Songs of Love and Hate

Ik heb inmiddels het vijfde album van de man doorwerkt en in totaal zijn er twee nummers die ik kon waarderen (Suzanne en First we take Manhattan). 4 Van de 5 albums zijn uitwisselbaar. Alleen het jaren '80 album 'I'm your man' biedt iets aanvullends.

Ook dit album is tergend saai. En nee, dan helpt het ge-lalala op het eind niet mee. Zeker niet als je dat twee nummers achter elkaar doet. Dat levert aftrek van de 2 sterren die Leonard standaard oogst.

I think I would describe this as dark, moody folk music. The lyrics have a brutally honest nature, and the vocals are abrasive at times. But the acoustic guitar parts are beautiful in many of the songs.

just inoffensive sounds that blend into the background for me. cohen works better in writing than in music imo

Very Leonard, much Cohen

It's alright but I definitely thought songs from a room was better

3.25

4/5. That Leonard Cohen guy really knows how to tell a story, huh. This album sees Cohen going much darker and moodier than his first few albums. The guitar playing is simple, as is the singing. and that’s intentional as the main focus is the words, the stories being told, which tracks considering Cohens background as a poet. For me, the best song here is “famous blue raincoat”, a song that’s formatted like a letter and seems to detail a relationship that’s crumbling due to an affair while also painting imagery of Cain and Abel. Essential folk record In my opinion.

I like leonard cohens song here.

only one of those sentiments trully relates to how i feel about this album.

Pretty good and cozy

This is now the fourth of five albums in this project. I took another look at my previous reviews. They were much better than I thought. There was the rather fundamental rejection of the cerebral, intellectual singer and the surprised realization that I liked the music more than I expected. It was the same this time. Maybe, ultimately thanks to this project, I’m becoming a fan? 4/5

There's definitely a time and a place for this album, it just doesn't come up very often. If I ever have all my family killed or when Bruno Fernandes leaves United I'll put this one on

This is my first time listening to Leonard Cohen, both in the project and in general. And it has probably the best lyrics I've had since I got Bob Dylan(albums #9 and #16). The soundscape is far better than Dylan, trading annoying vocals and harmonica for a spare baritone and guitar, almost reminiscent of Johnny Cash. It's extremely spare and bare-boned, with an intimate atmosphere that differs vastly from most other records. To listen to this album is an experience like few others. It's not the kind of album that impresses through big choruses or heavy riffage or jaw-dropping solos; it demands you read into the lyrics as poetry, for they are basically poetry sang over spare guitar and occasional strings/piano. This is not an album to be played constantly; it's one to sit down with and really take time to listen to. And when you do, I suspect that you will be rewarded with an experience like few others. That is one of the many markers of a great record, and the one that gives this greatness.

I’ve had two Leonard Cohen albums so far and I’ve hated both. I’m Your Man is in the discussion for my least favourite overall so far. This one however I surprisingly liked. In saying that nothing blew me away or anything but, considering my rock bottom expectations going in, a three is a good score. I could even push to a four on another day since I won’t have that feeling of dread going in.

Obviously, very good. Not quite my favourite of his but it ticks all the Leonard Cohen boxes.

I was a music major in college, and inevitably, you get to a point in music history where you must talk about Arnold Shoenberg, widely considered one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. He was, without a doubt, deeply creative and immensely influential. And yet, I never want to listen to anything he ever wrote. Yes, I can stop everything and pay attention, and gain appreciation for what he’d written, but I will never seek out his music for pleasure, and I certainly won’t enjoy it if I do listen to it.

Leonard Cohen is similar for me. But replace “composer” with “songwriter.” He just doesn’t do anything for me, even if he’s technically brilliant. And, as far as I’m concerned, there were other great songwriters at the same time who actually wrote music that was worth listening to. I will pick those songwriters every time.

I wasn't really in the mood to listen to this today, but still amazing and slightly unhinged in places.

8.9

Fav track: Famous Blue Raincoat

Least fav: Sing Another Song, Boys

his voice does something to me and not in a good way

If you've got something to say, just write it down. Don't put it over lousy guitar.

The Good: Always nice when an album title explains what you are going to hear!
The Bad: The album title not explaining that it refers to how you will feel about the songs…
The Ugly: The fact that there’s more to hate…

Oh Leonard, what troubled life you live.

Is he a great poet? Yes.
Does he know how to pluck a string or two? Yes.
Is his voice particular? Yes.
There, that’s the positive stuff to say about the album.

I will not dive into the negative portions of the album, as I believe those who’ve not had to listen to this album yet should dig in with a blank slate!

Don’t let my score discourage you for, potentially, loving the album… I hated it… 2*