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
RIP
― 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
Had been avoiding You Want It Darker for some reason... maybe in some ways I knew it was the end, but wow this is great
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 11 November 2016 06:16 (seven years ago) link
oh leonard
― Rae Kwoniff (NickB), Friday, 11 November 2016 06:28 (seven years ago) link
Just rescreened McCabe &...
So many feelings.
― a full playlist of presidential apocalypse jams (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 11 November 2016 07:04 (seven years ago) link
Played the new album yesterday for the first time, the title track seemed to fit the Trump news. I did wonder if Len thought so too.
― Mark G, Friday, 11 November 2016 07:11 (seven years ago) link
I was waiting for the vinyl release of the new album, but it seems to keep getting pushed back. I guess I might give it a listen now.
― Eallach mhór an duine leisg (dowd), Friday, 11 November 2016 08:13 (seven years ago) link
RIP L. Cohen. Been listening to 'Democracy' and 'Anthem' a lot recently.
― arron banksy (cajunsunday), Friday, 11 November 2016 08:20 (seven years ago) link
I was only just watching Bird on a Wire, the 1972 concert documentary, last night. It's a great watch, for those who haven't seen it. Rest in peace.
― heaven parker (anagram), Friday, 11 November 2016 08:28 (seven years ago) link
I haven't seen this mentioned, but it's a great recent article about him (and tbh softened the blow - it's fairly clear in it that he's on his way out).
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/leonard-cohen-makes-it-darker
― Andrew Farrell, Friday, 11 November 2016 09:11 (seven years ago) link
absolutely crushed by this, but also so heartened by him and his, I don't know... his example, his music, ILX knows what I am trying to say
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 11 November 2016 09:33 (seven years ago) link
It's something surely everyone has been expecting for a long time but god if it isn't another kick in the teeth in a terrible week. Or looking at it from the other angle, his timing is once again perfect and poetic. I can only hope he slipped out of consciousness 70 hours or so ago.
I've been wondering which Cohen record I'd go straight to in the event of his death, for a while I'd assumed it would be The Songs of Leonard Cohen or Old Ideas, but in the end it was, without hesitating, The Future. He saw through all that end-of-history nonsense so early on, and expressed it with such piercing humour, and both the title track and Democracy have been in my head a lot this week.
Given his whole life's project was based around exploring the area around love, the body, god and death, it's unsurprising that his last trio of albums is also up there with his best. Maybe it's because he was always the old guy (even in the 60s, he was the one guy who never got to be the young firebrand), but old age suited him so well, only Johnny Cash did it better. And like Johnny, it hits all the harder when their voice is at its most potent at the end of their life.
He meant a lot to me and my wife personally, and a lot to my parents. I saw him live twice, once at Glastonbury in 2008, which was one of the all time great Pyramid Stage moments (and the corny fucker knew exactly what he was doing when he timed Hallelujah to accompany the sunset). The second time was in London three or four years ago, and he actually *jogged* onstage and then played a Springsteen-length set. In his 80s. And he smoked every day. RIP.
― Matt DC, Friday, 11 November 2016 10:04 (seven years ago) link
I can only hope he slipped out of consciousness 70 hours or so ago.
he died monday
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 11 November 2016 10:17 (seven years ago) link
His last words were "Thanks, Obama"
(don't worry, I'll fp myself)
― Mark G, Friday, 11 November 2016 10:33 (seven years ago) link
RIP Leonard ;_;
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1e/25/57/1e25575fb5d122e8f0bf6c8755c90789.jpg
― The Doug Walters of Crime (Tom D.), Friday, 11 November 2016 10:49 (seven years ago) link
My mother's been into LC her whole life (and been to many gigs) and just posted a really lovely post on FB of all places and also managed to refer to DJT as 'that orange arseh0le' so mum otm
― kinder, Friday, 11 November 2016 14:09 (seven years ago) link
He was my first folk music to hear. My dad had two of his records that I found in his stack. Then I heard him on Pump Up The Volume and pulled them out again. Its been a love affair ever since. Rest in Peace
― JacobSanders, Friday, 11 November 2016 14:32 (seven years ago) link
it is hard to even think of what to say. Cohen is one of those artists who can make time stand still w just a voice and an acoustic guitar. Cohen was a shining light in this godless world. he wrote about spirituality with a sense of sincerity, wisdom, and humor that you don't see much, or at all, in pop music. my favorite album of his, "Death of a Ladies Man", imo is the modern "Dark Night of the Soul".
RIP.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 11 November 2016 14:42 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WirxqAn7Ck8
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 11 November 2016 14:46 (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