Reviews (page 5 of 14)
A poet with music as his backdrop, one unafraid of the big themes: spirituality, meaning, death, and hope.
Love it
This was new to me. Great album, loved the title track especially. Will listen again
Beautiful
New to me- loved this.
Incredible - 5 stars!!!! Tom
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
Very moody and thick
Superb
Feels very dark yet beautiful
Synkkää, mutta kaunista. Eka biisi paras, muuten aika samaa kaavaa.
I've not heard this before. I wouldn't say I think it's his best work but it is good. Lots of the 5-star reviewers have articulated it better than I could.
If I'd had this during dramatic college breakups this would have been on repeat.
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
Ein düsteres, poetisches Album über Tod, Glaube und Abschied. Mit tiefer Stimme, minimalistischer Instrumentierung und spiritueller Klarheit zieht Cohen Bilanz. Der Titelsong mit dem hebräischen „Hineni“ wirkt wie ein letzter Dialog mit Gott. Ein stilles, kraftvolles Spätwerk.
I thought it was a pretty and quite haunting album. It felt like he wanted to get this one last album out before he pegged it.
You want it darkers class, the rest is a bit old man dying samey
I like grufty, but his voice here is often hard to listen to Opening song is great. Id give that a 4.5 the rest of the album gets a 3
Feel really harsh with this one. But it was half 5 in the morning. I was tired trying to bike to work His fucked up voice did it for me. You take this album with good vocals or someone else singing it I could see it been a decent album I probably won’t go back to it anymore
Feel the same way about this now as I did when it came out, I just can’t get on board with the vocals. Fair play to the man because he was clearly on his last legs when he recorded this. It’s a well written record as you’d expect. Bang Nick Cave on vocals and you’ve got something I’d return to.
2.0 - Weak
this actually wasn't that bad
A brilliant album that truly encapsulates ones acceptance of the life they lead, which is made all the more poignant by Leonard Cohen's death a mere 17 days after it was released.
does he perchance have ties to the mafia
Beautifully macabre.
Dark, brooding reflection on life from his deathbed. What a farewell album.
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.
Oh, for fuck's sake already.... this shit again? At this point, being forced to listen to yet another Leonard Cohen album is making me angry. VERY angry. So angry, in fact, that if Leonard Cohen were still alive, I would wish him dead. You Like that, Dimery? Does it make you happy that your choices have made me betray my core beliefs and wish another man dead? Never mind that he has already passed. I want to bring ol' Lenny back from the afterlife so that I may inflict agonizing pain upon him and end his existence once again. Does that make you happy, Bob? Is that what you really want? What the hell is wrong with you, Bobbo? You sick fuck.
An emotional album, the voice of the singer is unique and suited for this time of songs 3/5
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.
Such a poignant reflection of life and death
Just cool. Effortlessly cool. Bit of a slow burn at times, especially in the middle, and requires a lyrical deep dive to fully comprehend, but yeah overall just very cool. 7.5 / 10 Best track/s: On The Level, You Want It Darker
There’s both darkness and light in this stripped down, signature Leonard Cohen sound. There’s songs that are quite touching, others are quite forgettable. I do get the sense that this (and him in general) could grow on me, as I came to appreciate it more as I got a bit more familiar. But for now it’s a fine listen that I’m not dying (unlike Leonard Cohen) to get more out of.
Hard listening in one go, enjoyed certain tracks would dip into it here and there again
(Reading the news in January 2026) NO, I DO NOT WANT IT DARKER! (An hour later after listening to this twice) WELL, IT TURNS OUT I DID WANT IT DARKER!
No on parempaakin hönkäilyä tällä äijällä. Taitaa olla vika levy. Rapin sukulaista- puhelaulua
Tää Cohen on kyllä jännä tyyppi. Kun avaa suunsa niin se vaan kuulostaa heti hyvältä. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mieletön artisti mutta itse en kyllä saanut tuosta rohinasta irti niin paljon kuin olisin halunnut.
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.
Groovy Leonard cohen. Not my personal favorite Leonard cohen.
2026.01.16.
Messed my day up but it was good. His day was more messed with so I can accept it
Feels like a reflection on Christianity and how it's fallen from popular culture. Very moody and all about his raspy vocal
Interesting perspective on life, death, and religion. Beautifully sentimental.
That was really damn good. Great voice here too
all the songs sounded the same
Mwahei
It was alright. Had its moments. Instrumentation was definitely the best part.
Leonard Cohen composes his own funeral album. Not for me, but it's beautiful.
This is a real mood this album, underpinned by that incredible voice of pure gravel. It's deliberate, and it really takes its time, but there's a confidence in that. I particularly like the little interjections of strings or mandolin in places. There's really good acoustics and backing singing as well. But it IS slow and quite heavy and it's not going to be an obvious go-to most days. 3.5 rounded down.
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.
Haunting. Amazing!
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.
Didn’t fw it
No es el tipo de música que escucharía, pero está buena igualmente
I like the backing music, especially the beat, backup vocals, and the strings. He also has a very good voice, though I couldn’t really tell he was the same person who made Hallelujah. My favorite track was probably the first one: You Want it Darker.
This was definitely a cool album, and had some interesting perspectives. I enjoyed the dark voice of Cohen combined with an overall chill tone.
I really like this sort of album. So many singer-songwriters and similar artists from the 60's and 70's put out a final album contemplating their life and death, and it's usually among their best works. Johnny Cash did it with American IV, David Bowie did it through Blackstar, even Paul Simon and Bob Dylan both did with Seven Psalms and Rough and Rowdy Ways, respectively (although they're both still alive). I've been a huge fan of the title track for a long time. Everything about it, from the Jewish cantorial vocals to the incredible groove and driving beat, and of course the beautiful poetic lyrics ("There's a lover in the story, but the story's still the same / There's a lullaby for suffering, and a paradox to blame"), absolutely blew me away when I first heard it. I knew the rest of the album wouldn't be able to match it (and it didn't), but I hoped it could come close. And I have to say, it did. Being by Leonard Cohen, I knew that the lyrics would stay consistently incredible throughout, so I focused a lot on the music. He did some interesting callbacks to his earlier work (like the backing choir sounding like Dance Me to the End of Love), and I really liked his use of strings throughout (including the instrumental reprise at the end). All in all, I think this certainly earns five stars as an album, and I'm encouraged to explore more of Cohen's backlog after this. Favorite Track: You Want It Darker
this album will always remind me of bones and all, one of my favourite movies and one of my favourite singers
Good
Haunting and beautiful. Not something I could listen to often, but I'm very glad I heard it. 3.5.
It was a vibe but I got really tired of it after a few songs
This is really good, and not at all the kind of stuff I'd usually listen to. The entire album is an experience, I listened to it twice through and enjoyed it just as much second time around. The vocals are crisp, the tension in some of the songs is unnerving but brilliant and the lyrics are fantastic. Colour me impressed.
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.
Terrible
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
incroyable. j’écoute plutôt ses vieux albums mais la voix qu’il a dans celui là… 10/10
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
Sultry and beautiful. This man’s words will never cease to move and amaze
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.
The sound of a man accepting his impending death and loss of faith. Not exactly "uplifting" but scores highly in truthfulness
I didn't expect to like this album. But here we are. His delivery, the poetic nature of the lyrics, and his penchant for mystical/religious symbolism all added a mythical element to the music for me. The instrumentation was usually simple and didn't evolve much throughout the songs, but the cadence and statements/nature of the lyrics still made me often feel like there was rising tension to successive verses. Also I'm a sucker for gravelly voices.
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.
Unfamiliar/ first listen. At the start I was not terribly impressed, then a few songs in something clicked and this seemed very familiar. I realized a lot of what I like about Jarvis Cocker, and Mark Lanegan can be traced back to Leonard. Leonard’s voice is the instrument here and it’s front and center so you can take it all in. Minimal accompaniment quietly playing along, but that’s not what we’re here for. You paid for the Leonard Show and you’re gonna get the Leonard show. 4 stars.
Have to respect this - a great American poet and songwriter. Never loved his voice, but hard to be critical of a dying man.
Different. I feel like smoking a cigarette while sipping on some whiskey.
No
Album 14 Top 3 favorites off the album: Leaving the Table, String Reprise/Treaty, Traveling Light Good day to have never gotten over anything ever! And the album right after I decided to let myself enjoy the music I enjoy, too! The opening of the album gave me goosebumps. The choir and cantor were exceptional. I've always liked Cohen's Sprechgesang; it lends an even more personal touch to what's already bare and vulnerable. Hello, strings! Did you say, "sit down and practice later"? As a sucker for gravelly voices, too, this was a good listen. This is a deeply introspective album. It stays fairly sparsely orchestrated and down tempo, but that doesn't take away from the variety Cohen is able to explore. There are tunes to dance alone in the kitchen to (yes, from experience. Mind your own business), there are tunes to make you sit on the floor and stare at the wall (your own business, I said), and in every thread there is love that doesn't blame, resent, or make excuses. The romantic part of me wants to believe that it's most people's goal to find and embody a love like that, and preferably well before the end of their lives. I don't think this album treats it as a matter of perfection, either. It's honest. I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of Cohen's discography. I'm absolutely kicking myself for not having done so sooner. Better late than never.
🥇if i didn’t have your love 🥈leaving the table 🥉steer your way
Crudo y honesto Se nota lo agotado, se nota lo que pesan los años Un álbum muy real RIP
It's not bad but peoms poems poems.
Muy fuera de lo que escucho normalmente, ideal para escuchar mientras trabajas o lees
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.
Good background vibes - honestly enjoyed way more than I thought I would
Interesting concept. It’s alright but wouldn’t listen to again.
A discovery I made only last year in 2025, the time that I've spent with it since has only allowed it to reveal itself further to me. A wonderfully reflective, Hebrew-adorned swansong album wherein Cohen's weathered, raspy and barely above a whisper vocals tell profound stories centred on his life, imminent death and romance, entwined with gorgeous, emotionally rich orchestral / bass heavy soundscapes. That the geezer was literally crumbling away in his living room whilst recording this only adds to the desolate feel that "You Want It Darker" exudes. 100% deserves to be on this list, and then some.
Beautiful late era poems. It's a real late era record - reminds me of those by Tom Waits and Dylan and Morrisey and maybe Johnny Cash. The swagger of the young musician is fading a little, but they're trying to give a destilled version of their magic in an old man voice. His lyrics are as playful as ever. It's not fantastically compelling listening for me, but the songwriting at its core still seems very solid and altogether it's a beautiful thing
This reminded me so much of an Italian artist I shared space with in Krakow in 2019. He wore a blue jumpsuit and sculpted all day listening to Leonard Cohen.
Not a fan but respect the weird
This is one of those albums where understanding the context is important: it was recorded days before Cohen's death, and the lyrics and themes reflect that. Cohen was originally an author and he's always penned amongst the most poetic lyrics in popular music. While this is no exception, the accompanying sparse arrangements and gravelly spoken vocals don't do the material justice.
Of the 947 Leonard Cohen albums, on this list of 1,001 David Bowie and Leonard Cohen Albums You Really Don't Need to Listen to Before You Die, this was my favorite Leonard Cohen album. That's because it had one song on it that I thought was good, apart from its performance by Cohen. The title track, I think, is an excellent song, and I wish someone would would have given it a proper performance like Jeff Buckley did with Hallelujah. Billie Eilish? Chris Cornell? Muddy Waters? Anyway, I think there is some other artistic merit to be found elsewhere on the disc, but I just don't like Cohen's vocal style. Musically, this wasn't bad at all. Highest rated Leonard Cohen album so far. No skips, even. ⭐⭐.75 Edit: this did grow on me somewhat throughout, even in spite of his voice and delivery. I'll probably never listen again, but I am actually pleased I got to listen to this today ⭐⭐⭐
wth is this, it doesn’t even sound like he’s singing
absolutely love Leonard Cohen's voice. So deep and profound. And the instrumentals on some of the songs, glorious !
I'm not religious, yet I sense the power of a man in his last few days saying goodbye to this world and talking to his god. Such a unique experience
This wasn’t for me
I actually have listened this album before. I like the If I didn't have your love
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?
Moody. I've always loved his storytelling. Good stuff.
4.5/5
I didn’t like this at all. Couldn’t finish it.
What a legend
My only gripe with the record is the title track hits hard, then it's a slower record after that. Still a great penultimate record for the legendary Leonard Cohen.
Meu deus do céu não estava à espera desta vibe Que graves do caralho até tremo Nem consigo ligar à letra estou só pasmada a ouvir a voz dele “On the level” ai amo o coro Não consigo dizer nada sobre nada neste álbum simplesmente fiquei abesbílica com a voz dele
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
I never expected what would come after that first song. I really didn't enjoy this experience. Top: You Want It Darker (i guess???) Not Top: All of it, but Treaty was the worst
How low can you go.. how low can you go…this guy makes my voice seem like a Alvin and the Chipmunk’s 🐿️ My first listen through didn’t love it my second lesson through. I enjoyed the first half of the album a lot more than the second half… I’ve never really known the affection that Leonard Cohen has got from anything that he’s made, but I know people seem to adore him and think he’s the best thing since Wonderbread. I don’t think I’ll be listening to more of this. It’s kind of like talk poetry but with weird inflictions.
Perfect for a moody winter walk - esp if you happen to live in Montreal, take a stroll up the mountain or down Crescent by the mural. I always forget how intense and heavy his voice can be.
I think I'm ruminating on this because it's the 10th anniversary of both of these albums and both were included on this list, but it remains a truly fascinating coincidence that in 2016 two artists known for long, great careers released poignant albums about death very, very shortly before they died. There’s no point in comparing Blackstar and You Want It Darker much beyond that, other than both were very acclaimed albums that musically weren’t too similar with what else was going on in music in 2016. Blackstar is strange, jazzy, and operatic; You Want It Darker is stark, acoustic, and while still metaphorical, arguably more direct. This is not to say it’s simple. The title song addresses God and Cohen’s failings over a rollicking bassline and some truly awesome choral singing from Cohen’s childhood synagogue, while the album’s most arguably heartwarming and straightforward song, “If I Didn’t Have Your Love”, features lots of delightful piano/keyboard/organ interplay. Still, the dread lurks everywhere: in a devastating double entendre, “Traveling Light” suggests Cohen is leaving little behind in his current state while ascending to starlight in the heavens, while tellingly the album’s coda is a portion of “Treaty”, whose lyrics suggest a surrender to love both human and religious in all its contradictions: “I wish there was a treaty between your love mine”. Personally, I’m nowhere near as spiritual of a person as Cohen was in any sense of that word, but no matter the language used the struggle Cohen describes here is universal. Fortunately, in person at least, he seemed at peace. While listening to this, I was reading profiles about Cohen from around this time, and above all else, it appears that in spite of any health problems, he continued to work relentlessly. In one New Yorker profile, he said “I am a tidy kind of guy. I like to tie up the strings if I can. If I can’t, also, that’s O.K. But my natural thrust is to finish things that I’ve begun.” And what else can you say but “thanks for finishing this one”?
liked steer your way, string reprise / treaty, if i didn't have your love, on the level, traveling light, treaty, you want it darker i really loved this album actually . its beautiful ok . i love it i lovw the music and his voice and all fhe songs . favorite is you want it darker or treaty probably ,,, im so in love with his voice
Mr. Cohen's voice is shot. He never had a conventional good voice to begin with but he wasn't about the voice. It was about the music & the songwriting. His broken voice was almost growling in the title track. This reminded me alot of Johnny Cash. He clearly was on his last legs & the songwriting reflects that. Making peace with his maker, even questioning it at times. Love lost & pain. There was lots of somber secular soundscapes & even a country sounding song. 4
This is a beautiful and haunting farewell album. Cohenbis such a goat.
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.
Ouvi este álbum quando lançou em 2016, mas nunca revisitei. Tenho familiaridade com o Cohen há muitos anos mas nunca fiz um deep dive real. Minha experiência hoje com esse álbum foi bastante boa. Title song e treaty começam o álbum lindamente. Sim, é mostly um recital de poesia com música de fundo, mas there's nothing wrong with that. It's good poetry.
Cohen's final words before his passing. Brilliant.
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.
What is even going on with his spoken word thing
I'm not familiar with Leonard Cohen beyond Hallelujah. I thought this was really good and listened more than once. I suspect I might enjoy other Leonard Cohen albums too.
This was my first experience listening to Leonard Cohen, and I must say, I've never encountered anything like it before. It feels more like poetry set to music. However, the prominent religious themes don't do too much for me, and while the music itself isn't bad, it's something I'd need to be in a very particular mood for to enjoy.
Honestly, he should have just skipped making the album. It's actually just spoken poetry on top of random music. The music is fine but I wouldn't to this listen again.
Not what I'm looking for when I'm listening to music, but it's not bad.
This is my first listen to Leonard Cohen. I enjoyed it, but it is a new sound for me! His voice is the focal point and the context of the album as he is at the end of his life over a good listen.
I preferred reading it over listening to it.
I just dont understand the list's love affair with Leonard Cohen (there's a total of four). while not as moody as the previous offering, but this one is just blah as well. it just seems that the only people who listen to him are snobbish music critics who want to sound important to the point of making you wonder what you're missing by not listening to him. the truth is that no one listens to him, your taste is better, and you should wonder why the critic has a job.
No. Worst one yet.
I good serous listen. It lighthearted bur worth listening to.
First things first, some of the lyrics are interesting. I think another artist could’ve potentially done something with these lyrics. Some individuals are meant to write music. Some are meant to write lyrics and some are meant to do both. I think in this case this guy should’ve just stuck to lyrics. The positives, the album was only 36 minutes long. No other positives. Negatives too many to list.
Great album!
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.
Vet inte vad jag ska säga, väldigt annorlunda. Stängde inte av men kommer nog inte lyssna självmant
I was really hard on another Cohen album. I hated the production more than anything. This is how to frame Leonard Cohen songs. Sombre, haunting and matches the patina on his voice.
Album 1004 of 1089 You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen (2016) Rating : 4 / 5 This is one of those cases where starting the day in a darker tone actually feels right. I’ve always enjoyed Leonard Cohen, and this album certainly doesn’t disappoint. He takes the dreary, the heavy, and the reflective, and somehow makes it not only listenable, but comforting. His voice is worn and weathered here, and that only adds to the weight of what he’s saying. The lyrics are captivating in that unmistakable Cohen way- simple on the surface, but layered with meaning if you choose to sit with them. The music never tries to outshine the words; it stays right where it needs to be, always serving the mood and the message. This album feels like a quiet conversation rather than a performance. Nothing flashy, nothing forced - just thoughtful writing, measured delivery, and an atmosphere that pulls you in rather than pushing itself on you. It’s not an album you put on for background noise, but it also doesn’t demand effort. It simply exists, and does so very well. This is one of those paths off the beaten path that’s always a good choice to take. Dark, yes - but purposeful, honest, and deeply human.
Favourite song: you want it darker
Listened on he toilet
*2016. *Only 36 minutes long. *Starts off strong with a cool baseline, but then Leonard comes in with a super low, weird baritone... *Started to grow on me... kind of a cool vibe - really pretty, sorrowful music with moody, Halloween-y vocals. *This is super different and I'll be revisiting. RATING - 7.5/10
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.
More dark please sir. His gravelly voice is perfect for the reflective end of life musings. The backing is perhaps a little bit ripe at times but generally hits the sentimentality sweet spot. A high 4.
You could argue somewhat self-indulgent, but who can blame him and its hauntingly beautiful. Not sure how often this is something you chose to listen to, but well done Leonard, a good send off.
I love this album so much. I think it’s Cohen’s best album, a remarkable accomplishment after such a decorated 50 year career. What a send off he and Bowie gave us that year.
Dark - nice bass lines - interesting vocals but feel too loud over the actual music
eh
Really really sad. But he’s very talented.
Good album and enjoyable listen but not the kind you listen to a second time for a decent while
I’d like to sit in a dark room and listen to this loud enough that it rattles my bones.
C'est vraiment vraiment pas pour moi.
Choose your fighter: a) haunting b) beautiful c) hauntingly beautiful d) beautifully haunting —— The answer is e) all the above, and I think this album will stay with me for a while. It’s also the perfect accompaniment to the book I’m reading currently, so in a weird way I’m glad I didn’t listen to this when it was first generated.
Dark and lovely, perfect for a winter afternoon drive
This album was lovely. It made me feel all kinds of things. Tapped into some feelings and left me melancholy. I love when music is able to do that. His raspy voice and the lyrics conveyed so much hurt and made me feel a little sad for him. I didn’t anticipate liking it so much, because I don’t really care for later Leonard Cohen stuff, but this album really kept me locked in. And side note, the current most popular review for this album was so incredibly thoughtful. Probably one of the best reviews I’ve read on here.
a larger than life spectacle made by one too. leonard’s vocals have never sounded better, but his bassy inflection never overshadows the instrumentation or the songwriting. a true swan song
Haunting, beautiful, deep, extraordinary. I feel this one deep in my soul and it lingers - a wonderful work of art.
Beautiful sounding if monotonous. I enjoyed it from start to finish, but kind of wished I was listening to a Tom Waits album. Wanting to listen to someone else is never a great sign for me.
# Album Name: You Want It Darker # Artist: Leonard Cohen # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Nice chilled vibes. Dark and eery. A much better tom waits. No track stood out but this worked well as a whole album. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Yes
No es que estén en competencia, pero como tienen un concepto similar y salieron en el mismo año (Aunque no tienen el mismo sonido) me siento obligado a escribir que es un disco a la par de Black Star. En corto, es fúnebre, poético, y me encanta. Lo mejor es que buscando tantito descubrí que todavía hubo un album póstumo como continuación, así que ahora voy con ese. RIP Leonard. Fav tracks: On The Level Leaving The Table If I Didn't Have Your Love It Seemed The Better Way String Reprise/Treaty Posdata. Una vez con el Spotify en random salió el string reprise seguido de Let It Be de los Beatles y la transición está perrona, la recomiendo
Decent, but I don't know about must-listen.
Depressing
Fire but not for me
Duplicate
Love all Cohen. 4*
mmmm vond niet alles enjoyable maar wel unieke sound which i appreciate
yes pls
A wonderful send off to a master lyricist. Lots of nostalgia for this one, all the family used to listen to it. You Want It Darker, On the Level, If I Didn't Have your Love, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way were highlights. RIP Mr Cohen!
Dark as hell and of course he’s a hard listen but MY word he can write a song!
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.
must be said that until today i had never heard a leonard cohen record from after 1971, so i completely skipped over whatever transitional period would have made me Not immediately shocked upon hearing his voice here. whats even more impactful tho is the bluntness of the lyrics...the layers of obfuscation and sensory description that made up the mystique of his first few records have been stripped back for what i wouldn't be surprised are the most Urgent words the man wrote, placed in hyper-focus from his living room recording setup. its stark and austere and all that but still at turns vulnerable and kind of funny in a dark way...a Mortality Record thats not about flying up to heaven but about returning to the earth, i'd say. really spellbinding, the perfect length, and emotionally well-paced too...even on his deathbed there's still these beautiful odes to the transformative power of love to heal and hurt and keep you receptive to Life as a whole. i should get a whole cohen education!
Not sure how to feel about this. This record got off to an amazing start. When You Want It Darker came on, I was instantly drawn in. Cohen is not a great singer, but how this song was constructed and the mood to this track was just so unbelievably amazing, especially considering how Cohen felt at this life, that his voice fit this perfectly. Side story, I knew my daughter would like this, so I get her in the car and start playing it. She starts freaking out, as I guess she heard this for a trailer for Assassin's Creed Origins but didn't know what the song was or who did it, and was looking for it (yeah, I know, she could have figured this out from YouTube, undoubtedly). Anyway, the rest of the album did not live up to that incredibly lofty beginning, but that would have been really hard. It was great to hear some of these tunes given the background of what Cohen was facing at this point. Not that any of the rest were great songs, but this is everything that one of those Nick Cave albums strives to be (and fails to live up to). 4 stars
3/10
What an amazing voice. 10/10
Great album, not quite a 5/5
His voice. Like nails on a chalkboard
OKAY DEEP VOICE KING??? these songs put me into a weird mood, it feels so eerie, dark and full of feelings. i love the lyrics, the instruments and all of these. trully an experience
Oh wow. Oh WOW. I had only heard Hallelujah before this, but this album, man. It moved me to tears at points, and felt like a prayer. Thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. 9/10 - Will listen again.
I use music as the soundtrack to whatever I am doing, rather than sitting down and listening to it deeply (I don't have much time for that) As a result, I don't listen to Leonard Cohen very much. Doing so feels too much like work. I made an exception with this album and listened all the way through (while walking the dog, rather than staring at the album artwork). His talent is legendary, the production is lush and I am glad I heard it. Will it more generally become part of the soundtrack to my life? No, I rather hope not.
Wow, so much better than the other one of his I've had so far (Songs Of Leonard Cohen). That one just bored me, this one was really nice to listen to. The title track has a really interesting story in it. Treaty and Leaving The Table are soft and sad. If I Didn't Have Your Love was really sweet. The rest of the album was really nice. I'm still not fully sold on his voice, but this was quite the enjoyable ride. Best song: You Want it Darker
This one put me down in the dumps
For an album made by an older man nearing the end of his life, this album had a surprising amount of power. The voice was direct and sincere, expressing the truth of what it had experienced over the decades. At the same time, there was some weakness to it. Not in delivery, but in how it bore itself to the listener. Maybe weakness is the wrong word; vulnerability probably fits better. Either way, it made for an interesting listening experience. Honestly, I'm not much of a fan of Cohen's style. The deep, slow sing-talking over music never did much for me. Adding in how sparse and bland (to me) the music is here, and there's not much that I find appealing. Somehow, though, I still kinda enjoyed this one. Instead of being boring and overbearing, it was more like being part of a strange conversation. It almost felt educational, but, instead of a critical or disapproving lesson, it just wanted to impart it's own lessons in a matter-of-fact way. I still wouldn't say that I found this one more than fine. I just don't see much relisten-ability for me. The positives I got from it were more about the experience of hearing it for the first time, and I don't think they'd hold up on a relisten. Plus, the style is a bit much, even for a 36 min album. The lack of diversity in the songs really made it grow old by the end. The album had more good than bad, but I still can't say it was much better than OK. I found its best qualities came from the presentation rather than musical or vocal ability. There's enough there to be appreciated while not ignoring the flaws. Overall: 2.7/5
Poetic and beautifully crafted, though I think it ultimately serves more as a standalone artwork than an album to be listened to repeatedly. Favorite Tracks: Treaty, Leaving the Table, Steer Your Way
I wrote that the Dire Straits album yesterday was melancholy, but this album puts that one to shame. I can only think of two situations to listen to this album, one could be a very dark moody cocktail party with this low in the background and easily talked over or when grieving the loss of a loved one. This album makes you want to hide in a dark corner and contemplate life, loss, and suffering. Cohens voice is deep and moody, which magnifies the dark mood of this album. The music is fine, and Cohen talks more than he sings. This wouldn’t be on my list of 1001 albums, but I can see how it may be on someone’s. This isn’t my cup of tea, but may have its place in someone’s collection.
Beautiful album alot of heart alot of soul Leonard Cohen has a unique voice very raspy but it works with his lyricism and asthetic the whole album has a Gothic cowboy vibe and I genuinely liked it not something id usually listen to I especially enjoyed the song Leaving the table another honorable mention is on the level
Most terrifying album I’ve ever heard
Folk-rock music. Super interesting type of music. Definitely worth listening to again once in a while. 3/5
Weird vibe, but j was kind of in to it. Listening to an entire album was a lotttt though.
This album is boring as hell.
I struggled with some demons They were middle class and tame
Haunting stuff! Title track is amazing.
Sounds good but this is not my favourite kind of music.
The sound of a man calmly packing his things, turning off the lights, and leaving you alone with your thoughts. Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: This album is Leonard Cohen staring directly at death and saying, “Yeah, I noticed.” It’s spare, grave, intimate, and devastating in the quietest possible way. No grand gestures, no dramatic flailing, just wisdom, faith, doubt, regret, and acceptance delivered in that voice that sounds like it’s been sanded down by decades of living. Favorite Track: You Want It Darker
Bro n’est pas Renaud. Fumeur maxxing au point d’avoir la clope à la main sur la cover; t’inquiètes bro on avait entendu à ta voix.
J'ai pas peur de mettre le premier cinq étoiles
Not a record for every occasion but also not anything you ca find anywhere else.
Maravilloso!
89/100. An emotional and powerful farewell from Cohen. Dark, haunting, and poetic. Spoken word delivered with weight and wisdom. I couldn’t stop listening. A gripping and masterful final chapter.
Boring and overrated, like all LC.
Maybe I could use this to help me get to sleep
How much darker and more somber can it get?
Meh. Never liked him
Striking in tone and emotional in content, but too one-paced.
I have never been a "fan" of Leonard Cohen. The style was never one that drew me in. This album was given to me after listening to Johnny Cash American iV the day prior. It was a weird one-two punch to start the week. Similar in feeling but Cohen's was more his acknowledgement that he had zero time left and this was his making peace with it. It's a very good album that surprised me. Biggest Hit - You Want It Darker Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - On The Level Biggest Surprise - Treaty
Definitely no sunshine and rainbows here. There is a funeral dirge vibe throughout but it feels like more of an awakening than an eternity of cold nothingness.
This is the first I’ve gotten that I haven’t listened to before, so interesting to go in without any preconceived notions. Listened at 1 am after taking a melatonin and now I understand why people would trip to The Beatles and such bc boy was it an experience. It starts off really strong with one of the most perfect opening 30 seconds I’ve heard. I’m big on a good opener (Dark Fantasy by Kanye West, Violet by Hole, Rehab by Amy Winehouse, Burnout by Green Day, Bombtrack by RATM, and Kill The Poor by Dead Kennedys are some of my favorites) so this was great. His voice did shock me a bit bc of how rough it sounded, but that is quite understandable given that he was frickin dying. Man, I’m sad he died. We lost him, Bowie, and Prince all in one year, along with a bunch of other people. His voice did grow on me. It fits the somber feeling of the album, like something ancient telling a story. It’s really a deeply spiritual work about death and life. The line “I’m ready my lord” almost had me crying. I’m a sucker for religious people using religious imagery in a dark way, as I love religion but dislike the typical “it’s so great and carefree yay God :)” that’s all too prevalent. That sort of lyricism sung over the worship chord progression just has no meaning to me, as somebody who does care deeply about their religion. (“Save” by Tyler Joseph is a great song that is deeply religious but actually means something, btw, so 100% recommend that.) It definitely makes me want to listen to more of him because I find his relationship with religion very interesting. I’m Christian but ethically and culturally Jewish, and my interest in learning about the history of both has led me to blend some Jewish interpretations of scripture into my religion. He was Jewish but blended some ideals of Christianity and Buddhism into his religion and he wrote beautifully about those beliefs. My favorite song was definitely Treaty—I knew that just about the second I heard it—and the reprise at the end only cemented my liking for it. The lyricism is beautiful and connects to the theme in such an emotional way. The songwriting is excellent. The piano with the build up of violins gives a sense of almost breaking free and just being stopped short, which fits beautifully. The lyric that stuck out to me the most was: “I heard the snake was baffled by his sin/He shed his scales to find the snake within/But born again is born without a skin” Just from a purely technical standpoint—ignoring the obvious religious imagery and sense of connecting to the root of sin—making all the repetition of words flow naturally is impressive. A lesser lyricist would have had this come off as clunky. This album is certainly an acquired taste, and isn’t something I’m adding to any daily rotation playlists. But that’s just because it’s so utterly haunting and rough. I can’t do this review without comparing it to Black Star, so here’s the obligatory mention of that, but it also reminds me of After the Gold Rush by Neil Young—it isn’t trying too hard, it sounds stripped back (despite the string section), and it just showcases pure emotion and songwriting talent. It’s eerily human and as quiet as death itself. I went into this project with the following rating system: 1-Awful 2-Okay 3-Good 4-Great 5-One of the greatest albums ever that defined the course of music/its genre. Which is why I gave Exodus five stars, as it’s the best of its genre, but Back to Black only four stars, as—while amazing as it is—it didn’t define soul or jazz in the same way. But I think I’m going to throw away my historical sensibilities here and give it five stars. I can’t not. To recap: Favorite songs: Treaty, You Want it Darker Least favorite songs: N/A Rating: 5/5 Similar albums: Blackstar, After the Gold Rush
I’ve never listened to a Leonard Cohen album before this, but I was aware of his general vibe beforehand. I probably won’t seek this one out for my own personal enjoyment, but I found it to be hauntingly beautiful and I’m looking forward to hearing his other albums on this list.
I would choose Nick Cave over Leonard Cohen when I'm looking to explore these emotions
Even now it’s hard to think about this album without thinking of Bowie’s Blackstar. After all, both involve incredible songwriters coming to terms with their own mortality. Cohen’s final album in his lifetime is however a very different record. It unfolds like some smoky film noir with the dying Cohen confronting life, love, religion and his own impending mortality. I love his voice on this, delivering these poems with grace and gravitas, supported by brilliantly written compositions to accentuate the emotion. It’s a beautiful record.
Didn't really impress me that much.
Wowzers! This is why I am doing this list! So powerful.
Absolute fucking dog water
RIP to a legend. I go in and out of really digging what he does here, but his voice is really only something I can get into occasionally. Beautiful songs and lyrics.
Grymt soloalbum från Scar!
Context matters in all things, especially this. Knowing this is Leonard Cohen’s deathbed album provides so much more nuance and context to his lyrics and what he sings about.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 sounds like Leonard Cohen shaping his final thoughts with remarkable precision. His voice, weakened by age and illness, has a rough gravity that turns every phrase into something intimate and unguarded. That fragility becomes a strength: the tremble in his delivery feels like part of the album’s truth rather than a limitation. The production is restrained and deeply supportive, built around Adam Cohen’s arrangements, crafted according to his father’s instructions, giving the songs space to breathe and keeping the focus on the voice. It’s also striking how much Cohen accomplished despite his declining health. The fact that he continued recording vocal takes — some later used on 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 — shows a quiet determination and dedication to his craft. Those late sessions carry not just musical value but a sense of respect for the act of creating itself. Cohen often described writing and recording as a way to steady himself through pain, and this album carries that sense of creation as comfort. Dark but not despairing, it feels like a final dialogue delivered with clarity, dignity, and quiet intensity.
Isn't 2016 strange, with Blackstar and now You Want It Darker? Coupled with a few other events I won't mention, 2016 feels like the last "normal" year before everything went completely haywire. And You Want It Darker feels like Cohen's final lament of all the most the beautiful years having passed us by. It also acts as a rhetorical question. "You want it darker? Your wish is my command." Surprisingly, some of these are actually catchier and memorable than on earlier albums even despite the doomy, gloomy, "Halloweeny" feel. The instrumentation being more varied helps a bit. The melodies are pretty dull here, but that's a consequence of being written by Leo Man, and he manages to spice them up considerably (or maybe disguise them) with a host of ingredients from Violins Et Cetera. The title track is haunting, beautiful, gloomy, petrifying, and probably a bunch of other adjectives too. The combination of organ, choir, and minor key give an extremely foreboding feel for the song itself and for what's to come. Cohen's voice is as life-worn as ever. Though I've been critical of it in the past, I think it works slightly better with the sort of dark-olden-fantasy feel. Presumably the lyrics are strong as well. The backing vocals elevate On the Level so darn much that it outshines most tracks on most other Cohen albums. I'm glad to see he's (or his producers are) opening the door to more interesting instrumentation than some of his previous projects. Traveling Light is a solid, memorable track too – for its pretty yet spooky backing vocals, sick keyboard fills, and a violin for good measure. Though Steer Your Way does the violins even better. 4/5 Key tracks: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Steer Your Way
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.
It's no Blackstar but there are a few incredibly well written songs on here.
Dropped this art then immediately died. RIP to my guy
For some reason autoplay was enabled on my streaming app and Suzanne came on after and it was so much better than anything on this album.
Not my fav I've heard from him, but so so wild that (like Blackstar) he passed so soon after releasing this album... def makes it feel all the eerier and more beautiful
cant explain it and im not trying to give North American jews the brown pass (yr white sorry bro) but cohen became spiritually more oriental in his old age ... cool album and rip to a pretty classic pathetic man (tm)
While this record was probably celebrated a little more in its release year due to his passing, You Want It Darker is a picture of Cohen's consistency. This album offers more of his gravelly spoken singing over themes found throughout his career. The recording and production are restrained and rightly keep the focus on his voice — helping it achieve a more timeless quality as we recede into the darkness.
This is a fascinating listen. Dark and haunting, full of pain and suffering... Leonard Cohen was always an excellent songwriter, and so writing from his "deathbed" as it were is obviously no exception. I often find his voice a struggle to sit through, but not on this album. It's exactly right here for what it's doing.
Nothing to say that Evan didn't already say
How does one begin to say bad things about an album created by a legendary singer on his death bed? Well, I guess one could start by saying that at this point in his life, he just could not sing very well. Understandable. He is on his death bed as previously mentioned. I can cut him some slack for that, but I won't listen to the album again. He can't sing. I like listening to good singing. Now, lyrically this album is probably a 5/5. The songs are written beautifully. Another issue I have with the album is the instruments. It's very minimalistic. Usually just a piano, maybe some strings of some sort occasionally. That's fine, but it obviously is taking a backseat to the singing, which as I've said isn't good. This album would be perfect if it was sung by someone who still had that ability. No hate to Leonard Cohen, though. I am excited to hear his previous works. I'm just not a fan of this one.
Unmistakably Leonard Cohen … a great album but doesn’t have the nostalgia of the earlier ones.
i have chills. hauntingly beautiful.
Peaceful
oh shit okay! i didn’t want to give this a chance at first and then it captured me in its pure perfection
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.
Beautiful words and music.
Wow THIS is what I was expecting when I'd hear people rave about Leonard Cohen. Like a sad Tom Waits but whispering :)
Leonard Cohen's great and important, and this album was good, but it wasn't like, OMG.
First Listen; 4; Really enjoyed this album, and it is something I will probably listen to again. The lyrics are very moving and the music matches it perfectly. Favorite Songs: You Want it Darker Treaty
Great album!
Completely turd of a record
I know Leonard Cohen is considered a great poet, but his musical ability always feels lacking. Also, if this album was by anyone else it would be in the dustbin of washed up artists.
He was way too loud in my ear
1/10 the dude just talked the whole ass time really boring
2.5
Quite a powerful album with religious overtones. reminded me of some nick cave stuff. The album being released so close to his death only makes it more meaningful.
Was not a big fan of this. I think I’m just not that into Cohen
Beautiful, deep, emotional! Love it, though its missing a bit of variety.
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.
Despite my general aversion for the so-called "singer-songwriter" genre, I've always given a free pass to Leonard Cohen because of the darker tone of his work. While I'm usually an enthusiastic person in real life, I like my music somber and brooding, and this album doesn't disappoint in that department. Both the instruments and the voice sound beautiful, yet heavy with existential dread, with only a few slivers of hope (or at least acceptance) to release the tension. Despite this almost soul-crushing mood, you will find no self-pity here ; its feels more like the dark gospel or the deathbed confession of a dying man, going through various stages of grief and anguish before reaching peace. As often with Leonard Cohen, the music is thoughtful and elaborate. His charismatic voice (especially impressive given his age) and the sheer poetry of the lyrics make this album a glowing black star that stayed with me for a long time after I finished listening. A profound and haunting masterpiece. 9/10
I must admit that I adore Leonard Cohen's voice, melody, atmosphere, and phrasing; they strike me as incredibly poetic... without even really looking for or listening to the lyrics. This whole album seems simple, almost stripped down, but it's so well arranged and crafted that I'll gladly listen to it again, and that's why I'm being generous with a 4-star rating.
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.
leonard cohen is such an incredible lyricist...his music itself doesn't always appeal to me, but the words never fail to move me.
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!
The lyrics were very deep and meaningful, but since he was pretty old and sick, most of it is just him whisper-talking the words. The folk-y music was a good way to accompany it. The title track and Treaty were the highlights.
I have been listening to this album for years, and it always feels fresh. I find it mysterious, seductive, and very captivating.
Talking, not singing. Meh
Went in with low expectations but thought this was fantastic. Prestigious two thumbs up from me
When I saw this pop up I though "this will probably be rubbish". Turns out I quite liked this.
This was a bit of a chore to get through. At least it was only 36 minutes.
I just don’t get it. Every song sounds the same because Cohen doesn’t sing along to any tune. He speaks his lines in the same bored cadence. This just sucked. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. 1
Dark and moody melodies with a soft, gritty voice. I absolutely loved this album's vibe, I've been meaning to check out more by Mr. Cohen and this just shows I need to!
I’m fond of Cohen’s lyrics and voice, but not always fond of his production. Especially background singers that seem to distract instead of enhance, and that is present here too. But some lovely tracks as well.
Beaucoup trop répétitif
Probably my favorite of 3 Cohen albums so far. Title track was baller, the rest was strongly, somewhat boringly decent.
Har någon lämnat ”gamet” snyggare? Tror fan inte det. Och med den rösten. Puh.
# Playlist Track - You Want It Darker # Notes - A beautiful good bye. A bit slow at times, but haunting and beautiful.
Wow listening to his singing voice is a lot. But the sound and diction make his beautiful lyrics stand front and center. I like the sparse and jazzy instrumentation that set Cohen up.
This felt like I was listening to someone on their deathbed sharing their reflections on life. It really is a poignant, reflective album that tells a great story in an atmospheric tone, with husky & emotive vocal delivery. This makes for an interesting listen, with some really strong moments throughout, and the storytelling is brilliant and impactful.
Many years ago I was reading a collected volume of Leonard Cohen’s poetry that I’d picked up at a second hand bookstore late one evening while waiting for a metro at Place des Arts station. An older woman noticed what I was reading and began talking to me. It turned out that she’d met Cohen a few times many years ago because her late husband was friends with Leonard Cohen’s mentor. She recounted how the first time she met him she was feeling down and wasn’t very talkative; the next time they met she apologized for it, and told him that she’s not always so depressed. “I am,” he replied. Five stars.
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.
Classic. Smokey romance.
This is definitely a dark album. It's from right before he died, and although the songs are musically similar, the lyrics are very cool. Good stuff.
This is a haunting piece of work. Super deep lyrics here and the tone is well set. Not the best of Cohen's works, but solid. 5/10
Vilken sorti. Vackert.
Tres bon album rien a jeter. Un peu noir mais annoncé dans le titre !
Balsas, aišku, labai gražus žemas ir raspy, bet tai neatleidžia nuo dainavimo. Eiles skaito. Galėjo poemų knygą išleisti tiesiog.
Unfassbar schönes Album. Die Stimme, einfach unglaublich.
Not for me
One of the great "I know I'm about to die" albums, along with Cash's American Recordings, Zevon's The Wind, and Dylan's Time Out of Mind. Fun fact: You Want It Darker's choral intro was inspired by another track 1 album title: Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel.
Kind of like listening to Dylan's most recent albums. You hear the whole career in each song. Not sure any of these rose to the classic status of earlier work. But I love to remember the moments I discovered Cohen along the way.
Olho pra capa e já imagino algo Johnny Cash dark, veremos. Que isso, to na igreja. Carai, que véio moderno. Voz do Lourenço quando ficar velho. Fiquei curioso, parece um velho que já foi famoso um dia, e agora tá só nas finaleira da carreira musical, só falando ao invés de cantar. Ah, é o cara de Hallelujah, pode crer. A segunda música me lembra o Jack Black fazendo a voz do Robot. É, parece que é isso mesmo, tá velhão e com ideias pra músicas, mostra que ele realmente ama a arte da música. Pra quem acompanhou mais a carreira dele deve dar um feels. Mas gostosinhas de ouvir as músicas, mesmo que sem tanta variação. 3 estrelas pelo esforço e paixão.
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.
Favorite track(s): You Want It Darker, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way
Very strange, but I suppose this is probably exactly what you can expect from a Leonard Cohen album in 2016. The production is great, with the strings and backing vocalists and stuff. His voice has obviously been through some strain throughout his life, so he sort of mumble/talks it, kind of like Tom Waits or Nick Cave or something, but I feel like even in the 60s, he didn't outright 'sing'. I feel like elements of this are like the David Bowie Blackstar album, where dead becomes a subject matter, but not in a worrying way, as I think that he'd accepted that his life and career had been good. I think the production not being too overwhelming and letting his voice have space is definitely a good choice, which I think is sometimes what goes wrong with artists making a comeback album with a larger production budget. Favourite songs: pretty much all. Overall around 6/10
3.5/5
When I saw it was another Leonard Cohen LP i thought “man not this shit again”… But it definitely proved me wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Favourite song: Traveling Light At first I wasn't sure about the talk singing, but the music is gorgeous and the lyrics are too. Haunting. Got more and more beautiful as the album progressed. Changed it from a 4 to a 5. Listened to the album twice more after the first time.
Märkligt vital med tanke på hur nära slutet han är. Fantastiska texter och melodier. En fyra
Absolut nicht meine Musik
Dark & Unique
Not my thang...
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.
Beautiful, a lullaby to life. It just floated on by, an organ note lilting along here, a hint of country guitar there, the music sitting alongside his words, low key and restrained. It is the restraint, the ambience, that makes you listen, doesn't need to jump out at you, sneaks up on you, makes you listen.. I got to thinking about Bob's Time Out of Mind, but this is something else. As always Leonard knew what to say, said it and gracefully left the stage. Treaty is close to the best love song I've heard. We all need to put this on as we shuffle off this mortal coil, Leonard will take us there, gently, by the hand.
Wow, darker it is. This is the sound of a man close to the end of his life, and he knows it. Clearly, he was in a lot of pain, but there is joy and quiet celebration here too. The production is understated and sympathetic (not universal amongst Cohen's albums, so very welcome here). I hear a lot of metaphors about war and conflict in here, but often with a quiet resolution through diplomacy, treaty, spycraft and quiet agency. It is impossible to separate this from the circumstances of its recording and release, 17 days before his death, putting it with Warren Zevon's The Wind, Bowie's Black Star, and Johnny Cash's final albums in a small group of albums that face imminent mortality with acceptance and grace.