Songs of Love and Hate is one of Leonard Cohen's most emotionally intense albums -- which, given the nature of Cohen's body of work, is no small statement. While the title Songs of Love and Hate sums up the album's themes accurately enough, it's hardly as simple as that description might lead you to expect -- in these eight songs, "love" encompasses the physical ("Last Year's Man"), the emotional ("Famous Blue Raincoat"), and the spiritual ("Joan of Arc"), and the contempt in songs like "Dress Rehearsal Rag" and "Avalanche" is the sort of venom that can only come from someone who once cared very deeply. The sound of the album is clean and uncluttered, and for the most part the music stays out of the way of the lyrics, which dominate the songs. Thankfully, Cohen had grown noticeably as a singer since his first two albums, and if he hardly boasts a range to rival Roy Orbison here, he is able to bring out the subtleties of "Joan of Arc" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" in a way his previous work would not have led you to expect. And while Bob Johnston's production is spare, it's spare with a purpose, letting Cohen's voice and guitar tell their stories and using other musicians for intelligent, emotionally resonant punctuation (Paul Buckmaster's unobtrusive string arrangements and the use of a children's chorus are especially inspired). And Songs of Love and Hate captured Cohen in one of his finest hours as a songwriter, and the best selections (especially "Famous Blue Raincoat," "Joan of Arc," and "Love Calls You by Your Name") rank with the most satisfying work of his career. If Songs of Love and Hate isn't Cohen's best album, it comes close enough to be essential to anyone interested in his work.
Lester Jonze has made a post, entitled "*Before They Were Old*":http://mog.com/Lester_Jonze/blog_post/106729, talking about the Who and Who's Next.It reminded me that, if i live another two months, i'll be 59 on 22 October.Not real sure i want to live another two months.Not that it's any way likely i'm going to "*pull an Amy Winehouse*":http://mog.com/Afficionado/blog_post/106665 - i have no de...
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One of the great ballads of connection found, lost, and recalled - Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat", from his Lp Songs Of Love And Hate - was recently posted by "*Aboriginalien*":http://mog.com/Aboriginalien/blog_post/133686. I have duly bookmarked the entry, which includes every finely wrought, strange, funny, sad word of the lyric.This post, featuring another fine song from t...
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"Its four in the morning, the end of decemberIm writing you now just to see if youre betterNew york is cold, but I like where Im livingTheres music on clinton street all through the evening.I hear that youre building your little house deep in the desertYoure living for nothing now, I hope youre keeping some kind of record.Yes, and jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it t...
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I've been a fan of Leonard Cohen's for quite awhile now, but I only heard this album for the very first time yesterday when I picked it up at a used cd store close to my neighborhood. The song attached titled Avalanche is simply ridiciulously unbelievable. I can't stop listening to it. What can I say, I'm now obsessed. That voice. That guitar. Mesmerizing. I think my first taste of him came fro...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Avalanche |
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| 2 Last Year's Man |
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| 3 Dress Rehearsal Rag |
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| 4 Diamonds in the Mine |
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| 5 Love Calls You by Your Name |
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| 6 Famous Blue Raincoat |
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| 7 Sing Another Song, Boys |
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| 8 Joan of Arc |
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 "Songs of Love and Hate")
