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BUY THE CD
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Leonard Cohen’s songs have been covered time and time again, by artists around the world, throughout the four decades since the release of his debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, in 1967. So even if you think you know nothing about the legendary singer/songwriter/poet or his music, you’d probably be surprised by the number of familiar melodies and lyrics you’d find among his works. His “Hallelujah,” for instance, has been covered by everyone from Jeff Buckley to Bono to k.d. lang (it was even included on the Shrek soundtrack). Another favorite, however, is “Suzanne.” The first track on Cohen’s debut album has been covered by artists like Neil Diamond, Tori Amos, and Peter Gabriel. But there’s just quite nothing like hearing the songs performed by Cohen himself.
Cohen had been a novelist and a poet for more than a decade before putting his poetry to music on his first album. For that reason, the focus is on Cohen’s poetic lyrics, filled with haunting tales and vivid imagery. They take a mature, sometimes mournful but often beautiful, look at life, love, and loss. And while a few of the songs on the album involve more background music—and sometimes even backing vocals—the majority of the album is stripped-down and uncomplicated. Just Cohen’s unmistakable voice and a guitar. And the melodies are often such simple folk tunes that they sometimes feel like children’s nursery rhymes.
Part of the charm of Cohen’s music—besides, of course, the poetic verse—is his unusual voice. It’s rough and understated—and sometimes even hesitant. It’s not the voice of a trained singer or even a confident singer. He’s not loud or powerful or defiant, like many artists of his time. Instead, his voice is soft and almost monotone—sometimes, it seems as though his lyrics are nearly spoken instead of sung. But his unusually simplistic style allows the true beauty of the songs to seep through. The focus isn’t on the voice or the music—it’s on the words.
Recently remastered (with the addition of two previously unreleased tracks, “Store Room” and “Blessed is the Memory”), Songs of Leonard Cohen is every bit as strong and memorable as it was 40 years ago, when it was first released. Fans of Cohen’s music, of course, won’t want to miss it. But if you’re unfamiliar with his music, it’s worth checking out—especially if you appreciate other hauntingly poetic artists (like Nick Cave).
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