Songs From A Room

G-d bless Leonard Cohen The weight of his feeling always hits me like a heavy blanket of snow.

It’s such a coincidence because these are his songs from a room and I’m listening to it right now in a room. There is so much variety that Leonard is displaying here. I cannot contain my excitement. I’m gonna have to give this a razzel dazzle firework-strewn elephants on parade 3 star seal of approval.

Songs From a Room Although I’m not that familiar with this album it does essentially feel like Songs of Leonard Cohen part 2, continuing the structure of picked acoustic, half sung half drawled vocals (probably for the best when you listen to his straining on A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes) and image laden poetical ruminations on love and mortality. The bass tone throughout is great, particularly on Bird on the Wire, Story of Isaac, You Know Who I Am and The Old Revolution (great organ on that last one too). I also like the liberal smattering of Jew’s Harp, sounding a bit didgeridoo, but giving nice accent amongst the bass and acoustic guitars. The Butcher has a nice nagging rhythm to the guitar, and Lady Midnight has a great organ swell. And I really like the cowboy-ness of a Bunch of Lonesome Heroes, and Tonight Will Be Fine shares some of the clippity clop vibes, but with a nice drollness to the lyrics and some (I think deliberately?) wonkiness to the woodwinds. Overall with his songs in this period there is a sense that he just has one type of song and vocal cadence, but it is one I find pretty pleasing. There isn’t much daylight between this and the first album. I think I vaguely prefer the first over this one, but then it does have a couple of my favourite songs of his in Bird on the Wire and The Partisan. So I’ll give it the same score of 4. 🎶🚹🎶🚹 Playlist submission: Bird on the Wire

Like all his stuff, kinda boring but then also really profound.

como te quiero leonard cohen

Wonderfully written songs and sparse but very interesting instrumentation. Very different from the later Cohen albums on the list that I have already heard.

Every cohen cover is better than the original. These should’ve just been poems.

This is good music. The singer-songwriter-folk lane is not one I spend a lot of time in. I enjoy the creative energy in band settings much more. But, the skeleton of a song is a crucial element, no matter the style of execution. So I can appreciate the talent of a Cohen, Dylan, or the like, even if it isn't something that attracts regular listening.

Leonard Cohen always had great songwriting. And this album is no exception, the lyrics are evocative and artfully written, and while the instrumentation isn't complex, it's fitting for what the songs are. I usually don't like Leonard's voice, but I also think this is one of his better vocal performances. It's a pretty good folk album.

Finally a good Leonard Cohen album! Who knew singing was important to music? I guess he decided it wasn't since this is an early album.

I know he has a great reputation and all. But try as I might, I just cannot find him interesting.

Cohen’s voice is compelling even when the lyrics aren’t. It is amazing how much his voice changed over his career.

I continue not to really get Leonard Cohen, but repeated exposure has at least mitigated my prior contempt. This was fine ... maybe if I keep getting these, I'll start to enjoy them, you never know.

God his voice is something else. 5/5

A very good songwriter who benefits from other's singing his songs. Some songs are done well on thus album but his style becomes monotonous over a whole album.

I have wrote this whole gobbilty gook review that consisted of my journey listening to Cohen's music starting with Jeff Buckley/he's the Canadian Dylan.. blah blah blah. It's all erased. I was going to give this album a 4. It's turned to a 5 because I just learned while Cohen was alive Kris Kristofferson wanted to use the first 3 lines of Bird on a Wire on his headstone and Cohen said he'd be hurt if he doesn't. After a short jaunt on wiki, Kristofferson did just that.. Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free

Good stuff as usual, Lenny.

When I think of folk, I think of Dylan and Cohen. Both are incredible poets first and foremost. This album is chuckfull of great texts. But Cohen also has a beautiful voice, unlike Dylan, which makes his music rarely unpleasant. Everything is good on this album. However, if you've listened to his first album, Songs from Leonard Cohen, you kinda know where this is going. It's more of the same, which is good in a way, but it makes for an unsurprising album unfortunately. "Story of Isaac" and "The Partisan" are big highlights tho.

Hmmmmmmm

A album on paper I should love but found it a tough listen

A pleasant enough singer-songwriter alt country type of album. Sounds like a more pallateable but more bland version of Bob Dylan. Saved a few songs here and there.

Not a big Leonard Cohen fan, find his music to poetic.

Love LC and have a best of, this is the first full album I've listened to, and it's good. V meloncholic

3.5

This one fared a little bit better than my 1969 dive rating, but still firmly in the four-star range. This one's kind of a weird album especially with the instrumentation . I don't think I've ever heard a mouth harp outside of hoedown music. I always thought it was an odd choice for this album... not sure if it works. But what really does work honestly the sparse dark production on this especially with his lyrics they do go hand in hand pretty well. Of the four we've done for this project so far this is my least rated, with both *Darker* and *Love & Hate* at five stars and *I'm Your Man* & *Room at four, if I remember right *Man* had some odd instrumentation as well. But man his songwrting is so on point. (8.4) ★★★★

The two records before and after it is better, but this is still an incredible album. 4.5 stars

There's a couple of awesome tunes on this album -- "Bird on a Wire" and "The Partisan" -- but the rest is kind of just okay. The production is really sparse too, which makes it feel a little dull by the end. 3.5 stars.

Sometimes Leonard Cohen, brilliantly initialled LC, is better in my head than in my ears. At one point as I listened to Songs From a Room I moaned with a sob, “hurry uuuup. Pleeeeeeze.” Though i never knew Bird on the Wire was his song. I still like the Neville’s Bird on A Wire 100 times better. Still, not terrible.

The Butcher is a mesmerising song. It syncs with my biometric rhythm and I go into a trace-like state. I’m also a sucker for an uplifting closing track on an otherwise dark album, so this scores in the high fours for me.

I like quite a bit of Cohen's work, and I do think he was a lyrical genius, and some of his music also hits very high highs. However, I feel this album is less than his first album or what came later. I don't understand why it is on this list, as I feel that it mostly just feels pedestrian, which is not at all how I'd explain Cohen generally to anyone. This album just feels too safe.

I appreciate it more in theory than in practice

Nice lyrics, but his voice sucks Too 3: Bird on the Wire, Story of Isaac, The Partisan

Not my favorite Cohen album, but quite good.

It isn’t the album with the hit on it, but I’ve always liked Leonard’s singing as much as his songs, and I wasn’t left thinking about cover versions. I could just enjoy these, and I did.

I thought is was really repetitive and boring every song sounded the same but it was a chill album ill give it that

Not hos best, but still Leonard Cohen

Unlike the debut which felt too morose, and You Want it Darker which was dark but in a reflective and poignant way, this album seemed to be far less drab, more accessible and I got a lot more pleasure from his voice, which was I happy to let wash over me in this one. Nearly got a 4.

He’s not my style. It’s like a poetry slam with a guitar. It wont give a two, because theres much worse out there. My wife who is into poetry and heavy on the lyrics of songs would offer up a 4, but agrees he can be boring musically.

Beige 2.5

Vocals are a little rough, a couple of great tunes.

What a beautiful album

Really bad voice

tender hearted, but a little droning

finally

Mas o menos

Hell yeah!

The master of gloom - yet touching and soulful. It's an album I know quite well and it's mood music for me and not always the right time for listening to. This one caught me at the right time of the year, and of the day. A definite 4/5 for today.

6/10

I've rated every single Leonard Cohen album 3 stars so far, and this album isn't moving the needle for me. A straight down the middle, nice enjoyable listen that plays well in the background. There's moments of flair that stand out, like the atmospheric guitar in The Partisan. He has some presence, and the songs hold some weight. It's very stripped back, but he sings well and the songs work. It gets a bit old after a while; I certainly wouldn't want this to be any longer. You guessed it... 3/5!

what else can i say but he’s got the juice. the sound is a lot more “full” than i would’ve expected with the branding of “from a room”, but it contrasts very nicely with cohen’s amateur vocals (a strength in this case). ill have to dig further into these lyrics but they are all so evocative.

Inte intressant

Passar enbart vissa tillfällen men då passar det jävligt bra

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Yea I rock wit it. Byron-esque

Can I tell you something? I think I just don't like Leonard Cohen's music. There's nothing wrong with it! He's clearly talented, and he's got a nice voice and I know his lyrics have spoken to a lot of people. It just doesn't come together for me. This is the second or third album of his on this list and they just kind of sit there for me. Oh well!

Holy shit, this album did not help my mood today. One depressing track after another, this is a 35-minute onslaught of sadness set to a plinking guitar. This was better than his debut album that I listened to about 100 albums ago, in the sense that this actually made me feel genuine emotion. Unfortunately, I don’t care for Dylan-style folk and Leonard Cohen couldn’t carry a tune if you gave him an empty bucket, so it’s a low 3/5, barely in the OK category for me.

I am drawn to "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy." I know he doesn't have the most beautiful of voices, but I never doubt Mr. Cohen when he sings.

Not a fan of his voice, or his guitar so 1.0

Jesus, how has this bloke got 5 albums on the list. This is the 4th one I've had the 'pleasure' of listening to and they are all, consistently, up-your-own-arse pretentious bullshit. He can't sing, which absolutely destroys any musical value the album might have. This particular album was turned off before Track 2 finished (and it was a struggle to listen to it that long, but I have a policy to give an album at least 2 tracks before I start forming opinions). On a positive note, I only have 1 of his albums left to review.

Det minner om debut-skiva, bare mørkere og mer nedstrippet kanskje. Bytter på en måte bort litt av folkelige og pop-aktige ved debuten mot låter som ikke går noen vei eller later som at de skal ta av. Og så har du A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes som ikke passer den beskrivelsen helt, men i stedet høres ut som en "dårlig" kopi av mesterverket So Long, Marianne. Det fortsetter egentlig sånn og vipper litt mellom å høres ut som en nedstrippet versjon av debuten og låter som ønskte de var So Long, Marianne.

Fint, men går litt vel sakte til tider.

Tonight Will Be Fine to give this a listen.

7.1/10

Disappointing.

My first two Cohen albums got one star but the two since have got a 3 so maybe he’s growing on me. I might go back to those first two and give them another go. Is was a really solid album with a couple of crackers on it. The Partisan in particular was bloody great.

Let's see... I gave the last Leonard Cohen album one star. The one before that? One star. And the one before that? One star. And how about the one before that one? One star! Notice a trend there, Bob? I give this album negative five stars. Maybe I should give it 37 and one-half stars. Whatever... It doesn't make any difference. We are all doomed to a lifetime of unwanted Leonard Cohen albums.

I actually like Leonard Cohen, but if you hear one of his albums, you've heard them all. Low rating for over representation on this list.

Bob Dylan assed voice

Jamais écouté avant. Quelques notes de guitare, des ponctuations à la basse, des nappes parsemées de violon, quelques accents à la guimbarde, et au-dessus, loin au-dessus, la voix bancale de Leonard Cohen. Songs from a Room est un exercice de dépouillement musical presque extrême, conçu pour mettre en avant les sublimes textes de l'un des plus grands poètes de la folk. Et ça marche, très bien, même, à condition de se laisser embarquer dans la noire mélancolie de ses mélodies diffuses et la puissance évocatrice des mots. Top : The Partisan Flop : The Butcher

Every song kinda sounds the same, with the finger picking and the nasally voice and the rambling lyrics. Can be a bit of a vibe at moments.

I love Leonard Cohen but this album falls a little flat for me. Nothing really stands out.

I may have a tainted view of this because I was doing some reading for class while it was playing, but I was pretty let down by this. A lot of the appeal of the last Leonard Cohen album that I listened to was his voice, and how present and distinctive it was. But here, he kinda sounds like any other guy, and very rarely do the instrumentals do anything to save him. It was just kind of a let down, I was expecting a lot more from this. Favorites: Story of Isaac, The Partisan, The Butcher

FUCK LEONARD COHEN!

Better than expected

Divine.

hay una sensibilidad simple pero muy directa que llega y me gusta

This was terrible. This was only my first Leonard Cohen album on the list... I can't believe I have to listen to 4 more albums of this crap

I'm thinking Leonard may have been a happier person if he'd gone outside and walked around in nature for a while. Staying in one room is not good for mental health!

Another album from Leonard seems excessive, but as we already know, songs about war and religion get you on The 1001 Must Hear List. This sounds and feels like more outdated music for old folks. It did improve as it progressed, but not enough to get it a rating over (2.02*s) If we’re listening to another from a Lenny, let’s make it Kravitz

Too many songs from Mr. Cohen. The ones from a room don't stand out as better or any different than the others that made the list. Not sure why so many albums by this guy are making it. He's a poet but it's all the same. Should have just the debut and that's it. I'm not sure what the editor is thinking using up precious spots for other albums...1.08 stars.

Wasn't excited about another Leonard Cohen entry. Another slow acoustic folk album to tune out to. Songs From A Room didn't feel like it did anything to differentiate itself from many other albums on this list from the same ilk. This one was a little better than his debut, but not as good as some of his later-career stuff where he went electric and added some synths. I'll admit Leonard Cohen can finger-pick a guitar and is a competent songwriter but it just doesn't interest me. I've already have my fill of acoustic folk and expect there will be more to come. Leonard Cohen has had a storied career but I'm not into it unfortunately. I'm hoping this is the last of Leonard I need to deal with. 1.62 stars

One of the best pure songwriters I've ever heard

Another work of beauty, might've come between a couple more prestigious of Cohen's contenders but this is a lovely album to listen to in itself, fitted with graceful words and warm sound

Soothing storytelling and a beautiful voice

His other album was better. This one isn't bad but it's a sophomore slump. Not as good, a bit more polished. Like he used his better material for the first album. It's alright I liked the Partisan a lot. He's a very good poet. I'll probably never listen to this album again but I'm not mad I listened to it.

I like Leonard Cohens music. This album however doesn't leave much impression on me. Maybe multiple listens will reveal more. ★★★

Can Leonard Cohen sing? Definitely not. Can he write a bleak 60s folk song or ten about young lads dying in 'nam? Hell yeah. Doesn't make for the best listening, though. Still I liked some of the delicate instrumentation. Lots of weird didgeridoo that really rustled my jimmies aussie-style.

It’s fair to say that this isn’t the liveliest album on this list (I did fall asleep on my first listen, but I have a very tiring job so don’t blame Leonard too much for that), but I did enjoy this. Cohen has a real knack for an emotional song, and the sparseness of the production really helps that. It’s probably stronger in the first half and the repetitive sound does make it feel longer than it’s 36 mins, but still a good listen.

Some really good songs considered as compositions, but the performances are sadly rather underwhelming. The sound is very sparse, based mainly around acoustic guitar and vocals, with a very prominent and distinctive jaw harp on many tracks. I really respect Leonard Cohen as a songwriter, but his lacklustre, half-spoken vocals don’t help with this dreary atmosphere pervading the whole album. Funnily enough, I think he sounded much better in later years as his voice got rougher and deeper. It feels longer than it is, and regrettably, I don’t enjoy the listening experience enough to give it more than 3 stars.

Another wonderful collection of songs from LC.

А ось і він)

One day isn't enough to absorb this album. "Bird On A Wire" was the only song I already knew, and Leonard Cohen's quietly loaded lyrics need time to percolate though. I'll definitely come back to it though - I've been listening to "Songs of Love and Hate" for 20 years and I still don't feel like I understand it. Lovely stuff.

Kinda boring. His hooks on this one just don't really sink in.

There are very few words that I could say to express how I feel about Leonard Cohen. He is the poet that we needed our whole lives.

I know this guy's a legend, but only had heard a few of his songs and didn't know his history. While listening to this album, I saw that he was first and foremost a writer--a poet and novelist. He apparently took up folk music when the first two didn't pan out. Knowing that he's so beloved, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I find this album insufferable. His voice is grating--almost out of tune in places, and it feels like he's copying Dylan (I'm not saying he is, but he came after and his style is similar so the comparison is inevitable) without the unique qualities that made Dylan's strange voice special and bearable. The lyrics didn't reach me because of the grating voice and uninteresting music.

I never knew he was Canadian. Enjoyed it. I am partial to a bit of LC and this felt like his most approachable / tuneful album that i have listened to so far.

This is cut from the same cloth as 'Songs of Love and Hate'. Actually all Cohen albums are cut from the same cloth, but this and its follow up seem interchangeable to an extent. Repeated listens reveals more pleasantly subtle touches. The faint background Hammond on the excellent 'The Old Revolution'; the arresting opening verse of 'Story of Isaac', as his imposing father enters his room, telling of a frightening vision; or the detached retelling of 'The Partisan' (replicated in 'Avalanche' on the next album). The dispassionate delivery, with ne'er a crack of emotion, adds to the ascetic, religious undertones. It also sounds like someone has discovered the Jew's harp. We know you're Jewish you're called Cohen for Jehovah's sake, there no need to plaster the Rolf Harris-like twang on absolutely every song. There's something compelling about the emotionless delivery, the existential themes, the cold austerity. Not an album that rises much above the other Cohen's in the list but I'd place it in between the first and third of his albums to nose a 4.

Middling

This is my third Leonard Cohen album for this exercise. The voice is rough initially, but if you hang in there for a song or two, it starts to work its magic. Mostly him and his guitar, with fairly sparse accompaniment (including the great Charlie Daniels before his career took off, on bass and violin). The Jew’s harp on a couple of tracks sounds a bit goofy. And what is that on the last track at the end? I assume the whistling is Cohen himself. There is a second lower flute-like sound, but I think too thin and out of tune to really be a flute, or even a recorder. Maybe an ocarina? Maybe someone blowing into their cupped hands to produce the sound? A little weird. Overall, a good set though.

I love the melancholy feeling written into each soulful song, but I'm not a fan of Leonard Cohen's vocal skills. Most of the songs have similar, chuntering instrumentals and warbling vocals. The mix isn't bad, but it becomes grating after a while. This album wasn't too long though, so it was fairly listenable.