Leonard Cohen

Songs of Love and Hate

Bleak, unyielding, and grand.

Review Score:

(10/10)
This is Cohen's starkest, most powerful work -- as deep, full and variegated as the human soul. There are no easy answers here: no facile nihilism, no fashionable despair.

In other words, this is nothing like the Doors. Or perhaps it would be better to say that this is the level of meaning Morrison aspired to.

Don't get the wrong impression. Leonard is clearly a believer; it's just that he grasps how utterly demanding and mysterious God really is.

The arrangements here are, for the most part, spare and practical -- with exceptions. For example, 'Diamonds in the Mine' is a bit of a romp, in keeping with its ironic intent as an early protest against the cynical, materialistic narcissism of abortion. And his point is deftly made.

I agree with the other reviews -- if you buy only one Cohen, select this. What he does, he does best here.

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