Songs From A Room

Leonard Cohen's first album was an unqualified triumph which announced the arrival of a bold and singular talent, and many who heard it must have wondered what Cohen could do for an encore. By comparison, Cohen's second album, 1969's Songs from a Room, was something of a letdown. While it's a fine LP, it ultimately feels neither as striking nor as assured as Songs of Leonard Cohen. Bob Johnston stepped in as producer for Songs from a Room, and his arrangements are simpler than those John Simon crafted for the debut, but they're also full of puzzling accents, such as the jew's harp that punctuates several tracks, the churchy organ line in "The Old Revolution," and the harsh synthesizer flourishes on "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes." Johnston also had trouble coaxing strong vocal performances from Cohen; his singing here sounds tentative and his meter is uncertain, which regardless of how one feels about Cohen's much-debated vocal prowess is not the case with his other work. And finally, the quality of the songs on Songs from a Room is less consistent than on Songs of Leonard Cohen; as fine as "Bird on a Wire," "You Know Who I Am," "The Story of Isaac" and "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" may be, "The Butcher" and "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" simply aren't up to his usual standards. Despite the album's flaws, Songs from a Room's strongest moments convey a naked intimacy and fearless emotional honesty that's every bit as powerful as the debut, and it left no doubt that Cohen was a major creative force in contemporary songwriting.

I was actually dreading the inevitable Leonard Cohen album, since I feel he is kind of the epitome of a singer/songwriter who cares more about song than sound, a topic I discussed a few reviews back. And sure enough, the album was what I expected it to be: a collection of barely-sung poetic lyrics over simple music. What I didn’t expect was how much I didn’t hate it. The feeling I got was kind of like a more melancholy version of the way I felt about the Sinatra album: it was just a nice thing to have in the background that doesn’t really intrude. My only disappointment was the lyrics. All the reviews and notes refer to his wit and wordsmithing in superlative terms, but honestly I feel like a lot of more recent lyrics, especially rap lyrics, are more impressive. He does tell a good story through. My personal enjoyment: 2.5/5 Did it belong on this list: 5/5

"hmm after i take another hit of this crack pipe maybe i should pick another album for the list" 1

Cohen is so very good at the melancholy thing, and I love it. On later albums he gets even better, as his voice ages he grows into it more and it's just beautiful. This album is a lovely listen, full of stories. I enjoyed it lots. I thin it only misses out on being a 5 because I know he gets even better.

Songs should've stayed in the room.

What an album! Always heard the hype but never really listened to Cohen--I understand now. A great listen, I can picture a recently divorced man who lost everything but his sense of self sitting on the porch smoking a cigarette on a cold gray winter morning. Calmer and muted for a 5 rating for me but truly there's no reason not to give it its due.

Lenny tells a story, it must be said. Not particularly uplifting or tuneful. Overuse of the jews harp

Another Cohen album, another review that says pretty much the same thing. Namely that, while Cohen was a world-class songwriter, his songs are best when someone else performs them. He really can't sing and the guitar playing on this album is pretty dismal as well. At first listen, there's nothing to really recommend the album... until you really listen to the lyrics. Because those are brilliant. Shame Cohen can't perform worth a damn.

"The Partisan" is a hauntingly beautiful song. I really appreciate the song-writing quality of Cohen. Very much in the same vein as Dylan, you're listening for the poetry and the lyrics more than the flow of the music.

Hadn't heard this album before, and unfortunately with good reason. Best bits are on Greatest Hits, rest is unremarkable. I love me some Lenny but not this so much

Loved this. Proper spoken word story telling. Great songwriting, emotive delivery from someone I only got into after he died. 4/5

A pinch of monotony can be a spice, one of my conclusions as I slowly rotated from scepticism about this record’s polish and reserve to getting its cool and the force of tough words delivered drily. Reading a little about Cohen helped: I originally mistook the hard effort behind the deadpan facade as dilettante disinterest.

Leonard Cohen is always a good listen for me.

Another brilliant Leonard Cohen album. I love the spare arrangements. Songs are all memorable. His idiosyncratic voice is perfect to express the beautiful lyrics. 4.5 stars

Another excellent record from Leonard Cohen with a couple of all-timers in the mix. It feels of apiece with Songs of Love and Hate. Musically, it's very stark, and the lyrics standout more than any of the melodies or arrangements. It kind of makes it difficult to grade on a similar scale as other albums on here that are more musically interesting because it feels like it's a different artform altogether. This isn't a record I have a lot of experience with and I suspect my appreciation will stretch and deepen over time the more the lyrics sink in, as is the case with many of his records. For now, it's siting comfortably at a 3.5. Favourite songs: "Bird on a Wire" and "The Partisan"

Reminds me of Bob Dylan. Sounds like a storyteller.

I do love Leonard Cohen, even if in the grander context of 70s Folk icons he falls behind the likes of Dylan and Joni. This album in particular has some of his most stripped back and bare songs that hit hard like 'Seems So Long Ago, Nancy'. Also, there is The Partisan which might be my fav Leonard song. The rest of the album is a little hit or miss for me.

I get that he was a great talent but I'm not so hot on this album

No. 197/1001 Bird on a Wire 4/5 Story of Isaac 4/5 A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes 3/5 The Partisan 3/5 Seems So Long Ago, Nancy 3/5 The Old Revolution 3/5 The Butcher 3/5 You Know Who I Am 3/5 Lady Midnight 3/5 Tonight Will Be Fine 2/5 Average: 3,1 Not his best work. There are not really stand out singles here. Everything meshes together

It’s cool that the generator keeps recommending these bleak-ass Leonard Cohen records on Saturdays. Really great way to kick off the weekend…super cool.

Thanks for letting me cry, Leonard

This is one of my favorite Leonard Cohen albums I've heard. I think it's much more dynamic than his debut and he seems to have a bit more humor in his lyrics than on other albums. I really enjoyed this one and went back to listen to it multiple times throughout the day. Standout Tracks: Bird On a Wire, Story of Isaac, A Bunch of Lonesome Heros, The Partisan, The Old Revolution, Tonight Will Be Fine

Simple yet deep. Definitely the kind of album that benefits from additional listens. Nothing to complain about. It’s my favorite album that prominent incorporates a jaw harp.

I found it interesting that this album felt different and distinct from Songs of Leonard Cohen and Songs of Love and Hate, which were previous listening assignments in this project. While those two albums hit me immediately, these seemed to be songs to savor, and I was happy that I was able to listen to them a few times, finding new things each time and growing deeply in my appreciation for them. The songwriting really shone through this one, where the instrumentation and the vocals were quite simple. I probably shouldn't say it quite like that, as the classical guitar work is masterful, but it gets to shine through brightly here with the occasional Jew's harp accompaniment. Just as an example, each time I listened to "Story of Isaac" I was knocked over at a new bit of the message it gave, using the Biblical story in a way that blew my mind. There's a good reason so many artists have performed these wonderful songs.

Some nice Leonard Cohen with a lot of mouth harp. Boing-boing-boing.

Godlike.

Will never say no to Leonard. Another clsssic.

Another solid classic by LC

Já Curtia o som, baita energia

Goddamn it, Leonard Cohen! You've stolen my heart.

I don't really know many songs of this type but I really liked this album ! And in bonus, a song with some french... It's a hit !

Lo adoro profundamente pero no tengo la cabeza puesta para escucharlo ahora. Tiene un tono de voz y unas letras, como las de Tom Waits, que me llevan a un lugar al cual no tengo muchas ganas de ir ahora. El disco es espectacular, ya lo había escuchado hace mucho pero no lo voy a escuchar todo ahora. 10/10 ludomatics.

Cohen wrote many great albums and this is definitely one of them. While other albums might contain better and more famous songs this one here really shows why he's such a great song writer. He doesn't need cheap rhymes or a great singing voice to lure you into his musical world.

Nick: not a fan

the best lyricist of his or any generation. the instrumentation is unobtrusive, letting you really revel in the poetry. the partisan is one of my favorite songs ever written, and bird on the wire is also up there. i can’t name other highlights here because every song brings something new and tragic and beautiful.

Super solid.

Listened to this while on a snow walk and disappeared into Cohen's story telling. Hauntingly beautiful.

Creo que ya se había dicho, pero pues sí, grandes letras.

I'm stealing the imagery from the producer and saying that to me, this album is a painting. The simplicity and starkness is done beautifully without a hint of arrogance. I love the unusual voice and poetry and composition of LC's music always. This second album is no exception. I love all of his music equally so every LC review will be extremely positive but one great thing that comes from still reviewing them for this is all of the Wikipedia research... Cohen's albums always have the best background stories about where the inspo came from and his comments etc. Honestly always better than any other artists Wikipedia pages. I'm learning lots of fun and interesting facts but also getting inspo for how to go about song writing for myself.

Hauntingly beautiful poetry and understated instrumentation combine to produce a deeply emotional and poignant album. Every song is a piece of Cohen's soul triple distilled, served to your ears in its most refined and perfect state for your hearing pleasure.

What an album for today I am passive towards life rn

Love his voice and his songs. Poetic and calming and still tension in the air

There are ten songs here. For me, six of them are worth 5-stars, so I rate the album similarly. I love his poetry and there’s plenty to enjoy here. Opening with Bird On The Wire sets a pretty high bar. On the surface, it’s addressed to a lover that he’s not treating well, but it’s so much more than that. As is the other great love song - You Know Who I Am. He loves using the word naked, as he does here and also in the more light-hearted Tonight Will Be Fine. Then there are the songs addressing war and the youth. I assume he wrote a lot of these songs in 1968, when the anti-war movement in the U.S. was at it’s peak. The biblical Story Of Isaac and The Butcher fit in here. The Partisan, which he didn’t write, was an unofficial anthem of the Free French in WW2. I only saw him once, in early 1980, at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. It was his first tour to Australia. And the only other concert I’ve attended where emotions were so high was the first Brian Wilson concert at the State Theatre early this century. The love for the performer was palpable. I remember that people were constantly screaming requests, and I remember that a lot of them were for Nancy. For me it is one of his greatest compositions. Love this album.

Day 2!! Loved loved loved Songs from a Room by Leonard Cohen. I played it in the car and my mom immediately recognized and loved the album. I can definitely see how this 1969 work of art influenced future artists.

This album is almost perfect, absolutely spellbinding. One of the best.

Excellent storytelling

so wonderfully flawed, out of tune and even more intimate for it. maybe I am alone in this, there is something playuful & humourous, even hilarious, as well as a soothing. Its not melancholy - more a lugubrious tone, hence playfyully sleepy, lulling. and then, at times, its like a Nick Cave lyric pops up... original. I need MORE COHEN, not less. adding nhim to my new listening pile, alone with Serge Gauinsbourg.

Highlights: The Partisan, the butcher, the old revolution

I don't really like Leonard Cohen's music, however I do like many "similar" music. This album was good. It is a 4 for me, but I give it a 5 because The Partisan made me pick up the guitar during work hours... :)

Great album, loved it.

excellent

A bit melancholic, but overall very pleasant to listen to.

The Partisan

Fucking fantastic!

Difficile de donner moins que 5 étoiles au (allons-y) plus grand auteur-compositeur-interprète de la fin du 20e siècle.

beautiful

Austérité. Esotérisme. Prefs: Bird on the Wire, Story of Isaac, A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes, The Partisan, Seems So Long Ago, Nancy, The Old Revolution, The Butcher, You Know Who I Am, Lady Midnight, Tonight Will Be Fine Moins pref: Rien

One of best witnesses of the era... might got stuck between two masterpieces, but it's still a very brilliant album.

Sometimes the jaw harp is super annoying but damn this is good.

I mean… c’mon. Favorite tracks: a bunch of lonesome heroes, the partisan, seems so long ago, nancy; the old revolution! The butcher (beautiful). All of them… DAMN… Lady Midnight MEEE! Etc etc. 5 stars. Anyone surprised?

Slow, hypnotic, story like songs

Premier storyteller of the early rock age!

One of the greatest records in my collection. Deep and thoughtful and dark.

5/5 Love his voice. Huge fan of Leonard

Masterpiece of an album.

Que genialidad Leonard Cohen, y como se reinventó en su cambio de voz. Escuchás las canciones de este disco y las comparás con los mas nuevos y pensás que es otro cantante directamente. Espero hayan mas discos de el en la lista. Particularmente este disco no es de mis favoritos pero no es malo bajo ningun punto de vista. Además está The Partisan que es uno de sus mejores temas. Entiendo como a la gente podria no gustarle pero bueno. Nada, loco. Hizo el hallellujah, no jodamos.

One of the best records ever recorded.

Poesía de Cohen. Sólo por The Patisan ya se merece un 5.

amazing album it’s a trip hearing early Leonard Cohen, back when his voice was higher and he pretty much sounded identical to Nick Cave the production was a lot nicer than his first album but I think the quality of the songs are pretty much just as amazing definitely a 10/10 for me

The difficult second album: a quick primer. One phenomenon critics are wont to diagnose is that of the difficult second album, of a lesser album following a sledgehammer of a debut. Critics are also swift to attribute this to the shift in gear a successful debut imposes: you have your whole life to write your first one, and one year for your second. And critics routinely admit a failing on their part: oft the second album isn't that bad, but they see it as diminished when stood against the first. Now, large parts of that earlier paragraph are bollocks. Some groups peak with their debut, of course, but some require time and succour to blossom fully: Second Coming may not have equalled The Stone Roses, but the Happy Mondays' first album, Squirrel and G Man 24 Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile White Out, proved the working prototype for the Mondays' future glories. Also, the first paragraph is a touch slanderous on critics; at least the critic knows the other albums. Anyway, Leonard Cohen's second album, Songs from a Room, is excellent, but not as good as his first. This makes it sound as if Songs from a Room perhaps lacks some of the majesty or the power of Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen's first album, when it doesn't. Nor is the songwriting a step down; Leonard Cohen was glaringly one of the great songwriters to emerge in the 60s, Bob Dylan's morose brother, the main dispute being who felt more breasts. I have since got drunk, and have concluded that this would be a five-star album in the hands of any other. Just because I incrementally prefer the first to the second doesn't mean this in any way disappoints in how it blends the sacred with the base, or how Bird on the Wire nods to Bukowski, or how The Story of Isaac answers Highway 61 Revisited by reminding us that God left Isaac tormented with the threat of murder. So, a five-star album. Perhaps not as immediately brilliant as the first, but I have persuaded myself. I feel rather mature.

Also love Leonard Cohen

AAAAHHHHHHHH

I was sceptical at first but this one is really beautiful

A musicalidade presente na construção dos versos cria uma sensação que ritmo que se apresenta para manter a atenção. Assim, escutar as músicas é sentir fortemente a mistura de tristeza, alegria e euforia.

Poesía de Cohen. Sólo por The Patisan ya se merece un 5.

The Partisan

စကားပြောသော သီချင်းများ

Bird on a wire ist songwriting-Maßstab!!!

This became a personal favourite of mine

Kan inte riktigt bedöma det här. The Butcher är fortfarande en skitlåt och en del andra håller inte riktigt måttet, men plattan har ju varit med mig sen tonåren. Och så är bästa versionen av La complainte du partisan med vilket förlåter det mesta.

What an album. Definitely has a nostalgic feel to it which I love.

han bliver aldrig dårlig

I don't think I've ever heard a bad Leonard Cohen album and this is just as good. Just completely heartfelt and it makes me feel so many emotions, grief and joy and elation and sadness, over and over.

Wow. Such a good album. I know many see it as not as good as his first album (Songs of Leonard Cohen), I would take a sophomore effort by Leonard Cohen over the vast majority of albums out there. Powerful, austere, spiritual, melancholy. It's hard to date by its sound because the production is so minimal and therefore always feels fresh and relevant to me. 5/5

Favourite track(s): A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes; Seems So Long Ago, Nancy; The Old Revolution Cohen's vocals are just so humane - as if he was telling stories to a friend. The guitar and bass guitar are the perfect accompaniment, supporting but never taking the spotlight. The first album of the project which I enjoy without reservation.

Stark and stunning

love it

This one surprised me. Some tracks actually cut deep and I find his voice chilling and dark. Other had a very fun charming quality

Fantastic album!

I can't imagine another album that is going to surpass this one. Leonard Cohen's poetry and singing... They just never get old

was already a top 100 album of all time for me coming into this. depending on the day it can eek up into the top 30 or so. amazing lyricism. such simple melodies and yet, every mood leonard is trying to transfer to the listener comes crashing through. absolutely wonderful album.

Great to see early Leonard Cohen catching his vocal wavelength occasionally, and the songwriting is superb as always.

His voice is so not mainstream, but then neither is the writing... so yeah.

Leonard is a treasure, even if its not his greatest work it is truly masterful in its own right

Wonderful

Très bon

Y

I like this.

beautiful

I need to listen to more Leonard cohen.