Songs Of Love And Hate

Really nice. Lyrical depth. Emotional, brooding. Nice acoustic guitar.

Lyrically and thematically, yes, Leonard Cohen is excellent. He started off as a poet after all, but man, his voice, and arrangements, they can be so dour and monotonous. And it’s no exception here. Listening to ‘Songs Of Love And Hate’ is often as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist to get a root canal. However, ‘Dress Rehearsal Rag’, ‘Diamonds In The Mine’, ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ and ‘Sing Another Song, Boys’, just about make this album worthwhile.

Still had the gravelliest voice of them all back in the day, enjoyed avalanche and some others but preferred you want it darker.

lyrically a wonderful album. Leonard Cohen is a master of songwriting. However, he is definitely not the master of vocals, or interesting arrangement. His vocal delivery honestly detracts from the quality of the lyricism for me.

Pretty eh. Didn't love his voice but the album is cool in the sense that you can tell which are songs of love and which are songs of hate. Tells a decent story.

I love Leonard Cohen's voice. It's not really an album you listen to while doing something else. It requires focus and attention which I unfortunately didn't give the album. If I get an itch for more folk music I would certainly go back to this and maybe do a deeper dive in Leonard Cohen's discography.

This is weirdly enjoyable and weirdly grating at the same time...

Beautiful and dark. This was perfect to listen to on a rainy day! A few songs dragged on a bit too long and I was kinda ready to move on. Also his voice was straining so hard in some songs, but i felt like it lacked a real power behind it - favorites: avalanche, diamonds in the mine

in his early career, leonard cohen created music very folk-y; his sound reminds me a lot of bob dylan. i don't care very much for dylan, but i do enjoy cohen's later music that contains more than just the folk element. i suppose that's why i'm in the middle with my vote. folk does allow the songwriting focus, which is where cohen always excelled. his music style changed over the years, but his songwriting has the same quality. it's just as raw and evocative here. i suppose the best example of that is "famous blue raincoat," and it's no wonder it became so legendary. but also worthy of mention is "avalanche": it has the most beautiful violin in the background that adds perfectly to his voice and acoustic guitar. "diamonds in the mine" might be the most unusual one here; i'm not sure i've heard a cohen song where his voice is so gritty. but his tendency to use backup women singers to contrast with his voice began in the beginning of his career! but, throughout it all, cohen uses his storytelling skill to create great lyrics.

To quote Holden McNeil - Well look at this morose motherfucker right here. Some artists will lift your spirits. Leonard Cohen will not. He will make you wallow in misery, with - to be fair to him - the occasional glimmers of hope scattered about the place. But while this is not at all my bag, I didn't actually object to listening to it. Not the best, but also not the worst.

Uvijek sam ga poštovao, međutim nikad mi nije bio neki onako top - da mi ima izvrsne albume. Ne znam, dakle ima dobrih stvari na ovom albumu, čak malo varira u nekim pjesmama što se tiče iskakanja iz svog običnog žanra, ništa strašno. Sve u svemu, lagan kontemporarni folk - klasični Leonard.

Not for me, but its really like the titlle says, songs of love and hate.

Actually liked this more than the newer first one I listened to

Cohen is more poetry than music. I've never really learn to fully enjoy his albums and at this point I don't think I really ever will. It's not bad but not great either.

For me it’s a matter of finding the gems with Cohen. A lot of it is just too… poetic? I appreciate much of it on that level, but I just tire of it. Couple of 4’s, couple of 2’s. Average it out. Highlight: Diamonds in the Mine

kinda mixed on it. Took me awhile to get used to his voice.

I have a weird relationship with Leonard Cohen's music. He's clearly an amazing songwriter with a style all his own, but I get tired of his vocals. I think of him as more of a poet than a singer, so I can't bring myself to give this a super high rating even though I love the lyrics

Not gunna lie the Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave double up got pretty tough. Important for both to focus attention more on the story being told than the music being played.

I like this, it's a really good moody mix. I guess it's just as well it's not too long, because it is a bit hard-going in one sitting, especially the bits where he's singing with a kind of mania. I love the first track in particular. What a voice.

Love LC but this should not be on the list.

Nice guitar play style.

I think I really like how distinctive Cohen’s voice is, but that alone didn’t really sell me on this. Honestly has me reconsidering the reasons I like Tom Waits so much, like it’s clearly not just about being won over by interesting vocals. The music backing Cohen’s voice was just kind of boring to me

On reconnait son style qui met les paroles à l'avant, mais il n'y avait pas tant de mélodies accrocheuses. Je connaissais l'une des chansons, mais on dirait que les 3-4 dernières ont toutes le même air.

Ah Leonard Cohen is such a funny one as to me his music is either fully amazing or I find it just dreary and slow and depressing. But I know that is the appeal to some people. I get that some of it the emphasis is on lyrics not the music. So I found this album more mixed. Sing another song boy was fully amazing, but then some of the others to me sound like 30 other LC songs. Obviously deep respect though

As always, pleasant listen from Cohen. Great poetry, finger picking, and interesting vocal delivery. It’s just hard for his albums and songs from that era to stand out from each other.

not a huge fan of the vocals but it’s still pretty good

It was alright. Happened to fit my vibes today.

I enjoyed it a bit more than the other Leonard Cohen albums I’ve had. Each song feels like it has its own style and uniqueness, which is what I was missing from his other works where everything kinda meshes together. Some strange lyrics imagery contained therein, but pretty interesting as well. 6/10

I get the draw of Leonard Cohen, for sure, but I thought the instrumentation was lacking. Lyricism was on point, though. His voice is veerryyy folksy. What is it with folk artists and that nasally semi-mono-tone?

not my jam but artful

This project really introduced me to Cohen. I found myself liking You Like It Darker when it came up earlier, but this is not as appealing to me. He seems a better lyricist than a musician here. Not exactly terrible, but these 8 songs felt much longer than they really were. Unenthusiastic 3. A couple good songs but not too much that really got me. The lyrics would be something I'd pay more attention to if I ever revisited this album.

Started out ok, got real tedious real fast

Cool concept. Acoustic guitar had good range

Such a unique musician

The album gets off to a great start. Moody, dramatic and perfect for a drizzly September day. A couple of clunkers on the back half, but Joan of Arc is a good closer.

Wasn't too bad, to my surprise, I liked more of it than not, and the not wasn't offensive, it was just there in the background. Not gonna relisten to anything any time soon but was better than a lot of stuff we've had.

This was exactly as I expected it - something that really needs a proper listen to and tough to appreciate on the first way through. It's slow, emotive, and often pretty miserable, but his voice just makes you need to listen and the lyrics make it worthwhile. It's a tough listen, and probably not something I'll be revisiting regularly (it's not good background music at all!). A comfortable 3.

The iconoic voice of Cohen is grating, but the message is powerful. Amazing poetry but musically I prefer it in small doses.

Not 100% my thing, a bit too much lalalalalalaaaa at one point...

Good songs for sad people

Ni bien ni mal

Liked the finger picking, had intriguing vocals, but was pretty sombre and not in a good way. Good thing I'm not depressed because that would either be too hurtful to bare, or become the only music that will be listened

Ga ik op een later moment nog eens luisteren want het is volgens mij een mooi album. Het pas alleen totaal niet in de zonnige vakantiesfeer waarin we ons momenteel bevinden.

a mournful, lyrical, and dreary album with some nice gems and some weirdly upbeat tracks that feel completely out of place 3.5/5

Listened Before? N I liked this! Im not high enough to enjoy it fully but I might try later! The lyrics range from serious to silly, and the music has good range. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Avalanche

Slow, acoustic, reminiscent of Bob Dylan. Overall ok.

Fine and delicious Cohen's disk. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is the song I liked most.

the songs are great, the voice is fine. Just 70s singer-songwriter is not my vibe.

With his earlier work I felt that it was balanced, and his later work the instrumentation was so funny that it lifted the mood. This is just aggressively depressing. Even the little interlude hints at him revelling in the bitterness. Seems a bit forced.

Only learned of Leonard Cohen after being in Canada for some time. I get that he is respected and considered great but this didn’t really do a whole lot for me.

The first song was interesting and then it faded into the background.

Not my favourite Leonard Cohen album. Didn't have any songs that really stood out to me. He's done better.

It was fine

Very early Leonard Cohen, few times he's cropped up on the list now but this one you can really hear how young he is. Very poetic acoustic album, reminiscent of Dylan's writing style but with a nicer voice. Overall not my sort of thing, but I can appreciate the artistry.

Not good, not terrible.

Leonard Cohen is pretty strange to listen to. Some parts of his music can be fantastic when you're in the right mood. But it's all very 'meh' when the mood is even a bit off. We've had two other albums of his so far. I gave one of them 5 and the other 3 stars. While The opening track was strong, I lost attention very soon after. Making this a very forgettable but not unpleasant 3 for me.

The folk Tom Waits.

As with many albums I seem to be rating, it was OK, nothing more

More of what you expect from Leonard Cohen - songs of thwarted love and philosophy. When it is hard to differentiate between each album does it matter?

better than at least one of his others

Quelle voix. Je peux pas croire que c'est mon premier Cohen que j'écoute d'un bout à l'autre. Avalanche est vraiment superbe. Le jeu de guitare de cette pièce et de plusieurs autres sur l'album n'est vraiment pas plate. La fin de Diamonds in the Mine est un peu intense 🤣. Ce n'est pas mon style de prédilection, mais c'est un album intéressant que je vais sûrement réécouter.

К сожалению, альбом совершенно не зацепил, хотя я прекрасно понимаю, насколько важны стихи в творчестве Леонарда Коэна.

Honestly, I wished I liked it more. I’m usually so into this sound, but there’s something keeping me from really sinking into this one. Still, worth a listen if you’re into folk of any kind.

Love the feel, love the poetic verse and voice, but can’t do more than 3 stars because I was very ready for it to end by the time it did.

The first song way AWESOME! But the rest of the album wasn’t as amazing. I actually enjoyed most of it and considered giving it a 4.

Thoroughly belongs on this list. I love his lyrics and never would have made it through an album without this list. But it's all so morose all at once! I think it's really only morose at a certain depth. It makes me aspire to sit down and pay attention to something for more than 140 characters at a time so I can appreciate it at that deeper level. Aspire, but not succeed today.

It's not too diverse of a record, especially when compared to his previous efforts, but it solidified his niche as the dark folk artist and the emotional focus on the record proved to make it powerful. Many critics claim it is one of the darkest records you may ever hear, and that may very well be true.

"Oh, not this asshole's voice again..." This one hit me better than most of his albums. I actually could listen to this again. Must be the mindset that I've been in lately. LC played really well in the '90's when everyone was depressed and phama didn't have the market share it does today. This is good for a moody gray spring showers when you've forgotten to take your meds. I love Spotify for the play count. It's always great to check out what song on the album has been played the most. For this album, it's Blue Raincoat which must've been used in a movie, or a tide commercial. It doesn't compare to the first track Avalanche IMO and is actually really boring. Just noticing the sun poking through the clouds and now I"m consumed with finding something more fun to listen to. Okay find...I'll tuck this away for another gloomy day.

Songwriting is great, but It much prefer grittier, bassier older Cohen. Even his early 90’s stuff is markedly better.

sounds like a Disney soundtrack and that's not a bad thing

This album has a definitive vibe, and if that vibe is for you, then you should listen to it. It is both grandiose, and calming, and Cohen's voice fills out the space; however, I preferred "You Want It Darker" to this one. It's pretty good, I like a lot of elements from it, but I don't think I will return to it at all.

Kind of depressing

Great deep voice. Smart poetry. Spare to invisible music. Not Cohen's best collection. However, it does include Famous Blue Raincoat, Avalanche and Joan of Arc.

Vocal progressions felt pretty similar across all the songs. I feel like I heard echoes of Hallelujah everywhere throughout this album.

Fine, but just fine.

Not as good as Songs of Leonard Cohen, but it's aight.

Leonard Cohens voice is a unique one. That said it’s his lyrics that spoke more to me. Sadly though the album doesn’t offer enough dynamism.

Another case of very well done story telling by the hands of an imperfect voice. A 'generous' 3 but more 2.5

gave me bob dylan vibes

Bob Dylan style, interesting, but not my thing

Too brooding for me to really like, but pleasant melody wise

Душевно

Love his voice but doubt I will listen to this again.

“Avalanche” es el invierno hecho canción: los violines son el viento fresco que cuando arrecia se convierte en violonchelo; la guitarra suena como un riachuelo embravecido; la voz de Leonard es el sol que, a pesar de todo, calienta. Empezar un disco de esta manera es establecer unas expectativas tan altas que son muy difíciles de cumplir. Los cantautores tienen un problema conmigo y es que yo no he venido a leer poesía sino a escuchar música y se nota que ellos dan más importancia a la letra que a cómo suena. Claramente escribe la letra a priori y luego añade la instrumentación, por eso en muchos momentos alarga las vocales para adaptarse al ritmo o, al contrario, mete unas cuantas palabras por segundo. Curiosamente, a veces el cuerpo le pide clavarlo y por eso de vez en cuando suelta un “tarararará” que se sincroniza de forma tramposa con la música a las mil maravillas. No obstante, celebro los “tararararás” cuando aparecen, como en la intimista “Famous Blue Raincoat” -de fondo con sutiles voces femeninas- y al final de la creciente “Sing Another Song, Boys”. Con todo, son varias las canciones de este disco en las que el paisaje sonoro está tan cuidado como el mensaje y por eso el señor Cohen tendrá más oportunidades en mis oídos después de este primer acercamiento a un álbum suyo.

okay. Seemed a bit samey to me.

Folk is one of my least favorite genres, but this isn't bad

The voice reminds me of Bob Dylan. I like the lyrics.

I love the lyrics of Leonard Cohen so much more than his voice lol

Amazing songwriting, but I can't handle the voice.

Very deep lyrically

This is one of those albums that you have to be in the mood to listen too. Like on a comedown or when you’re feeling low. Today wasn’t one of those days so whilst it’s a great album, it’s only 3 stars today

A relic of times long gone. Yet, as much as I’m inclined towards much more complex tunes, I will admit it is refreshing to get the occasional dose of some classic Cohen.

6/10. I like Leonard Cohen, but I don't really get what puts this album on the list. I still enjoyed the lyrics for the most part, but some of the songs just sounded kind of bad. Overall a positive listening experience, but a bit disappointing.

Good lyrics and sometimes he even managed to sing them

Pretty fucking dreary, but solid songs

Musically quite disappointing. The texts are ok but a bit vague. Feels like someone who's experimenting with some chords and song in their attic. Not much melodical diversity between the songs. Then one folky song in the middle and the live one near the end. Famous Blue Raincoat is quite pretty. Overall not annoying, but also not per se a delight to me.

This album was ok, but I have the feeling that I just didn't get it somehow. Best song was probably Joan of Arc, although the backing vocals at the beginning and end of the song sounded like a drunk man trying to sing along, yet completely fucking up the timing. What am I missing?

prefer his new (when he was older) stuff

3, pretty decent. I know his strength is in his lyrics so I'm sure I didn't get the full effect of that since I'm listening while working.

Might as well just copy and paste my review from the last Cohen album we had: Got a little dull after a while but I do like Cohen's voice and the overall atmosphere he creates.

Eh a bit too mopey for me (or at least the mood I was in)

Good

He sounds like Dylan on songs like Dress Rehearsal Rag. I guess the similarities are the vocal range and poetic lyrics (though LC is easier to decipher). Famous Blue Raincoat is classic – I like Avalanche too. The background singers are really in the background at times, but it works. When LC tries to actually sing vs speak, in songs like Diamonds in The Mine, the results aren’t very good.

Buen disco. Cultura general

Didn't think I would like this one. In the end I didn't mind it as much as I initially thought. It has some good moments, but it in general Cohen is a bit 'goeey' at times.

Leonard Cohen is an artist who I have always felt I should know more about than I do. I have a familiarity with the seemingly endless stream of “Hallelujah” covers, which is a wonderful but overexposed song. Beyond that I don’t know much. This album is a bit tough for me. It’s so downbeat - at times almost absurdly so. Reminded me of some of my efforts with Bob Dylan. But I love a lot of the lyrics and music. My favorite songs: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine (thank god for the backup singers), Famous Blue Raincoat. After trying unsuccessfully to enjoy listening to this on my second listen, I sought out some of the covers listed on the Wikipedia page. Aimee Man’s cover of “Avalanche” is awesome, I watched the TV series that it served as the theme for and loved it but didn’t recognize it as the same song. I also knew and loved Tori Amos’ cover of “Famous Blue Raincoat”. The Jennifer Warnes cover is also fantastic. Both make the song so much better. Allison Crowe’s cover of “Joan of Arc” is great as well. Clearly I like Leonard Cohen as a songwriter more than a singer. I can appreciate the occasional song but this entire album is too much.

Hells bells, darker than a dark thing

Avalanche Famous blue raincoat

Really not as good as I would've wished for. I was ready for some banger ballads, and some of them definitely were, Avalanche and Lasr years man were very good, then it got a little funny, until the famous blue raincoat takes it back again, though the quality of the lead vocals are weirdly low in that particular song. A solid 3 imo. Avalanche and famous blue raincoat are really good though

It’s poetry. And some of it is ok. Not sure it’s songs or music though.

Avalanche was a really strong start and definitely most of the tracks have a cool bob dylanny story song approach. The instrumentation is pretty light and it is all pretty good... nothing warrants a lot of repeat listens and I think he thinks his rhyme in "diamonds in the mine" is better than it actually is.

Godt men for ensformigt og kedeligt.

It's alright, some decent songs. Very meh on it, as I have been with all the previous Leonard Cohen..

Fun but quiet and underwhelming.

Пара песен понравилась. Коэна мне все же трудно долго слушать

Some good stuff

Leonard Cohen hizo toda una vida con un mismo disco, a juzgar por este tercero que ya salió en esta lista. No hate, tho, jaja. Igual pues lo de siempre, hay de repente grandes letras, la música no está mal, pero no me emociona tanto. "Last Year's Man" creo que fue mi fav. 7/10

Boh non mi e' piaciuto molto.. magari da ascoltare di piu'

Leonard Cohn definitely has a reputation as a kind of Tom Waites type. I have never heard one of his albums until now. Avalanche - sounds familiar...was this in a movie? Was it covered? I like the hurt vocals and the frantic guitar. Last Year's Man - I want to figure the message here. Another album with multiple Joan of Arc references, like Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark. Anti-war message for sure. Dress Rehearsal Rag - Not a Rag at all. This is the most lyrically minded album I think I've heard yet. Musically, we're in nomansland. But Cohen is so emphatic, deliberate, and clear. Diamonds in the Mine - So weird. Like - he's going out of his way to not be in tune or sing well. I'm sure there's a commentary here. There's this happy tune with this grating angry vocal. At this point we have established a deliberate vocal, which makes you listen, and so when you listen, it's very bleak. Making his words more emphasized and we get an ironic message that life is empty. Society is moral-less. Life Calls you By Your Name - Softer approach, reminiscent of Avalanche. Famous Blue Raincoat - What a story. This song is packed with raw emotion and imagery. So a guy tried to steal this guy's girl. Then the guy who has the girl, sends him this message? Thanks for the trouble...you took from her eyes. Great lyric. Sing Another Song, Boys and Joan of Arc. Dark, depressing end. Song about Joan of Arc's experiences burning at the stake. I'd honestly probably give it 3.5 instead of 3.

A weird album, but I really liked Diamonds in the Mine. 0RS

i am probably not smart enough to love this

This is a strange one. 'Avalanche' is stunning and absolutely a song I need to listen to a few times to maybe work up some inspiration. The rest, though...it's kind of dreary and atonal. Maybe that's the point. It averages out, I suppose.

wasn't feelin the whole thing, but Famous Blue Raincoat man...

Melancholy album - not sure I'd listen to it again anytime soon. One line from song that stuck with me - something about not having to use pain as a credential.

Better than expected - very easy to listen to. Will come back to it again

I don’t know, it’s sounds like open mic to me.

Leonard Cohen simply does not speak to me.

Avalanche Is pretty cool, I likey the guitar it's kinda hypnotic. I feel like The Album is good so far but some of the lyrical decisions seem questionable, I felt like at times I could've come up with better words top fit a rhyme scheme or theme. First listen was good some of this stuff is V pretty, Velvet Underground Vibes cool. Like a 6.5 its cool but some things feel a bit lazy.

Me pareció interesante

Boring

It was good?

Songs of Love and Hate is one of Leonard Cohen's most emotionally intense albums -- which, given the nature of Cohen's body of work, is no small statement. . If Songs of Love and Hate isn't Cohen's best album, it comes close enough to be essential to anyone interested in his work.

Like Nick said, this era of Leonard Cohen is unmatched. Some really beautiful songs on here, Famous Blue Raincoat and Avalanche are both stellar. But there are a few misses here too, like Dress Rehearsal Rag, which sounded like something that should have been left on the cutting room floor. 3.5/5

Nobody: Leonard Cohen: THERE AAAARE NOOO DIAMONDS IN THE MIIIIIIINE

Don't hate it, don't love it. It's so dreary, almost exhaustingly so, but he has an iconic voice and obviously a very influential style. Enjoyable in doses Saved: Famous Blue Raincoat

Light a candle with Leonard. Stare into the center of the flame, where there is only darkness. Blow out a candle with Leonard. Happy Leonard birthday. Songs of mostly Hate with a few notes of Love. Leonard is hopeless, angry, jealous, and sarcastic. It's still beautiful too. I try to curate my musical diet to enable a life well lived, and rarely put this one on because it just doesn't have the Leonard redemption of the previous two albums. Where are Leonard's Sisters of Mercy? Has he had so many threesomes at this point that he's just over it? B

Not hugely into Cohen

These tracks are soft and warm, but loaded with emotion, as the title may suggest. Each song is filled with this deep passion of love or hate, crafting a very emotional and personal album. I think the only thing I really felt missing from this album was something to help fill out the sound. There were tastes of backing vocals, but i think some orchestral components or piano could have filled this out beyond just the acoustic and his voice

Voice is incredible but album left me a bit cold.

Tykkään Leonardin äänestä, mutta levy oli vähän tylsä. Toisaalta ennakkoon ajattelin että toivottavasti levyllä ei ole kaikkia kovimpia hittejä, vaan jotain muutakin sisältöä. Uusia helmiäsiä ei kuitenkaan tällä kertaa löytynyt. Cohenin juutalaisuus ei ole aiemmin juuri häirinnyt, mutta tällä levyllä oli aika uskonnollinen vire.

amazing lyrics lyrics lyrics just not something i can listen to everyday

Not really for me. I see the appeal of it. Some of the tracks are super haunting.

Pleasantly low-key. 6/10

Well... not bad. Very mellow, almost sleepy.

Great lyrics but not a fan of the sound of his voice.

It was pretty good. A little jarring at times.

It takes a bit to get used to his voice. Prob influenced Bob Dylan.

Lyrically beautiful and sad. Folk guitar and a slightly monotonous droney voice (sort of Bob Dylan style). I can see why people enjoy Cohen but honestly felt like quite a depressing album to listen to. I’d have to be in the right mood for this one.

Just sounds like Bob Dylan and Jonny Cash mixed. All the songs have the same sound.

Depressing, acoustic, its alright. Avalanche is the best song. Fedoras are cool

Wasn’t in a leonard cohen mood today. 3.5

Miellyttävä levy merkittävältä artistilta, joka on itselleni aina jäänyt aika vieraaksi. Sivistävää kuunneltavaa siis. Tämän levyn perusteella Cohen ei nouse kuitenkaan ihan suurimpien suosikkieni joukkoon vaikkei levyssä sinänsä mitään vikaa olekaan. Jotenkin tämä vaan vähän jätti kylmäksi.

2.6

bit cheesy

2.75. Sounds like some sad Johnny Cash. The slow guitar riffs are great

Heavy stuff

Nice lil album

famous blue raincoat is nice but he went more loud in this album which for me takes away from the nice poetic flow the first album had

liked it better than the other two albums of his I listened to

3.5/5. Not as good as the other Leonard Cohen album I listened to (Songs of Leonard Cohen), some sounds on here that didn't really work for me.

pretty good, chill, somber folk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Non really my thing

I wish I enjoyed the lyrics of songs more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love Cohen, but won't be in rotation

Bastante desapercibido pasó el disco. Estuvo normal.

too sad for me

Excessive Leonard Cohen Limit Reached. Please no more.

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

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

Not my fav LC effort. Moody AF

Even for Leonard Cohen, this album is depressing.

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

Dreary.

Fitting title.

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

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

Un peu boring

2 - not for me

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

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

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

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

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

Lyrically good. Musically and vocally poor

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

I like leonard cohens song here.

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

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

Artsy!

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

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

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

I don't know, while it was better than other Cohen's albums, I just really dislike the speaking-over-music style.

Surprisingly less dreary than his last album, which was the first one I listened to. But still, it did not do it for me.

I’m sure I just need to listen to Leonard Cohen music in a specific setting to let it sink in (idk what that is quite yet) but his music just doesn’t do it for me

The lyrics are pure sunshine and the melodies are absolute ear candy. I couldn't get enough of the vibrant energy! Please play this at my funeral. JC! It was all I could do to get through this miserable album.

I hate Leonard Cohen as a vocalist. Let me repeat that, I hate Leonard Cohen as a vocalist. Only Bob Dylan might be worse. Every song sounds exactly the same. He takes his voice, which is pretty good in and of itself, and does absolutely nothing with it. Like any sort of inventiveness, dynamism or variety is morally wrong to him. The music itself occasionally has a bit of life, but mostly that is pretty monotonous (except, Diamonds in the Mine, that was a nice change of pace). I now know I'll never need to listen to one of his songs again. The album title is two words too long. Being generous and rounding up 1.5 stars entirely because of Diamonds in the Mine (though the more songs I listen to the harder this becomes).

Not a fan of Leonard Cohen’s voice, and the guitar backing the moaning on this album is super basic. Very melancholy. Overall didn’t care for this but giving it a 2 because I suppose lyrically it’s very poetic and well written, but I couldn’t tolerate the music enough to listen. (2)

I didn't read about this album before but some of the songs are head scratchers with their lyrics and the other ones are just sad and depressing. His singing and guitar doesn't redeem anything. Ugh.

Great acoustic guitar in the back. Sounds depressing

He's a bit of a struggle, but there was something I liked I cannot put my finger on.

I see the influences on things I like.

I guess I can see the appeal, but it's not something I enjoy.

a tedious slog through a dreary, dank dirt alley in a rainstorm

[shrug] In the words of John Heard’s character in BIG: “I don’t get it.”

I know I’m supposed to like Leonard Cohen because he’s a great songwriter, but I generally find his lyrics obtuse rather than deep, and he’s musically repetitive. This album is no exception.

A bit tiring, very monotonous.

- Another artist I'm boycotting for two main reasons: 1. Although it's hard to say what he would say today given the genocide, I'm assuming he would remain a liberal Zionist because when he was alive, he played in Israel for the IDF, went back later against the BDS movement, and apparently believed the solution for peace in Palestine was to kick out the people Israel stole the land from, as per this quote from an article: "I was surprised by Cohen’s familiarity with Feiglin, no less that the nationalist leader’s views had found favor with the octogenarian star. “We need to separate from them (the Palestinians),” he told me. “But it must be humane.” Feiglin has long held the view, as he explained in an AFP interview in 2008, that the Palestinians “will have to seek the right to self-determination in Arab states.” Feiglin added, “Israel will encourage the Arabs to emigrate to their countries and assist any Arab who wishes to do so.”" Oh yeah, soooo humane. 2. Dude appears to be another pedo: His poem “the 15-year-old girls” published in his 1972 collection “The Energy of Slaves”: the 15-year-old girls I wanted when I was 15 I have them now it is very pleasant it is never too late I advise you all to become rich and famous The article I found that in continues: "If only Cohen’s alarming interest in “15-year-old girls” was merely found in one poem. But the ugly truth is that Cohen’s attraction to young girls is a theme repeated throughout his life, such as the harrowing story of “hypnotizing” his family’s 15-year-old maid to undress (according to the author of Cohen’s epic three-volume oral history, Michael Posner, it is unclear exactly what Cohen’s romantic involvement with his maid entailed, and he expressed genuine regret for the whole episode later in his life). Most damningly, a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone magazine ends with a random Cohen outburst, “Hey, where are the 14-year-old girls? This is California, isn’t it? Where are the 14-year-old girls?” It is unclear from the interview if these words, like so much of Cohen’s work, were full of irony or meant to be taken seriously."" In my opinion, I don't care if it's irony, 1. it's not funny, and 2. sounds like a pattern, and I'm not supporting this kind of shit. - The songs are poetic, dark, and brooding. The subject matter didn't capture me, though. - As for this album, I find his voice way too nasal or growling and forward without having the full baritone tone to support it - I really hate it on the middle pack of songs on this album. It sounds like he's trying to do Tom Waits, but it just doesn't work. Also, the very basic backing choirs of women or girls as a counterpoint to his growling just makes his growling seem even less convincing. - The melodies aren't very interesting, but I like some of the instrumentation that supports the songs. - "Famous Blue Raincoat" is the highlight for me. - Overall, the songs were too long, and it all felt very self-indulgent.

Ugh. This is a chore to listen to. Cohen's voice does not do it for me. I feel like he's another man who can write a killer song, but cannot sign it. Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat are the standouts, though I prefer the Tori Amos version of Raincoat.

140/1001 First listen. Dylan of the north. This feels like it was primarily words put together in such a way then the music added was of less importance. Didn’t do anything for me. 3/10

Not my favorite. I cant really get into Cohen's talk-singing, and a lot of thr songs had a droning quality and lyrics that felt forced. Overall- not bad. But not for me

I just can’t get into Leonard cohen. Mediocre voice and he speaks most of his “singing”

Boring folk music. There’s little energy here. Doesn’t motivate me to listen again.

I was a music major in college, and inevitably, you get to a point in music history where you must talk about Arnold Shoenberg, widely considered one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. He was, without a doubt, deeply creative and immensely influential. And yet, I never want to listen to anything he ever wrote. Yes, I can stop everything and pay attention, and gain appreciation for what he’d written, but I will never seek out his music for pleasure, and I certainly won’t enjoy it if I do listen to it. Leonard Cohen is similar for me. But replace “composer” with “songwriter.” He just doesn’t do anything for me, even if he’s technically brilliant. And, as far as I’m concerned, there were other great songwriters at the same time who actually wrote music that was worth listening to. I will pick those songwriters every time.

Not for me I'm afraid. Seemed like it just went on and on.

Interesting, not exactly upbeat

Another Dylan comparable. Songs of Love (love the poetry) and Hate (hate the singing).

Better than the previously-reviewed Cohen album, but … not by much. His intonation & style is [personally] grating & just not that enjoyable to listen to.

his voice does something to me and not in a good way

#838. A few of his albums in now, and i can very clearly say this is not for me. 2/5: nah

I respect Leonard Cohen as a Montrealer, a boulevardier, and a poet, but I do not like his music. I had a very hard time staying interested in this record. His delivery is boring.

I can't do any more cohen, please don't make me. This guy would benefit from a greatest hits album on here instead. Perhaps if I truly appreciated the art of poem writing and song chanting I could enjoy this but I don't. I am also just not a sad enough person for this stuff.

Maybe this is because I've listened to this whilst working, but I've not felt struck by this in the same way I was You Want it Darker, and I only got depression from the little attention I paid to the lyrics. That said, I paid full attention to Joan of Arc which is a wonderful piece of poetry, so I may be being too harsh on the album here. 5/10

Não gostei muito não Meio meh

A good poet for sure, but musically, not really for me. People who cover him usually do a great job.

Leonard Cohen is an interesting guy. I still don't know how I feel about his unusual style....it's a mixed bag.

This album is a road trip down a highway of dreariness and darkness while stopping at every roadside attraction possible; some are cool, most aren’t worth a glance. But you just want to tell him to get to the end already. It tries to be dark and dreary too hard. ⭐️⭐️

So relentlessly serious it makes you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a man narrating his own emotional autopsy. Impressive, but spiritually heavy in the worst possible way.

Not really music but more poetry. Some of it was hard to listen to but there were some pearls in there if you were in the right moment.

Not for me

There were some interesting songs here but I've never really been crazy about Cohen. I should probably listen again though.

To be honest, it was fairly dreary and miserable. Combine Lou Reed and Bob Dylan, put some twangy acoustic guitar and give it come fairly miserable themes in the vocals and you get this. I didn't really like it.

zzz

No private session used for Spotify. I keep thinking I should do a deep dive on Cohen some time, but I think this site will have me covered. I like the music, but not a real fan of his voice..lovely guitar work, though.

Music to kill yourself to.

Leonard Cohen is ok, some of his stuff is better than others. Admittedly I haven’t listened to a lot of it, but this is probably the most tolerable one so far. I guess you have to take it for what it is. It’s basically poetry, loosely (sung)/spoken over acoustic guitar type laid back folk-music. It’s fine, but I don’t really “get it” I suppose. People love him, and I don’t see what all the fuss is about.

A fantastic poet and lyricist, but not really a songwriter that grabs my attention. It feels like enjoying Leonard Cohen is done moreso with the brain than the heart. While there are highlights on this, the lack of dynamics or exceptional instrumentation result in a 48 minutes that go by at a plodding pace. Best Tracks: - Diamonds In The Mine - Joan Of Arc Worst Tracks: - Dress Rehearsal Rag Rating: 5/10

His first album was used as the soundtrack for McCabe and Mrs. Miller. I liked it as it fit the moodiness and darkness of the film. But, his music on its own just bores me. His poetry is brilliant, but his music is, to me, thin and listless.

It's ok. Not my music.

I'd like to think that this is 70s doomer music. Favourite Track(s): Diamonds in the Mine Least Favourite Track(s): Dress Rehersal Rag

Everytime i read an article about a metal, goth, or punk band and their influences, about half the time you see the name Leonard Cohen. i have to admit, i simply do not get him and his popularity but he's not the only one i have this opinion of (there are two or three also in the 1001 listing). if i have to pick a song or two, it would be "Diamonds in the Mine" and "Sing Another Song, Boys".

Depressing. Although that might be the point.

I think I've decided that I really hate lyrical albums like this

Not for me, but he's good

Not really a Lenny Cohen guy.

The Good: Always nice when an album title explains what you are going to hear! The Bad: The album title not explaining that it refers to how you will feel about the songs… The Ugly: The fact that there’s more to hate… Oh Leonard, what troubled life you live. Is he a great poet? Yes. Does he know how to pluck a string or two? Yes. Is his voice particular? Yes. There, that’s the positive stuff to say about the album. I will not dive into the negative portions of the album, as I believe those who’ve not had to listen to this album yet should dig in with a blank slate! Don’t let my score discourage you for, potentially, loving the album… I hated it… 2*

Was fine but not something I'd go back to. Bob Dylan without the catchy tunes - fast fingerpicking will only get you so far......

Ok 2/5

There's nothing I really loved on this album and there's nothing that I really hated on this album, I was just bored.

A mediocre Bob Dylan

Avalanche

His voice is such a drone. I'm sure the words were really meaningful but it didn't do anything for me.

What a miserable guy.

too slow for me

Not my cup of tea.

It's not the worst of the folk stuff this list has been spewing, but it's by no means good. I like music, not lyrics and most of this album is just lyrics.

A truism I feel about 90% of songs is I'd like them more if they were played at double time. For Leonard Cohen, that may not be enough. His singing is so deliberately slow, it almost feels like he's doing a bit. The primary emotion I get out of Leonard Cohen's singing is somnambulance. The music is secondary to the lyrics here, and I'm not really a lyrics guy. But even paying attention to them, the ideas are not anything that speaks to me. Cohen is a glacial poet who revels in inscrutable imagery and I'm not feeling what he's putting down (although in "Famous Blue Raincoat," imagining Leonard languidly penning a letter to the man who cuckolded him is very funny to me). Anyway, this is another Me Thing since a number of smart people (including many musical artists I like) love his music. I would have given this one star, if not for the angry, growling "Diamonds in the Mine" which I think is terrific. If only the rest of the album was more like it.

A bit dull & dreary 5/10

Just felt depressing

Pretty boring standard fare for singer songwriter from the early 70s? Dunno why this one is so crucial. Dude is definitely leaning harder on the songwriter than singer part. Kinda like a crappier Canadian version of Neil Diamond? No real urge to listen to anything else by him, most of the album was a fairly boring slog. 4/10

If a day comes where I need some sad, slow music, I might turn to this album. Today was not that day however

*Emotionally heavy- definitely need to be in the right mood for it *Don't love his voice and several songs dragged at times- but there were some nice moments

I love Cohen but I really didn’t enjoy this today

I've never understood why Leonard Cohen is held with such reverence. He talk-sings half the songs and the music is mostly uninteresting. The songs overstay their welcome too: 7 of 8 are 5 minutes or longer; 4 of 8 are 6 minutes or longer. I enjoyed “Famous Blue Raincoat” but could skip the rest. 2/5

Интересный голос и манера исполнения, но слушать я это не стану

Woof. I adore Leonard Cohen but this early stuff is a SLOG. It is interesting to see pieces of what he becomes later.

This Leonard Cohen album is the worst thing to happen to me on my 50th birthday. Is it as bad as “I’m Your Man”? No, but it’s not much better.

Literally just Bob Dylan but with interesting chord choices. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

Nice

Zu düster für mich

Cohen is dreadfully dreary. Bob Dylan for the depressed.

Why did he start yelling at me?

Not a big dan of Cohen, or the singer/songwriter genre in general. I can see why this would be found in the project, just too dry and boring for my tastes. 2/5

So miserable

Kind of boring throughout. Good acoustic guitar and vocals but seemed overall ramble and pointless.

241/1089 - Bland vocals and redundant instrumentals.

This is the fifth Cohen album of this list so far. I assure you that no one — NO ONE — needs to hear five Leonard Cohen albums before they die.

This album just kind of ends up tough for me to rate. I think (but am unsure) that its biggest strength is one that I'm just not good at picking up, especially on a first listen, which is lyrics and story. If that's true, this probably ends up getting a slight boost in rating. Without being able to decipher it well, it just ends up being an okay album with a good guitarist that's only really a fine singer. I didn't even note a favorite song on my listen through. Favorite Song(s): -

We went to church, did I like it? I don't think so.

More poetic music then music with a rythm and song. Decent listen.

Ugh god not another Leonard Cohen album. This guy just talks over a guitar and calls it “singer songwriter” like what is the appeal of that. No variation at all already went through one of these before and they sound the exactly the same. Mid mid mid 4.1/10 2/5