New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Leonard Cohen's last studio album (2016)
Winterblossom
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Winterblossom »

Wow what a treat we got in Amsterdam tonight, listening to the new album. I just couldn't believe this was happening for real!! It's an album one will love from the very first listen, where as the previous one took me several listening sessions. They mentioned it to be released in October. Can't wait!
I came so far for beauty, I left so much behind...
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B4real
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by B4real »

B4real wrote: And I’ll bet that Alex plays his violin on it especially taking note of the last song
Could someone please confirm or deny that .....just nod your head up and down if it's yes ;-)
.... or side to side if it's no :razz:
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Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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friscogrl
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by friscogrl »

Hi Bev. I am nodding my head yes :D

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B4real
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by B4real »

Thank you so much Marsha :D :D :D

I miss our fun with you and Mary :(
...... and if you get the chance, please say hello to Rachel and Andrew and Christelle from me. I wish I was there to do it in person!
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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peter danielsen
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by peter danielsen »

Did anyone notice there seem to be two covers, one with cigerette and one without
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Vicomte
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Vicomte »

cohenadmirer wrote:
jerry wrote:The cover is similar to Songs From A Room.
Yes , sort of . I notice he has a cigarette in his hand , but hope he hasn't started smoking again.
David, if he has then at Leonard's age, well who can deny him a nice smoke after a nice dinner AND I am sure you will remember what he has said on stage and privately, I know he told Vicomtesse that at 80 he planned to start smoking again and this could be just a quiet laugh at all of us who remember his words, whilst not actually starting to smoke again?

"This is where 2 years from now, I’ll be smoking a cigarette. A young girl in a nurses uniform will bring out a table and a chair, and I’ll tap out a smoke as this music will begin to play"

Leonard Cohen on stage

Only one hope and that is I really hope it is not too dark but knowing how Johnny Cash albums went in his later life....... ;-)
I guess it all started for me sometime around Christmas 1967 and now, goodness me, it's.........2018 and over fifty years later.
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
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cohenadmirer
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by cohenadmirer »

The 2 covers are exactly the same apart from the cigarette , so i guess the cigarette was ' photo shopped'- the healthier option .

All snippets of information from those privileged enough to have heard the album in Amsterdam will be gratefully received.
...but it is sounds as though exercising more patience until October will be richly rewarded :D
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daka
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by daka »

cohenadmirer wrote:
jerry wrote:The cover is similar to Songs From A Room.
Yes , sort of . I notice he has a cigarette in his hand , but hope he hasn't started smoking again.
I would bet that this is probably an artistic expression of 'poetic licence' and also a visual artistic/poetic statement and also an affirmation of Leonard's still-alive rebellious spirit, and, lastly a photo-op. I have not smoked for over 30 years and I was a very heavy smoker; I had a plan to also smoke one on his birthday and drink a bottle of his wine and find a nurse. These did not fall easily into place so I never fulfilled the fantasies. (Maybe on my own 80th birthday?)
If you become the ocean you will not become seasick....Jikan (aka Leonard Cohen)

It's comin' from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there! . Jikan
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Joe Way
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Joe Way »

Just a few comments by one of the lucky ones who were privileged to hear the album last night-I really liked it and I'm one of those who generally needs a new LC album to grow on him. I think it is quite different from his last two albums-seems to be more instrumentation. My favorite, and in discussion with others here, many others is "Treaty." I wonder if this is the melody that Leonard has had for a number of years that he has been looking for a lyric to. It is just beautiful. The gist of the song is making peace, not only with his Maker, but with everyone and all things. After only one listen, I can't say much else. The album ends with first an instrumental reprise of the melody and then, a chorus. Leonard doesn't "sing" a lot on this album, but this one comes close.

Willy & Wijbe and Liesbeth are putting on a fantastic event-have to go to bed now to prepare for tomorrow. More later.
"Say a prayer for the cowboy..."
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B4real
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by B4real »

B4real wrote:Interesting that the new album was produced by Adam.
And I’ll bet that Alex plays his violin on it especially taking note of the last song.
I reckon those lucky ones in Amsterdam will get to hear the album - good for them!
Thank you so much Joe :D I know I've asked before and I know that everyone in Amsterdam is pre-occupied with the event happenings but I'm hanging out here for more details on the album, so muchly appreciated that you've taken time to tell us your thoughts! By the title "Treaty" I was imagining something similar to the thrust of what you've said. Very interesting about more instrumentation being utilised overall.

Leaving The Table sounds a bit ominous.
If I Didn't Have Your Love to me sounds like it could be deciphered as without you I'm just passing through :)

Can't wait (promptly/patiently) for more info and to buy and listen to the album in Sept - Nov :D

Good to see the fun continues in Amsterdam!!
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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jerry
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by jerry »

Leonard doesn't "sing" a lot on this album, but this one comes close.

What does that mean exactly?
Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.
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Joe Way
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Joe Way »

Jerry,
He recites more than sings most of the lyrics. This was a question that came up in our discussions with Patrick Leonard. Patrick speculates that Leonard is so focused on what he wants to say that he thinks learning the melodies closely would be a distraction.

Again, one listening is not enough to make many observations about work that is as genuinely complex as Leonard's. There is also certainly the chance that my observations are wrong. Suffice it to say that it is very richly intriguing album and I know that I will enjoy many listenings of it. I think that "Treaty" will be a classic Cohen song.

Patrick Leonard also brought good news that Leonard is already working on his next project that will be a more orchestral work. He said more like a Chamber Orchestra with some choruses and spoken words. I think that this puts to rest the notion that this album is a swan song. Now, it could come to be that this is the last album released, but that is not the intention.

By the way, the concert last night by The Avalanche Quartet was just outstanding. Every Cohen cover that they did was just great. Everyone here was thrilled with the concert. The Event is a tremendous success and we are enjoying it immensely.
"Say a prayer for the cowboy..."
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Cheshire gal
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Cheshire gal »

Great news 8). Even better to hear there will also be another album in the future.
'...and here's a man still working for your little smile' -Leonard Cohen
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Hartmut
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by Hartmut »

Just three small comments:

Undoubtedly the songs will benefit from repeated listening. But it's quite easy to like them even after just one listening.

The rhythm of the spoken words of one of the songs {don't remember which one) reminds me a lot of Nevermind.

And if someone happens to not know it yet: The lyrics to one of the songs (Steer Your Way) already appeared in The New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/ ... nard-cohen
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jerry
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Re: New Album announced: 'You Want It Darker'

Post by jerry »

Are these all short songs? Or longer songs? The album has only 9 songs. If the songs are 3-4 minutes long then this is a very short album.
Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.
Leonard Cohen
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