You Want It Darker

Starkes teil

I like Leonard Cohen; he's a lyrics-first guy with a distinctive voice. And this album is so sad, which is why I never listened to it ('til now). Still good though.

This might be the best of him which is insane considering his insane carreer length. This might even be a 5 star one, but I’m gonna go with a hiiiigh 4

I wasn’t able to finish it but I liked where it was going

I'm typically not that into Cohen albums, though I always love his lyrics, but I really liked this one. Everything about this album feels expertly done and effortless. I also love how much he sounds like Tom Waits on this album. This is very close to a 5.

First time listen! It's so jarring listening to the title track of this album for the first time and immediately realizing that this is not the same Leonard Cohen I know from the 60s/70s. This Cohen has a much raspier, haunting voice. However, one thing that hadn't changed was Cohen's songwriting ability. Such a beautiful album, I'm glad I was given an excuse to listen to it. Favorite track(s): You Want it Darker + Steer Your Way

J’appréhendais l’écoute depuis maintenant un mois et demi, mais j’ai surprenament aimé la voix ultra basse et rauque de Leonard, et c’est triste, oui, mais genre Johnny Cash Hurt triste, tsé genre.

Great. 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. (I think I have given a few silly 5's recently so holding back a little).

enjoyed it more than I thought I would. pure class

this was great

Oddly entertaining, incredible voice.

Big fan of Leonard

This generator has a sick sense of humor. The last album I got was Songs of Leonard Cohen, the debut for Leonard Cohen, and I stated in the review for that I was interested in hearing Cohen’s other work. Then the next album I get, it his fucking swan song, complete with him singing with the last remnants of life he had left. Life’s got a sick sense of humor. Honestly, this was haunting and I have to make the inevitable comparison to Blackstar, David Bowie’s last album before his death too. In the same year. They’re both haunting reflections from artists who are more than aware that they are living their final days (though it’s more obvious in Leonard than David. Not that I would want to compare the pain these two felt. I’m not a psychopath). However, Blackstar feels like Bowie giving the masses one more round of himself before Ziggy returned to his home planet. Leonard here is just ripping the band-aid, as his gravelly vocals, ripened with his age, as he seems to be having a passionate one-on-one with God. I’m still not 100% certain I’m the type who might be into Leonard Cohen. As I mentioned in Songs of Leonard Cohen, he comes off to me as more of a poet than a singer. I think his songwriting is great, but I can’t get into his songs as a whole, mostly due to his voice. However, right from the first track, I saw that problem is greatly reduced here. His vocals here add to the mystic of the album. An aging man talking to the deity he followed his whole life, and is preparing himself to meet him, while giving his parting message to his listeners. There is a lot of memorable lyrics that stuck with me, but my favorite has to been the refrain for Steer Your Heart: “Year by Year, Month by Month, Day by Day, Thought by Thought”. Make of life as much as you can. You only have less of it as you go along. Favorite track: You Want It Darker Other Hits: Steer Your Heart, Treaty, If I Didn’t Have Your Love

Veldig solid album. Mye mørkere enn hans første klassikere, passer fint sammen med hvordan stemmen hans også utviklet seg. You want it darker er jo en klassiker, likte også veldig godt Traveling. Albumet kan føles litt monotont og ensformig til tider, men strykerne hjelper veldig når de kommer inn på noen av sangene. Ingen skips, men jeg liker nok hans to første bedre.

Drungalegt og real. Ógeðslega flott plata og góð í -10 gráðum í Reykjavíkurskammdeginu.

Fínasta plata hjá Cohen, dimmrödduð. drungaleg og dauðinn í vændum.

Voix grave rocailleuse, à la limite de la capacité de chanter. On est vraiment sur une voix de fin de carrière, avec tous ses excès et sa calamine de tabac et d’alcool le long des cordes vocales. C’est certainement ça que Renaud entend dans sa tête quand il essaie de chanter. Là ça a quand même de la classe, même si le bonhomme était déjà monotone avant alors là qu’il ne maîtrise plus qu’un demi octave, c’est encore plus compliqué. Reste quelque chose de très mystique, de très envoutant et crépusculaire. “You wanted it darker”, “Treaty”, “Leaving the table”. Je suis longtemps resté à 3, mais là je mets un 4 préventif.

Bella la song title. Comunque la voce è sia la cosa migliore, che la cosa peggiore di questo album. C'è che è tipo il suo testamento, uscito 17 giorni prima di morire, il che lo rende subito più di impatto.

7/10

This album feels like a fitting requiem for Leonard Cohens career. It gives me a similar feeling to ‘Blackstar’ by David Bowie. Although it’s not my favourite Leonard Cohen album, after this listen it will definitely be one that I return to more in future.

It’s a lovely album with a lot of singing that feels like spoken word. It’s interesting and feels intimate. I was surprised to like it.

This really knocked me sideways on first listen. What an album. The songcraft and poetry is stunning and he delivers it in such an authentic way. Nobody has a voice like him. That's not to say it's my favourite voice and I certainly couldn't listen to this on any old day, but objectively I can only have huge respect for him. On second listen, I dug a little deeper and found out that he literally made it on his deathbed. He's staring death in the face and going, 'yeah I need to make a record out of this.' Which is both defiant and heartbreaking. I've consistently found Cohen's albums incredibly solid on this challenge and while I don't feel drawn to go out and buy this one, in the right mood I will definitely return to it.

4.0

I wasn't sure I was in the mood for this, but the first two tracks are awesome, by the time On the Level played I was hooked for the ride. This album just felt so personal, and to reveal itself to me at this particular time in my life is very serendipitous!

Some really solid swan song stuff here. The lyrics are consistently pretty good, he can barely sing anymore, but the talk sing works, well produced, hopefully serves as an f u to all the chuckleheads who are bothered by his singing on earlier records.

This was a really cool yet haunting listen. And with his vocals mixed up front and center it made it all the more vivid, almost as if he’s sitting right beside you. A lot of similarities in tone and feel with Nick Cave, but the minimalistic arrangements made this even more stark. Will probably re-visit a lot more of his material.

So good. The vocal production is amazing and the restraint shown throughout makes this such a cool listen. Cohen straddles the line between songwriter and poet so well that this makes you want to relisten to make sure you didn’t miss something.

Very unique sound and haunting album. This grew on me and I particularly like the guitar work on songs like Leaving the Table. While fairly simple I thought solo was awesome. Rounding up for that. 3.75

Hard not to see this as a companion to Cash’s American IV even though it came 14 years before You Want it Darker. Overall vibe and lyrics tick this up to a 4* to me even if it’s a bit monotone for my liking. 3.75/5

LP

Bashung like low voice

Good album but not his very best work. I liked some songs like the opening track. Great and powerful voice that really shows his age.

á oft erfitt með lénharð fógeta. en þetta er þrusugóð plata sem á skilið annað og meira.

Leonard's last stand. I heard this in 2016, knowing next to nothing about this guy and really dug it, especially the title track. Hearing it now, after all of his other albums we've had (and after the grim election day), it hits even harder. Great album from, frankly, one of my favorite artists making music in this vein. I prefer him to guys like Nick Cave and Tom Waits. Favorite tracks: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed Better That Way, String Reprise/Treaty. Album art: Really cool, the aged, smoking star hanging his arm through a window or portal of some kind. The effect is that of a portrait hanging on the wall in a black void of a room, except the subject is just hanging out, literally. It's cool. 4/5

super. melancholy and honest and smooth.

I was not expecting You Want It Darker to be this good. It seems pretty different from the last Leonard Cohen album i did way back (Songs Of Love And Hate if you don't know) and i do think that this one is better. The music could have either a really cool mysterious vibe or could be so beautiful that it could nearly move me to tears. Leonard's voice was also really great here and the lyrics were really well done too. It goes to show that even at 82, Leonard Cohen is still more than capable of making a really great album though sadly just one month before his death. Best Song: It Seemed the Better Way Worst Song: Leaving the Table Side note: Knowing that this was Leonard Cohen's last album before his death honestly makes the last song much sadder as it is more or less a send off from Cohen even though one more album came out after his death.

GOOD ASF

This might be my favorite Cohen album. Released shortly before his passing, this record beautifully captures what made his 'Songs For Love and Hate' so powerful to me, its subtle beauty. Say for maybe the choir-backed opening and 'Travelling Light', all the music here is subdued, sparse, and minimalistic (even by Cohen's standards), allowing for Cohen's voice to shine through like on no other album he's ever recorded. Lyrically speaking, themes of religion and love are dominant, and while I failed to catch it all, I had the internet to help guide me on some of these meanings. 'It Seemed the Better Way' stuck out to me as a particularly striking track as Leonard writes about his past relationship with a zen master, who years later would be accused of sexual misconduct. The opening title track has Cohen talking to god directly in a sort of confrontational matter. The song 'Treat' may be my favorite Cohen song - melodically and instrumentally it's utterly gorgeous with Cohen yearning for some sort of satisfying resolution to a waning relationship. I think I can get frustrated when I'm thrown a set of lyrics, and poems that I'm unable to fully "get" upon first listen - I felt that with this album about three tracks in. For my own sake though, I decided to stop caring so much about catching every little detail, and I ended up enjoying this thing much more. I still tacked on my interpretations to many of these songs, but I wasn't so much concerned with understanding Cohen's intent for writing every single line, rather I decided to just enjoy the writing, metaphors, singing, and flow of the songs at face value. Maybe I'll deep dive into this thing's core thematic elements more in the future, but as of today, my enjoyment of this album came from just how at peace it made me feel.

LC in his late days: beautiful as ever.

I do indeed

What if Blackstar was even more depressing? Leonard Cohen already sounded 80 years old at 30 years old, so I can't even properly describe how this man's voice sounds at 80 years old. Gravelly and haunting. Very good one.

A great final album from him. His voice fits perfectly for the mood and lyrics throughout.

Hur djup är din depression? Den är på nivå Leonard Cohen. Ok, megadeprimerad. Man hör på rösten att han är döende men det är ändå så otroligt bra. Tack för musiken.

Det är bra. Stämningsfullt. Leo har ju en väldigt distinkt röst. För det mesta bra. Men det är lite som mörk choklad, det blir för mycket i munnen om man bara äter det. Men som sagt, det är mest bra.

Leonard är en gammal favorit men jag har inte lyssnat på honom på väldigt länge. Det ångrar jag nu för fan vad fin och stämningsfull den här skivan var (om än deppig).

Leonard Cohen's last album before he died. This is actually the first of his works that i have heard in completion and I thouroughly enjoyed it. Standout Tracks: You Want It Darker, Treaty, Travelling Light and It Seemed the Better Way.

You sort of know what to expect with Leonard Cohen. Breathy, spoke vocals, and lyrics om morality and religion. Well, this delivers...and obviously, darker. Close to death, they're sparser than usual, and nothing really suitable for that summer barbecue event you're planning. (That said, there is a Paul Kalkbrenner Remix if you fancy a dancier-Cohen !) Very good album.

So will I be listening to this a lot? Probably not. Is it better than I expected? Yes. It's sort of like the anti Blackstar. I was torn between a 3 & 4 because it is good but like, I'm not going to listen frequently. I'll rate it the same as Blackstar.

Dang! When this came up, I rolled my eyes and was not excited. We just listened to an album by Cohen and I gave that one a 4. This album started out a five for me. His aged voice, I think, is where I was taken aback. I still stand by the first few songs being five stars. The rest of the album settled in to his Cohen-ness. I get the myth behind this and Bowie’s Darkstar. Two old legends releasing an album about death and then immediately dying. This one is better.

WARNING! Do not listen to this if you are contemplating suicide. My god! But this is a maudlin album, but my god! did I enjoy listening to it. Perhaps that says something about my current state of mind. I may reach out for it again one day, but I won't add it to my Tidal library. Another album that I expected to hate, but that will get four stars from me, at least today.

Grabar un disco a los 82 años, ya enfermo y que sea tan bueno está al alcance de muy pocos. Con la voz encogida por el paso del tiempo y la enfermedad, Cohen nos regaló aquí un disco introspectivo en el que repasa sentimientos de toda una vida. La canción que da título al álbum es toda una confesión de sus dudas acerca de la religión, pero también un anhelante ruego de que haya algo más allá. Y todo porque en canciones como "Leaving the Table" intuye que el final del camino se acerca. Todas las canciones son una rendición de cuentas con su pasado mirando de reojo el más allá. Emocionante.

NOMOL Cohen! de afang isch jo hert geil sini stimm isch soo chratzig und tüüf und de chor tschuuuttet. finds reeecht geil. treaty isch wieder seehr viel chrizzo symbolik? aber isch huere schön, mega minimali begleitig mitem dämpfte klavier. finds hammer er weiss wa daser no chan singe. on the level het e gitarre!! und es isch en mega schöne song mega groovy und baut uuf und sehr geil und a. leaving the table? divorce song? schööö mit pedal steel und so. ha immer s gfühl de cohen isch nöd en musiker sondern en künstler wo musig macht. aso da stimmt au, er isch au moler und autor und so. aber er chunt irgendwie andersch a musig ane als lüt wo "nur" musig mached. if i didn't have your love au meega schön de gitarrepart isch suuuper nochdem er de titel singt. bim zweite mol uiii no schööner UND EN EXTREM TAKTISCHE 4MOLL boah ich ha gad e suuuper ziit. travelling light hani schomol ghört entweder da isch sochli de hit gsi oder en film? lieb wiener au revoir seit. bi allne text hani s gfühl de text seit breakup de subtext seit tod. mösts gnauer aluege it seemed the better way isch au wieder ultra dark und unheimlich aber mega schön. au mitem monophon choral-mässige wos afangt demit machts irgendwie so mittelalter-retro und glichzitig mega modern. finds hammer. booooh de schluss isch etz herzzerrissend gsi fuck isch das schön. sicher sicher es vieri

du willst es dünkler, TEUFE STIMME s albumcover isch sehrsehr cool und d baseline insano IM READY MY LORD treaty isch chli typischer cohen hani s gfühl es lied mit perkussion??? backgroundvocals supi LEAVING THR TABLE NEI LEONARD poah huere schöni giti ouh scho fertig lol ja es isch nöd mega typisch (junge) cohen aber huere schön und ih sich kohärent und en schöne abschluss

Welp. It’s not cheery that’s for sure. I wasn’t in the right mood when I started listening, I’m not particularly a fan of his speaking/singing style, so I started writing a scathing review. Then at track five I started getting more interested. By the end of the album I was “in it”, fully immersed into the project, and had to start over and listen again. I’m old, this album is an old man making sense of his life in a religious framework. I wonder how much young people will appreciate this one. It’s a dark vibe. But yeah, well done in the end Mr. Cohen, well done.

8/10 Singer Songwriter

Great writer, I just can’t adapt to his “singing”

Leonard Cohen’s ability to fuse vivid poetry and moody music is unmatched. This recording and mix puts Leonard right in front of you, making every word shake your soul to its core. The music is subtle yet vital for conveying the emotion contained in Leonard’s poetic declarations. Very little to no reverbs or delays give this warm mix even more of a “classic analog” feel and wraps around you like a heavy blanket. All the musicians sound incredible, the background choir is a highlight for me other than Leonard’s haunting age-worn voice and storytelling. I didn’t give this one a focused listen when it was released so I’m glad this project gave me another opportunity to experience it.

A 2016 release from Leonard Cohen, self-proclaiming this album to be even darker? My curiosity is piqued. Damn, the first impression of the first track is akin to Vincent Price's monologue in "Thriller." There is a haunting graveyard zombie-ness, and just in time for a Halloween playlist! The earlier trappings of bad 80's drum programming on Cohen's previous works are no longer apparent and dated on this release. "Treaty" is a reverance to God, though remaining agnostic; a wanting and willingness to believe in something bigger but feeling the lack of any love in return. Reminiscent to Bill Fay, but where Fay chooses to believe by finding hidden glimpses of the divine truth in the world around. In "On the Level", Cohen sings "I turned my back on the Devil; turned my back on the angel too." I keep hearing themes of "leaving the game", being "broken", and a failure to "heal", along with uncertainty about the existence of a God, but a reluctance to rule out the possibly as well. Ending the album with a beatuiful string version of a "Treaty" reprise is a perfect way to restate and summarize the album's theme, giving proper closure to the album. My complaint of '80's Cohen has been being overly reliant on the synthesized and fake sounds. On You Want It Darker, the production uses a better music library and properly mixes in real instrumentation and choirs as well. I am happy he saw the error of his ways in previous productions, or at least ended up here in a better musical soundscape. Overall, this impacts quite a somber and reflective mood. It seems like a statement piece that is not inviting discussion, but is just stating his position plaintively and publicly for the record, for the record. I would need to be in a particular mood to give this repeated listens, but as a whole, it maintains a consistent, thought-provoking vibe.

Never knew The Shockmaster made a folk record. Pretty good.

Hauntingly sad, in a good way. Very much the blues, and I would love to hear this covered by someone who really can sing the blues (not that I didn’t enjoy the spoken word poetry vibe, but I think the songs would SOAR with the right voice). Clearly inspirational for the writers of the Hadestown musical.

"You Want It Darker"... Is that a question or a threat??? I'm treating it as a threat. Like Leonard Cohen said to me personally, "I'll give you something to cry about" and instead of beating me with a sack of valencia oranges, he, instead, cursed me with old fashioned mental disease.

Darker album than I wanted to kick off the morning but incredible execution at what it was trying to do. RIP Rating: 4.0

Such an eerie, haunting album. It’s a VIBE. This is basically a spoken word album which sounds awful but it somehow works great. I haven’t listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen but this made me want to listen to more.

a dark and brooding yet delicate and pretty album that feels a little bit like Johnny's last 2 albums. I liked it.

Didnt finish but really enjoyed the lyrics and stripped back production. Cant get used to leonards voice tho, especially on opening track

Hadn't listened to this album before although I've liked the Leonard Cohen stuff that I've heard. This album was no different recorded at home as he was ill and bearing the end of his life and the songs reflect that. This album is dark and emotional but beautiful.

This album is haunting. The lyrics feel like quiet, whispered confessions. It’s sparse and heavy, like late Johnny Cash, but darker. There’s a sense of peace, though, even with all the weight. The minimal arrangements make it feel timeless, almost like it’s always been here. You can feel the end, but it’s not desperate—it’s calm, resigned.

Очень хороший тяжелый альбом. Лучшая песня - You Want It Darker.

It's darker, alright. So Cohen: a thinker's lyrics combined with hardly any melody and a few amen chords. Still fascinating.

Coincedentally, I listened to this on a dark, gloomy day when it was pouring rain. It helped set the tone for the album, because man, this is bleak. What makes this really good however, is the fact that it is also strangely beautiful with this grizzly voice of Cohen. Not one I will revisit very soon, but a kind of wonderful experience.

Beautiful, this is what forgiveness sounds like.

A very good album with some of his best work in years.

Really enjoyed this. Evil but warm and lovely voice 8/10

3.9 I got into Leonard Cohen during Popular Problems and You want it darker, so I may bit a bit biased on his later releases. I like it. Bowies Blackstar is a parallel, interesting and unique to their catalogue and unfortunately one of their lasts

This is an album one would listen to on vinyl alone late at night, surrounded by flickering candles and a crackling fireplace in the dead of winter. It's what it says on the tin: this album is dark, sombre, bleak. He's a man who knows he's at the end of his life, and this is last gift of art to the world. Not many people get to say goodbye in the way Leonard Cohen did, and come to terms with God and his mortality. It's a beautiful, haunting album, but it's a specific mood that I'm not keen to revisit any time soon.

Nobody ever said Leonard Cohen was easy on the ears, but this is a hauntingly beautiful retrospective from someone in their final moments of life. The half spoken-word delivery adds so much emotion to the lyrics. I don’t know how soon I might return to this if I ever do, but I’m glad I’ve listened to it.

Hot damn! I was not prepared for this album. A man on his death bed saying "You think this is bad? Let's see if we can get darker." The back half gets a little repetitive, but "You Want It Darker" is such an awesome song that the rest of the album doesn't even matter.

No private session needed. Not my favorite Cohen album, but I like it as a cap of a career. It's a tribute to his song writing skills that he can write songs that match his fading vocal skills.

What ghosteen tried to be

Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. Cohen's vocals felt so genuine and sincere, from his tone and the lyrics he knew he was dying and was accepting it and ready to move on. Very powerful and emotional album with pretty minimalistic instrumentation that complement Cohen's vocals very well. Favorite songs: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way, Steer Your Way, String Reprise/Treaty. Worst song: Treaty.

Beautiful Haunting Funny at times Outstanding Says everything he needed to say and then passed, wonderful 5

Leonard Cohen was a really brilliant songwriter and the writing on this album is still fantastic. Super personal but still very poignant and relatable lyrics. It's dark and sad but oddly comforting at the same time. Although I've never really been a fan of this kind of 'spoken word over background music' kind of stuff, I really did enjoy this. As a sort of farewell to the world, this album really stands out. It's hard not to compare this record to David Bowie's Blackstar but maybe that's not fair. Or maybe it is - both being composed and recorded by brilliant men knowing they are about to die. Kind of morbid but interesting to see the different approach each album took. Blackstar is immensely better. I think this one is a solid 3.5/5. I don't think I would listen to it again but I am very happy to have heard it once.

Good stuff. Not his best, but very good. Love the strings in "Steer Your Way" and the final track.

I need to come back to this one later, I don't feel like I'm in the moment to truly appreciate it. Reminds me of one beloved family member.

This album is a haunting, graceful farewell from Leonard Cohen — a man fully aware he’s near the end, yet still crafting poetry with clarity and weight. His voice, deep and gravelly like a whisper from the grave, gives the album a solemn power that’s impossible to ignore. Every word feels measured, every pause intentional. The title track, “You Want It Darker,” is the undeniable centerpiece — eerie, hypnotic, and laced with resignation and defiance. The arrangements throughout are sparse but rich, allowing Cohen’s voice and lyrics to stand at the forefront like an aging prophet speaking from the edge. It’s not an easy album, but it’s a beautiful one — full of reflection, acceptance, and that signature Cohen wit and wisdom. As parting gifts go, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting one. Did this album get you to revisit his earlier work, or was it your introduction to Cohen?

This grew on me the more I listened to it

Beautiful farewell. Normally not my cup of tea but his deep baritone voice is really moving in this context. Beautiful minimalistic arrangements as well.

Wow a Leonard Cohen album I actually like! His grave and gravelly voice meshes so well with this stripped down, foreboding song structure. Traveling Light was a standout track for me.

Listened in a museum. Top tier museum music. Velvety and rich

Ooh, this is unexpected and wonderful. I didn't know he produced an album as good as this relatively recently. Gravitas in his words and voice, and quiet beauty in the music. Imagery abounds in the darkness. Bright August sunshine doesn't quite suit the atmosphere of this album, I Want It Darker!

What a unique listening experience! Somehow it didn’t take long at all for me to slip into the groove of this despite the contrast between the soothing instrumentals his rough, aged voice. Somehow this came off like a slower, darker parallel to the Moon Safari album by Air for me. Totally opposite but yet similar in its constant groove and ambiance. Really enjoyed the piano work, bass-lines, etc. and Leonard had a lot to say. A cool experience!

This was so much better than all his other crap that everyone loves for some reason. His voice actually sounds good (reminds me of Mark Lanegan may he rest in peace), much better than his other albums. Also he changed from nothing but acoustic guitar! I’m so proud it only took him his entire music career to do it. The strings and piano accompaniments were great. They added variety and nice ambiance to complement his voice. The lyrics also made some sense and weren’t just random poetry that everyone seems to love even though it’s gibberish. Overall I really wish his other albums sounded like this, this one was great.

What a talent! Absolutely insane that this album was released so close to his death. Rest in peace to a legend - I really enjoyed this one.

from the opening bassline, i definitely thought the title track was going to unfold into a lounge cover of livin' on a prayer. from there it settled into a nice rhythm of a sad old man speaking softly over dark and moody but gentle instrumentals. it's like if johnny cash's later recordings were laid over the hollow knight soundtrack. definitely enjoyable overall, and like johnny cash's cover of hurt, knowing this came out just before his death... immensely powerful and moving. favorites: you want it darker, treaty, traveling light, it seemed the better way, steer your way, string reprise/treaty

Was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually loved this album! I’m not familiar with Leonard Cohen beyond Hallelujah but this was a fantastic listen and his voice is simply amazing.

Still a master of song craft right up until the end of his life.

I didn’t request “darker” but Leonard definitely brought it anyway. I was taken back at first but enjoyed it overall.

Very cool, very dark. Imagine hearing someone’s final words and testaments in the form of an album.

Great album. Really cool vibe

Soooo good and mysterious and dark Love the first track Really liked the religious theming throughout

Yet another album written and recorded by a man who knows he’s on his way out the door. Bowie, Cash, Zevon…. This one is equally haunting and beautiful. Cohen has always been an acquired taste. My ability to appreciate his brilliance is nearly always equaled by my consistent desire to put a Leonard Cohen album on to listen to. Dude was a certified genius but always one I’ve appreciated most from afar or in limited doses. If halvsies were a thing I’d do a 3.5 but since it was his swan song I’ll round up

Loved it.

Cool to have, quiet

Brooding and beautiful

Whispery.

Didn't expect to like this so much, kind of sounds like tom waits if you gave him a Xanax and told him he was dying tomorrow.

Like a grandpa with laryngitis singing on his deathbed, but somehow really interesting. I listened intently.

I did not expect to cry this morning. 4

Тембр у него просто шикарный

This listen took me to someone elses's experience of life (ending). Someone of a different gender, age, nationality and religion than myself. And I loved it exactly for that.

This could really grow on me. I loved the lyrics and vocals.

I love it

kinda weird, good lyrics

Un disco muy íntimo. Realmente puede que la voz de Cohen no sea melodiosa y no tenag unas entonaciones locas, pero su tono te absorbe, es atrayente y te atrapa con su tono como si fuera cosa de hipnosis. Muy interesante, la parte instrumental detrás es bonita y se disfruta mucho. El disco además no es largo, por lo que considero que para el formato que es tiene la duración ideal.

They say that, ultimately, everyone dies alone. In this album, Cohen rejects that idea. We are taken on his journey, sharing some profoundly intimate thoughts and moments. These are the final moments of a broken man, trying to find peace. It deserves to be listened.

One of a kind. Iconic.

It was darker. Good album to illicit a certain brooding mood.

Bard forever. RIP

I remember this being released and then hearing some of the songs on NPR after Leonard Cohen passed. The prophetic lyrics (I mean he knew he was at the end) made me sad. I didn't know much about Leonard Cohen aside from his name being mentioned in Pennyroyal Tea by Nirvana. I believe I looked him up based on the lyric and I was probably too young to be into his music. Such a deep dark voice on this album. It's not entirely my type of music but there are songs here that I enjoy and all of the lyrics are deep and sound as thoughtful as a man on his death bed could write. It's just not an album I want to listen to all the time but the background makes it something special.

A beautiful,deep, dark place

Cohen tends to be hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit. His voice is peak deep and gravelly, and the instrumentation is beautiful without being intrusive. Knowing this was his last album before passing adds a lot of weight to the lyrics as well.

I have never been a fan of Leonard Cohen's music. I know why he is so popular and it may just be his voice that causes me to struggle to get into his music in-depth. This is a really good album, though I don't like the title track that much. I am interested to hear more of Leonard Cohen's material, especially if I am able to contact with it like I did this album.

Good, strange album

The deep voice is very charming, furthermore really enjoy the decent production.

This is the album that made me appreciate a bit of Mr. Cohen and I was obviously late to the party. An album of much melancholy yet extremely soothing with the old man’s husky vocals. Standout track is You Want It Darker but the whole album positively glistens.

This website has made me a much bigger fan of Leonard. I never used to be a fan of his voice but still liked his song writing, especially when performed by other singers. However, the more I listen to him the more appreciation I have for him.

Still had it in him. Chur my Len.

Dark!

Very good album! I thought it might be too dreary but it ended up being quite good.

★★★★½

Om Tom Waits var lättare att lyssna på

Immediately before listening to this, I was listening to Paul Simon’s Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes. This is quite a contrast. Darker indeed. “You Want It Darker” is the last album by Leonard Cohen before he died. He was 82 when recording this album, and he died 17 days after it was released. The sound is sparse, the vocals are more spoken than sung. The pace is languid. The overall feel is reflective. The thoughts of a man who was winding down, and knew it. There’s no illusions of immortality in your 80s. All that sounds horrid, but it works. It’s genuine, it resonates. I’m not sure how much I would’ve liked this when I was 20, but in my 60’s I get it. 4/5

Perhaps a little bit generous

I’ve never real understood Leonard Cohen. I like some of his music but aside from a few songs it isn’t something I really listen to much. I know this was a late career one. And the first song got a little radio airplay. I liked that one and a few others. But it is a bit dark for me.

Herrlich... einfach nur gut. Mal nicht Mainstream.

Really unique listen. Thought it was strange at first but it’s actually pretty cool to listen to someone on death’s door throw out some slam poetry. Probably will come back to this.

This dudes voice is so depressing. Its the final push for anyone thinking about it. Amazing album start to finish. Really liked it only one song wasnt great and maybe too slow and depressing but good as an album for sure

I haven’t revisited this as much as Cohen’s earlier albums but it’s a fantastic final project. I find it difficult not to compare it to Blackstar by Bowie - the last album of a decades-spanning era-defining artist, released in 2016 shortly after returning from a lengthy hiatus and just days before their deaths, and lyrically very aware of what lay around the corner. While Blackstar experimented more sonically, diving into new genres, You Want It Darker is just Cohen doing what Cohen does best, while being very aware of the physical limitations time has imposed on him. Bleak and uncompromising but with some gorgeous arrangements, it utilises the gruffness of his voice in those later years perfectly, the pained growl of his vocals adding such a unique texture to these very emotional songs, and adding a fitting closing chapter to an incredibly storied career

So respect his eloquence and his beautiful way of looking death in the face and creating such reflections for us to share. This may have been his best.

Like Johnny Cash's last album, you knew when you heard this that Leonard Cohen was about to depart this veil of tears. Powerful music from one of the most important songwriters of the past 100 years.

Very different, wonder why this is labeled rock instead of gospel. Christian rock.

This was a very melancholic album and that feeling is definitely maintained throughout. A lot of songs about loss of love and religion with Leonard Cohens poetic, almost spoken vocals accompanied by a layered but simple instrumentation. I enjoyed trying to focus on individual aspects of these songs such as the lyrics or music or beat which really demonstrate that a lot of thought went into arrangement and putting these songs together. Still, I think ill probably enjoy some of these songs more individually and removed from this album, or maybe re listening to it in a sadder mood. Giving this a rating was hard because i did enjoy elements but also definitely prefer other Cohen albums more but im gonna bump it to 4 stars.

I have heard a couple of his songs in movies, but was not familiar with all his stuff. Very unique voice and an easy listen.

01) You Want It Darker - 10,0 02) Treaty - 9,0 03) On The Level - 8,5 04) Leaving The Table - 9,0 05) If I Didn't Have Your Love - 8,0 06) Traveling Light - 8,5 07) It Seemed the Better Way - 8,0 08) Steer Your Way - 9,0 09) String Reprise / Treaty - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,56 (86/100) I'm leaving the table, I'm out of the game. I'm traveling light, it's au revoir. I'm ready, my Lord! What a great farewell album from a legend. There's something so soothing about this album, his lyrics and his voice make me feel so calm, so peaceful and I really like that feeling. It's not five stars, but it's very close.

Super sick

I like this album a lot and I want to love it since I see a lot of parallels with David Bowie's Blackstar. This album is so much more interesting than the last Leonard Cohen album which was on the list, and the instrumentation is really great. I even think that the vocals work for this album. However, my biggest problem with this album is that the vocals are mixed WAY TO LOUD. The title track has a really cool baseline but then the vocals come in and you can barely hear any of the instruments. Who mixed this album Billy Corgan and Lars Ulrich. The second half is better, but the vocals could still be turned down just a little bit.

Probably the dreariest record I've heard so far on this list. Knowing Cohen was on death's door during its making explains that. This isn't the kind of music I can bump endlessly like most of the other stuff on this list, and I have to be in a very particular mood to properly enjoy it, but I know this will hit me hard when I do find myself enjoying it.

Får altid gåsehud af den her! Elsker gamle Leonards stemme, hans pitch er så lav at man nærmest kan tælle de enkelte stemmelæbevibrationer bare ved at lytte

Haunting but impressively so. The story behind the album makes it that much better. His words strike at your heartstrings in a way few lyrics do.

Good album to listen too on a rainy day and have some tea. Simple soothing music for the soul

Haunting beatnik style spoken lyrics with beautiful instrumentation and backing vocals. Out of context the album would be weird, but knowing the state of the world and Cohen at the time of production makes the album profound. I don’t want to listen to it again, but appreciate the experience.

Do I Leonard? Really? I’m not so sure to be honest, the darkness is one of the principal reasons that I’ve steered clear of you over the years. But I’ll be the first to admit that’s been my mistake. This is a beautiful, poetic and, yes, dark, collection of songs that reek of regret, integrity and a life rich in experience. Top drawer.

4.5

A voice that makes the speakers in your trunk rattle like a trap hit. Paired with sparse instrumentation from across genres (gospel blues, country, jazz, industrial), the voice is front and centre, sultry slow and steady, so low and heavy that it barely raises itself into song. Urgent but not rushed. Weary, but willing to try a near final gasp - an affirmation of the art that made a life. The violins and lap steels and choir all hint at what's next, morbidly uplifting the music soars while the voice remains tethered to the body. Favorites: traveling light, leaving the table

I was expecting to kinda hate this because an entire album of Leonard Cohen grumbling into a mic? But ... I was wrong. Something about it struck a chord with me. I won't go out of my way to own it on vinyl, but I'll add it to my streaming library in the "Sitting In The Dark Drinking Whiskey" moods/vibes playlist.

Not his best

Definitely one of the albums I would play on the day I decide to kill myself.

Deep voice, Deep lyrics, centering love and connection (w girl or faith?). Unique voice

Not a big fan of Leonard Cohen, didn't know this but found it surprisingly interresting.

Beautiful album. Some songs end up a little too similar to the opening track.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: You want it darker, Traveling light, It seemed the better way, Steer your way

The perfect swan song. Cohen meditating on life, faith and death 16 days before his own. It gets darker. But also beautiful as last rites and the juxtaposition, like Dylan, of beautiful, masterful music, and the stark reality of age in the vocals.

This album was recorded and released shortly before Leonard Cohen’s death, so unsurprisingly it deals with some heavy topics - love, pain and faith, but it manages to sound bright and positive too. Cohen is accompanied by a synagogue choir and a cantor in places, and the whole thing sounds very atmospheric and moving. I’d put this along side Nick Cave for an album to listen to in a darkened room when you have time to meditate on what he is saying.

Blimey. On a reflective Sunday morning, the opening couple of tracks on this landed HARD. Heartbroken old boy hymns. What's worse, the unrelenting horny frustrations of the younger man, or the feeling that chapter of life has ended and you no longer care? Leonard knows. Making his peace with a god he no longer wants to believe in. Love it.

This is so simple, yet just as fantastic. The fact that he died less than a month after making it adds to the album’s effectiveness, in my opinion. The arrangements, though sparse, are beautifully powerful. The structure and production are phenomenal. The lyrics are some of his finest, which is high praise for Leonard. It’s a shame his vocals can’t match the weight of everything else in his songs. I know he was in his eighties, but it’s practically spoken word. Otherwise, incredible through and through. 4/5

Very Tom Waits

Uf. 4/5.

Неплохо, неплохо 67%

I was pleasantly surprised by this. Added several songs to my playlist

I've always liked Leonard Cohen. His music touches you deep in your soul, phrases so cutting and deep. You want it Darker is an "unholy" masterpiece of the maestro. Really like "Travelling Light" Lots to listen to on this album. A good 4

The slow tempo of these songs are, I'm sure, old Leonard Cohen's sincere self-expression. I haven't heard anything else he's done, so I don't know if his other work is like this. It's all stripped down to the most minimal instrumentation, simple progressions, simple poetic meter, in your face vocal production, and the aforementioned tempos. Kind of refreshing in a way after listening to so much experimental stuff. I had this thought just this morning: very little music is acoustic now, very little is just people playing a non-electronic instruments, or singing without any digital manipulation. So I am enjoying this possibly for that reason alone, (fully aware that this album contains some electronic instruments). Electronics or the production trickery is not the main focus. For example, Q-Tip's "Renaissance," which I thoroughly enjoyed, is composed almost entirely of samples that are further twisted into a new sound somewhat distant from their original source. Whereas here Leonard Cohen invokes church organs, choruses, piano, a string quartet, and his own voice in a strikingly grounding way. I found the songs with a religious theme were most interesting. Unlike Tom Waits, he's not playing a character, seems like he's speaking (literally, he doesn't sing much on this) from the soul. Different and unique, I like it a lot more than I thought I would. Play this during the daylight hours though, that's all I'm going to say.

Poetry set to music. Tones of American IV by Johnny Cash.

It's the fifth Leonard Cohen album... maybe I'm finally getting used to it. Though there does seem to be an amazing sameness to the style and delivery of the album... soft spoken word over simple arrangements, I like the somber mood/tone and songs like You Want it Darker and Seemed the Better Way stand out for me. I appreciated this more than what I've heard before from Mr. Cohen.

Fan of LC - good album

Leonard's zwanenzang. Stemmig, rauw en beangstigend, maar tegelijkertijd slaat hij een geruststellende arm om je heen, om te zeggen dat het zo goed is: 'He's leaving the table.' Wat je door zijn carrière heen constant zag, is dat hij de geesten van het verleden en de lieve heer constant recht in de ogen aankeek. Dit is zijn laatste trucje, nog één keer weet hij verschillende dieppersoonlijke thema's - die een ieder tot zekere hoogte aangaat - te prediken met poëtische schoonheid. Als je puur kijkt naar hoe hij de psyche van de mens tot de laatste druppel weet uit te wringen met zijn teksten, dan is het de meest waardevolle songwriter van zijn tijd, en niet Bob Dylan. Het mag soms best wat minder zwaarmoedig, maar zo is nou eenmaal de aard van het beestje (lees: de mens). Op dit album komt hij er wat mij betreft nog voor één keer mee weg. De 'teacher of the heart' opent met de titelsong, waarmee hij officieel op de poorten van het hiernamaals klopt. Bijgestaan door een omineus koor en een hypnotiserende bass line, wordt er in een kleine 5 minuten een scene geschetst waar de gemiddelde film een puntje aan kan zuigen. Én die doorleefde stem, die is Oscar waardig. Een magnifiek begin, maar ik ben blij dat de volgende nummers toch wat zonnestralen doorlaten in een lucht vol gitzwarte wolken. 'Treaty' doet me denken aan het werk van Johnny Cash in zijn laatste fase. Tekstueel mijn favoriet van het album. Waar zijn intens complexe metaforen wel eens over mijn hoofd vliegen, zijn ze in dit nummer raak. Een weergaloos kunstwerk over verzoening, maar ook de acceptatie dat aan het eind van de dag iedereen een 'zonde' bij zich draagt, inherent aan het menselijk leven. Of zoals Leonard het op z'n Leonard's omschrijft: ''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 The poison enters into everything'' 'On the Level' maak het overweldigende openingstrio af. Het nummer introduceert een gospelkoor, en levert een soulful verhaal over verleidingen, en het al dan wel of niet weerstaan ervan. Het zorgt voor een welkome verlichting na het zware begin, en swingt zelfs voor Cohen's begrippen. Zonder twijfel het meest toegankelijke nummer van de plaat, en het doet vermoeden dat z'n leven niet één en al melancholie was. Een instrumenteel hoogtepunt is 'Leaving the Table'. Naast dat het een mooie blijk van berusting bij de beste man omschrijft, is het vooral de steely, echoënde gitaar die het voor mij doet. Tijd om Twin Peaks weer aan te zetten. Side A was nagenoeg perfect, en als dat z'n laatste woorden waren geweest voor hij de grond inging, dan had ik daar vrede mee. Maar de dichter, en vóóral de mens in Leonard, had natuurlijk nog wat stukjes van zijn ziel te delen. Kantje twee klikt emotioneel wat minder, maar bevat nog wel een aantal instrumentele verrassingen. De piekfijne productie, de achtergrondzang, en het rijke ensemble aan instrumenten, maakt de laatste fase van de plaat een genot voor het oor. Verschillende folk-stijlen komen langs, van tango tot Keltische invloeden en bluegrass. 'Steer Your Way' is het hoogtepunt van side B, en één van de weinige nummers waar niet de machtige bariton van Leonard, maar het orkest de hoofdrolspeler is. In het laatste nummer wordt er onder begeleiding van een string quartet waardig afscheid genomen van deze gigant. Maar echt dood gaat een kunstenaar als Cohen niet, he becomes music. Kort na de release heb ik dit album wel eens opgehad, maar naast het titelnummer was hij me nauwelijks bekend. Ik kan zijn oudere werk wel waarderen, omdat zijn teksten na tientallen luisterbeurten nog steeds geheimen bewaren. Maar dit brengt hem voor mij op een nieuw level, waarin het orkestrale productiewerk, het samenspel met meerdere stemmen, en de instrumentele diversiteit een belangrijke rol spelen. Naast dat het gewoon een fascinerend testament is. Een nagenoeg vlekkeloze zwanenzang. Eén les die ik hier in ieder geval uit trek is dat ik veilige afstand hou van god, het maakt het allemaal wel erg ingewikkeld. 8/10 Highlights: You Want It Darker Treaty Steer Your Way

Released in 2016, Leonard Cohen's final album, "You Want It Darker," arrived as a profound and poignant farewell from the legendary singer-songwriter. Stepping closer to the precipice of mortality, Cohen crafted a masterpiece of introspective lyrics, haunting melodies, and a production that reflected his acceptance and contemplation of the unknown. This review delves into the album's intricate tapestry, analyzing its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also acknowledging its potential shortcomings. Lyrics: A Tapestry of Vulnerability and Profoundity Cohen's lyrics have always been a hallmark of his artistry, and "You Want It Darker" showcases them at their most potent. They are imbued with a sense of vulnerability and honesty, stripping bare the anxieties and reflections of a man facing his final curtain. Tracks like "Treaty" and "Leaving the Table" grapple with mortality and the passing of time, while "You Want It Darker" itself confronts the desire for darkness and the acceptance of death's inevitability. Music: Haunting Melodies and Sparse Instrumentation The music on "You Want It Darker" perfectly complements the introspective nature of the lyrics. Sparse instrumentation, featuring piano, cello, and subtle electronics, creates a haunting atmosphere that underscores the album's themes. Tracks like "If I Didn't Know Better" and "On the Level" showcase Cohen's signature use of minor chords and melancholic melodies, while others like "The Hills of the North" and "Leaving the Table" incorporate gospel elements and hymn-like vocals, adding a touch of spiritual depth. Production: A Masterful Blend of Minimalism and Refinement The production on "You Want It Darker" is masterful in its simplicity. Working with his son, Adam Cohen, and producer Patrick Leonard, the album achieves a perfect balance between sparseness and richness. The focus remains on Cohen's vocals and lyrics, while the instrumentation subtly enhances the emotional impact without overwhelming the listener. The use of space and silence is particularly effective, allowing the songs to breathe and resonate. Themes: Facing Mortality, Finding Peace, and Embracing the Mystery "You Want It Darker" is deeply concerned with the themes of mortality, faith, and the search for meaning in the face of death. Tracks like "Going Home" and "Traveling Light" explore the concept of returning to a spiritual source, while others like "It Seemed the World Was Ending" and "Leaving the Table" grapple with the uncertainties of the afterlife. Ultimately, the album offers a sense of acceptance and peace, not through answers, but through the embrace of the unknown and the acknowledgment of human fragility. Influence: A Legacy of Poetic Songwriting and Spiritual Reflection "You Want It Darker" marked the end of an era, yet its influence continues to resonate. The album's success solidified Cohen's status as a master of poetic songwriting and a profound interpreter of the human condition. It inspired a generation of artists working in genres ranging from folk and rock to ambient and electronic music. Additionally, the album's spiritual themes resonated with listeners seeking solace and meaning in the face of personal loss and existential angst. Pros: Lyrically profound and deeply personal: Cohen's words are raw, honest, and emotionally resonant, offering a unique perspective on mortality and spirituality. Musically haunting and atmospheric: The sparse instrumentation and melancholic melodies create a unique and captivating soundscape that perfectly complements the lyrics. Production masterful in its simplicity: The focus remains on the core elements of the songs, allowing the vocals and lyrics to shine through. Themes universally relatable: The album's exploration of mortality, faith, and the search for meaning resonates with listeners across generations and backgrounds. A poignant and fitting farewell: "You Want It Darker" serves as a powerful and poetic conclusion to Cohen's remarkable career. Cons: Accessibility: The album's dark and introspective nature might not appeal to all listeners, particularly those seeking lighter and more upbeat music. Limited musical variety: The sparse instrumentation and melancholic tone may feel repetitive to some listeners who prefer more diverse soundscapes. Short duration: With only nine tracks, the album can feel short, leaving some listeners wanting more. Conclusion: "You Want It Darker" is not simply a concluding chapter in Leonard Cohen's career; it's a masterpiece of introspective songwriting and profound reflection. It stands as a testament to Cohen's artistic brilliance and his ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level. While its dark and introspective nature might not be for everyone, the album's lyrical depth, hauntingly beautiful music, and powerful themes make it a must-listen for any fan of Cohen's work

Leonard has such a unique sound and lives in that chesty, cigarette fueled rasp-voice that he does so well. This album came out a few weeks before he died and I remember playing the title track for my dad back in 2016. It's a great listen front-to-back. Easy, mindlessly relaxing at times.

Y'know, I can completely hear why someone wouldn't like this album. Hell, in a lot of spots it reminds me of that needless DARK SIDE OF THE MOON REDUX thing Roger Waters did last year. But in a similar case to Dennis Wilson's PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE, when this album's in the context of Cohen's passing just a few weeks after its release... Oof. It's hauntingly melancholic. Not something I'd return to very often, but gawddamn was it powerful during my time with it.

A haunting collection of songs that tell the tale of a man who knows his end is soon.

Great album, maybe across the full thing it could be sonically similar

I'd never really heard Leonard Cohen before. I'd heard his name, but not his music or his style. It is unique for sure. A deep dark smoky voice. Makes me think about Tom Waits. Interesting atonal singing at times. Gravely is the word that comes to mind, but smooth gravel. Pea gravel. A dark bar. You Want It Darker is a very fitting name for this album.

It Seemed the Better Way to be On the Level of wanting it darker.

Shocked at his sound at 82 years old. Don’t love most of the songs, but impressed nonetheless. Great lyrics, inspired me to delve into his earlier works.

Really good poetry, simple but lovely music, had a tough time with Cohen’s completely tuneless grumble but the man is a legend and he was like 80 when he recorded this so I’ve gotta cut him some slack.

What an amazing voice, and beautiful production. I'm reminded of David Bowie's Black Star in the sense of the gravitas of these records released at the end of a star's career/life

Well this album definitely has a certain vibe, and I get why it's in this list, but it's not exactly for me

Am amazing poet!

This was a very good album. I really enjoyed the subtle instrumentals with the focus on the voice. Speaking of voice, it’s the perfect amount of deep growl. Not too grating. The lyrics were also very good too. Not a particularly religious person, but I appreciate the themes anyways. And the lyrics often stand great on their own

Enjoyed this. I haven't listened to much of his work and this is obviously relatively recent. The baseline in You Want It Darker is piercing but I had to resist choosing that as my standout track as I've had that in my playlists for ages. Steer Your Way has an almost jovial fiddle/violin tune which comes as a sort of relief when it hits during the song. Standout Track: Steer Your Way

Impossible voice

Very unique voice.

An amazing album.

If you don't like the style this is going for this album may be a torture device. I dig what they are working towards here. I've never asked myself if Cohen is actually good or not. This joins the bucket of I like this but if all music was this I wouldn't listen to music much. That being said, what a pro. The end of this album is powerful. Steer Your Way is a great track.

Feels a bit like one long song. Could be a musical I guess. Favorite track: Steer Your Way Least: On the Level The fact that he died 17 days later and the state he was in is important here. I assume there were limitations in the recording process. Personally I just want it to sound a little more raw. This sounds sanitized and sharp around the edges. I like this but I'm curious what other producers could have done with it.

I could listen to Leonard Cohen read a dictionary.

A mood.

Well. Leonard Cohen did something I thought he could never do. He made an album I liked. A bunch. Jerk.

you want it darker- what.... i dont know but 6 treaty- 6 on the level- i like the background singers 7 leaving the table- me when my wife dies 6 if i didnt have your love- he sounds like cookie monster 7 traveling light- i like the spanish sounding guitar 6 it seemed the better way- those drums 6 steer your way- damn those fucking violins bro 6 string reprise/ treaty- goddamn. this shit was crazy. favorite track- maybe if i didnt have your love

These late period albums where a classic musician are near death are always fascinating. 4/5

I'd never heard much LC and am so glad I was "made" to listen properly. Thought-provoking, moving, beautiful really. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Tom Waits the day before, but it won't be the last time I listen to him.

Really good, but not for me

It’s more acting than singing, but it’s still fantastic. The first great discovery so far. a Similar feel to Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind or Life’ll Kill Ya by Warren Zevon, but his voice is so much better suited to this ‘man facing mortality’ theme.

You Want it Darker Didn’t know much about this album before listening to it, and I couldn’t remember when he died and wasn’t sure whether this was posthumous or not. I do like Leonard Cohen but have never listened to him extensively, only really listened to his first album properly, which I think is very good. I really liked the sparse band backing, with the simple but prominent bass giving things propulsion and momentum, against the gravelly slow and spoken word singing. I like the fiddle too, gives a country/dusty/19th century Americana feel. Great backing vocals too and some very nice string arrangements, which remind me of some of Lee Hazlewood’s albums. It all feels so well constructed around his voice, persona and the songs themselves. Knowing now it was his last one before he died I like how it fits neatly into the bracket with the Johnny Cash American Recordings albums and The Wind by Warren Zevon. Overall I think this is great, I really liked it and it will go in my rotation. I’ve actually already listened to it twice and I’m looking forward to listening to it more. A very nice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A work of bleak genius

Nem era assim tão escuro e era parecido ao Nick caverna a dar em vez de cantar. no entanto, o Leonardo parece ser um idoso agradável com boas histórias para contar.cimavoto

Gosto de cú

I have always been a fan. But I did not know about this one. I liked it a lot.

I’m very partial to this album as it introduced me to Leonard Cohen. It isn’t the most exciting, but I do find myself a big fan of albums written by dying men in 2016. There is a peace with how religion and love are approached here that I don’t think could be found without that context in his life, and it is fascinating to be taken along on that journey.

Not much of a singer, but an inspired poet…R.I.P

These kind of albums are one of the real benefits of this exercise. I should be a massive fan of his but I'd never found a foothold. He is always listed alongside Dylan and Cave who I'm massive fans of. I listened through to this 3 X with headphones to concentrate. The lyrics are basically prose. The musicality is very gentle and restrained. I'm taking a while to warm up to his growl but I think I'll get there. I hope this is the introduction I need to become a fan.

Fabulous songwriter....

Surprisingly good. Very dark. Great for rdr2 rambling

Grew on me as it went

Beautiful. Reminded me of true detective theme

Amazing lyricist. Loved the arrangements,and overall composition.

This one needed context. The opening track didn't excite me and sounded more like spoken poetry over a back track. But upon learning about the history of the album and the state Leonard was in at the time, it became much more powerful.

Leonard was more despondent than usual, grappling with God, humanity and death. It was a hard one to listen to as I felt his pain.

.

Dark and brooding. Vocals are deep and breathy but it works. The violin really and other background instruments really help complete this album. Standouts are "Steer Your Way" and the title track.

Ég fékk svo mikið ógeð af Hallelujah strax í menntskóla þegar allir og líka hinir sungu það að ég hef bara ekki viljað hlusta á Leonard Cohen síðan þá. Ég dró það meira að segja að hlusta á þessa plötu og þurfti að undirbúa mig andlega. Svo er þessi plata bara virkilega frábær. Ég mun klárlega hlusta á hana aftur og býst við að hún vaxi við hverja hlustun.

7.6/10

For someone that has never liked LC it was a nice surprise. Love the arrangements on this one. What a way to go.

Wonderful voice, soulful music, too many words

My overall uniformed impression of Leonard Cohen had been that his songs are better when covered by others (his cameo on Was (Not Was) was fun though). That's not the case after a listening to this album. His voice is needed for these lyrics Like it says on the label - darker. Unrelentingly so. This one may be like Bowie’s “Blackstar” for me - incredibly powerful but hard to listen to repeatedly. It’s very beautiful musically. "You Want It Darker" Mood set: spooky, dark. Starts with a male choir of some sort, and then his croaking vocals. Tom Waits-like grooving accompaniment. Verses addressing God(?) at the end of his life. Hebrew “Hineni - Here I am, I am ready” chorus. Outro by a cantor. "Treaty" Solo piano intro, Leonard singing seemingly to both God and a partner. Arrangement supports but doesn’t distract from the powerful lyrics "On the Level" Piano arpeggios with gentle rhythm builds to a gospel feel "Leaving the Table" Slow country-bluesy twang guitar to lead in. Lyrics continue the theme of saying goodbye, ending conflicts “I’m leaving the table, I’m out of the game” "If I Didn't Have Your Love" Bluesy gospel (w/ organ) underpinning a dark poetic vision of a world without love. I’m already getting LC fatigue by this point in the LP. "Traveling Light" Mediterranean accompaniment (bouzouki?) of another farewell song "It Seemed the Better Way" Back to the spooky choir now with lyrics maybe about regretting someone he believed in? "Steer Your Way" Strange juxtaposition of Eastern European strings interposed with Appalachian fiddle. "String Reprise / Treaty" String quartet reprising the second song “Treaty” with a spoken outdo of an additional voice

Like his voice

This one challenged me in all the good ways. The lyrics had me mesmerized.

Hauntingly beautiful. Cohen's poetry, delivery, and the orchestration of "You Want It Darker", "Treaty", and "Steer Your Way" are absolutely amazing. Definitely an album for shadowy rooms and brooding moods.

Hauntingly beautiful.

Lenard cohen is just a great musician but this album is not as good as songs of Lenard cohen

Cohen’s songwriting was always good and his instrumentation varies a lot over the albums and was pretty much always good too. He has one wild variable that makes him different from a lot of others, which is that the older and gnarlier he got, the better his voice sounded. This is as old and gnarly as it gets for him, and it’s fantastic.

I can't really tell why I like Leonard Cohen and dislike Tom Waits so much but I do. I found this to be atmospheric and thought the combo of gospel and his voice worked together. Not very Christmassy though

So very sombre, what a silky smooth voice

Dark and lovely.

Honestly beautiful. Leonard Cohen has been very hit or miss for me, from the stuff I’ve heard. New Skin For The Old Ceremony has been the only album up to this point that I “get”. This one is elegiac and haunting. Not going to be regular rotation but I will listen again.

Prachtig, al is het voor een stukje ook wel prachtig omwille van de symboliek rond de plaat en niet altijd omwille van de muziek. Die blijft niet in elk nummer even spannend en de opeenvolging van gelijkaardige zachte sounds met diepe stem vlakt het geheel soms wat af. Maar een paar heel mooie songs, heel goeie teksten ook; you want it darker, treaty (ook de reprise), leaving the table, travelling Light en zeker ook on the level (goeie blues!). Sja, dat zijn ze bijna allemaal, dus wellicht toch écht prachtig.

This is a great album. It's not in my top tier of Leonard Cohen albums, but it's still great.

Quiet, sardonic, and a final farewell from one of the greatest wordsmiths to ever grace our ears. Much like Bowie's Darkstar, this was Cohen's last album before his death, and it reflects his knowledge of the impending end.

Minunaaaat. Foarte frumos. De ascultat și versurile mai acătărea

4 stars, I think it'll keep growin on me

A beautiful, poetic depiction of reckoning with death, regrets, and uncertainty of what comes after that’s inevitable at the end of a long life. Few albums so far in this list have moved me the way this one did.

Music to die for

Leonard Cohen siempre top

Simple arrangements, interesting vocal, poetic and weird - religious but not straightforward lyrics. Even more mysterious knowing he passed away right after it was released. Very Very Good.

Smutne, ale ładne ballady. Takie jesienne

Essentially on his deathbed, Cohen's lyrics are as sharp as ever. His voice, which got progressively worse over his career, is at its worst. But I guess what would you expect? His collaborators do a good job on the instrumentals. The title track is awesome (haunting), and the follow-up Treaty is pretty good too (lyrics try a bit too hard?). On the Level and Travelling Light are pretty darn good - the former might even be described as upbeat. Leaving the Table feels like a retread of the first couple songs and the reprise of Treaty also feels too repetitive. But It Seemed the Better Way and Steer Your Way are also a couple nice, soft, sorrowful pieces. So, around two-thirds of this album I found a nice emotional (albeit sad) connection with. As far as death albums go, this one is solid. If I remember, I might just ask for one of them to be played at my funeral.

Incredible voice.

Ah, I loved this album. This is a winter album. It sounds old, like fine wine. It sounds like wisdom and jaded. Leonard cohen is a great writer and the instrumentation to support him is flawless. It is relaxed at the right times, it pirks up at the right time. I love the choirs, and the background singers. However, cohen’s voice and his words are the Center stage and deservedly so. It’s a strong 4 for me.

The title track is out of the world!

It's a downtrodden heartbreaker of an album, but intensely beautiful with it. Leonard Cohen was the best, even at the end.

Very minimal, in a good way

Un album tout en sobriété, en accord avec son titre. Les arrangements de cordes sont très beaux, mais parallèlement je trouvais parfois que les voix étaient trop présentes.

Yesss it’s so beautiful

I made a few starts at listening to this while on holiday in the UK, but it seemed like a bit too much of a downer, so I abandoned it. The excellent title track kept coming back to me though, and I decided to listen to it again on the plane home. Listening to Coen declaring "I'm ready, my Lord" as the plane lifted off was a surprisingly calming experience. However, I found the following tracks to be a bit weaker, and was resigning myself to giving this a 3 and moving on, when "Travelling Light" started and moved me. The following song, "It Seemed a Better Way" also gave me pause. I'll definitely give it another listen now. It's hard not to compare this to Blackstar, given the subject matter and the year it was released. I definitely prefer Blackstar as an overall artistic statement, but this album is making me want to re-appraise Leonard Coen's earlier work too.

Rating: ** 4 ** Notes: Very emotional album - glad to finally hear the whole album. He has the most amazing calming voice. Songs which stood out in no particular order (credits to Uncle Gue for the idea): "You want it darker" "Traveling Light" "Treaty" "String Reprise" ------------------------------------------------------------- Rating Scale: 1- very bad 2- bad 3- neutral 4-good 5-very good additonaly -/+ sign if necessary

jajaja la primera canción parece intro de película la segunda ta hermosa la tercera bellisima diosmio 10/10 full folksito profundo y bien emotivo

A somber album by a great artist at the end of his life. AND it doesn’t have Hallelujah on it so that automatically earns it an extra star

Liked it more after the second listen, all good. Fav track Steer Your Way

This is pure poetry! I feel like I need to finger snap after every song. I find it hard to judge this album, but I think if I think of this as poetry readings, its much easier to judge this. Standout: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way

7/10 - Way outside my normal wheelhouse but an intriguing combination of relaxing and engaging

It has that dark, grim tone like I expected. However, it was an enjoyable album. I will listen again.

As dark as advertised and I listened to it all the way through without pause.

Have never listened to cohen before. Was very pleasantly surprised. I’ll be listening to this again.

Hineni brother

Dark but enjoy his gravely voice, almost spoken poetry for lyrics and stripped down, minimalist music

Love Leonard Cohen. This album is new to me.

I had never listened to a Leonard Cohen album fully before hearing this. I had obviously heard of him and heard some of his songs but never listened to a full album. This album is one of a handful that is bursting at the seams with raw emotion, which is understandable because Cohen was near-death while making this album. It was sort of in the same way soul music seeps emotion. Every song was like hearing someone open up to you about something personal and there was not a bad song on the album. I can understand someone not liking Leonard's voice especially on this album because it is very dirge-like but I don't think anyone can deny the raw emotion he put into singing this album. I personally think this album is great and immaculately succeeds at creating the feeling of someone close to death. It is pretty heavy as albums go so this won't be in my regular rotation but it is sort of like "Grave of The Fireflies". One of the most emotional, touching movies you will ever see but you can't just put it on whenever and watching it over and over would only cheapen the experience. That's how I feel about "You Want It Darker". That being said just because an album creates a great atmosphere does not mean that it automatically makes it a 10/10. This does have some flaws like the fact that the vocals at times are a little rough and in general the song structure is somewhat simplistic throughout the album. I would say there is a song or two on here that I would say don't add a ton to the overall experience and with that in mind, I would give this album a strong 8.5-9/10. R.I.P Leonard Cohen

Well… Cohen. What’s not to like

It's dark and depressing. The album is sparse but still very well produced and conveys a sense of grandness.

Stripped back but not simple, draws you in with its vulnerability and storytelling. An easy listen but not an easy listen at the same time, this was very good.

There are a lot of comparisons between this and Bowie's Blackstar on the site, because this was written and recorded just before he died (later the same year as Bowie), in the full knowledge that he didn't have long left. Unlike Blackstar, which starts okay and then gets magnificent, this peaks with the opening track really. It's amazing lyrically, tough to have on as background music as you just miss so much of it, but it captures the melancholy, tinged with a bit of regret and resentment, beautifully. 4/5.

I really liked the poetic nature of the lyrics. Cohen's voice paired with the strings creates some very haunting moments. Favorite track was Steer Your Way

Pretty good this guy has a sexy voice

Most haunting voice I’ve ever heard. This is a wild album with the lyrics, being all about death and dying. It turns out he was sick and died 17 days after this album was released. Hmm

What a great, deep voice. My son said, this guy's cool

Weirdly good, if you’re breaking up listen to it

I’ve been listening the title track for years, but the whole album turned out to be brilliant. Treaty and String Reprise are two masterpieces (or one diptych). Love it!

More poetry than music but wonderfully rhythmic and hugely enjoyable.

It took awhile for me to warm to his voice. I'm surprised how much I ended up liking this record.

Was really luck that this one came up on a very rainy Monday morning. It really set the mood for the album before even listening to it. It's dark, moody, and beautiful.

It’s good, not quite my main taste, but definietly i will listen to it

He sounds like Patrick Page (or Patrick sounds like Leonard, rather) ... he's SO sad :/ really good album if you're feeling down and need someone down with you.

My first album from him and from this project. It was deep and dark.

3 stjerner

Wow. This was so unexpectedly powerful and incredible. Only giving it a 4 because I think it isn't something I will put back on. However it was such a deep and amazing album, so poetic. Favorite track was Leaving the Table.

amazing voice and ambiance

Love Cohens voice on this combined with the dark ambience. The title track is absolutely stunning.

I love Leonard Cohen and this album doesn’t change that. The stories he tells have changed a little but he’s always been fairly dark. It’s not the record of his I would choose to listen to, but I wouldn’t turn it off.

Ideally, I would have liked another listen before writing this, but that ain't gonna happen in time and I'm familiar enough with this album. I did go through a short period at the beginning of the record where I doubted whether this was good or whether I was holding on to some romantic idea of Leonard Cohen as an artist, but as we listened deeper into the record, I started connecting and appreciating Cohen's oddball musical sensibilities and lyrical mastery. This low-key affair is, to me, the sweet-spot for his music. The earlier album we reviewed was flashy in a way that made for an uncomfortable marriage of styles. This seems more authentic, and whether true or not, I'm able to sink into the gravelly bass of Cohen's dark dramas on this album in a way I can't with some others.

I dug this, though it made for a heavy listen. But the dude went out swinging. Glad I got to hear it. Might even queue it up again.

Listened Before? N Really a good portrait of an artist at the time of their death. It sounds like the recording process was fairly unique as well. I enjoyed this. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: You Want It Darker

I'm not necessarily a "Leonard Cohen person", although I do absolutely love some of his stuff. Just not as much as a lot of people. This is really good though. A haunting album from someone well aware they're on death's door. I could definitely come back to this.

Never heard any song of Cohen before this album. It really touched me. He has a voice that has lived a thousand lives. The opening track is sooo good. 7/10

Appreciating this a lot more now than when it came out. I thought maybe it was too Tom Waits adjacent and my experience was colored by his recent death. I drew unfair comparisons to Bowie's farewell album. This time around I'm surprised how eminently listenable it is and how immediately easy it is to connect with the lyrics. Maybe part of it is you need to be in right headspace to enjoy it, but something about a gloomy Monday worked for me. The truth is I did want it darker, Mr. Cohen.

Second time listening to this and I liked it a lot more. It’s a sad album but sure-footed. Love his voice. Treaty was my favorite I think but this is better as an album than any track.

Enjoyed

Gorgeous album

Unique experience. Deep voice guy

very nice, i've wanted to listen to some leonard cohen since before this came on my 1001 and this was quite good. very big fan of "on the level", along with "traveling light".

Actually a quite powerful album. Haunting vocals.