Songs From A Room

Vibes

Awesome, ballad style, quite chill album

Leoś you're killing me 9,5/10

Great example of the songwriting genius of Cohen!

Favorite song, A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes

Ahhh, thank you 1001. Leonard Cohen has become a musical anchor for me over the past year and is conjecture that this is his most consistent album start to finish. Gotta love listening to and war and loss and the live version of ‘tonight will be fine’.

Some of my all time favourite cohen songs are from this alb in m- lady midnight, the partisan, bird on a wire. Such a strong second album and the songwriting really is astounding. Cohen was the soundtrack to a lot of my childhood and his voice feels like family.

Really dug this album. Leonard Cohen is one of those artists that I enjoy but want to get more into and was thrilled that this album popped up. It was only 35 minutes long but still it flew by and I was sad when it was over. It was especially disappointing after the last track "Tonight Will Be Fine" because it was a delightful song.

Not his best album for sure, but still great.

It's hard to explain, but this album was very fitting to receive on the tail end of Holy Week and Easter Weekend. Similarly, while I understand the criticism, I like the way Cohen's music makes me feel.

Every cliche lamewad that claims Jim Morrison's lyrics are poetry should be forced to listen to Leonard Cohen.

A perfect album! Genius from front to back.

I’ve wanted to hear this one for a while

I guess I’m kind of a Cohen-head

hard to pick a favorite, loved the whole album. Story of Isaac The Partisan Lady Midnight

Much like Tom Waits, I find that people either love or hate Leonard Cohen. I’m in the love camp here and I’ve yet to hear any of his music I haven’t loved.

More like spoken poetry than songs, this music is still very pleasant to listen to. Leonard Coen obviously isn't a great singer, but there is charm in that for me. The songs here all mostly sound the same, with a single guitar strumming around several verses of prose, but at only 36 minutes, it works for me. Definitely still one of my singer songwriters from the era, and I like this more than most Dylan music. My favorite here is Story of Isaac.

Oh. This is why we love him. Such profound wisdom in such a neat package. Yeah the second half drags, but the perfection of the first half cannot be found anywhere else.

masterful, perfect, gorgeous, life affirming to listen to. i love him so much

Sorry but I have an irrational affection for Leonard Cohen.

Ten folk songs with poignancy weaved throughout. Cohen's half spoken vocals seem tailor made for this, but he does flex his vocal chops at times. Story of Isaac is good, haunting acoustic guitar. A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes is more upbeat with the keyboard and an almost soaring chorus (ok, it's Leonard Cohen). On the Partisan, the guitar riff is intricate and fast, delicate picking, and the vocals and lyrics are somber. Then a female choir backs him up in French. You Know Who I Am is another sparse number with some of the best guitar on the album. Tonight Will Be Fine brings back a fast folk rhythm and closes the album on an uplifting note. It took me a couple listens for this to click, but I wouldn't change a thing.

a great influential album

got a lot of physical burnout atm from the busyness of work but i finally stopped falling asleep long enough to listen to what has to be one of the best possible albums for my situation lol. kind of equal parts uncanny/desolate and lush/pretty...cold in ways ive felt enough to be kind of comfortingly familiar. where dylan tends to be super dense and abstract, layering on tons of little gems and details and images that make the most sense as a sort of freefloating whole, cohen is maybe closer to a "traditional" storyteller...he certainly recounts a lot more specific, follow-able events...but he infuses these deceptively straightforward recountings with a lot of mystery and mysticism that make them feel like theyre a few layers of interpretation away from unlocking some Secrets Of Significance. very few new-to-me songs in this project have captured me as wholly and immediately as bird on the wire...something beautiful ab being surrounded by the shattered pieces of urself

I love Leonard Cohen. That’s all.

Great album from a Canadian giant in music

minél tovább hallgattam annál jobban tetszett. zeneileg nem a legbonyolultabb, de talán ez a nyersség az ami kiemeli a szövegeket. inkább megzenésített irodalom hangulata van. elég depresszív de pont jól. kicsit azért repetitív zeneileg. favvv: the partisan

Kedvenc/Favourite: A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes Pont az ilyen zene miatt szeretem a folkot és a countryt. Egyszerűen volt szívhez szóló, könnyű volt hallgatni és meghallani a súlyosabb témákat, amik megjelentek a szövegekben. Nyersen és őszintén szól az életről, a maga kissé depresszív, de fülbemászó módján. This is the kind of music that made me like folk and country. It was simply heartfelt, it was easy to listen to and hear the heavier themes that came through in the lyrics. It's raw and honest about life, in its own slightly depressing but catchy way.

INJECT IT INTO MY VEINS! Yes, it induced be into a melancholic malaise that I struggled to shake of for the rest of the day. But I still facking loved it. The saddest of all the lads. Simpsons: Yes

Amazingly stripped down. Just a guitar and emotion. Far better than Dylan.

Mooie teksten met veel gevoel gezongen

Inspiring composer. 5/5

Some of the greatest songwriting ever. And young Leonard Cohen had as much emotional depth as old Leonard Cohen.

Absolute classic!

Favourite tracks: seems so long ago Nancy; bird on a wire; story of Isaac; you know who I am; the partisan; the butcher; the old revolution

this is a five for me. i love this a lot. leonard cohen, the man you are

I accept Cohen as my Lord and Savior.

Feel like I usually know going into an album whether or not there's a chance I'll give it a 5. I was not familiar with Leonard Cohen's game. The album wasn't particularly exciting or groundbreaking, but there were just so many really nice sounding songs on here. Really liked it

Love this album...High points: Story of Isaac, Lady Midnight, The Parisian and Bird on a Wire. No one else like him.

Leonard cohen!

Fuckin’ wonderful.

I didn’t think this would develop into a 5 star album for me but it did! This is my first Cohen album on the list and can‘t wait to hear the other ones.

A master songwriter. The Partisan is one of the best songs to exist.

The fact that everyone who covered Hallelujah did it better does Leonard Cohen a disservice because his first three albums are absolutely fantastic.

The Partisan.

Leonard Cohen is one of the greats. The Future from a future recording turned me on to him and his entire catalog 30 plus years ago. An original. This album is a joy to listen to in its entirety. A joy in the sense of the wonder of how such a stark album could be so good.

Fantastic album. I'd never listened to Leonard Cohen before, but I will for sure be listening to more. Brilliant.

Not as strong as his first album, but still classic LC of course.

Simply brilliant

Leonard Cohen is an artist I discovered while working my way through the "1001 Albums You Must Hear" list, and he's now one of my favorites. It's hard for me to give an in-depth review since he's still so new to me, but this is my second time hearing this album, and the more I listen to him, the more I like him.

10/10 album. Feels like I’m listening to a western (praising)

Not really my taste but really nice music to walk to, “Tonight Will Be Fine” is 5/5

It was good

The first Cohen album I have listened to, and I was pleasantly surprised that I totally loved it. It’s brilliant.

great singer with a remarbable and unique voice - love the sound and the lyrics - great album

Poetic, melancholy, moody. Just the sort of thing I like.

beautiful and ageless

I need to listen to more Leonard cohen.

New album for me but not new songs. His poetry is lovely and there are many amazing exams here. His voice hasn't dropped and is still smooth, but totally hypnotic.

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

The Partisan

Masterpiece of an album.

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?

Já Curtia o som, baita energia

Slow, hypnotic, story like songs

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 !

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

Premier storyteller of the early rock age!

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

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

5/5 Love his voice. Huge fan of Leonard

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.

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.

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.

One of the best records ever recorded.

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.

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.

I was sceptical at first but this one is really beautiful

Godlike.

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

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.

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

This became a personal favourite of mine

စကားပြောသော သီချင်းများ

Super solid.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Highlights: The Partisan, the butcher, the old revolution

Stark and stunning

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

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.

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.

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

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... :)

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

22nd July 2022 Listened on Friday but finished on Saturday. Had Seb and Justo to stay for the weekend, Fromebridge, Stroud Market and the Woolpack. Just beautiful, I could listen to Leonard Cohen all day every day.

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

beautiful

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Also love Leonard Cohen

Masterpiece. Love his poetry. Not as good as his debut (not sure any album is) but is still soooo good 9.5/10

Wonderful

han bliver aldrig dårlig

Très bon

Will never say no to Leonard. Another clsssic.

Bird on a wire ist songwriting-Maßstab!!!

Great album, loved it.

Very relaxin and interesting lyrics.

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

The Partisan

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

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.

I like this.

beautiful

Another solid classic by LC

Fucking fantastic!

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.

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.

Que bello csm

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

excellent

Fantastic album!

Excellent storytelling

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

Nick: not a fan

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

Y

love it

Thanks for letting me cry, Leonard

Great lyrics should check out more

AAAAHHHHHHHH

Leonard cohen is back with his early "Evil Bob Dylan" persona. Evil may not be the right word, but he certainly takes singer-songwriter music somewhere dark and strange and biblical. I will admit that of Cohen's sublime first 3 albums, Songs From A Room is definitely the worst, but it isn't *much* worse. His striking poetry is still in full force, that's for certain. And there are some of his absolute best songs here. Bird on the Wire, Story of Isaac, The Partisan, and The Butcher in particular. Bird on the Wire is and indisputably classic, with evocative mouth harp playing. Story of Isaac is the peak of Cohen's biblical references. The Partisan (to me) conjures the sadness that I get from accounts of World War 1, I don't know why, but it just makes sense to me. And The Butcher is minimalistic in composition and burning with an undeniable fury. On some level, these songs are all jaw droppingly gorgeous, even if in a dark way. And honestly, much of the album follows. I will say that I don't like Lady Midnight all that much though, and A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes comes together a little awkwardly, although I like it more than a lot of people. Also, after seeing another review mention it, I noticed that there are a *couple* moments here where Cohen's lyrical meter slots pretty awkwardly into the songs here. While not quite on the level of Songs Of Leonard Cohen, or Songs of Love and Hate, Songs From A Room is a great album in it's own right, and a worthwhile badge on a fantastic discography.

Bird on a Wire is a great song, one of my favorites. His lyrics are wonderful as always. I just didn’t like the overall sound as well as his previous, debut album.

"Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free" "When it all comes down to dust / I will kill you if I must / I will help you if I can / When it all comes down to dust / I will help you if I must / I will kill you if I can" "I'd like to tell my story / Before I turn into gold" "I have changed my name so often / I have lost my wife and children / But I have many friends / And some of them are with me" "We told her she was beautiful / We told her she was free / But none of us would meet her in / The House of Mystery" "Into this furnace I ask you now to venture / You who I cannot betray" "I found a silver needle / Put it in my arm / It did some good / It did some harm" "I cannot follow you, my love / You cannot follow me / I am the distance you put between / All the moments that we will be" "Don't try to use me or slyly refuse me / Just win me or lose me, it is this that the darkness is for" "But I know from your eyes / And I know from your smile / That tonight will be fine ... for a while"

My dad used to play this album in the car a lot when my brother and I were kids, despite us asking him not to. Maybe he did it so we'd grow up knowing life wasn't all sunshine and lollipops - as a child, I didn't fully understand what The Partisan was about, but I knew it sounded bleak. Or maybe he just knew that eventually we would come to appreciate it, because now I really do enjoy Songs from a Room. And while I do think eight-year-old me had a point about Cohen sounding like Elmer Fudd when he goes for the higher notes on Bird on the Wire, I now find that charming.

3/1001 Cada letra desse álbum é um soco no estômago diferente(I need you to carry my children in/And I need you to kill a child) Bird on the Wire - 80 Story Of Isaac - 75 A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes - 75 The Partisan - 80 Seems So Long Ago, Nancy - 75 The Old Revolution - 75 The Butcher - 70 You Know Who I Am - 80 Lady Midnight - 80 Tonight Will Be Fine - 75 Media: 76.5

Excited for this! I really like folk! I really liked the first Cohen album this thing generated! So yeah! Man Leonard Cohen sure knows how to make a good song despite not being that good a singer. Bob Dylan, sit your ass down and learn. All that just to say that Bird on The Wire is lovely. Story of Isaac was nice. The next song too. As much as I like his slower songs, a change of pace is also welcome. Despite my hatred for the french people and their language, I was able to enjoy The Partisan. Goes to show Cohen's power. Lady Midnight is nice. And good. Tonight Will Be Fine includes the mention of fanfiction trope "there's only one bad". For that alone it is great. It's also good for everything else. I like it when he gets sexy, in his own way. I never have much to say about the albums I like. That may be unfortunate. As expected from a Leonard Cohen album, there were no bad tracks, but there were some that were less good than others. Still a great effort though, and very much worth my time. Lovely stuff!

This has to be the most visually uninviting album I've seen in a while. Cohen's trademark impression of the neutral face emoji in a black rectangle on an album with a title like "Songs From a Room" just doesn't do it for me. Not "Songs From an Old Room," or "Songs From a Dark Room," or literally anything that describes the room he recorded this in, or maybe wrote the songs in, it's just a room. The music itself is much better. Between the two Cohen albums I've heard, I prefer this one to Songs of Love and Hate, although the name is much better. Nice, emotional storytelling with some interesting instrumentation in some parts. I like the little whistle solo in the last song and the jaw harp throughout the album. The man needs to learn how to title his damn albums, though.

Did you even try to be happy

It’s sad bastard music bordering on parody, but I’ll be damned if it not good

Wunderbares Album, sein zweites.

I feel like I should have saved this album for later in the week when it's raining. Rainy Day music if I've ever heard it.

What an absolutely stellar run of albums it is for Lovely Leonard from 67 to 71 with the three Songs of... records. I think this is slightly below the other two, and especially the unparalleled Songs of Leonard Cohen, but it's still really great. His voice, a velvet fist in a steel glove, is really at its peak, and there are several really lovely songs in here. It peaks early, with Bird On The Wire one of the most enduring songs of all time, and while it can't hope to keep that momentum, is nevertheless very good throughout.

Great song writer.

I don't really care for folk music, but this album was very pleasant.

pretty alright

Love his voice and storytelling but the music feels repetitive sometimes. Favorite is “You know who I am.”

An old favourite - sparse and intimate. Maybe not as strong as the first album, but plenty to enjoy. Favourite track: Tonight Will Be Fine

Leonard Cohen is one my favorite recording artists and I think he’s brilliant and that my life is considerably improved by having listened to his music. I feel the same way about the Smiths. But for both of those artists, I think their greatest hits compilations are preferable to their albums. This album has some great songs on it but it has some clunkers too. But “Bird on the Wire” “The Partisan” and “Lady Midnight” are great and they are on his first greatest hits comp. You listen to that and you’ve got all the good songs from his early albums and none of the not so great songs that are on this and his other records. I’ve always explained why I feel the way I do about the Smiths based on their not putting their singles on their albums but that doesn’t apply to Leonard Cohen. I think for both him and the Smiths, I had two of their greatest hits CDs when I was a teen and played them a million times and didn’t get their albums until I was an adult. The first cut is the deepest I suppose. But albums versus comps aside, God how I love Leonard Cohen. And not just as a songwriter. I like his voice, I like his arrangements. His songs are often funny and he performs them exactly right cause he knows where the jokes are. I love the mix of spirituality and sensuality that he hung in between his entire career. I just love him. I don’t think this is an all time great album - the overused jaw harp alone would disqualify it - but some of these are all time great songs and he is absolutely one of the all time greats of 20th century popular music. And to everyone leaving this album bad reviews, you are fools and you need to seriously reevaluate your life choices. Leonard Cohen is a treasure his music makes life better.

Gorgeous, sparse, beautiful haunting lyrics. And what's that springing sound that he's making? Commercially not a great success, but he's persevered and became one of the greats. Never seen him live unfortunately.

Leonard Cohen is a captivating songwriter that follows the ancient songwriting tradition of the nice Jewish boy + acoustic guitar. Between Dylan and Simon, Cohen is more baritone voice and his songwriting would imply it fits the tone but tends to be lighter for the most part. Not as cryptic as Bob, not as childish nativity as Paul. Special shoutout to Phil Ochs who is not on this list but fits that category. Songs From A Room is more stripped down from his first album, kind of more of a Nick Drake setting with minimal but not missing nor empty backing music. Charlie Daniels, of Devil Went Down to Georgia and the beloved "BENGHAZI AIN'T GOING AWAY!!" meme played on this record as a session musician. I had to tell you that the moment I learned that when I finished playing the album. Never forget. I will admit as a nice (I think) Jewish boy that the white boy playing acoustic guitar phenomenon is not my favorite kind of music. I like Dylan and Simon because they tend to have really great backing talent that makes their songs more engaging as someone that's more rhythm than lyric oriented. But I find Cohen's voice very gravitating in a way that it does command the room. The pinch of reverb on the room tone helps give a great moody atmosphere for the album. The only other Leonard Cohen album I've heard was You Want It Darker from the list. I'll await the other Leonard Cohen albums to come. This one helped me understand a bit more about the man other than his epilogue album. May his memory be a blessing.

Towns van zandt vibes

I have a weird love hate thing with Leonard Cohen.

Nett anzuhören, paar echt gute Songs, the partisan zB

I am sitting in a room.

More upbeat than some others of his.

Possibly his best album

Leonard Cohen with another fantastic performance on Songs From A Room. He makes songwriting seem effortless, as if he’s simply opening a tap, and out of that tap, fantastic imagery and poetic storytelling. He’s very good at sparse songs but I really do enjoy when things get a bit more energetic, A Bunch of Lonesome Heros is a great representation of that, such a cool guitar sequence on that track. Then he follows that up with the hauntingly beautiful, The Partisan, just so good, the strumming, the vocals, the arrangement, it’s a masterpiece. The rest of this record superb as well. Put your headphones on for this and give it the attention it deserves. 4 stars

The lyrics here are much more the focus than the music, but despite the music being very simple and sparse it’s still enjoyable. To me, the lyrics are up there with Bob Dylan’s for effective imagery and emotional impact. A great album that I have to be in the right mood for.

Another chill album, though I'll have to listen to more of his stuff to really understand the hype.

I don’t think I’ve listened to this Leonard Cohen album much if it all. But it’s very good just like basically everything he’s done

Peak

this middle chapter of Leonard Cohen's "Songs" albums isn't quite as beloved as the other two, mainly owing to the persistent presence of the Jew's harp on so many of its songs. in all honesty, I didn't really find it all that obtrusive. and, hey, that A-side is truly something special. the cover of "The Partisan", an anti-fascist French tune, is easily the highlight; but "Bird on the Wire" does a tremendous job of setting the very somber mood that the rest of the songs follow. the stripped-down sound (compared to Songs of Leonard Cohen, anyway) does wonders in terms of capturing the gravitas of Cohen's material. it's been quite some time since I revisited his work, but if this already-very-strong offering is considered the weakest of his first three albums, I can only imagine the other two are that much better. strong 7/10.

Just love Leonard Cohen

Never listened to Leonard Cohen before this, did not know what to expect. But man I gotta say ‘Songs From A Room’ is terrific. Sure he’s not the most talented ‘musician’ in the world but as a songwriter and overall performer he is spectacular. There is so much honesty and sincerity in his delivery as much is so when the songwriter sings their own song. The production is slightly odd with weird keys and mouth harp sprinkled throughout, which I love. I really liked this record and the first one off this list I’m going to hunt down and pick up at a record store!

Endnu et bundsolidt Leonard Cohen album

Jeg har vist undervurderet den her lidt tidligere fordi pladerne der kommer før og efter er så sindssygt god. Men den her er jo også helt magisk. Elsker Leonard Cohen.

Great voice, instrumentation and songs in general.

I’m hardly saying anything groundbreaking here but incredible lyricist, mid vocalist. I'm giving this a 4 because I can’t in good conscience give such basic singing a perfect score (but everything else on this album is a 5).

Me encantó, no conocía ni el artista ni el álbum y me gustó

I am growing to quite like Leonard Cohen. It's my new wave of liking acoustic stuff from artists like Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen. I am even considering making Nick Drake's Pink Moon album one of my 8 5/5 albums on rate your music. It's THAT good

The album opens with 'Bird On A Wire', a brilliant song that Cohen himself wrote off as a simple country song. 'The Partisan' is Cohen's take on a French resistance song from the second world war. With French backing singers and an accordion coming in as the song reaches its conclusion, this might be one of the most bleak songs Cohen ever put out - something that covers a lot of ground! Other great songs include 'Story Of Isaac' and 'Seems So Long Ago, Nancy'. The album is certainly front-loaded, with all the best songs appearing in the first half of the album. The instrumentation is rather stripped back. Cohen's words are the main event here, and they are backed by an acoustic guitar and a Jew's harp giving the record a unique sound. We sometimes get a smattering of strings throughout the record. 'The Butcher' is the most bare-bones song on here and it feels like it is missing something. I've always thought of Leonard Cohen as Bob Dylan for the goths and this dark collection of songs does a lot to make me further believe that! Like Dylan, Cohen doesn't have a pretty singing voice. These men are poets first and foremost.

Super!

Nice performances and americana vibes. Mostly original songs and good performance. The mouth harp was pretty annoying throughout, and some songs overstayed their welcome, but pretty great regardless. 4/5

Songwriting 10/10 but the music is just kinda there. Still, great album 4/5

Коэна мы уважаем и любим

Aside from "Bird on the Wire" I don't think this had very many of Cohen's better-known songs, but there's good songwriting here.

I think I probably prefer his debut but the strippex back approach doesn't really allow you to focus on the lyrics. Favourite tracks were Bird on the Wire and The Partisan

This is beautiful poetry and lovely melodies.

Not as good as his later work in my opinion. Apples to oranges I suppose. 3.8/5

one of his great albums

Mature and, stripped-back, Cohen creates an intimate, personal setting and fills it with intimate, personal songs. These songs often tell stories: see "Bird on the Wire", for instance, inspired by his release from the throes of depression, or the semi-triumphant war-inspired "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes", or the biblical retelling of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac in "The Story of Isaac". The simplicity of production further allows Cohen's lyrics to take centre stage; it feels like the music is merely an accompaniment to poetry.

This is good, but are we sure they didn’t mean to put Songs of Love and Hate instead?

Still not my favorite Cohen album, but a very good one. The production is really simple, which makes you focus more on his lyrics. Favorite Songs: The Partisan, Tonight Will Be Fine

4.5 New, old Cohen is practically perfect for me. I will actively be looking to add this one to my vinyl collection. Very much a companion piece to “Songs of Leonard Cohen” which is one of my favorite albums ever. There’s maybe a little less hooks on this one, but I can really see it growing on me over time and the lyrics are just beautiful.

Incredible lyrics, beautiful music.

zijn stem was nog niet zo doorrookt, maar toch klonk dit als een goeie Cohen

While this is a big step down from Cohen's debut, it's still pretty damn good. It's darker and starker than the album before it, the lyrics more searching in their themes of religion and trying to find your place in it. It isn't a Leonard Cohen album that I find myself revisiting often, but it's still a strong one in his discography.

Quite, brooding, sombre songs that get better everytime you hear them.

Leonard Cohen does not miss. Favorite track: Bird on the Wire

This may be a creeper album in that it may creep its way to a 5 over time. The instrument choices and the mix are odd. There is a lot of space on this album. I haven't decided how much I enjoy that, and the lyrics, though very powerful at points, can be delivered with less punch than expected. I may also enjoy this. Leonard Cohen sounds a lot like Bob Dylan on this album even down to the chosen vocal melodies. A solid four at this moment.

Not crazy about his voice, but the album grew on me as it progressed.

Some stripped down folk albums can be repetitive and boring. Some can lull you in and mesmerize you. This is the latter. I don't really know why it works where others fail.

Album 1051 of 1089 Songs From A Room - Leonard Cohen (1969) Rating : 3.5 / 5 It’s hard - and maybe unfair - to compare something like this to a big, layered production such as Dark Side of the Moon. This is a completely different space. A quieter one. A more intimate one. And in that space, Cohen absolutely thrives. This is early Cohen, and to me, that may be where he was strongest. Stripped down, focused, deliberate. Every word feels placed exactly where he wanted it. His baritone isn’t flashy - it’s steady, haunting, and commanding in its own understated way. He makes you lean in and pay attention. I found myself looking forward to each next track, which says a lot. There’s no rush, no spectacle - just thoughtful songwriting and melodies that quietly settle in. “Bird on the Wire” alone is worth the trip, but the whole album carries that same reflective weight. He really is a bird of a different color. Not for everyone, perhaps - but for those willing to sit with it, there’s something special here. I suspect many people have never given Cohen a real listen, and that probably ought to change.

Favorite Track: Bird on the Wire

A published novelist and poet long before his first album (1968), it’s no surprise that it’s the words that take centre stage on all Leonard Cohen records. Songs From A Room puts the listener in the room with Cohen, sharing the songwriter’s thoughts and feelings in an intimate, one to one style. It’s riveting and spellbinding, and sometimes a little too personal. The production and backing never intrude, which isn’t to say it’s dull or uninspired – in fact it’s occasionally odd - but frames his words strikingly. “Bird On The Wire” is probably the most recognisable song on the collection, but it finds its equals in tracks like “Story Of Isaac” and “The Partisan”. However, this is a record that isn’t as strong as the albums Cohen released either before or directly after, so pales a little in comparison. Still, a fine record, just not his best. 8/10

Sad, but nice listening.

Neil, Joni then Leonard? I get to listen to all these Canadian classics for the first time thanks to this generator! His poetry works well with the lyrical cadence, and it’s just him and his guitar so I really have to try harder to focus on the lyrics. I like how he doesn’t put too much flourish; it’s just him and you in this audial room. (3.5-4)

I’m probably not alone, but I have to be in the right mood for Leonard Cohen. When I am though, he’s really a charm.

Certainly one of the more pleasant Cohen albums to listen to. Leonard is an incredible songwriter and story teller, but the later albums are a rough listen due to his low grumbling voice that's nothing like on this album. This album over all is very simplistic in it's production, which actually serves the songwriting incredibly.

Bird on the wire - 3 Story of Isaac - 4 A bunch of lonesome heroes - 3 The partisan - 4 Seems so long ago, Nancy - 3 The old revolution - 3 The butcher - 3 You know who I am - 4 Lady midnight - 4 Tonight will be fine - 3

Beautiful poetry, quiet music, classic Cohen. Maybe not as perfect as other albums of that period, still very enjoyable.

The finger-picking Canadian bard who managed to enchant an impressive number of women with his, ehm… Well. Let’s move on. Only two albums ago I wrote about Pink Moon by Nick Drake, and the parallels are obvious enough to be distracting. Both artists debuted in the late sixties. Both make restrained, intimate music built largely around acoustic guitar. Both operate in a space where song and poetry bleed into each other. And both are far more about mood and atmosphere than spectacle. But the differences matter more. Leonard Cohen is, first and foremost, the poet. There’s a reason people still argue that he, rather than the actual Nobel laureate, should have received the Literature Prize if song lyrics were going to be honoured at all. Nick Drake’s genius lay in his guitar playing — intricate, fluid, quietly astonishing. Cohen, by contrast, is not a remarkable guitarist in any technical sense. His strength is language, phrasing, and the gravity of delivery. Vocally, both hover somewhere between singing and speaking, though Cohen leans far more toward recitation. His voice isn’t conventionally beautiful, but it is unmistakable: dry, intimate, slightly weary, and perfectly suited to the material. It draws you in not through range or power, but through authority. Musically, this album starts strong — very strong. Opening with “Bird on the Wire” is almost unfair. It’s one of Cohen’s most famous songs for a reason: simple, dignified, emotionally precise. The arrangement deserves mention too. Unlike Pink Moon, which commits fully (and sometimes almost stubbornly) to voice-and-guitar austerity, this album uses a small backing band. Subtle additions — a well-timed organ line here, understated rhythm support there — add warmth and depth without ever feeling ornamental. For a while, it works beautifully. There’s also a quiet reminder of Cohen’s Canadian identity in “The Partisan”, partially sung in French. It’s a striking moment, not least because the female voice delivering the French lines — drenched in echo — is completely uncredited. History, as ever, is selective. After those early highlights, though, the album begins to level out. Not badly — there are no weak tracks here — but the palette becomes increasingly uniform. The tempos stay mostly low to mid-range, the arrangements remain calm and acoustic, the emotional register controlled and reflective. Even with tasteful instrumentation, the music never really breaks out of its own restraint. At 36 minutes, that’s just about right. Any longer and it might have tipped into sameness. So: a good album. A beautiful opening track. Consistently solid songwriting. No missteps — but also not much in the way of surprise or drama. Cohen’s art here is about precision and tone rather than momentum. There are still four Leonard Cohen albums to come on this list. We’ll see where the journey leads.

It's dreary, sure, but it's beautifully written.

Good calm stuff

Mycket trevligt!

Somewhat similar to Dylan's Another Side, when Songs from a Room was initially released, it was perceived as a letdown: too dully introspective, not much like the first record, which had you dancing to the folksy rhythms of a new guy on the scene. In other words, not just a letdown, but a depressing and lonely affair: 'I sing this for the crickets / I sing this for the army / I sing this for your children / And for all who do not need me.' But while it's true that nothing here is particularly vivacious, it's often unusually vivid and it's always gorgeous. Lyrically, he really is a masterful artisan: 'I cannot follow you, my love / You cannot follow me / I am the distance you put between / All of the moments that will be.' That's almost written verse...almost.

I think this is the Hallelujah guy. I love Hallelujah. Lyricism is totally my thing, so i fucked with this pretty heavy. The instrumentation wasn't as varied or complex as is my preference, but it really gave the lyrics room to breathe. I was happily surprised to see that Cohen's talent for blending the personal with mythology was also present on this album. I particularly liked Story of Issac, The Butcher, and You Know Who I Am for these elements.

You could tell this guy was high on Simon and Garfunkel and Bob Dylan.

Peak

Not as strong as his debut but a beautiful haunting album all the same. The openers - Bird on a Wire, and Story of Issac - are some of my favourites. Some of the other songs are pretty forgettable but I could happy listen to them again. The sparseness of the production only emphasises the poetry of the lyrics and Cohen’s haunting voice, as well as the few musical flourishes like the French chorus on The Partisan.

the genius boy of boygenius’ namesake

Deze toevallig net kunnen meepikken op LP bij de kringloop, voor een paar eurootjes. De collectie 1001 op vinyl is bescheiden, maar breidt zich uit. Zoals altijd grossiert Cohen in diepzinnigheden, opgebouwd uit archetypische begrippen als goud, wijn, bedelaar, altaar, held, ketenen en dat soort poëtische standaard-legoblokjes. De instrumentatie is kaal, wat betekent dat Cohen ook niks heeft om zich achter te verbergen, en daar redt hij zich met mooie melodieën nog vaak uit ook. En dan is er nog The partisan, weliswaar een vertaling uit het Frans, maar mede dankzij Cohen een klassieker. Maar niet alles is even interessant, een aantal nummers op deze plaat pompie-pompiet maar wat door. De andere platen van Leonard in deze top-1001 waren boeiender.

Inmiddels de 3e keer Leonard Cohen en dan weet je wat je krijgt. Hij is hier nog redelijk bij stem en daarom probeert hij gelijk wat te zingen, maar daar is hij juist niet zo goed in. Het is gewoon retevals. Op track 3 lijkt het meer op Armand met Ben ik te min. Laat hem dan maar mompelen met een bromstem. Zingen is hij dus niet zo goed in. Maar waar hij wel goed in is, is het neerzetten van een sfeertje. Net als bij het debuutalbum weet hij met minimale middelen je aandacht te pakken. Een akoestische gitaar, een eenzame viool en zijn bezwerende stem. Je wil naar hem luisteren, naar zijn gedichten en verhalen op muziek, je hebt geen keus. Het is niet van deze tijd, maar ook weer totaal tijdloos. En ik denk dat ik dit ook uit mezelf best af en toe op kan zetten. Dat is toch knap gedaan. Het debuut gaf ik 4 sterren, daar lijkt dit ook weer op af te stevenen.

Ok

Good Leonard Cohen album as always. When I was listening to the tracks in order I felt like I was listening to poetry. Poetry which was neatly nestled into the winter season with a film. - GEMV (08.01.2026)

Such great writing

Another great album by leanard cohen. I thing the existence of songs of Leonard Cohen over shadows this a bit. Which is Very similar but seeming just a better album. But I really enjoyed this one too.

nice, moody, folky. it didn’t have any drums and the bass was panned right. this leonard guy is pretty good. favourite track was bird on a wire or story of isaac

I'm less of a Leonard Cohen fan now than I was when I was young but like this collection of sparse, unpolished, untwangy country songs more than I did then. I wrongly think of these early Cohen albums as setting the stage for quiet folk for years to come. They were actually pretty late and as far as the big time mainstream goes the world had moved on before Cohen did. This is a dumb New Year's Day reflection on the unreasonableness of expecting any particular thing to last more than 4-5 years. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Yep another great Leonard Cohen. Probably too many of em on the list but that’s fine by me. I like the early ones a lot. He shows off on guitar, it’s cool.

Earnest and tender - a window into Lenny's soul. On the depressing side, but that's to be expected

1969 laaaa ele kkkkk FAV(top 3): bird on a wire, a bunch of lonesome heros, you know who i am mençoes honrosas: the paristan, seems so long nancy, the old revolution, lady midnight, tonight will be fine compraria o vinil: TALVEZ um album bem chill sonoricamente com umas letras interessantes, nao presto mt atenção nas letras principalmente quando é em ingles mas as vezes eu ouvo. bem curtinho (36 min) mas muuuuuiiiiitoooo bom, eu gostei bastante e é bom de ouvir do começo ao fim e seguido, um otimo projeto nota final: 4.5/5

extra star for inserting jaw harp into one of my all time favorite sad songs leading off the album. i think this is my favorite cohen piece. it's solid throughout and never feels too slow.

Cohen is like Dylan I'm that a lot of his best songs are sung by other people, but there's also an undeniable vulnerability aided by the simplicity of the musical concepts that keeps me hooked.

Stripped down pure song writing

I’m fascinated by how we love, hate, like, or dislike voices for reasons that are entirely personal — and almost impossible to explain. While I fully recognise the grandeur of Bob Dylan, the sound of his voice has always bothered me. Same goes for David Byrne, whose voice severely hurts my brain in ways I cannot express. I couldn't explain exactly why I love Leonard Cohen and could easily listen to his entire discography back to back on a regular Thursday evening, but I sure do.

Weird, touching. The arrangements are as stripped back and bare as Cohen's emotions - raw but restrained. Favourite tracks: Story of Isaac, The Partisan, The Butcher, You Know Who I Am

Every Leonard Cohen album I've encountered on this list has exceeded the sum of its parts. Like the songs and their melodies are far from novel, but the writing is so vivid and engaging and something in his understated delivery has the ability to captivate. This album in particular provided a magical backdrop as I hung Christmas light last night. The songs play more like spoken word poetry (which is on brand). Stand-outs for me were Bird on the Wire, The Butcher, Seems So Long Ago, Nancy, and Lady Midnight. But really I enjoyed each of them in isolation and would welcome repeated visits. Simple-tones with beautiful lyricism -- not my usual, but I enjoyed it immensely. High 4.

Crazy that we are getting another Leonard Cohen album. Crazier that this one is from 1969 and one of his others (You Want It Darker) is from 2016. No surprises here, Leonard Cohen definitely picked a lane and really mastered it. While this was a very predictable album, I really enjoyed it. I don't need any more Leonard Cohen, but I have really appreciated his presence on this list.

Another album of really nice, ethereal folk songs with some mild chamber music touches. Leonard Cohen delivers each story with gravitas while still sounding nearly ghostly in his delivery. Very nice stuff!

This isn't a style of music I'd normally enjoy, but something about Cohen's singing really drew me in here. The whole thing is deeply contemplative, and despite the very minimal instrumentation, his strumming manages to add a lot of emotion to these stories. My personal standout is 'The Partisan' -- the subject matter and the beautiful French choir at the end genuinely gave me chills. Very nice to get some good Montreal representation! Standouts: A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes • The Partisan • The Butcher • Tonight Will Be Fine

Very good shit, but I don't think it's better than Songs of Leonard Cohen. I think it drops off a little in the second half but does return to form in the closing track. Song for Isaac especially is amazing. Ethereal man.

A nostalgic breeze in black and white. Leonard didn’t have his deep, raspy voice yet, but still delivering the heartfelt goods here

Leonard Cohen has always been hit or miss for me. This album though... Excellent.

Another really good album by Cohen with songs that are beautiful and haunting. My kids, however, did not appreciate it. Anna said it was awful. I said it was pretty, she said, yeah, pretty awful.

My dog Louie is a big fan of Leonard Cohen's later work, but that's mainly because older Leonard Cohen's voice sounds like a growly old dawg. Regardless, myself and Louie very much enjoyed listening to this quiet, simple, intimate, dark, striped-back and poetic collection. "The Partisan" is a particular highlight on the album. What a genius move bringing the French choir in at the end. 4.5 stars.

Wow. Didn't expect to like folk album like this. But his songs and voice are so good

Amazing. Sadly its available as mono mix on spotify

A bit bland

Strong 3,5

Liked it

I think I like this one better than Songs of Leonard Cohen, but maybe not as much as Songs of Love and Hate. I'm an edgelord, what can I say? Yea, I mean ultimately I don't think it's as good as Madvillainy.

deep lyrics

I know people don’t like his voice but I find it almost comforting - it might just be a familiarity thing? I like the style of these songs, they feel warm but not too complicated. Wouldn’t be my go to album of his, but I did enjoy it. Fav song: The Partisan Least fav: Seems So Long Ago, Nancy

I find his voice so calming and peaceful. Taught me a new musical instrument (the jews harp) and that I like it a lot less than Leonard Cohen does. Not my favourite of his albums that I've heard but I still enjoyed it. Favourite song: The Partisan Least: The Butcher

This is a beautiful album and his voice and style do move you somewhere else. Not his finest album but it is great and worth listening. The feeling of The Partisan is the best on the album.

Schön und ruhig

Really enjoyed this! Listened to it on a rainy drive home from Gimli. With the autumn colours, rainy skies, and chilly winds hitting the car, this album was the cherry on top for the vibe. Really loved the added elements such as the Jaw harp, and strings throughout. Such a huge difference between this albums sound vs. You want it darker (The other Leonard Cohen album we've listened to thus far). Really interesting juxtaposition to have listened to his last album, and then his 2nd ever album next up, sounds like 2 completely separate artists. Favorite Song: The Old Revolution, Bird on a Wire 8/10

love

This album seems like a book that you need to re-read several times to really understand. Not perfect musically, but that's not the point. Hugely influential, not hard to see why.

I didn't mind this. It was a good listen. There were some lyrics that were incredible. I've listened to some Leonard before and not loved this voice, but I found this one to be great to have on in the background and just tune in here and there.

I wavered between a 3 and 4 on this one, but in the end, I very much enjoyed my time with the album, so it gets the grace. There's a certain magic going on with this man. In lesser hands, the individual elements wouldn't add up to anything quite so special, but Cohen has a gift for lyrics that match the music that get elevated by his limited vocal capacity—somehow he makes that work to his advantage.

Leonard Cohen really was a master with words. The songs are simple yet they’re so emotive. He’s not the greatest singer (and in the same vein of Bob Dylan, often covers of his songs are better) but honestly his voice works for what this is. He’s not singing as much as speaking over words but it sounds lovely

4.1. I will rate it in-line with the other Cohen entries we have had. Looking back at my reviews, Im your man, should have been a 5 starer

Lovely. Really like him a lot 4*

Beautiful stuff! What room did these come from?

i wouldnt mind being in that room!

Music to enjoy while drinking whiskey alone at a dive bar

Folksy! 3.5

boingcore

I've been looking forward to getting another Leonard Cohen album after really enjoying I'm Your Man (despite the super 80s production). It was really interesting to go back in time 6 albums and see where he came from. His voice definitely didn't start off so "golden", and his style was a lot more similar to Bob Dylan at times - I don't feel like he had really found his own style yet. Still, there are some terrific lyrics and I'll definitely be revisiting it.

Lovely. Great lyrics (obviously)

A common misconception of Leonard Cohen songs is that they are miserable affairs. I think this is because of the very subdued arrangements of a lot of his songs. To listen to his early stuff is to hear a master at work. The old revolution is the equal if not better than any dylan protest song. Bird on the wire is full of trickery and poise. A couple of songs are not worthy of the album but largely this is a work of art.

A classic I own but have not listened to in a long, long time. It took me a while to understand everyone's fascination with Cohen, but it was worth the effort.

I love Leonard. Hard to give this a 5 because there's just a slight sense of treading water after his first album, but the high points are so high. 4 it is...

I thought "Bird on a Wire" was a Neville Brothers song, which is a shame. I really enjoyed this and need to spend more time with Leonard.

This one snuck up on me. I didn’t particularly like the other Cohen album, but this one was felt different.

Not the strongest Cohen album, but I'm a soccer for everything he has ever put out.

3.5

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Story of Issac, The Partisan This album or maybe Leonard Cohen reminds me of a whole bunch of stuff (in no particular order): Modest Mouse due to some similarities between Story of Issac and Ansel (from Strangers To Ourselves), Alexander 'Skip' Spence who had an album 'Oar' on the List; the same melancholy lyrics and musical approach, Ian Dury (also on the List), but less British/Irish and finally Fred Neil (again, on the List) virtually the same type of music. As for the music itself, its obviously very stripped down, minimalist instrumentation. The focus is on the singing and the lyrics. I think he does a good job on both fronts. The Partisan stands out to me due to it having backing vocals, when none are present on any other song on the album, and a whole verse in French (which I don't understand, but is good all the same). Overall, I like it more than dislike it so, it gets better marks.

I love Leonard Cohen. Not sure how to rate this. It is wonderful, yet it is nearly spoken word, it is not as much a musical album as a poetry reading. A beautiful one, no doubt. And I would listen to Leonard Cohen speak all day. Among my absolute favorite "songs" are some of his. But he IS unique, as few others are, and while wonderful and meaningful as this all is... I can't say it is a particularly musical album. Not really.

Now I see why Father John Misty has been compared to Leonard Cohen

What an opening first line of an album, very on brand. I love that the musical theme running throughout this album is the mouth harp.

Some of Cohen’s best.

Pretty good folksy songs.

A slight step down from the debut but gotta love a musician confident enough to integrate a Jew's harp.

He does melancholy so well.

In basically the same mode as his debut, but with a little bit more upbeat-tempoed songs. However, it loses something by having fewer of the hypnotic dreamy tunes I love best from him -- "You Know Who I Am" is one of these. It's very good, but not as good as the first album.

Nicht das beste von Leonard Cohen, trotzdem sehr gut anzuhören und 2-3 Banger drauf.

Something calming, and soothing about this, even if I only walked away with one song for my library.

Fav: A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes Least Fav: The Partisan It’s missing something, which is preventing a full 5/5, but I really did enjoy what I heard

A sharp, clean album. A throw back that throws forward.

Soulful and disturbing, but in a good way. The lyrics told a painful story in some songs and others were songs with a silver lining. I thought that Cohen must've been some of the inspiration for Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.

He’s a legendary poet but let’s be real this is all the same (brilliant) song

Got no prob with LC

this era's leonard Cohen was extremely good at doing what he did, which was mostly writing sparsely instrumented, fairly languid folk songs. unfortunately, that's a style of music that just doesn't jibe with me. that being said, this is a very good, brisk album, and "a bunch of lonesome heroes" is about as close to a banger as you could hope for from early leonard Cohen

no es tan bueno como su debut, algo imposible , pero es maravilloso. Bird on a wire, The partisan o You know who i am son excelentes. Se mudó de California a la cuna de country, se nota en la trotona Tonight wil be fine (con ese bajo tan I walk the line). Imprescindible.

Good stuff