so inspiring. so invigorating. love to the curmudgeon. love. love. love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeuN742hNDw
http://a3.files.biography.com/image/upload/c_fit,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,h_1200,q_80,w_1200/MTIwNjA4NjMzNzc1MjI4NDI4.jpg
― scott seward, Friday, 11 November 2016 01:58 (seven years ago) link
:-( :-( :-(
― no lime tangier, Friday, 11 November 2016 01:59 (seven years ago) link
so glad i got to see him when he was out here in 2010 rip!!!
― no lime tangier, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:00 (seven years ago) link
Just the worst year.
― Eallach mhór an duine leisg (dowd), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:07 (seven years ago) link
otm
― (•̪●) (carne asada), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:09 (seven years ago) link
A few weeks ago, anticipating a new album, I wrote an overview of his remarkable career. What a late period run. The fucker was sharp. RIP.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:11 (seven years ago) link
Oh fuck. RIP
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:12 (seven years ago) link
just broken hearted. my friend says this is like when a tzadik (holy man) dies before terrible tribulations start (a trope in different jewish literatures). that only made me bawl harder
― Mordy, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:12 (seven years ago) link
ugh. i'm sad, but at least a bit prepared for his passing, given his recent remarks on his health and readiness for death.
― Karl Malone, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:24 (seven years ago) link
I've been listening to him a lot these last few weeks. There's something about those early acoustic albums that jibe with the kind of romantic melancholy of fall. And The Future was playing in my head all day post Trump. I fear he may have been on to something.
― dinnerboat, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:24 (seven years ago) link
RIP
― Karl Malone, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:25 (seven years ago) link
i cried when i listened to his music and he was alive. after this week and this it's so painful.
― Mordy, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:25 (seven years ago) link
My all time favorite. Da doo dum dum dum da doo dum dum.
― rb (soda), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:30 (seven years ago) link
WTF? I guess this shouldn't be surprising because he's been saying he was ready to die, but still, now? It's like every tragedy is just piling up all at once.
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:39 (seven years ago) link
listening to "Suzanne" right now, it seems appropriately somber and reflective given the times
― sleeve, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:42 (seven years ago) link
Don't know what to say. What an amazing artist, meant so much to me.
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:43 (seven years ago) link
Oh lord, I can't really handle this right now. What is happening?
― Fetchboy, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:46 (seven years ago) link
this is devastating
― klu, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:50 (seven years ago) link
songwriters have all kinds of opinions about artists but I don't know any songwriters who don't consider Leonard Cohen one of the best to ever take up the craft. I feel like he's one of those artists who you really remember when you got into him, and how -- for me it was Nick Cave's cover of "Avalanche," when I was 16, that set me searching for this guy. A friend sent me a dub of "Live Songs," the one with "Please Don't Pass Me By" on it, when it was a really hard one to find -- mindblowing stuff for me then. A giant. 82 is a good life. I know the Maker of All Songs will be as excited to see Leonard Cohen as Leonard Cohen will be to see Him.
― though she denies it to the press, (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:51 (seven years ago) link
Can't think of eloquent to say and anything less is just not worthy.
― lingereffect (Kent Burt), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:52 (seven years ago) link
Er.... Can't think of anything eloquent to say and anything less is just not worthy.
― lingereffect (Kent Burt), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:53 (seven years ago) link
The birds they sangat the break of dayStart againI heard them sayDon't dwell on whathas passed awayor what is yet to be.Ah the wars they willbe fought againThe holy doveShe will be caught againbought and soldand bought againthe dove is never free.Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in.We asked for signsthe signs were sent:the birth betrayedthe marriage spentYeah the widowhoodof every government --signs for all to see.I can't run no morewith that lawless crowdwhile the killers in high placessay their prayers out loud.But they've summoned, they've summoned upa thundercloudand they're going to hear from me.Ring the bells that still can ring ...You can add up the partsbut you won't have the sumYou can strike up the march,there is no drumEvery heart, every heartto love will comebut like a refugee.Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack, a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in.Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack, a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in.That's how the light gets in.That's how the light gets in.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:53 (seven years ago) link
"...glad that I ran into you..."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnvv1Lgj9zM
― Fetchboy, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:54 (seven years ago) link
To me the graduation to $10 Casios, like Dylan going electric, marked an incalculable revolution in his sound: he found an aural correlative for the seventeenth century ironies of his lyrics and the deadpan delivery.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 11 November 2016 02:55 (seven years ago) link
oh wow leonard
― marcos, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:56 (seven years ago) link
i am sad
― marcos, Friday, 11 November 2016 02:57 (seven years ago) link
you were amazing
I feel like he's one of those artists who you really remember when you got into him, and how
i got really into leonard around the birth of my second son. i took a lot of time off of work and spent it all with my sons and my wife at home and listened to so much of his music
― marcos, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:01 (seven years ago) link
Genius, genius, genius. Rest in peace, L Cohen.
― rip van wanko, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:03 (seven years ago) link
I can't think of a single other songwriter who produced work of such quality at such an advanced age.
― rip van wanko, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:10 (seven years ago) link
My Gateway...seeing this at 20
http://www.astortheatre.net.au/wp-content/uploads/mccabe-poster.jpg
― a full playlist of presidential apocalypse jams (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:13 (seven years ago) link
yeah, that was the gateway for those of us who juuuust missed the '60s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-r3QcegnU
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:18 (seven years ago) link
Mine was Judy Collins' "Suzanne," which I loved as a kid but had no idea who Leonard Cohen was. The real immersion was Jennifer Warnes' album, which my dad bought when I was in high school and I was fascinated with. I think he's the most grown-up songwriter ever. Everything about him always seemed adult, in the best meaning of the word -- experienced, knowing, compassionate, patient. Like he'd lived 50 lifetimes and was distilling them down to their essence.
― Mike Pence shakes his head and mouths the word ‘no’ (tipsy mothra), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:19 (seven years ago) link
I'm exhausted from the year taking so much and giving so little
― nomar, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:21 (seven years ago) link
Damn. RIP
― badg, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:24 (seven years ago) link
Well, that's one way to headline an obit:
"Genius Songwriter Of Music From “Watchmen” Sex Scene Dead At 82"
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:30 (seven years ago) link
I think he's the most grown-up songwriter ever. Everything about him always seemed adult, in the best meaning of the word -- experienced, knowing, compassionate, patient. Like he'd lived 50 lifetimes and was distilling them down to their essence.
― Mike Pence shakes his head and mouths the word ‘no’ (tipsy mothra), Thursday, November 10, 2016 10:19 PM (twelve minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yea!
― marcos, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:33 (seven years ago) link
My heart is broken. I had a lot of feelings so I wrote an uncharacteristic number of tweets. https://twitter.com/hollowmines/status/796902502545362945
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:34 (seven years ago) link
Watching Cohen DVDs at 3am (I don't want to play records this late). He accompanied me on many sleepless nights, so why not this one too.
― Eallach mhór an duine leisg (dowd), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:36 (seven years ago) link
― bitcoin bajas (diamonddave85), Friday, 11 November 2016 03:43 (seven years ago) link
i feel bad that i didn't get around to listening to his new album until hearing this new, but i'm doing it now. it's excellent. "on the level" is an early fave.
― Karl Malone, Friday, 11 November 2016 03:59 (seven years ago) link
until hearing the news, i meant.
I was lucky to see Leonard Cohen live a couple of years ago. It's amazing that he played a 3 hour set at 80 years old. His music is eternal.
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Friday, 11 November 2016 04:00 (seven years ago) link
You Want It Darker is great, and I said as much back when I thought he actually might have a couple more records in him, as he'd said he was planning on.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 11 November 2016 04:02 (seven years ago) link
there is something very comforting about listening to him at this particular moment too. it's been a rough few days, some reminder of humanity, wisdom, maturity
― marcos, Friday, 11 November 2016 04:15 (seven years ago) link
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Thursday, November 10, 2016 10:00 PM (thirty-four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I saw him in 2010 and not only did he play 3 hours but he skipped on and off stage like a giddy child, light as a feather. Just a treasure.
― Fetchboy, Friday, 11 November 2016 04:38 (seven years ago) link
like a bird on a wirelike a drunk in some midnight choiri have tried in my way to be free
― k3vin k., Friday, 11 November 2016 04:57 (seven years ago) link
like a worm on a hooklike a knight from some old fashioned booki have saved all my ribbons for thee
― k3vin k., Friday, 11 November 2016 05:01 (seven years ago) link
Xxxxxxpost Alfred, I was just watching a 88 live show and they definitely weren't cheap Casio's, saw a DX7 and a Korg so it was p state of the art
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 11 November 2016 05:18 (seven years ago) link
weirdest irony of my adult life was getting my Mum into Leonard & now she's seen him live like 3 times and I have seen him zero times
rip beautiful old man, into the heavens with you
― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 11 November 2016 06:01 (seven years ago) link
His "Essential" collection, in both its 2 and 3 disc iterations, doesn't include a duff track, and the more recent songs sit perfectly well with his earlier stuff.
my go-to Cohen. The Sly Stone Essential is also uh essential.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 13 November 2016 03:05 (seven years ago) link
Didn't know how I would mark this but heard the first two albums in a record store yesterday. Decided I would play some songs for my 15 year old daughter so I picked "First We Take Manhattan," "Tower of Song," "Hallelujah," and "Suzanne."
― timellison, Sunday, 13 November 2016 03:36 (seven years ago) link
what did she think?
― The times they are a changing, perhaps (map), Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:14 (seven years ago) link
I played some stuff for my kids the other day, and you should have seen them light up with recognition when it got to Hallelujah. Amazing, as ubiquitous as versions of that song are, how few have heard the original.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:17 (seven years ago) link
I haven't read the book, but I'd love to read reviews of that album and see if any singled out that song as particularly special.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:18 (seven years ago) link
I'm not sure, she was quiet. It's a lot to take in.
― timellison, Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:27 (seven years ago) link
Holy Shit at the SNL cold open...
― a full playlist of presidential apocalypse jams (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:50 (seven years ago) link
Care to describe?
― rip van wanko, Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:57 (seven years ago) link
Seems odd to invoke Cohen, wasn't exactly a slow news week
― rip van wanko, Sunday, 13 November 2016 04:58 (seven years ago) link
SPOILER ALERT
Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton playing piano and singing "Hallelujah" (very well on both counts BTW), concluding with a message to "not give up".
― a full playlist of presidential apocalypse jams (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 13 November 2016 05:18 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lWcqbVKhCs
ugh this version kills me
― k3vin k., Sunday, 13 November 2016 05:42 (seven years ago) link
I got to see his NYC comeback show at the Beacon in ... 2009? Was a pretty magical night.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 13 November 2016 06:16 (seven years ago) link
No disrespect meant to McKinnon but I hated the whole conceit of that "Hallelujah" cover so goddamn much
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 13 November 2016 06:20 (seven years ago) link
Especially considering SNL was as complicit as anyone in normalizing/mainstreaming Trump.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 13 November 2016 06:23 (seven years ago) link
xgau: https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/our-man-the-sophisticate-robert-christgau-remembers-leonard-cohen
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 14 November 2016 20:48 (seven years ago) link
a monologue about the six stages of male sex appeal—irresistible, resistible, transparent, invisible, repulsive, and cute
ah, I guess i should hold out from my perch here on "invisible."
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Monday, 14 November 2016 21:07 (seven years ago) link
http://etcanada.com/news/180784/leonard-cohens-ex-fiance-rebecca-de-mornay-remembers-the-late-icon/
― nomar, Monday, 14 November 2016 22:22 (seven years ago) link
POLL on, my brother: The Leonard Cohen Memorial POLL Voting Thread - Ballots due Midnight ET, Dec. 1st
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 15 November 2016 00:59 (seven years ago) link
He was still working on a couple more albums, right up 'til the end---wonder if they'll be released? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/arts/music/leonard-cohen-last-days.html?_r=0
― dow, Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:32 (seven years ago) link
Touching interview with Jennifer Warnes:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-jennifer-warnes-leonard-cohen-20161111-story.html
― heaven parker (anagram), Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:35 (seven years ago) link
That xpost xgau send-off is very fine, his aim is true, almost to the end: don't agree that the voice turned back into "a husk" on You Want It Darker---he's right that if it did, it wouldn't be the first time, but I don't hear it that way. Or if he's technically right, then it's quite the textured husk, turned this way and that.
― dow, Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:46 (seven years ago) link
Will check the interview tomorrow; have to pace myself, with so many checking out lately.
― dow, Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:47 (seven years ago) link
I have Cohen's whole catalog on shuffle right now. He didn't really have any bad songs, did he?
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Friday, November 11, 2016 12:45 PM (six days ago)
otm, he's one of the few artists with a long recording career that you can do that with. even dylan has some stinkers (imo), but with leonard cohen you're almost certainly going to land on a decent song at the very least, every single time
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:49 (seven years ago) link
I used to spot him regularly when I was in high-school, on our lunch breaks we'd go to this Portuguese chicken place that was just far enough to get take out and get back in time, and we'd see him walking up and down Saint-Laurent, always with his arms wrapped around Anjani, the two of them walking slowly, totally oblivious to the rest of the world. it was cute, i remember being surprised, he seemed to be as romantic as the guy in the old songs.
One anecdote that I love: my friend Vincent's mother put on a play about his life, around that time, and invited him to the debut. he accepted, sat in the front row, but spent the entire performance with his back to the stage, engaged in some sloppy heavy petting with Ms Thomas. lol <3
― flopson, Thursday, 17 November 2016 05:53 (seven years ago) link
ha!! that is great
― rip van wanko, Thursday, 17 November 2016 06:14 (seven years ago) link
it really is. <3
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 17 November 2016 06:30 (seven years ago) link
with leonard cohen you're almost certainly going to land on a decent song at the very least, every single time
Except "Jazz Police". Why Leonard, why?
― heaven parker (anagram), Thursday, 17 November 2016 07:38 (seven years ago) link
xxp great story
― just sayin, Thursday, 17 November 2016 08:50 (seven years ago) link
!!
I like Jazz Police. It's disconcertingly kitschy but harmonically interesting (that's what she said).
― Freedom, Thursday, 17 November 2016 09:14 (seven years ago) link
Jazz Police is great fuiud
― sacral intercourse conducive to vegetal luxuriance (askance johnson), Thursday, 17 November 2016 14:22 (seven years ago) link
i've been listening on shuffle a lot too. previously i kind of settled in on new skin through recent songs as my favorite period but so much of the other stuff has resonated more this time. "here it is" from ten new songs blew me away this morning
― marcos, Thursday, 17 November 2016 14:34 (seven years ago) link
No, Jazz Police is not great, it's shit.
― heaven parker (anagram), Thursday, 17 November 2016 15:07 (seven years ago) link
The only song I don't like on I'm Your Man is the title track, as it is just too musically slight.
― Freedom, Thursday, 17 November 2016 15:52 (seven years ago) link
imo "jazz police" rules
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Thursday, 17 November 2016 15:53 (seven years ago) link
eh
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 November 2016 15:54 (seven years ago) link
I've heard it once. I skip it.
I'm a fan of Jazz Police, it's very silly, but I'm cool with that
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Thursday, 17 November 2016 16:02 (seven years ago) link
For a song that's basically an in-joke between Cohen and the band it's a lot of fun. Guessing it did not take as long to write as hallelujah
― diary of a mod how's life (wins), Thursday, 17 November 2016 16:08 (seven years ago) link
Although I find it funny to think of him writing 80 verses
― diary of a mod how's life (wins), Thursday, 17 November 2016 16:09 (seven years ago) link
Did anyone ever edit together all extant verses, like on Youtube for instance?
― Mark G, Thursday, 17 November 2016 17:03 (seven years ago) link
a larf via the ny times copy desk
http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2016/11/16/rather-unfortunate-newspaper-correction-leonard-cohen/
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 November 2016 19:20 (seven years ago) link
lol I don't need to open that to know which correction they're referring to
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 17 November 2016 19:59 (seven years ago) link
“I don't like what you done to my mister..."
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 November 2016 20:15 (seven years ago) link
My favorite Leonard Cohen story is the one that I think came from Rufus Wainwright. Where he goes to his apartment to meet before a collaboration, and Leonard Cohen is there basically in his underwear. He greets him, excuses himself for a few minutes, then comes back in a perfectly tailored suit.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 17 November 2016 20:15 (seven years ago) link
anyone have a quote from Cohen regarding the musical choices he made (sparse, digital, dubbed) from ~Various Position onwards?
this SOS article is interesting enough but I'm curious to know what motivated him and what kind of band sounds he likes http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/inside-track-leonard-cohen-slow
― niels, Sunday, 20 November 2016 11:07 (seven years ago) link
The Singles Jukebox pays tribute
― rhymes with "blondie blast" (cryptosicko), Sunday, 20 November 2016 13:43 (seven years ago) link
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22642-im-your-man/
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 20 November 2016 15:20 (seven years ago) link
xpost to Josh In Chicago: my favourite detail in the Rufus Wainwright story is that Cohen was apparently chewing up sausages and spitting them out to feed to a baby bird he had rescued.
― Dan.S., Sunday, 20 November 2016 15:24 (seven years ago) link
so my band is organizing/playing this thinghttps://www.facebook.com/events/222751078134441/
this will be the Beards' first performance since Leonard's passing
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 8 December 2016 23:41 (seven years ago) link