Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man [SOUNDTRACK]

Leonard Cohen

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: July 25, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Verve Forecast
• ASIN: B000G73UEU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,707 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Already an accomplished poet and novelist before he ambled into the music business in his mid-'30s, Leonard Cohen has remained as musically influential as he is publicly enigmatic for four decades. This celebration of Cohen's songbook began as a free concert that quickly mushroomed into a star-studded live tribute film shot at Sydney's famed Opera House and Brighton Dome. Musically supervised by Hal Willner (who's produced similar recorded tributes to Mingus, Monk, Rota and Weill), it recasts Cohen's evocative, emotionally uncompromising songs in compelling performances by singers who range from fellow cult heroes Nick Cave and Beth Orton to energetic newcomer Teddy Thompson and even rock gods U2. The latter's powerful collaboration with Cohen himself on the signature "Tower of Song" bookends Martha Wainright's solo opening rendition of the composition, deftly underscoring the project's eclectic artisanship in the bargain. Cave somehow channels the title track through Chicago's South Side via Weimar Berlin, while Teddy Thompson ponders "The Future" with exuberance and The Handsome Family informs "Famous Blue Raincoat" with elegant melodrama. Other standouts include Rufus Wainwright's nouveau Tango work-up of "Everybody Knows," Perla Batalla's gorgeous, Norteño-seasoned "Bird On a Wire" and her collaborations with Cave and Julia Christenson on "Suzanne" and "Anthem." A collection that's both a savvy primer to Cohen's catalog and impressive artistic achievement in its own right. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
This soundtrack features powerful performances of Cohen masterpieces by an outstanding array of today's top singer-songwriters. The tracks on the CD were recorded live at Hal Willner's "Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening of Leonard Cohen Songs", at the Brighton Dome as part of the Brighton Festival 2004 and at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Sydney Festival 2005, except "Tower of Song"featuring Leonard Cohen and U2.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I so wanted to love this cd..., July 29, 2006

By	Laurie Eckhout (Juneau, AK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are a few good songs here...No, there are a few really great covers of Leonard's masterpieces. Unfortunately there are several that left me just shaking my head and wondering why something better was not presented to showcase this genius of a song writer.

Highlights:

Antony's cover of "If It Be Your Will" (worth the price of the cd)
ANTHEM sung by Batalla/Christensen is sublime.
Also, the 2 songs by Thompson are quite good, especially "The Future."

What was done to some of these pieces seemed tragic. "Winter Lady" is a lowlight, as is "Famous Blue Raincoat."

This should have been so much better. Better song selections and certainly better renditions of Cohen's wonderful songs.

There are some really great Cohen covers out there so I know it can be done. Better yet, listen to The Man himself. No one tops Leonard singing Leonard.

I wish this was better, but do consider it for the Highlights. They are very good.
Laurie

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The magic of Cohen comes alive, November 4, 2006

By	Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

There are some magnificent, some great and some merely competent interpretations of Leonard Cohen's music on this soundtrack album. First the highlights. Tower Of Song by Martha Wainwright with its intricate guitars is a powerful interpretation of the classic. The lilting and sensual Tonight Will Be Fine by Teddy Thompsom is magnificent - his voice resembles that of Springsteen.

Then comes the tremulous and atmospheric Winter Lady by Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Martha Wainwright, a true gem. Beth Orton does a splendid version of Sisters Of Mercy with her slow and emphatic enunciation supported by lovely backing vocals. Perla Batalla's Bird On A Wire and The Traitor by Martha Wainwright with its opening trumpets are great, and both have exquisite instrumentation.

The weaving voices of Nick Cave, Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla make Suzanne quite special, whilst Teddy Thompson does justice to The Future in this rhythmic, uptempo version of the eerie song with its apocalyptic vision of the future. The evocative Anthem is a duet between Batalla and Christensen, a classic interpretation with soulful organ and uplifting vocals.

I found the following tracks competent but not really exceptional: The sax-heavy I'm Your Man by Nick Cave, Chelsea Hotel by Rufus Wainwright, the soulful If It Be Your Will by Antony, I Can't Forget by Jarvis Cocker, Famous Blue Raincoat by the Handsome Family and the breezy Everybody Knows by Rufus Wainwright.

Although not a fan of U2, I love the concluding track Tower of Song by Cohen and Bono. The voices work well together and the instrumentation is superb. Fans of Leonard might also be interested in the other tribute albums: Famous Blue Raincoat: 20th Anniversary Edition by Jennifer Warnes, Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy, I'm Your Fan by a colourful array of artists from different musical backgrounds and the slightly tepid Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen by a selection of mostly country singers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where is Hallelujah ??????, May 7, 2007

By	B. Byrd (california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a long time fan of Leonard Cohen and thoroughly enjoyed the "I'm Your Man" DVD, so happily bought the soundtrack...... BUT where are my favorites on this cd? The Traitor version is different from the amazing dvd rendition, and my all time favorite tune from the movie, Hallelujah, is missing!!!

Most people are probably familiar with, and prefer, the Buckley rendition of this wonderful Cohen song. I, too, loved it until I was blessed to hear the Rufus Wainwright version -- now nothing else compares, especially with the harmonies and additional performers on the dvd. Yes, you can find the song by Rufus on one of his albums, but it's not the one from the dvd -- even the director expressed disappointment at its ommission from what should be a compillation of the best and most important songs.

Still worth a listen, especially for Antony's chilling version of "If it be your will" and a couple others, but I need to learn to read the song list & also how to get an audio dub from the film!!!

Get the DVD instead!