, il a une voix qui marque, profonde et puissante à la fois. Cela dit, sa musique n'est pas vraiment mon truc, donc je n'y reviendrai sûrement pas, mais je dois admettre que c'est un très bon album malgré tout.

Actually kind of haunting. 3.5/5

I realized while listening to this album that the songs I like most by Leonard Cohen are the songs that remind me of Bob Dylan. There's a similar poetic quality to their lyrics, even though they each have their own sound. This album was fine, I think it may have been better if the weather was drearier. Favorite track: "Avalanche." I love the way the guitar races behind the vocals on this one.

You know when you can see the merit but can't find a way to engage emotionally? Fine album just not for me. And that's my loss.

The Cash and Cohen combo back to back was tough. This one is decent at least, I enjoyed the songs it’s just a pity that Leonard Cohen is singing on all of them and it’s SO loud in the mix. I like most of them but all the songs are just a tad too long. He’s like if Bob Dylan was good. But that’s a LOW bar.

interesting album. really bitter and hateful in parts in a way that didn't make me feel any pity for the image he was presenting. in fact i felt like the self hating kind of invites the audience to dislike him as well. i liked the lyrics but actually had to look them up to register them - his very drawn out style of singing made it very difficult to follow along with what he was saying which i feel like is kind of a failure of genre for such a lyric-focused album. i also liked the very specific guitar strumming style on some of the songs which apparently is a signature of his - avalanche was my fav song partly for that reason and partly for the allegorical lyrics. his voice was grating to the point of becoming unpleasant in songs like diamonds in the mine and sing another song boys. i did not enjoy this album but it did do Something to me

I like Lenny but cant really understand the following he has. I love dark music and this but objectively I feel its overrated. Yes it was different and can understand it having a cult following. I like it a lot yet I cant really justify giving this album 4-5 stars

Wasn't bad but really gotta be in the mood for Cohen and his brooding, sneering voice to hit home.

Leonard Cohen would be very cathartic to listen to if I was navigating grief or loss. This album was a great listen on a slow Saturday morning. Diamonds in the Mine seemed fitting for the current political climate, especially living in Minneapolis. Overall, a solid and balanced album.

Yeah he’s a poet and a talented performer all around but he just doesn’t tickle my fancy in the way he tickles others. Probably the most consistent of his albums that I’ve heard so far. It was ok.

I’ve had two Leonard Cohen albums so far and I’ve hated both. I’m Your Man is in the discussion for my least favourite overall so far. This one however I surprisingly liked. In saying that nothing blew me away or anything but, considering my rock bottom expectations going in, a three is a good score. I could even push to a four on another day since I won’t have that feeling of dread going in.

The spoken‑word style doesn’t give enough melody to latch onto.

Bob Dylan but not shit. A bit repetitive though

I kinda loved Diamonds in the Mine because of how obvious the hate was in the song. Everything else was nice, but I feel like a lot of the true meaning was lost on me.

Great intro track (Avalanche) then nothing really hit me afterwards.

I have never really listened to a full Leonard Cohen album but have heard a song here and there. This feels like a dark Bob Dylan and it’s pretty darn good.

I respect this guy's gig. Great songwriter. This wasn't the easiest thing to get through, though.

Didn’t really care for it on a musical level, the lyrics are probably deep if I listen to it again. Doom and gloom.

Frenetic guitar opening with layered strings and Choen's deep baritone on Avalanche. So brooding and flat.

Having previously mildly disliked Leonard Cohen's work, this actually wasn't that bad. Maybe I've just grown accustomed to his style, not sure. I found most songs quite interesting, but found 'Diamonds in the Mine' to stand out the most. Most of the other songs were more of the standard Cohen you'd expect with some poetic rambling and slow guitar playing.

I love Leonard Cohen and this album has a few stand out tracks. For me the best one is “Avalanche” which may have been one of my first introductions to Cohen. Early Cohen is more poetry than music and listening to this while working feels quite unfair. The songs I knew I liked and while following along with the lyrics on some of the new songs they felt quite good too. This needs more than a shallow listen to give a fair review. I’ll give it 3 stars for now but will need to come back to it when I’m more focused.

When to listen: In a bed, with tea, in dreary weather, when feeling a deep pit of despair in your stomach. Look, Leonard Cohen is an impressive artist. This album is lovely, gritty, and complicated. It's just not all the way there (for me)

6/10 His voice is more suited for anger and cynicism than melancholy. I prefer his later works as a result. Highlight: Avalanche

Not the biggest fan of Cohen but also have had a mixed response to the different albums in this list. Initial take is that it is closer to his debut, which I didn’t love. Like, I get his vibe and he does it well, but just not that enjoyable a listen unless I’m in a hole! Maybe to be saved for mornings of regret and existential dread in the future… There are clearly good, well written songs, with clear talent but just doesn’t seem to really land with me so well 🤷🏻‍♂️ the melancholy is rough and the energy on ‘Diamonds in the Mine’ is just 😬 I’m sure there are some very clever lyrics here, but I just fancy a bit of a groove, Lenny boy. You know what I mean?

Leonard Cohen may be a great poet, but his music is a bit disappointing.

Great Songs: Good Songs: Last Year's Man, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Love Calls You By Your Name, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc Mid Songs: Avalanche, Diamonds in the Mine, Sing Another Song, Boys Bad Songs:

okay, the guitar helped him a lot but it's still white music, boooorig

So cool, Mr Cohen - great lyricist - really liked the album - must listen again soon

heavy album. although the vocals are somewhat similar across the album, it doesn’t get too stale. nice flow across the album but pretty heavy overall

I enjoyed Songs of Love and Hate, except for Cohen's singing. I don't really enjoy when an artist is extremely monotone (only other that comes to mind is the lead singer of Cake), and there's not a single time where Cohen isn't being monotone. That being said, it definitely fits the depressing mood perfectly. Favorite Song: "Famous Blue Raincoat"

Famous Blue Raincoat was the only song with which I was previously familiar. Avalanche is fantastic, and I liked Love Calls Your Name. The shouting in Diamonds in the Mine felt very out of character.

Cool. Haunting vocals, hypnotizing guitar, singer songwriting at its finest. interesting compositions, vocals, all songs pretty different. Not a whole lot separating them for me, suppose famous blue raincoat takes it. 3/5.

Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits are two peas in a pod. Leonard Cohen feels more like a poet whose poems have been set to music. There's a similarity to Bob Dylan's work. Dress Rehearsal Rag is a good song. I bet Cake loves Diamonds in the Mine. I like this more than I thought I would as it started. Second Joan of Arc reference.

This is not really my thing. I can hear the quality in the lyrics and the songwriting, and I get why people rate it, but I find it a bit dreary to sit with for too long. I respect the creativity. I just do not enjoy spending much time in that mood.

I need more time. This is probably a 5, and almost certainly "essential". But I'm not feeling it right now.

I'd never heard any of these songs; I also didn't know what Leonard Cohen looked like...

The last Leonard Cohen album I listened to was not only my first but also his first release (Songs of Leonard Cohen). I didn’t give it a great review cause I didn’t really like his voice and I didn’t really connect with any of his songs or his vibe. Which I thought was unfortunate cause the guitar playing was pretty insane. But that being said I enjoyed this album much much more. It’s not competing for my favorite folk album but it had its endearing moments. The biggest being “diamonds in the mine” which I Loved. It wasn’t just my favorite song on the album it made me see the talent and potential of his voice. I can appreciate that this is more of a silly song but I obviously resonate with that, and I think the vocal delivery is the most compelling and interesting out of every song I’ve ever heard from him (I’ve admittedly only heard these two albums from him). But regardless I enjoyed my little afternoon with this album, it was slow and relaxing and I actually enjoyed it for moments.

Angrier than I expected

This album is like sneaking out for a cheeky dart at a house party. Your flatmate’s friend’s boyfriend is having one too, so you strike up a conversation. He tells you that the spark is gone between him and his girlfriend. Also his dog died last week and he’s currently negotiating redundancy at work. Without being able to pay his rent, he’ll need to move back in with his parents. You reckon you’ll quit smoking after this one.

good but the constant lack of instrumentation makes it kinda boring

6/10

Joan of arc is certainly a way to end an album, whew.

This is a good collection of calm and relaxing songs. Fit well to my mood today. A little too monotonous to get me really excited, but a nice listen nonetheless.

This list has made me appreciate Leonard Cohen more, but this was not necessary. You get a sense of his music from 1, maybe 2 albums. I will say I’m glad I heard Diamonds in the Mine. I liked hearing him actually yell. High 3.

Meh not really for mw

Very depressing. Very sad, the children’s choir on a couple tracks was haunting. I did really like Diamonds to Mine, but that song was also sad and depressing lyrically. Hey, at least it was upbeat.

ok not my fav but Listenable

Amazing. A bit boring at times, still amazing.

Ja dit is lekker. Vanaf die eerste track die verdomd veel op 'The Partisan' lijkt zit de sfeer er lekker in. Ome Lennard met z'n mengeling van zingen en vertellen, waarbij hij meer zingt dan bijvoorbeeld Nick Cave (die wel heel erg aan het vertellen is vaak). Ik heb de neiging om wat meer dan anders te letten op wat hij te vertellen heeft. Zo hoor ik hem vertelzingen dat de mondharp op tafel ligt in track 2, terwijl ik in m'n review van een ander album van hem nog aangeef dat ik wilde dat hij dat ding achterwege had gelaten. Geinig. Het is niet voor elke dag, vier van zijn albums in deze lijst is teveel, bij "Diamonds in the Mine" gaat het even gruwelijk mis (al komt het daarna wel weer goed, met dat nummer dat begint als 'Mijn Vlakke Land'), minimaal één van de andere albums van hem in deze lijst heeft betere nummers; Ik moet het allemaal meetellen. Ik blijf helaas steken op 3 sterren.

I have to be in the right mood for Cohen....I'm just not in that mood rn :/

Ya'll shat on Adele for making her voice sound the same throughout her entire album...

I neither love his songs nor hate his songs. He is a lousy vocalist but a great songwreiter.

I really love his guitar style but his voice can make it hard to get through at times.

This genre is either hot or miss for me so I can never give it more than a 3 unless it really stood out to me

like the voice, but early on too sparse and reptitions on the music. I might be more in the mood for this some other time, but I dont really like the overly sparse non-energetic droning.

Loved Avalanche and Dress Rehearsal Rag. Hated pretty much everything else.

Favorite Track: Avalanche

A pretty solid if inconsistent folk record ranging from incredible to abrasive entirely depending on Cohen's vocal performance song to song. Compelling and at times haunting guitar lines with deep lyrics unfortunately overshadowed by very shaky vocals. Would be much better with any other performer. Top tracks: Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat

Not my favorite stuff from him but still enjoyed it

Interesting. Not my sort of thing, but made notes on some of the chord ideas. Cohen loves a compound time signature!

Not really my sort of music, but I could see the appeal. Probably best listened to while sitting in a big leather chair, by a fire, sipping whisky.

little boring 3

Mää en oikeestaan hirveesti tykkää Leonard Cohenin laulutyylistä. Se on jotenkin niin puuduttavaa ja laiskan kuuloista. Aika mid levy, pari parempaa kappaletta. Parhaat: Famous Blue Raincoat, Sing Another Song Boys

A legendary lyricist of candid intimate confessions half spoken, half sung with stripped back instrumentation, this is not his best album IMHO. Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat are stand outs for me but I expect some of his other albums will come up here like Songs of Leonard Cohen.

Lots of quasi-biblical lyrics and imagery, but mostly nonsensical poetry to my ears. Passionately delivered, but nonsensical nonetheless…

I really want to love Leonard Cohen, but it doesn’t click for me in a way that pulls me back for repeat listening. He was beyond gifted and I respect everything he’s done, just can’t get over the hump to a 4 though.

3.5

3.5

I think about him the way I think about Bob Dylan. Good poet, terrible to listen to

3/5

It’s nothing to rave about, but it’s musically and lyrically ahead of so much other shit on this list.

Pretty classic Leonard Cohen…

Started off great and thought it was going to be a hidden gem for me as I didn’t know of the songs from this album, but fizzled out a bit. Suzanne is one of my favorite songs of all time but this album didn’t quite do it for me.

A tough listen, incredibly sad. Beautiful sure, and Cohen's voice is deep and gorgeous but man is it a depressing specific mood. Famous Blue Raincoat is an incredible song, and the stand out there. I couldn't do it justice, it is powerful and s statement of a song. Overall, as an album I think it's mostly good, albeit a little simple musically, but I get what it's going for : devastating poetry. It is effective in that. The length of most songs are a bit long, and overall it is weirdly structured : too coherent sonically, too different thematically. That being said, I don't really mind it here, it creates tension, and the album is only 8 tracks and most songs feel there are here for a reason. I don't like all of them, Diamonds in the mine is the "breath" I get it, it's almost a parody of pathos and strange, but it is also a song you hear once and never want to again. "Sing another song, boys" is also the slowest song I ever heard, every word is streeeeeeched and it makes it barely listenable. That being said, I get them in their context, but they keep the album at a solid three for me.

Hauntingly captivating singing style. Beautiful guitar playing

***An ok album, slow but easy listening

Once the children's chorus comes in I'm done and Leonard Cohen did it to me TWICE

Some of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs, and also some that I could do without (don't like this slower version of Joan of Arc, can do without the reggae-inflected Diamonds in the Mine). When Cohen is good, he's great. Truly like a 3.5.

I'm not a poetic man and Leonard Cohen is very much. His cult like appeal for some has never made that much sense to me but if I squint... I can kind of see it. Clearly, he was a talent.

3/5

avalanche- 5 last years man- 5 dress rehearsal rag- 5 diamonds in the mine- 7 love calls you by your name- 5 famous blue raincoat- 5 sing another song, boys- 5 joan of arc- 5 this was a boring one, cant lie, leonard. still love you though

enjoyed this way more than songs of leonard cohen. most of the songs are interesting but they do overstay their welcome by a significant margin

Ok, so, wow. I think Leonard Cohen is one of my favorite artists of all time, and this record includes Famous Blue Raincoat which is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. And yet. This album is not so good. He is clearly very young and his performances... woof. Wooooooof.

I'm so confused where were the songs of love

i don’t think this was necessarily his best work but he always creates a nice atmosphere

Some songs I really liked, but there were others that annoyed me.

This artist has written some great lyrics but I really have difficulty listening to his spoken word style a his voice tone on some songs. Mostly a dark and brooding album with Dress Rehearsal Rag beind most depressing. Famous Blue Raincoat and Joan of Arc are nice songs that he delivers better. Other artists recordings of his songs bring them new life.

idk man i kind of get it but it's not really for me

I like this a lot, feels like a I’m on a solo drive going through an endless tunnel. Watching the warm orange light from spotlights fill the interior of a Peugeot 208

The music is gorgeous and the lyrics tell a story - but my god this is a dirge

cohen's voice and poetry is the star here. musically nothing too amazing, but a couple tracks go surprisingly hard.

Good album - great songwriter. I little sleepy for me, but I love Leonard Cohen on most days. 7/10

Leonard Cohen, perhaps more than any other pop artist, is lyric first. This is poetry that is then subsequently put to music, and it is often quite good poetry. But a result of this construction is that the songs themselves can often be quite thin; many of the most arresting poetic statements (such as the suicide ideation “Dress Rehearsal Rag”) have the least developed song structure. Where they come together powerfully - like “Famous Blue Raincoat” - you have some of the best material in his catalog. As a music first guy, though, there just aren’t enough of these moments on this record.

OK

3 sterne

It’s a decent album. His style is fairly unique and this album is very much in that vein. I liked it. 3.5/5 Might listen again

I didn’t hate it. But, won’t seek it out again

This one is bare bones. It’s Cohen leaning heavy on his voice, leaving a lot of color off the canvas. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Avalanche - Diamonds in the Mine - Sing Another Song, Boys

Vete good album. Will be revisiting this from time to time. It is very beautiful and Leonard’s cohen voice and songwriting is amazing

singer songwriter, 1971 -> 3

This one was fine, mostly very similar songs.

he has a good voice. but music is kinda boring.

3 star

Typical Cohen. Lyrically compelling but musically uninspired. I feel like Nick Cave and Mark Lanegan both listened the hell out of this one though.

frekar góð. en vantar aðeins upp á melódíur á köflum. veikleiki: besta lagið betra með mick.

Listening to this on a dreary Monday at work, so at least it fits the mood. I didn't find this great, but this also certainly wasn't bad. Cohen's singing with the background chorus gave songs a real ominous feel. Those stood out to me more than the "love" songs. Feels like a mid-3 here.

This is some great rainy day music of mostly melancholy tunes with (mostly) minimal arrangements. Personal favorites include Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat. Diamonds in the Mine is weirdly out of character with the rest of the album, but is fine in its own right. As with most other Cohen records here, I appreciate the writing and delivery for what it is, but would likely not come back of my own accord. I'd say this one straddles a high 3 / low 4 line for me. Going on the lower end here.

A perfectly expected album by Leonard Cohen. Pretty much falls right into the same review as all of his other stuff. Good voice, good music, good review. High 3.

Great music for a rainy day. While very good, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as most of his other work.

I tried so hard to like this one Diamonds in the mind is pretty hard

It's a very cool thing to see how different this album is from his debut album. I liked this one a lot more. Not every song did something for me, but there were enough interesting tunes and, at times, unhinged moments that it's an album I would be curious to come back to. 3.4/5

I was not sure what to make of this, whether i liked most of it and just hated parts, or hated most of it but liked parts. Leonard Cohen continues to baffle me.

Avalanche is probably my favorite work by Cohen and it's endlessly upsetting that it's perhaps best known because of an aimee mann cover for a shitty true crime documentary and a nick cave cover for black sails lmao. this is a good, complete album experience and worth listening to as that.

70s emo epitomized. There were songs that grabbed hold of me right away but I listened to this as I lived life, not intently. Might be something I have to revisit but for now I am interested to see what else Leonard Cohen has as I haven’t listened to him before now.

Some funni lyrics

This was better than I'd thought it be. Sonically singular, but this surprisingly doesn't bother me. Not mad at the delivery. Lyrically not something that clicks with me overall, but definitely has compelling moments. I don't know what place an album like this would have in my life long term, but it was nice to hear. Best tunes: avalanche, dress rehearsal rag, diamonds in the mine, famous blue raincoat, joan of arc

I feel like this album works best when you find yourself in a very specific and quite narrow mindset. Additionally the environment should match as well. As stands, neither was right for me in the moment I was listening to it, but I can see the merit this album has when the circumstances are right. Nevertheless, many songs still feel a bit too long and Cohen's voice on this can sometimes a bit

If Nick Cave and this album were ever in the same room the world would drown in the tears.

Some cool songs and lyrics. A little boring though tbh.

Leonard Cohen seems pretty down and out on this one, but in a good way Something tells me I've heard "Avalanche" at least a few times in shows or movies - it's so sure and dark. Pretty much a aperfect opening song - it drops you right into the mind of Cohen. The next few songs were abit of the same - solemn storytelling, downtrodden and minimal but pretty instrumentals. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is deserving of all the praise it gets - it's an extra bit haunting and sorrowful. Won't listen to this oneagain as its too sad and minimal for me, but I get it. 3/5

Fav Songs: Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds In The Mine Mag die düsterer Grundstimmung und die Gitarre, bin nicht sonderlich Fan von seiner Stimme bzw. von seinem Sprechgesang, aber ansonsten mag ich’s sehr

eigentlich ganz gut, aber bisschen einschläfernd, wenn man eh schon müde ist

Mixed Bag, manches melancholisch-schön, anderes eher acquired taste. Positiv: längere Songs von 5-6min

For Leonard Cohen fans this early contribution to his catalog is a must listen. It’s fascinating hearing his voice before the resonance of later years kicks in. In many ways his spoken-word-style made him the Macklemore of the Nixon generation. I imagine beret wearing post-beatniks and sunglasses snapping their fingers vigorously between songs in a Saturday Manhattan coffee shop. For us fair weather fans, this was interesting but not required. The upbeat Diamonds in The Mine was a revolutionary ballad made especially relevant by Congress’s recent passing of the bill making billionaire’s richer and defunding healthcare for ten of millions, and gutting education programs. Dress Rehearsal Rag was an interesting look at Santa Claus razor blade serial killer. And the regrets of Joan of Arc is always an interesting subject. I don’t know if this is a look-for album, but it was …interesting.

Weak start to the album but it picks up. Still a bit depressing overall.

A bit like early Bob Dylan this is poetry set to music. And also like Dylan I have only recently (2 years ago) started appreciate Cohens music. I can say however whereas I like Dylan’s earlier stuff better I much prefer Cohens later material, so there!

Some great lyricism nestled firmly in between a few hard-to-listen-to tracks.

Fan of the sound of the album (outside of much of the singing), but otherwise could be rough at times.

After this album was over, Spotify played Joni Michell. I realize they're doing similar things, but I prefer her by a mile. 2.8.

Meh

This will be my fifth and final Leonard Cohen album to review. Every album from him so far has gotten three stars, with the exception of You Want It Darker, which got four stars. I'm expecting this album to probably fall in with the other three star albums from him, but I'm open to the possibility that this might even eclipse You Want It Darker. Let's jump in! As with most Leonard Cohen albums, I thought Songs of Love and Hate was good, but I didn't love it. Cohen is incredibly talented as a songwriter, and he has some beautiful arrangements to go along with his singing, but his albums don't have a lot of variation in the sound, and even though his albums are pleasant, I find myself getting a little bored and disconnected at times. That makes it harder for me to focus on and connect with the lyrics, even though I usually enjoy what I'm hearing. I do like that there's a tangible haunting feeling that tends to permeate Cohen's albums, and that feeling was certainly present on this album. Of the songs on this album, I enjoyed "Avalanche," "Famous Blue Raincoat," and "Diamonds in the Mine" the most. I loved the pace of the guitar playing on "Avalanche;" its frantic pace was a really great contrast to the pace of the vocals. The string arrangements were really great too. "Famous Blue Raincoat" had a haunting sound that I really enjoyed, particularly in the strings. However, "Diamonds in the Mine" was probably my favorite song on the album; its faster tempo and bluesy guitar really caught me off guard. The backing vocals were great, and I love how Cohen sang with more of a growling tone as the song went on. Now that I've wrapped up Leonard Cohen's albums, I think that while his music may not be my favorite, I think he makes some really good music, and his songwriting abilities are really fantastic. Over the five albums of his that I reviewed, his voice and style managed to grow on me. You Want It Darker is still my favorite of his albums that I reviewed, and I'm glad I got to experience five albums from his career.

The lyrics are incredible as always. But also as always, the music isn't for me...

One (sort of) interesting bias that this project can throw up: your response to a record will often be anchored, contextualised and shaped by whichever album happened to precede it. In this case, I was quite harsh in scoring yesterday a bit on the low side. And now, because I enjoyed this record less overall (despite any lack of direct or objective reason for comparison between the two), that leaves me with a bit of a quandary... This is not a 2 star record by any stretch. Even though a lot of people hate Cohen's dour and deadpan delivery, I always find some interest in his lyrics. But, today, I can't in good conscience give it the 4 it probably justifies. So it goes.

Amazing storytelling paired with subpar vocals and instrumentals, solidly 50/50 to me.

Inscrutable lyrics at times but he makes up for it with his delivery and the arrangements (love the backing vocals and occasional strings). "Famous Blue Raincoat" is the standout here but I know I would like this one more with repeated listening.

Classic artist

Dramatic, emotional, metaphorical, deep. The lyrics are obviously the the most important part of this album. They are all symbolic and I can’t understand them all, nevertheless the guitar is beautiful and nostalgic. The songs are similar.