Reviews (page 12 of 13)
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.
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.
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 kinda freaked me out. If I wasn't being whispered to, it would be higher
yikes-this was dark. still don't like his voice, or his songwriting. at all
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
this was exactly as weird as you'd ever want it to be! he's a genius of the weird lil guy genre! there's not really any issue i can take with anything here except that if I'd not been in the right space for it i would have not liked how weird it is instead of loving how weird it is
Yikes I did not enjoy this at all.
Didn't really care for this. Probably should have liked the "talking" singing since I like William Shatner's stuff, but this guy didn't impress.
2016 Leonard Cohen wat een verdrietig albumpje, zielige boomer
You smoking too much Leonard.
Early Leonard Cohen sounds like Leonard Cohen, and late Leonard Cohen sounds like Jarvis Cocker?
I don't get it, not my style.
Surprise surprise.. another fucking Leonard Cohen album on this list.
Poetic, but with what felt like Christian undertones. Spoken lyrics rather than sung would take me a while to desire.
That was a striking experience. Very emotive. Glad I’ve listened to it as probably wouldn’t have stumbled across it. Glad because it’s just a very unique piece of work and the backstory to it is incredible. Won’t listen to it again, but can appreciate and respect it for what it is. 2 stars
Tom Waits meets Bob Dylan at the local coffee shop open mic night.
Is this Pedro Abrunhosa? 2.5 stars for the plagiarism. He does sound better though.
I never want to listen to another Cohen album again
Tried to not fall asleep while listening to this. 2 stars because I am feeling generous
Very Cohen
Learning how close to Cohen’s death this album was released certainly makes the lyrics more haunting. But it’s not any easier to listen to.
Beautiful words in places but very depressing
I love listening to dark albums, so this one didn't spook me or depress in the least, as it has others in these reviews, but at the end of the day it is just more of the same boring schtick by Leonard Cohen about the same handful of subjects that he is obsessed with. In my opinion, music is the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms by which the lyrics are delivered. The lyrics themselves are not music, and and ike most of Cohen 's catalog there is nothing instrumentally melodic, melodically, or rhythmically interesting going on here. No real substance, just more smoke and mirrors to memorize the hipsters. This is my third Cohen album and I haven't even gotten to his album that is most bearable of his on this list. This artist is waaaaay over represented on the list. It is just weird to me when people compare him to Johnny Cash or David Bowie, as he does not possess the musicality or lyricality of either of them.
Not for me, like late Johnny Cash
How is this a top 1000? I get it's a good bye album, but that should have no bearing on placement on this list. Definitely a miss for me.
95/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Probably the dullest album he recorded. He could do so much better - and he did.
Commuting to work thinking I'm in a David Lynch movie.
Got the dark and brooding part right
Not a fan of the mumbling/talking over the songs 2 ⭐️
Great voice. Would much rather he spent the time recording audiobooks than this slog (1.5/5)
At the end of every Leonard Cohen song, say “in bed.” Hilarious.
I didn’t know what to think of this at first. Turns out that Leonard can come up with some interesting melodies to go with his dark poetry. This was better than expected but still isn’t something I would put for anyone or would find myself with an urge to listen to it. 2.5 goin down.
Back up vocals and music are very good. His voice just doesn’t do it for me. I have a feeling some of his earlier albums will be on this list and curious if his “singing” style still was the same in his earlier days. Was getting kinda droopy about halfway through the album. Leaving the table has a really good clean sounding lead guitar riff. If I didn’t have your love seems segmented between piano and guitar sections. Traveling light sounds like it belongs in a fugitive movie moving through the rio grande valley trying to get to Mexico. I will say each song sounds kind of the same but has very different styles or uses of instruments to play the same song.
Poems with music in the background………..
Marginally better than the previous Cohen album I listened to. Still not a fan, but this is a strong 2 stars rather than just reaching that level.
Okay. Leonard Cohen is a legend. The lyrics? Depressing but they made me stop and reflect which I can appreciate. Listening to an old man talk/sing over basic pop chords and instrumentation though? Definitely not easy listening or for me. For the music alone? 1 star. But after reading about the history of this album. I'll give an extra pity star.
Didn't like this guy whispering in my ear
dark and depressing
I understand Cohen is a legend but I couldn’t get behind the almost spoken word vocals. Just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Just a dude whispering in my ear
You have to enjoy the vocalist to appreciate this. I can't get past that and it was a struggle for me.
Yeah he’s influenced a shit tonne of bands, but I’ve never really understood the appeal (probably as I’m not so influenced on lyrics alone). TBH, his voice is pretty reduced to speaking only given his age at this point, so this album just sounds like a bad version of Mark Lanegan.
Need to listen to this again. He new he was on the way out and laid some personal stuff down. Lots of good funeral songs, quite liked it.
Nicht meine Richtung
I think it’s unfortunate that this is the first Leonard Cohen I’ve listened to properly cos I don’t really get it - I feel like if I had the context of his career I’d like it more.
The lyrics are entertaining, and impressive that he created this at his age, but all of that does not make me want to listen to it again.
I think Leonard might have depression. He has an incredible double bass voice, but that is really all the album has going for it. I hope he gets therapy, favorite track was make it darker.
Another slow and depressing Leonard Cohen album. The one does have better instrumentation and sounds more polished than some of his previous albums.
Never really listened to him before. Mesmerizing voice and nice lyrics. Time and a place for this kinda stuff though I guess.
Geheel niet fraai
Maat dit is echt niet om aan te horen zo saai hahah hoe heeft you want it darker 75 millie streams
Sorry, I'm still not a fan of Cohen. And with time flying by, it seems to me that he became a caricature of himself. His slow, drowling voice may be soothing to some, it is irritating to me. And I've never been a huge fan of slow music; there are very few exceptions, but Cohen is not of them. I still find it pretty boring.
A bit strange.
Is that dude even singing! Just sounds like he is just talking the whole way through
Interesting. Practically spoken word. Not my cuppa.
Yeah, religion is a bunch of shitty bullshit for smoothbrain idiots and assholes. It took you 80 years to finally realize that? You want a pat on the back and an attaboy? Fuck off This album is just 9 versions of the same song written different ways. 9 sad tired pathetic versions. Sorry you wasted your life believing in bullshit
Album Nr. 48 Hat zwar gut angefangen, wirkt aber mit jedem weiteren Titel mehr und mehr einschläfernd.
So wikipedia says he died two weeks after this was released. I hope this wasn't the 1001st album that he listened to on this list. The album itself isn't very melodic. I understand he was a genius, but it's difficult to listen to.
LC may be the poet of our generation but personally I found very little appeal to this album. Maybe for other people but not for me
Geeeee Legalább kevesebb mint 40 perc
I like other renditions of his songs, well one song, Hallelujah. Not as moved by his performances as I am by his songwriting.
I just don't get the appeal of Leonard Cohen. Just a guy talking over some bland music
I didn’t really enjoy this at all. I don’t really have any familiarity with Cohen so I don’t have any emotional attachment to this album others must. I can recognize he’s an excellent musician and his lyrics are good, but he’s clearly an old man with a really weakened voice and bland (to me) instrumentation. I recognize the impact of his lyrics and his reflections on life, but I did not enjoy this musically at all unfortunately
sad tom waits, idk if it's my jam
Initial impression... what is this? As the album continues, my thought is that this exists for Cohen and not for the audience. I wouldn't call this enjoyable, but it's thoughtful and pretty at times. I just can't get past the vocal spoken word style performance. Cohen passed away in 2016, the same year of this album. It does feel like a dark goodbye, but while I'm sorry he's gone, it doesn't make this more listenable.
Nicely produced dirge
This is a tough album. I like the background music, especially the strings. But I just can’t get into a full album of talking instead of singing. These tracks seem like they would fit pretty well in a preview to a movie or a montage sequence, but it’s not the kind of thing I want to listen to again.
I got nothin
Eh
Kan je ook normaal praten / zingen?
I don’t think we need any more Leonard cohen albums please, especially if he isn’t even going to sing on it
Very dark and understated album. Cohen’s low, whispered growl is quite a strange vocal style to me that I am not a huge fan of. The instrumentals are enjoyable.
Interesting voice. Would be a great voiceover on TV/film. Maybe an audiobook. Just not music. Insanely bored 5 songs in. 1.5*
Didn't really like any song. Only reason it's not a 1 is that a couple of the songs had good music, but the vocals killed everything.
The songwriting and music on this album sound high quality. I just don't care for the talk-singing style. Maybe that's an unpopular opinion, since it's Leonard Cohen, but I just can't get into it.
1. you uuant it darker - 2 2. treaty - 1 3. on the level - 1 4. leaving the table - 1.5 5. if he didnt have your love - 1 6. traveling light - 1 7. it zeemed the better uuay - 1.5 8. zteer your uuay - 1 9. treaty 2 - 1
Too "not-singed"
What a voice! Nice atmosphere about the album, only a couple of songs stood out though
Reminds me of a modern day Johnny Cash. I loved the instrumentals but not so much the singing and lyrics.
Deep voice was off-putting. Instrumentals were nice, but would not listen again because of vocals.
hm not my music. but nice deep voice "talking"
Its weird to jump into albums blind, because when I first listened to this shit, I fucking hated it. Boring, spoken word poetry over mediocre, hushed music. And its some Christian/Religious concept album. Fuuuuck that. But apparently the guy was dying, and while suffering from pain in his living room, he recorded this as a sort of "final word" to god and life. I respect this.
I want it brighter, veel te lage stem
I wasn't ready, my lord.
Not quite spoken word; not quite songs; not quite good
2016. This one is hard to rate. Pretty music in some spots, particularly the closer, and the "vocals" were almost careless spoken word. Pleasant enough to listen through, didn't hate it.
This wasn't unlistenable but it was tough to get through. Instrumentation carried it.
His voice is so deep. I want to like this album especially because this was recorded so close to his death but I just can’t get past his voice…
All the songs sound very similar and really just rely on his deep voice to be interesting.
Was ready to hate this album after the first song, but it was actually decent. I just don't like the parts that are more spoken than sung. I also find it exhausting to listen to at times. I kind of get why it is on this list, but it's not for me. 2.5 stars (hard to settle on a number here) Favourite songs: - Treaty
No.
Same good songwriting as his debut with less impressive vocals. Understandable given his age.
Hallelujah wat een schijtalbum, 2/5 want cohen
And I got it darker
Dark is right. Made the best use out of his voice his whole life
Slow 2.2
I know he's a legend, but idk if I like his voice in this album. In general, I don't love "spoken word"-like music. I think I would have enjoyed an acoustic version of this album more. 2* for the instrumentals.
i have respect for Leonard Cohen as a writer but
This is the 5th Leonard Cohen album I've had on this list and I would have preferred to listen to every single one of them after I have died. Do I want it darker? No, I want it better!
Boring
meh
His lyrics are great, and some of the tracks are clearly very poignant given the context in which it was written. I just found it a bit downbeat and dull to listen to though
Much better than the last Cohen album I was subjected to but still just OK.
Atmospheric, mellow instrumentation with his low, gravelly voice. Not too musically interesting, but there's probably a story in the lyrics that I missed
I always just think of Leonard Cohen in the studio like: "dude check out how low I can make my voice go lol doesn't that sound cool"
Cohen's style doesn't grip me, even with the beautiful and intricate lyrics.
Eh
Nicely written songs. Really depressing listen though.
I feel like the mix is really interesting here. The vocals are super far forward but you can still hear the instrumentation. Cohen's voice is super interesting and the poetry is quite good but it doesn't really hit for me. This guy's dying, but I don't know if I can connect with being as world weary as he is
RIP Leonard Cohen. Not my favorite but there are still some cool songs on here.
I didn't want it this dark
Love the voice. Would not call it rock and roll. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, however, I do not see it in my top 1000. Only the 2nd one I’ve rated so not sure if I’m being too harsh. It ain’t rock n roll.
The high praise for this feels like a lifetime achievement award---he has much better stuff.
Leonard's deep dark voice doesn't make me horny.
not for me but cool
Not for me at all. Maybe if I was a lyrics person. The music underneath was well produced but the vocals were just awful.
Okay, he's not even singing at this point. And I don't understand English so for me it's just an old dude rambling over minimalistic music
Not my taste but a few cool songs
someone get this geezer a glass of water. this is the clint eastwood of folk rock, melodramatic, been around too long, outta touch, and lame.
This is less music to me and more spoken-word poetry. Lots of bitter songs about failed relationships coming from a dying man - it seems like a very sour way to sum up a life.
boy i don't think this should have been my introduction to leonard cohen. i'm not familiar enough with his music, so the whole "released while he was dying" thing does not really hit for me and personally, this was a bit of a slog. god i'm sorry this album is so boring for me. and boy i really can't get past his voice on this one. it feels like he's barely singing at all. look, i know, i know! i think it's just not for me.
Interesting, but not an album I’d listen too often. Title track feels like it’s out of Breaking Bad
Really can't see why people like this
Music is lovely and ethereal and all musical aspects I really enjoyed. EXCEPT I couldn’t get into Cohen’s spoken word attempt. I may be influenced by snick Cave’s spoken word album but I found Cohen’s voice distracting and disjointed as opposed to blending into a musical/spoken word piece. Wanted to enjoy this a lot more 4/10
Not really my thing, but knowing this was the end, I'm not going to make fun. I know the name and know he has inspired many other artist, but for me I don't get it. I did a little research about him and copied this from a rolling stone article: When the Velvet Underground's John Cale asked him to send over the lyrics so he could cover it, he received a 15-page fax full of discarded verses. Cale cobbled together a new version of the song, which he recorded on the piano. It was that version that Jeff Buckley covered on his 1994 LP Grace, and slowly the song became an absolute sensation, covered so many times that Adam Sandler spoofed the practice at the 12/12/12 charity show at Madison Square Garden. Knowing my boys from Velvet Underground were inspired by this guy, he's OK in my book. I did like the lyrics in Treaty. Was a very unique listen for sure. Almost like a talking book put to music. 2
I can acknowledge Leonard Cohen’s greatness as writer or poet. And listening to a song or two of his in isolation is fine. But a whole album with that monotone voice is really off-putting and no amount of lyrical genius can paper over the fact he can’t and never could sing. Perhaps that’s not the point and never was, and people that love Cohen love him for his words and tales of love, life, meditations on mortality and death, and liberal use of religious symbolism and metaphor. And I get it. He’s brilliant at that, but publish it in book or written form, because for me (and this is the 3rd Cohen album the generator has given me now) his albums are a chore rather than a pleasurable listening experience, and ‘You Want It Darker’ is no exception.
De sigaret die hij aan het roken is op de cover is echt aan het inslaan Elk nummer is eigenlijk een beetje hetzelfde - behalve steer your way die op de een of andere manier beter binnenkomt
I loved the first song, the rest just sounded the same. Depressing spoken word poetry over minimalist background music. Its fine, but I'm not going to be returning for more listens.
I don’t know why I didn’t realize the guy who wrote hallelujah would have a lot of religious vibes to his songs. Vocals were different, album was a bit mediocre. I felt like he was trying to say something or be edgy, but he didn’t do it well.
Couldn't get into it. Still kinda cool. Might have needed a different environment.
Put a pin in this one for when i have less joie de vivre
Very nice deep voice, but the music overall just was not for me.
It was okay. His voice was a little off and the songs mostly sounded very similar
Boygenius reference
My 4 year old said "He sounds like a bad guy" and she is right. The title track gives me major Scar vibes from The Lion King. In a way, the music actually fits his voice better than some of the other albums we have had to listen to. That is the only reason that I am giving this an extra star and should in no way be misinterpreted as a softening of my dislike for this artist.
“Not this asshole’s voice again…” - Me 2 Leonard Cohen albums ago predicting this review. Not far off. To his credit almost entirely gave up trying to sing and somewhat melodically talked the lyrics. It’s the best use of his voice that I still dislike. I very much enjoyed the music on Traveling Light. Thank goodness this is the last Cohen album we have! See, I found two nice things to say, which is a record for me and Leonard Cohen.
The music itself is very good but I CANNOT with this low gravelly voice. I don’t know why but it’s so unsettling and I physically can’t finish this
Raspy but good to nap to 2.5/5
Ei jaksa innostua levyllisestä puhetta musan päälle.
Tommonen rauhallinen runopläjäys. En saanut orgasmia…
Leonard Cohen would make for a good sleep therapist if you didn't understand English. If you did, someone better tell him you were looking for music, not a talking album.
I want it lighter.
Interesting voice, almost spoken word
Singer songwriter album with strange, very deep and almost spoken vocals with dark lyrics and sparse production. I wasn’t a fan at all however I like it slightly better than the similar sounding album from Bill Callahan.
Not my style
Ok though a bit drab
Not my type
- Very much sounds like a man on his deathbed - Clearly a strong songwriter - Groovy, but not for me
Love the title song. The rest all sounded the same.
More Leonard Cohen... I mean, really?! 4 albums out of 1001 so far. Hopefully, this is the last. The title track is rather good, but my god he needs a holiday in the sun and to cheer the fuck up.
doing this one out of order to get all the Leonard Cohen album's done why are there four here he's really old in this one
Find it a hard listen
Never got the attraction of Leonard Cohen
Continue to not be able to appreciate the music of Cohen. Lyrics are ok, but don’t move me
For me it is a boring humming from an old man.
The fifth Leonard Cohen album we've got and certainly the one I enjoyed the least. It sounds like a mix of French chansonnier and Christian church music to me - both not styles I'm a fan of. I guess the direction makes sense for the point of life Cohen was at. But it's not something I care to listen to.
Who seriously could like this? Just speaking into a microphone with some light repetitive instrumentals. 3/10.
There is some nice tasty backing and some clever lyrics but I still find him annoying.
They lyricism is great. But it's still just an old man whispering over violin and acoustic guitars.
The music was great but this was such a strange album.
I can respect what he's doing, but the self-important talk singing just doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me.
musikalisch und textlich interessant, Stimme und Sprechgesang furchtbar
It's OK, I guess? If you've never heard Leonard Cohen before, this is a pretty good example of his sound. That said, his sound is kind of hit or miss.
I think the author of the book took the "before you die" part of the assignment a little too literally.
Kudos to whatever studio forced this one out of Leonard before the poor old fart died – the cigarette on the cover is fitting, as the man sounds like he's on death's doorstep with how onerous he croaks out each verse. The range and dynamism of his earlier vox are clearly out of reach on this one, and even if the vocals were at their previous peak the dollar-bin production and instrumentation would damn this LP anyway.
If I wanted to listen to somebody croon I’d listen to Lana Del Rey
El álbum realmente no es algo a lo que acostumbro a escuchar, tiene buenas letras pero me parece que con alguna connotación religiosa, su voz no es muy de mi agrado y es muy tranquilo y calmado para el ritmo que me gusta. No es lo que me gusta escuchar y tampoco me parece un álbum reluciente.
Disco con el estilo característico del cantante en sí. Melancólico, triste, y más que cantado, narrado. En ocasiones, un tanto deprimente. Tiene algún buen gesto, pero demasiado plano y similar entre sí
I made the mistake of trying to listen to this on a sunny day. Had to try again in the evening. Being old definitely suits him but there weren't quite enough musical ideas or great lyrics to sustain the whole thing
Bit weird. Better than the other one on the list.
I liked the other Cohen albums that I listened to along this list, but this specific one I didn't like too much. It looks like a poetry reading session more than an album. Maybe I'm not in the vibe.
Not for me
Feels bad to say, but although i get the emption of the situation and lyrics, the voice and arrangement do less than nothing for me.
I deeply revere his 60s and 70s albums, but for me personally, he has a sharp cut off date in the 80s. His voice got flatter then and his style of arranging changed to where I no longer enjoyed the sound. Still a great songwriter all the way through to the end but honestly I'd rather hear other people interpret these songs. Hearing him croak them out on his deathbed is just sad. While listening to this album I just kept trying to imagine the songs being sung in his youthful voice.
Didn't like it
My grandma loved him. His vocals are mixed so high on this record it feels silly. I know that's the point with Cohen. But, I mean, we get it, man. It's distracting and I honestly didn't get into this record as a result. Hoping for more early-period Cohen on this list. All the instruments sound superb. And the lyrics (especially given his subsequent death) are prescient. It feels like a final farewell.
Good voice, a tad too slow
Boring
Weird that this album was on the list, considering how late it is. And not that great?
I want it meistens gar nicht. Nicht euer Ernst, oder? Texte gut, Musik Schrott.
Mama always told me that if you can’t say anything nice…. And seeing that this album was completed only 17 days before his death, I’ll bite my tongue. Suffice to say I’m still not a Leonard Cohen fan.
Peculiar album
I have heard some Cohen on a soundtrack once. It was ok. The album has some nice ambiance in some songs but his singing style is kinda repetitive as its more like talking.
Hm
It not my music
Artistic and poetic, but I really can’t listen to album after album of depressed muttering
I think I like his older stuff better. This album was a bit too spoken word for me.
I couldn't really get through this one.
I've heard of Leonard Cohen, but never listened to any of his music. From the first note I wasn't sure what to expect, but when that deep, booming yet soulful voice came at me I was taken aback. Overall it was a very dark and somber album that was ok but wouldn't go out of my way to listen to. Best: You Want It Darker Worst: Steer Your Way
Voice halfway between Thriller/Hot Summer Night narration and typical singing. Dark/religious theme lyrics. Quieter music, style gets old by the end of the album. Select listening/Halloween would be good!
Pretty dark.
Gets too much attention simply because Leonard Cohen died shortly after this was released. That doesn't automatically mean this is good! Maybe Cohen and Tom Waits can get together at the after party and determine who had the more annoying, gravelly voice (it's no surprise that my favorite song is the instrumental closer). The only thing I want darker is my coffee. And my men.
Oude man vertelt verhaaltjes. Als je er van houdt kan het leuk zijn, maar het is niet zo mijn ding. Verder ook niet irritant of zo. **
This one left me cold. Had the same Cohen vibe I like a lot, but nothing here made me want to listen again.
It was alright. Nothing really noteworthy. I had didn't hate it. A lot of just speaking the lyrics.
so spooky
Not expecting back to give back to back 2 star reviews for Leonard Cohen. Too dark for me. In the words of Tom Hanks “I want something peppy, something snappy”…
Spock was better
This sounds like something I'd hear on a radio in a movie directed by Guillermo del Toro. I'll listen to it if it's in the background of something else I'm concentrating on, but as an album it's not very interesting. Favorite track: Leaving the Table
Questo album è quello che mi ha messo più in crisi forse in assoluto. Leonard Cohen era nella mia lista di gente che aspettavo alla resa dei conti. Questo disco però è un macello da giudicare, è stato scritto e registrato con lui che manco se reggeva in piedi. Da una parte è evidente che la voce ti al secondo pezzo già diventa irritante (ma appunto poraccio c'ha delle attenuanti), dall'altra comunque è il disco di una persona matura che probabilmente sa pure che non gli rimane molto da vivere e quindi ti aspetteresti qualcosa di incredibilmente profondo. E infatti suona come un disco profondo, però secondo me ci suona e basta e la cosa mi irrita pure. A me sto disco sembra pretenzioso, magari un giorno rivaluterò questo voto quando avrò più esperienza per giudicare ma per ora me dispiace tanto Leonard RIP è 2.
Great lyrics and some great tunes but gets tiresome quickly.
You Want It Darker is not an unqualified triumph, but I still enjoyed it, mostly because of Leonard Cohen's take on mortality, (not) coming to terms with God, life and impending death. I'm sure I missed a few, but here's one memorable line: "As He died to make men holy Let us die to make things cheap" A short laugh out loud, followed by an internal groan. Sadly, the music actually diminished the impact of Cohen's poetry. It's old-fashioned in all the worst ways. It's overbearing when it should be spare, sentimental where it should be cold and bleak. Imagine the impact if Leonard Cohen had hired someone like Boards of Canada to do the music. Leonard Cohen was never much of a guitarist, but his accompaniment for Songs Of Leonard Cohen was a good fit for his poetry. If you want the full impact Leonard Cohen is capable of, watch McCabe and Mrs. Miller, a fable about our wonderful and plucky free enterprise system, which has the songs of Leonard Cohen as its soundtrack. By the end of the movie, you may want to kill yourself, but then again, Leonard Cohen was always tuned in to the more melancholy currents of life. On Accuradio, I used to hear a version of Democracy, a relatively modern Leonard Cohen tune, that I've never been able to find. That version was ghostly and gorgeous, deepening the themes of Cohen's poetry. The released version was a horrible patriotic march, intended as irony, I'm sure. You Want It Darker isn't as bad as that, but I regard it as a missed opportunity.
What a Lovely deep gravelly voice.
Enjoyed the music to this but couldn't get on with the vocals for a whole album. Was ok though, surprise surprise another 2*.
Not really my cup of tea but I respect it.
I wasn’t surprised to see that the dude died shortly after this was released. It had some interesting composition pieces, but his voice is mostly speaking and the mood a bit melancholy instead of how I think of Jonny Cash toward the end of his life.
Somehow manages to be both interesting and boring
M'agrada molt Leonard Cohen, hi ha àlbums seus que em porten a la infància i a la adolescència, i la seva poesia em sol emocionar profundament. Podria enumerar desenes de cançons seves que col·locaria en una hipotètica llista de les meves preferides. Però amb aquest àlbum (que desconeixia tret de la cançó titular) no hi he connectat. Me'l guardaré per fer una escolta atenta en el futur, però la primera impressió ha estat més aviat tíbia.
graveliest voice
Dark, gravely voice. Melodic album, you’d really have to be in the mode for this one, not a listen on loop thing.
eh
Just so sad that I would never want to identify with this as a senior
No! ... and I can't stress this enough... Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ in part Revisit ❌️ ★☆☆☆☆(2/10) Total reviewed : 376 Already owned : 83 Purchased : 16 To buy : 7 Nope : 270
How many songs can he whisper through? 1, 2 maybe 3. Nope, everyone.
his music is just unlistenable, the deep voice is just irritating. It gives me the sensation of someone whispering into my ear and I don't want some middle age dood straight whispering in my ear so ahh idk how people like ts. This should genuinely be taken off of album a day, 5 Leonard Cohen albums for what? I could go my whole life happy not knowing who this man is. Do I want it darker? Hell no boi I don't want it at all
Opening mournful church choir, deep bass chords, subtle organ and such a looming, fathomless voice in "You Want it Darker" delivers. Anyone else in the mood to watch the Sopranos? The sorrow continues with "Treaty" and it seems Cohen captures a hollow shell of himself without Ariel. Suprise, his struggles carry on in "On the Level." However, the soulful piano/organ and background singers create a bluesy beauty. I have to admit, with onslaught of despondency, Cohen feels like an old, tired, and suffering dog and may be best put to him out of his misery. "Leave the Table," just leave already. He wallows on with lyrics like, "That's how broken I would be" in the track "If I Didn't Have Your Love." At this point, move on already. There's musical talent here, but this dark album blocked light highlighting the gifts within this album. If you're wistful, this is likely your jam, but then again, "Mea Culpa."
WTF is this bullshit Wenn ich einen Podcast hören möchte melde ich mich
Interesting at first, but got really boring really quickly. I liked the story telling , poem driven method but will never listen to it again tbh
just not for me
Feels like an old man i saying a poem
cant stand his voice
Creepy voice
nao gostei nem um pouco, sorry.
Good songs, but voice is too deep? Made me uncomfortable.
First listen
unbelievably boring. just a guy with a dark voice.
another largely spoken word album. a couple of interesting songs/poem(?) but still of little interest to me
Perdón Leonard, pero muy aburrido el disco... No llegué a conectar con ninguna canción.
Q verga
bit boring
I understand the circumstances surrounding this album's recording and release, but this is just such a bore,
I've never been a fan of Leonard Cohen unfortunately. This was hard to listen to, only because I thought it was more spoken word than anything.
Seriöst det med pedofiliska jag hört i hela mitt liv
I don't know what Cohen's earlier albums are like, but this felt like bad spoken word.
That was depressing. I'm also not fond of his singing voice.
4th Cohen album I've had on this list and I continue to question why any of them are here. Maybe he's a good poet. Frankly I don't give a shit about that. This is a list about music and this music is awful, generic drivel. Add his trademark low-talking vocals over the top and it becomes completely intolerable.
😟
Nope
When William Shatner sounds self-important, I think it might be his schtick, might. With Leonard Cohen, I’m pretty sure his self-importance is the real deal.
I have very strong negative views about LC, he's in a class of his own.
This guys the biggest suck to ever suck.
Man skulle kunna hoppas att när man blir äldre och visare slutar man ta sig själv på så jävla blodigt allvar, inte är så uppfylld av sitt eget geni och tar sig ur sitt eget arsle åtminstone lite grann. Men inte Cohen inte. Stanna i kloster din pretentiösa fan!
Todas son muy habladas. La música es buena pero me da mucha flojera que su voz sea todo lo mismo
Are you kidding me with this lol I guess the music is pleasant enough (I guess) but I just can't take this guy's "vocals" seriously. The whole talk-singing thing is probably never going to work for me, but I guess some people appreciate it. NOT for me at all.
If you want to hear an old man rambling while boring ass music plays, boy to I have the perfect album for you.
Track one sounded like it was on the opening credits of some bad ass movie I watched a while ago....that was pretty much the only good thing about this collection of 'songs'.
I'm so fucking scared
crusty old man voice rambling about his grandchildren not visiting him backed by ossanslop tunes
meh. not for me
I guess it isn't awful, but Cohen just isn't my taste, even his best stuff. This album is not his best stuff.
I'm definitely not the demographic for this, it was okay though I could be too young to get it... maybe when in the future I'll have an appreciation for it but its just so not my thing favourites : String Reprise / Treaty
Bad. Terrible. No good.
No thanks.
bijna asmr joh dit vind ik niet fijn ieeek
I’m sorry
Una mierda. No me como la curva de los que dicen que es muy poético y las letras son buenísimas y esas boludeces. Hay mil artistas que hicieron canciones con unas letras de las san puta y al mismo tiempo disfrutables de escuchar. En cambio esto es una verga inescuchable.
Why
No thank you
Not quite my tempo
I did not enjoy that at all.
It's just an old bloke that smokes 60 woodbines a day, talking over some really dull music ... or am I missing something???
Bad. Very bad.
This might have been the worst album I have listened to since starting this. J Just bad. I don't understand why this crap is considered something everyone needs to listen to?
I don’t get it, I mean he had an unique voice, but not for me.
cool voice, but songs suck
Reading poetry over music doesn’t really do it for me, But there were a couple tunes I kind of enjoyed. Props to a Canadian Legend though - I’ll try this again in another 30 years - maybe then I’ll get it.
Spoken songs are not really my jam. Also underwhelming instrumental. Don’t ever see myself reaching for anything by this artist honestly. At least not until the first million in the bank.
I did not want it darker
1 - TERRIBLE
what the actual fuck i guess. Onda, entiendo por qué esto le puede gustar a alguien???? onda, slow music, señor que canta turbo grave, etc. pero el mismatch entre lyrics y melodía (es medio como que el canto del señor es almost poetry reading y no cantar per se) me perturba, como que no me termina de cerrar, no me termina de gustar. Eso sumado a que las melodías terminan sonandome repetitivas después de un rato, me la re baja al puno donde ni lo quise terminar bien, empecé a skippear canciones ya halfway through it, lo cual es decir un montón, el disco es cortísimo. No escucharía esto de nuevo, just not for me. Ahora leyendo la wiki entiendo por qué le puede gustar a la gente, lo escribió muy close a su muerte, los lyrics justo tocan temas darks related, etc. Pero creo que esto solo confirma que es mejor cuando venís a las cosas medio blind, porque musicalmente sigue no cayendome bien. Escuché otros temas del señor en spotify y suele cantar!!!!!111 por favor denme más de eso no quiero mas poetry reading no-melódico.
1 star, Tough listen, sounds like something you'd hear at a funeral while on heroin.
lets put it like this, i dont love spoken word stuff, much less did i enjoy the topics, and more than the topics is the narrative surrounding the songs. trully not for me, maybe 2-3 years ago it could have really hit, but now i didn't enjoy it
Not for me, artistically it might be brilliant as a man dying is coming to terms with his mortality, musically I don’t find it enjoyable and it’s not something I want to listen to, and enjoyable doesn’t mean oh the atmosphere was sad because I do like sad songs, not enjoyable as in I don’t particularly like spoken word.
1.5
How does this artist have 2 albums in this list is mindblowing
No thats okay
Music for old people above the 65 nothing for me
My first double up - Already listened to it. I just don't like Leonard Cohen. I don't get the appeal of his guttural spoken word. Some of the music behind his speak-singing is decent. But he is boring.
Made me uncomfortable. Felt like I was seductively getting sweet talked by an old man.
Darker yes, but not boring.
The slam poetry rasp of this one doesn’t exactly do it for me, either, unfortunately.
longe de ser meu estilo. não consegui ouvir 2 músicas
Still don’t get it…
The Good: Mr Cohen just kept on smoking! The Bad: He should have been smoking something else… The Ugly: Having to sit through another Cohen album! FUCK ME. 5. FIVE FUCKING TIMES! You listen to one Cohen album, you’ve heard them all. Sure, if you like that kind of stuff, then enjoy it. I really believe that I will have to buy the book of the 1001 albums so that I can start understanding what the rationale is for Dimery and his list. This was the third album I’ve had to listen to, so the last 2 albums need to either be something spectacular, or I am going to shit a brick. Also, what is it with dying artist needing to record a swang song? Off to listen to silence for the next 2 hours… 1*
I’m not sure what I just listened to
Like the guy but this was a completely useless album.
Jesus Christ. Another Leonard Cohen album? You’re telling me no artists not on this list have ever recorded an album that would be better time spent listening than all of the Cohen albums? This is some bullllshit.
Not for me 1/5
Feel really harsh with this one. But it was half 5 in the morning. I was tired trying to bike to work His fucked up voice did it for me. You take this album with good vocals or someone else singing it I could see it been a decent album I probably won’t go back to it anymore
Oh, for fuck's sake already.... this shit again? At this point, being forced to listen to yet another Leonard Cohen album is making me angry. VERY angry. So angry, in fact, that if Leonard Cohen were still alive, I would wish him dead. You Like that, Dimery? Does it make you happy that your choices have made me betray my core beliefs and wish another man dead? Never mind that he has already passed. I want to bring ol' Lenny back from the afterlife so that I may inflict agonizing pain upon him and end his existence once again. Does that make you happy, Bob? Is that what you really want? What the hell is wrong with you, Bobbo? You sick fuck.
Didn’t fw it
Terrible
No
🥇if i didn’t have your love 🥈leaving the table 🥉steer your way
Not a fan but respect the weird