Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Pretty slow but I did really like a deep cut on the album
- Only ever listened to his first album before - Appreciate how good the songwriting is, just don't think it's for me - Not sure but Cohen just doesn't seem to click in the same way as others do - Still enjoyed some of the tracks - Fav songs: Diamonds in the Mine, Famous Blue Raincoat; Sing Another Song, Boys
Leonard Cohen's third album and second with Bob Johnston builds upon his previous 'Songs from a Room' resulting in an album that is much more textured and full sounding. These songs are contemplative, bleak, and inhabit a world that is feels very lived in. It is one of Cohen's most emotional intense albums, but it retains its focus throughout result in something that is completely unified. It is beautiful and austere and will stick with the listener long after it's finished.
soothing vocals, smooth delivery. would be nice background music. highlights: “last year’s man”, “diamonds in the mine”.
I did not like this album. Leonard Cohen does not have a voice for public consumption. He has written some really good songs. This album also shows that he has written some very incredibly mediocre songs. I think he's great when he has other people to bring his better poetry to life. This was not an example of that.
Some people I just don’t get. This is one of them. He sounds drunk at his desk just rambling and ugh post production of some ladies intercut in. Meh.
Good slow folksy vibe and really like the parts where he really shouts. More in the mood for something upbeat so could see myself enjoying this more in the future. Rating: 2.8
Classic. Great instrumental work, too.
Just can't do Leonard Cohen. 1.5/5
A few good songs, but not enough instrumentation interest for me to pair the droning vocals with.
Obviously it’s the whole point give that the title of the album is “songs of love and hate”, but it’s just too emo for me hahah. It feels dark, damp and depressing. It feels cynical and masculine and the opposite of nuanced and idk. Sorry, Leonard
Liked it no finish so i’ll come back
I really needed to listen to this several times, before I began to appreciate the craft and cleverness of these songs. I particularly enjoyed Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc and Last Year's Man. The guitar playing, arrangements and backing singing all add greatly to the songs. On some of the other tracks it does occasionally feel a little close to a Dylan tribute act, but on the whole this is an original, if very downbeat, piece of work.
good, but a bit downy for my vibe
MMM
Avalanche (listen to the Nick Cave cover!) and Diamonds In the Mine are unbelievable. The rest is forgettable. So 3 stars. Like his last album the best.
I guess Cohen's voice is the main attraction here and I didn't like it that much.
the Joan of Arc song was pretty nice, the rest was not bad nor good
Favorite song: Dress Rehearsal Rag
Not my favorite… a real downer which was not what I was in the mood for today.
Even I wasn't this depressed when I got diagnosed with depression, Jesus
It was a lil dry and depressing. I don’t think LC is for me.
Loved Leonard's voice, it's very calming Some songs almost had a lullaby vibe I liked this album except for Diamonds in the Mine I listened hard to the lyrics because they seemed really interesting, but I couldn't really figure out the meaning of most of them 😂 Also the songs were just tooooo long but since they were good I'll forgive it
Favorite Song(s): Idk, they all blended together for me This album had a very rainy day feel. It would go well with a cup of tea, a good book, and a cozy blanket. I also like how Cohen used the theme of Joan of Arc throughout the album. I feel like if I had paid closer attention to the album, I would have found a story, but I didn't (the long songs lost me haha).
Was okay. Liked the beginning of Sing Another Song, Boys. Depressing. But I kinda like his voice. + Last Year's Man + Dress Rehearsal Rag
Love the lyrics, just can't listen to him for very long
Bien, pero muy intenso-denso para oírlo entero(PSP)
Nice guitar and a decent voice, but very bland and samey with very little to write home about. However after so many weeks into this site, this was THE album that gave me the feeling that this list is *not* a comprehensive, overarching, wide selection of a variety of genres, meant to be reaching all corners of the music spectrum for the important and influential albums across the board, as it is portrayed to be. But it's a list exclusively for and biased toward people who believe Dark Side of the Moon is the greatest album in history, and Led Zeppelin, Floyd, and Nirvana were gods walking amongst us - not really a list made for anyone else outside of that group. Would love to be proven otherwise, but I now don't expect to hear much other than Beatles, Floyd, and artists of that ilk, with very little variety or expansion into other genres (which is fine, but very narrow in scope, and a bit misleading and disappointing)
Super cool. Started out more easy listening than I expected but no way that was gonna last forever. Want to come back to it with a lil more focus in the future!!
He's sad and he has a guitar. Fuck yeah!
Listening to this only a few times before writing about it feels disrespectful to the work that someone like Cohen presents. A true poet, Leonard Cohen has been someone I desire to spend more time with in general, because he really feels like someone whose identity changes for the listener the older you get. These songs are simple but never boring. Sometimes a string section kicks in to fill out the sound, but this is little more than Cohen’s voice and acoustic guitar, and they are all angry. The title may have Love in it, but there is little to go around. The characters here are miserable, in pain, and the only love to be found is that of unfulfilled longing. Maybe it’s obvious, but Cohen is one of the undisputed kings of sad sack music, and that reputation is due in part because of albums like this one. I would like to shout out Diamonds in the Mine, a perfect end to Side A that has Cohen sounding angrier than ever. Great album, and maybe it’ll be a 5/5 for me one day.
Cohen gets dark. Cohen gets good. I'm not sure if it's his best album, or just in the top 3. Man of phenomenal talent and gift.
Really appreciate how distinctive his voice is. Tonally I feel like this album is diverse
Very beautiful songs
Love. Hate. Sex. Christianity. More sex. A raincoat. 5/5.
L. Cohen could have used up the entirety of the record telling knock-knock jokes for all I care, as long as “Avalanche” and “Famous Blue Raincoat” were featured. Fortunately, he doesn’t. Nevertheless it wouldn’t have altered my score significantly. What an emotional ride.
Starting with 'Avalanche' which was my favourite, I thought the next two were a step down and I thought I would be writing this album off but then 'Dress Rehearsal Man', 'Diamonds in the Mine', 'Famous Blue Coat' & 'Joan of Arc' were fucking great. Saved album. What a nice slow treat
Hated. A blanket of gloom and depression. This is not music.
Folk. Muy muy aburrido.
Singy
pretty fun and chill album. love the lyrics
I can't believe this f****ing guy is smiling on the album cover. "Songs to Shoot Heroin By", "I Watched My Entire Family Drown", "I've Been Buried Alive".... These would all be more appropriate titles for this depressing as f*** album.
Just can't do it.....
Enjoyed, especially Famous Blue Raincoat. 3.5 stars.
Early Cohen hints at the powerhouse he would become.
Ok I guess. I was glad the album was short though. Not sure I could listen to his version of a concept double album
Medicine for depression. If you want to be depressed, that is.
he seems angry, I just don't like his voice
Leonard is a very specific vibe and I wasn’t feeling that vibe today, but it wasn’t terrible. I just wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it fully.
About what one expects from Cohen; To me, a little masterpiece. Bookending with the religious figures of Babylon and Joan works well. The material has its weight balanced on instrumentation which is not flimsy but just bare enough. It's impressive that music can feel so personal and so accommodating in its darkness.
Ik zit wat tussen liefde en haat voor dit album. Beetje saai met momenten
Very sparse, skeletal album, where the focus is on the flamenco-esque guitar playing and Cohen's voice and lyrics. Nice, but didn't really wow me too much. Favorite tracks: "Avalanche", "Famous Blue Raincoat"
Moody AF.
rustig ochtendalbum
Goeie sesh
This didn’t much grab me even though I like Cohen. Diamonds in the Mine was a standout. I liked side B more than side A.
I like it but it's pretty much the same thing as 'Songs of' which I liked even more but there not really any variation here unless it's purely about the words and the pretense of guitar and singing is a sham. Get some more variation Leonard!
Si j'avais été de moins bonne humeur j'aurais mis 5
je me suis pris une averse en meme temps c'était de mise
First time listening to this record, even though i was aware it was a classic. I love the string arrangements and the subtle acoustic guitar arrangements more than anything else. this isn't your kids pop. I will certainly listen to this again. Probaly add it to my collection on the shelf, rather than stream it.
Great guitar playing. Depressing as fuck though, I mean this guys makes Johnny Cash sound like S Club 7.
I'm starting to think I shouldn't be listening to these albums on my commute to and from work. Lenny needs to chill out. Avalanche slaps, but the rest is dire and frankly I'm not in the mood.
Brilliant album, tonally consistent. Leonard Cohen has a way with lyrics and the stripped back folk arrangement suits this well. Standout track is "Famous Blue Raincoat" but "Avalanche" demands your attention as soon as you hit play.
Really didn't like the first two LC albums I got, but this one was surprisingly not that bad. The band in particular were very solid. Unfortunately the quality of the recording left a lot to be desired. 3 stakes ablaze out of 5 🔥🔥🔥
Leonard Cohen released a lot of albums and his early works remain his strongest. I'm not a fan of Cohen, but his early records have a certain appeal and if you enjoy dreary, depressing stories, he's the man for you. In a proper mood and listening environment, this is good stuff, but doesn't seem like the type of music appropriate your workout or upbeat party. Proceed with caution. The title says it all, definitely songs of love and hate!
Hard listen at times
Bob Dylan vibes, not in a good way
Première partie d’album connue par coeur. Fin d’album moins connue. Et pourtant j’ai entendu Joan of Arc très souvent.
Interesting. The vocals left a lot to be desired, but the poetry was really good.
Sung poetry. Cohen is one of the best lyricists of modern music history.
Favorites: -Dress Rehearsal Rag -Sing Another Song, Boys
Not my kind of 🎶!
not obviously his best but it reveals its depth with repeated listening
Man, this is bleak for first thing on a Saturday morning.
very nice leonard. truly lives up to the name; songs about love and hate (but it seems mostly songs about how love is hate) best tracks: avalanche, famous blue raincoat, sing another song boys.
Meh, it didn't convince me
This is the 5th Leonard Cohen album on this list. It is unnecessary. As previously noted, he cannot sing. The writing is meh. I did not skip any songs but the album is just over 40 minutes. It wasn't the worst on the list. I will round up to a 2.
While Cohen's picking and singing remain untouchable on this LP, his bitter attitude tinges a good deal of the songs on here with way more hate than love. Something about the disposition towards cloistered, minor-key fugues here with only a few sardonically cheery ones to balance out just put a bad taste in my mouth, and the clear pro-life sentiment of 'Diamonds in the Mine' certainly doesn't help either (and has aged rather poorly).
9,5/10
Avalanche is great, although a tad bit long. That actually holds up for the whole album; the songs last too long for my taste. The album couldn't hold my attention when listening from front to back either. All in all I rather listen to Nick Drake or Tom Waits when I'm in the mood for melancholic songs.
Den helt gode singer/songwriter, hyggeligt og alvorligt
I love Leonard Cohen. So this is an easy one.
Loved it
Good
good
As a fan of poetry and songwriting, I have always been drawn to Cohen's ability to craft lyrics that are both profound and deeply personal. The music on this album serves to elevate the poetic lyrics and give them a punch. The melodies are simple yet haunting, and the arrangements are stripped down, allowing the focus to be on the lyrics and Cohen's unique vocal style. What I find particularly compelling about this album is how it has become more important to me as I have aged. When I first discovered this album, I was in my late teens and was drawn to the melancholic yet beautiful sound. But as I have grown older and experienced my own share of love and loss, I find myself connecting even more deeply with the lyrics. The songs on this album are timeless, and Cohen's view on love and loss speaks directly to my soul. Overall, "Songs of Love and Hate" is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Leonard Cohen's ability to craft profound lyrics and his unique vocal style make this album a must-listen for anyone who appreciates great songwriting. It is an album that has influenced my taste in music and will continue to be a source of inspiration for years to come.
Tortured Soul. The music is hard felt but it didn't resonate with me.
This is a beautiful poignant album.
Cohen er aldrei mitt fyrsta val, en það bregst ekki að þegar ég hlusta þá hrífst ég alltaf a.m.k. smá með og oft þó nokkuð. Gott stöff.
Jose feliciano meets Rodriguez. Very poetic and poignant lyrics. Emptionally raw and exceptional delivery. Very cohesive throughout. 4.5.
Great album, I preferred this one to the earlier “Songs of Leonard Cohen” but not to “want it darker” ,“The dress rehearsal rag” is so dark, And the next song “diamonds in the mine”is good contrast it’s light and jammy instrumental but the vocals are really gritty and anguished at the end. I would probably listen to one side of this record at a time and turn it over days later 3.5
1001 Leonard cohen albums. I like you want it darker better, this one was okay. Favorite song was famous blue raincoat. I like how he brings back the triplet guitar thing like a theme. Good lyrics I guess? Idk this record didn’t do much to me.
I really liked the beginning half of this. There are some lines or even just vocal deliveries that is brilliant. Sometimes I wish songs were more thought out musically.
Gawd I love this album. It is an acquired taste. Dude was a poet first.
These songs are so interesting. The writing, composition, and performance of each one always pull me in. Leonard Cohen is fascinating.
Sparsely arranged and lyrically dense, Cohen spends forty five minutes swinging an emotional hammer at your temples. Gravely, sardonic vocals punctuate every track on this absolute killer of an album.
Didn't know until today that Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed are two different people. I find Lou Reed wildly boring and so when I got this rec I was expecting Velvent-Underground-boringness but I had the wrong guy! I was pleasantly surprised with this, but likely would've given it a 3 if my little mix up didn't put expectations on the floor. I really liked "Sing Another Song, Boys" and "Avalanche" was nice. I'll be back but only when I'm in looking to feel a very particular sad way
Melancholy, classical-guitar based poetry
Cohen är ju Cohen.
Pros: It's Leonard Cohen. Come on. The album contains the timeless Cohen classics Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat and Joan of Arc. Cons: The rest of the songs (except maybe Last Year's Man) are quite raw and mediocre. This version of Joan of Arc is not the best even in Cohen's own catalogue. What to do then? This being a Leonard Choen album is an immediate bonus for me, biased as I am. But there are many Cohen albums better than this, and giving this 4 or 5 would be unfair to them. So I guess it's 3.5/5, which, of course, will be rounded up.
Cara podia só escrever e deixar a cantoria pra quem sabe. Triste.
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.
Knepigt att betygsätta sånt man har haft med sig så här länge. Men gillar det ju fortfarande.
Few times one can listen to such powerful voice singing engaging stories. This album is poetry and tragedy. It is life and misery. It is love and sadness. God bless you, Leonard
Is there a 0 star option? Did not and will not listen to this, just about the opposite of what I consider music to be
This one didn’t do anything for me. Can see why it’s on the list. But it was very dull.
I like Leonard Cohen’s songwriting quite a lot, even if I don’t love the style of music. When I think of it as poetry set to music - as maybe Cohen would like - I like it more. 4 stars.
Obviously a masterclass in lyricism — that I don’t understand. Not my cup of tea
Some songs nostalgic, not really for me, but can set a mood for when walking and has an almost monochromatic atmosphere (good for winter)
Really enjoyed this. I think I just about enjoyed ‘You Want it Darker’ more, which is testament to his longevity. But this is probably one of the more intense albums I’ve heard, and his lyrics and voice stand up with the best. Dress Rehearsal Rag was my highlight
Still had the gravelliest voice of them all back in the day, enjoyed avalanche and some others but preferred you want it darker.
I preferred You Want It Darker, but this was still excellent. I'd never heard any of the songs before; Joan of Arc and Avalanche were probably my favourites.
Overall I thought it was good but it didn't move me like his album "You Want It Darker", his voice and lyrics felt quite raw on that album. Although his gravelly voice really comes out in "Diamonds in the Mine". A very good album that I'd have not heard without this list. Highlights were "Avalanche", "Diamonds in the Mine" and "Joan of Arc".
Think Leonard Cohen might be the biggest revelation in this list so far for me. Fantastic poet and really emotive voice. Didn't enjoy this quite as much as "you want it darker" I don't think. This was more Bob Dylan esque I think. Which is no bad thing! I think his voice gets better with age too. Think the highlights were avalanche, diamonds in the mine, famous blue raincoat and Joan of arc. At least 2 of my 5 star albums now mention Joan of arc!
Bad bob Dylan, don’t care if he wrote the shrek song
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.
Beatiful!
Leonard Cohen is a name I’ve always heard but truthfully never really explored until today, and wow. I get it. It hit me from the start and carried the whole way through. Very poignant lyrics.
My favorite Leonard Cohen album. The songs are universally excellent with lyrics whose imagery is vivid and palpable. The melodies can at times sound similar from song to song but that's a minor criticism when the quality of lyrical content is this extraordinary. 5 stars
Awesome album. Mostly chill and kinda dark.
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.
Meh
Nice
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.
Great guitar work and melodies. Odd but interesting lyrics. Vocals sound like they took one take and said that’ll do.
The early 70s must have been a dark time
This is weirdly enjoyable and weirdly grating at the same time...
A few really good songs. Overall pretty good and dark.
He has way better albums.
like best når han har kjempemørk stemma, men fortsatt ganske nice
Kjedeligare enn eg håpte på
I was about to write a similar blurb I've done with the other Leonard Cohen albums I've heard on this list. That, even though I appreciate his earlier 60's and 70's work, I'm personally a bigger fan of his later work, from the 80's onwards, and that I find 2010's songs like "You Want It Darker" and "Almost Like The Blues" the best he's made. Where it all lyrically became a bit darker and his voice got that low timbre. But then I listened to this album a few times over. The first set of songs (Avalanche, Last Year's Man & Dress Rehearsel Rag) are the musical equivalent of pure beauty in a successful white / black photo. And where in previous two albums I found the added choirs and female vocals taking away from the beauty, on songs like Last Year's Man they add to the atmosphere. Not all songs are as good as the rest. Diamonds in the Mine feels like a angry country song that with a burst of cynicism feels out of place. Love calls you by your name is a lesser rendition of what was already established on Avalanche. But then we get Famous Blue Raincoat, which is absolute beautiful. It just pours emotion without getting tacky. After that, the album doesn't get to these heights anymore. But for his early period, this is his best
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Famous blue raincoat
The last album you want to listen to when the windchill is -35 degrees outside. Unless depression is sort of your thing.
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.
I actually really liked Avalanche, the album opener, so I was kind of wondering if I would be more into this album, especially when compared to other Cohen albums I've heard from this project. But as things progressed, I kind of lost interest. It was okay, but I ultimately just don't think Leonard Cohen is much for me. His impact and place on this project is certainly undeniable, though.
Loved one song
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.
Not bad
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.
pajero
Interesting mix of classic Leonard Cohen stuff and some crazy tracks that almost sound like a joke at Leonard's expense (Diamonds in the Mine). Not my cup of tea.
Lyrics were great, guitar was decent, and Cohen's voice is not my cup of tea. Feels like he has barely any vocal range for a famous singer.
Songs of Love and Hate started off well, with beautiful guitars and haunting deep vocals, but then kind of fell off the wagon from there. Which mirrors Cohen's state of mind at the time according to an interview with Throat Culture magazine stating that "absolutely everything was beginning to fall apart around me: my spirit, my intentions, my will. So I went into a deep and long depression." Best: Avalanche Worst: Diamonds In The Mine
Not for me, but its really like the titlle says, songs of love and hate.
this was quite a drag....
Diamonds in the Mine is unbelievable. He starts off with a sardonic, Dylanesque voice. But it finishes with this coarse shouting. Try and ignore that if you can. The whole thing is just ridiculously brilliant.
I don't know what it is, but I enjoyed this much more than I expected.
Like CCR, all of Leonard Cohen's albums sund like Greatest Hits to me. The lack of an album theme lets down the number of tunes here.
Actually liked this more than the newer first one I listened to
There might not be any diamonds in the mine, but I got a few stars for ya.
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.
The lyrics are pure poetry. The voice takes a bit to get used to. It's striped down production. I thinik the second half is stronger than the first, which is strange. I like this album, but it's not something I want to listent o all the time.
Very fantastic. 4 stars!
Beautiful.
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
Prefs: Avalanche, Last Year's Man, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Famous Blue Raincoat, Sing Another Song, Boys, Joan of Arc Moins pref: Diamonds in the Mine
Slow horny baritone vocals with a creepy gothic guitar accompaniment. Good lord, I'm straight and this album makes me horny for guys, gals, and non-binary pals. 4/5
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 love Leonard Cohen, but I prefer his later work. The lyrics are always great, but on the earlier songs I really dislike the sound of his voice. It's creepy and not very pleasant to the ears. Listening to this, I noticed some similarities to Lou Reed that I hadn't picked up on before. Strangely enough, the smoking made his voice much more interesting later on in his career. Also, I think his melodies got a bit catchier and more anthemic later on. Having said all that, this is still a great album. 4 stars.
A classic
It’s like Donald trump Singing
A really beautiful album. It can start to feel a little one note over time, since he uses similar finger picking and vocal tone throughout but he has great lyric. I tend to gravitate more towards an album like "Death of a Ladies' Man" for my Leonard Cohen fix but this has some incredible songs on it. Standout Tracks: Avalanche, Last Year's Man, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc
It was a perfect morning for this album. Overcast and cool, the fog drifted through the trees, muffling the sound of traffic and laying a soft blanket of grey across the world. The conditions couldn't have been better for listening to "Songs of Love and Hate". And yet... I still can't get away from the feeling that any of these songs would be 100x better if they were performed by someone other than Leonard Cohen. Anyone else. The man is a songwriting genius. He has penned some of the most lovely songs ever here. But he's kind of awful at actually performing the things. I can't give it full marks but I also can't give it less than 4 stars. The songs are just so good.
"Songs of Love and Hate" is the third studio album from Leonard Cohen. It was recorded in Nashville, London and a live song at The Isle of Wight with his band The Army. Many of these songs were written years earlier. The songs were recorded at a difficult time for Cohen as he felt his life was falling apart and was in a state of deep depression. Well, this album starts dark and stays there. As with every Leonard Cohen album, just utterly brilliant lyrics. The music highlights his mood too. Critics found this album less varied than his previous albums but more focused. It is focused. A classic guitar with an uptempo pace starts "Avalanche." Strings build and add tension. Cohen's voice just sounds evil. He's in a state of depression and God isn't helping. "Last Year's Man" goes to an even starker place with acoustic guitar playing...barely. A jilted man with fantastic imagery to God, the Old Testament and Joan of Arc. Strings and a child chorus gives us a little hope at the end. This also a song Cohen never played live since he felt he could never get it right. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is one of his more popular songs covered by many artists. It's about a man writing a letter to another man whose wife he had an affair with. Another song where the strings and backing child vocals add to the emotion. The album ends with Cohen in more spoken word form in "Joan of Arc." He tells the story of a dialogue between Joan of Arc and the fire as she burns at the stake for heresy. Cohen said this song was about how you meet you destiny. Cohen starts singing "La-la-la" in a deep, depressed voice contrasted with female backing vocals. Beautiful. Strings add to the acoustic guitar as the story unfolds. I've never heard a bad Leonard Cohen album but this is my favorite. The emotion in his voice is stark and just incredible. The music is sparse but on on point to his lyrical themes. A very high recommendation.
This album fucking sucks. Leonard Cohen is impossible to listen to. The ending to Sing Another Song, Boys is, bar none, the worst attempt at music I've ever heard
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.
I didn’t think I was going to like this album, but I was blown away. Leonard Cohen has an amazingly powerful voice and the backing music complements him perfectly
It's leonard cohen. I wish I could pay attention to the lyrics more.
Love LC but this should not be on the list.
3/10
i luv him
Love Leonard Cohen, but admittedly I 'm not a frequenter of his albums, and there's plenty I've left undug. Including this, so this was welcomed. Avalanche is just an incredible piece of work. Unsettlingly atmospheric guitar and strings, gripping songwriting and delivery. Anyone unaffected, by this, I don't understand. Last Year's Man is as mournfully beautiful as Avalanche was unsettling. The vitriol in Dress Rehearsal Rag! It seems pointless picking out further individual tracks, they're all of such high quality. Obviously, Famous Blue Raincoat, well, words can't express. Cohen at his best outstrips Dylan, and he does so here. This is the best album this project has presented to me in quite some time. Glorious.
Nice guitar play style.
A écouter pendant qu’on est ni dans un haut ni dans un bas
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.
Oh my good God I dream of being able to write lyrics and music as good as LC. Avalanche, what an opener, the guitar is freaking incredible I dream of being able to even play like that let alone write that. Beautiful poetry and beautiful music, beautiful album. I think I prefer Songs of LC to this album maybe because I've spent more time going into the inspiration of the songs on that album in the past, but it is still incredible.
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
Another great from Mr Cohen
This is poetry Leonard Cohen, what a songwriter, what a poet. This man could write a song that makes you feel something. His voice is so unique, so dark and dramatic. The lyrics are true poetry that hits you so deep. I knew of Cohen before this projekt but im so glad I got the oppurtunity to really dig into his music
Legendary singer/songwriter and solid album I hadn’t heard before.
How dreadfully dreary. A little like Paul Simon on barbiturates. I was almost tempted to turn it off half way through but the introduction to Diamonds in the Mine caught my attention. Something a little more upbeat, almost enjoyable? … then he started “singing”
Happy to have heard this and definitely need to go back to it again.
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.
Another good Cohen album in his unmistakable style, rich in atmosphere and a good listen despite missing lots of variety
not a huge fan of the vocals but it’s still pretty good
It was alright. Happened to fit my vibes today.
It took me a while before I could appreciate Cohen's work, and this is the album that finally made me a fan. Avalanche is one of my favorite songs of all-time and the whole album has a dark and cynical feeling that I really like.
Great songs with quite the depressive vibes I was hoping for the first days of October. Cohen is a true master.
Bob Dylan of Canada ;) Excellent compositor, deep music - good for your soul. CLASSIC
Leonard Cohen is a master of words and feelings. It's hard not to be taken away by his music. This album is another proof of his talent and legacy.
bem agressivo e pesado, tanto os vocais e letras quanto o violão. é interessante também o sentimento de vazio que se cria quando só tem violão e voz violentos na musica. lembrou bastante Berlin do lou reed
While I do think the album is indeed rather quite sad, I think that's hardly a reason to rank the album so sad. His voice is sometimes a tad droning, but it often works with the tune of the song, and it only heightens the emotions when his voice raises in pitch, it shows he really does view his writing as something worth sharing. I think if you view these songs as poetry first this really is an excellent album.
Not a fan of this genre
Very boring.
not good. 2.
Every song is the same: a boring 5+ minute long story with Cohen singing the same 3 monotone notes.
felt like a mix between bob dylan and lou reed.
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?
Soulful, deep lyrics and rich music. Cohen packs more emotion and meaning in one line than most do an entire album or career. His voice is a bit of an acquired one, but be patient…he is worth it.
hell yeah, Leonard Cohen is GOATED 10/10
not my jam but artful
Love the guitar in avalanche. That’s it. I have nothing else to say. This was pretty boring. Especially Love Calls You By Your Name.
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.
Meh. Overrated, so here's an overly harsh 2 to help correct that.
Brilliant album - great songs.
Started out ok, got real tedious real fast
Cool concept. Acoustic guitar had good range
I did not really enjoy this project. I guess I'm glad I listened to it and will maybe return to a song or two, but otherwise don't see quite how it made this list.
He’s the more masculine bob Dylan and equally important to the genre. That being said his voice is personally grating to me
Don’t know if I’ve ever listened to a full Leonard Cohen album. Quite a delight.
OK. 2.75/5
good god. how does this man have any supporters for his voice because oh my god i would rather watch a cat puke 300 times and think that was a better sound than listen to this.
I've been sitting here trying to compose some witty or sarcastic or even sincere defense on why I hate this so much. There's a bit of a cult around Leonard Cohen - oh what a poet blahblahblah - But isn't this just for me? Ok then... The emperor has no clothes - this is terrible. 3 goddamn Cohen albums already what the everliving hell. I'll finish listening because apparently I enjoy pain - this is/was not my first Leonard Cohen disc and I pray to any musical deities that it will be my last. Absolute shit. 1/10 1 star.
Frist song was amazing but the rest of it was some of worst singing or I even call screaching I ever heard. I have no need to finsh this album
It was okay, pleasant enough
Classic LC album (certainly his first four are all 5 stars and this is number 3).
Long, boring, slow, samey. Some of the songs are “pretty” but the lyrics seem nonsensical and meandering. The “prettiness” wears off quickly.
Such a unique musician
I didnt love it but, to be fair, didn't entirely hate it either. I can't get on board with his voice, and all the songs sound the same because of it. The lyrics are as not as good as his reputation would suggest, perhaps it was easier to be considered good when there hadn't been as much music.
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.
Most of my exposure to Leonard Cohen was from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack and newer stuff. This album is incredble and definitely makes me want to dig deeper.
Good lord this man can write a song! Wish I could travel back in time to the point I started diversifying my musical tastes and slap the Dylan out of my hand and put this in it instead. Not that Dylan is so terrible, or anything, but man I woulda enjoyed discovering Cohen at an earlier age.... Fave track - "Avalanche" is just absolutely tremendous. "Famous Blue Coat" is wonderful... A bunch of the others, too....
The partnering of matter-of-fact singing with vocal chorales is something that Lou Reed does as well as Leonard Cohen. It just seems that the former does it better. This album didn’t really hit it for me.
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.
Really enjoyed it, need to listen again
I liked the instrumental. The only thing that I didn't like as much was his singing. He has a fine voice but he yells at some points that get kind of weird.
A legend but not my style
I like some of his more famous songs, but not a fan of his vocals for a full album.
I just don’t get it?!
Sad. Liked it.
this made me fall asleep and not in a good way
:/
literally could not finish it
He sure knows how to smack a person upside the face with not much more than a whisper. Powerful lyrics, powerful presence, unusual twists and turns in the lyrics.
This is my favorite Leonard Cohen album, and it's largely due to the unhinged quality of "Diamonds in the Mine."
I knew Avalanche but overall pretty good Cohen. Diamonds in Your Mine was pretty surprising, his vocals almost went into Tom Waits territory of aggression and I was totally into it. Famous Blue Raincoat is a classic Cohen tune as well. A few songs that I could be fine without but overall strong album.
Didn't know what to expect but it made me like Leonard Cohen so much less than I did.
The iconoic voice of Cohen is grating, but the message is powerful. Amazing poetry but musically I prefer it in small doses.
Its good but not great.
Not 100% my thing, a bit too much lalalalalalaaaa at one point...
I hate Cohen...
Good songs for sad people
This would depress a puppy.
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
Second Cohen record for me on the list.
Moody
masterpiece
Weer zo'n sympatieke artiest waar ik verder weinig aan vind.
Ik heb het een paar nummers geprobeerd, maar die stem trek ik - net als bij Dylan - niet.
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.
Leonard bromt een beetje op deze plaat.
Some great songs on there, Cohen IMO is one of the greats, while not all of the songs may be my fav, they are all great.
a mournful, lyrical, and dreary album with some nice gems and some weirdly upbeat tracks that feel completely out of place 3.5/5
Interesting but not for me
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.
This album has one of the most beautifully dark and melancholic songs ever made, the brilliant "Famous Blue Raincoat." Most of the other songs fail to measure up to it, but this is still a solid collection. Cohen's rich vocals and penchant for writing vivid, poetic lyrics are at full strength on this album, and there is some really gorgeous guitar work. As is the case with much of Cohen's work, this album is a total mood and some may find it gloomy. Fave Songs: Famous Blue Raincoat; Avalanche; Joan of Arc; Sing Another Song, Boys
Great songwriter and music!
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.
28th July 2022 Listened in the morning and finished the morning after. Full day at the second river. Poet Cohen. What a joy.
okay
FIRE FIRE
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.
Oh, yes. Well, this was predictably great.
Not my favourite Leonard Cohen album. Didn't have any songs that really stood out to me. He's done better.
Not a fan.
5.0 + The most emotionally intense and deeply atmospheric Leonard Cohen album, and also my favorite of his. Absolutely arresting in its poetry, delivered with a dry baritone and hushed finger-picking guitar. Standouts: "Famous Blue Raincoat", "Last Year's Man", "Avalanche", "Love Calls You By Your Name."
Lyssnade i Gif-Sur-Yvette
It was fine
Maybe if I spent more time with Leonard Cohen, something would click. Still getting nothing much from him
Bit bummed, isn't he?
'lil rough, bit brittle, but pretty powerful.
Seems vastly ahead of its time
I had never listened to Cohen before this list. And honestly he has quickly become on of my favorites from this list. So far this one seems like his best work I've heard yet.
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.
The back half of this album is full of some incredible songwriting (Songs I Love), while the front half has kids singing (Songs I Hate). Best track: Famous Blue Raincoat
Not good, not terrible.
Surprisingly good.
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.
So overbearing. At least it wasn't his "sexy" album. This list loves singers who can't sing.
Christ, bad choice of day for this. Been dealing with the emotional fallout of a former colleague being a serial sexual harasser, followed by talking about how to address the horrible effects of inequality of children's services, and trying to find affordable solutions when our government gives no f***s and pennies (I have a weird job). Then I think, well that was harrowing, I'm going to listen to my album to cheer up and it's... Leonard Cohen. It is incredibly depressing. But brilliantly so. Famous Blue Raincoat and Dress Rehearsal Rag especially so. Lyrically brilliant, use of a children's choir. He's also hilarious if your humour skews dark. Can't fault this album.
Poesía musicada de Cohen. Ningún megahit. Un 4.
Thanks to that album, Cohen can be considered one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all times. There is all in there (7/10) FT: Avalanche, Famous Blue Raincoat, Diamonds in the Mine
The folk Tom Waits.
Love and hate are very close to the surface here, and Cohen sounds like he's defeated by them both. A dark and emotional album. The juxtaposition of a children's choir on the very dark subject matter of "Dress Rehersal Rag" is very striking. One of the few situations in which a children's choir is ever acceptable. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Dress Rehersal Rag Date listened: 13/06/22
Cohen is always welcome in my ears
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?