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Leonard Cohen is absolutely one of the best (Canadian!) artists of the last century. Seriously; if you have the time, do what you can to discover his music. Son

Leonard Cohen is absolutely one of the best (Canadian!) artists of the last century. Seriously; if you have the time, do what you can to discover his music. Songs of Leonard Cohen, Various Positions, and of course I'm Your Man are all must listen albums.

sparkzilla 10y ago
Those looking to try Cohen for the first time (or wanting to rediscover him) should listen to Live in London (2009), which IMHO is one of the best live albums ever. Great songs and some witty banter in between. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p8je2 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p8je2
- smelterdemon 10y ago
  My access point was catching Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 on PBS late one night. I'd recommend it as an intro to his earlier material.
misiti3780 10y ago
Dont forget Gord Downie, he could probably win a nobel for is poetry also!
- jeffreygoesto 10y ago
  It was in Bobcaygeon, I saw the constellations Reveal themselves, one star at time
natashabaker 10y ago
I'd also recommend checking out his poetry. His earlier stuff especially. This is a good place to start: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2a/8c/98/2a8c980c4c4fe03d4305d02f93117c59.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2a/8c/98/2a8c980c4.... Check out Irving Layton as well (another Canadian poet/professor). Really good stuff, and clearly influenced Leonard Cohen's writing.
jomamaxx 10y ago
His poetry is good, his music, not so much.
- r_smart 10y ago
  The people down-voting you clearly haven't listened to 'Jazz Police'. Seriously, he's an excellent songwriter, but much of his music is ruined by the choices made in terms of 80s synth stuff and disappointing backing vocals. 'Birds on a Wire' is a great album, because it doesn't have any of that nonsense in it. Some of his other albums are really good too, but I'd say half of his discography is disappointing, despite having excellent songwriting.
  - jomamaxx 10y ago
    " 80s synth stuff and disappointing backing vocals" At the risk of -20 downvotes, I was going to say the same thing. The synths I can handle. But the backing vocals ... my god man ... I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's beyond kitsch. You gotta take it as a 'package'. I find that people who are more lyrical tend to like him. Musical people less so. Often the chords make no sense, they go back and forth, there's no progression - but then you realize they are following the cadence of his prose, and then it kind of makes sense. He's almost like a beat poet - where there's some 'muzak' in the background.
    - r_smart 10y ago
      Honestly, I consider it kind of tragic. I have some friends who are massive Cohen fans, and even they have to admit that it's just not good music. It's too late now, but I think it would be amazing if he had redone those albums at a later date and made them...good. If anyone reading this can sing, start drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. You'll die early, but before you do, perfect your Cohen voice and fix this.

sparkzilla 10y ago

Those looking to try Cohen for the first time (or wanting to rediscover him) should listen to Live in London (2009), which IMHO is one of the best live albums ever. Great songs and some witty banter in between. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p8je2 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p8je2

smelterdemon 10y ago
My access point was catching Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 on PBS late one night. I'd recommend it as an intro to his earlier material.

misiti3780 10y ago

Dont forget Gord Downie, he could probably win a nobel for is poetry also!

jeffreygoesto 10y ago
It was in Bobcaygeon, I saw the constellations Reveal themselves, one star at time

natashabaker 10y ago

I'd also recommend checking out his poetry. His earlier stuff especially. This is a good place to start: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2a/8c/98/2a8c980c4c4fe03d4305d02f93117c59.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2a/8c/98/2a8c980c4.... Check out Irving Layton as well (another Canadian poet/professor). Really good stuff, and clearly influenced Leonard Cohen's writing.

jomamaxx 10y ago

His poetry is good, his music, not so much.

r_smart 10y ago
The people down-voting you clearly haven't listened to 'Jazz Police'. Seriously, he's an excellent songwriter, but much of his music is ruined by the choices made in terms of 80s synth stuff and disappointing backing vocals. 'Birds on a Wire' is a great album, because it doesn't have any of that nonsense in it. Some of his other albums are really good too, but I'd say half of his discography is disappointing, despite having excellent songwriting.
- jomamaxx 10y ago
  " 80s synth stuff and disappointing backing vocals" At the risk of -20 downvotes, I was going to say the same thing. The synths I can handle. But the backing vocals ... my god man ... I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's beyond kitsch. You gotta take it as a 'package'. I find that people who are more lyrical tend to like him. Musical people less so. Often the chords make no sense, they go back and forth, there's no progression - but then you realize they are following the cadence of his prose, and then it kind of makes sense. He's almost like a beat poet - where there's some 'muzak' in the background.
  - r_smart 10y ago
    Honestly, I consider it kind of tragic. I have some friends who are massive Cohen fans, and even they have to admit that it's just not good music. It's too late now, but I think it would be amazing if he had redone those albums at a later date and made them...good. If anyone reading this can sing, start drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. You'll die early, but before you do, perfect your Cohen voice and fix this.