2019 top tunes No. 6: Leonard Cohen

[Rorschach]

I haven't got round to listening to his final album, Thanks for the Dance, but I will.
I'd largely lost interest him in recent years but this track is killer: it's not really singing but I don't think he's ever been in better voice.

I can't pretend to understand what he's banging on about but the whole thing moves me anyway.

[Matt Wilson]

I didn't get that last LP either, but I think I have all the earlier ones in that complete albums CD box set. I enjoy his music even if it can be a bit samey-sounding. Hatz says Cohen is better than Dylan.

[Rorschach]

I didn't get that last LP either, but I think I have all the earlier ones in that complete albums CD box set. I enjoy his music even if it can be a bit samey-sounding.

I have all the early ones too though I only really listened to the first two a lot and I haven't listened to any for a while. My first girlfriend was a big fan so I was subjected to them for a few years. That may have put me off him in the long run. Maybe I should give them another go now.

Hatz says Cohen is better than Dylan.

Crazy name, crazy guy!


What do you think of this song, by the way?

And have you listened to the album?

[Rorschach]

double post...

[`]

I didn't get that last LP either, but I think I have all the earlier ones in that complete albums CD box set. I enjoy his music even if it can be a bit samey-sounding.

I have all the early ones too though I only really listened to the first two a lot and I haven't listened to any for a while. My first girlfriend was a big fan so I was subjected to them for a few years. That may have put me off him in the long run. Maybe I should give them another go now.

Hatz says Cohen is better than Dylan.

Crazy name, crazy guy!


What do you think of this song, by the way?

And have you listened to the album?

Give The Future a spin, it's one of his most under-rated (well it is for me, anyway)

[Matt Wilson]

I haven't heard the album, no. And I can't play your link to the song here at work. I'll have to play it when I get home.

I must admit though, I suspect it's going to sound like any other Cohen number...

[toomanyhatz]

Hatz says Cohen is better than Dylan.

No he doesn't.

I have said he is a superior poet, probably. Maybe even a superior lyricist, though it's pretty close.

Called him a better musical artist in general? Never.

[toomanyhatz]

In fact, honestly, I don't listen much to Cohen albums made between 1990 and 2010. I know he wanted to make the words the focus, so he preferred pretty nondescript backing. I think only when he started playing live again did he even think about how to best frame the songs. As a result I like his last 4 studio albums a lot more than the 3 previous ones. Especially as his (not terribly melodious to begin with) voice began to get deeper and more limited, the words are actually brought more into focus, imo, with more organic, maybe even more conventionally 'pretty' backing. Plus he plays more acoustic guitar, which he's limited but actually pretty good at. Good flamenco sweep (his 'chop,' as he liked to call it).

I like this one a lot, though I think his best recent album is actually 2014's Popular Problems - the one with the awful cover.

[Matt Wilson]

See, that's the thing about trying to relay what someone has told you in the past - they come out and deny it!
You've certainly told me you like Cohen more than Dylan. You weren't splitting hairs and saying you thought he was a better poet, you said you preferred him to Bob.The only reason I recall this is because I'd never heard anyone say that before. But I guess if you're just gonna deny it now then I'd better shut up.

[toomanyhatz]

Nope. Never said it. I can even imagine myself specifically qualifying that I prefer Bob musically. Because I do and always have.

The farthest I'll go is maybe I was comparing specific albums and I preferred, say, Songs From a Room to Nashville Skyline.

And (you probably won't admit this) it's not exactly the first time you've misheard/misunderstood/misquoted me either.

[Matt Wilson]

Are you kidding? I misquote myself all the time! But you've got to admit you're splitting hairs when I say you told me you like Cohen better, and now you're saying you never said that, you said he was a better poet. What does that even mean? You like Cohen's words better but Bob's music better?

Forget it. We'll just chalk it up to (yet another) misunderstanding.

[Rorschach]

Give The Future a spin, it's one of his most under-rated (well it is for me, anyway)

This is getting to be tough.

I gave up listening to music for many years until the end of last year. I appreciate the suggestion and I'm interested, but I've got so much to catch up on ...

[Flower]

I like Leonard Cohen but this song is one that I need to find the time to listen to at least a dozen times, to give an objective opinion.

Thanks for posting this and all your other top tunes of 2019.

[`]

Give The Future a spin, it's one of his most under-rated (well it is for me, anyway)

This is getting to be tough.

I gave up listening to music for many years until the end of last year. I appreciate the suggestion and I'm interested, but I've got so much to catch up on ...

Care to share the reason behind your decision? Feel free to tell me to take a hike if you'd rather not

[Rorschach]

I like Leonard Cohen but this song is one that I need to find the time to listen to at least a dozen times, to give an objective opinion.

Thanks for posting this and all your other top tunes of 2019.

My pleasure!

[Rorschach]

I gave up listening to music for many years until the end of last year. I appreciate the suggestion and I'm interested, but I've got so much to catch up on ...

Care to share the reason behind your decision? Feel free to tell me to take a hike if you'd rather not

Sorry. I missed this.
Do you mean, why did I give up listening to music for years?

It wasn't exactly a decision. I was never a huge fan of music; I've always been more into the clothes and the attitude than the tunes themselves; and I gradually lost interest. After my son was born, 16 years ago, I didn't find much time for listening and as he grew older he wouldn't let me play music (or sing or play guitar!) so I lost touch.

I have no idea why I suddenly started liking music again three months ago.