Reviews (page 6 of 9)
I enjoyed that
Nie jestem fanem cohena. Wszędzie taki sam. 3/5
uma estrela duas no máximo
Good album. This is my 2nd Cohen album on the 1001. The lyrics, as expected, are great, and the songs are solid for the most part. Musically, it starts to feel a little one-note with the arrangements. ***
Decent collection of songs as usual, but when you’ve already got Cohen’s first two albums on the list I don’t think including his third as well adds anything. The main styles have already been covered: the minor key fingerpickers like Avalanche, the major key waltzes like Last Year’s Man and Joan of Arc. Maybe this record introduces a more raucous, ramshackle style on tunes like Diamonds in the Mine, but by and large it’s a continuation of the debut album - but without as many classics.
Legend.
Mindless wallpaper drivel. Other than some nice guitar, this seriously lacks substance. 2/5.
I've never had a particular desire to figure out what Leonard Cohen is all about - yeah this may have changed today. Because I should have. Because Greatness. What a beauty. And that's me listening to this album in between my daily chores. Totally saved for a quieter moment when that children's choir gets to *really* grab my heart. Rip it out. File under #1: what I love about doing this project. Ooof.
Great voice as always, quite boring album, as always. Nice to listen to, nice to move on.
Leonard Cohen halt. Bissi anstrengend
ну для Коэна пиздато, в целом не сильно понял, хоть и проникся на паре песен
Базовый коэн Алкоальбом: портвейн
I don’t know what to say. Not terrible songs but just a bit depressing
Leonard Cohen's depressing voice makes me smile. Another great album from him.
Avalanche Diamonds In The Mine Famous Blue Raincoat
When I first heard Cohen's music, I thought it was great, but for some reason I've never really felt the need to re-listen to the albums I have in my library. This album has some great moments for sure, but there is also some stuff that is like, what? Why? Also, I'm here for the music and don't particularly care about the "poetry."
Leonard bores me senseless
I should probably read all the lyrics. Nice listen regardless. I feel more cultured & smart now
Sad folk but good folk
Yes....
Old laughing Len.... more misery from the poet of pain. The words are art. The delivery is dreary. Some people like this stuff.
My mans is sitting in a stool and bending 90 degrees over his guitar playing this album
Pretty depressing stuff. Poor Mr Cohen. He's clearly been through it - maybe even more so than Bob Dylan. Now, a day after listening to the album, I can confidently say that it was good but pretty unmemorable. And my policy is, if an album ain't catchy, it ain't getting a 5. I'll admit, though, that the lyrics intrigued me. Mournful, reflective, and oddly poetic in a kind of old-fashioned, rambly way. The instrumental backing for every individual song is great, though I wish there'd been more variation in energy throughout the album. (Nearly every track is a slow meandering tempo with cut-back textures. The best of these is, no question, Famous Blue Raincoat.) Cool voice - better than most who are dubbed "singer-songwriters" - but the real sonic strength is in the guitars here. The plucking is done delicately and thoughtfully, and I really dig it. 3/5 Key tracks: Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat, Diamonds in the Mine
i dont know what you think ive done
He's a poet but man I dislike his voice.
I think of Leonard Cohen more of a poet or novelist and not a singer, musician. He turned to the music industry when he was disappointed in his career as a writer in the mid-1960s. His lyrics are very good, poetic, and dark, but musically I can't say anything good about this album, it's very samey and his voice is not enjoyable for me. I want to enjoy his art more but I can't get really into his songs (except when I read his lyrics if they were poems).
Leonard Cohen's poetry is always wonderful to listen to. When it's part of his best collections of songs it's truly something special. Listen to this album, then listen to it again.
Whenever you see a photo of Leonard Cohen smoking a cigarette? He's not huffing tobacco; he's huffing his own farts.
Well, it's better than the last Cohen album I listened to... but not by a hell of a lot. This feels like outsider art, in all the wrong ways. Songs are drawn out MUCH longer than they should be, and it's tough to tolerate. HIs voice is terrible and he prefers to talk sing, which sucks. Music is so... "skim-milk", for lack of a better analogy. After a single song, it all seems to simply drone on endlessly. Similar tempos, similar keys, similar vocal style; the repetitious feeling is like I'm going crazy. I can barely tell where one song ends and the next begins. Is that his point?
Cohen is a legend so I can't say I hate it, but I don't like it. 2.8
Worst Bob Dylan cover band ever.
Un Cohen plus vivant et investi que celui qu’on connaît des dernières années, qui exprime toute une gamme d’émotions avec une bonne dose d’ironie. La chanson Famous Blue Raincoat m’émeut aux larmes à tout coup
I do like me some Leonard Cohen. I think the face on the cover looks like Jack Nicholson.
OK album.
Kinda whinny
I quite like Famous Blue Raincoat. Never knew that was the title, so that's a win. I appreciate that most of his vocals are sung rather than spoken word. I still think he's a better song writer than singer though.
Deceptively simple, but he is great.
Dress Rehearsal Rag and Avalanche holy shit
I liked this but didn’t love it.
Outside of Hallelujah I’ve never understood the appeal of him. The lyrics are ok, but the songs are mostly pretty lame. Not for me.
It was good. You need to be in the mood for it, however
The 5th (!!) Leonard Cohen album. Been a long time since I last got an album of his and I enjoyed this one. Maybe it has been so long I forget that I found him passable but this one was fun.
As always, Cohen doesn't miss.
After a few days of feeling absolutely zonked out, it’s really nice to see Leonard Cohen as my album for the day. I didn’t recognise any track titles before listening, but they’re all super cosy here. His voice, as well as the comfy guitar playing, makes for a very nice experience. It’s easy to recommend this one to anyone.
Oh, good, more singer/songwriter stuff. Jesus, what a drag. This is the cure to happiness and joy - if that was actually something we all needed.
Nice
Leonard Cohen is a lyrical genius, just amazing. Listens: 1 Rating: 4
I got goosebumps as soon as “Avalanche” started. What a haunting, gorgeous song. I had never heard it before, and it may now be one of my all-time favorites. The good songs on this album are really, really good. I don’t think they all quite meet that benchmark - not enough to be an instant 5 stars - but still an excellent album. I look forward to hearing more of his work. (Maybe I’m being too stingy with my 5 stars here.) Favorite tracks: Avalanche, Love Calls You By Your Name, Famous Blue Raincoat
Standout Tracks- Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan Of Arc
favourite song: diamonds in the mine maybe the strongest 4/5 album i’ve had
Ooooh, what a voice
70s emo
No better than the last Cohen album, still makes no sense and he should learn to play more than three cords.
I don’t understand why he is on this list. He is not that good or deserving of it.
Please no more. My farts sound more melodic than his voice. The man literally cannot sing. His voice is so flat and out of tune it is painful. Again, see my previous reviews of his previous terrible albums. He's straight up awful. The guitar is pathetic and a joke that sounds the same, not only on every song, but on all of his albums too. He is a one trick pony and it's a terrible trick. No mas por favor.
after having to listen to 3 of his albums I finally realized-i really don't care for the talk/sing he does. not one bit. this sounds very similar to his other albums that are (somehow) on this list. don't understand why he's such a revered songwriter
This is a pretty good singer-songwriter style folk record. I had already listened to Leonard Cohen's final record before he passed so it's pretty fun to hear something from 45 years before. Some songs on this record reminded me of Johnny Cash and some reminded me of Bob Dylan. Overall, it was a really enjoyable record.
Leonard Cohen is such an incredible song writer. Some of his songs cut me so deep. This particular album, did not quite do that for me. Its probably one you need to spend more time with. Out of the Leonard Cohen albums I've listened to, this was the most mundane. Which, I know is kind of part of his thing, but it didn't really draw me in like others. Joan of Arc was the winner on this one.
I've tried and tried but I just can't get beyond his dour vocals. And let's be honest, there's sod all melody (every song sounds the same). I don't even rate his lyrics that much either, too much of a reliance on clichés (the rain etc). One of the most overrated acts. The one notable thing is the understated shimmering music, now that is actually good. I've said it before and I'll say it again; this list has some pretty poor choices, overlooking recordings by lesser known artists (and some major ones) that deserve more recognition. Anyway, rant over.
Master lyrisist and great poet, music sounds like a frog who has just found himself in the middle of a large city and cant find his way back to the fields. But find beauty in a park pond and the wildness of the people.
Not exactly a passive listen. Well worth the effort of making time to hear it properly though, every bit the equal of Dylan but without the annoying harmonica. Love the subtle and delicate instrumentation, really lets the lyrics shine
Not bad, not bad. A bit chin stroking and smoking gauloise. Dissertations have been written on this I expect.
Lyrical poetry about love and hate... and not a harmonica in sight!
Es muy difícil hacer un mal disco con semejante voz.
Started off well then went down from there. Maybe the impact he was after was in the title to begin with.
Contrary to its name, Songs Of Love And Hate is an album i neither love nor hate. It is an okay album that does what it sets out to do well enough. The long length of the songs does get a bit tiring but overall i don't think it hurts the album too much. Also, Diamonds In the Mine was a bit off-putting at first but i began to appreciate it as it went on. The album is fine and was a rather harmless listen for me. Best Song: Avalanche Worst Song: Love Calls You By Your Name
Leonard is a poet, not a singer. But it takes someone special to do his songs Justice so really he’s the best man for the job. Diamonds in the Mine is the most punk song that’s not a punk song. Songs added to Spotify: 2 (somehow I didn’t have Famous Blue Raincoat already?!)
Very interesting stuff
Cohen’s best work. The album where his poetry and the music come together and make something sublime. Every song is captivating, Cohen uses his limited singing range creatively to great effect and the expanded arrangements embellish without overpowering. An absolute success
Swag
I like his voice particularly. The album over all wasn't matching my mood today, maybe some other day it would have been higher, because I understand the appeal
Only not 1 star because one song his voice was fukn raw. Folksy poetry type lyrics, but I struggle to listen to lyrics so I didn't like it much
Lovely vibe to the whole album. Calmed my chaotic morning down exactly how I needed it to be! Will listen again very soon 4.2
I love and hate old Leonard. He’s such a poet, but not much of a singer. He clearly needed a therapist though.
Mjög gott, ljúft ot auðvelt að hlusta á
He's good, but I don't like him that much.
Как и с не таким давним Дэвидом Берманом, альбомы этого парня даются мне сложно, и требуют многих прослушиваний с джиниасом наперевес, и полного внимания. Интересно музыкально, ярко (в контексте) исполненно. Лучшая песня - Sing Another Song, Boys.
Me gusta la música depresiva, pero Leonard Cohen me aburre.
I feel like I enjoyed this more because my dad used to listen to Leonard Cohen. If I wasn’t familiar with him, I think I would have been more bored. But I did enjoy.
Good stuff
To be honest I wasn’t familiar with Leonard Cohen until now, and I’m really enjoying him. Once this album was done, I moved to another one that was in his discography, and I think it’s fair to say that he’s my favorite folk singer as of right now.
An acquired taste is Leonard. Although too often, unfairly, dismissed as a miserable git there is nevertheless a (to me, welcome) seriousness about Cohen’s work and although the voice may be lacking in range, his lyrics (frequently Dylanesque) and themes more than compensate. “Diamonds in the Mine” is lively and enjoyable; “Love Calls You..” is vintage Cohen and “Famous Blue Raincoat” is a classic. Also, the girlie singers and the childrens’ choir, in particular, work well. And I bet this record is in The National’s Matt Berninger’s collection.
A poet who sings, Patti Smith is better at it and I don't need a masters in English Lit to interpret her lyrics. Like Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Leonard Cohen other people cover their songs better then they do. kd lang in Cohen's instance. There are four Cohen albums on this list. ....there are no diamonds in the mine. 2*
Pretty good stuff. The voice itself is a bit of an acquired taste.
Easily my favourite Leonard Cohen album, I hope it’s yours too.
I like Leonard Cohen but I wasn't feeling half these songs.
If Cohen had 1001 albums the book would be 1001 Leonard Cohen albums to listen to before you die. This was my 1032'nd album. I thought I was done with him, but no! He's still here. Great that he can smile on the cover. He just dragged me through a depressing montage of bleak and mirky music. I certainly wasn't smiling listening to this.
This felt transcendent today. It was overcast and at the end of a week long break with the family. I found myself listening multiple times to songs like famous blue raincoat and love calls your name. Lovely album that feels like a lifetime listen.
Love me some Leonard Cohen
So far these are just songs I hate. I've given Leonard a few shots now and I don't really get the appeal. Maybe I just don't like feeling or feeding sad. The poetic aspects are random and obscure with a lyrical sprinkle of something biblical or historical. He's got a great backing band, however.
If clinical depression had a voice,lyrics may well be poetry but christ the man was a miserable sod.
Quite enjoyed this one, would probably rate it higher on another listen. One or two songs I didn't care for but overall a decent album.
I really enjoyed this album, but honestly Leonard cohen's voice could make anything sound good. It was almost a 4 but there were too many songs that didn't quite stick out to me. My favourite song is Diamonds in the mine, I love the rasp and the anger in his voice. I've never heard Cohen like that before, it was everything I wanted from this album.
More of a poet than a songwriter. But man is be just so depressing and dreary. Try going out a bit more might find a DnD group or something.
He's such a wonderful storyteller.
Not my favorite folk album I’ve heard here. More of a poet than songwriter it seemed to me at first listen. Not coming back.
I always heard how good Cohen was and this album is showing me what people mean. Avalanche is beautiful and powerful. The album doesn't stay at that same space the whole time but this is a good listen.
Great soundtrack to this overcast day. The lyricism is captivating. At a 44 minute runtime there isn't enough time in the 24 hours I have to dig into this. Avalanche is the stand out track for me. Famous Blue Raincoat also very good. With more time I'm sure the tracks that felt a little more awkward would grow on me.
He's kindda sad, right? Great lyrics, great melodies, back when Cohen could actually sing. The album with Avalanche, Last year's man, Diamonds in the mine & Sing another song boys. This was always going to be an easy 5/5
Too sad and dreary for me.
Favorite Tracks: Famous Blue Raincoat Avalanche Dress Rehearsal Rag
Great Lyricism but I just get bored. I understand he's a great writer but that doesn't change the fact I just can't pay attention to it. Favorites were Diamonds in the Mine and Joan of Arc.
I can certainly feel the hate on Diamonds in the Mine. I liked this a little less than his self-titled. Favorites were Sing Another Song Boys and Last Years Man
Wonderful simple guitar melodies with almost spoken word from Cohen. Famous Blue Raincoat is quite nice. Some of the tunes are really just poetry over music -- which is interesting, but I think it takes away from the musicality of it all. Joan of Arc was also quite nice. Overall a good listen, but not really my cup of tea. Three stars.
Leonard Cohen has a way of adding importance and gravity to every song. So much depth and emotion in these tracks. Even the jaunty “Diamonds in the mine” gets dragged into the mud when he begins to sing. He certainly sets a mood!
Better than average. probably 2nd best of his I've got so far.
I get the poetic aspect but I just cannot deal with his voice and the music. It’s dreary
I looove Leonard Cohen his voice and style iss insanely good. I only know one song from this album, but I'm sure this is already one of the best albums I'll listen here. It'll be sad, and I'm not sad, so I might not like it rn, but Cohen is too familiar and nostalgic not to like him. First song, fast guitar start, that is still going on with Leo's singing. This is quite an early era I think, so his voice is less raspy maybe. The lyrical mastermindness is a lot here, plus apparently this is based on a poem with almost a same name. And this is God talking as someone said. His vocals are unique too. Second song, no upbeat guitar, but it's still there blantly. There was no pause between the singing that lasted long. He's vocalling every word like Rufus. I was right there is too much singing here, even Cohen thinks so. It's melancholic in a not boring way. I heard the children at some point, ohh again they appeared, love that touch. They're humming now. Third song, much more upbeat guitar strumming than in the last song. He also sings faster, but not happier. Apparently this album didn't sell well, after Suzanne same vibe was expected, I think this one lacks something, but it's not bad. Children again, but they last very short. Songs are quite long, which is good, but they may be repetitive at some point, still his voice never gets boring. Fourth song, fun beat I see. Another instrument appeared, actually there're two other than guitar. Finally women appearance vocal-wise, they always make the vibe much better. This is the first song with a real chorus I suppose. He does this almost angry voice emphasis at some points. Fifth song, this one's again slow and sad aand shorter than usual 6 minutes. I don't like this one as much. Ohhh violins came into play. Guitar is making the same sound I think, I mean different from in the last song, but almost same in the first song. Violins volume increased, but they're gone now. Lyrically I used to dvelve into the songs, but now I'm lazy, though I'm not doing anything else, I just prefer to enjoy the artistry, which is quite a lot here. Sixth song, one of the known songs by him. His voice echoes. Oh women appear with the "da-da". Lyrical delivery is good here, just before the first verse finishes. I agree with that man in the comments that this is a rainy weather album while being cozy in a bed and looking out the window, the main character with a bit of sadness. I didn't know he said "sincerely, L. Cohen" at the end. Seventh song, he talked as if this was a live album. Upbeat melancholic beat. No good delivery, tho there is a little guitar progression at some points. Oh there was a baaad vocal at the end. It sounded quite same as the other songs. Except how it started, plus I don't know lyrics, so can't be sure how good this is objectively. The end is singing "lala", but loud and accompanied by the women. It got slower and less loud, but I guess the last two minutes is this going on. I actually like this part a lot. Ooo a clapping at the end. Eighth song, he mentioned Joan of Arc in the previous song. Same vibe, but I hear the women vocalising. Yess another lalas with him and the women. I love that part it fills the song, and it's his style, buut verses ain't giving, without context it's just a bunch of yapping. There's also his echo sometimes ahead of his or after his singing. This was what I expected in a good way of course, I have yet another album for when I'm feeling down. Obviously this is a 5 star album, that I will come back to in order to make this one of those nostalgic albums that get me back in time when I listen to them in the future.
The instrumentation is so pure and intoxicating, but I cannot get past how flat Cohen’s voice is. I guess you have to work with what you’ve got, and admittedly the few times he does go up or down on the register it makes an impact, but the overall lack of variety in the singing is too significant to ignore. I did enjoy the songwriting, some much cheekier moments than expected! Favorite track: Famous Blue Raincoat
Too much uniform to be perfect, but very good stuff
SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE seems so dependent upon the point of view of the listener that anything Cohen wrote as lyrics seems rendered meaningless. The album does not provide earworms to aid the listener's concentration and help with the decoding. By album's conclusion everything was forgettable and I felt no insights about his love nor his hate. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some of Leonard Cohen's work, but it is songs like "Everybody Knows" and "Hallelujah", released at a time when the song production seemed more fully realized, and I've never enjoyed his songs for what his lyrics might actually be about. Perhaps I see and experience too much joy in my life to truly live inside Leonard Cohen songs. Or perhaps it was just the wrong day for the algorithm to serve this album up for me. Who knows?
4++/5
Really good stuff, chill, relaxing, can easily work while listening.
The lyrics and the atmosphere are as strong as ever but I don’t think this is his best set of songs
morose
This album made me want to end it all, but in a good way somehow.
Bloody love a it of Leonard Cohen. Never listened to a full album before, just the odd single here and there (including the original and best Hallelujah). Will definitely be doing a deeper dive into some more from the sad lad. Simpsons reference: Yes
Started listening to this album on a dark rainy morning, whilst driving to work. It absolutely added to the depression of the situation. Definitely not something to listen to if you're in search of happiness. However, if you want to mong out to some good music, I definitely recommend it. I will listen to more in the future. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh Leonard. I know you are dead but I'm sure you were alive when you recorded this, but your voice tells me otherwise Dreary and dull album couldn't wait for it to be over
I listened to this when I was really tired and feeling kinda down. Nice and cathartic, got all the negative vibes out. Great songwriter, less great singer but that honestly doesn’t bother me all too much.
Something about his voice is just incredible. I have to be in the right mental place for his lyrics, but when I am.. wow
Just what I needed to hear today
Definitely Leonard Cohen. Still fine; still not totally my thing.
too monotonous
Love Cohen, but some of these songs are a bit too strange for me. But it’s a very good album.
Leonard Cohen te envuelve y se queda contigo. No es mi disco favorito, pero es excelente. 4/5.
An "avalanche" of stellar compositions, striking moods and darkly poetic lyrics. That album opener, bearing the name I've just put between quotation marks, is probably one of the most dramatic things Leonard Cohen has ever played, thanks to its obsessive acoustic guitar arpeggios and minor-key-yet-majorly-cinematic string orchestrations. No wonder Nick Cave covered it by the way (in a quite disturbing "punk" fashion). On the "literal" other side of this great record, "Famous Blue Raincoat" is certainly one of the most heartbreaking melodies the Canadian songwriter has ever written, which is saying *a lot*. And in between (or after) those two cuts, "Avalanche" and "Famous Blue Raincoat", a string of gems: "Last Year's Man", "Dress Rehearsal Rag", "Love Calls You By Your Name" and "Sing Another Song, Boys". In the middle of the dark, dark beads making up that necklace, the ephemeral moment of levity the mock-reggae and out-of-tune lead vocals of "Diamonds In The Mine" supposedly bring to the whole affair sticks out like a sore thumb at first. But listen closely to the lyrics and the raucous voice of Leonard, here in a rare exaggeratedly expressive mode, and soon you'll understand that there's as much passion in this cut as there is on the other ones. The apparent self-deprecatory façade is here so aptly translated to the music itself, you could easily blink and take the whole thing as face value. But the lyrical and musical posture found here also betrays an awareness of the deeper pains that lie behind such a "play". And make no mistake, that pain is the same as the one found in the seven other songs. An avalanche of high art indeed. Number of albums left to review: 286 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 316 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 175 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 231
Leonard Cohen is an original with music unlike others.
Leonard Cohen is someone I feel like I should know about and I don't really so I'm interested to see how I feel about this. This is kind of big and bizarre and sad. It reminds me of Tom Waits if I didn't hate Tom Waits.
Great Leonard album.
Not for me.
I don't know. I wanted to like it. I think I prefer other people singing Leonard Cohen songs. For instance, with Avalanche, I love the propulsive rythmic guitar in the original, but I like Aimee Mann's version a lot more. Her voice is more dynamic and the arrangement just feels both more lyrical and rich and... urgent? imparative? something more. Another example is Famous Blue Raincoat. I'll take Tori Amos' version. Or Joan Baez, although that opening has a tinge of sad lounge singer to it. Actually, I like the version on The Best of Leonard Cohen better than this version. IDK. I just don't know.
He sounds bored. It's contagious. Favorite song: avalanche
Did not attract my attention
I like Leonard Cohen much more now than I did in my youth. Late night and a bottle of red wine listening for me.
Poetry
Quite dark, acoustic/folk.
Ik was zeer enthousiast over het vorige Leonard Cohen album omdat hij niet zingt. Leo draagt voor en je gaat verdomme luisteren. Dat is nu dus weer precies hetzelfde, ik ga gewoon best wel lekker op zijn stem! Ik moet wel zeggen dat deze nummers me iets minder pakken dan het vorige album, het is nog meer minimaal qua muziek, waar het vorige album voor mij echt gered werd door de moody sfeer van het hele album. Ook staat Leo hier niet met een half opgegeten banaan op de cover, het zijn de details waarop ik je pak vriend! Diamonds in the mine vind ik echt slecht. Het doet me pijn om het te zeggen omdat ik best wel fan was van album 1, maar Diamonds in the mine is gewoon niet goed. Dit is niet eens meer "Ha wat grappig, hij zignt niet hij draagt voor" maar meer "Leo neemt me nu gewoon echt in de zeik, en ik vind het niet grappig. " En toch, en toch... Uiteindelijk pakt hij me met nummers als Famous Blue Raincoat en Love Calls you by your name. Dat is voor mij Leonard Cohen zoals ik hem het liefste hoor, bijna fluisterend met die leip diepe stem. De lows zijn insanely low op dit album en ik vind het zeker niet net zo goed als het vorige album. Misschien is het toch de banaan op de cover... FAVO: Avalanche, Love Calls You By Your Name, Famous Blue Raincoat
Songs of Love and Hate is right. So much emotion behind this, even though it's maybe not my favorite Leonard Cohen.
Unconventional, but these songs tended to become more beautiful the more time you spent with them. Started as a 3*, ended as a 4*.
Famous Blue Raincoat usa la misma secuencia del soundtrack de Spider - Man. WTF? Un buen álbum, aunque creo que la gracia también está en las letras (que todavía no lei) así que por eso le doy 3 estrellas.
Favourite track(s): Avalanche; Dress Rehearsal Rag Opens up slow yet intense with Avalanche and Last Year's Man taking up speed with Dress Rehearsal Rag. Still, Diamonds in the Mine sticks out a little too much and while the other tracks are solid Cohen, they don't stay around quite as long as those on Songs from a Room. I like how Joan of Arc cakls back to Last Year's Man, but it does not seem like good closure to the album. A lot of criticism, yet I can't give Cohen less than four stars - I just keep on listening.
Makes me want to get Robert Mitchum's Night of the Hunter tattoos on my knuckles. An all time great album from one of my favorite songwriters ever. Last Year's Man ++++++++++++++
Even if you don’t like Leonard Cohen, he’s kind of a four star floor kind of guy.
Not my favorite Cohen album, but I still enjoyed it. It was a bit more of that talk singing that a lot of people don't like him for. I enjoy that side of him for the most part. Good listen just doesn't stand out in his discography.
Great voice, but I just don't listen to music to feel negativity. 3.5/5
avalanche, famous blue raincoat and sing another song, boys
*GUY WITH A GUITAR ALERT* Listening to this in bed made me feel like Leonard Cohen is singing me bedtime stories(compliment). Faves: famous blue raincoat. 6/10
I have never heard this album. My familiarity with Leonard Cohen pretty much begins and ends with "Everybody Knows" from the soundtrack to "Pump Up the Volume". Leonard Cohen weaves a wonderful song, but they are so dreary. I like his voice, the backing vocals enrich the songs, but I just don't like it all.
It’s sad bob Dylan with a lot of different musical ideas but a heavy emphasis on vocals
Fine enough, but not something I will look for again.
WTF is going on with "Diamonds in the Mine"? Avalanche is the best song on here, but maybe that's because I'm familiar with Aimee Mann's version (which I prefer). Still prefer his later stuff. Low 3.
Love this album, it's always been on of my favourites
I love some well written, cryptic lyrics. Big fan of the discordance between the backing vocals and leonard cohen just fucking screaming at us in diamonds in the mine. Iconic.
Verry dark-grey - it's Leonard Cohen. You have to love him or hate him. I love him!
Was fine, might have liked it more if I engaged with the lyrics more
I like Leonard Cohen and enjoyed the album. But to be consistent with other reviews - 3 star
No. 104/1001 Avalanche 4/5 Last Year's Man 5/5 Dress Rehearsal Rag 3/5 Diamonds in the Mine 3/5 Love Calls You By Your Name 4/5 Famous Blue Raincoat 5/5 Sing Another Song, Boys 4/5 Joan of Arc 4/5 Average: 4,0 What a great poet and melancolic songwriter. Famous Blue Raincoat best showcases his ability of eliciting feelings from his listeners. Still don't know why he thought Diamonds in the Mine is worth including in this album.
“That’s a funeral in the mirror/And it’s stopping at your face.” Is one of the hardest song lyrics I’ve ever heard in my life. Fav: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag Least Fav: none
Notable tracks: Dress Rehearsal Rag, Famous Blue Raincoat
Cracker
Yeah...did not care enough for this one to finish it. I can respect the lyrics...just not my taste.
This album is quite strange. I feel like I shouldn't like it nearly as much as I do. The songs are simple, and LC's singing is serviceable but is almost spoken word in its delivery. The songs are incredibly sorrow and dense with allusions that mostly go over my head. Even still the songs still found a way to deeply connect with me and I am excited to revisit this album to understand some of the references it makes.
If Songs of Leonard Cohen presented Cohen as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, then Songs of Love and Hate reinforces that idea Favourite tracks: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Love Calls You By Your Name, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc
It’s better if you play it twice the speed. But it’s Leonard Cohen, and he does what he does.
I can tell that this is good music. But I don't like it. I don't hate it either. I can't see a day where I'll think, "Man, I sure could listen to some Leonard Cohen! How about Songs of Love and Hate?!" People view and use music for different ends. I don't see myself ever wanting to use music for whatever you use Leonard Cohen for.
Wasnok
Schön traurig
Beautiful, haunting
Didn’t like this music style
At points I played a game called can I guess the next rhyme and I did pretty well
Very, Very Somber
If I wasn't told who the artist was I would have thought it was Johnny Cash. The album was a bit too depressing for my taste. 2
The guitar work is good but vocals are way too folky for my taste.
thank you leonard for famous blue raincoat
i wanted to like this a lot more than i did...avalanche was a strong start but it got boring after that
Need to spend more time with the lyrics because during both listens I only processed a few at a time but I'm giving it a tentative 4! Not all of the songs hit musically/instrumentally for me but I enjoyed something in each song
Pissy early Cohen with great backing arrangements.
More I hear from him the more I want to hear from him.
Un bello disco de canciones lentas, enfocadas en más en la poesía que en el sonido. Al igual que otros trabajos de Leonard Cohen, es bastante intenso y atrapante. Sin embargo, entiendo por qué quizá no es del agrado de todos. Una pista que destaco del LP es "Famous Blue Raincoat".
This album feels like poetry, for the most part. I'm not going to act like nothing went over my head or that I'm the biggest fan of Cohen's voice, but for a few songs it definitely works. It feels like the kind of album that is to be listened to very intently, and while I don't want to say that doesn't have its place, it's not my prerogative most of the time. Still, I cannot deny the masterful lyrical weaving that Leonard Cohen can accomplish.
Liked the first 2 songs but the next 2 we’re not for me. Vocals were a bit grating. Overall solid albeit underwhelming project. Pretty minimalistic with only vocals and a guitar for the most part. Very poetic lyrics. Would listen again 6.5/10
I can really appreciate the beauty of his poetry. One of the things that I consider while rating albums is replayability. This isn’t something that I would normally listen to regularly. But I think it has a significance to it that is important to American culture. I really didn’t like the “Diamonds in the Mine” song, it was abrasive and annoying.
This is his weakest album? I was not that fond of him blatantly screaming
The music itself was good but the words and Leonard Cohens voice got old really fast. The overall message was good as well, tackling different, difficult topics.
Alright stuff, also not fully my tempo but I did enjoy some of the songs on here. Will I listen to again: 20%
very folksy, and I now understand why he was so revered
I like his dark brooding music a lot
wasnt familiar with cohen, enjoyed this
Leonard Cohen to me is like if Bob Dylan took a couple vocal lessons. Obvious passion in his lyrics and instrumentation overshadow the slightly dissonant vocals.
I thought Bob Dylan learned how to sing 😅
Oh lord this guy again!?! Third album of his I have got. Still don't like his voice, still don't like his sound, still have no idea what the hell he is talking about.
Mr. Cohen is one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. Probably Top 10. The songs are all beautiful and keep me interested. Love the all of it. Wish there was some more excitement to it, but I’ll take what I can get. 4/5
I have a lot of affection for Cohen. My mum was a big fan and though as a child I couldn't quite see the point I listened enough to have absorbed it into my musical heritage. This is a good reflection of his work - lyrically brilliant, musically average. That's the point I guess. He is his own genre.
Vocal style of a chanting monk. This sucks
Kinda felt like a Bob Dylan knock off. I don’t think I’ve had that feedback for Leonard yet so maybe it was a phase he went through but I’d prefer Dylan doing Dylan. The guitar in the first song was great though, reminded me of Spanish Fly or Little Guitars
Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, the three "troubadours" is what I call them. I think Leonard is my favorite of the three, and this album is pretty good. But it feels like all of their songs go like this: (end of verse, deep voice) "I watched your husband shake hands with the senator / he couldn't wash the blood off his hand if he tried" (chorus) "and there's no more clementines in the pantry...." Nevertheless, a couple tracks on here that I dug, especially "Avalanche." I think by now we've had enough of Leonard for a good sample size. Favorite tracks: Avalanche, Love Calls You By Your Name. Album art: Black background, bold white font, and a black and white picture of Leonard's head. For some reason at first glance I think it's Dustin Hoffman, but it's definitely not. 3.5/5
Cohen sure found his niche in melancholy music. It can be really refreshing to hear.
Somehow mixed him and Lenny Kravitz up. These songs sound like he just made em up on the spot in the studio.
Though it was acoustic I really enjoyed this album. Honestly it was just long enough
I found the rough darker sound refreshing for the decade
Soulful, like a more angsty Bob Dylan. Leonard Cohen is going to be contentious, but I enjoyed it a good amount.
Probably one you need to sit down and examine the lyrics of
Really not for me.
Music to listen to while curled up in the fetal position in that closet under the stairs, rocking back and forth...
GOAT
The raincoat song was really good. This album is good for a rainy day and a sad mood. Musically it was bare and uninteresting. 3/5
once again mostly just very averagely nice music. i liked most of the songs although many were perhaps a bit longer than they needed to be. diamonds in the mine was by FAR my favourite. it's a shame that one line kind of sounds anti-abortion (although when i looked it up it seems that he was maybe talking about something else? idk it's musically still a very good song). least favourite was love calls you by your name. not sure i have anything else to say.
Right?
a bit too slowly paced for me but it was beautiful nonetheless. not a fan of Cohen's vocals at times, but his songwriting is divine throughout the entire album. favourite track : 'Avalanche'
holy god.. no.. yahweh... shut the fuck about talking about bob dylan comparing about to master leonard.... loenard the legend... muutama haisuli paska tässä albumissa mutta kyllä mestari toi sen takaisin, kaunista paskaa.. ruoanlaittokontekstissa kuunneltu...ei ehkä sovi.. matkailubuffi tulisi tästä... onneksi OBJ. famous blue raincoat
3/5. A sad and tragic album (save a few songs) about a man who has given up on life, despite only being a young man writing this. It all flows together, as in I can't remember which song is which, but the lyrics are beautiful. A full monotone voice along with the same guitar picking can get old quick but you can't deny those word pictures.
You can't expect less or more from Cohen. Poetic masterpiece with a side of slow ballads. Like I said, pure Cohen. 3.5/5.
Slow and melodic. He doesn't sing, he talkes to the misuc. Diamonds in the mine is actually funny because of the whining. Overall, this is bad. Could barely listen to all the way through.
Cohen has a great voice, but this whole thing just falls into that category of music that I hear but just can’t ever focus on and really listen. It’s not captivating.
I couldn’t do this album. I appreciated his passion for storytelling here but there wasn’t much music and his voice was terrible.
bnrautiful lyrics
I liked Avalanche, but just didn't like the 'sing talking' through the whole album
Someone gave the guy mumbling at the back of the bus a classical guitar. Turns out he can play a bit and has a lot to say. It's bitter, glum and acrimonious in an undirected kind of way - lot's of ambiguous 'yous' have wronged him. The country-rock adjacent Diamonds in the Mine is a bit of surprise but works really well - soaring lap steel sounds against the dark brooding strum.
Way, way too depressing for me I'm afraid.
1.5
I was excited to see this one pop up, as I'm a fan of his later gruffier albums. Haven't listened too much to his early stuff. The songwriting/poetry is definitely there, but all in all this one comes off as pretentious and a little boring.
Suitably dark and wistful given the album title. Cohen's songwriting is once again wonderful and considering relatively scant instrumentation the moodscape is rich and at the forefront of each song.
Amazing. Raw. Very emotional.
Beautiful album and Famous Blue Raincoat is one of the most mesmerizing song I've ever heard, I had to stop what I was doing, sit down for a minute and listen closely to it. Masterpiece.
My daughter asked why old Lennie couldn't sing properly. I winced and tried to explain how iconic a songwriter he was. I then played Avalanche again and she kind of understood a bit. That said... beyond the amazing songs, they do start to sound the same.
the rainy day influenced my score here but i also appreciate Leonard Cohen normally
It was fine.
Nickcavemainen, tai diis Nick Cave kuulostaa tältä. Yllättävän räkäinen. Hyvällä tavalla kuitenkin, vaikka vähän pohditutti. Vangitsee - mutta ei täysin lumoa, epäilyttää.
Dylanismia mutta hitaampaa ja siksi raskaampaa. Toisaalta musiikki on myös poikkeuksellisen tunnelmallista ja keskimäärin laadukasta. Ehkä olen jossain vaiheessa jopa valmis kuuntelemaan tätä viihdyttävänä runoutena.
This record didn't do much for me. I haven't really listened to Leonard Cohen before, and I see there are some other records by him on the list, so I guess we'll see if I develop a taste for it.
Not my favorite Cohen album, but even so
This man is drunk 100% of the time. He sings in slow motion. The background singers were really good in “Famous Blue Raincoat”. Another song named “Joan of Arc”. So many religious tones in the 70s. That’s all I got. 5/10
Have you ever been so bored that you wanted to drive yourself off the road just to spice things up? That’s what this album made me feel. While listening I imagined myself down to my last 25 cents, last cigarette, watching the Detroit Lions get crushed by the Baltimore Ravens 6 to 38 on the tail end of a losing Parlay. Just sad… all the way around. Why is Leonard Cohen smiling in this Album cover? That’s so misleading. Everyone that helped make this music must have been experiencing chronic depression at the time, and not the funny kind. The kind were they really close to ending it all. This shit make Bob Dylan look like a living legend. This is my new least favorite genre of music. Well done. 1/10
I would drink a cup of Cohens vocals if I could. All the songs here focus on simple beats and let the lyrics and vocal performance step through into the limelight. If there were more songs that I could go back to and want to listen again it would bump up to a 9 for sure. Also no diamonds in the mine actually made me cry laughing while I heard it. 8/10
This is Cowboy music. Delightfully simplistic in its approach. A voice, a guitar, and a stringed instrument. In the same vein as Bob Dylan in that it is a story told through song, but this is better. I am pretty sure he is one of the bears from the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney. The stringed instruments add an emotional presence that at times is overwhelming in how it affects the songs tone. This album would be best listened to sitting around a campfire gazing up at the stars. 9/10
it's not bad, its got some lyrics that made me raise my eyebrows but i generally like the music. a couple songs a like, a lot of average stuff
Отличный альбом
You really need to be in the right head space to listen to a Cohen album and today, I was....Just a hauntingly beautiful record from start to finish.
Oh wow. Was not expecting this at all. Really cool that this sound came out of the 70s. Second and third songs were kind of overstaying their welcome with that sound. 4th song is basically the same…. With a slightly upbeat attitude. A little annoying, I would have liked to hear more of a variety of the sound of the first track. It really set the stage and the album never really capitalized on it. I’ll give it a 3 since I like the sound, I just didn’t like the lack of variety
Interesting, mysterious songs. Some good variety
Literally going to shit and piss and cry from this experience. :,{ The album maintains a level of very intense melancholy despite the limited instrumentations which i find very admirable!
Pretty good Little sad little guy Diamonds in the mine is crazy Famous blue raincoat and avalanche are pretty solid
Very depressing and angsty. Like the choppy simple acoustics it highlights the vocals and lyrics. Fav song: Famous Blue Raincoat.
Really good
This album title is fitting because I am beginning to love and hate having to listen to more Leonard cohen albums. As I've said in previous cohen reviews, I prefer his newer, gravellier, sadder music and I'm sticking to that for this album because this once again just sounds like if early Bob Dylan used more than one guitar and had a less nasally voice. It's not bad by any means but it sounds just like the other three and it doesn't do much for me. I did like diamonds in the mine though.
Okay I like the guy, but back to back gets a little much. Still good songs! but not "Diamonds in the Mine" though, I didn't like that. Man was just screaming. But Joan of Arc was good so that compensates again.
Excellent songs and lyrics, very nice. Diamonds in the mine was pretty odd though, what was that?
didnt like it that much standout track: diamonds in the mine
Heureusement qu'il fait très froid cette semaine parce qu'il aurait été hors de question que j'écoute ça par plus de 15 degrés. Pour info, le cadavre de Cohen est conservé entre 5 et 7 degrés afin de limiter la prolifération de la flore bactérienne.
La version vivante de Leonard Cohen est bien plus agréable.
Another folk album from Leonard can't-make-a-good-album-name Cohen. I can't really bring myself to enjoy this guy's music. I mean, I get folk. It's about the lyrics. I know that song is rooted in poetry, but that doesn't mean that you can recite poetry over a generic instrumental and expect me to enjoy it. Heck, there's even some enjoyable folk out there. Singers with better voice than him, musicians with more interesting instrumental talent than him... maybe it's just the lyrics.
If I could give 4.5 I would this is much more distinct and intriguing than his debut. His voice is a beautiful constant instrument throughout and he layers it on top of forays into hits at other genre. Rawness keeps it from being a crooner album.
the songs were good but they all blended into each other
Even having some familiarly with Leonard Cohen, listening to this album absolutely floored me. Every song is a world unto itself. The imagery is vivid and tragic and beautiful. There just isn’t a songwriter like Leonard Cohen.
A poet
Don’t really like his voice at all
Todo un crooner, a ratos melancólico, en otras más contador de historias. Voz profunda. Poca instrumentalización. Con su voz basta.
Hyvä tunnelma! 3.5/5
To me, extremely BORING!
Depressingly horny. Is Leonard Cohen depressed because he's horny or is he horny because he's depressed? By any account, he needs a therapist.
Experiência musical envolvente e emocionalmente impactante. Especialmente devido à combinação de eco e reverberação que ressalta ainda mais o estilo vocal dele e cria uma atmosfera misteriosa e intensa.
Love a bit of Lenny
Different but very cool
He knows how to create a mood, and there are some beautiful lines in this album
Need more time to listen fully
Avalanche is an all timer, but that put the rest of the album in the shade.
First time listening to any Leonard Cohen and I am on board the hype train. He is pretty dour but I don't think that necessarily translates to a depressing time listening. I like his strange slap guitar playing and his thoughtful phrasing. The backing vocals usually cut through just enough to lighten things or break the sound up enough to keep it interesting. Famous Blue Raincoat was my standout.
As simple and intricate and delicate and lovely as a spider's web. A bit terse and rough at points as well, but overall enchanting. Definitely much more accessible than most of Cohen's albums.
Like a less fun, more creepy Bob Dylan.
I came to Cohen late. I found his music dreary and depressing, dismissed it completely. But why would someone in their twenties, grooving the the Mondays, the Roses and Suede be interested in this boring old fart. And then I heard "A Bunch of Lonesome Hero's". Had no clue who it was but I was captivated by it. To my surprise it was that boring old fart. And that is when I got curious and went deeper. Songs of Love & Hate isn't his best record, but there are many to find.
I'm someone who never paid much attention to Cohen outside of Hallelujah, so this was an enjoyable listen.
As Below, Not for me, sorry Mr Cohen.
Well, the first song was good. Then I struggled to get through the rest until I just had to start skipping songs. What a snooze.
The last album I heard of Cohen's I wrote: "It's a quiet album, something to play late and night and have a cup of tea with right before you go to bed. Not exactly the best bedtime album, but there you go. I don't know if I would listen to it (except for maybe "Suzanne") because it does get rather depressing." This one is not as depressing, but it is more somber. There's a little bit more maturity in these songs, 4 years later. "Songs of Love and Hate" does pretty much encompass everything, doesn't it? I think my favorite song off of this was "Diamonds In The Mine." It really had a soulfulness that I was not expecting. The guitar in the background really did it for me. Of the two albums I have heard so far, this one is much better. Definitely one I would listen to again.
After Cohen's debut album came up on this list and I fell for it, I went out and listened to more of his work. I think his debut is better, and more trailblazing or novel. But his incredible lyrics continue, and when he combines it with his soft plucking (apparently, his "chop") - like on Avalanche or Famous Blue Raincoat - it's spinetingling. The latter might be my favorite song of his whole catalogue. Listening to Joan of Arc was like reading The Power and the Glory or The Grand Inquisitor - such clever takes on key religious figures and what they truly yearn for. If you don't care for lyrics, you probably won't care for Leonard Cohen. Even if you do, you still may not care for him. But I think he's brilliant and deft on the acoustic guitar. His flawed vocals are a bit more on display here (Diamonds in the Mine, yikes; Dress Rehearsal Rag) so I'm not giving it a 5.
Eh, I found this album pretty boring. The lyrics sounded like someone trying really hard to be deep (with a couple of songs that too clearly invoke slitting wrists - man, don't listen to this album if you're depressed). His voice is monotonous and the songs drag out without a lot of change. At least most of the songs are based on a nice riff, especially Avalanche, Love Calls You By Your Name, Joan of Arc, and Famous Blue Raincoat (which had the nicest vocal tune - less monotonous). Not terrible as background sound, I suppose, so I'll go with a 2.
Not a great work listen
Diez estrellas
Such a beautiful and haunting voice. I'm not that familiar with Cohen's discography, aside from a handful of greatest hits. This album feels more like one complete piece than a collection of individual songs, to be taken in in one sitting, reflecting on love and hate.
Bob Dylan, if Bob Dylan stopped trying.
Occasionally relaxing, occasionally sinister, always deeply baritone.
Leonard Cohen kind of feels like the bardic version of Bob Dylan. Unfortunately I feel like Bob Dylan's activism excuses him for his voice, whereas Cohen's philosophical personal introspection and thoughts on relationships just make him sound kind of...creepy. I do not like it.
Neutral: I didn't love it and neither did I hate it. It feels totally inoffensive to say that as well, just a mid album. None of the tacks jump out to me as being anything special but neither are they rubbish. Overall I just don't have much to say other that it's plain mid.
Going in, I can say, whether I get into this album or not, I can safely remark that it has a strong identity. Cohen has vocals that fit the spare acoustics and empty spaces. This music is the personification of a cabin in winter, as boldly stated when he opens with an Avalanche of a song. This sort of music is something I must be in a mood for, but I appreciate the vivid picture this paints regardless of how I end up feeling after this album. His voice takes some getting used to, as someone who doesn't particularly vibe with different vocal styles. As I mentioned before, it is fitting for this sort of music, perhaps scarily so. Something to be respected, even if it doesn't always jive with my ears. But sometimes, oh, it really hits, such as in Last Year's Man and Famous Blue Raincoat. I do feel like this album or at least the individual tracks it contains. At times, there's something dour, plodding, like a dying dog limping and waiting to be bled out. Cohen's voice is slow and deliberate and measured, perhaps to a fault. This is yet another of those albums where my feelings are a bit 50/50. One of those that I won't revisit the whole picture, but definitely will check out some of the individual tracks in my future. The use of Joan of Arc as a bit of a framing device was neat though!
It's nice. I like Leonard's voice. My issues are my own. As a prolific non lyrics guy this is missing a huge piece. It's all on me obviously. With songs this skeletal its hard when that peice isn't my cup of tea. Good stuff spock, who I may have thought this man was as a child lol. 3*
Nästan fem!
I can actually imagine this being great if you were into the genre. For me though, just a bit depressing and, after a few songs, dull.
Man I really liked this album. I don’t fully know what story the lyrics were actually telling but they held my attention the whole album which is a rare thing for me. Felt both simple and emotional at the same time
After really loving Cohen’s first album on this list, I jumped the gun and listened to this album too. Fantastic album. Cohen has become my go-to folk artist this past year. This album is probably just a small notch below his debut album in my mind. Still like 4.2/5 for me
Meh wasn’t a huge fan, felt like they were trying to be Lou reed but with less catchy tunes
OK background music. Interesting lyrics. More interesting for the story and emotion than the music.
Love the lyrics, poetry and heart. But musically, just one lane. Would not listen to an album through.
There's two things the author(s) really like - 80s-90s UK pop and singer/songwriters. Instead of pulling all the popular singer/songwriter albums a little filling out of their influences from folk and the Great American Songbook would be better. But Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love & Hate is one of those that has a few really good songs and the rest is filler. 3.5/5
I would like to give this 3.5
no.
Songs of Love? No, Hate!
3.4 Good but its no songs of Leonard Cohen faves: avalanche
This is my 5th Cohen album assigned by the generator, and I believe it'll be the last. It really should be, I'm running out of things to say about Canada's songwriting poet and his prolific body of work. Part of me does wonder though, 5 albums is a lot, probably too many. I think we could have freed up at least 3 more spots for other incredible Canadian artists to be showcased and appreciated. The Tragically Hip, like hello! The songwriting is as rich and pithy as ever it was, and Cohen's younger voice drawls in a pleasingly maudlin way. It's what I expect from him. I do like an older, gruff and gravelly vocal from him slightly more, you know, the music from the later part of his career, but that's just a personal preference. Overall, it’s another fantastic album from Cohen’s vast catalogue.
Treball més deutor de les lletres que de la música. Més un petit recull de poemes musicats que de cançons. Quelcom propi del tarannà de Cohen, però aquí més cert que mai. Així i tot, la veu poderosa i punyent del canadenc destaca per sobre d'uns arranjaments senzills, crepusculars, de vegades tenebrosos. Era un mestre de la paraula, i la seva vena pop va fer d'ell un dels millors artistes de la seva generació