Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Nice tunes, can’t really get into his vocals/singing style. Some really nice guitar parts and pedals/effects. Not an album I would relisten to much, if at all.
A dying man has found god, and looking back on his life, he wishes he had found the peace that brought him sooner. It was definitely a lot of god for a Friday morning listen. It's hard to review this album. The opening bass line was great, some of the songs are definitely quite haunting. Leonard's voice is the same gravelly tone through-out, but then it's essentially poetry set to music. :star::star: Maybe I'll feel different when I'm in my 80s and know that I'll die soon
This is just not for me.
It made my skin crawl
That voice is too deep for me and I actually thought I was listening to a creepy murderer when that first song started
Starkes teil
Old Leonard doesn’t sing as well as younger Leonard, but it’s the same style and good poetry. I enjoyed the songs with backing vocalists more. A solid three out of five stars.
I like Leonard Cohen; he's a lyrics-first guy with a distinctive voice. And this album is so sad, which is why I never listened to it ('til now). Still good though.
This might be the best of him which is insane considering his insane carreer length. This might even be a 5 star one, but I’m gonna go with a hiiiigh 4
Not bad
Incomprehensibly depressing. Wish I could give it a three for the poetry, but I just can't do it. Ugh...2
No, it's not a masterpiece. These are the ramblings of a sad, angry with God, lost and bitter 80 year old.
I wasn’t able to finish it but I liked where it was going
I've a lot of time for early Leonard Cohen. Songs like Chelsea Hotel and Bird on a Wire are great. However, at some point in the early 80s, all his songs started to remind me of Chris Rea. I like an egg in my bath as much as the next man but, musically, this isn't a good thing. The album is fine, nothing more.
Love me a bit of Cohen :)
Not the greatest from Cohen the Bardbarian but still pretty decent.
I'm typically not that into Cohen albums, though I always love his lyrics, but I really liked this one. Everything about this album feels expertly done and effortless. I also love how much he sounds like Tom Waits on this album. This is very close to a 5.
12/16/24. Wow, really great album. And I didn't know this was Cohen's last while alive. Nicely contained but emotional at the same time, and lovely instrumentals. One of my favorites recently.
First time listen! It's so jarring listening to the title track of this album for the first time and immediately realizing that this is not the same Leonard Cohen I know from the 60s/70s. This Cohen has a much raspier, haunting voice. However, one thing that hadn't changed was Cohen's songwriting ability. Such a beautiful album, I'm glad I was given an excuse to listen to it. Favorite track(s): You Want it Darker + Steer Your Way
J’appréhendais l’écoute depuis maintenant un mois et demi, mais j’ai surprenament aimé la voix ultra basse et rauque de Leonard, et c’est triste, oui, mais genre Johnny Cash Hurt triste, tsé genre.
Eerie, gorgeous background strings and soft vocals. Cohen dramatically speak-sings the majority of this album and that approach lends itself perfectly to the album's title. I didn't realize it but I DO want it darker, at least for this listening experience. I want to curl into a fleece-ensconced ball and listen to this again on decent headphones.
Great. Listen again
More dark please sir. His gravelly voice is perfect for the reflective end of life musings. The backing is perhaps a little bit ripe at times but generally hits the sentimentality sweet spot. A high 4. (I think I have given a few silly 5's recently so holding back a little).
enjoyed it more than I thought I would. pure class
6.5/10 Look, I know this is a difficult one to be mixed or negative on. It’s the last album of a dying man, about death, recorded in the run up to his death. But it is like some of the Johnny Cash stuff: an amazing concept, well executed musically, well-intentioned, well-written. But the voice, unfortunately, could t fully keep up. I did enjoy it, but a whole album of growling didn’t work for me. Best: You want it darker
Perfect poetry.
Melancholic and dark (no shit). Cohen's voice is as powerful as always, and I enjoyed this album even though I probably won't revisit it in the future.
FIRST BOB NOW THIS???? i just can't stop winning!! one of the best albums ever and a personal favorite OBVIOUSLY
Very situational album written by an interesting individual near the end of their life. Vocals sound raspy and dull through years of smoking and the whole album is musically rather uninteresting.
this was great
In 2016, an in influential music legend with a career spanning 6 decades recorded a dark, brooding lament on his own mortality. He released it shortly before passing to great sorrow. Everyone was shocked. Grief poured in from all across the world, with many declaring the latest album to be one of his greatest ever and a fitting tribute to an incredible career. If I had a nickel for every time that happened, I'd have two nickels... which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. Right?
an impeccable late career masterpiece
Day337 - i think one leonard cohen album was enough
Shows to me that music doesn't have to be spectacularly energetic or heavily produced to be good. The last testament of a world-class poet.
Oddly entertaining, incredible voice.
Ganz schön dunkel.
Great song writer, but his songs are best to be sung by covers. 2.2
Big fan of Leonard
It was alright
I just don’t understand the appeal? Poetry I get. Putting it to simple musical arrangements doesn’t make this anything special. But if you don’t like his poetry, then you really won’t like his music. That’s me.
Just not my cup of tea. His voice is beautiful but just do not enjoy his style of music
This generator has a sick sense of humor. The last album I got was Songs of Leonard Cohen, the debut for Leonard Cohen, and I stated in the review for that I was interested in hearing Cohen’s other work. Then the next album I get, it his fucking swan song, complete with him singing with the last remnants of life he had left. Life’s got a sick sense of humor. Honestly, this was haunting and I have to make the inevitable comparison to Blackstar, David Bowie’s last album before his death too. In the same year. They’re both haunting reflections from artists who are more than aware that they are living their final days (though it’s more obvious in Leonard than David. Not that I would want to compare the pain these two felt. I’m not a psychopath). However, Blackstar feels like Bowie giving the masses one more round of himself before Ziggy returned to his home planet. Leonard here is just ripping the band-aid, as his gravelly vocals, ripened with his age, as he seems to be having a passionate one-on-one with God. I’m still not 100% certain I’m the type who might be into Leonard Cohen. As I mentioned in Songs of Leonard Cohen, he comes off to me as more of a poet than a singer. I think his songwriting is great, but I can’t get into his songs as a whole, mostly due to his voice. However, right from the first track, I saw that problem is greatly reduced here. His vocals here add to the mystic of the album. An aging man talking to the deity he followed his whole life, and is preparing himself to meet him, while giving his parting message to his listeners. There is a lot of memorable lyrics that stuck with me, but my favorite has to been the refrain for Steer Your Heart: “Year by Year, Month by Month, Day by Day, Thought by Thought”. Make of life as much as you can. You only have less of it as you go along. Favorite track: You Want It Darker Other Hits: Steer Your Heart, Treaty, If I Didn’t Have Your Love
I dig a lot of what Leonard Cohen has done over his storied career but I'm not sure I'd include any single album of his in the Top 1001. He's a great songwriter but his delivery is slow and deep and is a lot to handle for 40 mins straight. I'd say this was included based on his lyrical poetry and songwriting more than than the overall album. I enjoyed it all, he's great to listen to and oddly calming even when the subject matter is anything but. Slow and mellow, maybe too much so. Great background music and compelling enough that you want to listen to his stories but not Top 1001 worthy.
Self explanatory. Been a favourite for years
Objektivt et bra album selvfølgelig, men ikke for meg. Jeg tror heller ikke Cohen lagde det for meg (gutt 22 år) heller og det går bra. Lav replay verdi, men hvem vet - gi det noen år.. 4 av 10 og én kaffe baileys fra meg Første låta, exit sangen, definitivt høydepunkt
Veldig solid album. Mye mørkere enn hans første klassikere, passer fint sammen med hvordan stemmen hans også utviklet seg. You want it darker er jo en klassiker, likte også veldig godt Traveling. Albumet kan føles litt monotont og ensformig til tider, men strykerne hjelper veldig når de kommer inn på noen av sangene. Ingen skips, men jeg liker nok hans to første bedre.
Never really liked Leonard Cohen and this album didn't change anything While there are definitely good lyrics, the music just doesn't do it for me 4/10
Drungalegt og real. Ógeðslega flott plata og góð í -10 gráðum í Reykjavíkurskammdeginu.
Fínasta plata hjá Cohen, dimmrödduð. drungaleg og dauðinn í vændum.
Voix grave rocailleuse, à la limite de la capacité de chanter. On est vraiment sur une voix de fin de carrière, avec tous ses excès et sa calamine de tabac et d’alcool le long des cordes vocales. C’est certainement ça que Renaud entend dans sa tête quand il essaie de chanter. Là ça a quand même de la classe, même si le bonhomme était déjà monotone avant alors là qu’il ne maîtrise plus qu’un demi octave, c’est encore plus compliqué. Reste quelque chose de très mystique, de très envoutant et crépusculaire. “You wanted it darker”, “Treaty”, “Leaving the table”. Je suis longtemps resté à 3, mais là je mets un 4 préventif.
Music not bad but the vocals sounds like what I imagine Frankenstein's singing voice would be.
Every song sounding the same had me looking forward to the ad breaks. Made me think of Johnny Cash “The Man Comes Around” but pales in comparison in every metric. That album I have listened to over and over, this one I struggled through the whole thing. Give it a miss.
Bella la song title. Comunque la voce è sia la cosa migliore, che la cosa peggiore di questo album. C'è che è tipo il suo testamento, uscito 17 giorni prima di morire, il che lo rende subito più di impatto.
7/10
This was a dark album, but really good. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
This album feels like a fitting requiem for Leonard Cohens career. It gives me a similar feeling to ‘Blackstar’ by David Bowie. Although it’s not my favourite Leonard Cohen album, after this listen it will definitely be one that I return to more in future.
I can't stand his voice. It makes me actively uncomfortable
I really think if this album had been released by a hitherto unknown singer, instead of Leonard Cohen at the end of his life, it would be forgotten to history. It's just an old man mumbling over generic bluesy instrumentation. I don't find the lyrics moving, and I think Cohen's voice was much nicer when he was young
I want it over
was solid, but did not enjoy
It’s a lovely album with a lot of singing that feels like spoken word. It’s interesting and feels intimate. I was surprised to like it.
sorry, maaaaaan
Awful dirge
Pretty doll, at least it was also pretty short
I haven’t looked at the reviews yet, but I already know there’s going to be more than a few who trash this album. Cohen has always been polarizing like that. I can’t remember where I heard it, but I remember a conversation about Leonard Cohen where someone was basically saying that Leonard Cohen was one of those artists that they never “got” when they were young. Then, at some point, they were finally at a point in their life where they were ready to receive and appreciate what he was doing, and it just “clicked”. That was the case for me. And it was this album, probably surprisingly for some, that made it click for me. I had always been aware of Leonard Cohen as “that guy with the deep voice that makes weird music. You know…the Hallelujah guy.” But I never really thought much of him until I heard this album. I was going through kind of a dark time in my life (as was the country) when this album came out, and these songs just rocked me. I was so touched by the delicate display of emotion throughout, while still maintaining a strong masculinity. The tongue-in-cheek (but maybe not completely tongue-in-cheek) biblical and religious references also really resonated with me as someone who was raised staunchly religious but has since turned away from that (with all the deep-seeded trauma and guilt that comes with a decision like that). I still count (the song) You Want it Darker as one of my all time favorites. Hearing Leonard come to terms with his life, and the fact that it was quickly coming to an end, is such an intimate and haunting thing for him to have shared with us. And I’m so grateful for it. It might be one of the most brutal and powerful expressions of surrender I’ve ever heard recorded in a song. It still gives me chills. “Hineni, Hineni. I’m ready, my lord.” What an artistic powerhouse we lost just weeks after this album was released. Wherever Leonard is now, I hope he’s found his peace. ❤️ — 5/5 Highlights: You Want It Darker Treaty On the Level Leaving the Table String Reprise / Treaty
Cohen's best work. Supremely atmospheric, gorgeous, and hits like a sledgehammer. The only Cohen album to truly take my breath away.
Interesting but not my style
not my cup of tea
🥱
This really knocked me sideways on first listen. What an album. The songcraft and poetry is stunning and he delivers it in such an authentic way. Nobody has a voice like him. That's not to say it's my favourite voice and I certainly couldn't listen to this on any old day, but objectively I can only have huge respect for him. On second listen, I dug a little deeper and found out that he literally made it on his deathbed. He's staring death in the face and going, 'yeah I need to make a record out of this.' Which is both defiant and heartbreaking. I've consistently found Cohen's albums incredibly solid on this challenge and while I don't feel drawn to go out and buy this one, in the right mood I will definitely return to it.
4.5 stars Embarrassingly, I think I have only heard other people cover Cohen's songs so I was not prepared for the gravel in his voice. After a few songs it got to be a bit much for me but the lyrics and instrumentation were so beautiful.
Influential. Beautiful. No notes.
4.0
I wasn't sure I was in the mood for this, but the first two tracks are awesome, by the time On the Level played I was hooked for the ride. This album just felt so personal, and to reveal itself to me at this particular time in my life is very serendipitous!
Some really solid swan song stuff here. The lyrics are consistently pretty good, he can barely sing anymore, but the talk sing works, well produced, hopefully serves as an f u to all the chuckleheads who are bothered by his singing on earlier records.
🎧 Melancholy and brooding but somehow life affirming too. A beautiful farewell from a deeply spiritual artist.
a great late career record very introspective
I enjoyed the album. You want it darker was probably the best song in my opinion. But it seemed limited to where you would only want to listen to this in a very particular time and I can't even think of what that time is. I do however want to listen to more Leonard Cohen as I know he's super talented.
So gravelly.
I loved it. I do want it darker.
This was interesting and unique. I liked the relaxed peaceful feel. The strings were good too. 3.5/5
This was a really cool yet haunting listen. And with his vocals mixed up front and center it made it all the more vivid, almost as if he’s sitting right beside you. A lot of similarities in tone and feel with Nick Cave, but the minimalistic arrangements made this even more stark. Will probably re-visit a lot more of his material.
So good. The vocal production is amazing and the restraint shown throughout makes this such a cool listen. Cohen straddles the line between songwriter and poet so well that this makes you want to relisten to make sure you didn’t miss something.
Very unique sound and haunting album. This grew on me and I particularly like the guitar work on songs like Leaving the Table. While fairly simple I thought solo was awesome. Rounding up for that. 3.75
Hard not to see this as a companion to Cash’s American IV even though it came 14 years before You Want it Darker. Overall vibe and lyrics tick this up to a 4* to me even if it’s a bit monotone for my liking. 3.75/5
Artiste inconnu. Assez minimaliste, pas beaucoup d’intérêt pour moi. Arrêt au 5eme morceau. =>1/5
LP
Bashung like low voice
Mixed bag on this one. I realize the surrounding nature of the album recording and how legendary he remains as an artist, but I can't see myself revisiting this much. Some genuinely good moments sprinkled throughout.
the last album by leonard cohen released before his death. dark but introspective album dealing with themes such as mortality, spirituality, and relationships… all deliver in cohen’s mostly spoken word style. his grizzled, aged vocals add to the authenticity of the words. an intense journey. highlights: “you want it darker” “if i didn’t have your love” “it seemed the better way”
My first Leonard Cohen album. I like those vocals but thought that they would eventually get old and I’d turn it off. But they didn’t and didn’t.
Good album but not his very best work. I liked some songs like the opening track. Great and powerful voice that really shows his age.
Boring and depressing
á oft erfitt með lénharð fógeta. en þetta er þrusugóð plata sem á skilið annað og meira.
Old guy, dark music, meh
Did not expect this to hit so hard.
I miss Leonard Cohen
The perfect title as the election results are rolling in and the Electoral College makes its voice heard. Leonard is older now, and his voice is deeper, but it's still there. I can't say I love this one any more or less than his others because his music usually falls second to his voice. So distinct.
Leonard's last stand. I heard this in 2016, knowing next to nothing about this guy and really dug it, especially the title track. Hearing it now, after all of his other albums we've had (and after the grim election day), it hits even harder. Great album from, frankly, one of my favorite artists making music in this vein. I prefer him to guys like Nick Cave and Tom Waits. Favorite tracks: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed Better That Way, String Reprise/Treaty. Album art: Really cool, the aged, smoking star hanging his arm through a window or portal of some kind. The effect is that of a portrait hanging on the wall in a black void of a room, except the subject is just hanging out, literally. It's cool. 4/5
2 Very monotone, reminds me of musical numbers that set up or explain theme/plot
Pas mon style, désolé l'ancien !
I like some Leonard Cohen, but not this. The album as a whole is just too morose
музыка для похорон или поминок
Sorry Leonard, you're just not for me.
So mellow. It is reminiscing of The National, which I love. It was a really solid album
super. melancholy and honest and smooth.
- 0/9 songs added to main playlist - Probably not the best place to start with such a legendary artist - Album about facing own mortality and came out before 1 month before his death. I will be less harsh - Beautiful in theme, I just don’t love the sound of it - Favorite song: Leaving the Table / String Reprise/Treaty
I was not expecting You Want It Darker to be this good. It seems pretty different from the last Leonard Cohen album i did way back (Songs Of Love And Hate if you don't know) and i do think that this one is better. The music could have either a really cool mysterious vibe or could be so beautiful that it could nearly move me to tears. Leonard's voice was also really great here and the lyrics were really well done too. It goes to show that even at 82, Leonard Cohen is still more than capable of making a really great album though sadly just one month before his death. Best Song: It Seemed the Better Way Worst Song: Leaving the Table Side note: Knowing that this was Leonard Cohen's last album before his death honestly makes the last song much sadder as it is more or less a send off from Cohen even though one more album came out after his death.
Great lyrics and tunes, but the voice is terrible.
GOOD ASF
There's something in his voice I don't like
This might be my favorite Cohen album. Released shortly before his passing, this record beautifully captures what made his 'Songs For Love and Hate' so powerful to me, its subtle beauty. Say for maybe the choir-backed opening and 'Travelling Light', all the music here is subdued, sparse, and minimalistic (even by Cohen's standards), allowing for Cohen's voice to shine through like on no other album he's ever recorded. Lyrically speaking, themes of religion and love are dominant, and while I failed to catch it all, I had the internet to help guide me on some of these meanings. 'It Seemed the Better Way' stuck out to me as a particularly striking track as Leonard writes about his past relationship with a zen master, who years later would be accused of sexual misconduct. The opening title track has Cohen talking to god directly in a sort of confrontational matter. The song 'Treat' may be my favorite Cohen song - melodically and instrumentally it's utterly gorgeous with Cohen yearning for some sort of satisfying resolution to a waning relationship. I think I can get frustrated when I'm thrown a set of lyrics, and poems that I'm unable to fully "get" upon first listen - I felt that with this album about three tracks in. For my own sake though, I decided to stop caring so much about catching every little detail, and I ended up enjoying this thing much more. I still tacked on my interpretations to many of these songs, but I wasn't so much concerned with understanding Cohen's intent for writing every single line, rather I decided to just enjoy the writing, metaphors, singing, and flow of the songs at face value. Maybe I'll deep dive into this thing's core thematic elements more in the future, but as of today, my enjoyment of this album came from just how at peace it made me feel.
Interesting type of music, almost spoken word type stuff in parts but hard to rate it too highly, it all has a similar sound after a while
I know that he is legendary and all but his music is just not for me. It's more like spoken poetry or something like that. I'm not sorry that I listened to it but I probably won't put it on again.
In general I am all for a concept that is done to perfection. Except that in this case, the end result is rather boring and even a little irritating at times, despite a few excellent songs.. (Presumably, this record was chosen over one of several LC classics that are missing in this list, as it is the final LC album...)
Initially I was taken aback by Cohen's extremely weathered voice, but after a few spins another beautiful, final, album emerges.
LC in his late days: beautiful as ever.
I love the composition and when he actually sang a little.
Light 3.5. Cool & moody.
Something different for 35 mins
Getting this and Bowie's Blackstar in the same year was both incredibly special and (obviously) incredibly sad. I adore this album. No filler (unlike some of his other albums). Hey, that's the way to say goodbye.
I do indeed
I thought the album was interesting. I I know he had voice issues and he couldn't sing anymore. I enjoyed the music and the lyrics. I did think I missed singing though
What if Blackstar was even more depressing? Leonard Cohen already sounded 80 years old at 30 years old, so I can't even properly describe how this man's voice sounds at 80 years old. Gravelly and haunting. Very good one.
I think I get it. This guy is the cool, sub-baritone, white Barry White noir film unreliable narrator type. I have to admit all of the writing and production are classy and alluring and there's nothing I can disparage, so I offer an average rating.
A great final album from him. His voice fits perfectly for the mood and lyrics throughout.
Splendid! It is the second Leonard Cohen album that I have listened to through this site. Both from different eras (1967 and 2016) and it is clear that even though there are so many years of difference from one to the other, this introspective vibe that is brought out in the sound and especially in his voice, has not dissipated, quite the opposite. Speaking of his voice, in this 2016 album, it is much darker (as the name of the album suggests) a style that apparently was adopted by Leonard throughout his career and that manages to convey unique emotions to the lyrics of the songs in such a way which makes me think that no one else could be singing these songs but himself. I will repeat, splendid!
Hur djup är din depression? Den är på nivå Leonard Cohen. Ok, megadeprimerad. Man hör på rösten att han är döende men det är ändå så otroligt bra. Tack för musiken.
Det är bra. Stämningsfullt. Leo har ju en väldigt distinkt röst. För det mesta bra. Men det är lite som mörk choklad, det blir för mycket i munnen om man bara äter det. Men som sagt, det är mest bra.
Leonard är en gammal favorit men jag har inte lyssnat på honom på väldigt länge. Det ångrar jag nu för fan vad fin och stämningsfull den här skivan var (om än deppig).
Leonard Cohen's last album before he died. This is actually the first of his works that i have heard in completion and I thouroughly enjoyed it. Standout Tracks: You Want It Darker, Treaty, Travelling Light and It Seemed the Better Way.
Emotional music. Didn't really give it full attention, but it still grips you.
its ok and sure the voice is cool but it comes off as gimmicky and a bit creepy. I also think I just really hate talk singing 2.5
no me gusta el asmr perri
I mean....its an album and its a popular one just not my cup of tea with the cadence and vocals.
Don't love the deep/smoky voice. Much prefer the Leonard Cohen of the 60's that could actually sing. This album comes off more as spoken poetry. Fav Track: Treaty
There's a certain tension in the music that is lacking from his other records on the list. It's still mumbling, but his timing is not as awkward. I don't hate this as much as his other albums on the list. I don't like it very much either. Favorite song: it seemed the better way
Granted I was in an irritated mood when I listened to this, but I thought it was pretty good! I probably owe it another listen when I’m feeling calmer and not stuck in unnecessary traffic.
You sort of know what to expect with Leonard Cohen. Breathy, spoke vocals, and lyrics om morality and religion. Well, this delivers...and obviously, darker. Close to death, they're sparser than usual, and nothing really suitable for that summer barbecue event you're planning. (That said, there is a Paul Kalkbrenner Remix if you fancy a dancier-Cohen !) Very good album.
I hate talking instead of singin
Pretty boring but still beautiful at times. probably give it 2.5 stars
Very weird
Quite different but not for me.
So will I be listening to this a lot? Probably not. Is it better than I expected? Yes. It's sort of like the anti Blackstar. I was torn between a 3 & 4 because it is good but like, I'm not going to listen frequently. I'll rate it the same as Blackstar.
A bit too dark and slow for me.
I don't usually like spoken word but this wasn't as bad.
po začátku vše splývá do sebe
4/10
I’m glad Leonard Cohen has released so many albums that fans of his are able to enjoy. But there are way too many of his albums on this list. Not for me.
Maybe the best of the Leonard Cohen albums, maybe just shy of the last one. I will say it seems he is not necessarily for me, it seems. Good enough but didn’t really grab me.
Dang! When this came up, I rolled my eyes and was not excited. We just listened to an album by Cohen and I gave that one a 4. This album started out a five for me. His aged voice, I think, is where I was taken aback. I still stand by the first few songs being five stars. The rest of the album settled in to his Cohen-ness. I get the myth behind this and Bowie’s Darkstar. Two old legends releasing an album about death and then immediately dying. This one is better.
WARNING! Do not listen to this if you are contemplating suicide. My god! But this is a maudlin album, but my god! did I enjoy listening to it. Perhaps that says something about my current state of mind. I may reach out for it again one day, but I won't add it to my Tidal library. Another album that I expected to hate, but that will get four stars from me, at least today.
I really got a lot out of this record. It's a record made by a man who's dying and who knows he's dying. If most of the songs were as strong as the title track or Traveling Light were it'd get a 5, but I still got a lot out of the few tracks that really spoke to me. It's very heavy, ambient and atmospheric. Leonard Cohen's voice sounds like pure gravel, Tom Waits on steroids. It's a shame it came from being in a lot of pain and being very close to death but it's a very, very beautiful last work to leave this world with.
Deep voice
I find Leonard Cohen much more interesting in theory than in practice. He was a much more interesting writer than musician.
Nicht mein Fall
No I dont
Grabar un disco a los 82 años, ya enfermo y que sea tan bueno está al alcance de muy pocos. Con la voz encogida por el paso del tiempo y la enfermedad, Cohen nos regaló aquí un disco introspectivo en el que repasa sentimientos de toda una vida. La canción que da título al álbum es toda una confesión de sus dudas acerca de la religión, pero también un anhelante ruego de que haya algo más allá. Y todo porque en canciones como "Leaving the Table" intuye que el final del camino se acerca. Todas las canciones son una rendición de cuentas con su pasado mirando de reojo el más allá. Emocionante.
I liked this. His voice is similar to Mark Lanegan and matched the mood of the songs. It could’ve done with kicking on a bit but well worth a listen.
Not my style at all
NOMOL Cohen! de afang isch jo hert geil sini stimm isch soo chratzig und tüüf und de chor tschuuuttet. finds reeecht geil. treaty isch wieder seehr viel chrizzo symbolik? aber isch huere schön, mega minimali begleitig mitem dämpfte klavier. finds hammer er weiss wa daser no chan singe. on the level het e gitarre!! und es isch en mega schöne song mega groovy und baut uuf und sehr geil und a. leaving the table? divorce song? schööö mit pedal steel und so. ha immer s gfühl de cohen isch nöd en musiker sondern en künstler wo musig macht. aso da stimmt au, er isch au moler und autor und so. aber er chunt irgendwie andersch a musig ane als lüt wo "nur" musig mached. if i didn't have your love au meega schön de gitarrepart isch suuuper nochdem er de titel singt. bim zweite mol uiii no schööner UND EN EXTREM TAKTISCHE 4MOLL boah ich ha gad e suuuper ziit. travelling light hani schomol ghört entweder da isch sochli de hit gsi oder en film? lieb wiener au revoir seit. bi allne text hani s gfühl de text seit breakup de subtext seit tod. mösts gnauer aluege it seemed the better way isch au wieder ultra dark und unheimlich aber mega schön. au mitem monophon choral-mässige wos afangt demit machts irgendwie so mittelalter-retro und glichzitig mega modern. finds hammer. booooh de schluss isch etz herzzerrissend gsi fuck isch das schön. sicher sicher es vieri
du willst es dünkler, TEUFE STIMME s albumcover isch sehrsehr cool und d baseline insano IM READY MY LORD treaty isch chli typischer cohen hani s gfühl es lied mit perkussion??? backgroundvocals supi LEAVING THR TABLE NEI LEONARD poah huere schöni giti ouh scho fertig lol ja es isch nöd mega typisch (junge) cohen aber huere schön und ih sich kohärent und en schöne abschluss
A cool smooth trip through some great songwriting- we do indeed want it darker
Welp. It’s not cheery that’s for sure. I wasn’t in the right mood when I started listening, I’m not particularly a fan of his speaking/singing style, so I started writing a scathing review. Then at track five I started getting more interested. By the end of the album I was “in it”, fully immersed into the project, and had to start over and listen again. I’m old, this album is an old man making sense of his life in a religious framework. I wonder how much young people will appreciate this one. It’s a dark vibe. But yeah, well done in the end Mr. Cohen, well done.
can't finish it. very sophisticated and well crafted lyrics and music, but hearing the same growling, low vocal of cohen for more than 10 minutes bored me to death
Not a fan of the borderline spoken word strats, but the backing music was relaxing
Much better than anticipated after hearing the first song. The man is pure gravel
Parts of this I enjoyed and it was an interesting bookend to a life and career but not really for me generally
This album was really boring lol, didn’t particularly enjoy but I see the merit for the lyrics to jack off to
Gravelly spoken word poetry of a dying man. Interesting but not musically enjoyable. Sabrina Carpenter hates the lyrics.
8/10 Singer Songwriter
Great writer, I just can’t adapt to his “singing”
Well, it's darker. Funereal. Cohen was a brilliant lyricist with an interesting voice. This is the last studio album made before he sadly passed. Not his best, I don't think.
It's Leonard freaking Cohen. Nuff' said.
Leonard Cohen’s ability to fuse vivid poetry and moody music is unmatched. This recording and mix puts Leonard right in front of you, making every word shake your soul to its core. The music is subtle yet vital for conveying the emotion contained in Leonard’s poetic declarations. Very little to no reverbs or delays give this warm mix even more of a “classic analog” feel and wraps around you like a heavy blanket. All the musicians sound incredible, the background choir is a highlight for me other than Leonard’s haunting age-worn voice and storytelling. I didn’t give this one a focused listen when it was released so I’m glad this project gave me another opportunity to experience it.
What a snoozefest! It really isn't for me. If I were on heroin, maybe. There is pain in his voice, much like Johnny Cash in the end. He's a great lyricist, but I can't get into this album, or his vocals.
A 2016 release from Leonard Cohen, self-proclaiming this album to be even darker? My curiosity is piqued. Damn, the first impression of the first track is akin to Vincent Price's monologue in "Thriller." There is a haunting graveyard zombie-ness, and just in time for a Halloween playlist! The earlier trappings of bad 80's drum programming on Cohen's previous works are no longer apparent and dated on this release. "Treaty" is a reverance to God, though remaining agnostic; a wanting and willingness to believe in something bigger but feeling the lack of any love in return. Reminiscent to Bill Fay, but where Fay chooses to believe by finding hidden glimpses of the divine truth in the world around. In "On the Level", Cohen sings "I turned my back on the Devil; turned my back on the angel too." I keep hearing themes of "leaving the game", being "broken", and a failure to "heal", along with uncertainty about the existence of a God, but a reluctance to rule out the possibly as well. Ending the album with a beatuiful string version of a "Treaty" reprise is a perfect way to restate and summarize the album's theme, giving proper closure to the album. My complaint of '80's Cohen has been being overly reliant on the synthesized and fake sounds. On You Want It Darker, the production uses a better music library and properly mixes in real instrumentation and choirs as well. I am happy he saw the error of his ways in previous productions, or at least ended up here in a better musical soundscape. Overall, this impacts quite a somber and reflective mood. It seems like a statement piece that is not inviting discussion, but is just stating his position plaintively and publicly for the record, for the record. I would need to be in a particular mood to give this repeated listens, but as a whole, it maintains a consistent, thought-provoking vibe.
A conversation with my daughter: -I have to listen to the rest of that Leonard Cohen. -Aww, not him… -You know him? -Yeah...?! He's that really weird guy. -What's weird about him? -He doesn't sing. He just talks about stuff like blood, and stars, and love. -Yeah, you know him. This is a fascinating album considering that it was released just a couple ofweeks before Cohen passed away. Thematically he seems to be directly dealing with his impending mortality. In one song, the chorus chants הִנֵּנִי (hineni - "behold, G-d, I am here and ready"). I always think that Leonard Cohen is poetry first and foremost, just set to music. And I like it as poetry. This revisits his well-explored heavy themes of religion, spirituality, love, lust, etc. Musically, for most artists this would be considered stripped down, but for him it is more production than I have heard on other of his albums. His voice is old and creaky and weathered. Respect to him for creating his art to the very end. 3.5
This sounded like a spoken word album and I couldn't really get into it. I'm just not much of a Cohen guy from the stuff I've heard from him. Some decent sounding music going on in the background though.
Just going to review this on sentiment. Obviously not the height of his powers, and hard to see it as anything except a remarkable parting gift. Couple all-time great tracks, the rest strong. Head would say 4 stars, but it's Leonard Cohen, so going with the heart.
Highlights for me are few on this album. This isn't really jiving with my mood for the day and pretty depressing that this is his last album. "Traveling light" - is alright "It Seemed the Better Way" - sounds like something from Twin Peaks I'm probably at a 2 for this album.
Did not enjoy this album at all. The musicians are doing damn fine work, which is the only reason this didn't get 1 star. Cohen's vocals on the album absolutely kill the experience for me. It's like the worst, most boring version of the worst, least-interesting Tom Waits material.
Didn’t like it. Leonard Cohen sings ring into your ear he is so damn close to the microphone. The subjects discussed in the album didn’t grab me. Would not want to listen to it again. Standout: Leaving the Table.
I had not listened to this album, Leonard Cohen's parting work. It is beautiful and eternal.
This was completely absorbing. I had heard about this album and have enjoyed everything that I've heard from Leonard Cohen but this blew me away. It is a complete piece.
This is deep. Deserves close listening. Obviously, heavy subject matter. Way better production than his previous few albums. All the cheese gone. An album to keep coming back to. A dying man singing his final songs.
Never knew The Shockmaster made a folk record. Pretty good.
Hauntingly sad, in a good way. Very much the blues, and I would love to hear this covered by someone who really can sing the blues (not that I didn’t enjoy the spoken word poetry vibe, but I think the songs would SOAR with the right voice). Clearly inspirational for the writers of the Hadestown musical.
no
This was good got me through my run
The dark voice really makes this record. I mean the message that he has surrendered to the lord would have been quite lame were it not for him sounding like a demon himself. And yk also because he was on the verge of death
"You Want It Darker"... Is that a question or a threat??? I'm treating it as a threat. Like Leonard Cohen said to me personally, "I'll give you something to cry about" and instead of beating me with a sack of valencia oranges, he, instead, cursed me with old fashioned mental disease.
Voice is ethereal but it has every song sounding the same
Darker album than I wanted to kick off the morning but incredible execution at what it was trying to do. RIP Rating: 4.0
Not so into the album, but the playlist it generated was awesome!
A Canadian classic. Not really my thing.
Nunca he sido un gran fanático de la música de Leonard Cohen. Sin embargo, su influencia en el panorama musical angloparlante es innegable. "You Want It Darker" es el último LP que el escritor y poeta alcanzó a grabar antes de fallecer, y en efecto, es bastante oscuro. Sin embargo, los paisajes sonoros que dibuja son bastante monótonos en comparación a otras "canciones del cisne" (como por ejemplo "Blackstar" de David Bowie). De todas formas, la corta duración del trabajo hace que se sienta como un complejo cuadro gótico, crudo y visceral que tiene en su delantera la rasposa voz de un cansado Cohen, quien, claramente, no perdió su genio hasta su muerte. Recomendable, escúchelo.
Definitely a challenging album. I don't seek out this style of music out but I'm glad I listened to it.
I like the vibe here and the poetry is haunting and moving at the same time. It’s a lot of the same tone and sentiment and no songs really stand out to me. The songs are obviously very limited by the voice. Not 80 year old Leonard’s fault but it does cap the album at a 3 for me.
I dont have a ton of clear thoughts on this album. The title track is haunting and cool. The broad middle of the album was largely forgettable for me and occasionally boring. It feels like Cohens music is about the lyrics and emotional delivery. Probably not the ideal choice for a 2 hour drive. Besides You Want It Darker, It Seemed The Better Way and Leaving The Table were cool. Ill have to revisit this later
Such an eerie, haunting album. It’s a VIBE. This is basically a spoken word album which sounds awful but it somehow works great. I haven’t listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen but this made me want to listen to more.
Was listening to this album on the elliptical when some asshole drove his car through my front door and started seducing my wife. All I really know of Cohen is Hallelujah, that he was with Joni Mitchell for a bit, and that he influenced a ton of today’s songwriters - Isakov and the National for sure. The title track is incredible - will definitely be coming back to it. Overall, this is more poetry set over music. I went back and listened to a bit of Cohen’s old stuff and this album does seem to have more musical structure and movement than some of this earlier tracks. Not that one can compare, but thought this album was much more memorable than Bowie’s later-life albums. Kind of the perfect album for a foggy September weekend in San Francisco.
a dark and brooding yet delicate and pretty album that feels a little bit like Johnny's last 2 albums. I liked it.
Didnt finish but really enjoyed the lyrics and stripped back production. Cant get used to leonards voice tho, especially on opening track
Loved it. Somehow never gotten into his work but am hooked now.
Hadn't listened to this album before although I've liked the Leonard Cohen stuff that I've heard. This album was no different recorded at home as he was ill and bearing the end of his life and the songs reflect that. This album is dark and emotional but beautiful.
This album is haunting. The lyrics feel like quiet, whispered confessions. It’s sparse and heavy, like late Johnny Cash, but darker. There’s a sense of peace, though, even with all the weight. The minimal arrangements make it feel timeless, almost like it’s always been here. You can feel the end, but it’s not desperate—it’s calm, resigned.
Очень хороший тяжелый альбом. Лучшая песня - You Want It Darker.
Rough old voice (in a good way). Haunting, enjoyable, but nowhere near Leonard Cohen's best work.
2+ Stars (6/15)
I mean come on
It's darker, alright. So Cohen: a thinker's lyrics combined with hardly any melody and a few amen chords. Still fascinating.
too boring and slow with this approach and delivery. good writing at least
Can't really get into this...
Coincedentally, I listened to this on a dark, gloomy day when it was pouring rain. It helped set the tone for the album, because man, this is bleak. What makes this really good however, is the fact that it is also strangely beautiful with this grizzly voice of Cohen. Not one I will revisit very soon, but a kind of wonderful experience.
Dark and moody indeed. The title track sets the tone, a groovy bassline and Cohen's distinctive gravelly half-spoken vocals, with backing chorus emphasizing the religious feel. Leaving the Table is slow and bluesy and another strong track. If I Didn't Have Your Love is even better, emotionally charged with backing keyboards. It Seemed the Better Way is my favourite, though, with a captivating melody and tribal sounding percussion. Steer Your Way is a touch more upbeat, driving bassline and melodies underpinning a strong vocal performance. During the outro I'm left considering that this was recorded so near the end of his life. Maybe the depth of these pieces owes something to wisdom gained through the years. Anyway, a special album.
It's Leonard Cohen so of course the songwriting is great but I felt that the production overshadows everything. I couldn't stop thinking about it so I had to look it up and apparently it was his son Adam. Completely makes sense and makes me a little sad.
like
Listened to it a few times. Love the quiet, low voice and instrumental parts
I always liked his lyrics but never could get used to his vocal delivery and then on some of his older albums it would be paired music that I felt didn't fit at all, like one of his albums on this list with a lot 80s sounding electronic-type music. I think his age finally caught up to his vocal delivery and they paired it well with ominous orchestral style of music on this album. I think it all works really well here, very eerie.
Great! Just long enough. Not too long. Didn’t know it ended!
An Album like a Testament. To Beauty, to self esteem, to the love of God. Deeply moving.
Most of this I would never listen to again, but the poetry is just real good
first song is a from a video game
Beautiful, this is what forgiveness sounds like.
Leonard Cohen who is one of the greatest poets to ever walk on this earth who mainly started making music because releasing his text on their own wasn't lucrative came to age. His debut in '67 was released when he was 33 and when this album hit the shelfs a couple months after David Bowie passed away, he was 82. And like with Bowies final album, this also talks a lot about his own death as he also died a few days after this album released. The title track 'You Want It Darker' starts the album off with the best song already. It combines Art Pop, Jewish Music, Gothic Country and many weird and dark references to him and his religion in sometimes a Spoken Word style. The song features organs and very present keyboard bass and it all just feels dark and like he is making his own funerals requiem. It feels like Mozart all over again but instead of writing sheets full of classical music he wrote sheets full of magical and depp poetry. Yeah, the song's perfect and easily one of my all-time favourite Cohen songs. 'Treaty' goes a more Piano Blues way and feels a lot like something you'd hear on a Cohen x Tom Waits x Nick Cave collaboration and as I love all these artists, I love this song. It's very low-key but you can feel how he's not just trying to sing the words, he is adding so much emotional weight into them that the song turns out being very heavy on you. It isn't perfect, sadly, but it is incredible through and through especially the lyrics are just amazing and it mainly comes down to the instrumental side of the song that do harm it a little bit too much to be considered perfect. The Soft Rock guitar on 'On the Level' adds to the Piano Blues but I am really not a fan of how the backing vocals are used here. They don't fit at all. He should've just hummed them himself as this would've added a darker and more emotional twist. This just makes the song feel basic and uninteresing. It turns it just good and not great or incredible. Luckily, 'Leaving the Table' saves it a little by mixing his Folk style with a little bit of Country in a very slow and lonely way that turns the song into a very emotional and hard hitting song and one of the saddest songs on the album. This song literally made me cry which already makes it perfect. It's how he should've made most of the album. Just raw and emotional with a very open talk about Death. The more uplifiting sounding 'If I Didn't Have Your Love' adds a little bit of Soul into the Blues style. It isn't really that interesting when compared to other songs on the album but it's still pretty nice and the chorus is at least one big highlight. I also think that this wasn't the best choice to end the albums first half with as it is a less dark and moody track and it would've worked better at another place. The few flamenco influences on 'Traveling Light' work weirdly well with the dark themes and I am just surprised of how he came up with this idea of adding flamenco guitar into the mix. The slight Blues parts are also pretty nice in combination and the backing vocals work so well. I absolutely love how this song shapes up and plays with the music in it by adding more and more detail. The lyrics are just absolutely on point, like always and Cohen performs them with a wit that I am not used to but see it working so well. That all combines into just another perfect song. The Spoken Word aspect of 'It Seemed the Better Way' adds to the atmosphere that this song was going for. It feels nocturnal and full of mystery with the percussion that feels like out of a soundtrack for a jungle at night. The song is fantastic and just incredible even if I would've wished for a little more detail to be added because the organ and string parts aren't doing just enough for me. The Country influences return on 'Steer Your Way' which features not only a very detailed production and some of Cohens best lyrics but also a beautiful performance from him. It is genuinely a wonderful song in every detail that you could imagine and a real highlight from the album. 'String Reprise / Treaty' ends the album with mainly just strings at the start. They go on in a way that feels like someone's passed away (or is going to hehehe). This feels like it was a melody played on the Titanic as it sunk. After a while it goes back to 'Treaty' from the start with similar lyrics but performed pretty differently on top of the strings. It is the best possible way Cohen could've ended this album and his career. It is a great song even if I would've wished for the strings to go on for a little shorter. favourites: You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, Steer Your Way, Traveling Light, Treaty least favourites: On the Level, If I Didn't Have Your Love Rating: light 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
I know he’s an icon to many but he can’t sing ! I listened wanting him to clear his throat. I won’t listen again ! 1*
Preferred this slightly to the previous Cohen effort. Bit more atmospheric.
A very good album with some of his best work in years.
Without context, this would be a 4. Knowing he wrote it as his final work while preparing for the end of his life makes it stand out as a gorgeous final goodbye
This is just so dull. If there’s something amazing in these lyrics, I’m missing it. Sounds like the kind of poetry you get in creative writing 101. Traveling Light threatens to be interesting at times.
I'm a dude, but this album got me pregnant.
Really enjoyed this. Evil but warm and lovely voice 8/10
That's a difficult one. I really like Leonard Cohen as a person and whenever he's played somewhere I think "Cool! Leonard Cohen". His voice and his style are unmistakable, but I found listening to a whole album where every song sounds like a requiem quite exhausting. You have to be in a very special mood for that. Nevertheless, there were some very good songs, I love "You Want It Darker".
Oh dude….. this is a pretty incredible album. It is certainly an album to which you want to read the lyrics and learn the context. Cohen lived a fascinating life, and to learn that this album about the very inevitability of our mortality was produced and released only a few months before he passed is CHILLING. He wrote his funeral album. The String Reprise / Treaty is so laced with emotion I was going to cry listening to it close out the album. PROFOUND. The lyrics are a must read (obviously just an extension of his poetry which I now want to read) and his baritone is extremely impressive. Oof. Chills.
This is so cool. It's really rare to hear music from an 80 year old, and I loved the way his voice sounds now. And the music surrounding it, and the backing singers, are absolutely beautiful.
deeeeep voice
This guy is a good writer, but a singer he is not. This is mostly a spoken word album set to music. There’s some great lyrics here but I would not listen to it again.
Pretty impressive for an album so late in life. I guess when your style is pretty much spoken word you can sustain it for a lifetime.
3.9 I got into Leonard Cohen during Popular Problems and You want it darker, so I may bit a bit biased on his later releases. I like it. Bowies Blackstar is a parallel, interesting and unique to their catalogue and unfortunately one of their lasts
First listen Saved 4/9 Top track: You Want It Darker
THIS is the Leonard Cohen I was looking for. Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits are playing to identical audiences, I would not be able to tell the difference between this album and some Tom Waits. Leonard Cohen could have been less goofy Randy Newman for Pixar. You can hear his sound coming through, it's like late Dylan where it's different but you can still hear his sound.
Very very deep voice. Not so much my style but appreciated anyway.
Leonard Cohen is a name I've heard, but never really heard his work. Go figure that the first album of his that I'll listen to was apparently his last recorded album. I'm sure I can expect some dark subject matter. Due to Cohen's unfortunate health issues later in his life, he was subjected to recording this album from his living room, and it certainly sounds the part. Very personal and stripped down, with Cohen's noticeably aged and low delivery. Everything is obviously introspective and poetic, as Cohen and co. were well aware that this would be his swan song from the music industry. Hard not to be reminded of David Bowie's "Blackstar" from earlier that same year, with very similar circumstances and theme. These "swan song" albums are never easy listens, but there's a certain charm to the end product we receive when an artist knows that his or her time is running out. It really allows them to step outside their comfort zone and get more artsy and self-reflective with their work.
Had no idea he was so recent with the opening song. Also that he had been such a prolific artist.
This may be the best rock CD recorded by an octogenarian that I've ever heard. But it is, you know, recorded by an octogenarian. Leonard Cohen wasn't exactly an intense, fiery performer in the early 1980s, and that was 30+ years ago, things haven't gotten better. It isn't actively bad, but it is slow, dull, and monotone, there's just not much to recommend it. I should note that to my mind Leonard Cohen at his peak was always just a C- grade singer, and the vocal performance on here is just awful, now that he's gone there's no reason to pretend otherwise.
I love Leonard Cohen, but I wasn't expecting too much from this album: I haven't been as grabbed by his post-2000 works by and large. But this was lovely: the sound of a man reconciling himself to mortality, acknowledging his failings without being overwhelmed by them. I suspect I'll keep coming back to this one - I was going to stick with a cautious 4, but I already find myself putting it back on, so I may as well go all the way with a 5.
This is an album one would listen to on vinyl alone late at night, surrounded by flickering candles and a crackling fireplace in the dead of winter. It's what it says on the tin: this album is dark, sombre, bleak. He's a man who knows he's at the end of his life, and this is last gift of art to the world. Not many people get to say goodbye in the way Leonard Cohen did, and come to terms with God and his mortality. It's a beautiful, haunting album, but it's a specific mood that I'm not keen to revisit any time soon.
The music behind Cohen’s voice is lovely. Leonard Cohen’s voice is not lovely. An entire album of that is really difficult.
I guess some people really like the gruff voice. I think the songwriting for this album is good, and I respect Cohen for continuing to record music so late into his life, but I reckon if somebody else sang it I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
Hard to believe this came out in 2016. That was the same year as Closer by the Chainsmokers, for context. For additional context, Cohen was born a year before Elvis. Wild. Cohen also died 3 weeks after this came out. I went and read a quick summary of his life after listening and I would highly recommend it. Extremely interesting person.
Nobody ever said Leonard Cohen was easy on the ears, but this is a hauntingly beautiful retrospective from someone in their final moments of life. The half spoken-word delivery adds so much emotion to the lyrics. I don’t know how soon I might return to this if I ever do, but I’m glad I’ve listened to it.
Hot damn! I was not prepared for this album. A man on his death bed saying "You think this is bad? Let's see if we can get darker." The back half gets a little repetitive, but "You Want It Darker" is such an awesome song that the rest of the album doesn't even matter.
Não é ruim, mas tbm não é bom. Tem que prestar atenção nas letras. É um poeta cantando triste e sonolentamente com voz grave e um acompanhamento de qualidade. Segundo li, o cara estava para morrer, e essa é a pegada do som mesmo. Mas, não faria parte da minha lista. Mas essa é a ideia da brincadeira mesmo. Conhecer.... obrigado, mas não ouço mais.
great album from the master!!!
holy fucker gonna have a cry now i guess
No private session needed. Not my favorite Cohen album, but I like it as a cap of a career. It's a tribute to his song writing skills that he can write songs that match his fading vocal skills.
What ghosteen tried to be
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. Cohen's vocals felt so genuine and sincere, from his tone and the lyrics he knew he was dying and was accepting it and ready to move on. Very powerful and emotional album with pretty minimalistic instrumentation that complement Cohen's vocals very well. Favorite songs: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way, Steer Your Way, String Reprise/Treaty. Worst song: Treaty.
Beautiful Haunting Funny at times Outstanding Says everything he needed to say and then passed, wonderful 5
Bye leon
Very cool deep voice although tbh the album bored me a bit. Might have got it at the wrong time.
Epic, raw, perennially Leonard Cohen, and particularly transcendental, given it was recorded as Cohen was dying.
Not my fave LC album, but I do love him.
Leonard Cohen was a really brilliant songwriter and the writing on this album is still fantastic. Super personal but still very poignant and relatable lyrics. It's dark and sad but oddly comforting at the same time. Although I've never really been a fan of this kind of 'spoken word over background music' kind of stuff, I really did enjoy this. As a sort of farewell to the world, this album really stands out. It's hard not to compare this record to David Bowie's Blackstar but maybe that's not fair. Or maybe it is - both being composed and recorded by brilliant men knowing they are about to die. Kind of morbid but interesting to see the different approach each album took. Blackstar is immensely better. I think this one is a solid 3.5/5. I don't think I would listen to it again but I am very happy to have heard it once.
I wish I had my time back from this album. How is this considered good at all.
Read poetry over a musical background. Somehow, it works. It sounds good and it's very calming. There is something mesmerizing about Leonard Cohen's deep voice. It makes you focus only on what he is saying.
Good stuff. Not his best, but very good. Love the strings in "Steer Your Way" and the final track.
I need to come back to this one later, I don't feel like I'm in the moment to truly appreciate it. Reminds me of one beloved family member.
This album is a haunting, graceful farewell from Leonard Cohen — a man fully aware he’s near the end, yet still crafting poetry with clarity and weight. His voice, deep and gravelly like a whisper from the grave, gives the album a solemn power that’s impossible to ignore. Every word feels measured, every pause intentional. The title track, “You Want It Darker,” is the undeniable centerpiece — eerie, hypnotic, and laced with resignation and defiance. The arrangements throughout are sparse but rich, allowing Cohen’s voice and lyrics to stand at the forefront like an aging prophet speaking from the edge. It’s not an easy album, but it’s a beautiful one — full of reflection, acceptance, and that signature Cohen wit and wisdom. As parting gifts go, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting one. Did this album get you to revisit his earlier work, or was it your introduction to Cohen?
This is a cracking album, especially given the circumstances it was recorded under. I would claim to be a Leonard Cohen aficionado but I did like this one.
I think Leonard Cohen has a really interesting voice, but that's about it. Thankfully this album was short, but I am not really impressed with the composition.
This grew on me the more I listened to it
Beautiful farewell. Normally not my cup of tea but his deep baritone voice is really moving in this context. Beautiful minimalistic arrangements as well.
This kinda freaked me out. If I wasn't being whispered to, it would be higher
Very beautiful music and lyrics unfortunately sung by a much too old Lenny
Late Leonard Cohen had a quite unique and interesting style with his whispering-like and bassy "singing". Hearing this record it really feels to me like Leonard was always a poet first, and a musician second, which is also beautiful in a way because poetry was how it started from him before he got into music. Unfortunately for me, I'm not moved much by poetry and words, so this becomes a bit of a dull. Still, I'm impressed that he managed to create something fresh and different even at the very end of his career and life.
Leonard Cohen, one of my absolute favourite artist. His lyrics are really something else and his whole catalog shows his writing chops with poignant and often humorous lyrics. Many times I have found solace in his music. I saw him singing live in 2012 and it was such a good experience, he refused to stop and sang encore after encore even though he was nearly 80. That was his album before this which also is great. This being his final record released just a few weeks before his death, it is a great farewell. The title track with its ominous baseline is a great start. We then get treated to some more pretty standard Cohen music. The lyrics are as always what really shines through. I'm not sure if any other artist are this good when they are this late in their career but Cohen released great music until the end. While I get this is not everybody's cup of tea, for me this is a masterpiece and a great farewell. While not many of my favorite Cohen songs are on this album it is still great. As a good bye album it is worth a 5 star. Thanks for the memories!
Wow a Leonard Cohen album I actually like! His grave and gravelly voice meshes so well with this stripped down, foreboding song structure. Traveling Light was a standout track for me.
I made the mistake of listening to this with headphones and couldn’t get past 30 seconds of this old man whispering in my ear. (I’m sure he was very talented etc)
Listened in a museum. Top tier museum music. Velvety and rich
The sound of hairs standing on end. And tingles down spines. An album about death that made me feel so alive. "I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be." From start to end. Life. Exquisite. A stunning work of art. I can't really describe this - it is music from one soul to another. A gift. A curse. Poetry. Beyond the sky. Beyond the bottom of the ocean. Beyond the stars. Beyond anything we think we know. This comes from somewhere darker ... before and after.
Ooh, this is unexpected and wonderful. I didn't know he produced an album as good as this relatively recently. Gravitas in his words and voice, and quiet beauty in the music. Imagery abounds in the darkness. Bright August sunshine doesn't quite suit the atmosphere of this album, I Want It Darker!
What a unique listening experience! Somehow it didn’t take long at all for me to slip into the groove of this despite the contrast between the soothing instrumentals his rough, aged voice. Somehow this came off like a slower, darker parallel to the Moon Safari album by Air for me. Totally opposite but yet similar in its constant groove and ambiance. Really enjoyed the piano work, bass-lines, etc. and Leonard had a lot to say. A cool experience!
Wow. This is really good. Dark, but with a real warmth. Some brilliant lyrics, sparse but effective production with excellent bits dropped in like the strings on Travelling Light, and the guitar on If I Didn’t Have Your Love. Bass lines were great the whole way through. I like the slow but not sluggish pace. The whole album feels like I’m in a small dimly lit bar sipping whiskey and smoking cigarettes. I love his voice. As a fan of The Streets I’m not adverse to a bit of talking over music as long as they’re saying something worth listening to. And Leonard Cohen definitely is here. Some real poetry, made even more visceral by the fact he wrote and released this just weeks before dying. Immediately the parallel with Bowie’s Blackstar was apparent. It takes a true artist to create something so introspective and beautiful in the knowledge that their time is almost over. Bravo Leonard Cohen. Favourite track: If I Didn’t Have Your Love
Surprisingly better than the others we have heard from Cohen. Can’t decide if I like the soft spoken/singing on this album. It is a somber album from a man closing out his life and retrospective, which was nice to listen into.
So this is the last Leonard Cohen album I have had to listen to. I am glad about that but he actually put forth a fairly decent album. It was the best one of the list. I didn’t like the raspy not talk not fully singing he was attempting to do. The lyrics I actually enjoyed a little bit. Takeaway: It is true for Leonard Cohen he saved the best for last despite his overall failures on his previous albums which were awful.
This was so much better than all his other crap that everyone loves for some reason. His voice actually sounds good (reminds me of Mark Lanegan may he rest in peace), much better than his other albums. Also he changed from nothing but acoustic guitar! I’m so proud it only took him his entire music career to do it. The strings and piano accompaniments were great. They added variety and nice ambiance to complement his voice. The lyrics also made some sense and weren’t just random poetry that everyone seems to love even though it’s gibberish. Overall I really wish his other albums sounded like this, this one was great.
yikes-this was dark. still don't like his voice, or his songwriting. at all
What a talent! Absolutely insane that this album was released so close to his death. Rest in peace to a legend - I really enjoyed this one.
from the opening bassline, i definitely thought the title track was going to unfold into a lounge cover of livin' on a prayer. from there it settled into a nice rhythm of a sad old man speaking softly over dark and moody but gentle instrumentals. it's like if johnny cash's later recordings were laid over the hollow knight soundtrack. definitely enjoyable overall, and like johnny cash's cover of hurt, knowing this came out just before his death... immensely powerful and moving. favorites: you want it darker, treaty, traveling light, it seemed the better way, steer your way, string reprise/treaty
I immediately got goosebumps and was on the verge of tears by the end. It’s not perfect - a little less lyrically complex than I might’ve preferred, though warranted given the circumstances - but I feel that kind of strong reaction is what warrants a score of 5.
Was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually loved this album! I’m not familiar with Leonard Cohen beyond Hallelujah but this was a fantastic listen and his voice is simply amazing.
Weird like Tom waits. I’ll have to try and finish it later.
Still a master of song craft right up until the end of his life.
Slow and dark but I like Leonard Cohen in general
Not going to seek it out again. Getting a better understanding of why folks rate these things the way that they do (legacy over quality sometimes).
I actually liked this for a minute, then seemed like the Sam thing over and over again
I didn’t request “darker” but Leonard definitely brought it anyway. I was taken back at first but enjoyed it overall.
Very cool, very dark. Imagine hearing someone’s final words and testaments in the form of an album.