Timing favored Leonard Cohen when he began his career as a singer-songwriter with his 1967 debut, but even had Songs of Leonard Cohen been introduced at a time when singing songsters were less popular, I believe this album still would have endured on the strength of Cohen’s songwriting.
You’ll want to listen to Songs of Leonard Cohen with lyric sheets in front of you. Cohen’s striking similes, his clever pacing and his human warmth are the real attraction here—don’t miss even one line.
Most songs on this album, like “The Stranger Song” and “Sisters of Mercy,” are long-form. “The Stranger Song”, for example, is comprised of eight different verses—no sing-along chorus, no catchy refrain; just imagery, symbolism, and story from start to finish.
Cohen was a writer long before he was a performer; by the time Songs of Leonard Cohen was released, he had already published three books of poetry and two novels. He’s one of the few lyricists that stand up to literary scrutiny.
Songs of Leonard Cohen is essential listening for anyone who likes a well-written song, plainly and honestly delivered.