I'm Your Man

if anyone tells you this is their favorite cohen album run far away

I liked it much more than I thought initially. It's strange to listen to it so "sad" songs with this electronically vibe, but the Cohen voice is so interesting that hypnotizes anyone independentilly of the song. For sure, I'll include it in my favorite albuns list.

i never could get into leonard cohen (although appreciate his lyricism) but this was a really cool one. the hyper 80s production didn't really age well but the album felt complete and full, not over or underdone. really felt like you could feel his character in his voice too

#/5 - Did not listen

I love this album one of my all time favourites

Not for me. A weird album with way too much 80’s synth.

Rape Music

The easy way the music entangles with the lyrics show the mark of a poet in love, in love with music, with women, with love, , with life and death. Easy to listen, easy to remember, impossible to forget.

Okay I guess this is from later in his career, but he sounds like he's old (first album on Spotify is '67). Maybe enjoyed it more as I got further into it? OMG I'm dying laughing at the beginning of Jazz Police. Ok maybe all of Jazz Police. What in the hell is this song.

Yeah Leonard, your poetry is great and all, but can you make it more 80's? - Say no more. Opens very synthy, followed by a few less memorable rambly tracks. "Take This Waltz" sounds very Roger Waters-esque and is probably the highlight of the album for me. Can't say I'm convinced by the backup singers. Overall an unoffensive album, decent enough background noise.

Three songs in all three songs are good. Everybody Kows is excellent. If I were to nit pic I could complain about the 80s production sounding somewhat dated. But the quality of the songs transcends any complaints about production. First half stronger than second half. But, Tower of Song is a solid album closet. I feel like it's a 4, his earlier albums are slightly stronger .

Great songs...dated 80s production. Did I mention Great songs!

very odd songs, super cool baretone voice though

Smooth, voice like caramel.

A cornucopia of musical flavours, some industrial, some serene, Jazz police was a dud but hey that's the eighties.

Very nice album Love the dark witty lyrics Paul Simon singer/songwriter vibes Everybody Knows, I'm Your Man, Jazz Police and Tower of Song were particular favourites

Tower of Song - one of my favourites

Quite a unique voice.

weird cunt

Interesting album. Thought the first song sounded like a Disney villain track. The other songs were pretty good. Enjoyed but might not listen again 6.0/10

Tja, prachtige teksten, heel moeilijk luisteren. Ik kom er niet doorheen.

Ruhiger, dunkle atmosphäre, klassich 80 jahre rock, hörbar

Very of its time. Grew on me after a couple of tracks, but not something I’d listen to again.

Fantastic, love Leonard Cohen.

Amazing album. Has loads of my favourite Cohen songs! Could listen to this one forever

Better of an opener. Backing vocals are the key throughout. Love Cohens baritone voice and how clear it is in every song. Highlight for me is Take This Waltz

The synth-pop stuff is definitely not what I expected, but then again it was 1988... Backing vocals are excellent. Not a huge fan of his delivery in some parts but generally the lower he goes the better. Some songs verging on being too simple for me to stay focussed. Enjoying having this on as background music though. Haha Jazz Police is gas. Favourite song so far. Yeah all fairly enjoyable. I think it probably wasn't the best idea to listen to this while working as a lot of the "value" probably comes from dissecting the lyrics. But anyway, glad I listened but wouldn't be a go-to in future.

pretty good

Some instrumentation is really unique, but when the singing starts it seems like the songs just drag on and on. His voice is not really interesting and accompaniment is way too bare, especially contrasted with the introductions of each song. Lyrics are just rudimentary.

Not a huge fan of the dragging intonation in his voice. His voice is rich and smooth which is nice, but that's about the only thing going for this album for me.

the lyrics are good the 80s seem fun

I tried to see the beauty in it but the Leonard's baritone voice was an eerie.

Too poppy for Cohen. Not bad, but not his best.

alright but not my style

No

It was quite calm, I really liked Cohen's almost spoken word sound.

I’ve heard great things about Leonard Cohen so I was curious going into this album. Another album I had to shuffle so that maybe made a difference but damn it felt slow. Some of the songs were nice musically but I feel like Leonard Cohen’s singing and lyrics kinda put me off. Couldn’t stop thinking I bet this guy wears a fedora describes things as “groovy” and calls people he likes a “cool cat”. Also it felt weirdly jarring every time he started talking about wanting to see someone naked like you were hearing your grandad say it. I wasn’t having an awful time listening to this but it wasn’t great. That all changed when “Jazz Police” came on. I couldn’t believe my ears, this music it’s… it’s… HYSTERICAL. Dunno if it was meant to be but damn it was a good time. Apparently this “Jazz Police” are “Wild as any freedom loving racist”. Are they racists? Or are they arresting racists? Are they after Cohen because he’s racist or something else? Regardless Cohen says “Jazz police I think I'm falling, I'm falling for you” he’s falling in love with a WHOLE POLICE FORCE?? WHO MIGHT BE RACIST?? The plot thickens when we find out “Jazz police are working for my mother (😱), Blood is thicker margarine than grease” (🤷‍♂️) Whether you think Cohen is guilty or not (of…uh… jazzing?) at this point should not matter as he condemns himself with the following lines “Stick another turtle on the fire, Guys like me are mad for turtle meat” What a sick bastard. 10/10 song. ((Side note: after this album finished his song “Hallelujah” came on which I believe he originally wrote and god damn he ruined his OWN song, I can think of 4 versions of this song better than the original and that’s rare))

Well... I tried... I still don't get the appeal of Leonard Cohen.

Great album. I really enjoyed the vibe all the way throughout. He has this quiet energy that sort of encompasses everything your doing while you listen.

Sounds like a PSA for the dangerous of cocaine. Leonard re-establishes that he's a total creep. I hate this so much.

The songs got less interesting as the album went on. Fist we take Manhattan was an awesome opener but I soon lost interest

This was completely different from what I expected. Some of the songs on here are the most 80s things I've ever heard. It has not aged well. I knew Everybody Knows but only because there's a cover of it that I really like. I think it's a very well written song but the original version makes it seem like a terrible song. I don't really have anything positive to say to be honest. A bit batshit in the worst possible way.

Smooth and easy, really like his voice.

Surprisingly groovy and quite synthy at times

Interesting, yet odious experimentation with 80s synthesizers along great ballads. My first Leonard Cohens album, liked it a lot

Boring old man slow so singing

My familiarity with Cohen only gets a little further than Hallelujah. I was surprised by the first track, with the synthesizer sound that feels very much like the 80s. The first track sounded familiar too, but everthing else was a new listen. "Jazz Police" is the track that is holding this album down just below 3 stars. The rest of the album is okay, including some tracks that are barely in the "okay" range. It was my first listen, but "Jazz Police" feels like I would want to skip the track every time. The backing vocals... yeesh.

Mjy buen albúm, de lo mejor de Leonard Cohen

I'm 4 songs in now, and I'm not really enjoying it. Honestly it makes me a little uncomfortable, like he's trying to hit on me and I've told him no 5 times already. I'll listen to the rest but I'm probably gonna give it a 2 cuz I don't like it. I would give it a 1, but the recording is well done.

One of his best.

Hawt Trash

Heavy synth and spoken voice, not fitting well Leonard Cohen. I prefer much more the original classic Leonard Cohen style.

Starting off strong with the late 80's sound. You know keys and drums machines. I know you know. I have to say that I'm not really into this album (the backing vocals/choir are slightly annoying) and Leonard Cohen, but maybe someday I will find some of his music that I like, maybe not.

че-то я угарнул, конечно, когда вместо акустики начался синтвейв какой-то. но внимательно послушал несколько раз. конечно, уже не совсем то, чем были «Songs of...», чувствуется более коммерческая жилка, Манхэттен — настоящий хит (кстати, у Джо Кокера неплохой кавер на неё был). Ну и лирика меня прямо калила в некоторых местах, какой-то куколдизм проклёвывался время от времени. с таким голосом разве о бабах нужно страдать... ну не суть, дед всё равно малаца, за First We Take, Jazz Police и Everydoby Knows можно четверочку въебать. Вернее я теперь решил ставить оценки по 10-баллке для большего размаха, поэтому пусть будет 7

Не-не-не, без акустики вся магия пропадает. С гитарой - бард, а с синтами - уже Бардиж какой-то. Конечно, не осмелюсь спиздануть, что музло хуёвое. Открывающий трек и заглавная тема покачивают. Take This Waltz неплоха. Заметил, что местами чувствуются мотивы а-ля Hallelujah. Пока гуглил, как пишется это слово, выкупил, что оригинальная Hallelujah как раз авторству Коэна и принадлежит, находится на предыдущем альбоме, лол. Jazz Police душноватая. В общем, неплохой альбом, но возвращаться я к нему, конечно, не буду.

хз то ли я уже приобщаюсь, то ли этот реально лучше зашел чем предыдущий альбик Леньки

The mans voice is awesome.

Haha they love Leonard Cohen, huh? This is better than the other one we reviewed, but it's not my thing. He sounds like an off-brand Roger Waters. Best songs are the first couple. I have to say I like Concrete Blonde's Everybody knows much more. Still glad I was exposed to this since he is everywhere now that I know who he is.

On one hand, the songwriting here is undeniably stellar, and his voice can absolutely put me in a trance. On the other, so much of the instrumentation and arrangement is just absolutely NOT for me. It really depends on the song to see which one wins out on this album.

20years of boredom!! Your songs Certainly show it!! Crap crap big pile of stemming shite........2 songs is all I could listen 2 🤮

Tough to rate, amazing songs, awful production. Listen to the same songs on later live albums

It was much better than the last Cohen album. Just adding better instrumentation helped to make the songs enjoyable.

Liked Lenny’s style…. Good one!!!

Obvious 5

Leonard Cohen plus 80s synths, drum machines and production--what could possibly go wrong? As ever, Leonard Cohen's poetry is pointed and lucid. The challenge for Cohen has always been to come up with music that hopefully enriches his lyrical content or at the very least, doesn't make you want to hurl. Not surprisingly, he fails miserably here. Having listened to two of Cohen's later albums beginning to end, it's apparent that his compositional style has remained remarkably consistent throughout the years. All that really changes are superficial styles and instrumentation. This hasn't hurt Leonard Cohen commercially or critically, which is a bit surprising. Why is everyone so eager to give Leonard Cohen a pass? I'm reminded of a quote from the movie Chinatown: "Course I'm respectable. I'm old. Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough."

Very gruff and at times dark - reminds me a bit of jeremy irons. Not sure what I think, songwriting is pretty cool but I wouldn't return to this. Saved: First We Take Manhattan

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: First We Take Manhattan, Everybody Knows, I Can't Forget, Tower of Song Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: The missing link between Frank Sinatra and Nick Cave. I can see how people absolutely adore this whack poetry crooner, but it was average (for this list) listening. I get what he's doing with the cheesy 80's stuff highlighting the cheesiness of the lyrics, but that doesn't make it more enjoyable.

Jag gillar im your man men resten är nog 3/5

There are lyrics-first listeners. There are music-first listeners. I think lyrics-first listeners are more rare, and I bet all of them love Leonard. We music-firsters won't give the lyrics the time of day unless the sound hits right. Leonard is a wonderful poet and this album sounds pretty bad. I dated a girl who thought I'm Your Man was one of the sexiest songs of all time. I can feel the message, but why deliver it over a Casio keyboard? My only guess comes from the banana - the hilarious banana Leonard is eating on the cover in a cool suit and shades. Maybe age taught him that there's a joke underneath everything serious and heavy. If you want to deliver heavy lyrics, maybe it makes more sense to drape them in a funny soundscape, complete with ironic-cheesy backing vocalists. Deep poetry, banana music. B

Hated this at first. So dated, synth, backup singers, etc. especially relative to his other work I’ve heard. I started to come around later in the album, when it seemed to stop taking itself seriously, it got all whimsical. Interesting. Having trouble to put it into words. Wasn’t floored, but ultimately I didn’t hate—except for the first two.

You gotta like Leonard Cohen to be cool. You gotta dig his lyrics to be cool. You gotta wade through garbage bags of synth to be cool. You gotta realize that you sorta actually like the garbage bags of synth to be cool. You gotta let your eyes drift from your laptop to lazily gaze at the Rainier cherry tree outside your window while realizing you didn't understand a word he said to be cool. Being cool is a journey, not a destination, and you gotta let ol' Lenny take the wheel to be cool.

This didn't do a whole lot for me, I like Leonard Cohen but felt his lyricism was neutered here and the production fairly weak and trying to cash in on some sophisti-pop phase in the 90s.

7, enjoyable voice

I’m sure the lyrics are profound but I can’t get into the dirge. *

Una maravilla infinita.

This album sound like a year long haunted Halloween! What a great deep voice with lyrics you’re trying to figure out befor he sings them. It was and interesting switch from all the Brits!

Zzzzz...

Very pleasantly surprised. Enjoyable listen that. 4/5

I like this one so much better than the last leonard cohen album. Thought his voice was great n deep, and the synth popped

Leonard does the 80s. Cohen is a poet first musician 2nd and throughout this is lyrically fascinating but the most impressive slight of hand he performs here is producing an album that is both unmistakably him but also pure 80s. Maybe I need a few listens to dampen my enthusiasm but having only really known Cohen's big hits like Marianne, Suzanne and Hallelujah, I have been a little blown away by the two albums of his this group has thrown up. Its clear how hes influenced other artists I love, particularly Nick Cave. The man was a Genius. Truly the Godfather of gloom. Highlights: Everybody Knows, Tower Song. 4/5 but close to my 3rd 5.

I mean its not terrible but I just cannot be bothered with it. Its silly.

Very 80s. Not really my style. It was good. But I didn't really like the style and personally didn't like it that much

Now this is an ominous yet silly album. I am shocked by how much I like this. Vocals are a little odd but endearing, content is just a thinly veiled joke. Keep telling 'em Leonard.

In my younger days I used to go to a pub called the Winchester, which was in Bournemouth, for what was an 'anything goes' night. Any band or artist could book a slot, irrespective of talent, which made it a great opportunity to see some oddballs. You mostly got youthful hipsters or anti-music noise bands (one act once cranked out guitar feedback for half an hour), but one time a middle-aged guy with a beer gut and receding hairline showed up with a Casio keyboard and played a set that sounded almost exactly like I'm Your Man (if played solely on a cheap keyboard). All the songs were about his divorce and how much he missed his kids. Four stars.

Leonard Cohen will always remind me of watchmen. In the movie his cover of Hallelujah was used and during the credits, First We Take Manhattan, which is featured on this album. He has always reminded me of a deeper and slower voiced Bob Dylan. His songs remind me of driving in a neon soaked town at night. They are a little weird and out there but very enjoyable. I mean, look at the guy, it’s like Anthony Bordain meets Dustin Hoffman and he’s eating a banana on the cover! Guys a baller.

O cara é foda, que vibe maravilhosa!!

Iconic singer

Cohen is apparently a very talented musician. But it's just not something that I fully understand.

The previous Cohen album I rated was terrible. This wasn't. Some of it I'd classify as even good. The probables is it overstays it's welcome after like 3 tracks. I don't know how people can listen to him slowly prod through album after album if this is his style. He's like the last dinner guest at your house after everyone else has left. You're standing at the door. Dishes are being washed. You keep saying things like "well ok then" but he keeps telling his story and launching into new ones. If you told me he writes his music watching birds I'd tell you it shows in the music. Not bad but it gets boring.

More 80s sound but he doesn't do a great deal of singing. It's more like speaking into the mic. 3/10.

Very cool album!

I appreciate his lyrics, but not my kind of record.

Not for me

MUY GUAY

3.5. good album but some songs were kind of weird. not bad just kinda weird. feels like a fever dream of an album

Leonard Cohen

Paso

Ok, Leonard Cohen can write some really good songs, but my goodness are his performances of them bad…. There’s a reason it feels like no one’s heard the original “Hallelujah” and this album is the same way. I could see someone else taking anyone of these songs and making them significantly better. Favorite tracks: “First We Take Manhattan” and “Take This Waltz - Paris Version”

That was a fever dream. Jazz police? Seriously?

I can't say I've listened much of Leonard Cohen before, so I was half-expecting this to be some sort of near-spoken word-styled folky/bluesy jazz. However, it turned out to be a rather 80s-sounding affair which I more or less enjoyed, more than I expected, for sure. 3 stars.

I’m sure the only album I’ve heard from Leonard Cohen was the one released just before (or just after?) he died. This album starts very strong, three fantastic hits right out the gate. He’s a bit like Tom Waits, in that he’s got the signature vocal that everyone remembers (and funny enough, Waits cites this album as a favorite). But there’s much more character to these tracks for me, I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than the Waits album. But still, it wore a little thin after a while. A good album, but wish I could say I liked more on here. Favorite tracks: Everybody Knows, First We Take Manhattan, Ain’t No Cure for Love. Album art: Comically simple. I can’t look back up at this without grinning. What a dumb album cover. The massive text, and the tiny text, and the pic of Cohen lost in a warehouse eating a banana. Is this supposed to be funny? 3.5/5

No bad songs, so many great ones. Would've given it 4.5 stars if I could because it's not a 'perfect' record.

Man, you guys were mean to Rufus. Who are drag queens supposed to listen to when they’re sad, huh?? Leonard Cohen? Maybe. But not this one. I can’t handle the instrumentation. “Jazz police”? Oof. “Everybody Knows” is still cool, but give me the early stuff, please.

Very cool album. Cohen has this deep, soft voice, that just pierces you. Most of the songs are very calm, which gives it a cool feel. Cohen is the one who first performed "Hallelujah" This is one of his later albums. He began 1967, this album is from 1988.

lol holy crap, a stark contrast to "You Want It Darker" but i dug this album. I'm still not a huge Leonard Cohen fan, but this album had some good songs, my favorite of which was "Take This Waltz".

Cool darkness quality, very Nick Cave

"Everybody Knows" says this album wants a 3+ rating. "Jazz Police" says it should be a 2.

Such an amazing album. Four of the songs are all-time classics, with Everybody Knows being one of the greatest songs ever written. The synthesizers are a little cheesy, but I have to give this one 5 stars.

yo what did i just listen to it’s like the italian mob and love songs made this. It’s pretty good though

This was too synthy for me

This morning we have Leonard Cohen and his album "I'm Your Man." I've loved Leonard Cohen for as long as I can remember. Tower of Song and Everybody Knows? Five stars no doubt. The other songs are great and I'm Your Man also a highlight. The synthesizers and 80s style music doesn't sound dated like so much of the music of the period. As mentioned in some reviews, his voice sounds engaged and lively, and this was exactly the music I needed on this cold February morning. It's like taking a trip with an old friend. Living in Leonard's world is always a welcome respite. Leonard and Johnny Cash are who I would always turn to in very difficult times. After 9/11 I listened to nothing but Cash for weeks on end. On the morning after election 2016, I was in shock and feeling very lost - Leonard came through to help me feel whole. Everybody Knows! In it's original context! The pandemic has been fucking brutal lately, thanks Leonard for helping to help me feel sane and okay again.

RIP

Classic. Leonard is not the strongest singer but the lyrics maku up for it all.

@@½. Wonderful voice, weird songs with almost electronic sound.

"First We Take Manhattan" is a fantastic track. I really like Leonard Cohen clearly from previous rankings, but this one with its synths, holds a special place for me.

This was my first Leonard Cohen album and I didn’t know what to expect, but I was especially not ready for dark and brooding lyrics for over plasticy eighties synth production. It seemed like the entire album was digital instruments but somehow hardly felt cheesy or fake. I enjoyed it and can see the depth of Cohens lyrics. Jazzer, drop your axe, it's Jazz police

weird slow vibes . i dont think ill listen again

Great album, you can really hear the influence of 80's pop and new wave, but it's infused seamlessly into Cohen's stripped back style.

at first glance was kinda down on this, but I definetly came around. I want to listen to more Cohen for sure and the spotify recommended after this album was fire. 5/8

en god trea. trevligt att sitta och lyssna på men inget som man kanske kommer komma ihåg.

Blaaaah

Different than I thought it would be.

Very up and down - some great tracks, some that didn't age well.

There's better Leonard Cohen albums out there

Awful

Not sure how to feel about the more pop feel but the lyrical songs make up for it I guess

Leonard Cohen is my man

Leonard's writing is great in places but kind of bad in others (e.g. "Jazz Police" is ridiculous but "Tower of Song" gets humble-braggy really fast). The instrumentals and production sound dated in a way only the late 80s truly can. Not for me. Favorite tracks: "Jazz Police", "Everybody Knows"

This was really nice. I'm still getting used to Leonard Cohen's tone, but I quite enjoyed each and every song.

The production choice is immediately charming when paired with Cohen's vocals, but fails to land in any further sense. If the lyrical themes of the opener showed up more often I may have been convinced, but there's not enough ironic detachment to pull a, say, Alex Cameron (who I'll have to relisten to in Cohen's light now to be time-honest). While the other tracks with backing vocals provide additional highlights, the words and music never quite adhere. In the space between is the cheese, and there needs to be either more of it or none at all.

7/10

Great vocal performance and awesome chord progressions but the musical arrangement often triggers me. Imo, it hasn't really stood the test of time, unlike his folk records.

Some date production going on. Great songs and even better lyrics!

Börjar bra men tappar lite mot andra halvan.