Have you heard Dear Heather?

greenfeld69 · Post by **greenfeld69** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:41 am

Dan B. wrote:Lizzy-
I'm jealous you got to hear the album early, lucky you.
I noticed one of the comments about "if you like Ten New Songs you'll love Dear Heather," well if that's the case I'll love it. I guess Leonard didn't work with a band on this one, that's too bad. I do love his work just with the synthesizer, but Leonard with a band would be interesting at this point.

I've said before, something like the live band from the Field Commander Cohen album would be amazing. For me, that is a fantastic sound.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:12 pm

I think the logistics play into Leonard's not playing with a band.....perhaps, also, that "Jazz Police" phenomena

makes it less stressful to just do what one can to wield the synethesizer into proper place

. Seriously, I don't know what his reasons, but I know "The Faith" brought a number of those old friends back together, at least on the album

! From what I heard, I expect to love this album, too, "Ten New Songs" aside

.

Yes, lucky me and all the others ~ who made sure to believe Jarkko and Geoff, who stressed that it was very important that we attend that particular Event slot. I wasn't planning to miss it, but even if I had, I'd have changed my mind! They didn't give any hints as to what was going to occur, only that we needed to be sure to be there! There was no question as to why, once the speakers filled with Leonard's voice. I just instantly went into quasi-disbelief mode

.

~ Lizzy

ania · Post by **ania** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:08 am

greenfeld69 wrote:Have you heard it yet then? Sounds like more of the same from 10 New Songs...I was hoping he had got the acoustic back out

yes, i just heard it for the first time and im very confused. well i heard what i could stand listening to, as i said on the NG. something has gone very wrong with this album - muzak from hell.

thank god for tom waits and REAL GONE.

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:54 pm

Ania, I'm sorry you've had this initial reaction to DH, but I trust you aren't giving up on it yet.

As I've said elsewhere here, I would describe it as a fascinating and unusual album (with such variety of expressive form) that challenges me to embrace it... to enjoy its tantalising whimsies and overall individuality.

Cheers

Andrew (Darby)

Andrea V. · Post by **Andrea V.** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:41 pm

Also for me it is confusing.

The singer/songwriter is a songreader or songspeaker or songteller now. And too many femal voices, too much muzak. But still very good lyrics. They always touch me. And a warm atmosphere. It is always nice to hear his voice. I like it at last.

Andrea

Henning · Post by **Henning** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:53 pm

No less than a masterpiece..... those with ears will hear .... and my tears are not dry yet from the first round. OOOPS, he did it again !!!!!

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:07 pm

It's growing on me more each time I listen to it. A pity his voice is rather drowned out on some tracks

The title track is still a bit of a puzzle..... maybe Leonards little joke? Overall it seems like a swansong..... so many tributes and farewells

I hope not.

PS I like the sleeve notes and pictures too

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:19 am

Dear Margaret,
Your post grew on me too: it contained four key-words;"pity", "voice",
"swansong" and "tributes".
It's only Monday.
I don't write in a day, so here's some verses, and not a poem:

Dear Leonard.

Reviews are being published;
they're piling thick and fast.
Some speak of your achievements,
and others, of your past.

Smart critics say you've lost it:
ain't got the voice, ya know.
Dear Leonard, with your longing,
please tell them where to go.

Andrew.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:26 am

You tell 'em, aye, Andrew.

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:27 am

Unlike many people who seem to have had Dear Heather for days, or even weeks, I heard it for the first time this evening. I think Go No More More a-Roving is a great opener, both vocally and melodically (the singer Shusha, who has covered a few Leonard songs once recorded a beautiful version of this poem with a different tune). My other initial favourites are the exquisite "Villanelle for our Time" , the charming "Nightingale" and most of all "The Faith" which brought tears to my eyes and had me singing along, by the end. I'll withold judgement on the rest, but Because Of didn't really get to me first time (though Juim Devlin rates this, which bodes well); I liked the idea of The Leers and the picture alongside the words suits it well; I wish Leonard had brought his voice to the fore on Undertow, since it is a song he could sing, himself; On That Day is quite a strong track; There for You hasn't left an impression yet, Dear Heather is odd but interesting and Tennessee Waltz I know and love. Time will tell...

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:06 am

I have never before read so many reviews of a record before I had even heard it. The range of reactions was so wide that I was quite worried what mine would be. I need not have worried

. While it will take a while to get to know and love this album as much as the others, I know that it will be up among the favourites. After three listenings, I like Go No More A-Roving very much, Because Of brought a laugh that gradually turned to tears as the last line was repeated. The Letters is classic Cohen and I really like the arrangement of Undertow. Morning Glory is very impressionistic, and will take some listening to before I can claim to understand it. On That Day and Vilanelle For Our Time were both tear-jerkers, and There For You nearly did it again! I found the repetitiveness of Dear Heather surprisingly soothing. I think maybe the breakdown of the words into letters may be an attempt to mirror the breakdown of the human body in old age in the form of the song. The last 4 lines of The Window also crossed my mind, but I'm not sure yet if there's a connection. (For the Holy One dreams of a letter/Dreams of a letter's death/Oh bless the continuous stutter/Of the word being made into flesh.) Nightingale puts a catchy little tune to a rather dismal theme. The language of To A Teacher really stands out as from a much younger Leonard, and The Faith is a hymn that will stand comparison with any of the others Leonard has written. I am so grateful to finally have a clear copy of the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:42 am

I really like many of the things you've said, and some of your perspectives/insights, Linmag. After reading so many things said, one wonders whether t'will be anything left to say.

ania · Post by **ania** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:10 am

Andrea V. wrote:Also for me it is confusing.

The singer/songwriter is a songreader or songspeaker or songteller now. And too many femal voices, too much muzak. But still very good lyrics. They always touch me. And a warm atmosphere. It is always nice to hear his voice. I like it at last.

Andrea

BINGO ANDREA! thats exactly how i feel. i just have a less sophisticated/more eastern european way of expressing myself

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:32 pm

Henning wrote:No less than a masterpiece..... those with ears will hear .... and my tears are not dry yet from the first round. OOOPS, he did it again !!!!!

Henning, I can relate to this, as I have also found it a very moving and emotional experience...more so than any other recent album of LC's I can think of. I'm not exactly sure why - I need to consider this a bit more. I'm just relishing the feelings for now!

Cheers

Andrew (Darby)

Lily_Marlene · Post by **Lily_Marlene** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:05 am

Leonard Cohen has done it again!

Dear Heather Is a beautiful CD! The first time I listened to it, I wasn't sure how I felt about a few of the songs. The second time I listened to it, I was reminded of why I am such an avid Leonard Cohen fan.

Dear Heather has taken up permanent residency in my CD player.

I can't help but be mesmerized by it!

Have you heard Dear Heather?

Re: Have you heard Dear Heather?

Thoughts on my first listen