You Want It Darker

This one was okay. I don’t really prefer albums where the person is sort of speaking the song, so I guess I didn’t like it as much as the other album by him that I’ve listened to with this project.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It could have been the alcohol.

Good ol' "new" Cohen. Quite alright but nothing spectacular.

Me gustó lo tremendamente melancólico que es en algunos puntos, aunque creo que ese es el sello de Cohen. Sorpresa que un álbum relativamente tan nuevo esté aquí, hace obvio que al menos habrá uno o dos más de él.

Bit over the top but I really liked Travelling Light.

Nada mal, mesmo sendo quase todo falado. Dá a impressão de palavras finais, com tom mais macabro e só um pouco ébrio.

My least favorite LC album, though his voice still sounds buttery.

Great lyrics

Too slow and too much talking for me

It’s like a story book opera. Leonard Cohen is one of a kind

I think I've listened to enough growling old dudes but this was fine. There was one track on it that I really enjoyed

Dark

12/8 Certainly dark, a coming to grips with certain demise album. Lot of religious themes, which I guess you get into at that stage of one's life. Standout Tracks: You Want It Darker, If I Didn't Have Your Love, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way, String Reprise / Treaty

Good album... probably requires listening in a different time and space to the one I currently reside though.

Appreciating the context of this release, I wonder if this album is included somewhat on a sentimental basis. No doubt the lyrical genius is still there, and his voice plumbs even new depths… In that it’s super deep on some tracks (of course) but on first listen - that I can recall anyway - this doesn’t come across as super memorable. Surely another Cohen album belongs on this list.

To boring

kinda boring

Стоило ожидать что за 2 хороших альбома подряд есть своя цена. Как и предыдущий, этот оказался никакой. Мелодия вроде хорошая, поёт тоже мелодично, но так, как будто выдавливает из себя через силу.

I feel bad because this album definitely caught me on the wrong day. But I couldn't get behind the depressing weathered old man thing when it's so sunny outside

Good song writing, good instrumentals, don't like his singing

I don't really want it darker, or at all.

I’ve given this a couple of listens and it’s just too 1-dimensional, he needs to step back from the mic for a couple of songs. Every track sounds the same

No I thought it was already pretty dark thank you for your concern tho

Meh. Pretty samey. That first track is great though.

Not for me

Slightly better than solid but not really relistening so still a 2

I appriciate the poetry and might come to like it more by the years but right now this is not what im really looking for at all

Not really my type of music. Basically 36 minutes of a Man with a deep voice talking over a slow Jazzy/soul instrumental. ITS NOT BAD but i dont like it.

I respect the artistry of his old man spoken word poetry, but this album seems scientifically designed to put me to sleep.

Bit slow. An unsuccessful Tom Watts interpretation. He did indeed make it darker, and we were not a fan.

Well, this was the first Leonard Cohen full album that I've ever heard, which I acknowledge was probably a bad starting place to really dig into his discography. This just didn't really do it for me overall. There were some kind of cool spots where the music felt like 2010s era Peter Gabriel stuff with the orchestra and gravelly vocals, and I appreciate that he seemed to come at the topic of death head-on. I did find it to just be a long drag, with very little differentiation between all of the tracks, and wholly unmelodic. Maybe it was bad timing, as I got Bowie's death album literally the day before, but I found that one to be just so much more engaging and unique than this. Ah well. RIP bro.

Excellent songwriting but the vocals make it almost unlistenable

A couple memorable songs here, but his really "old" voice just gets tiring very quickly. It definitely gets points for having that "haunting" vibe to it given that this was recorded when he was basically on deaths door, but it just was nowhere near interesting enough from an instrumental standpoint either to keep me engaged. Maybe I wasn't the target audience though and need to revisit this when I'm also 80. 2/5

Cool

This album parses what are beautiful orchestra arrangements with Leonard Cohen's rather grating and boring voice.

✸ In my mind Leonard Cohen and Ron Perlman are in a competition for deepest voice. ✸ Unfortunately this isn't my musical taste, so this is a more challenging listen (I'm tempted to just skip songs, or scrub through them). ✸ Trying to remember that what I like about this project is that it stretches your capacity and experience, surfacing things you might have not listened to otherwise.

Too slow for me

Instrumental and vocals are evil as fuck. Love that bit of organ and choir throughout the title track. Treaty has some heartfelt lyrics but I find Cohen’s vocals don’t match the vibe of them. The instrumental carries this for most of it. On the Level is a little more upbeat but only slightly. It has some nice female group vocals that add alot. Leaving the Table has a simple guitar and strings but changes to some piano. His vocals are starting to do less for me as it goes along. Track five has similar problems too but the music worked more this time. Traveling Light starts strong but it’s the vocals that do less and less for me. Better Way is pretty similar to the title track which I enjoyed the most. Even if it feels repetitive it’s still solid. And that violin is fire. Steer Your Way has all the pros of the previous track. His vocals go hardest here for sure. The last track feels like a credits roll moment that is fine while it’s on.

I have really liked Leonard Cohen in the past but this swan song just did not do it for me. It felt like he was fading away and just doesn’t hold a candle to his previous work

Hated it ngl (why is he reciting a poem💔)

i dont know how i feel about this one. the story behind the album is compelling of course it’s his last work before he died and the pain he felt can be heard through the lyrics and vocals(?) but it seems like more of a personal project than anything. i’m not sure i’ll come back to it, but it was worth the initial listen.

The background vocals were doing a lot of heavy lifting on this album. Leonard Cohen has always been an epic songwriter but a subpar singer. This album would not been on this list if he wasn’t near the end of his life. I admire the bravery it must have taken to write and record when death was so close at hand. But, his voice is really awful.

Christian themes and raspy voice, just not my style unless i have a cigar

Why do people like this?

From title to execution this feels.. manufactured. It feels like someone knew there was limited time left, but that someone was an exec at a label and not Leonard .

2.3/5

This album is really fucking weird?? It is the most best poetry thing I've ever listened to and like it's cool and all but it was not hitting for me. I feel like this kind of thing is maybe best live for the full vibes

Too slow and not musically sound enough for my tastes. I feel like this album would go well with the people that like a dark and gruff voice. I am not one of those people.

This grabbed me more in the tracks where there was more than a single instrument, or other singers, or what have you. I get this man is a legend, but this did not grab me at all.

leonard cmon man

I get that he’s a great songwriter, but I can’t stand his voice and it just ruins it for me

Total weirdes album. Ist eher wie eine Erzählung als musik

Penultimate Cohen. After this, I only have Songs of Love and Hate to get through. I don't remember anything about Songs From a Room because it was BORING, though I admittedly am interested in hearing what a late-career Cohen album sounds like. I'm pretty sure Leonard Cohen is the artist with the biggest decade spread on the list. He has albums from the 60s, 80s and 2010s. Technically the 70s as well, but does it really count if Songs of Love and Hate was the third consecutive album of his to make it onto the list and released in 71? Anyways, time to rip this open. Man if this fella's voice ain't gravely. Anyways, I wasn't feeling this one. Folk isn't my style, and having some creepy old Jew whispering in my ear for half an hour isn't my idea of a good time. The album is notably weak in the instrumental department, featuring a lot of the subdued, minimal compositions. The pianos in particular are airy to the point of being non-existent, and the folky guitars are incredibly mild, even by folk standards. Fortunately, the string sections are generally quite nice - notably on the final track of the album. The organs are decent, too. I feel ashamed for admitting to being a simpleton, but I didn't bother paying attention to Cohen's lyrics this time around. I know his style, and I find it to be a bit rambling. The songwriting, on the other hand, is generally quite adept. The rolling, smouldering vocal style never ceases to be distinctive and contains an intensity which is befitting of folk. Overall, I can see this album being a strong player in folk, but the style and sensibilities of this genre just don't resonate with me. Book time. This was added to the 2018 edition of the book. I don't have a scan of the 2018 or 2021 revisions, so book time is cancelled, it seems. Guess I'll bee line it right over to Wikipedia. Released 17 days before Cohen's death. Wow, 2016 was a cursed year, huh? First Blackstar and now You Want it Darker. Cohen's spine had fractured in multiple places by the time he got around to recording this album, with it being recorded exclusively in his living room as a result, with the songs being turned over to Cohen's collaborators via e-mail. The album also marked a pivot towards a more minimal sound and was very well-received by music critics, who put it on a few year-end lists. The album topped the charts in 12 different countries and peaked in the top 10 in 11 more. The album made it on to a ton of year-end charts, notably being the fourth best-selling album of 2016 in Belgium in addition to being the fifth in Poland, the seventh in Austria and the ninth in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Belgium especially liked this album, with it having also lingered on the 2017 and 2019 year-end charts. Yeah, these all seem like good enough reasons to me. I cosign this inclusion.

О, мой любимчик. Давайте до конца списка все альбомы будут только его. Полный восторг. Диапазон и мощь его вокала оставит не у дел даже Брюса Дикинсона. Разнообразие песен такое явное, что будто каждый трек писали разные люди. Количество интересных мелодий и гармоний в каждом треке просто зашкаливает, а аранжировками и продюсированием наверно занимались одновременно Рик Рубин, Брайан Ино, Буч Виг, Мартин Берч, Доктор Дре, Джек Антонофф и Макс Мартин. Удовольствие на кончиках пальцев, 12/10

he got old, it is just like reading your diary out loud… sure it may ne lovely but it is not really music

Recognizing the unappreciated goodness.

Meh

day by day does he sing or just talk rhythmically String Reprise/Treaty was my favorite- nevermind he started talkig again.

The best part of this album is where the cover looks like it's a highway billboard and his arm is that extra-deluxe extra piece outside of the normal rectangle.

This is not for me.

This one was better than the Leonard cohen lp I got one

This is decent. He uses all his history to eek out another drop. Not really my thing, but good to see people keep going with their passion. The earlier albums obviously sit at the peak of the mountain.

Strangely intrigued, but not something I's listen to intentionally. I'm totally curious to experience a live performance, just to people watch, and to know if his other albums are similar.

Oh goddammit more Leonard Cohen. I begged for no more and the universe did not listen. Alright, so we've jumped forward to right before Cohen's death, and we now have raspy old man Cohen talking at us. The music is more produced, and I actually like it better than the older stuff, which is not saying a lot because I have no love for Cohen's music or style. Standout tracks for me were "You Want It Darker" "On The Level" and "Traveling Light" I liked the subject matter of the album, it's grim and personal; the thoughts and words of a dying man reckoning with his fate. But Leonard Cohen is still just so boring to me. Every song is mostly the same. It's a bit better than some others of his, but not by much. It's fine to experience once, but I don't see myself ever revisiting this. The music itself is more fleshed out and interesting, but it's still 2 stars for me.

Not for me but I appreciate the talent

Really tricky album to rate, it's moving but it's ultimately not very enjoyable to listen to, more of a meditation if anything. I'm going the perfect midpoint which is 5/10 which is a 2 here

This f’n guy again… I will say this is better than the other albums he’s had on this list, but still boring as hell. I don’t care for his voice or singing style, but the music itself isn’t terrible. 2/5

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

I get that people love his poetry. It's not bad. But he really shouldn't be a singer.

Probably more suited to a 2am listen with a whisky

1.8/5 First time I've heard Leonard Cohen and I was surprised at his style. It's not something I'm usually into but it was an interesting listen. I'm sure if I gave this a few more spins I could appreciate it more but is was just ok.

it's not for me!

no. guy whispering in your ear for 5 minutes.

I have no idea how to rate this. It wasn’t really music in the traditional sense.

..

2 stars I don’t know. Low droning voice over and over. It wasn’t bad but I wasn’t interested.

Doesn't work for me

This was the most recent album we've heard so far and an interesting case study on how an artist's style can develop over the course of several decades. I wonder if he smoked too many cigarettes? XD There is some decent music here, but this album won't be for anyone who can't get into his "singing." Similar to the last album we heard from him, he still displays skillful lyricism and chooses to employ sparse instrumental accompaniment. I didn't mind the minimalism and I actually liked a lot of the instrumentation and supporting vocals, especially on the two or three gospel inspired tracks. There is a soothing quality to his voice, but it's mostly hard to take seriously. It's a little sad and pitiful, but also slightly heartwarming to hear an elderly man croon about his loss of love and luster as he enters the dusk of his life

Kind of getting tired of all these artist repeats. On this one, I don't think I can get past his voice (as an obstacle to me potentially enjoying it). And, since this album is more about the words, and I'm more about the music (and tend not to like music where I don't like the singer), well, I don't think I can go higher than 2. Somehow, a 1 would feel wrong, as I think there's some artistry here, but, since I don't appreciate (enjoy) it very much, 2 it is. I'm more annoyed, though, by there being 2 Leonard Cohen albums on this list, than by this album in particular (not that this affected my rating of this album). I know there are people who LOVE Leonard Cohen. I'm just not one of them. I liked the string quartet, on the last one, though.

Maybe I'm cynical, but I don't think the context of an album alone can make it great. I like the line: "As he died to make men holy, let us die to make things cheap" IF it's a criticism of capitalism

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🚬😎🔳 Production:😌👂🧈 Music: 👴🕊️⚰️ Rating: 🖤🖤(🖤)/5

Boring

#905. Were the people around this guy just too scared to tell him the music he was making was boring as shit? I think this is the third one I've heard so far, and every time I just can't wait for it to be over. 2/5: yawn

no es exactamente mi gusto pero fue una experiencia interesante

Played this a few times, thought I would have been able to really listen to the lyrics the way he talks them. But no, I kept getting distracted by the sound of his voice, it just became a background drone. I do respect him as an artist otherwise it would have been a one

2,5

Holy what a voice. Shook me to my core the second I heard him sing. Very poignant sound to the whole album. The instrumentation is quite minimal which compliments the robust voice of Cohen. Created a great, moody atmosphere. However, I didn't get much enjoyment out of it. Not an album I would listen to over and over again or have songs get stuck in my head from. Favourite tracks: You Want It Darker 2/5

Dit genre is nogal oververtegenwoordigd. En dan kan een in het genre weinig vernieuwend album uit 2016 wat mij betreft wel wegblijven. Dat zing-praten, het is gewoon naar om aan te horen.

I get it, its just not for me. I'm probably not cool enough.

Full disclosure I did not listen to the entire album. Also full disclosure, I recognize that Leonard Cohen is talented and I appreciate that his style is “different” than much of the mainstream music available today. That said, my God, what frame of mine do you have to be to appreciate an album like this? I’m picturing someone sitting upright at a table in an uncomfortable chair with one bright white light hanging above, the rest of the room dark, wearing a black leather jacket, staring at an ashtray full of smoked cigs, a gun, and a shot of whiskey.

not my thing but not horrible. think i would've enjoyed some of the songs better with a different vocalist

This was atmospheric & a good background soundtrack to work time

The lyrics were fine, his voice was just too grating.

Fine. Dark. I don’t know if it’s worth revisiting.

dude im 21, never have i said this about an album before now, but like fuck man, wtf am i supposed to glean from an album from Leonard Cohen!!! what could he possibly have to day to me

I really liked a lot of this music but then, as usual, Leonard Cohen has to open his mouth and ruin it. I clearly don’t get him. Two stars.

Best Track - "You Want It Darker"

Depressing

There are moments where this feels very powerful but much of it quite honestly bores me. I'm glad I listened to it in a way and I can see what's interesting about it, but it's nothing I'd ever revisit.

It sound like less horny Peter Steele talking over some violin underground bar melancholic sounds. Oh how I love that music but vocals were sometimes pissing me of.

I almost feel bad giving this a low score, so maybe I’ll listen again at some point in the future and feel differently, but this album just wasn’t for me at this time.

Interesting but won't be part of my usual rotation

This was a pretty heavy listen. I think to fully ‘get’ this album I need to listen to it while I’m not driving as it is so lyrically dense. Music was somber but interesting. Will have to revisit.

On the Level Steer Your Way

Depressing as hell.

I didn't like it; the songs sound like spoken word.

Saved? ❌ Would listen again? 🤔 Would recommend to anyone? ❌ Would buy on Vinyl? 🤔

Fine don’t know his back catalogue apart from Suzanne. Was ok

Ok so after hearing (and liking!) the first three Leonard Cohen albums, now I’m getting a late career album. According to Wikipedia this is so late that he croaked a couple of weeks after recording it. Death is the topic of the album, a bunch of ominous dirgey songs, where Cohen is awaiting his death, yearning for some understanding or certainty of the entirely impossible kind. Cohen leans into his deep sound, and so is the music. This is pretty one note throughout though I guess that could fit the subject matter. Overall not a bad listen if you like Leonard Cohen but entirely ok to miss otherwise. Two stars.

My introduction to Cohen and what an interesting way to start - his death album. Not sure if all his stuff is spoken word style or if this was due to his age and health. The lyrics were interesting. I’ll definitely check out more of his work.

I listened to “Rock Lobster” by the B-52’s after I finished this album because I felt a deep need for music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Leo disappointed me with his new work, not gonna lie. Boring.

Bro just cough

um tom mt diferente do q costumo ouvir, mas achei poético.

I didn't really like this that much

leonard tu t’endors ? moi oui

Leonard tells a dark story this time. He looks rough in the album photo

pretty much just slam poetry with a soundtrack

одноименная песня с которой начала слушать была даже на грани понравится, вообще в целом сделать один такой трек как бы загадочный было бы прикольно, но я не думала что весь альбом будет такой... ощущение что старый дед-извращенец тебе на ухо шепчет что-то, ну хз

Idk man I don’t rly feel like I needed to listen to this. -Ruby Noah did not finish this record despite it being 36 min long

I get it, it’s about the lyrics and the meaning is deeply profound written and recorded in his house shortly before his death as a sort of farewell and acceptance of his passing. Coulda been an email.

Aight

Personally not a fan of his voice. The music around it is very good, but I cannot get past that. Voice is a major component for me and if I don't jive with the voice, I don't really want to listen to it all that much.

Leonard Cohen sounds like he doesn't care any more on this, which may be intentional, but it doesn't make for the most engaging listen.

Probably a personal failing on my part that I just can't seem to manage to like anything by Leonard Cohen. Weird because I love Tom Waits and like Nick Cave. Oh well.

Ik vind dit niks. Het voelt ergens niet echt, alsof hij zo’n lage stem opzet ipv dat het z’n echte stem is. Als hij wat hoger gaat, hoor je wel wat z’n stem is, maar dat lage, nee. Als hij een andere stem had gehad, had ik het misschien wel iets hoger gerate. Ook wel saai.

Quite possibly a great late career Leonard Cohen album. Don't know enough to make that call. Not really my cup of tea. Reminds me of tom waits

Ovaj Cohen uvijek zvuči kao da je na smrtnoj postelji, a skoro sam i ja slušajući ga. 2/5, 3/10

This album was made 45 years after the last Cohen album I had, which I hated. This is an improvement. It's listenable for a start. He still doesn't seem to do upbeat, but he has hired a good choir and backing singers. Most of the songs seen to be about God or the Devil. It's so bassy that when he does tey to move up the register it sounds like he's going to split something. Overall ok. But I just don't want to listen to his downbeat dirge on a regular basis. 2½

2.0 - Weak

Album 82. You Want It Darker — Leonard Cohen (2016) It has vibes of Bowie’s Blackstar album. It was also written right before his death, deep and dark topics and etc. Both were released in 2016. But in general, I have difficulty listening to this now. It’s not the right kind of music for me right now. It’ll resonate better later. However, I enjoy it. It’s like poetry with music, cool. Because he actually was a published poet before becoming a musician. Remind me to relisten to it 40 years later. It’ll be 3 or 4 out of 5 , but for now it’s… 2/5 —————————————— Liked: — You Want It Darker

I find this so bad, genius or not

Not Tom Waits.

I’m afraid I’m not a fan of Leonard Cohen. I have tried and there’s the odd song I like. I prefer the cover versions or other interpretations. I do appreciate and understand his position in musical history.

No on parempaakin hönkäilyä tällä äijällä. Taitaa olla vika levy. Rapin sukulaista- puhelaulua

I don't know, I guess I just don't really like his music, the storytelling, rather than singing. The title song was rather interesting.

Melodic poetry reading. Initially reminded me of Nick Cave. Not for me generally, but I liked the feel of some of the later songs in the album.

Feels like a reflection on Christianity and how it's fallen from popular culture. Very moody and all about his raspy vocal

all the songs sounded the same

Not as bad as I expected. I just don't like his spoken word gravel voice. The music behind it wasn't too bad though. This was a one-time listen. Can't get through a second. Mostly tuned it out.

I like it but his monotone singing gets a little annoying with each track. Better to revisit every now and then. Great instrumentals and back up vocals.

For how much I like Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen should be right up my alley. But I really don’t like him. This is more of a spoken word album; the third track is the only one that sounded like an actual song. Some of the backing music wasn’t bad, but I can’t enjoy it connected to the poetry slam out in front of it. Cohen may write beautiful poems, but he’s not a singer, and I came here for music, not just a poetry recital.

The album’s musical style is overall pleasant. However, all the songs sound very similar and stay within the same melancholic mood. I enjoyed the beginning of the listening experience, but I quickly grew bored as it went on. 2.5/5

Leonard Cohen is still a great songwriter, but unfortunately, with this album having come out in 2016, Cohen's voice just sounds weak and tired in these songs and comes across more as spoken word poetry. The album slightly improves in the latter half when the instrumental elements pick up a little bit and some backing vocals get involved, but it's not an album I think I would ever revisit if I want to explore more of Cohen's discography

Brutal and haunting with vocals recorded so close it feels like Leonard Cohen is talking gently right next to you, and for me that was not enjoyable! He's got a voice that falls within the top 5 for deepest and raspiest you've ever heard. Respect the artistry, respect the message, just could never imagine throwing this one on again in my lifetime. If I do, call for a wellness check on me ASAP.

Not a fan of the talk singing, unfortunately. The music was fine, good even. Sometimes the way he was singing reminded me of over the garden wall, which was nice.

This album just didn't click for me, however I still appreciated the moody, sparse instrumentation which made pleasant listening in the early morning hours. The vocal style of Leonard Cohen did grow on me over the course of the album, reminds me of Nick Cave who other than in The Birthday Party I have never been much a fan of. Favorite Track: Steer Your Way - The prominent violin and supporting vocals made this the most inspiring and engaging listen.

the intro of the first song wtf honestly didnt finish it but i can tell this is probably an important album to a lot of people but just really wasnt my thing

I'm sorry but I just don't enjoy this at all. 4/10

ei lähe.. liian tylsää ja puuttuu elementit täysin. Tää on semmonen levy etten oikeastaan vois aatella ees miettiä tilannetta miks lähtisin tätä kuuntelemaan uudestaan

Aika möree ääni, vähän tylsää musaa silti

Tämä voisi toimia runokirjana tai novellina paremmin, turha tähän mitään musiikkia on sotkea.

Tää on tätä kuolemaa tekevän jannun joutsenlaulua vähän kun se pouvin pläkstaari. Tiiä sitten kuinka monta kouhenia vielä on edessä, mutta ei tätä asioikseen jaksa ja en tiiä jos ei oo niin fäni niin tuoko tämmönen sadas älppäri artistin uralta mahottomasti mitään uutta ja hienoo. Varmaan aika sentimentaaliset tunnelmat jos sais immersiosta kii, mut joo. Kiva kakkonen.

Aika erikoismenoa. Tavallaan ihan hauskaa paikkapaikoin, ja se yhden biisin balkanhaitari oli ihan jees. Levy tuntui kuitenkin pitkältä kuin nälkävuosi, ja uutuudenviehätys karisi jo ekan biisin jälkeen. Ei ole kyllä oma kuppi teetä tämä Cohenin Leonard.

This wasn’t for me

Incredibly unique and dark and depressing and very end of life is the best way to describe this. You want it darker is such a cool song but other than that this is something I just can’t listen to…..does that make me a bad person?

2* "You want it darker": mas quê, ele nem é baixo, é baixissimo credos q voz grave Achei crazy porem um album dele de 2016, queria ouvir aqueles dos anos 70 akaks Em mts músicas parece q ele tá só a flr c instrumental de fundo, nao gostei Bem, não gostei mt do album para ser honesta, tudo mt nhe

I don’t like it

God isn't real. Gods aren't real. None of it is. The Torah and the Bible are just collections of poorly written myths and legends from thousands of years ago. I wish Leonard Cohen's final album dealt less with God and more with modern culture, sex, violence, betrayal, and all the other topics he addressed so masterfully over the years. Ugh.

Prior to this I knew nothing by Leonard Cohen except Hallelujah. I've heard his music referred to as depressing and I don't think this album is going to convince anyone otherwise. After forcing myself to endure three tracks, I decided to give his earlier work a try to see if that might give me a handle on things. Songs of Leonard Cohen from 1967 is certainly an easier listen. Still not for me though. OK, so I've ploughed on through the rest of YWID. Traveling Light and Steer Your Way are not bad. Sticking some Joy Division on now, though, to cheer myself up.

Not what I'm looking for when I'm listening to music, but it's not bad.

I preferred reading it over listening to it.

Eh, I don’t know. I’ve never had an interest in Leonard Cohen and I still don’t after listening to this album. It probably wasn’t the best introduction to him either. I’ll admit that I kind of liked the beginning of this album more than I expected to. I liked what was going on in the background behind his voice. I promptly zoned out after the first 2 or so songs and didn’t realize my queue moved on to a different album at some point. I guess he was just talking at me in my headphones and my ADHD brain registered it as background noise at one point because I have no recollection of the rest of the album. Oh well, I tried.

The uniqueness and tone of this block of songs does make it riveting, but many songs sound the same and fall flat for me. It grew on me and I will listen again.

Dark - nice bass lines - interesting vocals but feel too loud over the actual music

I didn’t want it, but boy did I get it darker. Cohen adopting a Waits-ian tone on this swan song record, which sort of works, but not for me.

3/10

His voice. Like nails on a chalkboard

This album is boring as hell.

Didn't really impress me that much.

Some very slow, hauting music, released just week before Leonard Cohen's death in 2016. I always thought he was a poet who told his poems with some background music and he had a great PR starting from the 60s. Some songs were atmospheric, but I have never really liked his music.

Nothing to say that Evan didn't already say

It didn't do anything for me really. Spoken word more than anything. If I remember right someone stole his money and this was a last chance to earn. Not saying it's bad, it's pretty decent poetry, it just didn't hit me musically. Worth a listen even if it's a bit depressing.

2.5

Was not a big fan of this. I think I’m just not that into Cohen

His voice is interesting but the accompaniments were generic. The poetry in this is good.

Leonard Cohen is talented. But on this particular album it’s sounds like he’s trying to do his best Leonard Cohen impersonation.

Dobry klimat, świetne instrumentalne, ale za dużo mrocznego gadania tajemniczego pana.

This one is basically a spoken-word album by an old man on the edge of the void. A Jewish guy, carrying the full weight of his faith on his back, and honestly, that part throws me off a bit. I don’t really feel like following him all the way down, like some accidental witness to a stranger’s private moment. The pieces about the twists of relationships are genuinely touching. The album as a whole is listenable, for sure, but that deep, cavernous voice wears me out after a while. I can totally acknowledge the guy’s got real writing chops, but overall the album just leaves me kind of uneasy. Still, compared to David Gray’s yesterday album, it’s a massive upgrade and at least I’m feeling something. If I ever come back to this record, though, it’ll be when I’m old. Like, really old.

I thought I might give this a 3 because I just gave Merle Haggard a 2, but nah. It's a tie.

Something about this made me feel a little uneasy. This has a very mournful tone, particularly the tracks with the “church” style music. Intriguing, but would not be a choice if looking for an uplifting listen!

Talking, not singing. Meh

This was a bit of a chore to get through. At least it was only 36 minutes.

Beaucoup trop répétitif

I've never been a fan of Leonard Cohen and this album doesn't really change my mind. The album is laid back and melancholic, but dark in places - I get the impression that he knew he was dying. I liked the the title track.

Balsas, aišku, labai gražus žemas ir raspy, bet tai neatleidžia nuo dainavimo. Eiles skaito. Galėjo poemų knygą išleisti tiesiog.

Que isso, que voz é essa cara, baby lock the doors and turn the lights down low versão satanás. Cara.. essas músicas nem parecem música direito, parece que ele tá zoando, ele fica recitando com um backgroundzinho. Parece o início de Thriller, só que a música toda assim, sem começar a música de fato. Achei muuuito palha e boring, ainda bem que tem só 36 minutos.

Looking over my reviews, you might think I have fairly pedestrian tastes. Maybe. I do think most (not all) professional critics have no idea and I do, probably unfairly, arc up against critical consensus. Leonard Cohen, failed poet, turns to music. Writes some good stuff, some not good stuff and some self indulgent garbage. One album is enough. This isn’t it.

Spoken word poetry over some type of jazz fusion. Not my thing.

A final album where Cohen reflects on his relationship with god. Seeing as there isnt one, it feels a bit pointless. His singing voice is too monotone for a full album

тут меня даже меньше его хрип бесил (на других он с подъездами пел, тут вроде нет), чем его еврейские подпевалы

Too old. Couldn’t finish listening..

Is the generator playing games on me? Two Leonard Cohen albums in two days! This is absurd. As I previously stated, his music is gloomy, stark and monotonous. Moving on.

Weinig inspirerend. Teksten die zogezegd diepgravend moeten zijn maar niet veelzeggend klinken.

Notably nicer than expected and partially even enjoyable.

odd

Second of his albums and I just dont get the appeal. Moody but with no reason that I can fathom.

Chill vibes though nothing really jumped out at me from the album as a whole.

Good, soothing voice, he's just speaking in a low mutter. The music all blends together and is not very interesting. Feels like the same song 9 times in a row. I know it's a significant album, but I'd never give it another listen.

im not into his voice really.

Now that’s just plain old melancholy. Lenny, with thoughts and songs of death and dying, is Traveling Light to whatever comes next. Credit to him for being able to put out an album two weeks before his demise. Many dramatic pauses throughout. If his Thanks For The Dance album doesn’t make the 1001 Must Hear List, I’ll give it a listen. This one comes in at (2.4*s)

The title song is great, I do appreciate the poetic lyrics and low, gravely vocals, I'm just not sure I can listen to a whole album of it.

Sick opening track

Meh.

Más pesado que no me gusta para nada. Sobrevaluado

Not really my thing but I get the appeal. Bit of a hard listen because he was my mothers favourite.

It was boring, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for mellow. Nice voice.

Super acquired taste for his voice. It’s not something that I would seek out.

bufff

I don't know why the author of this list has such a boner for Leonard Cohen. I get that he's a poet or what not, but the man cannot sing. The words are good, the music is just mediocre, but no singing at all. It sounds like a soundtrack to some art noir private eye movie. No thanks. 1.5 / 5

Very samey and boring

Je connais que Hallelujah de Leonard Cohen donc j'étais curieux de découvrir. Cet album a rien à voir. J'ai trouvé quelques sonorités sympa mais globalement ça ne m'a pas touché plus que ça. 2/5

2.5

As my son seeks to convert to Judaism in Montreal, it is hard for me not to be a little moved by the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue choir. And it is the best of the music here, surely. To the extent that there is any music at all. However, Cohen has often made powerful songs of simple chords and plain speaking, usually with fine arrangements. I don't know if he's done that here, on these first listens - after the year I was having in 2016, I didn't need another memento mori - but I will give him the benefit of the doubt that they might reveal something over time. Hard not to compare with Blackstar, of the same year, which was musically more exploratory, but less focused. Unlike that sonic burst, I understand that these brief thoughts had been worked out (completed, maybe?) as poems long before the record. Maybe they didn't need the music, but Cohen needed the record to complete his cycle. Or we did. Or somebody did. Hard too not to compare it to Go Set a Watchman of the year earlier. So, I don't know if this is a complete record, with depth and meaning. Too soon for me to tell. Perhaps the repeating image of the card game and the flame (or all the -am end rhymes) and the use of the word 'real' are intertextual and not a single idea repeated across texts because there only was one idea. Perhaps the unidentified 'you' will become clear. Perhaps the multiple yous will become clear. Perhaps giving the benefit of the doubt might be Leonard Cohen's final lesson. Perhaps just doubt. I don't know. 2 Christ. Leonard Cohen was lucid enough near the end to still be able to knock out couplets as if he was merrily completing the crossword puzzle. Why shouldn’t he package and sell them on the crest of his coming death? He was lucid enough to know that there was no good reason not to in the 21st Century. There would be no expense to his dignity and certainly no expense to ours. This same sort of product had been rolled out before and consumed. And though his talking over entirely forgettable music that he had little to do with would add not an ounce to the artistic weight of his life’s work, Cohen was lucid enough to know too that this would sell, would be critically acclaimed, and would be celebrated as an essential album; one that people ‘must’ listen to before they die. And so proceeds this grim pageant of an album. Leonard dons his hat and mugs for the audience - generous enough neither to vanish into introspection nor to expose any judgement about all those peering into the little window he opened for them. It’s good humoured (‘I’m running late, they’ll close the bar”) and rather gaudy (the pious cooing of the choir, the stately funeral parlour string reprise). I dare say he wanted to and was happy to make this for various reasons. I am just a little unhappy that one of those reasons is that, as Cohen knew, we were greedy to hear this sort of thing. ‘Dying?’ bubbled our morbid culture eagerly at his door, ‘that’s Gold! Let’s get you mic’d up. Don’t try to sing - just intone quietly about your regrets and mistakes.’ Leonard chuckled to himself. These assholes didn’t seem to realise he’d been making that album repeatedly for 50 years. 2/5

This was quite interesting. It reminded me of something or someone else that I can't put my finger on.

Damm such a deep voice that surprised me, with such deep very deep meaning songs, very specific vibe and feel in this album Top songs that I like: you want it darker, traveling Light, Treaty

Previously rated: Songs Of Love And Hate (2/5) Songs Of Leonard Cohen (2/5) I'm Your Man (3/5) ********************************** I groaned when I saw Cohen come up today. Wow, this guy sure can recite poetry in a deep voice again and again. Best track: You Want it Darker

Not his best

Gravel

I just couldn’t get past his voice. Really struggled through listening this one. Steer Your Way was probably the only one I might’ve enjoyed. Maybe I just got used to his voice by that point. Otherwise, the album made me feel uncomfortable.

Individual songs are fine, I just can’t imagine making a whole album, much less career, if these

i like the vibe but the lyrics are .... questionable

Interesting enough to keep my attention, but not my bag baby.

I was so ready to begrudgingly like this, but ended up disappointed not to. Found it very jarring to be honest. I'm ready to believe that after a few listens the intriguige of the unusual style would grow, but I might be the same age as Lenny was by the time he made this album when that happens.

horrible 4/10

Talk rock. Leonard has a nice deep old man voice but he seems depressed. Dark and broody

Otro más de este vejete? Hay algunos artistas que, la verdad, no necesitan más de uno o dos discos. Leonard Cohen es uno de ellos. Siempre es lo mismo con él. Al menos en este disco se nota el peso de la muerte rondandole mientras graba, pero no necesariamente hace del disco algo memorable.

Kind of weird?

J'ai l'impression d'écouter un podcast. 36 minutes ressenti 3h. C'est long. Très long. Je me suis pas attardé sur ce qu'il dit et sur son histoire, j'imagine qu'il faut connaitre son background pour écouter ça mais musicalement pour une découverte de Léonard Cohen c'est un grand non.

Pour autant que j’aime Léonard Cohen et ses « Songs of love and hate », je suis toujours sceptique des albums ayant la religion comme une des thématiques principales. C'est quand même plutôt agréable à écouter mais je reste sceptique.

Molto monotono, quasi puramente recitato, mi è piaciuto molto poco, soprattutto se lo confronto con l'altro suo album ascoltato qualche giorno fa.

Less singing and more growling and purring of this guy’s biblically inspired themes. Not my cup of tea tbh.

Sounds like a less talented and melodic version of Johnny Cashes final album, not as well done, and I hadn’t even heard of Cohenca before.

like Tom Waits but lyrically didn't appeal to me as much.

My first Leonard Cohen album! Obviously profound songs written at the end of his life but I really didn’t enjoy the spoken word vocals.

not for meee, didnt make me feel anything special while listening to it, also didnt make it through more than 2 songs😭😭nevermiind. but the instrumentals of the first song suprised me! no doubt cohen is a musical genius, it is just more of a church music tak my kind of music.

If it was just the Instrumentals ? probably a 3, but I dislike these sorta vocals IMMENSIVELY. i'm sure the lyrics have really good meaning but i don't pay attention to them... i liked the last track the best cause he barely talked in it

This album is definitely for those who truly appreciate music and the sophisticated spoken words that Cohen employs in his work. Personally, I'm not a fan of this style of music, as it is just too slow and more spoken.

For some reason I thought Mr. Cohen was going to, I don't know, maybe sing. Not do 10 spoken word tracks with light music in the background. How anyone thinks this is his best work is beyond me. It is repetitive, and almost any other album of his would have made a better selection for a must listen list.

Not a fan of Cohens voice, nor the religious theming.

impressively boring

No thanks Leonard

i think this was ass lowkey

Interesting

I liked the opening titular track. In keeping with his other albums on here I wasn’t a fan of the remaining tracks.

Not his best work.

A whole album of this kind is a bit too quiet, too sad and too lame for my todays mood although the single songs are o.k. 2,5

While I appreciate the distinctive vocals, I largely found this album to be boring as hell. I mean, even the vocals are more "spoken word" than "singing."

I've never understood this guy's appeal. Impossible to take seriously—certainly not even close to how seriously he took himself. Also he looks kind of like Alf?

I don't really want to give a Canadian a negative score, especially since how much this album means to his career, but in terms of enjoyability for me personally, this is the most boring album I've listened to so far. The production is actually not bad. It's dark and puts a great emphasis on the theme of the album. The back-up singers in On The Level and the subtle build up in Steer Your Way are highlights. With that said, the back-up signers should never be the biggest highlight on an album. However I just can't find anything enjoyable with Leonard Cohen's vocals here. He tries to sing certain lines and falls behind the tempo. He was better off making a spoken word album to be honest.

Interessant gammelmanns dyp og tidvis depressiv vokal, men blir fort litt ensformig i lengden for min del

Hmmm. I quite like some Cohen but this just seems almost like he’s sending himself up here.

Gravely spoken word. Meh, not for me.

1.5 rounded up im sorry but i was bored to tears highlights: treaty, if i didn’t have your love (mar 13 2026)

The whole album felt like that snake's song from The Jungle Book. Unique but not that interesting

Dull

ça me freak out trop je suis pas capable de l’écouter. à revisiter dans le futur. genre wdym il est décédé 17 jours après? ça me rend mal à l’aise:(

Too dry for me. The instrumentation is very unexciting and big Len’s voice is even more stolid. 2.4/5

Me a few albums ago: "I dislike performatively deep male voices like this." Me today: "I dislike performatively deep male voices like this even more when they're whispery." Dude has bars, but I'd rather read it than listen to it.

something so unsettling about this

I won't argue that Cohen isn't a genius his music just doesn't resonate with me

2.45 star. Love his voice, just wasn't really gripped by the lyrics and sound

Not a fan of his voice. Fine songs but the vocals distract too much.

Hallelujah is an all-time great. This album, on the other hand, is pretty is not. I understand some artists deserve a swan song, which Leonard Cohen absolutely does (RIP). However, it's more of an ugly duckling. Weirdly, his voice motivates me to pick up smoking.

I respect what Leonard Cohen does just not a big fan of it.

I do not

Probably at this point in his life Cohen would’ve been better served penning scores and soundtracks than studio albums. I found it very difficult to engage with an album that fosters the same drab, depressing, overly throaty vocal delivery in every single song. But the music was pretty nice. You Want it Darker (5/10) Treaty (4/10) On the Level (6/10) Leaving the Table (5/10) If I Didn’t Have Your Love (5/10) Travelling Light (6/10) It Seemed the Better Way (5/10) Steer Your Way (5/10) String Reprise/Treaty (5/10) 5.1/10

Artistin ääni on jo lähes olematon, ja epätoivon kuulee sovitusratkaisuissa. Uskonto tarjoaa tutun ja turvallisen tavan luoda vaikutelmaa syvyydestä. Biisit ovat ihan ok ja levy kantaa läpi kuuntelukerran, vaikka muusikoiden sormet voisivatkin välillä kulkeutua vähän yllättävämmille näppäimille.

1.5/5 - interesting and hymnal, but very slow, mostly dreary love songs Favorite song - you want it darker and steer your way Least favorite song - it seemed the better way

Man’s voice is DEEP

This was not at all what I expected given the cult like following I’ve heard Leonard Cohen has. Very interesting voice but mildly unsettling.

I can see the appeal to this album from the engineering of Cohen’s voice and his lyrical content, but it’s musically not for me.

Obviously a good songwriter. I don’t like his voice. Nothing I ever need to listen to again. No songs stood out.

4/10 - I remember listening to you want it darker, and if didnt enjoy it. I think his voice is so low it makes me imagine something bad is happening in a movie. I liked the strings

got nothing to write ts so boring im gay and like kids n shi sh deadass gon put me to sleep

faggot

When i was younger I thought Leonard Cohen was great. I must have been pretty pretentious because he really isn't.

I appreciate what he does here, and the background instrumentals are really nice, but I was kinda waiting for this one to end. He kind of sounds like Batman and has an interesting cadence, which is neat and all, but not what I’m looking for in a singer.

Nothing to write home about

Oh man. This one was not for me. I only knew Leonard Cohen from Hallelujah and this is not that. So growly! I could spot the backing instrumental as a really emotive bit of composition so might have enjoyed it more with a lighter vocal style... but I found this tough going.

It would be better if this sad boy didn't like baby Jesus so much

Buddy had an amazing voice but I'm not enjoying how he used it, and don't find the music interesting. I believe I'll be exiled from Montreal for giving this less than 5 stars

Spokojne. Ale niestety nie powala na kolana.

# 469 : 29/04/2025 : You Want It Darker Can listen to it, but it's not real good IMO. Nothing stood out and I doubt I'll ever go back to this...

He just reading over the music. Great lyrics and music tho.

Cool album with some good songs but just won’t listen to it ever

Absolutely loved the poetic lyrics and the ambition of the album, but as interesting as it was, the music itself simply fell short

Not a fan

your albums were already depressing. I don't think anybody wanted it to be darker. His voice is very gruff on this album but one thing that I can't deny that he is a top class Writer.

Good instrumental backing sound, but it's more talk than singing. I think this album is just not for me.

Still poetry over music. Just mesh the two and maybe I'll give a shit. Probably my favorite Cohen release, but the bar was never high.

String Reprise / Treaty

Depressing

That's a DEEP lung cancer voice Can't really relate to the religious lyrics unftly Traveling lights instrumental is COOL 2/5 time

Not my cup of tea, good for others to enjoy I’m sure!

Man im depressed now. Started off like Nick Cave then dropped off a cliff. His voice just too much. The odd song but an album it left me weary.

I didn't realise Eeyore released an album. Maybe he should have asked the rest of the crew from 100 acre Woods to give some constructive criticism, before releasing the album.

kind of scary to be honest. not his best

Talk singing, no thank you.

Lenny tells me what I want, and in this case, he might be right. Dark music is pretty good as a general rule. Well, unless it’s like HIM or something. Dark and gothic are two different things. We’re getting out of control here. The Canadian poet/attempted singer is back with a vengeance, 2016 style. I think he died a few weeks after this. Now THAT’S dark. Let’s spin this audio equivalent of the shroud of Turin for insufferable hipsters. Hoo boy. This voice is RASPY. Man was 82 to be fair, but this is Bob Dylan syndrome. I’ll be damned if this isn’t an interesting song though. I’ll be damned anyway based on a litany of other biblical offenses such as covering my neighbours bitchin’ Subaru. I’m sorry. I’m sorry to the Cohen’s and hey, maybe I’m sorry to myself. This song sucks. The melody is so lazy. This sounds like Randy Newman, absolute blitzed during a Pixar recording session. “Who even cares if the green monster gets the uhh door back. He’s an abomination unto god. You’re all agents of Satan. Bah I don’t care. I can’t feel anything anymore. Cue up the next *hic* nursery rhyme.” Randy gets evangelical when he’s on the rye. Just like somebody should’ve taken that fedora away, so too should we have removed this soul revival song from the canon of music. This poem is dreadful as well. Come on gramps. Let’s pull it together here. Kind of a poignant reminder of death here. Wow. I’m going to leave that in because of my valley girl-esque trivialization of mortality in that first sentence. Leonard is TOTALLY giving loss vibes. Yeah he is SERVING wrestling with the finality of death. Interesting. Not a great song per se, but the themes grabbed me. I’m sorry, I can’t really get behind the old man love songs. The la la la’s man. I can’t. I’m travelling light(years) away from this song. This one is a little cooler. This works a lot better. Keep it understated. No background singers behind fedora grandpa. Just him, some sad poetry, and his goofy hat. Hell yeah. Some lines in this are resonating but the jaunty fiddle is a little odd. Not in a fun way. I don’t know man. This is just sort of there for me. A nice string closer to an album that I need to collect my thoughts on. Hearing the strings fade out, knowing this was the last release he was alive for would tug on anybody’s heart strings. The reprise of Treaty also hits way harder than the regional play. I think in the right setting and for the right person, this album has the potential to conjure cataclysmic emotions. I am not that person, nor am I in that setting. The album felt almost phoned in at times, and if I give Bob Dylan a hard time, I best give Lenny the same treatment, this shouldn’t have been a musical release. The poetry was unremarkable to me as well. Far too much focus on love delivered in far too simple a fashion. Simple poetry can be good, but maybe I mean shallow. It could be a surface level of understanding from me, or a weary man penning his last stanzas. Not the poetic masterclass I expected, and the music? Well, to Co-opt a Cohen-ism; I want it quieter. There may be a lotta buzz around Lenny, but this album has the effect of the sleep smoke used to quell bees. Fumigate me, oh beekeeper. Whisk me away from the buzzing cacophony of my servitude and render me unconscious to the injustice of being hive born. 1.5-2 HIGHLIGHTS: It Seemed the Better Way