You Want It Darker

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

From the very first listen, I found myself craving a cigarette. Second listen I nearly stopped to buy some… I don’t smoke. So yeah, this album hit a nerve…an edgy, unsettled feeling in my gut that few records manage to stir. Leonard has that rare power to evoke a visceral reaction, pulling me into places so raw and truthful it’s almost unnerving - yet intoxicating, leaving me a bit breathless. I would have loved to listen to this under a full moon, though instead I played it a second time through on my cloudy drive to the sea. It was no less moving the second time through. His voice, so haunting, wraps around every lyric; the opening of the album feels like a doorway into another world where he is communing with God and the ending arrives too soon…still it lingers, unsettled, and leaves you carrying the feels long after the last note fades.

You are correct, Leonard, I do want it darker. That because I deeply appreciate when an artist just really leans into their aesthetic. And Cohen has always sung from and about the shadows. On his final living release, here we have it all stripped pretty bare, the gravel of his voice laying the foundation for the path he leads us on. The notes a flickering candle that lights our way forward. Cohen's songs are both prayers and confessions. He often sings of faith, but in this way that feels at once grounded and human, and also rather gritty and soiled. I've also heard this approach in a few other of my favorite artists, notably Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, and Low. Several of the tracks on this release also drip with a captivating, murky noir so reminiscent of radio legend Joe Frank. This record is gorgeous and it is captivating. Appropriate that Cohen would collaborate with a choir on this release. These songs are holy. Every track on this thing is essential. There is not a minute wasted. What a stunning way to close out a career and say goodbye.

Fúnebre demais. É o terceiro disco do Cohen que eu peguei na lista, e esse foi de longe o mais difícil de digerir até então. Lendo a respeito da sua criação é fácil ver o porquê. O homem estava basicamente na beira da morte. Acho que é óbvia a comparação com o Blackstar do Bowie, mas prefiro muito mais aquele disco do que esse. Comparação injusta, talvez. A voz dele aqui é inigualável. Chega a arrepiar consistentemente. As composições são básicas, minimalistas, o que não me agrada tanto assim. Este é, de fato, o estilo dele. Mas o disco dele que mais gostei até então foi o I’m Your Man, que possui uma sonoridade e uma produção bem mais ousada e eclética do que este atual. Por isso irei dar uma nota levemente mais baixa do que aquele. Mas só porque preferi outra obra do Cohen acima desta não quer dizer que eu vá desmerecer completamente o trabalho colocado aqui. É um disco incrível, mas ele é, como eu já disse, difícil de digerir e baixo astral demais. Não consigo me ver ouvindo este álbum novamente do início ao fim, mas as faixas que salvei dele vão me deliciar muito ainda daqui pra frente. 4/5

Liked it more than I expected to

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

My introduction to Leonard Cohen was through Pump Up the Volume with Concrete Blondes cover of Everybody Knows and Cohen is nothing if not consistent in his style and delivery. The last album before Cohen died, maybe I'm hearing it at a time when the themes that he plays on are closer but it hits home. As he got older, Cohen moved more towards a poetic delivery and this doesn't make it any less lyrical or musical. I popped it on again to listen to straight away. It reminded me of all the other bands I liked and makes me want to go exploring through my existing collection again. Sad that this is the last offering that we'll ever see.

Can't deny the beautiful songwriting and amazing story telling lyrics, also that Leonard Cohen has a crazy voice, but I just can't get into it, I feel I struggle to get invested in the more spoken word type of vocals.

Classic Cohen

Damn. That was good.

ok see this is music. Do I love Leonard Cohen? Of course. But I admit I love the somewhat more melodic Leonard Cohen, before his final few albums. That doesn't mean I won't happily lay back and let his voice roll over me, just that this wasn't my favorite.

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

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

Gloomy vibes, and strong lyrics.

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

If the devils brother was a folk artist?

A rough listen, it’s difficult to hear his voice at this stage in his life, but there are some haunting moments in this album.

I'm not sure how to rate this! If I was in the right mood, it'd be transcendent. But I don't want to think about how dark life can be right now. Also, this gave me the distinct feeling of voyeurism, of hearing private things I wasn't meant to hear. I think that's maybe the point, but it's definitely not an "everyday" kind of album. Sticking with a 3, with the caveat that I intend to listen again when I want to wallow.

Even at 140 (or however old he was when he recorded this album) Leonard Cohen sounds like a guy who can charm the pants off of anyone. Even when he's singing about mortality and regret. This album is the first panty-dropper death album, and as great and near-perfect of an accomplishment as it is, I don't know if I'd ever want to hear another album like it.

Pas ma cam Belle voix grave et profonde

Would rather listen to William Shatner.

I'm not the biggest Leonard Cohen fan, but this was actually a pretty good album! I was surprised by how much I was digging it on my walk and how I was just kind of vibin with it! Still not like blowy mind or anything but good!

Grizzly voice but incredible rhyming lyrics!

God I'm a sucker for a baritone

I really liked this a lot. But I didn't expect to. I love his voice and the sing-talky style of vocals. The messages in the songs felt personal to him, and that helped me in connecting with them.

i do not like poetry

Perfection.

Didnt rlly resonate with me

very good, 7/10, pretty chilled but lovefelt album

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

Tumma ääni ja heleää soitantaa

Great album! But not used to slow placed songs

Day 11 I had already listened to this album once before but I didn't remember much. Second listen- His lyricism always brings me to tears. Especially if i didn't have your love! CRYING!!! The album just pulls you in and takes you along this incredibly emotional journey and I just have to give it a 5/5. Sublime album.

Considering the circumstances around the album, it is an interesting listen - bu I didn't find anything particularly gripping that I want to revisit.

Gut!

This was a beautiful album, and although I find Leonard Cohen’s voice to definitely be an acquired taste, it suited this album and its mood as a whole perfectly.

Vocals were so bad good instrumentals doe 1.5 star

no me lo quiste escuchar not the vibe

Great lyrics. The talk-singing is an acquired taste. This was probably not the best place to start with Leonard Cohen. Still, I understand why many consider this a beautiful record.

Anyone into LC get what they want, even a touch darker. Everyone else is getting the same. Making this a binary decision.

Gravely spoken word. Meh, not for me.

Leonard will always get a five from me. Deceptively simple lyrics that set you pondering endlessly if you want to be caught in their spell.

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

Jedinica iz principa. // Bila bi jedinica jer sam htjela da počinim samoubistvo.

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

Damn

q cosa mas rara

He wrote one the greatest songs ever. And his lyrics and poetry wonderful. That said. His music and voice are slow and depressing. But I still like it

When it came to stately, revelatory farewells, 2016 was a banner year. It was bookmarked by records that pushed limits stylistically whilst reminding listeners of the powers possessed and the vitality that came in regards to approaching the end. Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker, the second of such albums, wraps a neat bow on what made him an enigmatic performer. While not a defiant flick of the finger towards death, it does approach it with a readiness and gruff grace that only Leonard grasped and its instrumental sparseness helped it a great deal in getting its point across. You Want It Darker may not be the most conventional path towards Leonard Cohen and his repertoire but, in some cases, the end can be the beginning.

Done

This album is so somber and heartfelt and genuine. Reminds me (obviously) a ton of Blackstar; a man reflecting on his life and his mortality. Cohen's voice works wonders as spoken poetry over this really beautiful album. I loved it, and I hope Cohen was proud of this before he passed. You Want It Darker, Treaty, and Steer Your Way were my favorites, but this probably works best as a full 36 minute playthrough.

You don’t listen to LC for the music you listen for the lyrics.

7,11

#113 - Not my style (I don't like whispers in my ear from an old man) but I appreciate it for what it is.

Dull

algunas lyrics son raras pero está ok

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ Higlighted songs: On the Level, Leaving the Table, It Seemed the Better Way Idk about this dude's personal life (never read the article), but he got that low, smooth and smoky voice. Like a Baritone/Bass

The distinction between poetry and music is completely blurred in this album. The lyrics are melancholic, pensive, and at times even humorous. Touching on themes of death, it feels like Cohen knew he didn’t have much time left, and indeed, he passed away not long after. I liked this one, even though it’s not the kind of music I’ll likely return to often. Maybe if I’m in the right mood.

You Want it Darker? Leonard Cohen is happy to oblige. Recorded as he was dying in his living room, because he wasn't well enough to move, this is the master of dark gospel meditating on his death. He's going to meet his maker soon, and his final gift to the world is to give us a peek in his mind as he's doing it. I actually had to hunt this album down a bit, and I'm so glad I did. I don't listen to Leonard Cohen often enough; consider how much I love it when I do. He makes a man believe in God.

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

Wasn’t on Apple Music for some unknown reason, so listened on YouTube. Not exactly a Friday album…

Not familiar Favorite song: string reprise/treaty

i had an absolute crisis rating this and my brain is now giving this a 5.

I was raised Catholic - but haven’t been to church in 25+ years. I listened to this on a Sunday morning as was right back in a church pew feeling bad about everything I’ve ever done in my life.

Deep, wise, and poetic. A farewell filled with grace and reflection. There’s so much wisdom in this album.

Not for me

Fantastic. The Great Poet left us a masterpiece just before his death, how amazing, wonderful and unbelievable is that. The title track is just bliss.

Ongelooflijk album. Constant kippenvel. Je voelt aan dit album dat Cohen zijn laatste dagen ingaat en dat is tegelijkertijd ongelooflijk mooi, maar ook zeer pijnlijk. De ruwheid in zijn stem raakt je zeer hard en dat maakt dat dit album de 5 sterren verdient. 5.0

4.5 - One of the few greats to stay great imo

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

Very disappointing.

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

5/5 for what it represents, but I didn't connect with the music so much, 3/5 for me. Fully recognize this is probably because it's my first Cohen album and I would need to better know the artist to fully feel the context of this album.

I don't know if this would have had the same impact if it wasn't from a longtime artist released right on his deathbed. Like Bowie's "Blackstar," it's hard to separate an artist exploring mortality around the same time they're dying. I guess he gets as pass for his decayed voice because of that. That said, this is decent enough Cohen, separate from rock'n'roll but highly influencing rock'n'roll. It's fine. I don't think I particularly need to revisit it.

Out of the 3 Cohen albums I've listened to so far, I hate this one the least. But I hope this is the last album by him I'll have to listen to.

Pretty great.

Magical, nostalgic, music of an older world

I andantes it darker. And got it darker.

A little one note, but it's a good note. Whilst presenting as sombre and melancholy, there's a thread of hope which runs through the album. It's all rather beautiful.

This is often overshadowed by the other major album released by an artist not long before their death in 2016. While that one is a statement this one is more subtle and is more of a whisper. This allows his songwriting to come through. When background vocals come in they feel more impactful juxtaposed against his vocals. This is a really good album. Favorite songs were You Want It Darker, Leaving The Table, Traveling Light, and Steer Your Way.

something so unsettling about this

Was kind of shocked by how much I liked this. If Cohen could sing at all this would be amazing but his belching (for lack of a better word) honestly works too. Really cool 4.5

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

Haunting meditations on death. Musically minimal arrangements that support the voice and mood.

Weirdly, I just had this after another earlier one of his, and he was right, I did actually want it darker.

A cohen album that I can fully support. He doesn't try to sing, but he keeps the rhythm, and he expresses the power of his words beautifully. 4/5

Leonard Cohen? I don't want to listen to Leonard Cohen. Oh wait. That's beautiful. Guess I do want to listen to Leonard Cohen.

Favorites: You want it darker, treaty Spooky, moody, loved it

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

Weirdly this was the album that got me into the music of Leonard Cohen. Such a devastatingly beautiful album and a real testament to what a fantastic songwriter he was.

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

Crazy variety of genres- everything from hip hop sounding beats to classical orchestration. Some really heavy lines in there too!

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

It is dark, which is what I wanted (?) Some of the songs are really haunting and beautiful (title track HITS). Some are just skippable. I also am not entirely sure how to interpret the lyrics and message. Seems to be about but God is ambiguous, as well as who men are. Not sure what to make of it.

Having a hard time with this one. I kind of don’t like Cohen’s singing voice but it’s also kind of cool. It gives big Sopranos energy. Could see this album working well in a movie.

Just as powerful as everything he ever did. Beautiful, painful, redemptive. We killed the flame.

Not my kind of album. Had a few songs I enjoyed but other than that I didn't really pay attention. Album feels nice and consistent and had a really nice"black rum" kinda feel but definitely not my type of songs. 3/5

Wow!! Just wow!! This was amazing! I had no clue what to expect, and I was blown away by all of it. I’ve never really listened to him before other than a song here or there. I will do a deeper dive after hearing this album.

Great if you're in the mood for a good cry - but you definitely have to be in the mood for it. There's some beautiful, poetic songs in here.

Actually a lot better than I thought. I am.aware of Mr. Cohen's work but it's not in my normal listening choices. The music behind the songs is really good and Lenny's low tones made it a lot better.

Wow what a voice! Very deep and somber lyrics on lost love, it grew on me.

Big fan of this album; dark, moving. What a way to go out. 8/10

great one, realy liked the dark vibes

7.5/10 Very good lyrics, just poetry. Music is simple and sounds nice. The singing/speaking is pretty monotonic but I cant blame the guy since he was 82. A beautiful ending to his career. Title song Is near to a true masterpiece. "Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my lord".

Very moody. Not built for a sunny summer day, but I enjoyed it. The strings reprise at the end of the album was chefs kiss. I don’t care for his voice, at least not enough for a whole album. He was reading the lyrics like poetry, which was interesting (he was previously a poet). Not quite a 4/5, but better than most 3’s.

3.6 Prefer the more slower relaxed songs

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

After several decades of “ignoring” Leonard Cohen’s music, i heard the title track to this album on an NPR podcast and couldn’t escape the majesty in his voice, the music that his words sat upon, and the message within. I bought the album the next day and played it many, many times - then and now. I’ve added half a dozen more albums of his and am very grateful that I came across that NPR podcast that day (thanks Bob).

This was surprisingly moving and poignant and telling of a story. More Leonard Cohen will find it's way to me

Outstanding. The final words of a man coming to terms with his mortality and coming to terms with his relationship with life, god, love, and death. 10/10 album.

Great album-love it

Reminds me a lot of David Bowie's Blackstar - a clear farewell album from a prolific artist. Musical arrangements are sparse and mournful, but deeply evocative, especially with the choral backing vocals.

It might be premature of me to tackle this particular album. Part of it is my rather limited familiarity with Leonard Cohen's music, having only heard two of his early albums thus far. It can be rather difficult for me to fully grasp how Leonard's music has evolved over five decades, especially given the common criticism I've heard, which is that his songwriting has faltered since at least the 1990s. I'm not sure if I can realistically share that criticism without the full context, but I will say for this record, the lyrics are simple yet direct in intent. Leonard made it as plain in the text of what he describes in his musings. Part of it is that at this point, Leonard was 82 years old with multiple health problems, apparent in his gruff vocal delivery. Thankfully, Leonard's vocal lines were written to account for his aged voice, as multiple background vocalists supported him on these songs. In particular, Leonard's son Adam, who produced You Want It Darker, brought in the Cantor Gideon Zelermeyer and the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir to bolster a fair amount of these songs, as a means of tying back to Leonard's Jewish faith. Given that some of the lyrical subject matter can be interpreted as confrontational with a higher being, it would make sense to tie it back to his religious upbringing. Which brings me to my last part in why it may be premature of me to confront this record. This was Leonard's last album to be released in his lifetime. His son Adam would go on to finish one posthumous release for his father, Thanks for the Dance. But for all intents and purposes, this was the last release Leonard saw through to the end before his death weeks later. There's a certain weight and emotionality to an artist staring at the face of death, a sentiment I have previously observed with Johnny Cash's American IV. I thankfully had enough familiarity with Johnny Cash to do justice in my assessment of that album. I don't know if I can say the same for Leonard. What I can say is that between the organic instrumental arrangements and the grit and romanticism in his words as he shed his mortal bearings in acceptance of what his Lord had in store for him, there's a certain finality to this record that becomes a heavy yet necessary listen. By the end of the string-led reprise of "Treaty" and Leonard's final verse, the conclusion of it all felt palpable to me; hard to articulate yet gripping all the same. You Want It Darker is a great record. I may not consider it within the upper echelon of albums I've listened to, but it is an important record in how an artist can confront death with such poetic grace.

This was gorgeous and textured. A very high 3 as I will not go back and listen again, but what a beautiful album.

This is the type of album I'm here for. This was something totally unique and different to my usual music taste. I was completely grabbed by the unique vocals and pulled in with the emotional lyrics. This will be one of my new albums to listen to late at night when my soul needs something to hold onto.

I do not

What a fucking voice this guy has god damn, absolutely incredible. This album did feel a bit top heavy but I did enjoy it, the instrumentals were fine but the real highlight here is the lyrics. The guy was a poet, and as someone who rarely gives a shit about lyrics I was completely immersed by him. Will definitely be seeking out more of the Cohen back catalogue. Favourites - You Want It Darker, Treaty, On the Level

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

a 1, hate, stop making music please

Pre-listening thoughts: oh… Post/during listening thoughts: yeah this was exactly what I expected. If you thought Leonard Cohen was already incoherently mumbling over his songs in the 60s, oh boy, you got a storm coming. I actually vehemently dislike this album. I think Leonard Cohen is the most overrated singer (if you can call him that) ever. Maybe on par with Lou Reed. There’s a spectrum of men that don’t really sing and it runs from Bob Dylan to Tom Waits, and this album certainly falls more on the Tom Waits end. It was like going to a poetry slam but some old ass man with dementia didn’t have anything prepared so he just started mumbling into the mic. But pair that with instrumentals that are so nice it makes you even more upset when he starts “singing”. Fuck this album 1/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: NO Fav tracks: n/a Least fav tracks: any where he opens his mouth

Darkened

A hauntingly sad deathbed elegy. To release something so beautiful like this just 17 days before your death...how poetic. Even during his last days, Leonard Cohen's poetry and song writing is stil so deeply moving. His velvet like voice might've changed into an old man's growling whisper, yet it sounds so honest and soothing. His ruminations on death and God and Love are poignant. It's a perfect swan song of a dying artist. That's all from me. I'm leaving the table. I'm out of the game.

Some Great Songs,

"on the level" is a good song... other than that... this is a cow patty... i'm sure people think this artist is great... he sure seems to be TRYING to be deep and artistic... but, that's all i can see... a man TRYING... and expecting you to think because he croaks... and talks some kind of pretty prose... that you might fight off boredom and suffer through it and then call it great.. and make fun of all the folks who now listen to it because you said so... lol... to compare this guy to Bob Dylan... is like apples and oranges... one guy is a genius SONGWRITER... who can rock and roll... the other one is Leonard Cohen... stock... hack... let me throw in some esoteric Biblical terms, etc... to seem "profound"... five stars if you are a fan... one star for one ok song from me... is that harsh? not enough... lol... zzzzzz

Liked it. Brought some classic Cohen feels. Well produced. Themes of god and love/heartbreak among others. Had some coherence throughout with reoccurring lines and motifs. Several songs had that same well produced Cohen sound that I describe a sort of rolling or charging forward sound, very studio produced sound. The dance them to Berlin song or whatever it is called from an earlier album epitomises that sound. This album brings a bit of that. Ultimately it was a decent album with some good songs that felt very relevant to his musical and biological life point. In saying that, I'm not sure yet if it's one I'll come back to much. When I'm feeling like Cohen I'll likely seek other albums.

No

Kylläpäs kynttilöitä sammuteltiin. Teema pysyy siis yllä - ja ilahduttavan napakassa mitassa. Olis kyllä voinut laulaa enemmän.

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

This was artistically a *hell* of a thing, but ultimately a frustrating listen for me? Mostly because the opening track is probably in my top fifty or so favourite songs, but then so much of the atmosphere and texture of that disappears, subsumed into More Leonord Choen. It comes back a bit for Travelling Light and It Seemed the Better Way, but yeah. I can absolutely respect this as a piece of art staring down his own imminent death, and the title track is *sublime*, but I don't know if I can get behind it as an album.

I went into this thinking I would give the artist a second chance. Sadly he still insists on being Leonard Cohen.

When I face my inevitable end, I only hope I can do it with a much composure, peace and humour as Leonard Cohen did. This album is wonderful, and it's honestly the first I've heard of Cohen outside of hallelujah, but it got me properly emotional for a complete stranger. I ended up listening to it twice over in quick succession, and will have to go back again later - what an album this is

Es un albumazo. Amo las letras y las haunting instrumentales como minimalistas pero grandes y majestuosas. Amo la poesía en este album, y cómo trata temas como la muerte o las creencias religiosas de Leonard Cohen, además relacionándolas al hecho que es el último album que sacó antes de fallecer y él casi que sabiéndolo. Dicho esto, no es un album que yo voy a escuchar mucho. Capaz es injusto ratearlo de esta forma porque la verdad me impactó mucho y es definitivamente muy bueno. Van unas 4 estrellas capaz. AMO You Want It Darker (el tema)(como bien poético spoken word) y Treaty. Al principio fue raro acostumbrarse a la voz bien grave y la naturaleza medio spoken así que tiene.

It's insane how some people seem to make an album and just know that they will die so soon after. Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, and Johnny Cash just to name a few all released absolutely haunting albums all so soon before their deaths. And this one might just be the best of the bunch. The rawness is unmatched and it really does feel like he's trying to use the music to tell you he's dying.

love love love. music as a grounding experience. music to increase awareness of self.

I enjoyed this dark and haunting album listen! Cohen’s voice has a very dark and mysterious quality to it which made this a fun album listen. This album gave me Over the Garden Wall vibes which I loved. I would definitely give this album a listen again and recommend it to others!

Staggeringly beautiful the last opus of a dying man light and shade wonderful poetry love and loss and death. It gets no better than this.

This album hit me in a similar way to David Bowie's "Blackstar." Though David Bowie is a pinnacle of musical artistry for me, and "Blackstar" is at the top of my all-time favorite albums, I still found "You Want it Darker" affecting, beautiful, and tragic. I also found it a great listen and something I definitely will revisit. I'd give it 4.5 stars.

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

I liked the single named after the album, the others were kinda repetetive and felt like watered down versions. I agree 🫶🏻

It's not my cup of tea in taste, but I can appreciate it's legacy and musicality, hie voice fares well with the dark lyrics and themes of the album.

I have to admit, I never listened to Leonard Cohen aside from Hallelujah. My friend told me this album is for Cohen what Blackstar was for Bowie, and after listening I'd agree with that. Right off the bat Cohen's voice is powerful and haunting as it carries you through the album. He sounds like God and the Devil all at once, like he's gone through hell to get to Heaven. Fitting, considering the religious themes in the album. His vocals are interesting, it sounds more like spoken word poetry set to music. I say that in a good way. Favorite songs would be the title track, Traveling Light, and Steer Your Way.

Man’s voice is DEEP

It seemed rather brooding for my taste but props for its success.

Dark and brooding, I like his voice on these later albums but this one doesn't the songs that land quite as well as a few of his earlier efforts.

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

Good

The most boring voice ever. Hated it, except for the first track

My 300th album in the generator just happens to be the darkest album I've ever heard in my life(don't confuse the title with a Stephen King book). Melancholy lyrics over acoustic guitar, and backing vocals make this a truly haunting experience; a swan song for life. It sent me chills down my spine. Favorite Track: "On The Level".

Excelent

What a voice!!!

Instant fave. Absolute peak of angsty old man looking back at his life music, a genre I really resonate with. The voice! The atmosphere! Will be coming back to this one.

Music to lay down in a field and rot to.

Solid instrumentals. Interesting lyrics. Slightly unbearable moaning.

So haunting, melancholic but also crowning. What an introduction to Cohen, his last album published weeks before he died. Definitely not my thing but I felt many different emotions while listening to it, this album takes you to a different place during its 36:07 minutes.

Not for me

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

3 out of 5. Liked this better than the other album of his on this list. Definitely a more emotional album too.

Cohen's last album. The Hallelujah man himself. I was excited to hear what else he has to offer as he was primarily before my time. For 2016's "You Want it Darker", there is a certain foreboding in the album that's hard to escape. Almost like he was aware it would be his last album. The strange thing is it works. There's only a few artists that can rock a slow and low register and not sound off-putting, and Cohen pulls it off. It's nothing I would sit and listen to on the regular as it tends to drag after a bit, but it was a nice change of pace. ~ 3.3 Stars I thought "On the Level" was worthy of the 1001 playlist.

This was a powerful record. In particular, You Want It Darker and Steer Your Way hit hard. "Steer your heart past the truth you believed in yesterday" is a wonderful lyric. In between those bookends of the record it was a bit of a meloncholy slog, but solid artistry nonetheless.

He gave it to us darker. One of the great storytellers says his farewells.

Beautiful swan song from one of the best songwriters.

His voice may have had a low register, but Leonard Cohen went out on a high note. As usual, his penchant for brilliant lyrics still shines through. I'm not religious, but I feel his sentiments here anyway and clearly understand what he's doing here. It's even more impressive given his poor health when he recorded it, and no wonder he's staring down mortality. Thankfully his wit was still intact, which keeps this from being a total downer. Really great album, and a reminder I need to dig deeper into his catalogue than I have. "Traveling Light" is a new favorite.

Great album by Cohen, this is the music I will remember him. No duds on this record, and his voice is deeper than ever. Amazing stuff.

vampire vibes! banger lyrics! no skips! yes! yes! yes! if I discover one of these every 100 albums I'm happy with this list 👌

Letztes Album von Cohen bevor er starb

So ass dude. What was this

Amazing low voice, great songs

Well... if I'm being absolutely honest... I hated this. While I AM thankful that it took little more than half an hour of my life, even THAT seemed too long for what this is. Maybe if it were consolidated into a single track (which, considering its monotony, it essentially is), and then shortened to a reasonable length, I could appreciate it as an artistic statement. But the novelization of what should have been no more than a sonnet really drags the experience out and down.

This sounds like a poor versions Tom Waits. Lame. No Thanks

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

9/10 O melhor até o momento, lindo e melancólico.

Solid length. The voice worked well on some songs. High 3.

Interesting voice, a few songs I thought were very nice, rest of it was fine. high 3/ low 4

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

It was pretty good. Not as much of a fan of spoken word type stuff though

Never heard of this album or artist before. My first thought when starting the album was that his voice was sexy! It felt more like listening to poetry than music. A very dark album about death. Later learned it was his last album he made, as he was close to death. His voice is captivating and I’m a sucker for songs with a choir in it. Favorites: Title track, leaving the table, and traveling light. Rank: 6.5/10

alto miedo el i’m ready my lord me re gustó, es asi todo misterioso dark edgy emo

Hard one to rate. Musically, its not for me, but the music supports the lyrics, which are extremely well written. Given the content and subject matter and cohesoveness as an album, this would be a 5 based on the lyrics alone. But I'm also interested in the music and its a little too minimalistic for me and not really something I enjoy. Would recommend for poets and literary folks. Not so much for musicians. Not likely to revisit, which puts it at 3 or less on my scale. I think I can respect its inclusion on the list given how different it is, it being a final release from a well known songwriter, and the cohesive and fantastic lyrics and themes. It's not here for the music. Giving this one 3. I didn't like it much but I get it, and lyrics save it from a 2.5 or 2 1=Crap that shouldn't be here 2=I didn't like it but get why it's here 3=I thought it was ok or even like it, get why it's here, but won't revisit 4=I like it, will revisit 5=This is some of the best music I've ever heard and will continue listening to it

Having bought this on release, listened to it once and shelved it during 2016, this has been an absolute joy to rediscover. I don't think Cohen could've had a finer swan song. His delivery of sparse lyrics, the rattle of his voice, the understated instrumentation, the various genres covered and in some cases - fused, the brevity ensures none of his final moments on tape were wasted. A 5/5 - an incredible surprise - and will trigger me re-evaluating his other work.

Really like the first song especially strong knowing he died 3 weeks after release. Other than that it's not my cup of tea. Talk singing a lot.

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

it was good

faggot

“I’m ready my lord” Cohen speaks these harrowing words in a voice that has clearly deteriorated from his youthful days that provoked his first albums in the 60s. There’s a great deal of beauty to this voice however, and despite the obvious pain Cohen feels as he sings these verses, there are few voices as deep and convincing as his. He truly gives it everything he has left on these final songs, passing away only 3 weeks later. This album seems on paper as hardly a comfortable listen, however I think there's great merit to Cohens optimism and spirituality on this album which lightens its most oppressive moments. It takes a great deal of strength to make statements like this at such a fragile time in one’s life. I can respect the fact that after all, this is an album to be listened to and to entertain, while making a thought-provoking statement, not just for the sake of the statement. Personally, I would come back to this album for how authentic its folky elements are, and the truly one-of-a-kind vocal performance and lyricism. But in the way the album sounds like a funeral procession, I have a great deal of hesitation in sitting down and listening to the whole thing. This album is a beautiful poetic send off to a great poet and songwriter, and really just inspirational to creatives in general. "You want it darker. We kill the flame."

Opening track immediately sets the tone of this album perfectly. It sounds a bit like "Dark Side Of The Moon Redux" but actually good. Poetic lyrics with plenty of religious allusion. It's easy to make something loud and active that's engaging, but to create something slow takes a whole lot more skill and I respect Cohen for being able to do that. This album has so much charm and really touched me. I could definitely see the tracks being used in a movie soundtrack somewhere. Notable tracks: On the Level, Leaving the Table, Steer Your Way

Very heavy album with great delivery. Ominous and impending doomy atmosphere as Cohen passed away just over two weeks after the album was released. Lyrics shows Cohen’s grapple with his near death. An album I enjoyed but will most likely not relisten.

Incredible songwriter. Not really my taste, but a legend nonetheless.

i almost love it

Not for me.

What a way to put out your death album, I suppose. Nothing on this album really spoke to me, but go off, Leonard Cohen, I was unfamiliar with your game. Really interesting stuff and aptly named album, it was a... unique listen for sure. Very just sort of gravely and dark. I originally gave this album a 2 when I first listened to it but then I read more about it and I was inspired to give it another go. It's pretty damn good, actually. I didn't much care for it musically but the dude is talented and this actually was quite a beautiful description of a man, facing death, battling with his understanding of god and religion. At least, that's how I re-listened to it. Yeah, great work.

Definitely dark. Would like another listen with more focus on lyrics.

Definitely one of the more unique things I’ve ever listened to! I was working through most of it so I want to listen to the lyrics more closely next time. I hear that’s where Cohen is best.

Favorites: You Want It Darker, Treaty, Steer Your Way There's something so inherently powerful about this album, and I think a lot of it has to do with Cohen's heartbreaking passing. He's always been a figure I've admired as a fan of music in general, but especially folk music. The record is so somber and it feels like a true goodbye from one of the very best. Maybe not for everyone, but I got a lot out of it.

This was a hard one, not because it was bad, it just felt like I was listening in on something deeply persona. Cohen's struggle with God, made me slightly uncomfortable as someone who is trying to cultivate their own relationship with God. The spoken word poetry style was different to what I'm used to. The poetry was good tho. 3⭐, though not likely something I'd come back to very often.

I really enjoyed this which was surprising. I thought the opening to the album was excellent tasteful strings throughout. Nice length of record. I initially gave it 4 stars, however after a week, I came back and gave it 5, as I have listened to parts of it every day and absolutely love the record. I didn't realise it was released 17 or so days before he died and it definitely adds extra depth to it.

Niks voor mij

Magisk stämning, med titelspåret som är en av världens bästa låtar. RIP

underbar mörkröst!

Hade redan låten med samma namn på min gilla-lista och resten av albumet gjorde mig inte besviken!

Surprised by how much I loved this album. Never been a giant Cohen fan, always appreciated his lyrics, but it often seemed like his musical arrangements only highlighted the limits of his vocal range. Here, I felt like the musical elements created a perfect space for Cohen’s ruminations. Maybe it’s just because it’s my birthday and I’m feeling one day closer to death…

More than anything, this album makes me sad. Leonard Cohen was a giant, a genius, a ladies man, a hero and a victim. I can’t listen to this without thinking of him recording it in his living room, in pain, suffering from spine fractures not long after a manager stole most of the money he had earned. This is not m favourite Cohen album but it is a more than worthy final bow. I think I’ll have a good cry now.

The first track felt pretty powerful, underlined by the fact that he passed away three weeks after this album's release. It started to feel repetitive in terms of tone/sentiment, so while I don't feel the urge to listen to it again, I'm glad to have listened to it.

So dark, so deep. And that's just his voice...

Terrible. Can’t sing. Very pedestrian music.

Killer title track, but the rest of it is kind of samey

I liked it a lot but the odds I will remember it are low.

Although I know this collection has far too many albums by a select few artists, and Leonard Cohen is definitely one of them, I always enjoy his music, and I'm impressed that such a recent album of his is included. And what an appropriate title for his last (living) album, since his biggest weakness (and part of the reason why I prefer Nick Cave so much more) is his unrepentant romanticism that rarely tends toward the dark; who knows what his future albums might have been like with this turn? The opening title track sets a great mood for Dark Cohen, and thankfully many of the other songs carry this mood on, all without sacrificing his distinctive voice and style. I particularly enjoyed "Treaty", the haunting "Leaving the table" (not so much the video, though) and "Traveling light". I'm also extremely impressed that you can't really hear all of the pain of his wracked body in these songs, or that he was so housebound by his broken back that he recorded his parts solo and emailed them to his collaborators. I can only hope that he felt happy/content with this album, as it feels like a beautiful coda to his life (and so much more satisfying as a final album than several others in this collection, including David Bowie's Blackstar, Billie Holiday's "Lady in Satin" and perhaps even Johnny Cash's "American IV").

enjoyed this more than other Leonard Cohen albums so, yes, I did want it darker.

This is one of the most unusual albums so far. He takes it so seriously, and earnestly, but it's like the album is unaware of how niche it is. His dark and raspy voice is perfect for noir. But I'm still not sure what through line to draw for this album. What's its story and theme?

Knowing that this album was released only a few months before his death puts a different spin on it. I think the highlight for me is the title track “You Want it Darker”. I loved the vocals on this album, both LC’s voice and also the use of a gospel choir too. The themes were really prevalent and I can see this being an album I come back to when I get a bit older. It also makes me want to listen to his 2019 posthumous release. I did really enjoy this one and found it cohesive but I think it’s an album that will grow on me so for now it’s a 4 star for me.

chill om naar te luisteren

Niet voor mij,, ik zou wel een nummer hier en daar aan kunnen zien staan maar niet een heel album achterelkaar. Ik vond het een beetje herhalend en langzaam

Very good.There is no such thing as a bad Leonard cohen album in my opinion.Fave songs are the title track and Travelling Light .

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

Had no idea what to expect, this first song is so unexpected and gave me immediate chills. Halfway through the album and I didn’t know I could relate so much to an old man writing what sounds like a dying wish/last album. I feel the same things so viscerally. What an unexpected experience. To finish off, I didn’t finish the album. The lyrics were fantastic and I will maybe even go back to this album/songs later but it was too depressing to finish in one day, which makes me take it from a 4 star to a 3 star

my gateway to the great man was this record, which I played a fair amount during the pandemic. I'd listened to him a fair bit in my student days in the 90s but I was way too into Dylan to get sidetracked. As an older man with a n older man's deeper cuts and desires that once were shadow now inky black but better read, i got the Len I deserved and a Len I could actually enjoy.

No I don’t.

Great start. Rest also pretty good. 3.5 stars

Good lyrics. I enjoyed the very diatonic songwriting more than I thought I would.

I enjoyed this more than "Songs of leonard cohen" 3.8/5

Very moving. Surprisingly, the gravelly voice works for me. I will listen to more.

Intricately themed and with plenty of lyrical nuggets to chew on, You Want It Darker gives us one last satisfying helping of Leonard Cohen. Definitely read the Wikipedia entry on this one and Greg Kot's review is also enlightening.

I love Leonard Cohen and this is one great album. I only give it 4 stars as I like more Im your man and some of the first records

Rather interesting album. It reminded me of the last Johnny Cash album. I enjoyed this more than i expected it.

I liked it, it was better than I expected. But still for the time being this is not the album I think I will add to my daily circulation. Some people would be obsessed with this though, and I can see that.

Lads, it's Cohen.

Loved it. I’m fully aware that Cohen is a huge influence on Nick Cave, and I love Nick Cave, but I’ve just not got around to listening to his music before

9/10 Always been in awe of his voice, I know it's not everyones cup of tea but the deep baritone just grips me. Deeply poetic lyrics. Not everyone gets to say goodbye like Cohen did and I think he recognises the significance of that. Songs added to playlist: - you want it darker - leaving the table

No. No I don’t.

So smooth. So unbelievably effortless considering the circumstances. So good. Best tracks: Treaty, Leaving The Table, If I Didn't Have Your Love & Steer Your Way.

incredible. you can feel the life in this and what really bound him to music, his spirit

Rolling Stone called it "probably one of the best albums ever released by a person over the age of 80". I'm inclined to agree.

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

Who wants what darker?

Like spoken word poetry put to music. No idea why I like it so much, but the album is great! Definitely need to be in the mood though.

esse é brutal

é impactante, no mínimo. gravado uns meses antes do mano falecer que deus o tenha. eh ok..

As mentioned before ,Dull Dreary ,Depressing. Why he pops up so much is beyond me

I probably wouldn’t listen again, but it was also very worth a listen

Final albums can suffer a bit from tokenism and overstating the quality. But I think for a Leonard Cohen this still holds up but maybe not his finest. Still decent 3.5*

Pretty much what I expected. Dark, raspy “vocals”, pretty much talking. But a nice listen nonetheless. Interesting lyrics, I would actually listen again. I’ll stick with three stars though.

Ah little too heavy in the lower frequencies for my taste. Other than that it’s a tremendous finishing piece for a Cohen

++: You Want It Darker, On the Level, If I Didn't Have Your Love, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way, Steer Your Way, String Reprise / Treaty +: Treaty, Leaving the Table 8,5/10

You Want It Darker is Leonard Cohen’s poignant farewell, released just weeks before his death in 2016. It’s a sparse, intimate album that grapples with mortality, faith, and meaning. Cohen’s voice, deeper and more weathered than ever, carries immense weight—as though each word has been measured and earned. The title track sets the tone: a dark hymn of surrender and defiance, with Cohen uttering “Hineni” (“Here I am”) to God, accepting the end with dignity. The album leans into minimalist arrangements—soft organs, gentle strings, and the haunting voices of the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue choir. This stripped-back style gives space for the lyrics to shine. Themes of reconciliation, loss, and spiritual exhaustion run throughout tracks like Treaty and It Seemed the Better Way. Yet there’s warmth too, especially in Travelling Light, which feels like a fond goodbye to past loves.

One of the most gorgeous final albums. Bowie’s may have been more forward looking, but Cohen made something so poignant and moving.

Nothing to write home about

0/5 dog shit. Who's giving me these albums. Who picked this shit

Not to be played at a sorority party. None more black 8/10

Really enjoyed this, spoken word I would say. Cohen was a brilliant man. Amazing songwriter of beautiful songs. I still think his Hallelujah is the best version out there. Great album from a great artist.

Me gusta

Personalmente no me gustó. Ni siquiera lo termine

Super Interesting. Leonard's voice is super gravelly and provides an interesting contrast to the more subdued production. The Writing however is fucking fantastic. Leaving the Table is genuinely one of the most beautiful songs ever. Fantastic album.

Gorgeous tunes, sombre reflections obviously but that goes with the territory, if only he had been able to sing it could have been wonderful.

This is the kind of album the 1001 list is for - something I never would have picked, but I'm glad I listened to. Heartfelt, witty, melancholic.

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

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

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

Spokojne. Ale niestety nie powala na kolana.

4/5 - Good vibe, like the really deep voice. Nice lyrics, great guitars lines to train myself

It's great, and could be rated high on relisten. 4 stars.

The album title sounds more like he's talking about his voice. It's gravelly and sounds like it's coming from the underground, but it's still nice to listen to. There are some good arrangements here, too.

I liked it better than his other album on here. You like it darker is a pretty cool song

I loved this album and everything about it. From Leonard’s deep baritone voice to the instrumentation. The music set a dark brooding tone with each song. It was almost like a film noir for music. The lyrics were fantastic! Songs of loss, love, and longing made it relatable to anyone who has experienced these situations. Favorite songs are “You Want It Darker” (That bass line is awesome), “On The Level”, “Leaving The Table”(That guitar just back there moving the song along and then the solo), “Traveling Light” (The flamenco guitar + violin + back up singers = perfection) and “It Seemed a Better Way” (again great violin and that bass line). I reached the end and as Leonard said, “it’s over now, the water, and the wine, we were broken then and now we are borderline” but lucky for me I can hit play and start all over.

Loved the title track. Loved the closing track. Everything in between was great writing, great lead vocals, but overproduced. Unfortunately, that has long been the case for Leonard Cohen. I haven't listened to him since the 90s, and that's the main reason. Disappointing.

There is something to be said about an artist writing an album, when they know their life is coming to an end. Like Bowie's Blackstar (which is a phenomenal album), Cohen gives us a glimpse of what goes through one's mind, and an artists final thoughts to leave with the world, when the end is near. This album is dark and sad, but also beautiful, and I find this a great medium to leave your mark behind. Favorite tracks are the title track You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, and Travelling Light. In Stephen King's afterword of his book You Like It Darker, he apologies for changing the verb.

Great lyrics, great voice. Solid listen

I couldn't find myself getting into the groove of this one. He has a fantastic voice though, lots of talent there.

Poignant Opening track is solid Leaving the Table is a gut punch and a goody Traveling Light prolly gets the nod

Fav: You Want It Darker Notes: Powerful shit. Released just before his death. If I Didn't Have Your Love is a tear jerker for me.

Oh yeah, that voice. Love how this one starts and just drags me in. I don't really dance, but this makes me feel like I'm slow dancing with Leonard to the grave he knew was coming, and I'm here for that beautiful dance.

rip the goat

Gorgeous and ruminative, this one really hit for me. The sonic textures are perfect for the words, and the words.... just beautiful

Genius to the end.

Any one of these songs would be great for the credits of a prestige HBO TV show in the early aughts. I don't know, I want to like this more. I understand the reverence folks have for Cohen, and I can hear his influence in lots of musicians I love and appreciate. The other songs I've heard from him over the years work for me. And these songs are the words of a dying man... Can't dismiss that. It's just the music itself is really flat and basic, just muted blues with occasional cantors jumping in. I wish the music was either a little more rich or interesting to support Cohen's voice and lyrics. Sparse is ok, but this is less sparse and more perfunctory. The back half is better, but it often feels like adult contemporary for aging hipsters, bland with a hint of irreverence. Serviceable not memorable, like a dry wheat cracker you can put whatever you want on. Cohen put a little brooding rumination on this cracker, but you still have to chew the dry, mealy, store-brand cracker. I do, in fact, want it darker!

I mean if you're in a really dark place this will do

Haunting sound.

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

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

Título y portada, ambos magníficos, orientan el ambiente del disco. Desgraciadamente se cumplieron los presagios y siguió la estela de Black Star como magnífica obra crepuscular. Aquí sobresale la inicial, que da título al álbum, con unos coros marca de la casa y un sonido final que le acerca a aquellos tiempos de cuando andaba por oriente medio recuperando la inspiración. Su voz, lógicamente no es de la antaño, pero suena grave y profunda, con carácter (tampoco la de Cash en las American Recordings era la de siempre y no solo le restaba sino que le imprimía un tono solemne). No es su mejor obra, pero es un final acorde al tamaño del artista. Por cierto, tuvo que girar hasta casi sus últimos días debido a la estafa de su agente que le birló todo menos su nombre e inspiración. Gracias

Cool vibes and atmosphere of this album, especially since he made it when he was 82. This is not my preferred kind of music but it honestly was really good to listen to. 4/5

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

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

Pretty good, high 3 stars. The lyrics were good

Really really high 4. Title track, Leaving the Table, If I Didn’t Have Your Love + It Seemed the Better Way are all 5/5 quality Instrumentals are incredibly sexy and Cohen’s voice is perfect for this

Interesting and enjoyable, probably won’t come back to it much though

An album from a fellow Canadian...nice! I haven't listened to much of his stuff in the past, I'm most familiar with, and LOVE his version of Hallelujah. I do really enjoy his deep voice, tho it's not really something I can sing along to well. - Love the guitar on Leaving the Table - Especially enjoy the song Steer Your Way

Definitely darker!

Not a fan

C'est la meilleure version possible d'un dernier album de Leonard Cohen.

C'est bon mais aussi un peu pénible.

Not into the first track at all but the rest of it I really enjoyed, the music is beautiful and though Cohen’s voice got really deep in his older age the songs are still quite good for the most part and it makes for a beautiful and fitting send off for Cohen

Wow. That was hauntingly beautiful. In a similar vein to Johnny Cash’s American IV, this a dying legend reflecting. It’s beautiful and Cohen’s rough voice sounds perfect.

How are there people in the world that genuinely think Tom Waits is good and cohen is hard to listen to. With cohen I go as far as loving jazz police. This album was good Too 4/5

not my type, too slow and not connected with it

Not my cup of tea, but I can see why people appreciate it. It’s just a little monotonous and depressing for my liking.

Excelente album, la voz de Leonard Cohen en sus últimos trabajos es increíble. Me gusta la atmósfera oscura que eligió crear en este que fue su último disco. La combinación de instrumentos acústicos con sonidos más electrónicos hacen un aporte muy bueno al estilo que eligió adoptar. Para ser un músico que podría haberse ya retirado hace tiempo, seguía teniendo vigencia su aporte a la música, así como sucedió con David Bowie antes de morir.

Heard it before. What a strange thing, today I got the news that one of my old uni professors died and I remember how years ago during one class he made us listen to this album and analyze the lyrics. Feels like a fitting tribute to listen to it today 4/5

Glorious final album. Dark, beautiful instrumentation.

Leonard Cohen maybe isn't for everyone, but when you're feeling really sad on the tube this album just hits

Does it count as a review when you skip every song after 30 seconds? I’m so sorry, Leonard Cohen. I know you’re a legend. But this one wasn’t for me.