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.

You know, I've been trying to get into him, but he's just.....I don't know, out there for me. Basically, he's not easy to listen to. That's not really a bad thing but it's kinda like...uh....his music should be of an acquired taste.

NWF said:

It really takes getting used to for some people-you're right. I remember when I first heard him on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack, and I was just floored yet something didn't seem quite right. That's part of his appeal to me I guess.

It's even more obvious if you check out the Essential set because his voice has just been ravaged by cigarettes over the years. His earliest stuff was still where he had a voice beyond the low gravel he has now-it's really interesting-blew me away. He sounds completely different to me.

I'd be happy to give you a few ideas on songs that might be easier to get into if you're having a hard time with it.

Some people have to be in a certain mood to really get into his voice I think. As you listen over time to him (especially on headphones) it really does grow on you and you start seeing the beauty in it with the music and how he doesn't really sing, it still just seems to work.

he's cool. Some of my favs.....
Chelsea Motel.
Famous Blue raincoat.
Joan of Arc.
Don't go home with your hard on.

nikkhendrix said:

Love those as well.

Famous Blue Raincoat is just a classic.

irresistibleb1tch said:

It's great-the title track is pretty unique.



Check out the Essential set as well!

Little known fact:
Leonard Cohen jammed with Jimi Hendrix. They did Suzanne.
Cohen said of Hendrix
'He was gentle.....he did not distort the guitar.....'

nikkhendrix said:

"Hallelujah"



"Hallelujah"

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

applekisses said:

Love that song!

subhuman09 said:

Me too...it's so heartbreakingly accurate.

applekisses said:

Do you lean towards the John Cale or Jeff Buckley cover?

I love them both-Jeff still gives me chills.

I fell in love with listening to his old stuff. I still can't get past the 80's. They were rough. Its the David Bowie... give me anything before the 80's and I'm all for it... I know, I'm being closed-minded because I CAN enjoy some of his casio keyboard, elevator music sound, if I really try... its just that the older stuff just really does it for me much more.

lezama said:

I understand what you mean-his early work sounds like a different artist when you put up The Future or Ten New Songs or Dear Heather in comparison.

Check out a bit via samples online maybe-it's really relaxing-you might be surprised.

I've always loved the weathered quality of his voice-he's lived quite a life, and you can feel that in the music.

Here's the lyrics to my favorite song right now on Dear Heather:

Because Of

Words and music by Leonard Cohen.



Because of a few songs
Wherein I spoke of their mystery,
Women have been
Exceptionally kind
to my old age.
They make a secret place
In their busy lives
And they take me there.
They become naked
In their different ways
and they say,
"Look at me, Leonard
Look at me one last time."
Then they bend over the bed
And cover me up
Like a baby that is shivering.



Produced by Leanne Ungar.
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen.
Background vocals arranged and sung by Anjani Thomas.

subhuman09 said:

That has got to be one of the most beautiful things I've ever read.

applekisses said:

I wish I could have it playing as this thread was open because it's just gorgeous.

Such a great song-the lyrics and music work so well together.

subhuman09 said:

I just love him.

applekisses said:

He always seems to surprise me.

okay..theres a six degrees of wendy and lisa somehow with this guy.....

does leonard have a son who is also an artist?

Lately I've realized that there are lots of songs by him that I love performed by other people. But I don't know if I've ever heard the originals. I've been eyeing that Essential collection. Is it the best overview of his career?

subhuman09 said:

OK... I'll give it a listen!

sosgemini said:

He does actually.

His name is Adam Cohen.

I'm not sure of the exact Wendy and Lisa connection-but I wouldn't be surprised.

Here's an excerpt of an interview I found under the Adam Cohen section at http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com:

"Adam doesn't deny his paternal roots - quite the contrary. Leonard Cohen is amongst his favorite musicians, together with Randy Newman, Peter Gabriel, Bob Marley and Prince. "My father's work has had a great influence on me," he says, "especially the poetic and lyrical way he tells a story.""

So I wouldn't be surprised-no mention of Wendy and Lisa though, as I haven't heard the album myself.



(By the way-love girlbros. radio-I'll try to refrain from being too jealous of Wendy saying you rock-"She's my favorite"-hoping the new album gets made soon.)

(*mails self to Wendy edit*)
[Edited 10/27/04 0:19am]

GangstaFam said:

Absolutely-I've checked out others and the Essential is the most comprehensive.

You get his early work up to including tracks from Ten New Songs, which was the last album he made before Dear Heather.

It's especially interesting to hear the difference in how the cigarettes and time aged his voice over the years.

I'd reccommend maybe listening to samples online to get a feel for it-he can take getting used to for some people, but it's well worth it.

I was surprised as well when I noticed how many people had covered his work.

I highly reccommend Essential, let me know what you think!

lezama said:

Definitely do-I'd love to hear what you think about it.

the soundtrack to the asylum.

subhuman09 said:

why thanks for listening to the show....if my memory serves me correct me thinks wendy appears on his recently (or soon to be released) album...im gonna have to google and get back to you on that...

now i remember..there is an article on his album that she appears on but its a subscription only view..





this is whats shown free:

sosgemini said:

Oh wow! Thanks for the info-I'll have to check his stuff out-love Wendy.



(Definitely enjoy the show as well! Thanks for doing it!)