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 The Enigma Of Leonard Cohen Mar 17, 2009
Leonard Cohen always seemed to me to be the odd man out in the swirl of the folk revival of the early 1960's. Yes, sure he did his time at the Chelsea Hotel (something of a rite of passage for some singer/songwriters). He certainly, either through his music or lifestyle, did not merely represent some hippie faddism. He was just a little too old and little too proper writer, in the European sense, for that. Yet, although some of his material could well be played in the beat cafés of the late 1950's, there too his work seems too civilized for that raucous crowd. A viewing several years ago of a film documentary on his life, work and times "Bird On A Wire" only added to my confusion about where to pigeonhole Mr. Cohen.
So now you see my dilemma. In any case the best place to start to get an appreciation for the work of this very talented and driven lyricist (I cannot say much for his vocal accomplishments as it will be the lyrics that will stand the test of time, not the voice) is this compilation of his best work, circa 1975. Haven't we all had, or wanted to have, male or female, that "Suzanne" of the first song. This is probably his best known song, and I think rightly so as a secondary anthem of the 1960's. Included here are the heart-wrenching lyrics of "Bird On Wire", as well as "Sisters Of Mercy" and "So Long, Marianne". Cohen tips his hat to the Chelsea Hotel experience in "Chelsea Hotel No. 2". As I run through this list there is one thought that does occur to me. If you are in a depressed or melancholy mood it is best to save this CD for some other time. But do listen to it.
The Best of Leonard Cohen -CD audio Feb 02, 2009
Being a serious L. Cohen fan, this is a stellar collection of earlier work. In my opinion, some of his best! Not ever known for his vocal chops, lyrics that are insightful, provocative, intelligent, with arrangements that showcase his lyrics, I prefer this to the current drone of insidious hip-hop and rap rantings.
 Awesome CD Jul 04, 2008
Leonard Cohen is an awesome and insightful artist. If you are looking for something different to listen to, give Leonard a try on.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 This CD was almost identical to 'The Essential Leonard Cohen". Jul 28, 2007
This CD is almost a carbon copy of the other Leonard Cohen CD I bought. I woldn't have bought it if I had been given that information. However there didn't see to be any way I could find the list of songs on this CD. It's true "The Essential LC" had one or two more songs than this one, but they were precisely the songs compromised by the defect in that CD. Neither CD was satisfactory.
Beautiful music, beautiful stories Jul 05, 2007
Thirty years this music has haunted, charmed and informed me, bringing the intelligent, moving poetry to a wider audience than the one found in smoky coffee shops. "The partisan" evokes memories of noble, desperate men, living by their wits, defending their homes, as simple, strong heroes when monstrous odds go against them. "Famous blue raincoat" has its own rich history, with Cohen at times confusing fans with bits and pieces of leads to explain the song. The possible interpretations are more than interesting to relish. "Chelsea hotel," "Bird on a wire," and the Top Forty hit. "Suzanne," make up part of a wonderful collection of moving, memorable melodies. Buy it, burn it to your iPod, keep the CD in your car. Enjoy.
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