Live In London [Digipak] - Leonard Cohen

The Best of Leonard Cohen

Advantages: Cohens influencial greatness, lovely songs
Disadvantages: ...No Hallelujah

OPINION I first heard of Leonard Cohen at a friends house as a record, the song was "Suzanne" and I loved it. I remembered the name and to my delight I found his CD in the Woolworths price crunch a while back now. His songs are so calming but have lyrics that explore ideas of religion, isolation, sexuality and complex interpersonal relationships, so as calm as they seem their underlying provocations are deeply moving. ARTIST Leonard Cohen is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. His earliest songs are rooted in European folk music, his 1970's music encompasses pop, chaberet and world music and since the 1980's his high baritone voice took on more low registers, often accompanied by electronic synthesizers and female backing singers. His writing has influenced lots of singer-songwriters and more than ...

jpearson772 03.11.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Greatest Hits - Leonard Cohen

Leonard's Our Man

Advantages: Great songs, production, lyrics
Disadvantages: If you don't like Leonard's voice this won't convert you

We've seen so many times that artists and songwriters who have great success throughout the 60's and the 70's often have a horrendous 80's as they try to keep up with the times. The songwriting becomes bland and the need for synthesisers means that the songs become so electronically ladened that the production becomes the focus over the songs themselves. It fills me with great pleasure to say that in the case of Leonard Cohen and 'I'm Your Man' this is most certainly not the case. It could be argued that prior to this Len was having a creative crisis. The mid 70's and early 80's were just about fair to him but albums were patchy compared to his 60's output and by his own high standards. Just when we thought Len's time was up, he brought us this curious powerhouse. The scene is set with the opening track 'First We Take Manhattan ...

Nixu1980 10.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen

Stranded in London!

Advantages: Excellent central location; good bars and restaurants
Disadvantages: Rooms a bit old fashioned; a little pricey

" - the inner courtyard of the hotel with the humming air conditioners at the bottom. I can live (or sleep) with that, but there was also an awful rattling, like pipes, coming from somewhere in the ceiling. We went back downstairs to complain, and were told there were no other rooms. After standing our ground they eventually checked us in to an alternative room on the 4th floor. A little bigger, but still not brilliant - probably "average", from past business stays down in London hotels. The reception staff weren't particularly friendly, as other reviews have mentioned. Despite being "club" rooms, all that appeared to be different was the decor. Instead of old-fashioned wall-to-wall flowerey decor and furnishings, it was plain duck-egg walls, and a "modern" bed (faux-leather headboard and plain brown and green blankets). Not worth the extra money ...

tall_andy 12.11.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Strand Palace Hotel, London