Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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.
Nunca pude conectar con Cohen, aburrido y lento, no llegó a emocionarme
On paper I should love Leonard Cohen. He checks most of my boxes - but I simply can’t get too into him. I don’t find anything he does on this terribly interesting. The first live tune on this was the highlight for me - the rest was meh.
I didn't want one Bob Dylan in my life, and now I have two
Mad respect for LC, but this ain't for me.
Not for me
Prefer my LC a bit perkier than this dour batch.
I didn't really enjoy this. Even compared to other Cohen albums on here. I'm sure the lyrics are nice, but if I don't enjoy listening to it why not just write poems?
mitä ohmettä peruskauraa...
curti muito não
**
Idc
Vaikea keksiä mikä olisi oikea hetki näyt... eikun kuunnella tämän herran musaa. Töiden taustalla se ei toimi, autoillessa saattaisi ajaa vastaantulevan rekan keulaan, videopeleissä hukkuu muuhun meteliin. Mikä on se oikea hetki? Saunassa tai suihkussa? Karismaa kyllä löytyy. Vaikea.
Tylsällä tavalla pliisu
Girlllllll I could feel this concert through my screen
Opinion for this album would massively change depending on the mood you are in. Personally I thought it was okay but I don't think I was quite in the head-space to really appreciate it
Definitely not my favorite Leonard Cohen album.
Bit too melancholy for me
I’m sure Cohen is seen as a poet for a generation, but I have a hard time focusing on his music. A lot of the time it feels like the guitar is just too frantic. There are other folks artists and albums which appeal to me, this one can stay in the played once pile.
whiny and drawn out, it's fine
I'll continue to check out Leonard Cohen albums from time to time and I'm happy that this list has had a few but this didn't do much for me. It felt tedious. 6-minute songs with sparse arrangements focused on acoustic guitar and little in the way of hooks. There are poetic lyrics (but not much that grabbed me) and some beautiful guitar playing (opener "Avalanche" has a great, Western-sounding guitar part) but the album dragged for me. I need a little more drama maybe. Or more of an emotional entry point. Or more variation in song style. "Diamonds in the Mine" was a strange, upbeat song but that was the only one that picked up the pace at all.
Another one of those artists that i just don't get. lyric heavy music does nothing for me
Diamonds in the Mine //
Too slow, too dreary, and too boring.
I'm sure I should enjoy this more than I did, but I found it all a bit dreary.
Album #4 One to come back to when I’ve got ADHD medication.
I’ve already DNF’d two of Cohen’s albums on this list, so why not a 3rd. It’s way too monotone and boring. I don't get how there are already at least 3 of his albums on this list
Nope
That's enough Leonard now thanks.
I hate it more than I love it. I'm just not a lyrics guy, and whilst some of the tunes are ok ("Sing another Song, Boys", "Famous Blue Raintcoat") there wasn't a thing I wanted to listen to again.
I like his voice. But nothing I would listen to a whole album long. Simply not my prefered style of music. 🥱 2,5
God I really don't like Leonard Cohen and his vocals. Thought I was going to make it through this one and then Diamonds in the Mine came on. Why. 3.5/10 (1.75/5)
The repetitive guitar riff on the first track is nice and I was actually liking this on the first two songs, and then it dropped off HARD for me. I remember when he died it was like a huge deal, I just knew him as the Hallelujah guy. Hearing this album makes me think everyone else is crazy for worshiping this dude - this was BORING AS HELL to get through despite it being a pretty short album. This guy is just moaning, and when "Diamonds in the Mine" came on I actually got angry with how annoying it was to listen to. I get that it's 'artsy' or whatever but that doesn't mean it also has to be garbage. Would only listen to the first track again.
Is there anything here that Dylan didn't do better ten years earlier
Leonard Cohen is emo for the late 60s and 70s. I'm fairly sure he only knows how to sing 2 or 3 notes. He only knows how to play melancholy melodies. His music is haunting but it can never seem to capture me the way I expect it to
This is pre gravel voice. Not sure what to do with this one.
Like much of Cohen's work, the lyricism is multi layered, each line intentional and pretty heavy thematically. But it's kind of a downer, and musically doesn't do much for me. I feel bad rating it low from an objective standpoint but subjectively i doubt i'll listen to this again.
Y'know, listening to this, I was thinking back on why I gave IF YOU WANT IT DARKER a 5, and how much of it was because it was "the album he released before he died." Now, of course it's not the sole reason; that's shallow and would ignore everything being done there. The soundscapes, the mood, his voice, the lyrics I managed to catch... Like, it would have been an amazing album either way, but with the extra, unintended context of his passing, it just became all the more powerful. Here, then, we have an album on the opposite end of his life; his second ever released. The one I kept hearing described as "bleak," "depressing," "scary," "a mirror..." All that. It's probably his most famous album besides his debut or whichever one "Hallelujah" is on. A poet singer-songwriter's masterwork. And if this thing is a mirror... Well, I'unno how it reflects back on me that my second time listening to the back four songs on this album, I straight-up fell asleep halfway through. Like, don't get me wrong, there's stuff I like about this album. His guitar playing style on "Avalanche" was unexpected, but I was pretty amazed by it. And I can certainly hear, in its atmosphere, why everyone keeps saying it's so depressing. But then, that's also kind of the problem there: it's depressing, and aside from one or two songs, it hardly changes from that mood. Which is only a problem for me because I'm not in a state of mine where I can relate—or, at the very least, I don't feel like I'm smart enough to understand the lyrics well enough to get it. Like, trust me, I know there's no shame in it, but I still feel so stupid having to hop over to Genius and rely on their annotations to figure out that he's singing about Nico. I mean, I don't wanna have it come across like "sad music bad; happy music good." That's not it at all; there's plenty of sad songs I can put on and enjoy. It's just, when it comes to the super poetic singer-songwriter playing an acoustic guitar late-60's sorta deal... I'unno, I've enjoyed Bob Dylan's nonsense word salads more than I have whatever points Cohen's trying to make here. So, y'know, I wanted to give this thing a 3 at least. Like, hey, there's part of the instrumentation I enjoy, and maybe if I sat down and read all the Genius annotations... But I just gotta rate it how I feel. And to that, I **do** feel a little bad about it. Of course, I don't hafta be generous just because he's passed on, or so often called a genius, or a fellow Canadian, but... I guess combined with what I was talking about in the first sentence, it seems like if he'd passed shortly after this album and it that surrounding context I would've rated it a lot higher. And to be honest—maybe. Maybe I would have. But in a timeline where he thankfully went on to release a lot more music... I'unno. This just really wasn't my thing.
Doesn’t show him at his best often shows him at his worst.
Ugh His voice is bad. This is my 2nd album of his and I'm shocked that he made this list not once - but twice at least The smokers cough type of screaming on "Diamonds in the mine" was enough to drive anyone to insanity This album really should be a 1 but some of the songs could have been really nice if sung by literally anyone else. The backing vocals also helped bump the rating up a tiny bit 2 ⭐️
Don’t honestly love Cohens voice. A lot of love for the song Hallelujah, but honestly could take or leave this album
Not a huge fan of this. The tone is moody, his voice isn’t great, and the lyrics sound “poetic” but not very meaningful in my estimation, at least not in the current day and age. A few of the songs were decent, but still nothing I would intentionally listen to again.
Lyricism aside, I had a hard time getting into this album. Not much to catch and hold your attention. I appreciate Cohen’s storytelling, it just wasn’t for me.
As someone who doesn't pay attention to lyrics, I feel like I'm really missing out here. The music is pretty slow and sad. It doesn't feel complicated or interesting, but I'm sure that the lyrics are deep and meaningful. Unfortunately, the melodies don't do anything for me.
bardzo interesujaca muzyka ale on przeszkadza
I’m going to go kill myself now.
Åbneren var rigtig fed. Tilbageholdt frustration i stemmen. Resten blev lidt balle og lala. Det er virkelig laaangt det her album... Især sidste nummer var en milepæl inden for drænende tempo.
Mindless wallpaper drivel. Other than some nice guitar, this seriously lacks substance. 2/5.
Leonard Cohen halt. Bissi anstrengend
I don’t know what to say. Not terrible songs but just a bit depressing
Leonard bores me senseless
I think of Leonard Cohen more of a poet or novelist and not a singer, musician. He turned to the music industry when he was disappointed in his career as a writer in the mid-1960s. His lyrics are very good, poetic, and dark, but musically I can't say anything good about this album, it's very samey and his voice is not enjoyable for me. I want to enjoy his art more but I can't get really into his songs (except when I read his lyrics if they were poems).
Well, it's better than the last Cohen album I listened to... but not by a hell of a lot. This feels like outsider art, in all the wrong ways. Songs are drawn out MUCH longer than they should be, and it's tough to tolerate. HIs voice is terrible and he prefers to talk sing, which sucks. Music is so... "skim-milk", for lack of a better analogy. After a single song, it all seems to simply drone on endlessly. Similar tempos, similar keys, similar vocal style; the repetitious feeling is like I'm going crazy. I can barely tell where one song ends and the next begins. Is that his point?
Cohen is a legend so I can't say I hate it, but I don't like it. 2.8
Worst Bob Dylan cover band ever.
Kinda whinny
Outside of Hallelujah I’ve never understood the appeal of him. The lyrics are ok, but the songs are mostly pretty lame. Not for me.
70s emo
I don’t understand why he is on this list. He is not that good or deserving of it.
I've tried and tried but I just can't get beyond his dour vocals. And let's be honest, there's sod all melody (every song sounds the same). I don't even rate his lyrics that much either, too much of a reliance on clichés (the rain etc). One of the most overrated acts. The one notable thing is the understated shimmering music, now that is actually good. I've said it before and I'll say it again; this list has some pretty poor choices, overlooking recordings by lesser known artists (and some major ones) that deserve more recognition. Anyway, rant over.
Started off well then went down from there. Maybe the impact he was after was in the title to begin with.
Only not 1 star because one song his voice was fukn raw. Folksy poetry type lyrics, but I struggle to listen to lyrics so I didn't like it much
Mjög gott, ljúft ot auðvelt að hlusta á
He's good, but I don't like him that much.
Me gusta la música depresiva, pero Leonard Cohen me aburre.
A poet who sings, Patti Smith is better at it and I don't need a masters in English Lit to interpret her lyrics. Like Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Leonard Cohen other people cover their songs better then they do. kd lang in Cohen's instance. There are four Cohen albums on this list. ....there are no diamonds in the mine. 2*
If Cohen had 1001 albums the book would be 1001 Leonard Cohen albums to listen to before you die. This was my 1032'nd album. I thought I was done with him, but no! He's still here. Great that he can smile on the cover. He just dragged me through a depressing montage of bleak and mirky music. I certainly wasn't smiling listening to this.
So far these are just songs I hate. I've given Leonard a few shots now and I don't really get the appeal. Maybe I just don't like feeling or feeding sad. The poetic aspects are random and obscure with a lyrical sprinkle of something biblical or historical. He's got a great backing band, however.
More of a poet than a songwriter. But man is be just so depressing and dreary. Try going out a bit more might find a DnD group or something.
Too sad and dreary for me.
Great Lyricism but I just get bored. I understand he's a great writer but that doesn't change the fact I just can't pay attention to it. Favorites were Diamonds in the Mine and Joan of Arc.
I get the poetic aspect but I just cannot deal with his voice and the music. It’s dreary
The instrumentation is so pure and intoxicating, but I cannot get past how flat Cohen’s voice is. I guess you have to work with what you’ve got, and admittedly the few times he does go up or down on the register it makes an impact, but the overall lack of variety in the singing is too significant to ignore. I did enjoy the songwriting, some much cheekier moments than expected! Favorite track: Famous Blue Raincoat
SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE seems so dependent upon the point of view of the listener that anything Cohen wrote as lyrics seems rendered meaningless. The album does not provide earworms to aid the listener's concentration and help with the decoding. By album's conclusion everything was forgettable and I felt no insights about his love nor his hate. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some of Leonard Cohen's work, but it is songs like "Everybody Knows" and "Hallelujah", released at a time when the song production seemed more fully realized, and I've never enjoyed his songs for what his lyrics might actually be about. Perhaps I see and experience too much joy in my life to truly live inside Leonard Cohen songs. Or perhaps it was just the wrong day for the algorithm to serve this album up for me. Who knows?
too monotonous
Not for me.
He sounds bored. It's contagious. Favorite song: avalanche
I have never heard this album. My familiarity with Leonard Cohen pretty much begins and ends with "Everybody Knows" from the soundtrack to "Pump Up the Volume". Leonard Cohen weaves a wonderful song, but they are so dreary. I like his voice, the backing vocals enrich the songs, but I just don't like it all.
It’s better if you play it twice the speed. But it’s Leonard Cohen, and he does what he does.
Very, Very Somber
If I wasn't told who the artist was I would have thought it was Johnny Cash. The album was a bit too depressing for my taste. 2
The guitar work is good but vocals are way too folky for my taste.
i wanted to like this a lot more than i did...avalanche was a strong start but it got boring after that
This is his weakest album? I was not that fond of him blatantly screaming
Kinda felt like a Bob Dylan knock off. I don’t think I’ve had that feedback for Leonard yet so maybe it was a phase he went through but I’d prefer Dylan doing Dylan. The guitar in the first song was great though, reminded me of Spanish Fly or Little Guitars
Cohen has a great voice, but this whole thing just falls into that category of music that I hear but just can’t ever focus on and really listen. It’s not captivating.
I liked Avalanche, but just didn't like the 'sing talking' through the whole album
It was fine.
didnt like it that much standout track: diamonds in the mine
Another folk album from Leonard can't-make-a-good-album-name Cohen. I can't really bring myself to enjoy this guy's music. I mean, I get folk. It's about the lyrics. I know that song is rooted in poetry, but that doesn't mean that you can recite poetry over a generic instrumental and expect me to enjoy it. Heck, there's even some enjoyable folk out there. Singers with better voice than him, musicians with more interesting instrumental talent than him... maybe it's just the lyrics.
Don’t really like his voice at all
Depressingly horny. Is Leonard Cohen depressed because he's horny or is he horny because he's depressed? By any account, he needs a therapist.
Need more time to listen fully
Like a less fun, more creepy Bob Dylan.
As Below, Not for me, sorry Mr Cohen.
Eh, I found this album pretty boring. The lyrics sounded like someone trying really hard to be deep (with a couple of songs that too clearly invoke slitting wrists - man, don't listen to this album if you're depressed). His voice is monotonous and the songs drag out without a lot of change. At least most of the songs are based on a nice riff, especially Avalanche, Love Calls You By Your Name, Joan of Arc, and Famous Blue Raincoat (which had the nicest vocal tune - less monotonous). Not terrible as background sound, I suppose, so I'll go with a 2.
Bob Dylan, if Bob Dylan stopped trying.
I can actually imagine this being great if you were into the genre. For me though, just a bit depressing and, after a few songs, dull.
Meh wasn’t a huge fan, felt like they were trying to be Lou reed but with less catchy tunes
no.
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.
A few good songs, but not enough instrumentation interest for me to pair the droning vocals with.
I guess Cohen's voice is the main attraction here and I didn't like it that much.
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.
Bien, pero muy intenso-denso para oírlo entero(PSP)
Singy
Just can't do it.....
Ok I guess. I was glad the album was short though. Not sure I could listen to his version of a concept double album
he seems angry, I just don't like his voice
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.
Bob Dylan vibes, not in a good way
Not my kind of 🎶!
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).
Tortured Soul. The music is hard felt but it didn't resonate with me.
Cara podia só escrever e deixar a cantoria pra quem sabe. Triste.
This one didn’t do anything for me. Can see why it’s on the list. But it was very dull.
Some songs nostalgic, not really for me, but can set a mood for when walking and has an almost monochromatic atmosphere (good for winter)
Meh
The early 70s must have been a dark time
He has way better albums.
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