Leonard Cohen - The Best Of Leonard CohenThis 1975 compilation does a good job of synopsizing the early career
of one of the world's finest songsmiths. Cohen's initial modus operandi
was to deliver dark, poetic imagery in a sedate-but-effective manner
over his own nylon-string fingerpicking. Musically, early tunes like
"Suzanne," "Bird on the Wire" and "Sisters of Mercy" adhere to
traditional folk ballad form, but the literary depth of the lyrics and
the fragile, human imperfections of Cohens voice were virtually
unprecedented.
As he moved into the '70s, Cohen explored darker,
less polite avenues. "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Last Year's Man" are
portraits of emotional devastation similar in style to the work of
Jacques Brel. Cohen's irreverence and black humor always kept him from
going over the top, as exemplified by the frank, ironic tone of
"Chelsea Hotel," a song written for Janis Joplin. THE BEST OF LEONARD
COHEN is a satisfactory starting point for neophytes, and those who
find themselves intrigued should simply start at the beginninmg of
Cohen's very consistent catalogue and work their way through.
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