You Want It Darker

“You Want It Darker” by Leonard Cohen (2016) If you want to hear music written, sung, and recorded by an 82-year-old Canadian Jew sitting in his living (dying) room crippled by fractures in his spine and counting the few painful moments he has left, then this album is for you. And if you don’t want to hear music like that, then shame on you and this album is for you anyway. The expression “You want it darker” is typically what a lover might say to his beloved at the outset of their lovemaking—his accommodation to her sensitivity as he presents himself to her in the darker-ness and says with his mind and body, “Here I am”. For Cohen, this image serves as a prayer to God. Cohen is dying, and God wants it darker. It’s a touching reversal of the God/man Lover/beloved metaphor, and the poet/prophet pulls it of with beauty and horror. This is going to hurt. Death is like lovemaking, and Cohen is ready. “Hineni” (Hebrew for “Here I am”), he says, in resignation to the supreme Will, and with the courage of the prophet (Isaiah 6:8), he faces, embraces the agony. If there’s to be a lullaby, it’s a “lullaby for suffering”. It doesn’t get any darker than that. Cohen wishes there was a “Treaty” between God’s love and his own (There is one [Jeremiah 31:31-14], but I’m not sure Cohen signed it—there are hopeful hints in “Seemed a Better Way”, as he advises himself, “I better lift this glass of blood”, but “not today”). At least he takes it seriously. “My ‘don’t’ was saying ‘do’”, he complains of the temptation contest, but he is quitting the game (“Leaving the Table”) anyhow. And through it all, God’s love has made it real (“If I Didn’t Have Your Love“). Cohen is setting out on the road to death, but he’s “Traveling Light”. His parting advice on his way out the door (to his heart, but more importantly, to you, in case you’re not getting it), is that you should “Steer Your Way” one year/month/day/thought at a time. The outro of the closing track reprises “Treaty” with compelling mystery: “We were broken then but now we're borderline”. So where will you (we? me?) be tomorrow? His voice has been reduced, through age and pain, to whispers punctuated by well pitched basso profondo. But he retains his famous timbre, which compellingly invites the listener to consider, to ponder, to figure it out. It beckons, and you’d better not decline. It’s not just excellent poetry—it’s poetry that grabs you and shakes you a bit. It goes beyond—all the way to the declarative prophetic focus on the past and present in the face of an unknown future. Prophets were generally and unjustly disregarded. Here is your opportunity to rectify. There are negative things to say about this album. But not by me. Leonard Cohen died three weeks after its release. 5/5

Are you depressed because of a global pandemic? Don't worry! Leonard Cohen latest album will help you jump off a cliff!

INT. Abandoned Cathedral, 5:30 A.M. A thin ray of light shines on an organist wearing black robes with a Grey stole. He appears to have been awake all night. It is apparent he is playing what appear to be the final chords in a grand symphony. I love this very much.

Read poetry over music. Meh.

I put on this album weeks after struggling to connect with Leonard Cohen’s third album, "Songs of Love and Hate." I expected a similar experience here. "You Want It Darker" grabbed me from the first notes of the choir with its incredible bass line, the lyrics and vocal performance. The song takes us into a holy space as it unfolds as a prayer. A prayer that critically interrogates the very roots of the religious traditions it references. "Treaty" is heartbreaking. Haunting lyrics, incredible arrangements and an emotional delivery perfectly capturing my disillusionment with Christianity and religion. ‘I do not care who takes this bloody hill. I’m angry and I’m tired all the time. I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty, between your love and mine.’ "On the Level” explores the emotions of letting go. 'They ought to give my heart a medal for lettin' go of you.' The piano… beautiful. The back up singers… angelic. Cohen… perfect. 'I'm old and I've had to settle on a different point of view. I was fighting with temptation but I didn't want to win, A man like me don't like to see temptation caving in.' Cohen has put words to feelings I've begun to have in a way that I could never hope to do. "Leaving the Table" digs deep into a break up: drifting apart ('I don't know the people in your picture frame'), regret/resentment ('If I ever loved you it's a cryin' shame'), resignation ('You don't need to surrender, I'm not taking aim'). Deep within the darkness "If I Didn't Have Your Love" unfolds into a startlingly beautiful love song. This album may be dark but like the rest of the album it is far from cynical. These songs flow with the undercurrents of a mature, deep love. "Traveling Light" pairs incredible mandolins and strings along with the electric piano while the lyrics tell of shedding parts of our lives as we approach its end. Cohen's exploration of religion in "It Seemed the Better Way” hit me in a deeply personal way. After spending a lifetime losing my religion this album has made me reflect on my religious journey more deeply than ever before. ‘Sounded like the truth, but it’s not the truth today. I better hold my tongue. I better take my place. Lift this glass of blood. Try to say the grace.' In "Steer Your Way" Cohen captures other aspects of my own journey as I steer away from so many of my beliefs, foundations, and trust in the world. He offers no replacement but hearing this song gives me strange comfort. 'Steer your heart past the truth that you believed in yesterday, such as fundamental goodness and the wisdom of the way.' Damn. "String Reprise/Treaty" is largely an instrumental string piece with Cohen reprising “Treaty” at the very end. After the last note faded I sat in silence for several minutes grieving Leonard Cohen's passing from this world just a few weeks after this album’s release... and rejoicing that Cohen left this incredible gift. Where last month I struggled to relate to a young Leonard Cohen, I felt an instant deep connection to him here at the end of his life. This album lead me into some very dark personal places - but Cohen's warmth and humanity never left me feeling alone. So rarely have I encountered an artifact of a life that had such a seismic effect on me. Leonard Cohen was right… I do want it darker.

With all due respect, Mr Cohen…I am a New York Giants fan in October of 2023. It could not possibly get any darker than it already is. Edit, May 2025: Fuck me, the 2024 season was even worse. Edit 2, November 2025: A glimmer of hope with Dart and Skattebo quickly dissipated by Skattebo’s injury and an absolutely abysmal defense led by DC Shane Bowen. Fire the coaching staff.

Okay, honestly? This was absolutely gorgeous. One of the 5 star surprises of this whole listening process. I expected to be turned off, since Leonard Cohen's voice is an acquired taste in my opinion, but this was melodically so beautiful. Like, it was an EXPERIENCE.

Useless cunt

Blackstar but for depressed cowboys Best: Title track, Travelling Light, Steer Your Way

Creamed my jeans over this

I’m in awe. Words cannot describe the album experience I just had. I sobbed when I finished listening. Tears literally fell from my eyes. Leonard Cohen does not miss, even at 82. Especially not at 82. I think this is actually my favorite album I have had the privilege of listening to so far on this list. What a stunning and just perspective altering work of art.

Interesting, but I can't see actually listening to it repeatedly

I know people think the "sad old man" routine is deep, but it bores me. I don't even think I liked Johnny Cash's version of it, and I genuinely like Cash. Cohen is just like an older generation's Nick Cave - style over substance, impresses hipsters. There were moments of vague coolness but mostly this was a chore. I was bored by the second song. 2/5.

Holy smokes, that voice was out of nowhere. Having only been familiar with his 'Hallelujah' I was not expecting that entrance. He just strolled right in and without effort commanded attention. Entire album reads like a letter or a prayer; struggles with aging and religion; an older man haunted by his past, now staring into the void of what's next. Very sombre, melancholic, personal and thoughtful. The lyrics are absolutely littered Judeo-Christian themes and religious references, which continues into the musical structure itself with inescapable hints of gospel, choral, chanting and traditional 'Jewish' sounding melodies. I couldn't help notice the similarities with David Bowies 'Blackstar'. Both albums wholly referencing mortality; both albums released the same year, the year of their deaths. This doesn't diminish either album, they're both unique masterpieces in my opinion, just a curiosity.

absolutely incredible album, really enjoyable listen and definitely lives up to it's title. Treaty is a particular highlight

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?

It's like a cross-between Tom Waits and David Carradine in Kill Bill and so laid back he's basically horizontal. I understand he was in a lot of pain and near the end and that this like his spoken-word poetry but his early stuff is so much more worth listening to. I felt guilty in giving a low score so listen to it again. It does get better and maybe it's a mood thing so one night I'll play it again and get more out of it. Weirdly the attempt to jazz it up with gospel singers and organs has the opposite effect- surely it would be better more stark?

First track ok. The rest of it an endless boring dirge.

Beautiful. What an incredible voice. You Want it Darker is such a tune, love that bass line. Treaty and Reprise/ Treaty are heartbreakingly beautiful. What an album to leave the world with

I don’t want it any darker Leonard I assure you. This album sounds like the track list about a Disney movie where the villain turns out to be the good guy, his voice isn’t doing him any favors here. Im impressed he’s been making music for so long, but this is my second album of his on the list so far and you can tell the drop off in ability- tough to do the singer song writer thing when you know…can’t sing anymore.

This ain't it for me. He didn't even really sing, it was closer to reading poems to soft background music. The instrumentals are fine I guess, but I can't see myself relistening to a single song of this. This is a deep cut arthouse type of album.

i had previously listened to "i'm your man," cohen's 1988 album, as part of this project. it became one of my favorite albums, and i realized this album will become the same halfway through my first listen. cohen's lyrics are just as beautiful, thought provoking, heart wrenching as before. so many songs focus on death and come across as authentic. he wears his heart on his sleeve. you feel his pain ("i'm angry and tired all the time") and acceptance (i'm ready, my lord") as he finds himself closer to death. i was struck by how simple "traveling light" was, yet his meaning is clear ("i'm running late/they'll close the bar/i used to play/one mean guitar"). i loved each line in this lyrics, honestly. there's a thread of religion throughout the album. "make it darker" contained hymns and jewish imagery, and "treaty" was about his relationship with (and love for) his god, among others. for someone as spiritual as cohen, incorporating this into his album while nearing the end of his life must have brought him some level of comfort. his voice is deeper on this album, lending to a further emphasis on death. his tenor had always created the focus on his lyrics but more so here. there's minimal background accompaniment; while beautiful, its simplicity allows the focus to be on the lyrics. and somehow, the violins sound like they're crying. the "string reprise" section was unparalleled in its beauty. he's still with his usual folk sound, but there are some blues sounds as well. this remarkable album is meant to break you. it's dark and deep, and it can be rough. it's beautiful and truly a piece of art.

Yes. The first time I heard this album, it hit me hard. Instantly my favourite Cohen album. Exhaustion at the end of life is not something I feel, but the basic feeling of just being exhausted by everything, that I get. This has some of Cohen’s best lyrics. “I struggled with some demons; they were middle-class and tame.” 27/10 album. Favourite track: “Steer Your Way”

Rarely do I even give much thought to lyrics in an album, but this one earns its 5 on the lyrics alone. The beautiful sparse instrumentation and haunting voice Leonard brings are just icing on the cake.

Blues/lyrical with instrumental/tango. Cynical retrospective love/sex lyrics with heavy biblical themes at beg and end of album. Growl-y bass. Sounds like Hades in Hadestown. Listened to while working out, which, surprisingly, worked.

One of his best. It's amazing that an artist can be this strong at the end of his career. Album gives me chills.

That was spectacular, I bloody loved it. I only really knew Leonard Cohen's 'hits' but this album was amazing. And released just 3 months before he died.

Le fait que cet album soit posthume m'a mis extrêmement mal à l'aise pendant toute la durée de l'écoute. J'avais en effet la certitude que Léonard Cohen allait décéder d'un moment à l'autre. Ceci explique la frayeur que j'ai pu ressentir au long du dernier morceau lors duquel la voix de Leonard Cohen est absente des deux premières minutes. "Il est mort... Il est très probablement mort..." pensai-je tout bas. Soudain, alors que j'avais perdu tout espoir, la voix du chanteur s'éleva pour grommeler ses idioties habituelles: "I wish there was nianiania". Quel soulagement...

His voice is still great, but the lyrics sound like the work of a bored pensioner. Not for me

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Is this a good Leonard Cohen entry point? I bet it is

This very much could've just gotten me interested in Leonard Cohen. I've never listened to him before, but hearing Hallelujah in many soundtracks was annoying. I really loved title track You Want It Darker, Travelling Light and Steer Your Way.

Said some interesting things, and didn't overstay its welcome. Liked it enough that I want to relisten to it and think it over more

It’s poetry disguised as song. The spoken word smoking guy over laments has never been my favorite genre and this didn’t do much to change that opinion. The lyrics are good at least; Cohen has always been a better writer than performer. It’s fine. I’m sure it’s miraculous to some people but not me.

Gravelly, like pouring whisky directly into my ears. Would say I appreciated it, rather than loved it.

Had his Songs of Love And Hate just recently, as my introduction to the work of Leonard Cohen. Which I was very thankful for. Sublime. This one? Yes but no. I'm not a lyrics person so I'm left with this pastiche of some Eastern European circa jazz blues soundtrack - oh, so grave! - for a deep voice. I have no desire to disrepect this, but... except for the title song and "Steer Your Way" this just isn't giving me a lot, musically.

Edgelord tryhard.

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

It never got dark enough for me Leonard. I think this is the 3rd or 4th Cohen album I've gotten and I like it best so far. Leonard's voice has aged well and I enjoy the lyrical content. Coming to grips with your own mortality is always sobering. When you get to a certain age and realize that at best it's already half over, it's a bit of a fuckaroo. Inevitable facts of life.

Made me cry and touched my heart. Loved it, wonderful and pure art!

familiar with and like two of Cohen's older albums, so i'm excited to listen to this! don't think i know anything from it. edit: this was awesome. cohen's voice has matured so much, and i especially loved the somber-esque mood to the storytelling he was portraying. this was a great album.

Yeah this was amazing.

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

You Want It Darker - I’ll show you darker! I’ve never really listened to Leonard Cohen much but boy have I been missing out. The album explores all the usual themes of a man at the end of his life, reflecting on it with these dark and religious undertones and feelings that comes easy with Cohens baritone, and help solidify that grizzled old man aesthetic of the album. Motifs and themes pop back up through the album which is a nice touch and helps unify the album. The backing tracks are simple, and normally I May hold it against a lesser album but here it really helps thematically with that twilight years feel, and it’s exacerbated by the fact that Cohen died not long after this. Favorite - You Want It Darker

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

The less said the better about a man who has said so much. I would rather let him do the talking. The quiet power of the album is undeniable. While I wouldn't call this album joyous - there is plenty of light amidst the shadows. The production is minimal but sublime - matching the tone of the music. Single violins and subtle choirs add beauty. It's only with the final reprise that the true sadness comes and you feel the full weight of a life fading.

I love Leonard Cohen, but this is my first time listening to this album. Beautiful and heartbreaking, especially with the knowledge that he died so soon after. R.I.P. to an absolute legend.

Wow. Cohen's voice is haunting. This gives me chills. What a beautiful way to deal with pain and say good bye to the world.

The title track is on one of my favorite playlists I made and to which I listen with some frequency. What incredible texture and flow. And the rest of the album is a work of poetic beauty and intrigue. I love it.

An album that stops you in your tracks, the penultimate album from Leonard Cohen is the sound of an artist bidding farewell but driven to continue making music and art and is a privilege to listen to. The wisdom, the insight, the emotion all strike you to the core. Not a note is wasted. The music is perfectly pitched to support the breathy, quiet vocal. A heroic effort and one for the ages. (An alternative take from my daughter: ‘Kind of sounds like Lego Batman’)

Gonna get 5 stars. Leonard Cohen is brilliant

Excellent!

Loved this one. I was supposed to be working while I had this on but his voice kept making me stop and actually *listen* to the songs. The Wikipedia article was an interesting read too -- I ended up going to the Wikipedia page about Leonard Cohen as well and learned that my album for today has a link to my album from yesterday: a song on Nirvana's "In Utero" album references Leonard Cohen. 10/10 to the music, 3/10 to my own productivity.

A lot better than I was expecting

Only Leonard (and Bob) could make an album so current without referencing modern events in the slightest. Draws upon archetypes and metaphor to perfectly critique the human condition and the role of society. Cohen's last album and maybe his best.

Excellent, loved the gravelly voice, You Want it Darker was my favorite song

Masterpiece. This is the perfect album to test out a brand new pair of speakers.

Oh that was superb. First listen just floored me. An easy 5/5.

Beautiful final album from a beautiful poet.

Holy hell. The power in this album, just in the first song, is haunting.

That voice. THAT VOICE. Fave track - The title track is absolutely badass. "Traveling Light" takes second place...

- first Cohen I've heard and blown away - strong cohesive direction but doesn't overstay it's theme - variety but also very powerful.

It's interesting hearing this compared to Songs of Leonard Cohen. His voice is like whiskey over gravel here in the best of ways. The production is so much more elaborate and fantastic too. Love the lyrical themes of struggling with religion and aging.

This absolutely blew me away. What took me so long?!

THIS IS THE LEONARD COHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR! Incredible. This guy is f***in' cool!

This is Leonard Cohen at his gravelliest. The sense of pathos in every song bears the weight of a long, full life.

An incredible listen. Really bowled over by it from start to finish. Fully felt the weight of a man facing the end. Superb.

Quality album written by a dude who knew he was dying. Sad and awesome at the same time.

good! Great songwriting and really intense themes. it’s an interesting listening experience bc everything is so overt and lyric focused without being too in your face or being at the expense of the music. 4.5 very good and I’ll probably listen again but nothing really floored me

One of the greatest poet/lyricists of all time.

This album warranted you kit-out your headphones to maximum bass, for his vocals alone. Very much enjoyed to slow sultry tones of a man on the way out

What a voice, what great lyrics. The last strings track was beautiful

He saves his best fo last, great album. Montreal's greatest export!!

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

Who wants what darker?

An excellent album, made more poignant by the fact that it was his last album released before he died (prehumously?) Leonard Cohen has always struck me as an unhappy dude, trying to find peace in religion or a near religious fervor of love & coitus, and ultimately stuggling with how both are deeply human. What I love in 'You Want it Darker" is how the love of his muse, his troubled mentor (whom he later describes as a 'filthy beggar, guessing), and the capital G God are intertwined almost inseparably. The OG Tortured poet. Fav: Treaty, for the verse "I heard the snake was baffled by his sin... The poison enters everything". I fear I still don't quite get the titular track, You Want It Darker, which I am assuming is on me considering it is the most well known of the album.

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.

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.

Truly a breathtaking record. In the final days or his life Leonard put together this collection of beautiful songs bursting with tragedy and accepting of the fate of death. This album really is a masterpiece in complementing instrumentals with lyrics/vocals, as both are stunning. 8/10

A tricky album to review. When I listened to it I thought the production on the opening track as cheesy as hell, and whilst the vocal recording is exceptional the fact that it is effectively spoken word with very little passion or performance was a real negative, then I read that he's pretty much on his deathbed at this point and it puts it in a whole new light. It didn't really do anything musically for me, and the production and mix are incredibly clean polished, but I need things to have some kind of edge and bite and ultimately it just isn't for me

Sometimes I felt like I was listening to Dracula but kind of enjoyed it.

Alright I must admit I was blown away on the first song, his voice is so aged and sinister. I do think that effect overstays it’s welcome. But I appreciate an album from someone who isn’t in the prime years of their life, even if there should be many albums from the mid-2010’s on this list instead

Leonard Cohen doing a Louis Armstrong impression - sweet. Joking aside, the voice is super distracting from otherwise beautiful songs. Someone get this chap a lozenge

It was a vibe but I got really tired of it after a few songs

The authors of this list stan hard for Cohen. He's a great poet and writes some captivating songs, but a performer he is not. I always feel his music is best left in the hands of more capable artists, like Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright (Hallelujah), Nick Cave (I'm Your Man), Beck (Master Song), Glen Hansard (Who By Fire), just to name a few. This album is no different. It's full of well written poems with great arrangements and tiresome spoken word vocals that will lull you to sleep. A depressing album through and through.

Not sure what I was listening to.

Oh great, another entry in the “old man sing-talks poetry about life and God immediately before dying” category. I can appreciate the artistry (and definitely prefer his earlier work), but don’t think a second listen is ever likely… 2⭐️

I couldn't find anything good going for it, it was a snoozefest from start to finish.

Enough with the Leonard Cohen. It’s just not worthy of multiple albums on this list. Much less 3 or 4

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

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

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

Overrated. For people who like poems more than they like music. Can't sing at all - there comes a point at which not being able to carry a tune is an actual problem when it comes to calling yourself a musician. I like the title tune kinda sorta - thanks to the actual singers in the background. Basically, I don't want to listen to Grandpa croak at me.

Leonard Cohen is always fake and gay

I swear every time I hear this album it seems to go up in stature. It's been a while since I've listened to it but, each time it seems to get more dire more... darker if you will. It's like he's simultaneously accepting of death and giving middle finger to God for ending it all. It's very mortal. His graveled voice accenting his weariness as well as his anger. It's very human. It's also to me possibly his best written album, word fir word. One verse from "Treaty" really hit me this listen: "I heard the snake was baffled by his sin He shed his scales to find the snake within But born again is born without a skin The poison enters into everything" This album cuts deep each time. (10) ★★★★★

Brilliant

It is insane to me how Cohen’s words, over with genuinely interesting, eerily captivating production, have managed to cut through so sharply despite being caught in a war of attrition with his impersonation of Jeff Goldblum doing the Alpha wolf “Hello kitten” voice.

Ik vind het heel cool, hoe leonard Cohen op deze leeftijd nog zo veel swag heeft. Meeste artiesten van deze leeftijd zijn zachtgekookte eieren geworden die nog steeds teren op hun tijd in de jonge jaren. Dan krijg je vaak een oude man die nog jong probeert te zijn. Leonard Cohen zet het juist in als een wapen en maakt als brombeer een fantastisch album. Tekstueel lukt het hem altijd om in een album te komen en de vrouwelijke vocals passen wederom weer erg goed bij zijn muziek.

As soon as I saw Cohen's name, I knew this would be an emotional one. In a similar vein to Blackstar by David Bowie in the same year, this is a man reflecting on his life and doing something that very few musicians get the opportunity to accomplish: Saying farewell to his fans. He looks back upon the person he used to be, the person he has ended up becoming, and the world he is leaving behind, and the whole thing is this heartbreaking yet totally cathartic experience. Just beautiful and one that had me in tears at points. Favourite track: Treaty Least favourite track: N/A

Vingt-quatre heures, c'est exactement le temps qu'il m'aura fallu pour retrouver mes esprits. Vingt-quatre heures à peine après m'être envoyé le dernier album de Johnny Cash, le magnifique et terrifiant The Man Comes Around, me voilà déjà en train de poursuivre ce voyage vers la maison de retraite du rock 'n' roll. Mais attention, ici on ne frappe pas à n'importe quelle porte, on ne va pas voir les grabataires qui radotent, non on frappe à la porte de Leonard. Monsieur Leonard Cohen, c'est pour vous. Il est là, assis dans la pénombre de sa finitude. Le costume est impeccable, taillé sur mesure, comme toujours. Le fedora est vissé sur le crâne, de travers, juste ce qu'il faut. Putain, même à l'article de la mort, ce mec a plus de classe que l'intégralité de la scène pop actuelle. Ce disque, c'est son testament. C'est le dernier album, celui qui offre un départ comme seul Leonard aurait pu le faire : un départ infiniment, atrocement, magistralement classieux. Je ne vais pas m'amuser à vous décortiquer la galette piste par piste, car décortiquer ce disque morceau par morceau, c'est chiant à mourir. C'est un truc de critique musical coincé du cul. Cet album ne mérite pas qu'on le dissèque comme une vulgaire grenouille sur une paillasse de laboratoire. On va aller droit au but, sans tourner autour du pot, ce disque est une merveille absolue. Un putain de chef-d'œuvre, un 5 sur 5 incontestable. Et je pèse lourdement mes mots car habituellemeent, je ne suis pas du genre à distribuer les bons points avec le sourire. Je suis plutôt acerbe, en général. Je peux être drôle, parfois. Irrespectueux, souvent. Vulgaire, quand il le faut. Mais là, face à ce monument, je m'écrase. Quand on lance You Want It Darker, la première chose qui vous écrase, c'est la voix. Une voix caverneuse, éraillée par la vie, le tabac et les années de prières. Une voix qui résonne comme un oracle au fond d'un puits sans fond. C'est la voix d'un type qui a un pied dans la tombe et qui s'en amuse presque. Sauf qu'ici, il n'y a pas de fioritures, il n'y a pas d'artifices cache-misère, il n'y a rien d'autre que le dénuement le plus total. La production, ciselée avec amour par son fils Adam, est d'une pureté à en chialer. Quelques chœurs spectraux qui flottent dans l'air, lourds de sens. Une basse qui rampe lentement, insidieusement, comme une ombre menaçante projetée sur un mur. Des guitares acoustiques qui pleurent silencieusement dans leur coin. On n'est pas là pour faire la fête, on l'aura compris. On est là pour écouter un homme faire ses adieux à Dieu, au monde entier et à l'amour. "Hineni, hineni, I'm ready, my Lord." Me voici, je suis prêt, Seigneur. Faut quand même en avoir une sacrée paire dans le pantalon pour ouvrir un album avec une déclaration pareille. Cohen ne lutte plus, il ne se débat pas bêtement, il ne triche pas. Il ne nous fait pas le coup foireux de la crise de jeunisme, contrairement à tous ces vieux rockers refaits au botox qui s'accrochent à leurs vingt ans comme des morpions à un poil. Lui, il embrasse sa propre fin, il la regarde bien en face, sans jamais baisser les yeux. Avec ce sourire en coin indéfinissable et une dernière clope allumée au bec. Tu le veux plus sombre, le monde ? Pas de problème, il éteint la lumière pour toi. C'est d'une irrévérence folle, quand on y réfléchit deux secondes. Le mec tire sa révérence en nous crachant une beauté vénéneuse et crépusculaire à la figure. C'est ça, la vraie classe, savoir quitter la table avec dignité quand on ne peut plus bluffer. Il n'y a plus de place pour les regrets à ce stade, plus de temps pour les conneries et les faux-semblants. Juste la vérité, froide, brute, nue comme le marbre d'un caveau de famille. Ce qui rend ce disque si percutant, si atrocement magnifique, c'est qu'il n'y a aucune once de complaisance. Cohen ne pleurniche jamais sur son triste sort. Il constate simplement les dégâts, il acte l'extinction imminente des feux. Il rédige sa propre oraison funèbre avec la plume élégante d'un poète usé mais invaincu. C'est presque insolent de beauté, c'est d'une noirceur insondable qui vous absorbe tout entier. Pendant des décennies, Cohen a été le roi incontesté de la mélancolie, le saint patron des cœurs brisés, le phare des marginaux magnifiques. Ici, il va beaucoup plus loin que tout ce qu'il a pu faire avant. Il touche au sublime, au divin, à l'absolu. Les chœurs masculins de la congrégation Shaar Hashomayim, qui l'accompagnent sur le morceau-titre, donnent une dimension carrément mystique à l'ensemble. On n'est plus dans un putain de studio d'enregistrement californien aseptisé. On est dans une cathédrale en ruines ou dans une synagogue abandonnée aux éléments depuis des siècles. La spiritualité transpire de chaque sillon de ce vinyle. De chaque putain de silence. C'est un album qui se savoure dans la pénombre, les rideaux tirés, et surtout, dans le silence le plus religieux et le plus complet. Parce que le silence, c'est vraiment tout ce qu'il reste quand les dernières notes s'évanouissent dans l'air lourd. Je ressors de cette écoute lessivé mais incroyablement vivant. C'est le paradoxe fascinant des grands disques qui parlent de la mort et de la finitude : ils vous foutent une baffe monumentale pour vous rappeler de respirer un grand coup et de profiter de ce qui reste à prendre avant que le chrono ne s'arrête. Léonard a tiré le lourd rideau de velours noir. Il a quitté la scène sans faire de bruit, par la porte de derrière. Et il nous a laissé ce diamant brut en guise de dernier pourboire. Un 5 sur 5 incontestable et c'est même sévèrement sous-noté face à un truc d'une telle envergure. Parce qu'on ne note pas la perfection avec de pauvres petits chiffres dérisoires. On s'incline, on ferme sa gueule, on se tait respectueusement et on réécoute. Jusqu'à ce que la nuit tombe définitivement sur nous tous.