You Want It Darker

“You Want It Darker” by Leonard Cohen (2016) If you want to hear music written, sung, and recorded by an 82-year-old Canadian Jew sitting in his living (dying) room crippled by fractures in his spine and counting the few painful moments he has left, then this album is for you. And if you don’t want to hear music like that, then shame on you and this album is for you anyway. The expression “You want it darker” is typically what a lover might say to his beloved at the outset of their lovemaking—his accommodation to her sensitivity as he presents himself to her in the darker-ness and says with his mind and body, “Here I am”. For Cohen, this image serves as a prayer to God. Cohen is dying, and God wants it darker. It’s a touching reversal of the God/man Lover/beloved metaphor, and the poet/prophet pulls it of with beauty and horror. This is going to hurt. Death is like lovemaking, and Cohen is ready. “Hineni” (Hebrew for “Here I am”), he says, in resignation to the supreme Will, and with the courage of the prophet (Isaiah 6:8), he faces, embraces the agony. If there’s to be a lullaby, it’s a “lullaby for suffering”. It doesn’t get any darker than that. Cohen wishes there was a “Treaty” between God’s love and his own (There is one [Jeremiah 31:31-14], but I’m not sure Cohen signed it—there are hopeful hints in “Seemed a Better Way”, as he advises himself, “I better lift this glass of blood”, but “not today”). At least he takes it seriously. “My ‘don’t’ was saying ‘do’”, he complains of the temptation contest, but he is quitting the game (“Leaving the Table”) anyhow. And through it all, God’s love has made it real (“If I Didn’t Have Your Love“). Cohen is setting out on the road to death, but he’s “Traveling Light”. His parting advice on his way out the door (to his heart, but more importantly, to you, in case you’re not getting it), is that you should “Steer Your Way” one year/month/day/thought at a time. The outro of the closing track reprises “Treaty” with compelling mystery: “We were broken then but now we're borderline”. So where will you (we? me?) be tomorrow? His voice has been reduced, through age and pain, to whispers punctuated by well pitched basso profondo. But he retains his famous timbre, which compellingly invites the listener to consider, to ponder, to figure it out. It beckons, and you’d better not decline. It’s not just excellent poetry—it’s poetry that grabs you and shakes you a bit. It goes beyond—all the way to the declarative prophetic focus on the past and present in the face of an unknown future. Prophets were generally and unjustly disregarded. Here is your opportunity to rectify. There are negative things to say about this album. But not by me. Leonard Cohen died three weeks after its release. 5/5

INT. Abandoned Cathedral, 5:30 A.M. A thin ray of light shines on an organist wearing black robes with a Grey stole. He appears to have been awake all night. It is apparent he is playing what appear to be the final chords in a grand symphony. I love this very much.

Are you depressed because of a global pandemic? Don't worry! Leonard Cohen latest album will help you jump off a cliff!

Okay, honestly? This was absolutely gorgeous. One of the 5 star surprises of this whole listening process. I expected to be turned off, since Leonard Cohen's voice is an acquired taste in my opinion, but this was melodically so beautiful. Like, it was an EXPERIENCE.

I put on this album weeks after struggling to connect with Leonard Cohen’s third album, "Songs of Love and Hate." I expected a similar experience here. "You Want It Darker" grabbed me from the first notes of the choir with its incredible bass line, the lyrics and vocal performance. The song takes us into a holy space as it unfolds as a prayer. A prayer that critically interrogates the very roots of the religious traditions it references. "Treaty" is heartbreaking. Haunting lyrics, incredible arrangements and an emotional delivery perfectly capturing my disillusionment with Christianity and religion. ‘I do not care who takes this bloody hill. I’m angry and I’m tired all the time. I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty, between your love and mine.’ "On the Level” explores the emotions of letting go. 'They ought to give my heart a medal for lettin' go of you.' The piano… beautiful. The back up singers… angelic. Cohen… perfect. 'I'm old and I've had to settle on a different point of view. I was fighting with temptation but I didn't want to win, A man like me don't like to see temptation caving in.' Cohen has put words to feelings I've begun to have in a way that I could never hope to do. "Leaving the Table" digs deep into a break up: drifting apart ('I don't know the people in your picture frame'), regret/resentment ('If I ever loved you it's a cryin' shame'), resignation ('You don't need to surrender, I'm not taking aim'). Deep within the darkness "If I Didn't Have Your Love" unfolds into a startlingly beautiful love song. This album may be dark but like the rest of the album it is far from cynical. These songs flow with the undercurrents of a mature, deep love. "Traveling Light" pairs incredible mandolins and strings along with the electric piano while the lyrics tell of shedding parts of our lives as we approach its end. Cohen's exploration of religion in "It Seemed the Better Way” hit me in a deeply personal way. After spending a lifetime losing my religion this album has made me reflect on my religious journey more deeply than ever before. ‘Sounded like the truth, but it’s not the truth today. I better hold my tongue. I better take my place. Lift this glass of blood. Try to say the grace.' In "Steer Your Way" Cohen captures other aspects of my own journey as I steer away from so many of my beliefs, foundations, and trust in the world. He offers no replacement but hearing this song gives me strange comfort. 'Steer your heart past the truth that you believed in yesterday, such as fundamental goodness and the wisdom of the way.' Damn. "String Reprise/Treaty" is largely an instrumental string piece with Cohen reprising “Treaty” at the very end. After the last note faded I sat in silence for several minutes grieving Leonard Cohen's passing from this world just a few weeks after this album’s release... and rejoicing that Cohen left this incredible gift. Where last month I struggled to relate to a young Leonard Cohen, I felt an instant deep connection to him here at the end of his life. This album lead me into some very dark personal places - but Cohen's warmth and humanity never left me feeling alone. So rarely have I encountered an artifact of a life that had such a seismic effect on me. Leonard Cohen was right… I do want it darker.

Read poetry over music. Meh.

Useless cunt

Interesting, but I can't see actually listening to it repeatedly

absolutely incredible album, really enjoyable listen and definitely lives up to it's title. Treaty is a particular highlight

Beautiful. What an incredible voice. You Want it Darker is such a tune, love that bass line. Treaty and Reprise/ Treaty are heartbreakingly beautiful. What an album to leave the world with

Holy smokes, that voice was out of nowhere. Having only been familiar with his 'Hallelujah' I was not expecting that entrance. He just strolled right in and without effort commanded attention. Entire album reads like a letter or a prayer; struggles with aging and religion; an older man haunted by his past, now staring into the void of what's next. Very sombre, melancholic, personal and thoughtful. The lyrics are absolutely littered Judeo-Christian themes and religious references, which continues into the musical structure itself with inescapable hints of gospel, choral, chanting and traditional 'Jewish' sounding melodies. I couldn't help notice the similarities with David Bowies 'Blackstar'. Both albums wholly referencing mortality; both albums released the same year, the year of their deaths. This doesn't diminish either album, they're both unique masterpieces in my opinion, just a curiosity.

Blackstar but for depressed cowboys Best: Title track, Travelling Light, Steer Your Way

One of his best. It's amazing that an artist can be this strong at the end of his career. Album gives me chills.

i had previously listened to "i'm your man," cohen's 1988 album, as part of this project. it became one of my favorite albums, and i realized this album will become the same halfway through my first listen. cohen's lyrics are just as beautiful, thought provoking, heart wrenching as before. so many songs focus on death and come across as authentic. he wears his heart on his sleeve. you feel his pain ("i'm angry and tired all the time") and acceptance (i'm ready, my lord") as he finds himself closer to death. i was struck by how simple "traveling light" was, yet his meaning is clear ("i'm running late/they'll close the bar/i used to play/one mean guitar"). i loved each line in this lyrics, honestly. there's a thread of religion throughout the album. "make it darker" contained hymns and jewish imagery, and "treaty" was about his relationship with (and love for) his god, among others. for someone as spiritual as cohen, incorporating this into his album while nearing the end of his life must have brought him some level of comfort. his voice is deeper on this album, lending to a further emphasis on death. his tenor had always created the focus on his lyrics but more so here. there's minimal background accompaniment; while beautiful, its simplicity allows the focus to be on the lyrics. and somehow, the violins sound like they're crying. the "string reprise" section was unparalleled in its beauty. he's still with his usual folk sound, but there are some blues sounds as well. this remarkable album is meant to break you. it's dark and deep, and it can be rough. it's beautiful and truly a piece of art.

That was spectacular, I bloody loved it. I only really knew Leonard Cohen's 'hits' but this album was amazing. And released just 3 months before he died.

Blues/lyrical with instrumental/tango. Cynical retrospective love/sex lyrics with heavy biblical themes at beg and end of album. Growl-y bass. Sounds like Hades in Hadestown. Listened to while working out, which, surprisingly, worked.

Le fait que cet album soit posthume m'a mis extrêmement mal à l'aise pendant toute la durée de l'écoute. J'avais en effet la certitude que Léonard Cohen allait décéder d'un moment à l'autre. Ceci explique la frayeur que j'ai pu ressentir au long du dernier morceau lors duquel la voix de Leonard Cohen est absente des deux premières minutes. "Il est mort... Il est très probablement mort..." pensai-je tout bas. Soudain, alors que j'avais perdu tout espoir, la voix du chanteur s'éleva pour grommeler ses idioties habituelles: "I wish there was nianiania". Quel soulagement...

I know people think the "sad old man" routine is deep, but it bores me. I don't even think I liked Johnny Cash's version of it, and I genuinely like Cash. Cohen is just like an older generation's Nick Cave - style over substance, impresses hipsters. There were moments of vague coolness but mostly this was a chore. I was bored by the second song. 2/5.

First track ok. The rest of it an endless boring dirge.

Said some interesting things, and didn't overstay its welcome. Liked it enough that I want to relisten to it and think it over more

Yes. The first time I heard this album, it hit me hard. Instantly my favourite Cohen album. Exhaustion at the end of life is not something I feel, but the basic feeling of just being exhausted by everything, that I get. This has some of Cohen’s best lyrics. “I struggled with some demons; they were middle-class and tame.” 27/10 album. Favourite track: “Steer Your Way”

This very much could've just gotten me interested in Leonard Cohen. I've never listened to him before, but hearing Hallelujah in many soundtracks was annoying. I really loved title track You Want It Darker, Travelling Light and Steer Your Way.

Creamed my jeans over this

Rarely do I even give much thought to lyrics in an album, but this one earns its 5 on the lyrics alone. The beautiful sparse instrumentation and haunting voice Leonard brings are just icing on the cake.

It's like a cross-between Tom Waits and David Carradine in Kill Bill and so laid back he's basically horizontal. I understand he was in a lot of pain and near the end and that this like his spoken-word poetry but his early stuff is so much more worth listening to. I felt guilty in giving a low score so listen to it again. It does get better and maybe it's a mood thing so one night I'll play it again and get more out of it. Weirdly the attempt to jazz it up with gospel singers and organs has the opposite effect- surely it would be better more stark?

This absolutely blew me away. What took me so long?!

THIS IS THE LEONARD COHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR! Incredible. This guy is f***in' cool!

Gonna get 5 stars. Leonard Cohen is brilliant

It's interesting hearing this compared to Songs of Leonard Cohen. His voice is like whiskey over gravel here in the best of ways. The production is so much more elaborate and fantastic too. Love the lyrical themes of struggling with religion and aging.

good! Great songwriting and really intense themes. it’s an interesting listening experience bc everything is so overt and lyric focused without being too in your face or being at the expense of the music. 4.5 very good and I’ll probably listen again but nothing really floored me

The title track is on one of my favorite playlists I made and to which I listen with some frequency. What incredible texture and flow. And the rest of the album is a work of poetic beauty and intrigue. I love it.

An album that stops you in your tracks, the penultimate album from Leonard Cohen is the sound of an artist bidding farewell but driven to continue making music and art and is a privilege to listen to. The wisdom, the insight, the emotion all strike you to the core. Not a note is wasted. The music is perfectly pitched to support the breathy, quiet vocal. A heroic effort and one for the ages. (An alternative take from my daughter: ‘Kind of sounds like Lego Batman’)

What a voice, what great lyrics. The last strings track was beautiful

A lot better than I was expecting

Only Leonard (and Bob) could make an album so current without referencing modern events in the slightest. Draws upon archetypes and metaphor to perfectly critique the human condition and the role of society. Cohen's last album and maybe his best.

Oh that was superb. First listen just floored me. An easy 5/5.

An incredible listen. Really bowled over by it from start to finish. Fully felt the weight of a man facing the end. Superb.

This is Leonard Cohen at his gravelliest. The sense of pathos in every song bears the weight of a long, full life.

Excellent!

Masterpiece. This is the perfect album to test out a brand new pair of speakers.

Beautiful final album from a beautiful poet.

Loved this one. I was supposed to be working while I had this on but his voice kept making me stop and actually *listen* to the songs. The Wikipedia article was an interesting read too -- I ended up going to the Wikipedia page about Leonard Cohen as well and learned that my album for today has a link to my album from yesterday: a song on Nirvana's "In Utero" album references Leonard Cohen. 10/10 to the music, 3/10 to my own productivity.

Excellent, loved the gravelly voice, You Want it Darker was my favorite song

Quality album written by a dude who knew he was dying. Sad and awesome at the same time.

The less said the better about a man who has said so much. I would rather let him do the talking. The quiet power of the album is undeniable. While I wouldn't call this album joyous - there is plenty of light amidst the shadows. The production is minimal but sublime - matching the tone of the music. Single violins and subtle choirs add beauty. It's only with the final reprise that the true sadness comes and you feel the full weight of a life fading.

Leonard Cohen who is one of the greatest poets to ever walk on this earth who mainly started making music because releasing his text on their own wasn't lucrative came to age. His debut in '67 was released when he was 33 and when this album hit the shelfs a couple months after David Bowie passed away, he was 82. And like with Bowies final album, this also talks a lot about his own death as he also died a few days after this album released. The title track 'You Want It Darker' starts the album off with the best song already. It combines Art Pop, Jewish Music, Gothic Country and many weird and dark references to him and his religion in sometimes a Spoken Word style. The song features organs and very present keyboard bass and it all just feels dark and like he is making his own funerals requiem. It feels like Mozart all over again but instead of writing sheets full of classical music he wrote sheets full of magical and depp poetry. Yeah, the song's perfect and easily one of my all-time favourite Cohen songs. 'Treaty' goes a more Piano Blues way and feels a lot like something you'd hear on a Cohen x Tom Waits x Nick Cave collaboration and as I love all these artists, I love this song. It's very low-key but you can feel how he's not just trying to sing the words, he is adding so much emotional weight into them that the song turns out being very heavy on you. It isn't perfect, sadly, but it is incredible through and through especially the lyrics are just amazing and it mainly comes down to the instrumental side of the song that do harm it a little bit too much to be considered perfect. The Soft Rock guitar on 'On the Level' adds to the Piano Blues but I am really not a fan of how the backing vocals are used here. They don't fit at all. He should've just hummed them himself as this would've added a darker and more emotional twist. This just makes the song feel basic and uninteresing. It turns it just good and not great or incredible. Luckily, 'Leaving the Table' saves it a little by mixing his Folk style with a little bit of Country in a very slow and lonely way that turns the song into a very emotional and hard hitting song and one of the saddest songs on the album. This song literally made me cry which already makes it perfect. It's how he should've made most of the album. Just raw and emotional with a very open talk about Death. The more uplifiting sounding 'If I Didn't Have Your Love' adds a little bit of Soul into the Blues style. It isn't really that interesting when compared to other songs on the album but it's still pretty nice and the chorus is at least one big highlight. I also think that this wasn't the best choice to end the albums first half with as it is a less dark and moody track and it would've worked better at another place. The few flamenco influences on 'Traveling Light' work weirdly well with the dark themes and I am just surprised of how he came up with this idea of adding flamenco guitar into the mix. The slight Blues parts are also pretty nice in combination and the backing vocals work so well. I absolutely love how this song shapes up and plays with the music in it by adding more and more detail. The lyrics are just absolutely on point, like always and Cohen performs them with a wit that I am not used to but see it working so well. That all combines into just another perfect song. The Spoken Word aspect of 'It Seemed the Better Way' adds to the atmosphere that this song was going for. It feels nocturnal and full of mystery with the percussion that feels like out of a soundtrack for a jungle at night. The song is fantastic and just incredible even if I would've wished for a little more detail to be added because the organ and string parts aren't doing just enough for me. The Country influences return on 'Steer Your Way' which features not only a very detailed production and some of Cohens best lyrics but also a beautiful performance from him. It is genuinely a wonderful song in every detail that you could imagine and a real highlight from the album. 'String Reprise / Treaty' ends the album with mainly just strings at the start. They go on in a way that feels like someone's passed away (or is going to hehehe). This feels like it was a melody played on the Titanic as it sunk. After a while it goes back to 'Treaty' from the start with similar lyrics but performed pretty differently on top of the strings. It is the best possible way Cohen could've ended this album and his career. It is a great song even if I would've wished for the strings to go on for a little shorter. favourites: You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, Steer Your Way, Traveling Light, Treaty least favourites: On the Level, If I Didn't Have Your Love Rating: light 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Is this a good Leonard Cohen entry point? I bet it is

Wow. Cohen's voice is haunting. This gives me chills. What a beautiful way to deal with pain and say good bye to the world.

Holy hell. The power in this album, just in the first song, is haunting.

He saves his best fo last, great album. Montreal's greatest export!!

I love Leonard Cohen, but this is my first time listening to this album. Beautiful and heartbreaking, especially with the knowledge that he died so soon after. R.I.P. to an absolute legend.

This album warranted you kit-out your headphones to maximum bass, for his vocals alone. Very much enjoyed to slow sultry tones of a man on the way out

One of the greatest poet/lyricists of all time.

That voice. THAT VOICE. Fave track - The title track is absolutely badass. "Traveling Light" takes second place...

- first Cohen I've heard and blown away - strong cohesive direction but doesn't overstay it's theme - variety but also very powerful.

Truly a breathtaking record. In the final days or his life Leonard put together this collection of beautiful songs bursting with tragedy and accepting of the fate of death. This album really is a masterpiece in complementing instrumentals with lyrics/vocals, as both are stunning. 8/10

Gravelly, like pouring whisky directly into my ears. Would say I appreciated it, rather than loved it.

Alright I must admit I was blown away on the first song, his voice is so aged and sinister. I do think that effect overstays it’s welcome. But I appreciate an album from someone who isn’t in the prime years of their life, even if there should be many albums from the mid-2010’s on this list instead

Had his Songs of Love And Hate just recently, as my introduction to the work of Leonard Cohen. Which I was very thankful for. Sublime. This one? Yes but no. I'm not a lyrics person so I'm left with this pastiche of some Eastern European circa jazz blues soundtrack - oh, so grave! - for a deep voice. I have no desire to disrepect this, but... except for the title song and "Steer Your Way" this just isn't giving me a lot, musically.

I don’t want it any darker Leonard I assure you. This album sounds like the track list about a Disney movie where the villain turns out to be the good guy, his voice isn’t doing him any favors here. Im impressed he’s been making music for so long, but this is my second album of his on the list so far and you can tell the drop off in ability- tough to do the singer song writer thing when you know…can’t sing anymore.

This ain't it for me. He didn't even really sing, it was closer to reading poems to soft background music. The instrumentals are fine I guess, but I can't see myself relistening to a single song of this. This is a deep cut arthouse type of album.

With all due respect, Mr Cohen…I am a New York Giants fan in October of 2023. It could not possibly get any darker than it already is.

His voice is still great, but the lyrics sound like the work of a bored pensioner. Not for me

Leonard Cohen is always fake and gay

I'm a sucker for smokey singing voices.

Oscurísimo, excelente.

Melodias e melancolias envolventes para um lirismo arrebatador.

What a beautiful album. A masterpiece for him to end his legendary career. His poetry here allowed him to look back on his mortality and the string reprise was the official goodbye. Very dark and sad, but beautiful in its essence, as he did say bye a month after its release.

A beautiful swan song from one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time. R.I.P.

Notes from the front from a Sole Survivor. Somber, gripping and unexpectedly poetic. Required.

Amazing album

Leonard Cohen – You Want it Darker Last album written before Leonard Cohen’s death two months later. - You Want it Darker – That bass beat is so smoooooth! Yes! Dark voice is cool vibe. The “Hineni” in the chorus is a Hebrew phrase meaning “Here I am”, used by Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah among others when God calls them. The whole song seems to be Cohen trying to come to terms with his imminent death and God. Cohen is Jewish and often uses Christian imagery. This combines both. It’s really good. - Treaty – Sadder track about how the narrator is angry and tired and just wishes to end conflicts. The raw vocals mostly work, and he does get a bit more melodic at times. It’s unclear if he’s singing to a woman or God or something else entirely. - On the Level – Guitar has some prominence in this one, while still being background. Backing vocals in the chorus are an interesting effect, but not my favorite. Does give this one some variety. Seems to be about leaving a lover who was both a “devil” and an “angel”. Also speaks about his time in a Buddhist monastery in the 90s. Another good track, but not one I think I’d go back and revisit much. - Leaving the Table – Even more prominence to the guitar in the intro. Like most of the songs, it seems to deal with letting love go, reconciliation, and end to struggles. I like the brass in the background. Ok, this one is amazing. The emotion in the music hits harder than basically any of the others. This one leaves the religious imagery and is completely raw autobiography. It might be my favorite track so far. - If I Didn’t Have Your Love – A reflection on past love. It’s a sweet love song, and a good song overall, but it’s less to my taste than many of the songs on this album. These kinds of personal love songs don’t resonate with me since it’s out of my experience. - Traveling Light – A Greek flavored track that’s a goodbye to Marianne Ihlen, a partner, lover, and muse of his who died a few months before he did. It’s another amazing one. - It Seemed the Better Way – Even more stripped back track, going to humming vocals, sparse bass and shaker keeping the time. Deals with his relationship with Zen Master Roshi whom he spent years with in a monastery. He felt the teachings rang true, but later stories came out about Roshi sexually abusing female students. Also may be a rejection, or an acceptance, or a resignation to Christianity. It’s unclear. It’s high quality, but not to my taste. - Steer Your Way – Not my favorite, but a very well written track. The violins are good. - String Reprise / Treaty – Closing track to the album. An instrumental, followed by a reprise of Treaty to close out the album and close out Cohen’s life. Wow. The songwriting on this is freaking amazing. Very interesting and personal themes explored as well. The instruments are tasteful and sound amazing throughout, achieving a wide variety of different tones. In context with Cohen confronting his own imminent death (and reflecting on his life) it becomes even more poignant. Even the songs that I personally dislike are still extremely well-written. What an amazing album. This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to find when I started this project. Top Tracks - You Want it Darker – Lead track coming to terms with God and death. Smooooth bass. - Treaty – Good summation of the themes of reconciliation/surrender of the whole album. - Leaving the Table – Most raw track on the album. - Traveling Light – Love the Greek instrumentation. A beautiful farewell to a past love and friend.

Magical

Leonard Cohen is perfect. This album might be his best.

What a beautiful and heartbreaking album. Released just a few weeks before he passed. Ugh. He still had it til the end.

I wouldn't call myself a Cohen fan by any stretch of the imagination, being more familiar with his songs as performed by other artists. I bought this album on the strength of the use of the title track as the theme for the Black Earth Rising TV series, but in the end the whole album captivated me. In places Cohen sounds old and frail, but that only adds rather than detracts. It reflects on his past life and offers advice to those he leaves behind. It's an outstanding album to sign off with, his Blackstar.

five stars all day long

Incredible voice and incredible record to go with it. Quite short but memorable! Loved it. 5/5

p943. 2016. 5 stars Gravel voiced old man ruminates on death and produces final work of power and beauty. Lyrically, still light years ahead of the competition, and this time we've got decent tunes and quality production to match the words. Not a weak track on it. I am guessing this will resonate more with an older audience.

Incredible - deeply moving.

Refrescante ver a alguien haciendo un disco de 9 canciones y 36 minutos. Directo a lo que va a decir y punto. Lleno de reflexiones de una persona entrada en años, este disco se siente honesto y directo, con un mensaje claro sobre lo único que pareciera seguir importando al final, las relaciones de pareja y con dios. Resignado donde debe y cuestionando lo que queda claro, es un disco muy personal. Es el segundo disco que escucho en esta lista y fue una experiencia completamente diferente. Discazo.

Hauntingly Beautiful. I love the choirsong. 5

I don't claim to be intimately familiar with his discography, but this seems like a master work. His poetry is so unique, and his voice is so dark and rich, the mood meets the words so well. A powerful listen.

This album will forever and always reminds me of Budapest. I adore this record.

Only one of us was real.

Dark but great

I've listened to this album several times before. Not much voice left in him, but what a voice. Great feel for the music.

Incredible that in the same year as Bowie's Blackstar another legendary artist released an album days before his death, apparently in the knowledge that it would be his last, and delivered it with such poise. Both the darker and the more soulful numbers therefore come with added gravitas, (helped by Cohen's badass old man voice ofc), and his gift for dispensing great wisdom in pithy phrases is evident throughout. 'As he died to make men holy, let us die to make things cheap'. Yep. 4.5

i feel like this album goes back to his start, slow poetic somber songs i love it

loved it!

A striking meditation on god, love, and death. Leonard Cohen has always had tension throughout his work, but this album sees the tension unresolved and left to us, the listener. His voice and the subtle instrumentation command attention and leave the listener with a profound sense of loss.

Ja, dit album kan ik niet luisteren zonder het in de context te zetten. Wat een prachtparel over het leven en de naderende dood

The title of this album is perfect. I had said in my notes on “Songs of Love and Hate” that I was really interested in listening to more early Leonard Cohen, since the album I had been most familiar with was from the 80s. Why didn’t I pay attention when he made music in the 21st century? I didn’t even really aware of this later work. It was rather amazing to jump almost 50 years in his career. His voice still mesmerizes me. His words are still somewhat inscrutable but always intriguing. The composition, instrumentation, and backing vocals are amazing and beautiful in this. I think it’s interesting that the composer of the title track’s music is the co-writer of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” It has more in common than I would have thought. I love the organ and backing choir. The religious feel is intense. It’s a feel that carries through the rest of the album. “Treaty” carries so much pain and regret it’s hard to listen to. And then “Leaving the Table” comes on with even more...although there seems to be some relief in letting go. But that’s still pretty heavy. Come to think of it, “Traveling Light” also has a similar story. “If I Didn’t Have Your Love” at least suggests an intense love, but focuses on a pretty dang dark “what if?”. We then get in to some interesting religious pain and regret territory with “It Seemed the Better Way” and “Steer Your Way.” Mind you, I love these songs so much that you may find me in a dark room listening to them again and again, and it may be a good idea to get me outside in the sunshine.

Wonderbar. Treaty / treaty reprise standouts.

10/10

On sillä Leonardilla aika möreä ääni. Tunnelmallisia biisejä ja lämpimiä tunteita. Treaty(t) jäi tästä parhaiten mieleen. Sen verran vahva like, että pakko antaa vitonen!

Underbart, mörkt och fullständigt fantastiskt. Ett av mina absoluta favoritalbum just, och kanske även sen.

Inmortal.

Stórkostlegt verk!

Se calhar escrevo isto de uma forma emotiva, mas este álbum é qualquer coisa. Possui uma aura triste a sua volta que prende e atrai. A simplicidade e o tom da voz de Cohen enquadra se perfeitamente ao tom sombrio do álbum com um arranjo instrumental mais solene que se junta tão bem a sua voz. Não sei o que se passa, mas terei de dar um 9, fiquei muito intrigado e agradado com este álbum. Nota 9/10