Songs From A Room

Familiar with Leonard Cohen thanks to Dad. I have always liked his vociferous and his lyrics. He is VERY singer-songwriter style. Can get repetitive especially because the music itself feel pretty minimalistic, and his singing has an almost spoken word quality to it. Not really the type of music I go out of my way for, but I don’t hate it. Notable tracks for me: -The Partisan

Fine, ploddy and morose but generally easy listening. Still haven't quite got why he's such an icon but that's probably my fault.

Should go back to this

Jesus, my 3rd Leonard Cohen album. Apparently the editors of this book are in the Cult of Cohen. But really, this is alright. Peaceful acoustic guitar and interesting lyrics.

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.

The potential on what could be forthcoming is clear.

Pretty decent. I thought I wasn’t a Leonard Cohen fan, but this was okay.

A little boring…?

For stille og uspicy til min smag. Unpopular opinion, men for uinspirerende

It's very Leonard Cohen

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 was pleasant enough but a little dreary.

A little slow and not very memorable, but I don't have no complaints

Awful

Just okay to me. I don’t get him generally

Not my favorite Cohen album, however it wasn't bad. He's typically more lyric focused and I tend to ignore lyrics and focus on the music. It's still something I am getting used to. There's a dark vibe about Leonard Cohen that I love so much and that's what I enjoy about his music.

Good old folk

Lovely.

I can't decide whether I love this album or not. Leonard Cohen has a pretty depressing dreary voice - but most of these songs are most poems/stories, and extremely beautiful. I don't know what they are about but I was captivated.

Top notch song writing on this album but there wasn't anything that really jumped out at me. Favorite tracks were the story of Isaac, the old revolution, you know who I am, and tonight will be fine. Would have liked more dynamics.but that's not really the style. I want to give this album a 3.5 but it's good enough to bump to a 4.

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

Idk it's aight, kinda like lou reed meets b dyl ig. Prob need to revisit.

Folky

Dark

Fuck, another late 60s album. Another album from one of "THESE GUYS" - Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, etc etc. Just keep on punishing me why don't ya. Cunt can't sing and this is just pathetic. 1/5.

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

What defined Cohen in this period is his signature lyricism and simple recordings based around his guitar playing rooted in classical playing. A soothing listen that captures his words well, but lacks some diversity in the songs to make the album a little grander. Enjoyable nevertheless as I am a fan of ‘60s folk.

Another Leonard Cohen Album that provides you with good music but this one is even more slow and minimalistic than the previous one and thus is just a little bit too boring for me

Fine, if a little on the boring side

han är ju för rar, lelle cohen.

not really a fan

beautiful

I like the partisan and a bit of the folky-ness

Not every composition is strong enough to be held up by basically only Cohen's guitar and recognizable vocal, and the melody of 'A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes' borrows a bit too much from 'So Long, Marianne' off his previous record. That being said, an album containing 'Bird on the Wire' and probably my favourite Cohen recording 'The Partisan' will never go below 4 stars. Ever.

Compared to both albums of Cohen’s discography surrounding this one, Songs From a Room seems like the weaker option. I understand the sentiment of a record as sparse as this, but more than a few times it doesn’t quite hold up. Bird On a Wire and especially the Partisan more than makes up for it, but it seems like something is still missing altogether.

I've never understood the allure of Leonard Cohen as a performer, and this album doesn't change that. His songs are good, but best performed by other singers.

To Leonard Cohen, music isn’t so much about instrumentation but more over lyricism. Most of the tracks were very dark and Cohen’s voice isn’t the most pleasant thing to listen too at points but that doesn’t take away from the lyrics which are pretty dark. 3/5 Favorite Tracks: Bird On A Wire The Partisan The Old Revolution Tonight Will Be Fine

I've been aware of Leanord Cohen for a long time because I've always liked "I'm Your Man" and "Hallelujah", but this album to me is extremely bland and boring. Vocals dont always have to rhyme in good music but I feel like he's just droning on and on. I know that probably sounds ridiculous talking about an extremely famous artist like this but this album is something I'd never ever come back to, barely made it through. Favorite Song:A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes

It was ok. Can see where he influenced Nick Cave. Also, Story of Issac very similar to a Dire Straits song?? (32 - 37 seconds) or at least another song I’ve heard. It will come to me.

Very dry, some good songs but some that sounded forced. Didn't really enjoy overall.

I know that I've listened to Leonard Cohen before, but I did not know this album or any song from it. This was a wholly new experience. While I can appreciate the stylization that he was going for - the monotone storyteller route - being a musical listener vs. a lyrical listener - much of this album was lost on me. The music itself was somewhat expected with nothing particularly standing out to me, which is not the focus of this album. This album fully falls in the category of me being able to recognize why it might be considered great or groundbreaking by others but has little in ways of connection or interest for me.

A little boring and repetitive, but I respect that Leonard Cohen was very formative for many of my favorite artists and can hear echoes of that in his work.

very same-y. campfire album, lots of storytelling. too slow though. i need energy.

I have an appreciation for this one. I can hear in this where artists like Andrew Bird and Arcade Fire found influences. Two or three of the songs grabbed my attention, but the rest passed under my radar and would probably be better appreciated by someone more into singer songwriter albums. Interesting to hear more work by the writer of the famous “Hallelujah” regardless. Probably a 2.5 or 3 from me, and not likely something I’d revisit.

There's certainly a Leonard Cohen in here. Beyond that, I'm not sure: Bounced off the minimalism, perhaps just today. Cohen is neither balanced atop surprise nor deep in his lane. This is the hard work of chipping out that niche captured.

Leonard Cohen's debut album was a masterpiece that came out of nowhere, announcing the arrival of a new singular wordsmith to the wider world--as well as a skilled crafter of timeless tunes. After such an unmitigated success, it was obviously harder for the Canadian songwriter to catch the same lightning in a bottle twice. While a fine LP, 1969's *Songs from a Room* ultimately feels less assured than *Songs of Leonard Cohen*. Compared to John Simon's illuminating production on the latter, the one Bob Johnston crafted for the debut is filled with quirkier choices--that jaw harp marking the beat on several tracks, those off-kilter synth sounds grinding their way in the background of "A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes", or that bizarre recorder flute drunkenly supporting Leonard's whistling in the last 30 seconds of closer "Tonight Will Be Fine"... With such weird details around them, Cohen's characters sound even more like the true misfits they are. The intent is therefore topically interesting, but unfortunately music suffers from it. Depending on their mileage on such things, listeners might find those instrumentation choices we've just mentioned up there either charming or annoying, and the same goes for some of the vocal performances here. Cohen's singing and meter are more tentative and uncertain than on his other work from that period, especially the debut, and especially when he struggles to reach notes on the higher end of his naturally deep, low register. As for the overall quality of those *Songs from a Room*, surely it is a little more uneven than the ones on *Songs of Leonard Cohen* or *Songs Of Love And Hate*. "Seems Like So Long Ago, Nancy", "You Know Who I Am," and "The Story of Isaac" are for instance very nice, but "The Butcher" and "Tonight Will Be Fine" simply aren't up to his usual standards. Said standards are however aptly represented through two cuts that are now part of Cohen's classic repertoire, "Bird On The Wire" and "The Partisan". "Bird On The Wire" is, simply put, another quintessential Leonard Cohen song, as frail as the singer's voice is on this one--even if such flaws may also have their charms, as we suggested earlier... In keeping with the performance, the tune is moving, sardonic, touching, evocative and witty all at the same time. And speaking of performance, that minimalistic and yet heartwrenching cover of the war song "Le Chant Des Partisans"--including that coda Cohen is singing in the original French language, supported by female background vocals--proves the "less is more" philosophy can actually yield truly epic results. Despite the album's flaws, such iconic moments convey a naked intimacy and fearless emotional honesty that's every bit as powerful as the debut, and left no doubt that Cohen was a major creative force in contemporary songwriting in the early seventies. I stole those last words from someone else in this group, but it was so rightly put that I couldn't refrain from doing so. If I had to rephrase this idea my way, I'd say that as far as albums go, *Songs From A Room* isn't the most obvious entry point onto Cohen's oeuvre, but if we had to pick individual songs so as to prove the immensity of his talent, you and I can find gold there, too. I'm pretty sure the reviewer whose words I borrowed here would agree, at least... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 868 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 73 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 32 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 28

As much as I prefer lyricism and storytelling (which this album has in spades), I do find myself missing the music a bit, which just acts as texture over which the stories are told.

Some of his best.

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

Oddly comforting, with a real stripped back folky feel. Typical dark Cohen songs to sit down and feel sad to.

I would probably like this album more if I listened to it at the end of the day rather than the beginning. Cohen is one of those artist I want to like but every time I listen to a album it just dosen't grab me.

When nobody got my back, I know a new Leonard Cohen album got my back, CAN I GET AN AMEN

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

Sedate

I like Leonard Cohen, but I like him because of the more sophisticated productions that came later on in his illustrious career. As for the rather minimalist folk music of this particular album, it might have been nice at the time and it might have represented the period it came from well, but it's not my kind of thing. To put it another way, I'm not surprised by the genre's disappearance. P.S. Is it me, or does it sound like Cohen plagiarised his own So Long, Maryanne with A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes? I will note this is the 5th Cohen album served to me by this list. I'll use the opportunity to point out the existence of other artists out there (but I will also point out my favourite Cohen album is missing from this list of 5).

Letras interesantes, música simple. Un poco monótono. 2.5 estrellas que suben a tres por las dos últimas canciones, Tonight Will Be Fine y Lady Midnight

Así me entero que Leonard Cohen tuvo cosas en las que no todo era cantar lo más lento y grave posible… Aunque no es algo que tendría en rotación, sí fueron canciones que algo me transmitieron mientras escuchaba. Especialmente los detalles instrumentales, más que la voz, pero igual vale la pena. En especial me gustó The Partisan.

I mean, this is fine, but it's all a bit... pleased with itself. Feels like a guy at open mike night at a pizza place with some very well off friends.

I definitely enjoyed my time listening to this album. It had a sound that I usually like, yet it was still unique (to me at least) and the lyrics were emotional and deep. I enjoy songs like that but, as an album itself, it doesn’t have the musicality and the craftsmanship that would propel it to 5 star status.

To be fair, he has a cool and chill voice, and the instrumentals are gentle. Together, these elements effectively builds a melancholic or even gloomy atmosphere, something that a lot of people, including me, would find boring in high doses. But I guess that's what it's all about. Poetry being delivered with music in the best possible way. I respect him for that. But this album would only work as a lullaby playlist or a background music for me.

Good songs but the delivery doesn't make the most of them.

This really doesn't do it for me and I'm surprised this is still such a revered album. Leonard just hasn't got a voice to carry an album with very mediocre songs. And the clever lyrics are rather dull. The Leonard Cohen that actually became a bit darker and clever later in life is much more up my alley.

He wrote a shrek song

Ljúfir tónar frá Leonard Cohen. Frekar gott bara.

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.

This isn’t my favorite Leonard Cohen album, but it’s nice to hear him with a more stripped down sound. As great as his songwriting is, it’s hard for me to get into his 80s sound due to the extremely dated synth and drum sounds. This album however is acoustic and sparse, having been produced by the same producer that produced much of Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel’s mid 60s output. Though this is just his second album, Leonard Cohen’s thoughtful songwriting shines through.

You know this was not so bad, better than I thought. He can sing (after a fashion) and the songs are pretty strong.

A continuation of the last few Cohen albums I’ve gotten. I’m still not sure about him, I definitely prefer his younger voice here though.

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

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: The partisan

Such a poet. Something careful and precise about his music. Coincidentally I just heard "Bird on a Wire" on the radio and it filled me with hope and calm. His influence is obviously wide ranging but it made me think specifically of Walter Martin (listen to "Bird on a Wire" back to back with "Old as Hell" and I think you'll hear what I mean, if nothing else in the way he's singing).

My favorite thing on this album is definitely the jaw harp. Really adds to the atmosphere and almost sounds like a synthesizer at times. Surprised that an instrument which seems so simple, almost like a toy, is able to be so expressive and versatile.

I like Cohen, but overall felt there wasn't even a standout track for me, so it's unfortunately just average.

Its not the way I know Leonard, but his earlier albums sound to me like he has been on the helium. Later albums would get 4 or 5 stars

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

Róleg og notaleg plata með góðum textum. Fínt svona á mánudagsmorgni.

Ich kann das nicht hören und ich kann nichts damit anfangen.

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.

I think these songs would be great in a movie. For a studio album, though, the melodies are a bit too bare.

Also love Leonard Cohen

nicely miserable montrealian gravelly nasal monotone

Boring as fuck

Best Song: The Partisan. Haunting lyrics paired with sparse instrumentals, further assisted by the French chorus, which contrasts and elevates Cohen's ruddy, nasal voice. Worst Song: Story of Isaac. Lyrically beautiful, but this is Cohen, who can have a tendency towards vocal timidity, at his most quiet and disinterested in his delivery. Overall: Although I prefer Cohen's later work, when his voice was coarser and his lyrics darker, this is a good entry into Cohen's canon. Cohen's music is best listened to intentionally, not as background music. Quiet, contemplative poetry set to music. One of the best singer-songwriters of our time.

Predictable I know but he's a bit dour and dull...I think the lyrics look great written down (hey, he was a poet first) Can you whistle a tune from this 2nd) album? Bird on a Wire? No, nothing! The words alone are not enough. If Len sounds bored singing it then surely I'm allowed to be bored listening to it. Also, too many tracks with a Jews Harp. (Is this still an acceptable term?) He looks really good in a hat though.

Strong 3, he do know how to use his voice

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

A few songs in and I wasn't feeling this album. Shame since I've been looking forward to listen to more songs by Leonard Cohen.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Not bad

Not as bad as I expected it to be.

Wonderful

Story of Isaac sucks ass. I really don't see the appeal of this guy. He is continually flat, has the intonation of a dead goldfish and is just not interesting to listen to. Tonight Will Be Fine adds insult to injury with a goddamn recorder and whistle solo.

Sorry, but the songs sound too much samey.

Awful. I can't stand his voice - it's just boring boring boring to listen to. The lyrics might be good but his voice grates too much for me to try and appreciate whatever he is droning on about. My mother in law will be disappointed as he is (was) one of her favorite singers. Sorry mum!

Quality lyrics from a brooding man. Music was nice but not incredible got the feeling that if I listened it loads I'd love it.

Great lyrics, grating delivery.

Undeniably a force in songwriting.

I was hungover, couldn't stomach Leonard Cohen that day.

No, sorry, I'm not even going to listen to this. I've heard enough already.

esta culero

Coulda used more Jew’s harp.

Ever wanted to wake up and take a nap? "He threw the bottle over, broke a minute later, and he put his hand on mine." was this a weird Doctor Who episode where they were drinking from the upper edge of the troposphere and engaged in active littering? Jaw harp. Interesting add, but it works here and its modest usage is worth noting. In fairness, at the time of this review the desire for a bit more energy skews the favorability one might have for this album on some other lazy day. Unlike many songwriter/singers (the inverted labeling is intentional) Leonard Cohen's offerings here are fine at best. His lyrics are a bit interesting at times, and musically there is nothing super amazing about it, but at the least he does sing with his music rather than in opposition to it. It seems that some songwriters when writing their songs, treat the music as an afterthought because the focus is on the writing/lyrics. This is fine, there are people who certainly prefer one over the other. However, where Cohen does excel over songwriters like that, is that he seems to have given equal effort to the lyrics and music working in harmony together. His songs present a complementary experience of verse and song rather than a contradictory one. This complementary presentation soothes (or bores, depending on the day) the brain, and if the energy of an album is going to be low like this, then this is how it might should be done.

Boring!

Great writer. I like some of his material but wasn’t big on this album.

Only the beginning… impressive!

My only real experience of Leonard Cohen has been of him being some old boring bastard. Listening to this, from the late 1960s, he sounds like a young boring bastard. It's not even like he can sing - "Seems so long ago, Nancy" has us treated to out-of-tune and cracking voice. Great if you like this sort of thing - but I've no time for it.

Beautiful

This is very sweet

Much like the previous offering from Cohen, very decent minor key stories. Voice sounds like it never really gets to where it should be

I like Leonard Cohen more than I thought I would before I'd listened to him. However, this is not his best work. His voice sounds a bit thin here, and it hurts the overall feeling of the album. The beauty of his poetry is still here, but it just doesn't sound as good 3/5

Love Cohen. This album did lose my attention however.

This one is a pretty hard listen. The production is pretty bare, the songs are simple. The vocals are pitchy but emotional. I get the feel of the album, and honestly would have like it a lot more if it wasn't for that stupid jaw harp through the whole damn album. If you're not familiar with a jaw harp, also called a jew harp for some reason, you fucking are now after getting through this album. Everyone who actually listened to this knows what I'm talking about too. It's the weird thing that sounds like the spring door stop in the bathroom that for some reason gets a 35 minute solo over the course of this record.

Bird on the Wire - uuughh Story of Isaac - YES A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes - meh. Good hook, appealing story, aggresively infuriating instrumentalisation The Partisan - YE-oh it's french. godddamnit. YE-meh on this one, closer to YES than meh Seems So Long Ago, Nancy - pleasant tune The Old Revolution - why banjoooo The Butcher - meh. uninspired. the album starts to drag, here tunes tunes good ending

There's something charming about this album. Maybe it's the melancholic vocals, the soothing guitar, or both. Didn't know much about Cohen's music, but gotta say - after listening to "Songs From A Room" I want to explore more of his works. Hooked by the style, I guess. Or maybe I needed some intimate, toned music at the time of listening. Definitely not an album for every occasion, but a delightful treat for when it's needed. Highlight: The Partisan

Cohen świetnie pisał teksty i muzykę pod nie, kreując w ten sposób muzyczną opowieść. Niestety, moim zdaniem, te opowieści brzmią lepiej w wykonaniu bardziej utalentowanych artystów. Ani wokal, ani gitara nie brzmią specjalnie wyjątkowo, wstawki harmonijki i chórki kobiece niestety nie ratują sytuacji. W "Bird on the Wire" mam wrażenie, że Cohen po prostu fałszuje. Niestety wydaje mi się, że jestem zbyt młody, by docenić ten typ muzyki. Ciężko mi też przyzwyczaić się do melancholijnego, amerykańskiego folku.

To bardziej zbiór utworów poety niż piosenkarza. Cohen zabiera nas w emocjonalną wędrówkę przypominającą rozmyślenia o życiu po kilku głębszych podchodząc pod cienką granicę doomerstwa. Album kończy się równie szybko jak się zaczął i człowiek łapie się na tym, że nie do końca go docenił i należy go odsłuchać jeszcze raz.

Generalnie to lubię piosenki Cohena, przeważnie w wykonaniu innych artystów, ale ten album jest bardzo monotonny ze względu na bardzo nieciekawy wokal samego Cohena. Pomimo tego, że lubię takie sobie posłuchać takich spokojniejszych, gitarkowych utworów, znacznie lepiej się bawiłem czytając teksty, które uważam, że są całkiem dobre, niż słuchając albumu, a chyba nie o to chodzi w muzyce. W tle nie dzieje się za wiele, ale za to w wokalu nie dzieje się nic, jedyny moment w którym jakkolwiek zainteresowałem się brzmieniem to "The Partisan", gdzie sam Cohen jest absolutnie zagłuszony przez znacznie ciekawiej brzmiącą wokalistkę, ale trwało to za krótko, żeby jakkolwiek zmienić moją opinię. Pomimo bardzo krótkiego czasu album mi się dłużył, co dodatkowo skłania mnie żeby wstawić mu taką ocenę.

Dokładnie to, czego się spodziewałem, w końcu Cohen to Cohen. Tu w swoim młodszym wydaniu, wg mnie bynajmniej nie lepszym. Cohen nie potrafi śpiewać dobrze. Dlatego zapewne jest tak monotonny, żeby nie wychodzić poza wąski zakres, w którym jakoś brzmi. Oczywiście melodie nudne, tekst też nie jest jakoś tak porywający czy ambitny znowu, żeby to rekompensował - lepiej już poezję sobie poczytać. Nie słucha się tego nieprzyjemnie, nigdy nie wrócę. Cohen jest spoko jako element jakiejś dużej składanki, ale jako cały album to nie działa. Zwłaszcza ten album, bo przeczuwam, że będą kolejne (lepsze). Dałbym 1.5, gdybym mógł. Z 1 nie przesadzajmy, jako muzyka w tle to w miarę działa.

Very good

Leonard Cohen i sooo good

Wasn’t he a nirvana lyric?

Personally would not have put this on this list. Not his best album, still cool. Cohen is as poetic as ever, and the prominence of sounds such as the mouth harp gives the album it’s own identity

bruuuuh det är som om ajag var musiker

I have never heard the spoons played so earnestly. Peak of self indulgent folk. Feels a little misogynistic and self centered, too. Too close to Bob Dylan for comfort, but also close to Velvet Underground, which I enjoy. Altogether a little confusing. Highlight of album "Tonight Will be Fine"

Similar to Songs of Love and Hate. Not quite peak Cohen

I'd never actually listened to a Leonard Cohen song beyond Hallelujah. I know he was greatly revered for his music and I get it after listening to this. It's pretty good and I love his lyrics. Great stuff and very chill vibe. 3.5/5

Estilo inequívoco asociado al este cantautor. Canciones que más parece cuentos, en el que predomina un estilo tranquilo y sosegado. Bien para escucharlo de vez en cuando. Personalmente, le falta algo más

Though this album isn't as good overall as the ones preceding and succeeding it, the first track is one of the most low-down gut punches you'll ever hear opening an album. I wish I'd not read some random review calling attention to the fact that the mouth harp is used on every track, because now I can't unhear it. I guess it was always just something in the atmosphere of the music for me, but now it's center stage. Like all Cohen's records, this one is delicate, intimate, and oh-so confessional. A kind of gentle yet earnest wrestling.

3.7 - I love Leonard Cohen but I feel less strongly about this album. For me, the slack vocals and persistent fingerpicking work so supremely well when Cohen unbares some bone-deep pain, as on “Famous Blue Raincoat” or “So Long, Maryanne.” To be sure, there’s poetry and intimacy here, and some sense of longing. But the emotions don’t seem to cut so deep, making the entire affair feel kind of sleepy.

Good, solid Lenny but not his best.

No es mi estilo. Sin pena ni gloria. No hay ningún tema que me haya emocionado

Production is spare but still pretty. (Personally, I would like a little bit more grit in it, but you can't have everything). mostly simple acoustic guitar and bass arrangements, augmented with occasional strings, distant organ, even a little bit of fuzz guitar. And Jew's harp, for that extra bit of spice. Leonard's voice is not great, but he can (usually) sell the damn song. I think the weakest vocal performance is Bird on a Wire. I think he was intimidated by the song (and a really world-class standard song it is), and it took him another 10 or more years to settle into it. The songs are so great. They are so evocative. I realize that he almost never talks in generalities or abstract concepts. He tells the story through vivid and concrete images. I love that approach to lyric writing.

han bliver aldrig dårlig

Ægte Singer/songwriter, melankolsk, akustisk, fortællende

oh my god. i felt like this album was genuinely five years long. it sounds like he grabbed a bunch of sentences from his behind and scrambled them together then added a strum of a guitar. no offence :) but he is literally awful

Songs From A Panic Room. ... Ok I was gonna try - honest - but literally from the first note ("note") I hated this. His terrible up-front vocals drenched in reverb upon more reverb over slow slice-your-wrist songs are not my bag. Which begs the question: whose bag are they? Yeah yeah poetry genius whatever. David Lee Roth wasn't a poet (or was he...) and/but used humour dammit and had Eddie by his side making some entertainment. This is not entertaining. I've had two LC albums thus far. I can think of ... a hundred? 200? artists I *hate*...that I'd rather have two albums from. Easily. Bring me Liz Phair's Greatest Monotone Middle School Naughty Words! Bring me Bon Jovi's Worst Ballads! Sigh. (...actually don't...) ...now i'm scared. Are there more Leonards?? Please say there won't be any more. [brain: ...say something nice... say something nice...] He's Canadian! [brain: invalid. ...where are the Rheostatics?...there should be at least 4 of their albums... try again; Canadian alone is worthless] Um, he's like a slightly less smacked out Lou Reed? [brain: ...what is wrong with you ... this is your base-level bar? we cannot stand anything about Lou Reed, remember? that's not a bar - that's a concrete floor. Again.] well. um...it's only 36 minutes so it'll be over soon.... [brain: ...GAK...send help - there is no way this is only 36 minutes it feels like days...brain dying...] 1/10 1 burned out dim star.

I get it, but it’s not for me I think

The first song was good, but the rest of it was so boring.

Très bon

You are shitting me. Exceptionally dull backing music and head up his arse poet talking over the top. Dreadful.

Made me sleepy, also, I thought he could sing more in tune than this.

Leonard can fucking write man. His voice isn't always the best at times though. But I really fuck with him.

Moody, sparsely rendered songs. I really like the guitar work and Cohen's songwriting is always interesting. I don't like the use of the mouth harp, which gives a kind of hokey vibe to an otherwise serious collection of songs. "The Partisan" is gorgeous with some really lovely guitar work and violin, best song on the album. Fave Songs: The Partisan; Bird on a Wire; Tonight Will Be Fine; Lady Midnight

Some solid songs, liked this more than I thought I would. Will definitely check out more of this

Non lo so, saranno arance con mele, ma secondo me è meglio de andrè.

Not a fan

The legend. Lennon said to Dylan, he doesn't listen to the lyrics, just the energy of the song. That's me too.

Leonard Cohen has achieved legendary status. This album is dull.

I only really knew Leonard Cohen's older, gravely voice before listening to this. Very interesting to hear him as a younger man, but with the same talent as a songwriter and lyricist.

Another Leonard Cohen album. 4 🌟

Less inspiring to me than You Want it Darker

Will never say no to Leonard. Another clsssic.

The guitar is great, and the lyrics are better. Most of the songs were hit or miss, with some that are more bland then others. The story telling is the highlight of the album. Favorite Songs: Story of Isaac, A Bunch of Lonesome Heros, "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy"

There were moments of this that I loved. I think I would listen to it again but it just barely made the cut. It's pretty and sweet enough to be worth some more of my time.

Wasn't expecting to really like this, but this album cast a spell on me; it has a certain magic to it. Made me a bit emotional I really liked all the songs in minor keys, especially The Partisan. That song is pure enchantment to me

Ik vind rustige muziek niet erg, maar dit is echt slaapverwekkend. Zzzzzz..... *

Der raum muss ziemlich langweilig sein 🤣 ist schon in ordnung meistens wenn man sowas mal braucht aber 6 songs hören sich gleich an und das erste ist das interessanteste weil es bisschen streicher hat

sind ein paar echt gute songs dabei ( z.b. "bird on a wire"), viel kommt aber einfach nicht bei mir an. manche songs sind einfach uninteressant? die instrumentation ist hier sehr simpel, was aber nicht heißt, dass sie gut gemacht ist. die verwendung der maultrommel in der zweiten hälfte ist besonders unnötig und stellenweise sogar nervig

Nicht sein bestes aber Leonard Cohen chillt immer, mag den Stil, die Stimme und das Storytelling sehr

hell fucking no opa ich hör dir nicht ne stunde beim rumheulen zu :mittelfinger:

Zwar hab ich schon mehrere Morddrohungen und "kys"s für diese Meinung bekommen aber ja das Album ist leider öde sorry!! ok ein paar Songs sind schon echt ganz schön und die production ist sehr geil

Kp gibt mir nicht viel so type musik aber war nicht langweilig das ist schon viel wert

ich mag die generelle Stimmung auf dem album ziemlich gern, den Raum von dem die Songs kommen würde ich gerne sehen. Aber es bleibt nicht viel hängen, die Songs gleichen sich einfach zu sehr.

ich hab das schon so oft probiert aber das gibt mir musikalisch nichts, also rein poetisch sind das nette bilder und geschichten aber selbst wenn ich mich darauf konzentriere holt mich das nicht so ganz ab. so lieder wo mehr passiert wie a bunch of lonesome heros oder the partisan find ich dagegen dann doch ganz schön

Definitiv keine Musik für das 21. Jahrhundert; Ich habe gestern versucht das Album auf dem weg zur Universität anzuhören und trotz Kopfhörern Leonard Cohen kaum gehört. Sagt das mehr über die Gesellschaft als über Songs From a Room? Wer weiß. Einige sehr gute Songs. Auf eine Art das Gegenteil von einem Konzeptalbum: Der Themensprung suizidale Jugendbekanntschaft zu Eichmann wird in einem Songwechsel vollzogen. Insgesamt nicht ganz mein Ding weil Lyrics mir nicht das wichtigste an Musik sind, aber denke ich werde das bestimmt nochmal anhören.

I kinda dig it. Not a big Leonard Cohen guy but I few of these worked for me

For whatever reason, I just can't get into it.

I like the how he sings slower

Ok if you're into that shit

Pretty good, I enjoyed Cohen's voice, and I look forward to seeing some of his other albums. Favorites: "Bird on the Wire", "Story of Isaac", "The Partisan"

Góð plata en aðeins of róleg fyrir stemninguna þegar hún var spiluð

4/10 Very calm=very boring

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes, The Partisan Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Nothing more than a wannabe Bob Dylan on this album. I don't care if the lyrics are beautiful, there has to be at least something musically accomplished to merit putting them on a musical best-of list, and this album is missing it. Songwriter's hall of fame, sure. But we did not NEED to hear yet another album from this guy just because he writes nice poetry. Just print me a booklet of his lyrics and be on your way. 1.5 that I'm gonna round down to make a point about this kind of music. Am I overreacting? Probably. But I am banging my head against the wall listening to these kind of albums over and over again spread about this list and this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Don't listen to this album if you're feeling depressed - it just might push you over the edge! The first track is utterly depressing and makes Cohen's voice sound awful. The second track is about Biblical child sacrifice. Fortunately the album picks up a bit after that.

I like how short it is. I don't have much else to say though.

when my family doesn't listen to me, the running joke - stolen from the young ones - is that i may as well be a leonard cohen album. in fairness to him, i have liked two of his songs: hallelujah, of course, and the future. sadly, for him at least, literally everything else of his that i've encountered to date i have not cared for one bit. this entire album falls into that category: i just don't care about it, and really don't need to hear it again. except...except what was that baseline at the beginning of lady midnight?? hang on, i know that...back up, let's hear that again...ok, got it. now let's go listen to the beginning of the staunton lick by lemon jelly...amazing. so, they didn't actually sample it, or at least, not from this recording...but that is *exactly* the same line, right up until the last couple notes of the phrase. neat! TL;DR: i don't like this one, and also i am a dork.

I liked the album but was not exactly in the mood to appreciate it

Okay. Some interesting songs like The Partisan but I found it too stripped back and monotonous. I’m still failing to get Cohen.

Great album that I'm very familiar with. More a 'sink into a comfy chair with a scotch' listen

Songs from a Room is an album I already own, but its not a working album I don't think! Definitely a sit and reflect over whiskey album, still great though!

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

Not as awesome as I expected, given his reputation, but I suppose there had been less music back when this came out. All the songs were pretty similar, but bird on a wire stood out as really good, rather than just quite good.

It's ok. I was told he's a great story teller in his songs, but the lyrics didn't really convey that. The music was good though.

Neato

Respect but this was a tough listen

I just can't get behind Cohen's music. Though I will admit that this is more enjoyable that some other stuff I have heard. His younger voice is easier to listen to.

Fucking awesome, but praise the Lord it's so sad! Even my girlfriend cried!

Artful but still sort of boring.

Really enjoyed the husky tones and odd lyrics.

so simple and pretty. didn’t like the last songs that much though

Before starting this project I just know one or two of Cohen's songs and know that he was considered a great songwriter. Listening to his songs gave me the opportunity to truly start to like his work. English is not my main language so I'm not able to get all from his songs, however with this second album listened to on this list I start to get why he is so important. One or two more albums and I'll be a real fan. :-)

Pretty good

a lovely album

I'm looking forward to listening to this album. I've always meant to listen to more Leonard Cohen. Great poetic lyrics but not catchy tunes. Wonderful soulful voice, so compelling to listen to. Requires attention when listening since the songs are very much stories. Would be nice for still quiet time like on an airplane.

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

A peaceful drive home

More of the same from Leonard. 3 albums in and I have yet to figure out *why* he deserves to be on this list. Like it's all just fine.

Nope. Didn’t like that

Sorry, but he didn't do it for me.

Chilled out, the album flew by without any real standout songs but also was more than happy listening to it

I liked the music and the lyrics, but I think I would like this a lot more if someone else was singing. There were times that it sounded like he actually had a good voice, but for the most part was purposely tired and pitchy.

Interesting lyrics, love the folk rock style, but my man Leonard Cohen can't sing. And it hurts the album tremendously. When I say "interesting", it doesn't always mean good. I found it tough to get through. Highlight Tracks: 1, 3, 4

Same as the last Cohen album I got.

Schönes Album, toll zu hören!

Bird on a wire ist songwriting-Maßstab!!!

I like this a lot.

I actually really liked this album

Great album, loved it.

1.25

2/5 - Fell asleep during the listen. Not really for me

Unusual dark jazz

Well Bird On A Wire is a great opener. Gloomy as hell, but mordantly funny with it. I love the partisan, but I am always a sucker for French. Seems So Long Ago, Nancy is a heartbreaker. The Old Revolution is once again a great funny one, "Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows" is a bloody brilliant lyric. And there isn't enough jaw harp in popular music! You know who I am is glorious and complex (AND HAS MORE JAW HARP).

Leonard Cohen is apparently a revered singer-songwriter. And this album is one of those... contemporary folk, according to Wikipedia... albums. To be fair, he has a cool and chill voice, and the instrumentals are gentle. Together, these elements effectively builds a melancholic or even gloomy atmosphere, something that a lot of people, including me, would find boring in high doses. But I guess that's what it's all about. Poetry being delivered with music in the best possible way. I respect him for that. But this album would only work as a lullaby playlist or a background music for me. Not a big fan of super moody stuffs.

More familiar with Songs of Love and HAte and the first album. This was decent but prefer those two albums. Need to explore Cohen a bit more.

Very relaxin and interesting lyrics.

Very simplistic. Not outlandish instrumentals. There’s a unique instrument in the background. The guitar is beautiful. Very thoughtful lyrics, some very storytelling like. Sounds and lyrics seem to have a sullen, dark theme. Some biblical themes. Personally, I’m trying to get used to Cohens voice - I’m not sure it’s entirely for me. Although, I can see how it could be a very folk album like style, just simplistic in that sense. But I can completely see how people wild really like this. It’s easy to get into a trance listening to this album.

Cohen can be better.

Had high expectations knowing of Leonard Cohen’s reputation as a songwriting legend, but I’m not quite getting this one. Songs are a little too bare bones for my taste. Doesn’t seem up to the same level other legendary folk artists were on by 1969, like Dylan.

No one tells a story quite like Leonard Cohen. That being said, this would not be my go to cohen album. The melodies feel like sad reflections of the stirring themes on songs of leonard cohen, and we don't yet get the more sonically interesting construction of songs of love and hate

Very nice

Poetry in song--pure and simple. I'm not 100% into the aesthetic--some songs speak to me but a lot is lost. It is gorgeous, but it feels like nice old-school art in a museum that I'd pass by in favor of something shinier.

He's not as sad a bastard as I thought?

Haven't listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen despite the fact the man is a national treasure in my country. The sound is sparse and has shades of early Dylan, but his vocal delivery is unique and his songs express more emotion. The album isn't essential, but the previous record, Songs of Leonard Cohen, his debut is. By comparison, Room is a letdown, but still a solid album. 3.5/5

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

The Partisan

Long, kinda dull

I feel like I'm listening to the same song over and over again. And it's not a good song.

Superb.

Every song sounds the same

Beautiful song writing.

I know people really rate Leonard Cohen, but I can't get over how he doesn't really sing his songs. Songwriting still mostly good but other people sing them better.

This is the fourth album by Cohen that has been recommended by my feed. Cohen is a little bit like Bob Dylan for me. I think I like Cohen's song writing, but his singing not as much. All of the music was new to me off of this album. The one exception was "Bird on a Wire" which I've heard a cover of, ¿perhaps the Johnny Cash version? "Lady Midnight", "The Old Revolution", and "Story of Isaac" are tracks that I'd listen to again. The basslines of "Story of Isaac" brought me in to that song. Congratulations Leonard, another "okay" album

Was ok

Just a delightful listen.

its like singer songwriter music but with weird instruments

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

Quite chill, nice background music.

Felt like a lot of church music, not really my taste but not awful.

A solid 2.5. Not unpleasant enough for a 2. Appreciated the talent and composition but just not really my thing hence got a 3.

3.5 stars

Pretty, but very similar to other classic Cohen LP's. Includes Story of Isaac

7/10 I enjoyed this, although it didn't really grip me. Leonard Cohen's songwriting is always cool and thought provoking.

Okay, not as good as his others. 6

8/10. The simplified music to emphasize the lyrics is a good style for Cohen, but I didn't enjoy most if the songwriting as much as I liked Songs of Leonard Cohen

The one song with electric guitar in it sounded amazing and I was really disappointed that Cohen didn't experiment further with that sound, instead opting for a fucking jaw harp in every song. 6

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.

Slow, old, unfamiliar

Мелодичные баллады, основная ценность в лирике.

Initially I was turned off by the sort of stripped down nature of the recording and how sort of weak it makes his voice sound but as I got into the record I found it grew on me and came to enjoy that aspect of it. Noticed a weird buzzing noise in the back of the mix, really quiet. Turns out it's an instrument called a "Jew's Harp". Really interesting - never come across this before. Seems like it's on basically every track. I suspect this is a record that probably gets better with more listens. It's also of a certain mood and tends to be a bit one-note. I can see why it's on the list but it's not something that jumps out at you as a classic right away.

I like this.

beautiful

Strong 3. Not sure what I was expecting but wasn’t this. May revisit his music, but only if I have more time to digest it

Not being much of a lyric listener, I guess the best part of this album was lost on me. Actually, the best part of this album is the Jew's harp. +2* for that.

I really liked the album he wrote as he was dying a few years back- but wrongly attributed his predicament as his muse for songwriting - seems like that emotion was there even in the 70s. I’m sure it gives orgasms for mono-tone vocal lovers, but didn’t do it for me.

-A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" actually picks up in intensity -idk I really hate singer songwriter because it is so boring

Unbearably glum.

Not a fan of Leonard Cohen

I tried playing "Songs From a Room" in the background while doing my morning routine and quickly learned that Leonard Cohen isn't really suited for that. I dig that his songs tells stories, I wish more modern artists would do that. The problem for me is that his vocal tone doesn't exactly make me want to sit down and really take them in. If an album is going to require me to focus on nothing else - it has to have something that draws me in and engages me. Cohen's monotone drawl doesn't do that for me. Like Bob Dylan, his song writing genius is undeniable but the listening experience is so polarizing that you're either into the extremely stylized sound or you're not.

Not as good as his debut or You Want It Darker which we've already listened to but still a very solid album.

Rätt nice sound

3.5/5. The more I listen to Leonard Cohen, the more I realize I have to be in a certain mood to really enjoy his music. I also realize that most of his songs sound similar. I don't know if I could tell the difference between two of his albums.

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

Another solid classic by LC

Same as the other Leonard Cohen, pretty decent

Brutal

4

good. sometimes boring, sometimes great.

It's 1969 and Cohen has released a singer-songwriter album. Very brave. Against the prevailing mood, carving a niche for a kind of subdued, lo-fi, intimate, personal lament. He's brilliant. (7/10) Favourite tracks: The Butcher, Bird on the Wire

This was great. I haven't been disappointed by a Cohen record so far. Lyrically, sonically, it just worked for me.

Similar vibe to his 1st brilliant album, but without the strong songs. I really like the pared-back instrumentation though, with his crisply-recorded acoustic guitar and vocals front & centre.

great

Reminds me of Bob Dylan. Sounds like a storyteller.

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

I can’t finish it. Got 3 tracks in and holy shit it’s boring. Think if Bob Dylan was more verbose and less talented.

Fucking fantastic!

a bunch of lonesome heroes is het eerste nummer dat me wat grijpt

Rustaaaagh Maar wat is dat fluitje op dat laatste liedje, epic.

Mooi album, ga het nog eens beluisteren en meer naar de lyrics luisteren

Poetic. Lyrical. An album to return to at different times of your life. New meaning will be found. Beautiful songwriting, utterly enchanting.

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.

I get why people would like this and I get what he was trying to do, but this style of music isn't for me, also his voice is not to spectacular either, but I get he was just trying to tell a story.

Que bello csm

This music is not for me. Didn't finish the album

dry and sardonic but overall pleasant. mouth harp made me laugh.

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

Surprised by it, because I'm not really a fun of the genre, put it doesn't get boring at any point

Wasn’t he a nirvana lyric?

excellent

Fantastic album!

Excellent storytelling

Had this on in the background while i worked on my PC - thought it ok, not one I would go looking for, but wouldnt turn it off if it was on. 3 stars

This album isn't bad, I don't have a very strong dislike of it. I think its neat however it isn't really my style.

A beautiful and melodic folk album. 8.3/10

Sounds folksy and not something I'd usually listen to. It's aged music that is too poetic for today's fast paced cultures. The first song - Bird on the Wire - stands out from the rest.

I enjoyed The Old Revolution, but overall it wasn't my vibe. I can appreciate the slightly romantic/melancholic sound

Lovely lyrics and imagery, but best sung by other artists. Cohen’s writing is amazing.