Isnt there meant to be a new album before the end of 2008?

[Undertow]

Is it going to be a very quiet release or has it now been postponed? Is there any real information on this at all?

[Davido]

The December issue ( no181) of Mojo magazine will be in the shops very soon, and has an excellent 11-page article on Leonard. His new manager, Robert Kory spoke to interviewer Sylvie Simmons:
'' Kory has been looking into the possibility of making all the concerts available in an online bootleg format, and there are plans to release a live album early next year and a DVD of Cohen's extraordinary show at London's 02 Arena. Cohen has also been writing new songs. So, assuming he has enough that meet his exacting standard, he may start recording a new album between the end of the European tour and the start of his first US jaunt in years in the late spring. There's also talk of making the new songs available one at a time, as they're completed.''

Dave

[jarkko]

The MOJO comment may not be 100 % accurate: after the Fall 2008 leg in Europe, the next one seems to turn to the Pacific.
If the tour continues, North America will follow later. I wonder whether there is time enough to finalize the next album between the legs. Everybody involved needs to rest, too!!!

[leonardmtl]

Jarkko,

Unless I am mistaken, this is your first mention of the sequence for a US tour in the 2009 schedule....that is, after the Pacific...if it happens at all.

Manyof us will be eagerly awaiting more detail.


Leonard from Montreal

[tomsakic]

As I can recall, the first plan was to record the album between the Summer and Fall leg (there was studio reserved for September), as LC said in the Spring interview.

Of course, they needed some rest...

Now they're planning to record the whole CD in a month gap between European Fall leg and late January, when Pacific Tour starts... with Christmas and all the holidays in this period... or whatever (it says US leg, and now Pacific is in the meantime...)

Plus, Leonard's known speed in recordings songs, and being happy with its perfection (I heard rumours that as much "A Thousand Kisses Deep - The Song" sounded perfect to mundane ears, he thinks it's still no perfect, so it hasn't moved further than being performed in the sound checks... )

Anyhow, we will have *plenty* of albums, with *all the shows* being (maybe) released for iPod download (Jees). It's time to stop collecting fan recordings.....

And I'm still wondering, what Leonard meant when he said in Spring that "this band is so good I decided to throw the tracks I did and start over again"... he can't start over again songs like Puppets (spoken word).

[astranger]

exciting news!!

[Paul Zagreb]

Anyhow, we will have *plenty* of albums, with *all the shows* being (maybe) released for iPod download (Jees). It's time to stop collecting fan recordings.....

Let us into the secret, Tom .. what have you heard?

[tomsakic]

Paul,

everything is MOJO, a DVD release of one selected show (so, no selections from various venues as on previous albums), plus idea to release ALL shows as iPod downloads:

'' Kory has been looking into the possibility of making all the concerts available in an online bootleg format, and there are plans to release a live album early next year and a DVD of Cohen's extraordinary show at London's 02 Arena.

[jarkko]

For the iPod project all legal issues have to be solved first!

[peter danielsen]

I must say Im a bit concerned about leonard continueing the tour for maybe 50 more concerts. It seemed that his voice in copenhagen the last time was not in as good shape as the first concert in july.
I for one will pray that the continuing touring will not harm him
Peter

[gazatthebop]

the glasgow concert was professionally filmed too.

[tomsakic]

I listened to the bootleg of June show at 02 arena.

It's not good choice for a DVD. Sinergy with the audience is far from Toronto June 8 atmosphere, i.e., plus some solos are better there... Not to mention Leonard's mistake "I thought that liar-the lover has to be a liar too."

Plus many other little complaints which make this show not quite good choice at all. Also, the punches and jokes are much better performed (i.e. the one with naming all the antidepressants) in Toronto. Compare only the opening dance, with frenetic ovations in Toronto to London. In any case, it seems to my ears that domestic audience made Leonard much more uplifting and energetic.

On this recording, I am simply missing the frenetic mood of Summer tour, 02 sounds like old Leonard, dedicated to music and little more sad. Of course, it could look different visually, for those who were there or on the screen. But according to the (excellent quality) sound recording, not the right stuff.

02 show, although excellent, also doesn't have the energy of the show I saw, Lucca July 27, so I think I can compare and say my two cents.