There are few singer-songwriters with an outright poetic flair in their work as Leonard Cohen. His eponymous album is another reminder of the genius at work
Leonard Cohen. Pic/Wikimedia Commons
Canadian music legend Leonard Cohen entered the music scene in the 1960s at a time when he had a legitimate career as a poet and author. The album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was created from his partnership with Columbia Records, and it turned to be an instant hit with songs like Suzanne and The Stranger Song becoming cult classics, carving a niche in musical folklore. Alongside Bob Dylan’s lyrical prowess on socio-political landscape, Cohen emerged on the scene, talking about the brevity of life and the condition of humankind. His thematic concerns of everyday observations masked in elusive metaphors and literary intricacies make an album for attentive listening.
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That 1967 release is now available on audio streaming platforms, and continues to resonate with a new generation of listeners thanks to its poetic brilliance, lyricism and structure. The conversational approach that became a signature of Cohen’s body of work was set into motion with the success of this album. Its initial success was found in pockets of interest; his penchant for monochromatic and often desolate lyricism gave him a cult following. More often than not the ‘serious’ literary music aficionado leaned toward his style.
This release with 10 songs of cohesive themes of love, lust, betrayal and compassion boldly challenged the conventions of a pop album of the times. The efficient application of producer John Simon’s musical polish and Cohen’s persistence towards minimalism makes this album akin to a haunting sigh at the world. In Cohen’s music, he talks of the world and the everyday moments that catch the eye, and takes the listener on a journey around the sun with his sombre notes.
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