Leonard has a new album that comes out today.



I'm really enjoying it. My favorites of his are The Future and Ten New Songs, but for those not quite familiar with his work check out his Essential collection.

The Essential set is a great blend of his work from the beginning to now spread over 2 discs.

Here's a fair review I found over at RollingStone.com for Dear Heather:

"

Thirteen new (and old) songs from Canada's hippest seventy-year-old it's folly to complain that Leonard Cohen has lost his voice, since he never really had one to begin with. From the thin Canadian-folkie drawl of 1967's Songs of Leonard Cohen to the grave, gravelly tone that settled in circa 1988's I'm Your Man, Cohen is such a sourpuss that it's easy to miss his jokes. Take "Because Of," from the new Dear Heather, in which he seems to enact the title of his 1977 album, Death of a Ladies' Man: "Because of a few songs/Wherein I spoke of their mystery/Women have been exceptionally kind to my old age," he croaks as only someone who lived with Rebecca De Mornay in his fifties before heading off to a monastery in his sixties can. "They say, 'Look at me, Leonard/Look at me one last time.' "

What makes Dear Heather tick are the ladies who look back: longtime co-composer/producer Sharon Robinson and producer-engineer Leanne Ungar, as well as occasional co-lead vocalist Anjani Thomas, who open up the arrangements from the often repetitive Casio-lounge feel of 2001's Ten New Songs. Sometimes their work evokes wood paneling and tip jars ("Go No More A-Roving," with words by another famous poet, Lord Byron); sometimes it's stark (the spoken-with-piano "Villanelle for Our Time"); sometimes subdued and trip-hoppy ("The Letters"). But given how monochromatic Cohen tends to be, the jumbled feel works in Dear Heather's favor.

MICHAELANGELO MATOS
(Posted Nov 11, 2004)"



For those interested, here's the track listing as well:

1 Go No More A-Roving

2 Because Of

3 The Letters

4 Undertow

5 Morning Glory

6 On That Day

7 Villanelle For Our Time

8 There For You

9 Dear Heather

10 Nightingale

11 To A Teacher

12 The Faith

13 Tennessee Waltz





Definitely worth checking out, his older work even more so for those unfamiliar.

It's not bad, but it lacks the cohesiveness of his last three albums, I think. Sounds more like outtakes from "10 New Songs".

Shapeshifter said:

I think it's very hard to come close to topping those-they're just so well done.

The Ten New Songs feel is definitely there-but I wouldn't say it isn't cohesive I think it's good on its own as well as a companion in ways to Ten New Songs.

I do think the title track might be a little odd for some people though.

I enjoy it.

Don't you think "Go no more a-roving" sounds like a faster rewrite of "Be for real", off "The future"?

Shapeshifter said:

I've noticed hints of things in there, sounds like it could be a bit.

I wonder how much is intentional and accidental with him-as much time as he spends on his lyrics I can't say that stuff could just happen as much.

I can definitely see it though.

"Women have been exceptionally kind to my old age". There is only one Leonard Cohen.

My favourite albums are "Death of a Ladies Man", "I'm Your Man" and "The Future". Yours?
[Edited 10/28/04 6:36am]

Shapeshifter said:

Absolutely only one Leonard.

I love The Future, Ten New Songs, and if it counts Essential.

George is pretty cool by the way.

George who? Michael? Yes, I'll agree - to a point. Throws one hissy fit too many though.

That ain't him on my avatar by the way, it's the very great and ultra cool Johnny Cash.
[Edited 10/29/04 2:10am]