You Want It Darker

I like Leonard Cohen sometimes. This one is not my favorite.

You Want It Darker - 4/5 Treaty - 3.5/5 On the Level - 3.5/5 Leaving the Table - 3.5/5 If I Didn't Have Your Love - 3/5 Traveling Light - 3.5/5 It Seemed the Better Way - 3.5/5 Steer Your Way - 3.5/5 String Reprise/Treaty - 4/5 The sound of a man staring death in the face ready to take him away sooner or later. I don't see myself coming back to this anytime soon but it was an interesting interpretation of someone contemplating their final days. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: You Want It Darker, String Reprise/Treaty

He has a captivating voice. You can feel the darkness in the content.

I'm not a massive Leonard Cohen fan, his talk-style singing isn't for me. However, his lyricism is undeniably mesmerising, I found Steer Your Way captured my attention just lyrically. I must be honest with myself however that, while conceptually beautiful, sonically this album just doesn't do it for me. So 3/5 for me, even if objectively its probably a 4 or 5.

I liked the music but didn’t like Cohen’s voice.

1. You Want It Darker - 10 Brilliant track. Cohen's "Lazarus". Absolutely stunning lyrics and Cohen's voice is perfect for this track. A piece of excellence. 2. Treaty - 7 Lyrically it's very breathtaking at times and other times it loses itself a bit. Piano is superb on the track. 3. On the Level - 8 Almost the exact same criticism as Treaty but the chorus is way more brilliant on this track. Admittedly, I was not really a fan of Cohen's vocals but the subtle nature of the instrumentals on the album so far have helped highlight his vocal range and how excellently he navigates both pitches and tones. Solid track. 4. Leaving the Table - 4 I have a love hate relationship with this song while listening to it. I am not a fan of the reused lyrics/theme from You Want It Darker about leaving the table and being out of the game. While others would say it's foreshadowing, I look at it as needless repetition. Having said that the following lyrics about not knowing who's in the picture frame is brilliant. On the topic of the song itself, it's too slow and way too rigid and makes it feel like a lullaby. 5. If I Didn't Have Your Love - 5 Lyrically it's great but it's way too slow and way too much a lullaby again. 6. Traveling Light - 6 The metaphors/lyrically set up on this track is incredible. Instrumentally I'm not a huge fan of it, especially the intro. It just feels like something I've heard a million times before like a cheap background track during a movie shot of Paris or Venice. 7. It Seemed the Better Way - 5 Opposite issue with Traveling Light. Love the instrumentals on this track but lyrically can't really get into it. 8. Steer Your Way - 5 It's okay. Lyrically it's very simple and there's also a simply pleasantry about the violin on the track but it's nothing overly phenomenal. 9. String Reprise / Treaty - 10 Brilliant outro to the album, even more so given the circumstances. Average Rating: 6.67 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.33 Rounded Down: 3 Stars

Agréable, on se laisse porter... ou bercer. Toujours une très belle voix profonde et pénétrante, mais rien de bien nouveau sur cet album (pas pu écouter les paroles)

really just poetry and imagery read with gravelly-voiced gravitas. there's a simplicity to the backing tracks that's neat. subtle. i like it a lot. favorite song is Steer Your Way

Rating: 7/10 A late, late career and life album by Leonard Cohen with some dark poetry and spoken world style lyricism. It's sparse and minimal, with his vocals driving the songs. I need to give it more listens for it to grow on me and have a firmer opinion where it could well deserve a 4

I'm right on the line between the voice being corny and propping the whole album up, and also totally liking the voice and liking the whole album. The songs have a cool sound, but it's a Ramones-y where every song just hits the same hook and they're not super varied. You Want It Darker is a great song. Overall decent, a little same-y but sounds cool 6.6/10

great album just not something i’d listen to often

Much better than expected. The talking voice actually works here unlike his earlier albums.

He definitely sounds like he was 82 when this was recorded. But I really like the arrangements and songs. More than some of his older albums. Am I crazy for kind of liking his voice on this? Especially on the opening track. Stockholm syndrome probably.

First off, love his voice. Never heard anything by Leonard Cohen before so it surprised me in a very pleasant way. And I enjoyed the themes of the album, especially as someone who used to believe in god. For me, the problem is that I feel misled? Catfished? The album is titled "You Want It Darker" and the first track is so dark and heavy and moody, especially melody-wise. I got really excited and foolishly thought that the rest is going to sound like that. But it didn't. No other track comes close to match the sound of the title track and I was so disappointed. Looking at the subject matter and the lyrics of the other songs, it makes sense, but it just felt like whiplash? Lowkey soured the whole experience for me, so I didn't get much from this album.

Folk rock.

It's OK. A lot of gravelly singing.

I love his passion, but I wish he had not harmed his vocal chords with cigarette smoke. ★★★

Not a bad album, but definitely not my thing.

Ein verrauchtes Zimmer in Hamburg, Flo schon der Magen knurrt, Thomas und Malte am zocken, Hauke backt Brötchen, Roggen, David liegt weiter eingelegt, nur die Morgenlatte sich regt, les diesen Text in seiner Stimme, so tief, wie Thomas' Kimme

So odd. Much more bible based than expected.

Another id not heard. Quite enjoyed listening to it

I feel like I initially wrote this off since he sounds like a smoker, but it was actually a good album. I kinda liked it?

Swan song from quite the artist. I've always thought of Cohen as more of a poet than a singer. This album is no different. Dark tones and subtle humor as he reflects on his final days.

Tough rate. On the surface this is a 2, but understanding the circumstances behind this album...makes me want to bump it up to a 3. I hate talk singing, but Cohen gets the pass this time. 3 it is.

Cohen is such a strong songwriter and hearing him here, where his voice is so weathered and sad sounding, really fits his whole songwriting. Like, of course! Of course this is the guy who wrote "Hallelujah"! and he's in his bag here too. Listenable all the way through. I definitely understand if someone doesn't like the way his voice feels like a blue note against the other background singers here though. One hell of a swan song to go out on, rest in peace Leonard.

A dark, spoken-word album released 17 days before Cohen died that talks about death and love that was lost. Prophetic and strange at the same time. Not something that is going to make my normal listening cycle, but I’m glad to have listened to this once.

Nothing says Monday morning quite like the Leonard Cohen death album - thanks randomizer! Listen, Lenny can write a brutally beautiful song but he can’t sing one anymore. Perhaps there’s an intended poignancy in Cohen’s inability to harmonize his lyrics, and he has earned the right to do this however he chooses, but his lack of tunefulness, along with the underdone orchestrations, only add to the barrenness of the album. Normally, I would trumpet this choice as genius metaphor in structural craftsmanship, but here, it feels like last rites more than artistic choice. Like Neil said, “It’s better to burn out than it is to rust.”

Well, this is certainly something different. We are invited into a dying man's home as he approaches his final day. Heavy topic, solemn tone, deliberate words. Leonard Cohen doesn't try move you in any direction, he simply shares his final thoughts. There are times when music evokes more than it entertains. This is an example of that. Very moving album.

Dette er et verdig farvel, men det føles ikke ut som Cohen gjør noe han ikke allerede har gjort tidligere? I kontrast virker Blackstar mer som en siste statement. Gir Tom Waits konkurranse i utrøyka whisky-stemme, da.

Tittelen på albumet kunne like gjerne handlet om stemmen hans? For den ble ganske mørk på slutten der ja. Dette er et helt greit album. Jeg husker da det kom og da han døde så hadde jeg vært gjennom et år hvor jeg hørte veldig mye på I’m Your Man, og tenkte at denne plata nok en gang var et forsøk på noe av det samme. Egentlig er vel alle platene etter I’m Your Man litt repeat. Det er ikke en uverdig avslutning for Cohen, men en helt ok. Tittelsporet er høydepunkt så det holder (det tror jeg Øystein Karlsen mente også fordi jeg minnes at han brukte låta komisk mange ganger i Exit), men det meste får meg til å tenke på tidligere storhet og at jeg forventer mer av en artist med et kaliber som Cohen.

Jeg vil så gjerne at dette skal være bedre. Toppene er høye, men han snubler for ofte. Låtskrivinga går litt på autopilot noen ganger, og produksjonen er til tidvis flaut amatørmessig. Men det er jo ingen som er kulere, og det er mye bra her.

Leonard Cohen again. This album released and he passed away less than 3 weeks later at 82 from leukemia. This was very much a coming to terms with death album. Reconciling at the end of life. It's very emotional and it's obvious Cohen is leaving it all out there. Cohen was a great poet. Great and very effective simple writing that's very powerful; but i'm really not a fan of spoken word poetry set to music. The style and Cohen's voice just don't work for me. It sounds out of place when the music is so beautiful.

6/10 A disjoint between the vocals and everything else - understandable, of course.

Beautiful and haunting but slow and a little unfoucsed. Maybe something I'll grow to enjoy more as I get older? It's impossible to not compare this with Black Star, a last words artistic statement that still keels kinetic and exciting 10 years out. You Want It Darker (tital track) is an all timer though, one of Cohen's best.

Very beautiful. Not my typical cup of tea, however.

It was interesting to have it so focused on his vocals. Really set the mood for the album. Good storytelling. Music arrangements were well done. Not my thing but enjoyed it for what it was.

damn dude i do want it darker 3.5/5

I enjoyed the album but had notable picks, although he has an undeniably beautiful voice, I'm not sure I would re-listen. Although it was an artistic an snazzy album, 3 stars

By the time Cohen began recording this album, his mobility issues forced him to record his portions in his living room with the help from his son, Adam, and then send his recordings by e-mail to his musical collaborators. The album is really all about the lyrics, which is what Cohen was most famous for. The music itself is simple and really takes a back seat to the lyrics. It's definitely not a happy album - it's Cohen at the end of his life talking about death and religion, with a little bit of his dry humor tossed in. Definitely a classic coming from a legend.

Despite his weakened voice, Cohen is a commanding presence on this album. His vocals are careful and measured, thick with the wisdom and weight of a life and career that was reaching its end. The way he rasps "hineni hineni" on the title track is so visceral yet satisfying. Lyrically the album reads as someone reviewing their life and making peace with it; the lyrics are good if not terribly deep or clever on every song. "Treaty" is a highlight, second only to the incredible title track. I do wish the album was more interesting musically, as outside of the fiddle on "Steer Your Way" everything is fairly minimal and sticks to similar sounds. Still, when the closing strings come in, sounding like more than just the end of an album, it hits hard. While I don't enjoy this enough to give it a four, it deserves the praise it gets as an incredible final statement.

Interesting lyrics but not an enjoyable listen for me, the vocals are essentially spoken word and the instrumental section did nothing of interest

Ok a bit depressing

3.5 down, enjoyed more than I expected!

3.4

Not bad…not bad at all

Relaxing album, the whole album is in the same vibe which is nice. The guy smokes a lot

Leonard Cohen is often mentioned among the great lyricists of the rock era. Unfortunately, to an even greater extent than Dylan, vocal shortcomings overshadow the lyrical abilities to the point that if you’re listening to a Leonard Cohen song, it’s probably being sung by someone else (it’s also probably called Hallelujah). I’d be surprised to see many covers of songs off this album, though. Highly personal and thoroughly religious in a way that you don’t hear too often in popular music, this was Cohen’s confrontation with aging and death. From what I was able to grasp on two listens through, the lyrics are poignant, haunting, and very well executed. But as a piece of music…. Well, let’s just say that this album is not to my taste. Again, to my ears, Cohen has never been a good vocalist, but in this case I actually think the impact of time has helped him. He is obviously trying to stay away from long held notes or anything much in the way of tonality. Funnily, that actually helps to steer him away from the aspects I like least of his previous work. Outside of the lyrics, the album is most interesting from a production standpoint. Cohen’s voice is dominant in the mix, and it sounded almost like what I imagine the voice of God would sound like. His voice is worn and tired in a way that emphasizes the feeling that this is his preparation for death and the next great step. But this album shares those elements with Johnny Cash’s American Recordings albums and David Bowie’s Blackstar, which spiritually feel like this album’s closest points of comparison in recent years. And I find myself enjoying those albums much, much more. In the end, as powerful as the lyrics may be, I don’t see myself returning to Cohen’s project in the way I routinely do with the others.

About what I expect from Leonard Cohen

A voz do Cohen nesse álbum é um absurdo de grave. Porém eu tendo a preferir os outros projetos dele.

I need half stars for this.. it’s not a 3, not yet a 4.. I get it, but I fear this isn’t my stuff. Cohen’s voice is doing most of the heavy lifting, and the album peaks with the first song.. Respect but not for me.

Je ne sais pas trop quoi en penser. Parce qu'autant le premier titre était très prenant et marquant, le reste m'a beaucoup moins parlé. Le fait est que musicalement, c'est plutôt discret la majorité du temps et je m'y attendais un peu. Vocalement, c'était étonnant. Je ne sais pas à combien de cigarettes par jour il était (il en tient littéralement une sur la pochette !), mais il a une voix extrêmement rugueuse et rocailleuse, qui, je dois bien l'admettre, est tout bonnement frappante. C'est vraiment un bon album, mais peut-être tout simplement pas fait pour moi. Cela dit, le fait qu'il soit sorti juste avant sa mort ajoute un côté... sépulcral à la musique. Je suis persuadé que la liste comprend au moins encore un album de Leonard Cohen, je suis curieux d'entendre ça.

Enjoyable, his voice is like a really thick yoghurt. Sounded a bit like Liam Nelson in parts

Music okay. He has a very deep “speaking” voice rather than singing

Good album but dark

The most unique one by yet. Really relaxing and 'close to the hear' kind of vibe. Really liked then last song "String Reprise/Treaty" Still not really my thing. Probably give this another listen.

This album was fine for me, and completely get why some people love Leonard Cohen. Spoken word poetry isn't my jam, so this album doesn't have to0 much for me. Musically it is utterly uninteresting - it's really Leonard Cohen rambling over background music. For someone focusing on (and enjoying) his poetry, I can see how this could be great. It was entirely inoffensive for me, though - was totally fine on in the background.

No, I want it better

Liked this better than the last one of his from 88.

Leonard Cohen is one of my all time favorite recording artists, but I don’t care who it is, if you’re an 82 year old shut in whose going to die in 17 days, I don’t want to listen to your record. Doesn’t matter if you’re Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon or any other once great artist who is inches from death that this morbid motherfucker put in this book. Let these people die in peace and stop making them croak out final albums from their deathbeds, and most of all stop making me listen to them!

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

I definitely appreciate this album, but I wish it was musically more interesting. If the strings were present in more than just the first and last song, I definitely would have liked it more. Lyrically very beautiful though.

Nice music for a massage...but totally missing any relevance...

Leonard Cohen's final album before dying on November 6th of 2016 happened to be an album he dropped just about 2 weeks prior with You Want It Darker. This album isn't anything super extraordinary or even special, but it is a very touching piece from the very aged and experienced Leonard as he pulls together some of his sharpest work in years for one final swan song. This album is the more niche Blackstar to some as I am sure Leonard must have known his time was limited as he was previously diagnosed with cancer and really wanted to put his all back into his music and show people that his lyrics still can stand up in a modern day and age. The clearly aged Cohen doesn't do anything crazy vocally but moreso uses his voice to share his own experiences and wisdom to a whole new generation, much like listening to stories from your grandfather's past. The instrumentation is grim and very much feels like Cohen knew the end was near, once again like Blackstar, and yet there is never an ounce of fear in his voice. You Want It Darker takes its' title much more literally than most projects and I really respect the transparency whether or not it was intentional as it is a perfect descriptor of this album for both newer and older Leonard Cohen fans. It may not be the most exciting album in the world but it is a very telling experience that I think takes a lot back on the legend's life in a very beautiful way as it practically goes full circle with how he started to how he ended his stellar career. You Want It Darker is essential as it shows talent is not defined by age and even some of the older souls can come back and release some of their best work even in the twilight years of their career.

carino, genere particolare sul cantautorato. apprezzato ma non il mio

That was quite the Leonard Cohen journey! Very unique!

His voice is still there but I couldn't find anything interesting in the music.

I'd had his first 2 albums before, so wasn't thrilled going into this, but was instantly shook by how good that initial title track is. To be fair the rest of the album didn't live up to that, but was still good. His voice sounds great in his 80's.

What a voice.

Those gravelly and finely aged vocals, man…Leonard Cohen’s voice has always been a superstar instrument. Like the superstar Allen Iverson, it dominates the album with so much flair. However, like it was hard to build around AI, I felt like the instrumentation could have done a better job at supporting Cohen’s vocal talents. I liked the strings and the added sense of drama from the orchestral elements, but wanted even more of an emotional backbone from the instrumentation. Faves: On the Level, Treaty

did not finish

Me: Wow the world isn't a great place right now 1001 Albums: Here's a sad brooding album from a guy on his death bed to cheer you up

I liked this better than other Cohen albums. It has more grit to it. I enjoyed the lyrics, and the instrumentals weren't bad either.

i def prefer older leonard cohen, but i still enjoyed it.

The lyrics are great but thats the only redeeming quality because it sounds shit

tranquilo y oscuro, casi gospel, mood chill, algunas muy oscuras, 3 o 4 de 5

Sparse instrumentation really does his voice wonders

Love the songwriting hate the singing. Maybe Mr Cohen should try auto tune

Better by the end of the album, the beginning kinda stank.

Beautiful production, but I don’t know how much time personally I want to spend with a Death Album. I liked ‘Traveling Light’ but couldn’t escape that every track kinda feels like it’s looking to be a True Detective theme song

Decent album.

coolio

With gravelly, spoken-word-like vocals and restrained melodies, You Want It Darker feels like a set of religiously charged reflections from a man at the end of his life.

Very dark and sombre blues tracks - the vocals get grating after a while and I’m not sure when I’d ever be in the mood for this, but I didn’t hate it.

Beautiful album Song I like: Treaty, string reprise/ Treaty

Just not a big Leonard Cohen fan, but I can appreciate the appeal

Very moody and thick

I thought it was a pretty and quite haunting album. It felt like he wanted to get this one last album out before he pegged it.

You want it darkers class, the rest is a bit old man dying samey

I like grufty, but his voice here is often hard to listen to Opening song is great. Id give that a 4.5 the rest of the album gets a 3

Feel the same way about this now as I did when it came out, I just can’t get on board with the vocals. Fair play to the man because he was clearly on his last legs when he recorded this. It’s a well written record as you’d expect. Bang Nick Cave on vocals and you’ve got something I’d return to.

this actually wasn't that bad

does he perchance have ties to the mafia

An emotional album, the voice of the singer is unique and suited for this time of songs 3/5

There’s both darkness and light in this stripped down, signature Leonard Cohen sound. There’s songs that are quite touching, others are quite forgettable. I do get the sense that this (and him in general) could grow on me, as I came to appreciate it more as I got a bit more familiar. But for now it’s a fine listen that I’m not dying (unlike Leonard Cohen) to get more out of.

Hard listening in one go, enjoyed certain tracks would dip into it here and there again

Mieletön artisti mutta itse en kyllä saanut tuosta rohinasta irti niin paljon kuin olisin halunnut.

Groovy Leonard cohen. Not my personal favorite Leonard cohen.

Mwahei

It was alright. Had its moments. Instrumentation was definitely the best part.

Leonard Cohen composes his own funeral album. Not for me, but it's beautiful.

This is a real mood this album, underpinned by that incredible voice of pure gravel. It's deliberate, and it really takes its time, but there's a confidence in that. I particularly like the little interjections of strings or mandolin in places. There's really good acoustics and backing singing as well. But it IS slow and quite heavy and it's not going to be an obvious go-to most days. 3.5 rounded down.

No es el tipo de música que escucharía, pero está buena igualmente

Good

Haunting and beautiful. Not something I could listen to often, but I'm very glad I heard it. 3.5.

It's not bad but peoms poems poems.

Good background vibes - honestly enjoyed way more than I thought I would

Interesting concept. It’s alright but wouldn’t listen to again.

Beautiful late era poems. It's a real late era record - reminds me of those by Tom Waits and Dylan and Morrisey and maybe Johnny Cash. The swagger of the young musician is fading a little, but they're trying to give a destilled version of their magic in an old man voice. His lyrics are as playful as ever. It's not fantastically compelling listening for me, but the songwriting at its core still seems very solid and altogether it's a beautiful thing

This is one of those albums where understanding the context is important: it was recorded days before Cohen's death, and the lyrics and themes reflect that. Cohen was originally an author and he's always penned amongst the most poetic lyrics in popular music. While this is no exception, the accompanying sparse arrangements and gravelly spoken vocals don't do the material justice.

Of the 947 Leonard Cohen albums, on this list of 1,001 David Bowie and Leonard Cohen Albums You Really Don't Need to Listen to Before You Die, this was my favorite Leonard Cohen album. That's because it had one song on it that I thought was good, apart from its performance by Cohen. The title track, I think, is an excellent song, and I wish someone would would have given it a proper performance like Jeff Buckley did with Hallelujah. Billie Eilish? Chris Cornell? Muddy Waters? Anyway, I think there is some other artistic merit to be found elsewhere on the disc, but I just don't like Cohen's vocal style. Musically, this wasn't bad at all. Highest rated Leonard Cohen album so far. No skips, even. ⭐⭐.75 Edit: this did grow on me somewhat throughout, even in spite of his voice and delivery. I'll probably never listen again, but I am actually pleased I got to listen to this today ⭐⭐⭐

Meu deus do céu não estava à espera desta vibe Que graves do caralho até tremo Nem consigo ligar à letra estou só pasmada a ouvir a voz dele “On the level” ai amo o coro Não consigo dizer nada sobre nada neste álbum simplesmente fiquei abesbílica com a voz dele

Perfect for a moody winter walk - esp if you happen to live in Montreal, take a stroll up the mountain or down Crescent by the mural. I always forget how intense and heavy his voice can be.

This was my first experience listening to Leonard Cohen, and I must say, I've never encountered anything like it before. It feels more like poetry set to music. However, the prominent religious themes don't do too much for me, and while the music itself isn't bad, it's something I'd need to be in a very particular mood for to enjoy.

This is my first listen to Leonard Cohen. I enjoyed it, but it is a new sound for me! His voice is the focal point and the context of the album as he is at the end of his life over a good listen.

I good serous listen. It lighthearted bur worth listening to.

Great album!

Vet inte vad jag ska säga, väldigt annorlunda. Stängde inte av men kommer nog inte lyssna självmant

Listened on he toilet

eh

Really really sad. But he’s very talented.

Dark and lovely, perfect for a winter afternoon drive

Beautiful sounding if monotonous. I enjoyed it from start to finish, but kind of wished I was listening to a Tom Waits album. Wanting to listen to someone else is never a great sign for me.

Decent, but I don't know about must-listen.

Fire but not for me

mmmm vond niet alles enjoyable maar wel unieke sound which i appreciate

I use music as the soundtrack to whatever I am doing, rather than sitting down and listening to it deeply (I don't have much time for that) As a result, I don't listen to Leonard Cohen very much. Doing so feels too much like work. I made an exception with this album and listened all the way through (while walking the dog, rather than staring at the album artwork). His talent is legendary, the production is lush and I am glad I heard it. Will it more generally become part of the soundtrack to my life? No, I rather hope not.

For an album made by an older man nearing the end of his life, this album had a surprising amount of power. The voice was direct and sincere, expressing the truth of what it had experienced over the decades. At the same time, there was some weakness to it. Not in delivery, but in how it bore itself to the listener. Maybe weakness is the wrong word; vulnerability probably fits better. Either way, it made for an interesting listening experience. Honestly, I'm not much of a fan of Cohen's style. The deep, slow sing-talking over music never did much for me. Adding in how sparse and bland (to me) the music is here, and there's not much that I find appealing. Somehow, though, I still kinda enjoyed this one. Instead of being boring and overbearing, it was more like being part of a strange conversation. It almost felt educational, but, instead of a critical or disapproving lesson, it just wanted to impart it's own lessons in a matter-of-fact way. I still wouldn't say that I found this one more than fine. I just don't see much relisten-ability for me. The positives I got from it were more about the experience of hearing it for the first time, and I don't think they'd hold up on a relisten. Plus, the style is a bit much, even for a 36 min album. The lack of diversity in the songs really made it grow old by the end. The album had more good than bad, but I still can't say it was much better than OK. I found its best qualities came from the presentation rather than musical or vocal ability. There's enough there to be appreciated while not ignoring the flaws. Overall: 2.7/5

Folk-rock music. Super interesting type of music. Definitely worth listening to again once in a while. 3/5

Weird vibe, but j was kind of in to it. Listening to an entire album was a lotttt though.

Haunting stuff! Title track is amazing.

Sounds good but this is not my favourite kind of music.

Striking in tone and emotional in content, but too one-paced.

Definitely no sunshine and rainbows here. There is a funeral dirge vibe throughout but it feels like more of an awakening than an eternity of cold nothingness.

For some reason autoplay was enabled on my streaming app and Suzanne came on after and it was so much better than anything on this album.

Not my fav I've heard from him, but so so wild that (like Blackstar) he passed so soon after releasing this album... def makes it feel all the eerier and more beautiful

cant explain it and im not trying to give North American jews the brown pass (yr white sorry bro) but cohen became spiritually more oriental in his old age ... cool album and rip to a pretty classic pathetic man (tm)

While this record was probably celebrated a little more in its release year due to his passing, You Want It Darker is a picture of Cohen's consistency. This album offers more of his gravelly spoken singing over themes found throughout his career. The recording and production are restrained and rightly keep the focus on his voice — helping it achieve a more timeless quality as we recede into the darkness.

Unmistakably Leonard Cohen … a great album but doesn’t have the nostalgia of the earlier ones.

Leonard Cohen's great and important, and this album was good, but it wasn't like, OMG.

The lyrics were very deep and meaningful, but since he was pretty old and sick, most of it is just him whisper-talking the words. The folk-y music was a good way to accompany it. The title track and Treaty were the highlights.

Probably my favorite of 3 Cohen albums so far. Title track was baller, the rest was strongly, somewhat boringly decent.

Wow listening to his singing voice is a lot. But the sound and diction make his beautiful lyrics stand front and center. I like the sparse and jazzy instrumentation that set Cohen up.

This is a haunting piece of work. Super deep lyrics here and the tone is well set. Not the best of Cohen's works, but solid. 5/10

Kind of like listening to Dylan's most recent albums. You hear the whole career in each song. Not sure any of these rose to the classic status of earlier work. But I love to remember the moments I discovered Cohen along the way.

Olho pra capa e já imagino algo Johnny Cash dark, veremos. Que isso, to na igreja. Carai, que véio moderno. Voz do Lourenço quando ficar velho. Fiquei curioso, parece um velho que já foi famoso um dia, e agora tá só nas finaleira da carreira musical, só falando ao invés de cantar. Ah, é o cara de Hallelujah, pode crer. A segunda música me lembra o Jack Black fazendo a voz do Robot. É, parece que é isso mesmo, tá velhão e com ideias pra músicas, mostra que ele realmente ama a arte da música. Pra quem acompanhou mais a carreira dele deve dar um feels. Mas gostosinhas de ouvir as músicas, mesmo que sem tanta variação. 3 estrelas pelo esforço e paixão.

Very strange, but I suppose this is probably exactly what you can expect from a Leonard Cohen album in 2016. The production is great, with the strings and backing vocalists and stuff. His voice has obviously been through some strain throughout his life, so he sort of mumble/talks it, kind of like Tom Waits or Nick Cave or something, but I feel like even in the 60s, he didn't outright 'sing'. I feel like elements of this are like the David Bowie Blackstar album, where dead becomes a subject matter, but not in a worrying way, as I think that he'd accepted that his life and career had been good. I think the production not being too overwhelming and letting his voice have space is definitely a good choice, which I think is sometimes what goes wrong with artists making a comeback album with a larger production budget. Favourite songs: pretty much all. Overall around 6/10

3.5/5

I like some of Cohen’s work. This one just didn’t do it for me. 2.5/5 Won’t listen again

Not really my thing, good music but not for me

This was a surprising listen. I know little about Leonard Cohen beyond hallelujah and did not expect primarily spoken word/poetry over music. First listen didn’t like. Second listen it started to catch. By third listen I found myself really enjoying it. Not sure something I’d put on regularly. 3/5

I found this album jarring as a result of the large difference in the quality of Cohen’s lyric writing versus his singing. The words are beautiful, but the album isn’t the greatest listen.

3.4/cool guy

A lot of powerful songs on here, very emotional and vulnerable writing from Cohen. At times the production is a little underwhelming and the repetitive thematic nature of the album does get to be a little much, but overall still an enjoyable listen in the right mindset. 3/5

Send the subject matter and significance, this is a beautiful final album.

Ends up becoming too much of the same thing for me. You Want It Darker is incredible. Fav tracks: You Want It Darker, Treaty Saved a song: Y RYM: N

Not that interesting musically.

I like Leonard Cohen, both his music and his poetry. I remember crying when he died, and this album as a consolation to that time. It really is his final testament, his confrontation with death, his goodbye. There is a depth in Cohen's voice which is both powerful and frail. The spoken word may even be said to be creepy or frightening, like death itself. The lyrics themselves are not quite Cohen's best in my view, but they are concise and on the nose, appropriate for the message of this album. The surrounding string arrangements and choral singers and upright bass add an even dark layer underneath. There isn't anything too weird or unexpected in all of this, but I wouldn't call it cliche, just clear and compact like a masterful songwriter with nothing left to prove.

голос крутой, песни не зацепили.

Una vibra oscura como la noche y fría como agua en la madrugada, pero me cansé después de un ratico

I've always struggled with Leonard Cohen, no exception here. This was, for the most part, pretty good... but it's very sombre and melancholy. I guess that's the point. Interesting, oddly enjoyable, but too drowsy.

MOre spoken word anything anything. It was a solid listen.

"I'm ready my lord" sings Leonard, on an album that was released few weeks before his death. Maybe not the best Cohen album but interesting parting gift to fans by very unique artist.

Mr. Cohen’s got that smooth, dark voice we all know, and it pulled me in for the first five songs. After that, though, it just didn’t quite keep me there — the magic kind of wore off. Still, it’s a solid album with a few really nice moments that remind you why he’s such a legend.

Despite my regular indifference to Leonard Cohen's music, it would be rather insulting for me to indulge my instincts and knock this, considering the circumstances. This album is still quite an admirable achievement. There are some nice arrangements; very spare. Dana Glover's backing vocals on On the Level really elevate that song. I barely registered her and Allison Krauss on Steer Your Way. String Reprise/Treaty is quite the devastating closer. You could do worse.

i feel like i know this guy but im not sure, he reminds me a bit of johnny cash with his voice

Better than the previous Leonard Cohen albums I’ve listened to (I think having a huskier, Tom Waits voice suits his songs more). Still, musically all his songs sounds like the demo buttons on a keyboard and while he’s definitely a great writer, I can’t way I’m swayed by his music. This album does have a closeness and intimacy that raises it above the others for me.

Pretty enjoyable

Want to spend more time with this album listening to his lyrics, but liked the sound and refusal to sing any melody whatsoever.

Not as much of a fan of this album as the last one I heard from him. Overall just too slow for my liking.

Third boring album in a row. While I like Leonard Cohen’s poetic lyrics, the sparse instrumentation on this record just sounded kind of lazy. Certainly not as lazy as KISS’s 1998 snoozefest “Psycho Circus”, but just a step above. I’m sure I’m supposed to “love” this album as a songwriter, but it was only ok.

You Want It Darker or, as I like to call it, The Death Shroud of Leonard Cohen, reminded me of the Kurt Cobain lyric from "Pennyroyal Tea": "Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld / So I can sigh eternally." Apparently, Kurt was a fan of Cohen's music, but also claimed that listening to it made depression worse. I know where Kurt's coming from. Gosh, I hope Kurt Cobain was not listening to Leonard Cohen on April 5, 1994. Another weird Cobain connection that popped into my head is that the title track, "You Want It Darker," reminds me of the Neil Young song "Sleeps With Angels" which was written in response to the suicide of Kurt Cobain. Only, we will have Lou Reed recite the lyrics. There, that is "You Want It Darker." So, great, we have an album strongly evocative of death. It will be on heavy rotation when I feel my time is near.

Cohen is like waits, gotta be in the mood

I love early Cohen, but this album seems like a poem slam performed by dude with a deep and memorable voice Is this interesting to listen to? Sure, some songs. However, this isn't particularly great or interesting music. If I truly went into cold, without loving Cohen's earlier work I would have discounted it entirely.

lite najs idéer, men blev väldigt tråkigt, känns som att meningen är att lyssna på låtar o inte album :( bra låtar, dåligt album

Not bad, just not something I see myself putting on again. The title track is best.

I’m aware of Leonard Cohen but never really took the time to really listen to him. This was what I expected, but better, perhaps because being at the end of his life made it more profound. It’s definitely one of the most haunting albums I’ve had on this list. And that’s fine.

Chillig aber bisschen langweilig

It was interesting but not really my thing

love his voice it gives me a sense of comfort.

I'm not a Leonard Cohen fan, but isn't that bad. It's very contemplative and introspective, performed by a man nearing the end of his life. There is a huge difference in the quality of the music, compared to other Cohen albums I've heard, as he used real musicians. There's a lot of soul in/on this album.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I was going to. Yes, sometimes you could be mistaken that you have put on an audiobook at times but there are a few gems locked away on here, steer your way and on the level to name two. After listening to 3 of his albums now as part of this process I might be becoming a little bit of a fan. My journey will continue….

His voice has dropped several octaves over the years! This album is soporific in the best way.

Un monument, une grande voix. J'ai bien aimé les instru aussi avec les violons souvent notamment de Steer your way par exemple. J'écouterais pas tous les jours mais c'était vraiment sympa. Un peu une vibe après-midi d'automne sous plaid pour moi

J’adore, c’est beau mais c’est obscur… ça fait très musique de cimetière américain, fin de film

A man who sounded 80 as a 20 year old, as an 80 year old

I was ready to like this but I found that it was just ok. Cohen's voice in his old age is fantastic, but only a few songs really stuck out on this record and the rest kind of flew past me. Will probably give it another listen later. 3/5

Pretty good album, but also a lot of it sounds like itself. There were a few standout songs but overall not a lot here to keep me that engaged. 3/5

Dark, dreamy

His last album. Mellow, sombre rock delivered with stunning gravely voice. Very slow.

Very chill. I could have used some more singing and less song talk. But, it was still decently enjoyable. 6.5/10

3. I liked it a lot, but only got one play through. Need more time.

You have to be in a certain place to receive this music, and I don't necessarily think I was quite there. Leonard Cohen's voice has always not quite appealed to me either. However, the situation, the poetic reflection on everything is quite a marvel. The choir accompanying points often add a pleasant lift.

Prefer the modern sound of these tracks. Damn impressive to have this voice and ability at 87. A feel of Johnny Cash meets Tim Waites. Some great lyrics and poetry. Deep souls and feel in each song. If anything, a bit similar throughout. Quite a lot of religious imagery and a fitting march to end of life, topped off by the string reprise to finish. Listening through a second time now and lands even better and has an extra eerie-ness given how end of life this was (3.5)

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. It’s interesting that the music is far down in the mix so the focus is on his voice. The writing is great but I don’t know that I’d throw this on just for fun.

At first I thought it was boring but the lyrics are just so darn good.

Cover 7 Perfect for sad nights alone.

This album was haunting and at times boring. I loved the lyrics that I tuned in to, but for most of the album i was just thinking about how this man died two weeks later.... and he sounds like it.

More like, You Want It Growly! Is there a filter that I can use to make my voice sound like this?

Not a bad album even if his voice sounds like a car driving slowly along a gravel parking lot.

5/10

Enjoyed the listen but very depressing listen. Not sure this ranks up there for an album I must listen to before I die though.

Donnez du miel et du Lisopaïne à cet homme

Good

In all other aspects this album is pretty boring, but that voice does do something Leonard Brohen

Leonard is an enchanting writer; his songs capture the deepest feeling in the smallest detail - they are universal in the most specific way. D’you know what I mean? I just wish I didn’t have the feeling that when he sings, he’s almost parodying himself. I do not like his singing. I’m sorry. Covers of his tracks are almost always better. So be it. Daniel Day-Lewis can’t rig the lights for his movies. As far as I know.

3/5

Bon album mais sans le contexte de son enregistrement il n'est pas si intéressant que ça.

It’s like if your cool grandpa made an album

The penatultimate album about getting an amicable divorce

Quite a different style to the usual. Moody, gruff, spiritual and poetic in style. I actually found it quite chilled and engaging. Not sure it would go into regular rotation but it was a nice way to pass some time. Ultimately the moody slow chatter only has so many dimensions and not enough overall for me and some elements follow a very simple pattern. Thankfully other elements do inject interest so overall its a decent package.

It's dark and moody and Oozes atmosphere and cool. The lyricism is brilliant and I like the stripped-back production style. I do find Cohen's voice, or more specifically his singing style, is the main barrier to my full enjoyment of the album. I think the songs are brilliant and I get that its a stylistic choice, but I often wish they were being delivered by a more melodic voice. Cool album and an interesting swan song from a great songwriter, but not one that will find its way onto my regular playlist, despite finding it strangely compelling.

Dark vibes, great lyrics

Very consistent from Cohen, not as stand out as I’m Your Man, but still quite good

lijepo je ovo baš

I’m always wary of late albums from classic artists, particularly when it’s a “final album”. Invariably, what I’ve enjoyed of them before obscures the album and leaves me wanting what they had. While I’m not as familiar with a lot of Cohen’s work, I’m left with both an appreciation for the creativity he had in his final days and the same feeling of wanting something else. Having experienced a loss of a loved one recently, the songs here are poignant, and the stripped-back production fits Cohen’s vocal restraint really well, but after a few songs it unfortunately mushes together. This is a nice love letter to fans and admirers of an artist, meditating on his own mortality, and thats valuable, but ultimately a little unedifying.

Highlight Song/s: On the Level and Traveling Light I thought this was going to be your run-of-the-mill folk music, but no it isn't. I only have one big issue with this album is that I'm quite put off by his really deep voice. Like really put off by it, which makes the album difficult to get into.

His voice surprised me with every new track.

Depressing, but I liked it more than I thought I would. Good for a rainy day

Allt Cohen rör vid är ju fantastiskt. Denna platta är kanske något svagare men han behöver definitivt inte skämmas för denna.

Waiting for the day I fully get Leonard, think it might happen with age

Liked it more than I expected to

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.

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.

Pas ma cam Belle voix grave et profonde

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!

Tumma ääni ja heleää soitantaa

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!

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.

Done

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

algunas lyrics son raras pero está ok

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Some Great Songs,

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.

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

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 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.

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.

Solid instrumentals. Interesting lyrics. Slightly unbearable moaning.

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.

Letztes Album von Cohen bevor er starb

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

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

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

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.

it was good

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

Great start. Rest also pretty good. 3.5 stars

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Pretty good, high 3 stars. The lyrics were good

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!

C'est bon mais aussi un peu pénible.

Hmmm. His voice isn't quite the behemoth it was by this point, although perhaps that adds to the charm of an album about death released days before he died. But it meant there weren't really tunes in the same way as his earlier stuff. I really like the title track, but the rest didn't capture me this time.

peaceful, somber, and interesting

I don’t hate it, it’s just not my thing. It’s so dark and grim, what a voice and what lyrics, but just not enjoyable. That said it gets a 3 for being objectively well made. Sorry Leo