Reviews (page 6 of 8)
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Leonard Cohen songwriting is great, but 4 albums worth? Seems more like an artist you should listen to, but not 4 specific must have albums
Good lyricism but wasn’t for me personally
Again I will say Leonard Cohen’s songs are better when he doesn’t sing them. Somehow his delivery makes his lyrics feel so self-indulgent. I don’t know. I feel like i should go to music jail for this, but I don’t really like him.
Not for me
Leonard Cohen has written some great songs, but god the man cant ding. Given this the decision to have him squawk over melodic backing singers such as on Diamonds in the mine is truly dumbfounding. Famous blue raincoat is as good as it gets as at least that suits his vocals
It may be a bad sign that the thing that's stayed with me most from this album, is that I liked the female backing vocals a lot. I did not appreciate the children's choir in Dress Rehearsal Rag (gently but insistently I tap the "A children's choir never improved any song" sign) although I did enjoy finding out that the choir came from a school with such alumni as Dean Gaffney. I quite liked when he decided to get a bit more upbeat (if you can consider a song including the lyric "And there are no letters in the mailbox, and there are no grapes upon the vine" as upbeat). But my word, Leonard drones on a lot of the time and everything is too long. Maybe, one day, I'll "get" Leonard Cohen. But that day is not today. 2/5
I almost fell asleep, and that was midnoon
It's not for me at all. Boring, monotone, repetitive. I find it quite pretentious really. I read lots of comments that say the lyrics are amazing, but they're just waffle and crap really. Half the time it doesn't even make sense.
High 2s for me, not as strong as his debut. Famous Blue Raincoat, though, is gorgeous.
I really like Leonard but this wasn’t the easiest listen, probably wouldn’t return
Poor guy deals with depression doesn't he.... It's a decent album of you like the folk/man and guitar genre. I wonder if someone covered this album then I would enjoy it more.
It's not bad, I guess. I'm really not the type of person to appreciate this kind of music. I might be a sociopath, but dark, calm, sombre, melancholic music doesn't really have an emotional impact on me. It really only works for me through loud, overwhelming sound, which this album, by design, doesn't have. This album is way to simple and minimalistic, with mostly just a single acoustic guitar and maybe a couple of strings here and there all throughout the songs. Not that simplicity is necessarily bad, but I prefer something more structurally complex. The first song is really good, through, but I don't know how to explains why it feels different from the rest of the album (but it does). If you like this, good for you, I guess, but I can't say I understand. For me, it was kind of underwhelming. 5/10
Folksy with a melancholy, unusually slow tempo. The songs seem long and similar. I think Songs Of Love And Hate makes the 1001 Must Hear List because of the album title and the last song ; Joan of Arc. (2.35*s) We’re still trying to figure out why her heart didn’t burn when she was burned at the stake.
It's a 2 from me, dawg
The music is okay, the singing is not very good, it feels more like Leonard Cohen wanted to write poems and someone forced him to make them into songs.
I guess I'm not a fan of Leonard Cohen. Can't really get into his songs
I feel now that by reaching my fourth Leonard Cohen album, I’ve come to the realization that I don’t actually care for Leonard’s music. I think the closest I felt to feeling something about it was with You Want It Darker and that benefitted from him dying right after it released. Kind of morbid, I know. It’s like for every album, I try to get into it, but it ends up becoming so monotone and esoteric. It feels like the type of music that people listen to when they want to feel smart or entitled. I mean, Leonard’s a poet, did you know? But you know what’s funny? Some of the reviews here criticize this album for being depressing. Honestly, I didn’t find it depressing enough. If you are going to come after my feels, you better go for the head. But only two songs felt really sad to me: Famous Blue Raincoat and Love Calls You By Your Name. The rest weren’t sad enough or were kind of annoying actually. Especially Diamonds in the Mine, when Leonard’s growling the lyrics. Like, dude, stop. I’m praying this Leonard Cohen ride is almost over. Favorite track: Famous Blue Raincoat Other tracks: Love Call You By Your Name
The music is technically sound, but the mood is so depressing. This album is a slog and it doesn't offer sufficient reward for the effort of listening to it. It's not awful, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Boring and I don't really care for his voice. I can see why this can be liked by people, but I never re listened and give it another chance.
Songs of Love and Hate by Leonard Cohen isn’t, in my view, one of his strongest albums. The lyrics are as poetic and thoughtful as ever, but overall it feels slow and a bit directionless. Compared to something like I’m Your Man, it lacks the energy and momentum that make his work really gripping. Joan of Arc stands out as a highlight, a haunting and deeply lyrical song that carries real emotional weight and is one of the few moments that truly connected with me. Avalanche didn’t quite land in this version. The lyrics are strong, but the arrangement feels flat. I actually prefer the version by Nick Cave, which brings a darker, more intense atmosphere that suits the song better. Favourite track: Joan of Arc Least favourite track: Avalanche Album artwork: A real highlight, stark, minimal, and striking, perfectly matching the tone even if the music didn’t fully connect
I think this guy should have stuck to songwriting, nice words, like the concept of the songs, but his voice is not enjoyable at all. Almost my cup of tea.
I really wasn't fussed on his voice, lyrics or style. Not my bag of cement
снова вроде не самый ужасный вокал Леонарда (не в смысле "довольно приятный" а в смысле на более поздних альбомах я слышала настолько чудовищнее), но весь его вайб, бэквокал, медлительность вообще нет. как всегда дисклеймер что я не могу слушать слова) одна какая-то песня показалась потенциально норм, меланхолия вместо дум дум дум
First time listening to Leonard Cohen album. Initially was intrigued by the tone and poetic form but it eventually wore thin. The female back up singers on several songs gave it a contrasting Disney-island vibe in spots but otherwise dull and depressing. 2/5
Bleak
He wrote some great songs and the arrangements on this album are good. But man who did he have around him for vocals input? Why did anyone think he should lay these tracks down with his vocals?
Nice as background music, but relatively boring? Sometimes weird texts
Random thoughts: * You really have to be in the right mood to listen to Leonard Cohen. * I listened to him yesterday when I was in a sour mood and it was hitting horrible. * I listened to the rest of the album this morning when I was in a better mood and this was better, not particularly great but not horrible. * What the fuck is going on in "Diamonds in the Mine"? That was unexpected and does not mesh with the rest of the album. The background singers and his belligerent singing over the top. That was wild and unexpected! * I'm guessing the record company had no clue how to market Leonard Cohen. He really doesn't fit into any traditional music category or definition. * I think this album made me come to realize that I'm a greatest hits kind of Leonard Cohen fan. I don't think I really need to listen to any more Leonard Cohen albums. I'll just go through on the greatest hits vol 1 and vol 2.
Songs I mostly Hate.
- Avalanche & Famoue Blue Raincoat waren nice, Rest war meh bzw Diamons in the Mine sogar einfach nervig insgesamt 2-3/5
Another fricking Leonard Cohen. Just so depressing.
I should've been into this, but his voice is so droning that it felt like he was rambling one big long-ass weed puff rant.
Just not my style
чувствую в этих песнях любовь и хейт, но также чувствую и холод
Snooze fest
Didn’t love
Some of Cohen's songs are brilliant. He just needs better musical artists to perform them. 2/3
Another day, another chance to wonder how in the heck this man ever became popular enough to have so many freaking albums.
I don’t get it
It sounded like a movie soundtrack.
I understand that this man is laying down some serious poetry. But all the songs sound exactly the same for the most part. It drags, you sort of wish something new and exciting would happen. I can't imagine anyone calling this. Their favorite album. Absolutely has artistic merit. But no overall I wasn't impressed
# 490 : Songs Of Love And Hate : 28/05/2025 Zzzzz. BORED. A two line bio, not much meat and just a sad dude with a guitar. 44 minutes of sadness. I hate this. Diamonds in the Mine was by far the best track on here! - 1 star for that.
p243. 1971. 2 stars. He can't sing, and he can't write a tune. Saved from 1 star by decent lyrics.
I'm finding through this project that Leonard Cohen isn't for me. This is something with the brooding intensity that you'd hear and think you're really in it with him. But then you start to get tired of being in it with him and decide it's time to leave him in his doldrums. Except for Diamonds in the Mine which is quite the departure itself. Nice instrumentation, nice deep drone of a voice, just not something I want to listen to.
The poetry was solid. The music, not so much. I couldn't stay awake through this one.
I found this too boring and sad. Got other Leonard Cohen recs and they're way better
Leonard Cohen has about two or three popular songs that are quite melodic and the rest are pretty dull-sounding, which is not a bad thing, but if you haven't really listened to any of these songs before, they all pretty much sound the same. I feel like with him it is more about telling a story, and not so much about the melodic bit, but I am not an absolutely huge fan of his stuff, even though it's alright having it in the background and I would jam along to the popular songs.
A very meh album sound like a shit version of Velvet underground.
I've always considered Cohen more of a poet than a musician. I can appreciate it. I just don't particularly love it.
Mostly acoustic, but odd lyrics. Not really a jam at all. Twang?
Zzzzz, so boring 😴😴🤢😴
On a certain level I am starting to feel almost feel bad about how much I just don't care for Leonard Cohen doing his thing, he's obviously skilled 2 just seems brutal. Then I remember I also gave Elliot Smith and Nick Drake a 2 and I'm nothing if not consistent.
Tried a couple times, but the style and his vocals left me cold. Poetry is fine, but I'm not feeling it. Maybe a different context for me would help but I struggle to understand this, or the critical acclaim for Leonard Cohen - I suppose he's an alternative Dylan?
I would never choose to listen to this. Why would anyone? It took forever.
i liked it, but realistically won't be coming back
Didn't love any of the songs. Did hate a few, so title is half accurate.
the lyrics are nice, but he is kinda just droning on. Makes sense that he would be one of the most covered artists. More listentoable as spoken word than music
S'alright, pretty generic feeling and somewhat cringey lyrics at times. Decent instrumentals at least. Vocal work was tough.
Ganska bra men det händer lite för lite. För mycket bara akustisk gitarr
Komische Texte
I feel like I should like Leonard Cohen more than I do. I was mostly bored during this one. Maybe it's better with heroin.
I acknowledge Leonard Cohen’s talent but damn dude, sometimes I’m just not in the mood. Best song: Joan of Arc
I can't believe in saying this, but this album was actually listenable. I usually can't stand Cohen's voice, but I guess I'm used to the older Leonard Cohen. Liked Songs Added: Diamonds In The Mine
kind of sounds like adam sandler?
I've always found Leonard Cohen's voice depressing and not a very good advert for growing up in Canada. This album is probably musically very good, but I just can't get past that depressing voice. Probably the best track on the album, because it is the least depressing, is "Famous Blue Raincoat".
Love Leonard Cohen the poet. Can’t stand Leonard Cohen the musician.
Not my style. Very melancholy across the board. I'm sure the lyrics are good, but my ear picks up singing as harmony, not words, so I have to get outside of myself to know what's being said. Not terrible, just not for me. 2/5
I don’t get the appeal of this guy, and he can’t sing at all…at times he sounds like a further-off-key Lou Reed. I actually would have liked some of these songs if someone else had been singing them, so I will give it two stars instead of one.
Look at me, I'm super deep and philosophical!! Made even a woke like me cringe, overall a depressing sounding album to me and I was glad I was interrupted multiple times while listening to it.
It's like Lana Del Rey's drunk uncle with sad Ed Sheeran on guitar. Some of the lyrics were quite interesting and mysterious. Diamonds In the Mine is goofy ahh tho... It was short at least! Fave Songs: Avalanche Dress Rehearsal Rag Sing Another Song, Boys
Couple of decent songs but it was too poetic and not musically interesting enough for me
2.7/3 leonard cohen was an interesting listen because i’ve never heard an actual album of his before. sadly didn’t find it much to my taste. BUT! avalanche is an amazing song. i love it, the guitar is just amazing. i love this style of playing. the strings are so beautiful. the dark vocals really fit the mood as well. another song i enjoyed is famous blue raincoat.
2.5
I’m not sure what he was referring to. Lost in time
Leonard Cohen I'm sure is a fantastic songwriter, but this is so downcast and boring like everything else he's produced. I cant stand his monotone voice so its automatically in the bad column for me, much like how I feel about Bob Dylan, I'm sure I just dont "get it" but I really just dont want to.
This is the last Leonard Cohen album I ever have to listen to and I couldn’t be happier! I just don’t get the appeal. I’m sure the lyrics are deep and moving to someone but they just sounded like nonsense to me. His “singing” was more plodding than anything and I found myself just skipping songs halfway through going “Yeah I get it Leonard I get it”. So after listening to 5 Leonard Cohen albums I’m convinced that I’m the problem. There must be something there I don’t understand. Oh well at least I didn’t have to listen to Hallelujah!
Eh
It's alright, I'm sure he is a great story teller song writer type person. I'm just not sure I find that enjoyable. I gave this album more stars than I rated his previous one because I think it is better. Nothing personal against the guy, I know he is super popular but I'm just not that into his work.
Why was this guy on here twice...one more than enough. Are there some interesting lyrics, sure but they quickly turn bloated and pretentious. The music never really matches up and his lyrical rhythms are just not great. Listening to him makes me feel like I am in a stark white New York style apartment and everyone is sitting around in all black smoking and judging everyone and everything and nothing is ever good enough. No thank!
I really don't dig this "singer-songwriter" stuff.
Me quedo en los 80
Objectivement, c'est sûrement un bon album mais on parle pas de vérité ici, on parle de mon opinion. L'OPINION avec un P majuscule dans mes culottes. Ce que je pense c'est que c'est plate en caliss Leonard Cohen. J'ai écouté 75% de l'album, j'étais pu capable de l'endurer, c'est tellement lourd, long, duuullllll. Le pire c'est que je comprend ce qu'il essaie de faire et il y a définitivement quelque chose d'intéressant.. je me verrai écouter deux-trois tounes avec le livret des paroles pour bien comprendre. En tant qu'expérience musicale de première écoute.. j'aime mieux Meat Loaf.
Il chigne plus qu'il chante avec un accent caricatural. La chanson Diamond in the mine est très bonne mais le reste est d'une ennui. Pas le meilleur de Leonard, ne méritera pas d'autres écoutes de ma part.
Boring and depressing. 2/5
I prefer Cohen's songs when they are sung by/with other people. I like his songwriting, but not his voice.
Eh.
Chorus backing vocals were nice. So many flesh references and metaphors. Thoughtful lyrics but not for me
I know Im supposed to like this, but I do not.
Entiendo la búsqueda pero no me gustó salvo pocas canciones
Cool poems. Honestly, I’ve always appreciated Cohen, but never really seek out to listen
I have decided that I am not a Leonard Cohen enjoyer
LC is a really talented lyricist but again this really feels like spoken word poetry set to background music moreso than cohesive music
NO MORE LEONARD COHEN PLEASE
more "Hate" than "Love" so feckin boring
I get that Cohen is a master storyteller and lyricist, but the monotony of his music is a not insignificant barrier to the appreciation of his message.
Not good
Not completely unlistenable, but close.
Yeah, at least it's not rock. I got pretty much nothing from this album. If i was trapped in a dungeon, I'd probably enjoy listen to this but that's about the only situation I would. 2/5.
Great voice. Strange songs. Either you love or dislike him.