You Want It Darker

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.

Playoff Lenny with his swan song. Common Leonard Cohen W

brilliant album, really enjoyed it

Simplicity at its finest. Leaving the Table is pure perfection.

Incredible final statement from one of the greatest ever to do it.

Normally would not like such talking type of songs but let's add a star for travelling light

Beautiful voice and lyrics. His elegy.

Stands alongside Warren Zevon and Johnny Cash as ruminations on the end of life This is by some distance the most haunting of those three An incredibly immersive listen

Leonard Cohen's final album, released 17 days before his death. Unsurprisingly, themes of god and death are at the fore of this atmospheric album. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: You Want It Darker Date listened: 18/07/23

5/9, 56%

Mycket bättre än vad jag trodde. Riktigt smooth

Cohen's voice on this album is the voice of eternal mythical being. Knowing that this album was released days before his death, produced by his son, makes this send-off all the more powerful. It's a difficult but hauntingly beautiful listen. "You Want it Darker" is one of those astonishingly great songs that most artists could only dream of writing. It's incredible that this album came out the same year as Bowie's Blackstar.

Haunting, exciting and more importantly eye opening.

4/5 so good 😭😭

What a send off. What a way to settle affairs knowing the end is gaining on you.

When the bassline kicked in on You Want it Darker I though that The Bad Seeds had taken over, had that effortless but menacing groove that Nick Cave thrives on. Some good and some OK, but really distinctive and far more enjoyable - in a dark way - that I had expected.

Leonard Cohen is a poet and I know his work, but I don't think I've ever listened to his albums. I didn't expect this album to land well with me, but it was a very easy listen with some great depth.

I really quite liked this. I haven’t knowingly listened to any of Leonard Cohen’s other work, so I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I was very pleasantly surprised. His voice must be mentioned as those deep vocals are just great to listen to. The album opened very strongly with the title track and kept up those expectations throughout. If I Didn’t Have Your Love and Traveling Light were the standouts for me here. I absolutely loved the former. The contrast of using these incredibly sad descriptions of life lacking beauty or meaning to explain the strong feelings of love he has is just great. I am a sucker for a good love song though so it could just be that. Traveling Light followed it up nicely with a very sad song about losing an ex-lover of his, apparently. That does lead me into the only thing I can find in this album that I didn’t enjoy. Mr. Cohen built these incredible songs with very deep lyrics with a lot of meaning in them. The only problem is that I may just be too dumb or not know him/his life enough to get any of that meaning out of them. I don’t know what he was trying to get across with some of these songs, but he made me feel it regardless with his voice. Definitely glad I got to listen to this.

Haunting and powerful

For all of my hesitation going in, this was an absolutely beautiful album. Leonard Cohen doesn't exactly "sing" so much as speak melodically, but he does it with great effect. The songs are generally pretty minimal and err darker (go figure) in tone. Love the use of different strings throughout and the way that his voice can sound both broken and powerful at once. This is a "pretty" album and certainly is one that pairs best with a certain mood, but even for a fairly distracted listen this was a surprising treat. For me this is a high 4. Opening bassline of You Want It Darker made me think of Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. Glad its not that... This song is actually pretty badass -- sounds somewhat like a Nick Cave song. His voice is so deep and haggard. Treaty is a really beautiful song, as is If I Didn't Have Your Love. The fiddle line in Steer Your Way reminds me of a Sublime song (We're Only Gonna Die For Our Arrogance -- which is itself a cover actually).

I think I may have listened to parts of this album back when it came out, because some of it sounded familiar to me today. Either way, I thought this album was great. Lyrically, it definitely lives up to its name, and after reading about the context in which it was recorded, it makes sense why Leonard Cohen would make this album. I really loved the themes that Leonard Cohen explored here; the lyrics are full of imagery of death, mortality, religion, and love. I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to watch his body essentially fail him as his health declined over his final days. The instrumentals, while bare and stripped down, did a perfect job of complimenting the dark tone of the lyrics, and I think the instrumentals on this album would still be beautiful without the lyrics. My favorite songs here were "Traveling Light" and "It Seemed the Better Way." I love the way that they sound like poems read over music. "On the Level" had some awesome backing vocals, and I also loved the way that "Steer Your Way" built to a quiet crescendo at the end. Overall, this was a really solid album, and I'm excited for the other Leonard Cohen album on this list.

This album is incredibly dark, but not in a way that is without some kind of light. The sheer contemplativeness in the lyrics, the droning on and on of low notes, the sound is that of a man taking inventory of his final breaths. The album is dark, it is sad, and yet somehow there is a sense of learning, a feeling that as listeners this needed to happen. It did, and there is a gratefulness here whether a person was a fan of Cohen's career or not. It was poetry, and seemingly without the bougie pretentiousness that seems to infect most singer-songwriters that feel like they should be more famous than they are.

Beautiful but bleak. An old man's examination of a long life and all its glories and mistakes.

Didn't like some of the songs, really liked some others. Overall better than I expected.

Reminds me of that Johnny Cash album he did when he was much older. I enjoyed this one too, despite the fact I wasn't much of a fan of some of his other albums. Perhaps something about him being older changed the musical style to be more enjoyable to me..

he has such a unique voice

Phenomenal opening track, sounds suprisingly like the halo 1 soundtrack. Stays very true to its name. Would recommend for times when you want to feel like the protagonist to spooky cowboy.

Cohen and Bowie both in the same year managed to write and release albums that were ponderous reflections on the end of their lives just days before they each passed. And both of them are just amazing. This album is a wonderful reflection on the life Cohen lived and his comfort in the end of it. Sad but great album.

Rest in peace, king.

It's a good album. It's very stripped back but beautiful. I do like Blackstar more which came out in the same year and has the same themes. Actual score is a 3.5 but it's closer to a 4 than a 3 I think.

Wasn't sure what I was getting into at the first song, but I was pleasantly surprised. A very interesting album clearly focusing on death and life. It's not super depressing throughout; I appreciate the matter of fact view he has on death. It also hits harder knowing he died 17 days after the release of this album at the age of 82. The focus is clearly on the lyrics, like poetry, and it does a good job making sure lyrics are clear and powerful. I would like to listen to this again while reading the lyrics instead of working. Steer Your Way was a standout to me. This album has taken the throne for latest album at 2016! (previously held by In Rainbows)

I'm so excited. I've waited and waited for this to happen.. That the 1001 would change my opinion about an artist I hate and convert me. Well, today was the day. I've always loved Cohen's voice. It's right up there with Tom Waits for gravel and grit. I've always loved his lyrics-- pure poetry. But I've always hated his stupid melodies and accompaniments. This album is different. Sparer and sparse. It's fabulous. So now I like Leonard Cohen-- sort of.

Nearly up there with Blackstar as an end-of-life sign-off.

This is my third Leonard Cohen album in a very short time. Beautifully poetic and relaxing to listen to. I wouldn’t listen to him regularly, however I believe his music is very culturally important.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I could get over the insane raspiness of a 90 year old but I did. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful music, beautiful album. It was cool we got to listen to his first album and his final album that were 50 years apart

mmmm, mieć taki głos...

The album was good, lyrically it was strong. His thoughts of impending mortality were imprinted on every song. I always like Leonard Cohen.

There's one of the 5 stars reviews in here that perfectly explains how this album of Leonard Cohen, released only 17 days before his passing, is the "lyrical" summation of all the grand themes he dealt with during his life. And I don't really see what I could add to that great review that would be meaningful. God, love, lust, death... The sheer magic of the title track says it all. A *dark* sort of magic, yes indeed. But magic nonetheless. Cohen's deep gravelly voice over those half-scary, half-angelic backgroud vocals is simply incredible by the way. If this doesn't send shudders down your spine, I don't know what will. There's just one thing, though. The music in this album is very good, but on average, it's less stellar than what Leonard had composed decades earlier. Half of said music was composed by others, by the way, but I guess you can't blame a frail old man about to die for asking collaborators to complete the task at hand... This situation allows me to address one common misunderstanding when it comes to Leonard Cohen: indeed, people often focus on his wonderful lyrics, but they also forget to mention how his arrangements and chord changes are as moving and effective as his words in his songs. Cohen proves it again here, with two absolute gems he penned all by himself for *You Want It Darker*; "Treaty" and "Steer The Way". The terrific chord progression and minor-major modulations on the latter, enhanced by a mischievous violin, should be studied in every songwriting schools out there. Most of the music Cohen didn't write for this album was composed by Patrick Leonard, who, believe or not, once co-wrote some of Madonna's most famous hit singles during the eighties (the mere fact that there is now a direct connection between Madonna and Leonard Cohen is mind-boggling to say the least). And fortunately Patrick brought his A-game on two songs in this LP: the admirable title-track, that we mentioned earlier, but also "Travelling Light". When in this one Cohen wrily whispers "I used to play one mean guitar"--while looking back on his life--there's a rush of memories and emotions that will surely flood you, at least if you know a little about the man's long career. So all in all, what we have here is four tracks that can easily rival with anything Cohen wrote and perfomed from the late sixties to the early nineties. Which is quite a feat given how legendary some of those earlier songs are. Of course, it's very hard to compete with such a brilliant past. Under that light, *You Want It Darker* will have to wait a little before being fully included in my own list of essential albums, contrary to *Songs Of Leonard Cohen*, *Songs Of Love And Hate*, or *I'm Your Man* (I'll first need to check if there's enough room for it at the end). But waiting right in front of the gates of heaven is, after all, the sort of situation that would have made the Canadian poet smirk a little. And I know he went through those gates, eventually. So I imagine he won't hold too much of a grudge against me, if ever we meet up there one day... 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential" albums. Which means 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: 594 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 193 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 91 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 122

Totes emosh

Beautiful album. 4/5

Genre: Rock Review: Great music. Very deep and soothing voice, apparently the guy made this album when he was in his 80s! Released only a few weeks before he passed away. The quality of the music was fabulous. Rating: 7/10

as it turns out, I did

I've always liked Leonard Cohen ever since Natural Born Killers. This album is great! I like the dark overtones, his deep voice, and the sinister of it. The only thing I don't like is how much biblical and god references there are.

Another really heavy album. Cohen's anguished vocals are perfect for the tone of these songs.

The music was nothing special but his voice and lyrics were amazing. What an artist!

Cool villiany music

Gorgeous.

1. First song gives off dark choir piano sounds. His voice is very crisp grimly like reading a book. Good 2. Ballad song sound good. Sound like a vampire. Is this christiany music? Very good 3. Instrumental is calming. Woman in background voice is good. Good 4. Guitar strings is 👌🏾. Background solo 😍. Calming. Perfect 5. So calming. Perfect 6. Spanish vibes in beginning. Very poet. Groovy in background. 🎻. Good 7. Eerie in background with drums. Very violin feel like in movie. It's okay but love the melody. 8. Feel very folk vibes. Bluegrass. Okay. 9. Very 1800s in beginning. Grand cello. Violin. Very beautiful relaxing. Perfect.

moody and lovely, gravely and dark.

The last recorded album by Leonard Cohen before his death. It seems he knew the end was coming for him as he kind of hints and writes about the end of life. It's quite haunting at times, but some songs also have some very pretty passages as well. It's incredible that Cohen was still able to release a work such at this given his ailing health. He has left us with a huge body of work, beautiful songs that will forever stick with us. The mix is allright, but the instrumentation sometimes feels a bit tacked on. An essential farewell album and an astonishing end to a career. Favorite lyrics: -There's a lullaby for suffering. And a paradox to blame. - I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be. Only one of us was real and that was me. - They oughta give my heart a medal For letting go of you - Steer your way through the pain that is far more real than you. That smashed the cosmic model, that blinded every view. Key tracks: You Want It Darker, Treaty, On The Level, Leaving The Table, It Seemed The Better Way, Steer Your Way. 8 out of 10

It was very Cohen. About what I expected from him. While I certainly enjoyed it, there are other entries in his catalogue that I am more drawn to.

A worthy finale for Cohen. Melancholy and spiritual, no easy platitudes but a portrait of a centered man.

The vocals caught me off guard but grew on me quickly. So much gravel. Finished the album before realizing it was released in 2016. Raw gritty simple and cool.

Mesmerizing. The poetry, his voice, the instrumentation choices.

First thought: dammit not more Leonard Cohen. Second thought: this rules. I love haunted old men with broken, ruined voices and filthy souls

Mix of cinematic and impressive restraint on the music, just wish the goals were turned down a bit in the mix (but I get it).

This was one long death rattle. https://pics.me.me/kids-could-you-lighten-up-a-littlet-29298587.png

This is an interesting album for sure. My favorite tracks seem to be the title, Traveling Light, Treaty and Leaving the Table. Not like anything else I’ve heard.

I can't imagine introducing anyone to Leonard Cohen with the last album of his long lifetime. I think a proper appreciation of the man and his music requires a chronological approach, from first album to last. In exploring the work in this way, the listener eases into the more shocking aspects of Leonard Cohen (namely, his sagacious old-croak of a voice and his late-career synth-pop and midi-music). The listener also arrives at the conclusion that YOU WANT IT DARKER is a very satisfying swan-song for such an alluring artist. Favorite track: 'Steer Your Way'

Similar to David Bowie's Blackstar, this is a very fitting "final album, even if it isn't technically his last. It just feels so emotionally driven and his voice is absolutely haunting, bringing it all together is the orchestral sound. While I have enjoyed what I've heard of Leonard Cohen's guitar playing, having instead a hard hitting orchestra makes his words have so much more depth to them. I was worried I wouldn't like later Cohen due to the voice change, but if anything this may be my favorite one I've heard so far. It only misses the mark for five stars because some of the songs do go in one ear and out the other, or sound too similar to another song, but that hardly hinders this cool thirty-six minute album.

Dark but good

Love love love

Som tri baixado, grande mestre

he Voice interesting, may relisten

The list heard me talking shit and gave me more Leonard Cohen. I liked this one more though. My favorites were Traveling Light and Steer Your Way.

Very atmospheric music, great voice, bumped it up to a 4 because of “You Want It Darker”

There is a lot to this album; too much to be fully appreciated from one or two listens. Really subtle.

En af de største lyrikere. Optaget i hans køkken mens han var dødsyg af kræft. Fornemmer stemningen i hans stemme. Synger både om det mørke univers samtidig med at han synger om det han mener er livets stærkest kraft kærlighed. Det er store og flotte konklusioner, draget af en af de store poeter

Love the super low voice. Great songs and lyrics. 4.5

Vond dit eerst heel heftig en zwaar maar nu ik er over nadenk waardeer ik het steeds meer. Eigenlijk wel lekker om een beetje in die zwaarte te hangen! Lievelings: treaty en on the level

When I saw Leonard Cohen pop up I was hoping it would’ve been one of his older ‘classics’ as he’s another one who I heard the odd song by, liked, but never dived in. That said, I still really enjoyed this, can definitely see why Matt Berninger / Mark Lanegan often get compared to him. His lyrical style is up there with the best and the time flew by. Will definitely check this out further and look into his back catelog.

Hallelujah aside this is my first experience of Leonard Cohen, guessing it's a strange point to enter his catalogue! Powerful stuff to hear him grapple with his life and faith shortly before his death and he's got the gravelliest voice I've heard. Really good.

Solid 4 star. Memorable and melancholy.

Indulgent, great lyrics

The title track is marvellous.In fact the whole album is very good, but as the title suggests, it's very dark.Very, very dark.Unless you are in the mood to contemplate infinity, it's a bit much. Fortunately I often am, so that's OK.

Better than expected

I do, I do want it darker

Almost spoken word, his voice is so low. Captures him at the end of life, still the wordsmith.

Loved this. A nice new gem of an album to listen to from time to time.

You want it darker? Be careful what you ask for. Even in his 80s, Leonard Cohen was still a badass!

fuck this guys voice is deep. I don’t think this is made for me but that’s ok I’m not mad at it. sounds like jarvis cocker putting on a voice lolllll. no fucking way they worked together. what da hell. ok now it gets an extra point. respect, rip. 4.5

This is a great album but I won’t listen to it again.

Dense lirycs and haunting vocals. A lot of religious themes, but at times it sounds more like the devil himself is being summoned. You Want It Darker and Treaty are the best tracks. I just knew the classic Cohen from 'Suzanne' and 'So Long, Marianne', I'm glad to have discovered this darker side. He was 82 at the time of recording.

From the ripping and spectral opening track, Cohen establishes one of the finer albums reflecting on his own imminent mortality. Ever the poet Cohen looks into his past as a generation's troubadour indelibly tied with the death's coming. His voice is aged and creaky, weight is felt with every line. Meditations on nascent spirituality and lovers felt fill the album on this finely crafted first piece of a diptych. Thanks for the Dance is well recommended as a listen following as it completes many ruminations here. 8/10, this and Blackstar by Bowie are the greatest albums written around mortality of this generation.

Actually very cool album. Usually I find like slow music at all, but I thought the story he was telling throughout each song was pretty captivating. Also the backup singers on the second to last song were cool as well

Kolejny Cohen, tym razem przygotowany na niego bylem, bo jak moglbym nie przesluchac ostatniego albumu wydanego za zycia takiego artsty, jest to jeden z tych krazkow ktore sa pozegnaniem z sluchaczem jak i z swiatem, Cohen zmarl 16 dni po wydaniu plyty, wiec prawie tak dramatycznie jak w przypadku Bowiego, ale jest to skromniejsze pozegnanie, bo nigdy szol menem on raczej nie staral sie byc, no i jest to album artysty 82 letniego, wiec slychac go juz tutaj jedynie lirycznie i wokalnie, gdzie wokal jest tak wymeczony zyciem, ze ciezko poznac tutaj czasami tego artyste ktorego sie znalo z klasycznych albumow, kolejna rzecza ktora odroznia ten material od tego co mozna uslyszec u tego pana wczesniej, to dobor instrumentali, bo jest on bogaty, ale jednak nie przesadzony, wiec dobrze pasujacy tworczosci takiego barda, gdzie liczy sie najbardziej slowo, w nagraniach tego 36 minutowego krazka bralo udzial 10 artystow, najwiekszy udzial wydaje sie miec pan Zac Rae, ktory gra ogrywa glowne gitarki i klawisze oraz kilka bardziej egzotycznych instrumentow, za produkcje i niektore kompozycje byl odpowiedzialny syn Cohena, Adam, material krotki, ale trafiajacy do czlowieka, ale w taki sposob, ze zostawia wolne pole do nadinterpretacji liryki, ktora wydaje sie byc pisana prawdziwym szyfrem, ciezko czasem odnalezc sie do kogo utwor jest skierowany, kto jest podmiotem lub calkiem odwrotnie jest zbyt latwo zeby tylko przy koncu utworu sie znowu zgubic, ale wspolnym mianownikiem nagrania bedzie przemijanie, ciezko wybrac hajlajtowe momenty, bo sluchac wypada jedynie jako calosci, albo najlepiej w polaczeniu z posthumusowym krazkiem, ale na plejke dodam tytulowy opening i traveling light, no i sluchajac takiego pozegnania czlek sie zastanawia jak bedzie wygladalo pozegnanie Dylana, z ktorym to chyba najbardziej Cohen byl najbardziej porownywany zwlaszcza w 70s, czy w ogole doczekamy sie jeszcze plyty takiego kalibru od tamtego pana

The first track gave me goosebumps.

Pretty awesome.

Classic. Great listen.

Bit of a bummer innit.

L’arrangement est fantastique. L’histoire racontée est super touchante. La voix grave et le phrasé de Léonard Cohen sont incroyables Je recommande!

Oh wesh il a une voix suave tah les fous ! Pour moi c'est Christopher Lee qui chante, dwonc bien joué le compte dooku. Ptite vibe a la Jhony cash 3.5/5

Leonard makes me want to cry and scream. Just what I needed!

Leonard is definitely growing on me. This album is very slow, quite dark, but the lyrics are beautiful. I enjoyed most of it.

Leonard is king. This album will always be special because of the effort it took for him to work on it. It is dark and beautifully done. 4.5/5

Favorite Songs: You Want It Darker, Treaty, On the Level, Leaving the Table, Traveling Light, Steer Your Way, String Reprise Least Favorite Songs: It Seemed The Better Way Much like David Bowie's 'Blackstar', here we have an artist with a rich catalog of material reflecting on their life, career, and eventual death (which would come 17 days after the release of 'You Want It Darker'.) These songs are brooding, sweet, subtle, and yes... dark. You can hear a man who has loved so many say his goodbyes. A man who was deeply spiritual make peace with a creator. A man who has done alot of reflection on what went wrong and how to cope. On a musical level, there's a minimalist approach to many of songs here. Even when a choir erupts, a guitar plucks along, a violin is bowed, or a piano jangles it isn't anything but a backing track to the words and gravel coming from the main event: Mr.Leonard Cohen.

Liked it unexpectedly. Very sad but strong album.

I heard this album when it first came out but never really gave it a second listen. I'm glad I got the opportunity to revisit it. Cohen's voice may not be what it once was but the poetry is as vivid as ever, and the backing music, especially the chorus, is enchanting throughout this wonderful album.

Lenny!!!! His face in MTL should be bigger lol

This is some form of divine pathetic fallacy intervention for me today. The deeply ominous sounds of this album perfectly mesh with the broiling internal rage I'm currently experiencing because of shitty workplace motherfuckers that have pushed me beyond my capacity for patience. Well done, Leonard, you know what it's like when people be hasslin' and harassing you. Travelling Light is the way to go it seems, good life philosophy.

Leonard Cohen never went into dotage. This album is beautiful and powerful.

Not particularly a fan of Cohen's recorded stuff, but this knocked me for a loop. Absolutely mesmerizing. 4/5.

Excellent final sendoff album. Gonna need to revisit 👍

What a wonderfully unique goodbye from Leonard, in a way just he could have done it. Simplistic background with a Blues Touch, paired with pretty much only melodic speaking and storytelling. Great atmosphere

This is sort of a tough one to rate. It's a Leonard Cohen album, no doubt about it. It's certainly not my favorite Cohen album. Like most of his works (at least the ones that I've listened to), the album is heavy on the poetry and light on the music. There's nothing wrong with that, since even in his waining days, Cohen could still carry an album on the strength of is poetry and his voice. His albums always leave me wanting something more. I've not heard any that I didn't like, but this one especially feels a bit stripped down. It's good, but also not in the same galaxy as Blackstar by Bowie in terms of albums made during an artist's dying days. Setting that comparison aside, this album is worth a listen, though not one that I'm likely to come back to 4/5

Chilling echo's or Bowie's Blackstar in that this album was recorded with Leonard Cohen knowing that his time was short. A suitability dark Leonard Cohen album it understandably is missing some of his almost trademark sardonic humour. I was too sad about his passing to give this a proper listen when it came out. Listening to it now I am struck by how sparse it is, but this suits the themes and the lyrics perfectly

like the dark twin of I'm Your Man, or the cousin of Blackstar. First song is incredible, and the rest keep up the doom perfectly. What a terrible year 2016 was

I was waiting for Leonard Cohen to appear on this list. So we all know he has HIS sound, but man does he come across as tired and exhausted on this album. This is my first time hearing it and reading about it and apparently he recorded this in his living room after touring a ton and having medical issues for years. Then the release of this album came out only like 2-3 weeks before his death. It's fitting that the first track's main hook is "I'm ready, my lord." "Leaving the Table" is really amazing. It's such a Leonard Cohen song. Lyrics are really A+ for me. You can tell that he knew this was his last one, and it of course brings a sadness to that fact, but I love his tongue and cheek humorous acceptance. "Traveling light It's au revoir My once so bright My fallen star I'm running late They'll close the bar I used to play One mean guitar"

"You Want It Darker" is Cohen's 14th album and the last one released during his lifetime. These songs seem to be about some aspect of his impending death and limited time left whether it's addressing his current and former spirituality and God, saying a farewell to lovers or looking back at relationships and comparing that to himself now. Cohen speaks his lyrics with his deep voice which is musically progressed with strings, piano or guitar....very sparse. All these songs are worth listening to just for his lyrics alone. "You Want It Darker" has organs, minimal drums and a background male choir giving the song almost a church chamber feel. "If I Didn't Have Your Love" is a staight-forward love song looking back at a lover. "Traveling Light" has a spanish-style guitar and strings. Cohen lyrics have a dual meaning about traveling light in former relationships and also now as he is departing. Surprisingly, I did not find this album depressing or extremely dark at all but rather spiritually uplifting in his lyrics and especially the background male and female vocals; it gave some of the songs more of a soulful feel. Similar to my comment on Wire yesterday, everything I've heard from Leonard Cohen is worth checking out to some extent.

haunting songs and voice

Olin vähän skeptinen sen suhteen että näin uusi LC levy vois olla hyvä mutta hei mitä vittuu. Täähän oli ihan loisvaa synkistelyy ja vähän komiikkaankin! Jatkoon! 4/5

Onhan tää kaunis. Artistin top3-levyjä varmasti.

Itse mestari. Cohen on tehnyt pohjatyönsä vetämällä 70(?) vuoden uran ennen tätä levyä, mikä antaa hänelle suvereenin oikeuden pohtia kuolemaa ja uskontoa eri tavalla kuin muut. Levyn avausraita on musta mestariteos upeassa ristiriitaisuudessaan, ja myös Treaty on kova veto. Leaving the Table ja Travelling Light on teksteiltään hyviä, mutta musiikillisesti levyn loppupuoli ei koskaan oo saavuttanut musta alkupuolen huippua, joten jätetään nyt 4/5.

This man can write. His gravel voice delivery works for most of his material

This was way better than I expected. I had briefly listened to his older material which didn't click with me. Here, it's most likely from age and his deeper vocals that his delivery and way with storytelling has changed to something more weary and reflective than before. The album is of course contrasted with his recent death after release, making it as equally prophetic as Bowie's last record. Overall, it was a warming listen.

I never really listened to Mr. Cohen much before. I wasn't particularly enthralled with what I had heard. However, I rather enjoyed this for the most part. There's a Tom Waits-ish quality, but much less "out there" than what Waits might do. It's also incredibly moving given the context of the album. The only downsides were that sometimes some of the songs were a bit too slow moving and mundane and well, it's just a downer of an album. It's not something to throw on anytime and enjoy. I'd give it a 3.5. Bumping to 4 of course.

2016. You Want It Darker, Leaving The Table, String Reprise/Treaty

I’ve never given Leonard Cohen much thought, so I guess it’s ironic I would get his last album, his “death” album as my first taste. At first it felt pretentious, but maybe that’s just Cohen. Half way through I felt I knew him and could identify. I like the global feel of the music, the darkness and starkness of the vocals and sound. I could listen to this a lot more.

It was good! Love his voice.

Wow, darker it is. This is the sound of a man close to the end of his life, and he knows it. Clearly, he was in a lot of pain, but there is joy and quiet celebration here to. The production is understated and sympathetic (not universal amongst Cohen's albums). I hear a lot of metaphors about war and conflict in here, but often with a quiet resolutions through diplomacy, treaties, spycraft and quiet agency. It is impossible to separate this from the circumstances of its recording and release, 17 days before his death, putting it in with Warren Zevon's final album and Bowie's Black Star in that small group of albums that face imminent mortality.

what's not to like, still can't believe I missed a chance to see him live

Really enjoyed this, need to come back to Leonard!

Envie de crever un peu Prefs: You Want It Darker, Treaty, Leaving the Table, If I Didn't Have Your Love, Traveling Light Moins pref: It Seemed the Better Way

Great, I thought. Another Leonard Cohen album. How do 3 of these make a 1001 list? But, my goal was to challenge myself to listen to music I was not exposing myself to... Reading the wiki notes about this being close to the 'finale' life-wise for Cohen made me curious. The pathos of the lyrics and voice here added a quality that made me enjoy the album as a farewell note.... Would have been slightly better as a night time listen.

This is such a beautiful album. I really can't imagine a more fitting final work for an artist with the depth of Leonard Cohen. Musically, it's spare and stripped down with songwriting that is contemplative, intimate, and dark. Not an album I could listen to every day, but really excellent. Fave Songs: Leaving the Table, Steer Your Way, Treaty, You Want It Darker, Traveling Light, String Reprise/Treaty

Very solid album, I like it. Songs start to blend together, but the melodies are unquestionably brilliant.

Very cool

Wow, the title of this album was truly apt- bleak, mournful, reflective. A perfect epitaph to a musical legend

As I have said before Leonard is one of my musical heroes. I love his poetry and his sardonic, wry lyrics. His use of top notch musicians to back him is also a credit. This is obviously a sad sad album being his last studio album before he died (There is a posthumous album completed by his son Adam "Thanks For The Dance") Love "You Want It Darker" "Treaty" (I wish there was a treaty between your love and mine!) "Leaving The Table" (Shadows of Roy Orbison on the guitar here) "Traveling Light" These are all songs of love, life and coming death, beautiful in their simplicity and more powerful when you realise that the man was suffering in great pain from his ailments and the vocals were recorded at his home whilst his collaborators were working in studios elsewhere. (lockdown before lockdown eh!) Farewell Leonard my musical friend for the last 40 years! Rightfully on the list I believe.

Sad!!

Much more listenable than I feared it might be! What a turn of phrase that man had.

Haunting. Appropriately dark for these tragic and uncertain times.

Inesperado

This album is wonderfully melancholy. I'm not sure anyone else could pull this kinda thing off without it sounding like a pretentious beatnik poetry wannabe. But, somehow, Cohen's simple melodies and talk/sing vibe is just cool. I can't explain it - which is good.

It is de facto a concept about God... Such an amazing last album. (7/10) FT: You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, Traveling Light

mesmerising

A dying battery. A vegetable garden at the end of autumn. A human heart. What are the odds that immediately upon casting my vote of 1 star for Leonard Cohen’s 1988 release, 'I’m Your Man,' the very next assignment I received was another Leonard Cohen LP! The music review gods are fucking with me. That is, if you believe in said gods. One would gather that Leonard Cohen would advise against such indulgences for the greater sake of discovering the truth, no matter how sorrowful. But I don’t believe Cohen is the atheist people want him to be. In fact, I don’t think he’s an unbeliever at all. I think he’s a wounded believer. An unbeliever has no logical reason to address God, as Cohen does from the get-go (and has throughout his career) with a brashness so endemic to his peculiar tradition- Here I am, Lord. I can take as much as u can dish out. And in spite of lyrics like ‘I’m so sorry for that ghost I made you be. Only one of us was real, and that was me (‘Treaty’),’ the more accurate lyric from the same song seems to be, ‘I’m angry and I’m tired all the time. I wish there was a treaty… between your love and mine.’ Again, on the following track (‘On the Level’), ‘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!’ Cohen’s on the other side of the remaining western (wailing) wall in Jerusalem, lamenting both God’s seeming abandonment of him, but more so his own of God, his loss of faith. Or, perhaps, the consequential loss that choosing to not believe any longer brings. And how the music is a perfect reflection of that, too, as if it’s aged along with Cohen’s human body, and retained only the parts necessary for essential functioning- a piano here, a guitar there. Gorgeous stringed instruments with a bit of a middle eastern/Mediterranean flare, in minor keys, of course. A banjo never even got close to this LP, thankfully. And be advised to have a box of Kleenex on hand for the closing lullaby. Leonard, from my own troubled faith, also not easily reconcilable with human existence, I believe I have not heard the cry of the needy on your prior recordings, and I confess to a missed opportunity to practice the understanding my discipleship requires. This is a deeply, profoundly moving work of art- and creativity beyond- that you have shared and I’m both humbled by and grateful for its passion. I still think 'I’m Your Man' is dreadful, but I doubt you care, nor should you. This one- 'You Want It Darker'- paradoxically, is the one that truly illuminates your gift. Leonard Cohen presumably died, integrity intact, rather than with/in the false, illusionary hope (and comfort) of his own faith tradition. Is that always the right course of action? The Rolling Stones, following Altamont, seemed to intentionally shed a little light into the prior darkness they had been nurturing, choosing against integrity for the greater sake of, quite literally, saving lives. Loving life, even. The next several years and LPs released remain their very finest period as well as some of the finest rock n’ roll records ever recorded. Who’s to say?

4. Classic lyricist/poet with a great time-worn voice.

Loved this.

Massive fan of his earlier stuff, still love this album and reckon it will grow on me further in due time. Couple of songs that show he never lost his writing ability even right up to the end <3

היה ממש כיף ושקט ואני צריך לישמוע אותו עוד פעם ליפני השינה

Mörk röst swag

Pretty hard to seperate from his death shortly following the album’s release, obviously by design. His low voice is really captivating here. I wish it went harder on the strings

Väldigt bra, kraftfullt skrivet och gillar produktionen väldigt mycket.

The experience of this, the nearly-final Leonard Cohen project, suggests that my weakness for old-man-death-albums is fixed. This is absolutely going on my list to listen again, though the second track drags an already slow album and the penultimate song's fade is early and redundant. Not much thematic variety, but it doesn't need that: Cohen's inflections and the subtle changes in instrumentation are enough.

1001 already sent us Bowie's Blackstar album recorded in the last year that he was looking at the blades rather than the roots, and now we get Leonard's similar offering. I never thought that so many artists spent there last year recording a final album. I know John Lennon also did this but it's not quite the same case. This album is reminiscent of his early albums in that the arrangements and production are very simple. Gotta love the line in Traveling Light: "I use to play a mean guitar" That's right up there with "I was born with the gift of a golden voice" I was surprised to see Alison Krauss doing background vocals on "Steer Your Way". I'm not sure what the story is behind her and Leonard becoming acquainted but he has always managed to find excellent background vocalists.

I guess for comparison you could listen to Bowie's Black Star, in terms of albums that were conceived and recorded while the artists were dying, but I think Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind would be a better comparison since they’re both around 80, i.e. well past their best-before dates. I would say by comparison, Cohen is still on his game. While he sounds tired (half-dead actually) his spoken words are less cryptic, more powerful and relevant, especially in songs like It Seemed the Better Way and You Want it Darker (even though he sounds a bit like he's channeling William Shatner in that one). The songs are sad and the lyrics pull you in. I like the way the violin creeps into the last three tracks and the final is instrumental until the very end. A lovely finish.

This has to be one of the most spine chilling albums I've ever heard....Leonard's voice is pretty haunting anyway and add to that the fact he is on deaths door and writing quite openly about it. Really interesting album and a nice collection of songs

So so gruff! Really beautiful poetry, though the low voice is stepping on the toes of Tom Waits / Hades from Hadestown. Enjoyable swan song from the lyrical ledge. I'll revisit it at some point

Oh Leonard, the Darker the better! Cheers brother, I'm sure you are up there still singing. Thanks for all you gave us.

Leonard's Swan Song. According to folklore, swans sing most beautifully before they die, and hence this phrase came to be used to describe someone who was leaving in style. Wonderful album. 4/5.

Really Good, the sound of this thing is incredible, like Midnight Mass in an ancient church

Let's keep it on the level When I walked away from you I turned my back on the devil Turned my back on the angel, too They oughta give my heart a medal For letting go of you. When I turned my back on the devil Turned my back on the angel, too At first I thought you would need to be in the mood to listen to this. But this album just stopped me in my tracks no matter what I was doing. There's something about Cohen that just grabs me and makes me listen. The coolest dude ever. The lyrics and that amazing growling voice hit so hard. The melodies are heartbreaking. Instrumentation is surprisingly varied for each song, but it's never too much. Just enough to complement and amplify the song and the words. What a way to go, Mr Cohen. Stand outs: You want it darker, On the level, Leaving the table, Traveling light, Treaty (both versions)

Like the title suggests this a dark plodding album that is still quite fulfilling ecause of Cohen's incredible lyrical sense and dramatic delivery. The music matches the lyrical themes perfectly. I found something to enjoy in most every song. 4 🌟

Would be a 5 if there was a bit more singing, but really good either way.

Hieno levy! Cohenin tuotannosta tuttua oli oikeastaan vaan Hallelujah-hitti mutta tämä yllätti oikein positiivisesti. Todella vähäeleisen tyylikästä tunnelmointia. Hieman Nick Caven tyyppistä mutta rauhallisempaa ja vähemmän angstista. Varsinkin jouset toivat upean dramaattista tunnelmaa kappaleisiin. Erityismaininta levyn lopettaneelle kauniille instrumentaalikappaleelle (vaikka joitakin sanoja kappaleen loppuun löytyykin).

I've dabbled in Cohen here and there but had not heard any of this album. Fantastic. I listened twice and will likely again.

Jag har sedan Twin Peak nådde mig på 90-talet varit ett illa dolt David Lynch fan. Har älskat att försvinna mig in i Lynch mörka, mystiska men också lekfulla världar där det bisarra och mörka får ta precis så mycket plats som helst. Precis den känslan av att kliva in i en helt annan värld får jag av denna fantastiska skiva. Titelspåret I want it darker är som tagen ur en Lynch-rulle. Cohen var 82 år när skivan släpptes och texterna känns som Cohens sista uppgivna försök att acceptera sig själv, sina livsval och kommande öde. Och precis som Lynch lyckas han leverera allt detta med inte bara svärta utan också finess ”I was fighting with temptation but I didn’t want to win”. Så, det här är vad du ska göra nu. Gör dig själv en ”damn fine cup of coffee”, släck ner och slå dig ner i en fåtölj. Stäng av allt vad digitalt heter och så lyssnar du på skivan, då, och enbart då lovar jag dig att du också får ta del av den här världen jag så varmt pratar om

Mörkt som jävulen! Gillade den första låten bäst

Good Album, but you'd not want to be in poor form listening to it.

7/10

It's really hard not to love a Cohen album and this one reminds me a lot of Bowie and Blackstar. When you're staring death in the face, what kind of art might you be able to make? Well, this answers that question.

I had only heard a couple of Leonard Cohen songs before this and this was my first album. What an album it is. The songwriting mixed with Cohen's haunting, deep voice makes for a really good, ominous-sounding album. Gives me total True Detective vibes. Fav songs: You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, String Reprise/Treaty

The old rogue does it again. I've long suspected that Cohen left the heavy lifting of creating decent, listenable music to others, adding gloss by way of his basso profundo doggerel. But he is the most charming of frauds on this album, and he possessed a voice that, pitched between old man Tom Waits and old man Kris Kristofferson, is quite irresistible

7,5/10 Muito bom

The You Want It Darker song is probably the best one from this, but there are some other good ones

very Leonard Cohen

En 81-årig Leonard Cohen sjunger sitt avsked. 17 dagar efter att albumet släppts dog han. Och vilket avsked! Det är mörkt, stämningsfullt, och otäckt. Cohens mörka basröst ackompanjerar den minimalistiska produktionen perfekt. Och som alltid när det gäller Cohen (top-3 bästa låtskrivare någonsin) är texterna och poesin i fokus. Lyssna till exempel på hur han använder rim för att skapa rytm i titelspåret You Want It Darker. Titelspåret, som inleder albumet, är fantastiskt. Andra höjdpunkter är den sorgsna kärlekslåten Treaty (inklusive sista spåret String Reprise/Treary), samt Traveling Light, med ett klassiskt Cohen-tema om ensamhet och bohemliv. Faktumet att Cohen dog kort efter releasen gör texten i Leaving the Table ännu mer mörk: "I don't need a reason For what I became I've got these excuses They're tired and lame I don't need a pardon, no, no, no, no, no There's no one left to blame I'm leaving the table I'm out of the game" Bästa låt: You Want It Darker.

some good poems here

Am album I feel like I could sit down with, and contemplate everything. Cohen's lyrics are simple, sometimes to the point of either brilliance or inanity. Love the feeling of the record, somewhere between hymnal and drunk older man singing at a dead bar. Favorite tracks: "You Want It Darker", "Leaving the Table", "Traveling Light"

Like Bowie's Blackstar earlier in the year, Cohen's swansong was released just days before his death. He stares into the void and growls his goodbyes over sparse instrumentation; when it comes to the forefront, it warbles, just like the man singing from a therapy chair in his living room. Cohen said what he had to say and bowed out, and his unflinching contemplation of mortality is left for us to consider. Best track: You Want it Darker

This entire album sounds like Frank Zappa trying to do a Fat Albert Impression. And it’s pretty good. Nothing else to say here 4 stars

Fabulous. Cohen has the lyricism of Dylan and the musicality of Waits and is way more than the sum of those two parts. He is a national treasure and for all the credit he already gets, it doesn’t seem enough. All of his albums are amazing and this one is near the top.

It's a collection of poems that lure you into the darkest stages of human nature, passing through it's beauty as well. A fine work of art saved for certain moments, like a fine wine.

I didn't finish this one admittedly but holy hell is his voice the lowest of gravelly tones as possible. Here for it. And here for the religious content—at first seemed almost satanic? Felt like the devil was whispering in my ear. Made me want to watch True Detective all day.