Reviews (page 6 of 9)
This album was a bummer. I like his voice and this album doesn’t contain Hallelujah so that automatically earns it a star
not too many comments tbh, it was very unmemorable to me
unfortunately i got bored. its giving dad music no favorites sadly
Love Leanord Cohen AKA 'Dark Bob Dylan'
I’ve been bored and I’ve been sad, bit I don’t think I’ve ever been bored and/or sad enough for this.
Horrible. Really don't get the hype for Cohen
2.5
I really enjoyed Bird on the Wire, The Partisan, and You Know Who I am. The album as a whole didn't blow me away, and there's other Cohen songs I like so much more than most of the ones here.
4/5
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.
This is probably sacrilege but I feel like this guy is the ultimate one trick pony, that trick being a deep voice almost spoken singing style that doesn’t always match the tempo of the often identical plinky plonk guitar. If you love that then this guy is for you, if you don’t then it’s not. It’s not for me. On one of them I liked the song Avalanche. On this album twice I’ve thought there was alternate versions of that song only to realise they are different with either exact same guitar or exact same vocal harmony. It must have been weird seeing him play live, cheering for your favourite song only for it to turn out to be another one.
Just can’t get behind Leonard
Despite Leonard Cohen being a much better songwriter then he is a performer this is actually alright. It did grab and maintain my attention.
I know it's good but I don't like it, alright?
A master songwriter. The Partisan is one of the best songs to exist.
It has some of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs; it has some of the worst Leonard Cohen songs. I love its minimalism. He doesn’t sound quite confident on a few of the songs, I think.
I couldn't give this album a fair listen. Giving 3 as default.
Leonard Cohen's second album features reflections on love, war, and modernity. It's more stripped back than his debut, allowing his voice to stand out more. It wasn't necessarily a welcome decision as the album had mixed reviews on its release. Retrospective reviews are far kinder to this and Cohen's other early work. The most revered piece on 'Songs From a Room' is the opening track 'Bird on the Wire'. Cohen took inspiration from his time on the Greek Island of Hydra where he'd purchased a home around this time. When he arrived, the island was disconnected from the world, as those a place lost in time. Perfect for a singer needed to escape his fame. Cohen watched as telephone lines were first installed, signalling that the modern world was creeping in everywhere and inescapable. In the song, he longs to hold onto to the simplicity of the place as he knew it, from a choir of drunken men singing in the night to watching a bird gently land on that newly installed telephone wire, hanging amid the serene nature of the place. 'Songs from a Room' may not be Cohen's greatest work but it still manages to leave its mark.
Finally Leonard didn’t let me down, I much prefer this compared to his other more Pop albums. 3.5/5
So far this is my favorite Cohen album. 3.5
Not my favourite Leonard Cohen album, but was quite good.
This is a concept album where the artist jokingly has decided to unnecessarily shoehorn the jaw harp he won at the county fair into every track to hide the fact he's a terrible singer and see if anyone would notice. This was a huge miss for me. Wildly unenjoyable. To plagiarize from the title of a Gin Blossoms album: A New Miserable Experience
This is classic folk music, easy to listen to but not necessarily overly complicated. I enjoyed it but not one I would put on outside of a few specific instances.
Bird on the wire
Fine
Wasn't feeling this one
So melancholy. Pro-tip: if you happen to be feeling a little down while listening to this album and mowing the lawn, you can tell inquiring neighbors that “terrible allergies” is the reason for all the tears.
The fact that everyone who covered Hallelujah did it better does Leonard Cohen a disservice because his first three albums are absolutely fantastic.
A 4 likely to grow to a 5. One listen isn't enough for Lenny C, finding the right mood and having the attention to listen to the lyrics makes things click.
Forgot to write. Cool collection of folk songs. Sounds like stuff you’d hear around the campfire, and not strained vocals like Bob Dylan. Standouts: Bird on the Wire, Story of Isaac, A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes, The Partisan, and Lady Midnight.
Vocals are just okay but the lyrics make this asolid 3 stars or C+.
While I might not care for the continuous religious connotations, the lyrics are captivating. Each song is more of a story than anything else, poetic words over simple music. I’m a fan of a bit of melancholy, and he provides more than enough. Great background music, very peaceful feeling. Lots of hate for Cohens voice, which I think is unnecessary. He’s not a top-notch performer, and I do tend to enjoy his later years music when he has a deeper voice, but he carries the tunes well enough. I think his voice is pretty generic and unobtrusive.
The jaw harp amused me. There's also some lovely guitar and banjo work
Gentle,contemplative singer-songwriter
Could listen to this guy all day
This a fantastic folk album, mainly acoustic guitar and stories.
I don’t get it. Was it the same song ten times in a row. Stick to writing poetry not set to lame music.
There are some real high points here (Lady Midnight, The Partisan, Bird on a Wire) but it’s not as consistently at that level as some of his other stuff
I feel like this will make me cry? I don’t think I know any of these songs but that’s okay. “Story of Isaac” is intense I’m not super into it. The album title is very apt. I like “A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes” more. “The Partisan” more like The Parisian (is this French??). Ok hot take this album is kinda a downer! What’s that instrument in the back of the songs… I looked it up it’s called a “Jew’s harp.” It’s very prominent in “The Old Revolution.” I’m sorry Leonard these songs kind of drone.
This felt like much longer than 35 minutes, which is usually an insult. Not here. It's immersive and patient. I'm a little unsure of how to review Cohen albums; I'm often moved my them, and I understand why so many people love Cohen's work. He's an influence on a lot of my favorite artists. I did enjoy this more than 'You Want It Darker'. I couldn't even ascribe words to that experience at the time. I'd say for both YWID and this album that it's an intense emotional experience given the lyrics and the gravity of Cohen's performances, but it relies on your attention rather than demanding it. This was an interesting listen after getting John Prine's debut yesterday. They go hand in hand as impressive first albums from singular singer-songwriters, works that would reward repeated listens and attention, but ultimately fell to the background to me. I have close friends who capital-L Love Cohen's music. I feel like I owe them an apology. (Or at least more committed listens before trying to talk to them about these albums.) Highlights: Birds on the Wire, A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes, The Partisan, Lady Midnight
The Partisan.
Leonard Cohen, sparse and cold and distant as ever, a spinner, weaver of couplets, more sparse and unforgiving than any Dylan of this period. You’d better love song if you want to love this. It’s a hard listen because of its emptiness, sonically. The recordings are a bit rough around the edges and monotonous— especially the vocal delivery— even compared to the first Leonard Cohen album. That one really felt like he got ALL his great songs out, in one go. This feels more wandering, more strange, a bit more uncompromising on the poetry. You have to respect the writer, and Leonard Cohen’s writing makes you believe it’s possible you’re missing the point entirely, the joke’s over your head. Still, I can’t help but wonder if some of these poems needed a rewrite, a few more edits, for pacing. As an album, it’s a hard sell. As a collection of poems, songs, it reveals in layers. 2/5
Zzzzzzzz. Not 4 me.
Beautiful songs, sung very understated and with just the right amount of embellishment. Honestly the only thing I’d say is that they all kind of run together, there’s a similarity to all the songs. But it still works for me, so you know.
Look, I like Leonard Cohen. But I feel like for a stretch there, he was a little too Leonard Cohen-y. And this isn’t even the best album during that stretch.
sounded okay but was fairly uninteresting in my opinion
sad and boring
Simple and very earnest. What a storyteller
8/10
ekki ónotalegt. kántrískotnar en gyðingaharpan kemur þó fyrir. 3,5.
I fell asleep
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.
A bit worse than his first when talking about early Leonard Cohen, but still good. ‘The Butcher’ kind of sucks, though.
Leo is cool. It was interesting to hear something from so early in his career. Not that I could tell. Dude was born cool.
This hypnotized me in a very pleasant way. I've never listened to a Leonard Cohen album before but know his reputation as a songwriting icon (hallelujah, lol) - this was great.
World class lyrics, his voice is good but not great. He really makes you feel the emotions somehow.
It probably didn't help that I listened to this while waiting for an exciting election result, but I failed to enjoy the album's subtleties and undoubted quality, and instead was irked by some slightly out of tune moments and impatient for it to end. I'll maybe revisit it another time but already know it's not really my genre, however cool Leonard is.
Gotta love ol’ misery guts; he tells a compelling tale. I’ll always find his poetry seductive.
Fabulously bleak.
Do like Cohen. This isn’t a great one.
Good coffee shop background music. That's all.
Fantastic album. I'd never listened to Leonard Cohen before, but I will for sure be listening to more. Brilliant.
Worse than his first album, boring and not for me
it’s ight
Hmm. It's like Simon and Garfunkel, but without the harmony. Or the melody. I would compare the poetry to brutalist architecture; it's functional and certainly stands out from its surroundings, but also confusing to look at; surely that slab- sided thing could have been made slightly more aesthetic? I don't hate it, but I also don't get it, and there's nothing about it that makes me want to figure out what "it" is.
Primer acercamiento a Leonard Cohen. Personalmente no me considero un fanático del folk, pero aún así me vi cayendo profundo en las historias que contaba el cantautor a través de sus letras. Respecto a la composición considero que, si bien no destaca por su dificultad, esta es fundamental para crear la atmósfera que envuelve cada historia. Un gran ejemplo de simpleza, que refleja de como (a veces) menos es más. Gran álbum y gran artista! FAVTRAXS: Bird on the Wire / A bunch of Lonesome Heroes / Story of Isaac / The Partisan / Seems So Long Ago, Nancy LEASTFAV: Tonight Will Be Fine 3.5/5
Correcto
"Less is more" production quality, which works great. Lyrics have a whimsical and lovely tone
**Songs From a Room** by Leonard Cohen: An In-Depth Review Released in 1969, Leonard Cohen's second studio album, **Songs From a Room**, is a profound exploration of his lyrical prowess, minimalist musicality, and thematic preoccupations. Produced by Bob Johnston, this album continues the introspective and poetic journey Cohen began with his debut, "Songs of Leonard Cohen." Below, we delve into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, providing a comprehensive review of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics Leonard Cohen’s lyrics are the cornerstone of **Songs From a Room**, showcasing his ability to weave complex emotions and narratives into simple yet profound poetry. Each song is a vignette, rich with symbolism, introspection, and a touch of melancholy. 1. **"Bird on the Wire"** - This opening track is one of Cohen’s most famous works. The lyrics balance themes of freedom and restraint, with lines like "Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free." The imagery is vivid and relatable, capturing the human struggle for liberation and authenticity. 2. **"Story of Isaac"** - A retelling of the biblical story of Isaac, Cohen’s version is a commentary on sacrifice and violence. "You who build these altars now to sacrifice these children, you must not do it anymore," Cohen sings, linking ancient and modern times in a critique of senseless suffering. 3. **"The Partisan"** - Adapted from a French resistance song, this track highlights themes of resistance and resilience. Cohen’s sparse and poignant language honors the courage of those who fought against oppression. 4. **"Seems So Long Ago, Nancy"** - A tragic narrative about a woman named Nancy, whose life ends in suicide. The song is a haunting reflection on loneliness and despair, with the refrain "It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone." 5. **"The Old Revolution"** - Here, Cohen discusses personal and political upheaval, using the metaphor of a failed revolution to express feelings of defeat and disillusionment. ### Music The musical arrangements in **Songs From a Room** are notably sparse, reflecting Cohen’s preference for minimalism. This choice directs the listener’s focus to the lyrics and the emotion behind them. 1. **Instrumentation** - The album features simple guitar work, often played by Cohen himself, supplemented by discreet contributions from other musicians, such as Charlie Daniels on fiddle and Ron Cornelius on guitar. The acoustic arrangements provide an intimate, almost confessional atmosphere. 2. **Melody and Harmony** - Cohen’s melodies are straightforward and repetitive, which, while potentially monotonous, serve to emphasize the lyrical content. The harmonies are subtle, usually provided by backing vocalists like Jennifer Warnes, whose contributions add a delicate, haunting quality to the tracks. 3. **Mood and Tone** - The overall tone of the album is somber and reflective, consistent with Cohen’s lyrical themes. The music, while not complex, is effective in creating a mood that complements the introspective nature of the songs. ### Production Bob Johnston’s production on **Songs From a Room** is characterized by its restraint and clarity. Johnston, known for his work with Bob Dylan, brings a similar approach to Cohen’s album, prioritizing the singer’s voice and lyrics over elaborate instrumentation. 1. **Sound Quality** - The production is clean and unembellished, allowing Cohen’s voice and guitar to take center stage. This rawness lends an authenticity to the recordings, making the listener feel as if Cohen is performing in their living room. 2. **Balance** - The balance between the vocals and the instruments is well-maintained, ensuring that the lyrics are always at the forefront. This is crucial for an album where the words carry so much weight. 3. **Atmosphere** - Johnston successfully captures a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The lack of overdubbing and studio effects preserves the organic quality of Cohen’s performances. ### Themes **Songs From a Room** explores a variety of themes, each approached with Cohen’s characteristic depth and nuance. 1. **Freedom and Confinement** - Many songs on the album deal with the tension between the desire for freedom and the constraints imposed by society, relationships, and personal limitations. "Bird on the Wire" is the quintessential example of this theme. 2. **War and Peace** - Tracks like "The Partisan" and "Story of Isaac" reflect on conflict, sacrifice, and the cost of war, both historical and contemporary. 3. **Loneliness and Isolation** - Cohen delves into the human condition, exploring feelings of solitude and the search for connection. "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" and "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" poignantly address these emotions. 4. **Faith and Doubt** - Spirituality and existential questioning permeate the album. Cohen, who had a complex relationship with religion, often uses biblical references to express his struggles with faith, as seen in "The Old Revolution." ### Influence **Songs From a Room** has had a lasting impact on both listeners and fellow musicians. Its influence can be seen in several areas: 1. **Singer-Songwriters** - Cohen’s style, characterized by deeply personal lyrics and minimalist music, has influenced countless singer-songwriters. Artists like Nick Cave, Suzanne Vega, and Jeff Buckley have cited Cohen as an inspiration. 2. **Literary Approach to Music** - Cohen’s background as a poet informs his songwriting, elevating the standard for lyrical content in popular music. His ability to blend literary and musical elements set a precedent for future artists. 3. **Emotional Authenticity** - The raw emotion and honesty in Cohen’s music resonate with audiences, encouraging other musicians to explore similar depths in their work. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Mastery** - Cohen’s lyrics are profound, poetic, and timeless. They offer a rich tapestry of imagery and emotion that rewards repeated listening. 2. **Emotional Depth** - The album’s exploration of complex themes like freedom, war, and loneliness is both moving and thought-provoking. 3. **Intimate Production** - The minimalist production enhances the intimacy of the album, making the listener feel connected to Cohen’s personal reflections. 4. **Cohesive Mood** - The consistency in tone and mood creates a unified listening experience, drawing the listener into Cohen’s introspective world. **Cons:** 1. **Musical Monotony** - The simplicity of the musical arrangements, while effective in highlighting the lyrics, can also lead to a sense of monotony over the course of the album. 2. **Limited Accessibility** - The introspective and often somber nature of the album may not appeal to all listeners, particularly those seeking more upbeat or varied musical experiences. 3. **Production Constraints** - While the minimalist production style adds to the album’s intimacy, it also means that some tracks lack the dynamic range and sonic variety found in more elaborately produced works. ### Conclusion **Songs From a Room** remains a landmark album in Leonard Cohen’s discography and in the singer-songwriter genre as a whole. Its strengths lie in its lyrical depth, emotional authenticity, and cohesive production, which together create a powerful and intimate listening experience. However, its minimalist approach to music and production may not cater to all tastes, and its somber tone can be a barrier for some listeners. Overall, **Songs From a Room** is a testament to Leonard Cohen’s genius as a songwriter and poet. It captures a unique blend of personal introspection and universal themes, solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential and revered artists of his time.
Meh…maybe I’m jaded and haven’t listened to the lyrics enough- but I don’t particularly like his voice- you know who I am hit me..yes of course he’s iconic! I’m so jaded..
Very folksy, western sounds and themes. The singer-songwriter angle here is definitely not my cup o' tea.
Still don't get the garbage that is Leonard Cohen. I feel like he's taking me on a Tolkien adventure with stream of thought consciousness lyrics and a fifth grade level recorder.
I have always found Leonard Cohen depressing and this album is no exception.
I wasn’t excited to listen to this one at first - I’m not usually into this genre, but I didn’t mind it today. It’s sad at times, but in all, a good listen.
3/10 Уверен что so fucking deep, но пока слушал - чуть не уснул.
Cohen always had the unique ability to speak to the soul without raising his voice. Not his best album, but it's pretty damn good.
Not a bad listen, actually kind of soothing tbh, it just didn't have any real standouts. 3/5
Ja. Kann man anhören.
This one wasn't for me. Major singer-songwriter vibes, this struck me as poems set to some guitar playing for the most part.
Much better than the other Cohen album that came up previously, still doesn't do it for me
Meh
I like Leonard Cohen's voice but I'm not that much into these songs.
Miserable git
Basically very good poetry put to repetitive music with a weak singer. But somehow it still works well as music.
Leonard is only one letter away from leotard. I think that’s pretty weird. Anyway, I really enjoyed the first half of today’s album, but then I found it starting to drag. The album is only 36 minutes long, and yet the second half on its own felt like an hour. I wonder if I’d have felt the same if I listened to this back to front. Maybe the second hand isn’t bad, it’s just too much of one thing. I make this sound bad here, but I would stay say I enjoyed it more than I disliked it.
Not as strong as his first album, but still classic LC of course.
A bit disappointing, compared to the other 'songs' albums from this era. It wasn't bad, but sounded a little too Bob Dylan for my taste.
Wonderful poetry put to music. The singing could be better but otherwise this is just great.
Aside from that little mouth harp thing going "boing" for every single second of the album in the background, this is a lovely listen. No huge standouts like on his first album, but every song has some great guitar work with Leonard's iconic voice. Very enjoyable.
I really like Leonard Cohen's voice and style but there weren't many standouts here. 3.5
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
60’
Idk maybe we could have workshopped the lyrics to You Know Who I Am a little more
Great sleepy time music, unfortunately I was not trying to sleep
I guess it's fine. It's so dated. This doesn't really speak to me.
Highlight: The Partisan
not my style of music
I like this guy. Sounds like David Spade
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.
It’s a typical Lenny album. Old man yells at cloud energy but in a good way. He’s that type of grandpa that smokes weed and participates in protests with the Green Party.
Not as good as his first album but there’s some saves sprinkled throughout. Pretty standard sounding Leonard. I’ll take it
I thought I was a big cohen fan but apparently I’m not, fuck this was boring
Love the simple acoustical guitar. Haunting lyrics, some apropos for our current times. Perhaps reminiscent of Bob Dylan.
Hard one for me. I’d say it’s true overall, and the one weakness of the challenge, but Cohen, Dylan and a few others are especially hard to “rate” in the spirit of this because how do you rate such albums after one or two listens that are so lyrically dense, more in the style of poetry? 🤷🏽🤷🏽🤷🏽 Cohen almost demands dedicated time to dig into the stories he’s singing about, often tied to biblical and historical stories for their emotional context, as he connects that to modern ideas that make you think/feel. It’s a “one” based more on my limitations. People I know that are into Cohen often say that’s the starting point with him and with dedicated listening over time, he becomes a favorite. I could see that. I ain’t there yet.
This is some folky-assed folk music for you folks. I don't hate it but I don't like it either. It just doesn't hit for me; perhaps its his approach to singing, but nothing gets me going in this music
Love it
My cat really loved this album. It’s excellent.
Slow record. Much more of a Western vibe than I had expected based on what little of Cohen's work I was previously familiar with. Not much energy, nothing particularly novel or thought provoking. I can't do much more than give it a shrug.
Highlights: The Partisan, Seems So Long Ago Nancy. In a nutshell: jaw harp enters the room... WHY the fuck was the jaw harp* used throughout the entire album? One or two songs, fine. But playing it in the background or mixed out front across both sides was distracting. Hearing a violin and banjo (and what else was it- a keys or an organ?) was a relief. The lyrics are tender and are structurally an improvement from the previous Cohen album in this list (Songs of Leonard Cohen). If it wasn't for the jaw harp, this Songs From A Room would garner a higher score. Am tempted to swap this album with Different Positions, just to spread it out. Overall: 4/10 *Jaw harp aka Jew's harp, juice harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp. It makes a twangy, cartoonish "boing" sound.
Lenny tells a story, it must be said. Not particularly uplifting or tuneful. Overuse of the jews harp
It’s a good album for walking outside on a grey and rainy day.
Keep coming around more to Cohen. There were some great songs here. This felt more Townes Van Zandt to me than some other stuff we’ve heard from him - some songs had that Mexican horn sound. Good listen.
I don’t know what it is but Leonard Cohen just makes me cringe. This record didn’t change that.
I wanted to like this more than I did. An entire album of just one vocal and one guitar is admirable, but not of the songs really gripped or stayed with me. Cohen is obviously a talented lyricist and has more interesting things to say than many songwriters, but I wonder if I'd like these songs more as interpretations by someone else.
Dude can't sing. He should stick to the mouth harp that is on every. Single. Track. More of a poetry reading than music
story of isaac a bunch of lonesome heros the partisan
Liked it! Enjoyable👍👍
Looks like this is my 5th and final Leonard Cohen album of this project. This could well be the last time I listen to a Leonard Cohen album “by choice” ever again. I found this sparse and unengaging. 🥱🥱🫥🫥🫥
Superb songwriting; lyrics, melodies, everything. Sure, it's not as thrilling as his later work, there's a bit too much jaw harp, and I prefer his older voice, but it's hard not to have an enjoyable time listening to Cohen. The Partisan, in particular, is a great song (although mostly a cover!)
Liked very much
I mean, there's no one else that sounds exactly like this, huge respect for him being comfortable with his voice and being out there.. but, I've heard these songs so many times, they legit feel old and I don't get the same buzz that I used to decades ago. 3 stars, respect and thanks
Kinda good, kinda bad, kinda dull. 59/100
I think he writes some beautifully poetic songs. It’s not something that I would regularly want to listen to though as it’s more spoken word and slow than the type of music I prefer.
An annoyingly a-musical album that relies entirely too much on the lyrics, like most of Leonard Cohen's catalog. The only track I enjoyed was "Tonight Will Be Fine".
Listened Before? N Seems fine. Not really my thing - I've only room for one 60s folk guy in my library and its Dylan. This dude seems okay though. I'll never listen to it again, but it was fine. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Bird on the Wire
Perfect for a melancholy evening with a good bottle of red wine.
Siempre evocador.
Sorry this is one of the Leonard Cohen albums I don’t think needs to be on the list, just a bit dull for me.
10/10 album. Feels like I’m listening to a western (praising)
3.5/5
I don't have the patience for this music. He should have been a writer instead of a singer. He obviously doesn't enjoy singing. Least hated song: the partisan.
okay
Может, здесь и глубокие тексты, но как же скучно! Да, у камина с чаем приятно было бы сидеть и слушать, но во время бота -- воббще нет.
It's all sounding really great, let's fuck with everyone's head and inexplicably put bloody jaw harp underneath it all.....
# Playlist Track - Tonight Will Be Fine # Notes - Really enjoy Cohen's voice and delivery. - Tracks are not stellar, but the album is pretty consistent and there are no back ones at all.
Låter som en blandning av Cornelis och Dylan. Ganska bra.
Copy and paste this if I ever have to review another Leonard Cohen album: Lyrics were great though depressing, but overall the songs all sucked.
Rustig voor een regenachtige ochtend
It never occurred to me that this man was once younger with a smoother voice. He sings real nice, no gravel yet.
Laid back. Has a country and western touch.
hum ok
It's a Leonard Cohen world, and we're all just living in it.
1. bird on the uuire - 1.5 2. izaac - 1.5 3. heroez - 1 4. partizan - 1 5. nancy - 1.5 6. revolution - 1 7. butcher - 1 8. uuho i am - 1.5 9. lady midnight - 1 10. uuill be fine - 1.5
This would be good music for a child's funeral. 1/5
Ah. Here we are. This is the melancholy I was looking for but didn’t find in that last Elliot Smith offering. 3.5 stars.
Not really my favorite as the songs just didn’t speak to me or feel that relatable. I would have given 2 1/2 if could.
He can tell a story but is it good that’s up to you
This dude's voice is on par with that fool from The Flaming Lips. I don't care what he sounds like on other albums or other songs but he sounded bad on this one. The man cannot sing. The entire album is incredibly slow, boring, and tedious. It's just this fool with his acoustic guitar (which he does not play super well, he's about on Elvis' level) and a super simple bass line that even I could play and occasionally a keyboard. Why is this on this list? I know I keep asking that question and it will never be answered but I will ask it again. This album was absolutely not special and I never needed to hear it. It was drudgery.
Cohen is a gifted songwriter but you wouldn't know it from this album. vocals seem very tentative. overall a very boring listen
I don't really like Leonard Cohen's work. Too melancholy, but in a way that I don't really relate to. Just not for me.
'Bird on a Wire' is a fabulous song and elevates this record to 'superior' from the off. Its not his best album or his best songs and 'a bunch of lonesome heroes' is essentially the music of 'so long Marianne' without the infectious melody. But 'The Partisan' is an absolutely immense piece of art and is Cohen at his very, very best.
Storytelling - 5 Poetry - 4 Music - 5 Voice - 3
Couldn't get into it. 1/5
Love Len. Not my fave, but still a classic
not for me. boring. sad. and monotone
The mouth harp is pretty bad. The rest is typical LC quality stuff.
This album is just barely hitting 3 stars. I like "stripped back" music a lot, but this stuff is *too* stripped back if that makes sense. Not enough going on for a voice that I don't think really stands out much (at least on this album).
Cohen's sophomore entry is comparable to the ones released right after and right before. A leader in 60s contemporary folk, Cohen features strong introspective storytelling accompanied by sparse, mesmerizing folk instrumentation, sometimes dark and moody, but other times bright pop. Compared to the other 2 releases, this one is a lot sparser. The fidelity is a bit better, but the instrumentation is more forgettable and boring, and he expresses less personality. In other albums, you could hear the happiness, despair, or mystery in his voice. And here, it feels more like he's narrating poems. The instruments don't compliment his voice as well, often feeling supplementary. I've complained in his other releases that they always had outstanding highlights as well as forgettable deep cuts. Here, the highs are lower, and the lows are even lower. The first side is significantly stronger than the first. "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" is his "sell-out" song that is way too over-produced and follows pop tropes, but it at least has his loudest energetic performance. The other songs on the first side are excellent, but I prefer songs on his other 2 adjacent albums better. I wish "Story of Isaac" or "Seems So Long Ago Nancy" had more to it, like "The Master" or "Avalanche". For the second side, "You Know Who I Am" has great lyrics and sounds good but is forgettable. "Lady Midnight" is decent folk pop but also forgettable. I did not care for the other 3.
Not my sound preference.
4.25
Not really my taste but really nice music to walk to, “Tonight Will Be Fine” is 5/5
not really enjoying it... like for example the 1967 Album... would have never been noticed if it would have been published today
p chill. good music for having a cold and being kinda sad and lonely i liked "seems so long ago, nancy"
Definitely up there with the lyrics. The space of the production work well to support them. Probably a 3.5-4 though.
Love Cohen but definitely prefer his older stuff when his voice became a machine that turned rocks into gravel.
Cohen mi je dosada živa, svaki cover njegovih stvari mi je bio drazi nego njegova izvedba.
Leonard Cohen tells such a great story and his deep voice is superb for the job. This album starts off very strongly, but has a fee dodgy spots. Overall great listen and I love the atmosphere that the jaw harp adds
pretty boring. the lyrics are good though, just not a lot of variation in sound throughout the songs.
I get the appeal but I find him to be extremely overrated and dull.
- Nice relaxing album for a Thursday morning!
Leonard Cohen has good storytelling abilities, but the presentation is not attractive enough for me to go back to this album.
I'll never get used to Cohen's style and repetitive wailing.
(5,4/6) 1,2,3,8,10 Cohen!
There's a lot that could be said about Leonard Cohen, Poet Troubadour. But he was definitely more of a poet than a troubadour. I like this album. I like listening to the man. But I don't think this is a particularly strong album.
Very uninteresting
Slow, a bit depressing. Voice a bit like Bob Dylan or Willie Nelson.
I enjoyed the stripped down instrumentals. However, the vocals were strained. He just sounded so sad.
Flat, flat, flat.
it's fine, nothing memorable 3
Me gustó
Boring. Depressing. Uneven vocals. Just not my thing.
Boring
Good but clearly his less essential of the "Songs Trilogy". The guys who made this book should have made room for another album than this one.
I rarely want to hear Cohen's stuff from my own initiative, but it's always pretty good, especially his early material.
The first Cohen's albums are the best melancholic folk around.
Deilig å høre på
Songs should've stayed in the room.
Love him. Another great album of his.
It takes a certain mindset to sit down and listen to this album. I actually prefer You want it darker by Cohen that I got earlier. The minimalistic approach and focus on the lyrics on this album doesn't really do it for me.
Enjoyed it, not my favorite album of his but his whole catalog is a sure thing.
emotivo
Was he was forced to write it on the spot as he recorded? It almost sounds like it's supposed to be bad. So many disjointed lyrics, it's like one of those Rick and Morty bits on intergalactic cable.
Threadbare as most Cohen LPs are, but this one is much shakier in the vocals than his previous albums I’ve listened to here. The whole album felt a bit rickety in a way, and this vocally-driven, instrumentally sparse kind of music is not my cup of tea to begin with.
I simply believe that folk music isn't for me. I've tried listening to Bob Dylan's classics several times and couldn't get past the second song. I had the same feeling with this album. It's okay, but i just don't get it. Perhaps at some point, I'll change my mind about folk, but until then, I find it boring af.
The singing isnt my favourite from all his albums but the lyrics are masterful.
Knock off beatles
I know he's an important songwriter but much like Dylan, his voice makes it hard for me to enjoy him singing. The instrumentation is also rather unremarkable. Won't be going back to this one. I'm sure there's more of him to come... And Dylan too. Sigh
Some good songs, but his voice is just not for me.
It's fine. Two songs I really enjoyed were Partisan and Story of Isaac, and Bunch of Lonesome Heroes and Bird on a Wire were good too. Tonight will be Fine was.. fine. Then I saw they (P and BoaW) were by far the most played songs -- that tracks. So, only the first four were interesting or novel -- none of the remaining songs improve upon or delineate from them in any substantial way. Giving it a 3, though that feels generous
This is too dreary for me. It does nothing for me. Sounds like it's for sad people. That said it's not unlistenable so not a 1.
Very smooth listening.
Mellow, low key, dreary. Not for those who want to stay in a good mood. Well done though.
Pure counter culture poetry set to some strange guitar riffs. I like the guitar on a couple songs but feel the album is slow & probably pretentious folk. I’m not sure if it’s 'deeper' than it actually is, or just pointless sorta meaningless drivel, conceptually or otherwise.
så tråkigt. så tråkigt och tröttsamt hoohhoijjaa tyst mjuk röst hooh och instrumental långsamt hoohs gitarren sträcker sig lite här och där så tråkigt så tråkigt...flämtande och flämtande när man lyssnar på det så tråkigt där hoppar där trumma huoh...världens mest hemska läskiga läskigaste ljud... OCH SÅ HUNDRATALS VACKRA! MIN SÖT BEBIS LEONARD... vacker.. vacker.. min söta babis.. FREDOM SOON WILL COME... partisan
Well, certainly not an album I would put on to improve my mood -- beautiful, bleak songwriting here.
Hermosa voz y guitarra. Un placer recorrer estas canciones y el coro de "el partisano" hermoso.
Well, chill, nice, easy to reposten if it is in loop, but difficult to recall.
No Likey. Too folksy for me. Honestly was bored most of the way through. Though I do hear a little bit of Lou Reed in his voice which is good.
Poetic. I thought it was a soothing nice easy listen
Tandon Scale Rating: 1 Standouts: Seems So Long Ago, Nancy, Old Revolution Foot Notes: 1 this man loves a spring sample 2 Leonard seemed like a sad dude Would I Listen Again: probably no Album Cover Rating: (1-5) 1 Album Name Rating: (1-5) 2
Great vibe for a tv show. Not for my listening though. I hopped around.
It was good
I had never heard of this guy, it was alright, the peppier songs anyway, some were depressing, but ok if you are in the mood.
Interesting. I never knew Cohen was a musician. The lyrics were great. The voice not so much.
This is great. Requires the right mood, but the songs are beautiful. Definitely one I'm happy to have been pushed to listen to.
I've come across so much praise for Cohen's songwriting that I feel badly by mentally grouping him with other singer songwriters whom I respect but whose singing I don't want to listen to. Oh well it is what it is, sorry Leonard.
Never listened to Leonard Cohen before, but I can hear why he was so influential among artists I love.
This is mid. Yeah, it's poems, but, the music is not that interesting.
The music was very simple, and I can see why people like it. It just wasn’t for me. It reminded me of Johnny Cash (I don’t like Johnny Cash) but worse.
Very slow
Have never heard of him before. A quick peek at his Wikipedia shows that he’s massive as a songwriter and author. This album is really melancholic and a tad depressing honestly. I imagine I’ll see more of his albums up soon based on his popularity, but if I’m rating it to how I liked it, I honestly didn’t.
Very reduced music and a nasal voice reciting exceptionally good lyrics. No, that's not Bob Dylan but Leonard Cohen. Songs From A Room is not my favourite Cohen album but features one of his most famous songs "Bird On The Wire" and the equally great "The Partisan" From his early works, I prefer his debut album though. This one is good, but not great.
Boring
Loved it! I only knew his more recent work, but this was also very good.
I wanted to like this album, I didn’t.
Uff, ich brauche dringend mal wieder was schnelleres, energiegeladenes. Die letzten Alben - inklusive diesem hier - sind so dermaßen easy listening für meine metalverwöhnten Ohren, dass ich nach jedem dritten Lied gähnen muss. Was das Album nicht schlecht macht, aber es kommt einfach zur falschen Zeit. "The Partisan" gefällt mir am besten, wahrscheinlich wegen des plötzlichen Französisch (mit Fremdsprachen abseits von Englisch bekommt man mich sehr schnell 😅). Make the Maultrommel great again!
I had always heard that Leonard Cohen had a reputation for being depressing and hard to listen to, but I really enjoyed this album. It’s sparse musically, but the production really allows the voice to shine through. The lyrics are on a par with Bob Dylan with occasional bits of French. There are some nice quirky elements, with whistling and an unusual twanging sort of noise which turned out to be a mouth harp in the background.
Never really liked Leonard Cohen, but listened to the whole album today…and…still don’t like his music.
It's much more enjoyable than what I feared at first. Leonard Cohen was part of my musical environment when I was growing up, and I must say that his drawling voice, slow and quiet music made me indifferent when it was not boring me to death. But I'm more familiar with his later work, and it seems that his earlier work is much more appealing (basic folk with nothing more than his voice and guitar, no fancy arrangements) and his voice a bit more dynamic than when he was getting older (less crooner, more folk singer). I even enjoyed some of it; it's simple, stripped down folk, guitar and voice going well together. There is far too much mouth harp though, it ruins part of the songs that would have been much better without it (or with a simple drumming pattern, or anything else really).
I like the dark voice, even though I would not say he's a strong singer. The arrangements are great with some strings and a mouth harp. All in all, it's too slow to make me really love it.
The first Cohen album I have listened to, and I was pleasantly surprised that I totally loved it. It’s brilliant.
So much background mouth harp.
Could see myself listening to this in the right situation. Overall too much mouth banjo or whatever it is. Some moments on the album really stood out, but overall sounded too similar song to song.
The darkness is creeping. 2-7-1
I was so happy to be given a Leonard Cohen album today. A little over a year ago I had a rather intense Leonard phase and for a couple of months I barely listened to anything else – since then I have a deep deep appreciation for his work. Thank you Lenny <3 That being said, I definitely prefer the debut album (as well as several following ones) to this one. It being so minimal and understated, according to Cohen, is influenced by some of his friends calling the first album "overproduced" (absolute slander, in my opinion) which I'm not sure was the best call, some of the songs feel rather incomplete, some simply sound like stripped-down versions of the first album's songs. However, it still has plenty of beautiful moments and, in combination with the debut, surely put Leonard on the map as an incredible talent and an unstoppable force which he ultimately proved to be. P.S. I must note than by the third listen I've started to notice and appreciate the quiet, fragile, understated beauty of this album much more. It is cozy, it is intimate, it has some great lines. I'm leaving this listening session much more receptive to this album than I was before and I think that's the true beauty of this listening project.
Over 3
Meh
great singer with a remarbable and unique voice - love the sound and the lyrics - great album
While it takes a little bit to open up, after a few listens you really listen to all the little details that are scattered throughout this record and the melodies that were hiding on the initial listens sneak up on you and get stuck in your head. I had a great experience with you want it darker and this was the same. It's just solid poetry, with good melodies and instrumentation. It's a light 4 for me. Personal favs are - Bird on a wire, lonesome heroes, the partisan, you know who i am, tonight will be fine.
Poetic, melancholy, moody. Just the sort of thing I like.
Too bad his voice and guitar didn't match the quality of his lyrics, wish he had Jeff Buckley or others sing this album.
Not my cup of tea
Not my thing at all. Quite a depressing listen.
Pretty enjoyable. Great voice of course.
Im sure I’m missing some of the literary and poetic depth of this songwriting but it seems good. It’s cool that Leonard Cohen was an amateur musician, turned amateur poet/author, turned professional poet/author, turned professional musician. A neat journey. Three stars here.
These songs seem like a song form of a storyteller. It feels like a man is telling story in a song. It is enjoyable but it seems like he has the same candance in all his songs to the detriment where it sounds the same. Enjoyable but tiring
beautiful and ageless
Classic
Ich has echt welle gern ha und finds scho mega schön aber es isch mir jetzt zwei mal passiert das ich während en album ihgnappt bin (was irgendwie guet aber au schlecht isch?). Einersiits so die alte chörnigi ufnahme und sini Stimm sind scho sehr soothing aber für mich isches eifach zu langsam zums würklich regelmässig z lose. Viellicht zum ihschlofe aber nid mini liked playlist 3.8/5
Ok first listening this morning und isch ja herzig und cute aber ich penn jetz denn ih. Allgemein ganz herzig, sehr soft iwie
Ahhh leonard… ich bin nachem erste wort scho komplett dinne… i dere (1969 nonig so rauchige und tüfe) stimm. Interessanterwiis het er damals no kei chor im hintergrund brucht wie nachher oft… omg doch UF FRANZÖSISCH?! Jaaaaaa, ja ich will. Generell findis musikalisch eifacher und weniger pompös (positiv) als anderi albe (zb mis lieblingsalbum I’m Your Man)... viel meh eifach nur sini stimm und gitarre. Und au weniger abwechsligsrich. Sehr folky. Bin nachher direkt go I’m Your Man lose und finds scho es recht viel kompletters album.
oke nashville cohen time. bird on the wire isch schön aber sehr lamsam (LAAAMSAAAAM) de schnurregiige shit isch weird mit de ziit. und ich ha irgendwie kei ziit zum uf de text lose. story of isaac tönt aber no nice vong text her. A bunch of lonesome heroes het endlich hörbare bass und so. d fuzzy gitarre tönt sehr ass aber isch no funny the partisan hübschi gitarre. er cha nöd singe aber er het irgendwie charme. uuuuh french! ah er isch in montreal ufgwachse. tönt sehr geil de französisch teil. the old revolution extrem schön.
ohhhh bird on a wire schomal uhuere schön er singt so lieeeecht schräg aber es passt iwie zum storytelling? oke ja ich glaub wennd eso usgseh hesch wie de cohen mit dere frisur und alles denn musch fast singer songwriter werde ich liebd muultrummle im hintergrund JZ EFACH FRANZÖSISCH aso s hetmer sehr gfalle, au wenn jz nöd mega vill "passiert" isch. han ich plötzlich singer songwriter musig gern?? hans gfühl das isches album wommer guet chan im summer dusse ufem balkon laufe lah
Like Dylan, Cohen is more poet than musician, but it’s poetry I can get behind. I appreciate that this album was on the list the week after “I’m Your Man,” seeing as how you can really hear the expanse of his catalogue between those two albums. Ultimately I prefer guttural, synthy Leonard Cohen, but this is still pretty great stuff.
This one doesn't grab me as much as some of the others I've heard from this list but still enjoyable. The Partisan stands out and I enjoyed You Know Who I Am, and Tonight Will Be Fine made me smile.
Hmmmm, I don't like this as much as "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" or "Songs Of Love And Hate", but it's a damn sight better than "I'm Your Man". It's possible my affection would grow with more listens, but for now it's a 4. Fave tracks - "Bird on a Wire" is head and shoulders above the rest, I reckon. "You Know Who I Am" is decent too...
better than his later works. he actually sings? He can still set a mood though. and that mood is dark. Which is always a good thing
Thinks rhunka cowboy music. Catchy. 3 stars. A precursor to magnetic fields I think.
Dead boring.
Tämä on kyllä aika kädenlämpöistä Cohenia. Asenne on kyllä aistittavissa, mutta liian rakkausimelää kyllä tässä mun makuuni. Tokalla kerralla voisi olla kolmostähden arvoinen, jos löytyisi jotain yllättävää
"I found a silver needle, I put it into my arm. It did some good, did some harm." Kiva säe, ja saattaisin joskus kuunnella LP:n uudelleen, sillä luultavasti minulta meni ohi vastaavia.
Sorry, you have to have a good voice and good music to get a good review. Lyrics are great, but this is not a poetry rating. Same for Bob Dylan.
relatively low key album - lot of cohesiveness and weird digeridoo stuff in the background; not my favorite album but not bad Overall: 66/100
Yeah, I just don’t love Leonard Cohen. Sorry.
I need to listen to more Leonard cohen.
Meh. Would have to be in a pretty downer mood to get into this. Singing is just too lackluster to make up for pretty songwriting. Enjoyed the storytelling in "Story of Isaac". Standout is "The Partisan" with it's French and nice backing vocals.
I don’t want to listen to this type of music everyday. It isn’t bad but it doesn’t give me any desire to dance, sing along, be happy. I have never enjoyed this type of voice either. No doubt the lyrics are interesting.
Quite liked it, calm 3-4/5
His voice is one you either love or you hate. when he sings he sounds very monotone almost tone deaf and in many songs it's spoils what he's trying to achieve, in others however it adds to the effects that he is trying to translate to the listener. When you have heard Aaron Neville sing bird on the wire and then you listen to this you realise what a massive difference there is in a song when the artists have different vocal capabilities
I really enjoyed this album it was very nice and relaxing
Not my thing. Weird monotone folk.
LC just doesn't do it for me. Every song is the same...not sure why he (and Tom Waits) is someone I just can't get into. 1.5/5
He's just not Nick Drake :(
泣ける
I am still both amused and amazed how similar to Bob Dylan young Cohen sounded.
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.
Poetry
Yummy
3+
Hmm
Good emotional acoustic songs. Not quite my type of voice but it does make the lyrics feel more impactful
I love the vibe of this album and I’m glad that I listened to it. It’s so domestic and warm.
Very good
I think I get it. It’s fine.
this album filled me with inexplicable rage, my productivity tanked, couldn't finish it. I'm sure this music means something to a very specific type of person but it's not me. why don't your lyrics rhyme?? do better Leonard
While i dont necessarily think this is a bad album, it's really just not my thing. Maybe a little too melancholic? 2*
Another classic!
Bleh. Very morose and unable to get into this one. Never been a fan of Cohen.
I tried to like this but I just couldn't get it. I'll try again, honest!
I'm not quite sure about this. I admire Cohen as a writer of tales, a commentator on life, but the songs are not enough to draw you in as a musical work and the sound/production is terrible.
I can't imagine another album that is going to surpass this one. Leonard Cohen's poetry and singing... They just never get old
Wasn’t a big fan of the last Leonard Cohen album I got. This is a step in the right direction. The bass and acoustic guitar are amazing. The Melodie’s from both guitars are nice to hear. Lyrics are also better than the last album. While it is better than my last outing, this doesn’t mean it’s not flawless. Some of the songs are not that memorable. Still good!
cohen halt.. es andere is besser
The Partisan
4/5
Nah
Cohen is a great storyteller, but man, it’s miserable even when it’s not meant to be. One or two songs is great, a whole album is hard work.
Solid, I could for sure come back to this if the mood hits.
As expected, haunting and good.