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Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:48 am
by bridger15
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/118668
Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade
"One song was written on tour, the rest were written before"

By Patrick Doyle
Jun 18, 2010 2:37 PM EDT

Leonard Cohen has spent the last two years globetrotting through a marathon tour, but when Rolling Stone caught up with the poet last night in New York — where he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — he revealed he's working on a new album, his first disc of fresh material since 2004's Dear Heather. "God willing it will be finished next spring," he said.

"I'm producing it," he said, wearing his typical dapper black suit and fedora. The 75-year-old added that the disc will contain "10 or 11 songs," mostly composed before he hit the road in May 2008 for the first time in 15 years. "One song was written on tour, the rest were written before," he said, noting that he wrote some tracks with longtime collaborator Sharon Robinson and with his longtime companion Anjani. What will it sound like? "Something good, I hope."

Cohen said not much has changed on his playlist in recent years and rattled off a list of his favorite artists with long breathy pauses between names: "The same people — Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins."

Last year, Cohen debuted one new song live, the slow, moonlit blues "Feels So Good." This summer, Cohen embarks another leg of his tour, and in November he'll play Cambodia's Olympic Stadium with proceeds going to chartiable groups like the Cambodian Red Cross. "That's a long story," he said. "But if we can help there I'm very happy to be able to do it." Cohen's tour grossed $21 million in 2009 and earned stellar reviews. "I don't examine these things too closely," he said about his success on the road. "Otherwise they may evaporate."

At the ceremony, Cohen made a brief-but-spellbinding speech, said he was "overwhelmed" and then recited a stanza from his staple "Hallelujah." After the ceremony, fellow icons Paul Simon and Billy Joel made an early exit, but Cohen hung around his table, posing for photos and accepting accolades. When a couple forced electric guitar pickguards in his face, Cohen calmly told them, "You know I don't like signing these," but then signed them anyway.

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:25 am
by B4real
Thanks so much Arlene for the up-date.

I love this bit.......... "I don't examine these things too closely," he said about his success on the road. "Otherwise they may evaporate."
Much to look forward to :D

...and do I detect a subtle lavender background colour change in your avatar...very elegant ;-)

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:41 am
by sturgess66
How exciting - a "mini" interview. :D :D Or at least some current quotes and comments from Leonard.

I love this picture - and note that Leonard is wearing his 'Order of the Unified Heart' ring -
LC-SHOF12.jpg
After the ceremony, fellow icons Paul Simon and Billy Joel made an early exit, but Cohen hung around his table, posing for photos and accepting accolades.
LC-SHOF13.jpg
When Leonard leaves the building - that's when the party's over!

"One song was written on tour, the rest were written before," he said, noting that he wrote some tracks with longtime collaborator Sharon Robinson and with his longtime companion Anjani. What will it sound like? "Something good, I hope."


Already sounds good! Can't wait. (Guess I will have to though. :lol: ) Although - I wonder if he will do some of the songs on tour. Already we know the slow, moonlit blues "Feels So Good." :D
"When a couple forced electric guitar pickguards in his face"
- :shock: :shock: Yikes!

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 5:36 pm
by bridger15
noting that he wrote some tracks with longtime collaborator Sharon Robinson and with his longtime companion Anjani.
Roy wrote:Anjani responded to a private message I sent her on her forum. She is in the studio now, starting up a track, and won't be attending the 2010 Song Hall induction ceremony with Leonard Cohen.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20924&start=30#p233942

I wonder if Anjani's track reference in Roy's post refers to LC's new album.

---Arlene

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:08 pm
by lightasabreeze
Thanks for posting that, Now we wait patiently for the new album in the spring.
If the UK gets lucky for some concerts too, maybe it will be OUR year. No harm in wishing and hoping.

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:04 am
by Rabbit
Is that spring 2010 or spring 2011?

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:07 am
by st theresa
Did we know about this before Rolling Stone magazine? --Looking through the files for the announcement but I can't find it. hmmph--don't tell me....

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:29 am
by astranger
Rabbit wrote:Is that spring 2010 or spring 2011?
I'm pretty sure it has to be Spring 2011...

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:53 am
by jarkko
Looking through the files for the announcement but I can't find it.
I haven't added it to The Files yet; the release date has been (and still is) open. And before the new album there will be something else to enjoy (another good reason to attend the Krakow Event!). More about this later.

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:00 am
by Laura
jarkko wrote:
I haven't added it to The Files yet; the release date has been (and still is) open. And before the new album there will be something else to enjoy (another good reason to attend the Krakow Event!). More about this later.

Whaaaatt?!! What does "later" mean? I just felt how my patience evaporated... in about a second. :D
Some new songs maybe?

Laura

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:08 am
by jarkko
No Laura, you'll have to wait for the new songs until the new album has been released.
You're coming to Krakow, aren't you? Don't miss our special screenings!

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:51 am
by jarkko
About the new album:
I asked for Leonard's permission to give some details, and here we go:

All the songs for the new album have been written. One of them,
"The Street", is co-written with Anjani (not recorded yet)

He has already recorded four tracks for the new album:
The Darkness
Amen
Lullaby
I Know She Is Coming
The Street

I used to be your favorite drunk
Good for one more laugh
Then we both ran out of luck
And luck was all we had

You put on a uniform
To fight the Civil War
I tried to join but no one liked
The side I’m fighting for

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

You left me with the dishes
And a baby in the bath
And you’re tight with the militias
You wear their camouflage

I guess that makes us equal
But I want to march with you
An extra in the sequel
To the old red-white-and-blue

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

I cried for you this morning
And I’ll cry for you again
But I’m not in charge of sorrow
So please don’t ask me when

I know the burden’s heavy
As you bear it through the night
Some people say it’s empty
But that doesn’t mean it’s light

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

It’s going to be September now
For many years to come
Every heart adjusting
To that strict September drum

I see the Ghost of Culture
With numbers on his wrist
Salute some new conclusion
Which all of us have missed

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:05 am
by jarkko
"The Darkness" is discussed in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19863&p=204437&hili ... cs#p204437

For the first time we heard a live version of the song in Venice in August last year, at the sound check. Maarten filmed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcAhJg7yj2I

Later "The Darkness" premiered in Nashville - watch Arlene's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkWMqs67Lhw
IrishAl filmed it also in Las Vegas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--410yY3 ... re=related

- Note that at that time the songs was still under construction!!

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:36 am
by astranger
jarkko wrote:
Looking through the files for the announcement but I can't find it.
I haven't added it to The Files yet; the release date has been (and still is) open. And before the new album there will be something else to enjoy (another good reason to attend the Krakow Event!). More about this later.

would this have anything to do with the unconfirmed "new tour video" I just noticed on the timeline?

Re: Leonard Cohen Talks About First New Album of the Decade

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:06 am
by Inne
Slowly the information filters through... thanks for keeping us so well informed.
jarkko wrote:I Know She Is Coming
Might this be the new title for the KCRW 2006 demo Book Of Longing ?

I know she is coming
I know she will look
And this is the longing
And this is the book