Product Description

In retrospect, after Cohen's ironic latter-day embrace of Europop sounds, the brashness of Phil Spector's production style doesn't seem such an unlikely mate for Cohen's songs. Atthe time, though, the pairing of the genteel acoustic songpoet with Mr. Wall of Sound raised more than a few eyebrows. While Spector's famed everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach does largely preclude the opportunity for subtlety, the sheer audaciousness of the Big Sound works nicely with Cohen's spleen-venting sensibilities. Wailing at the top of his lungs over a sea of sound, Cohen comes off like a crazed, poetic carnival barker. Highlights are the ribald, funky and uproarious "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On" (featuring backingvocals by Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg!) and the epic titlecut. This isn't the place for neophytes to start, but for hardcore fans, it'll be irresistible.

Track Listing

1. True Love Leaves No Trace
2. Iodine
3. Paper Thin Hotel
4. Memories
5. I Left A Woman Waiting
6. Don't Go Home With Your Hard On
7. Fingerprints
8. Death Of A Ladies' Man

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3680 in Music
• Released on: 1995-04-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

NOT COHEN'S BEST...
...but still great enough. Phil Spector gives you the ultimate musical overkill with his famous WALL OF SOUND, which personally I could have done without. Still Cohen's songs are great as ever, especially the last track, which is also the title of the album. Cohen himself, I read, wasn't very happy with this release, but still a great album and far better than anything released nowadays.

Cohen:A Man For All Seasons
Cohen himself is less than fond of this album, but it's better than 'Dear Heather' and 'Ten New Songs,' in my humble opinion. The title track is a 10-minute odyssey, a little overladen perhaps, but what do you expect from Phil Spector? The album he (Spector) produced prior to this was the seminal classic 'Born To Be With You' by Dion, and the two albums share a similar sound. But, much as I love the great diMucchio too, even his best songs pale next to Cohen's. Memories is one of his greatest moments, as is True Love Leaves No Traces, which is just beautiful. Humour comes in the shape of Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On, like a Rabelesian knees-up, similar in style to Closing Time from 'The Future'. Both Fingerprints and I Left A Woman Waiting I like, but I wouldn't have missed them. As for Paper-Thin Hotel, it's such a shame that the vocals are so utterly condensed and phased, as it is one of Cohen's best lyrics and melodies.

An acquired taste
In common with many Leonard Cohen albums, this does have the odd duff song ('I left a woman waiting' in this case), but the album does not suffer for it. Some stunning songs here, in True Love..., Paper Thin Hotel, Death of A Ladies Man. And I for one welcome the Spector production as an alternative take on the tried and tested Cohen formula of sparse, moody arrangements. And 'Don't Go Home' is an hilarious song, notable for the inclusion of Bob Dylan on backing vox. The current CD is such good value. Infact, you can pick up most of Len's CDs for under a fiver, so while you are ordering this one, do the decent thing and buy the other CDs!