Leonard Cohen Albums Ranked
Leonard Norman Cohen CCGOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2011, Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize. Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs, which was a major hit in Canada and Europe. His 11th album, Dear Heather, followed in 2004. Following a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2013, Cohen released three albums in the last five years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014) and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks before his death. A posthumous album titled Thanks for the Dance was released in November 2019, his fifteenth and a final studio album. Here are all of Leonard Cohen’s albums ranked.
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10. Death Of A Ladies’ Man (1977)
“By far his most underrated album. Even Cohen himself was dissatisfied with the production, yet I can’t help be notice his trademark sadness still perpetuates itself through Spector’s large scale production. Memories is one of his best songs, I can’t get over it. And I can see why (according to Cohen) the “punkers” loved this one.”
9. Various Positions (1984)
“A lovely Leonard Cohen album. Obviously, his voice is starting to deteriorate by this time but it kind of suits the music. There is some beautiful writing here on, dance me to the end of love, coming back to you, night comes in, and of course, hallelujah. The record closes with the excellent if it is your will. A great laid back album.”
8. Old Ideas (2012)
“The recording is clean and well balanced with interesting sounds that caress the music and words …the song arrangements are simple yet eloquent and polished but tempered with edges as defined in some songs with Banjo and bluesy/country/folksy instruments and other interesting sounds in the right places. That classical guitar sound Leonard uses as always is balanced and a link to Leonard’s unique personal style. Great percussion that is simple and unforced underscores the songs while driving them forward.”
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7. New Skin For The Old Ceremony (1974)
“Not as lyrically spectacular as some of his other records, but the orchestration is far more experimental and unconventional, and the record holds two of Cohen’s greatest songs, Lover Lover Lover and Is This What You Wanted, especially the last of the two is spectacular built up, almost paused but then lived up again, with a Cohen offbeat. Amazing.”
6. The Future (1992)
“This album stunned me. Prophetic, apocalyptic, tender, and dark. It made me realize just how powerful music can be when it has poetry in the lyrics, and just how lame most song lyrics really are. I read an interview with Mogwai once. They asked them why they don’t write lyrics for their music. They said, “Who can compete with Leonard Cohen?”
5. You Want It Darker (2016)
“It is difficult to pick out any highlights as it all flows so beautifully but I have to mention Treaty, which I believe is possibly his best song since Tower Of Song or I’m Your Man, which is indeed going back quite a while. The title track here is also not far behind and Leaving The Table is another notable track, and this album completes a wonderful trilogy of albums that in turn completes Leonard Cohen’s immaculate body of work.”
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4. Songs From A Room (1969)
“This album has shadows and pits of blackness so deep, when I listen to this record I am transported to some sort of bleak world with brief flashes of wonder and humanity. This album takes me on a surreal tour through the more shadowlands which exist right before me but is never seen or fully confronted, and my guide is a grizzled wise man who has seen it clear and has charted and documented all its byroads and ramifications.”
3. I’m Your Man (1988)
“Lyrically, like pretty much every other Leonard Cohen album, this is great, the synths add another dimension to the tracks and they don’t sound dated at all. With only the slight exception of Jazz Police, every track here is excellent, particularly the title track, I Can’t Forget, Take This Waltz, and the immortal Tower Of Song.”
2. Songs Of Love And Hate (1971)
“The third classic album in a row from Leonard Cohen. Songs of love and hate is a stunning record full of fantastic songs. Avalanche, is a brilliant opener, brooding, and mysterious. Other standouts include famous blue raincoat, and, Joan of arc. Diamonds in the mine, is a fun singalong and, love calls you by your name, is another highlight, as is, dress rehearsal rag, and, last year’s man, Oh what the hell, they’re all amazing.”
1. Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1967)
“It still amazes me that Cohen was a writer, then just decided, despite having no experience singing or playing guitar, to become a musician. The songwriting on this album is phenomenal, and the lyrics weaved on this album are among the best ever spoken.”