Customer Reviews

Live In London

5 star:		(124)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Leonard Cohen is still a magnificent performer, even at 73-years old, and this concert captures that fact wonderfully. This two-disc cd set was recorded live at the concert in London at the O2 Arena on July 17th, 2008. Sony has done a marvelous job in putting this package together. Both cds are filled to maximum capacity and Amazon's tracklisting above is correct. There are several nice photographs of the event in the included booklet with liner notes by John Aizlewood.

The performance is spectacular on this set and very typical of the level of quality the current world tour has been regularly achieving at various venues. The backing singers and band members are all in top form and Leonard himself sounds in good voice. Sharon Robinson and the Webb sisters provide background vocals, while Roscoe Beck, Neil Larsen, Javier Mas, Bob Metzger, Dino Soldo, and Rafael Bernando Gayol comprise the band. Leonard throws out some light banter at times and probably is too gracious in the regular and profuse compliments he gives out to his supporting players.

On a technical level the recording is very good and sounds better than most live cds. The cds are mastered by Bob Ludwig, a well-known and respected mastering engineer. He did a fine job here as the music shows no signs of overcompression or clipping. The audience is well-behaved and generally can not be heard during the songs, though vigorous applause greets each song and Leonard's sly jokes.

The set captures the live magic of Leonard Cohen's current tour with many fine performances. While not every song on here is the definitive live version, many are great like "Tower Of Song" and "Who By Fire". Anyone with a marginal interest in the music of Leonard Cohen needs to pick up this cd set. It is essential in my estimation as a document of Leonard Cohen's current live performances. Hopefully more dates from this tour will be officially released.

Many people are aware that this album was made as part of the attempt to repair Leonard Cohen's seriously damaged finances. After living in a Buddhist monastery for several years Cohen discovered that his business manager had embezzled most of his money. Cohen reluctantly went back on the road over a decade after he imagined that he had left his musical career behind him. One might therefore not be surprised if there were some signs of reluctance or regret hanging about this performance. There is not. In fact, this is one of the most delightful live performances I've heard in a while. Perhaps it is the result of his time in the monastery, but Cohen seems genuinely at ease and happy performing. Maybe it is like the old saying that if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. From beginning to end Cohen gives the impression that there is nowhere he would rather be than before these friends in London and that performing for them is one of the greatest honors that has come his way. So far from despair or regret, the concert radiates a sense of joy.

Cohen's sense of humor and deep graciousness permeates every number. The spoken intros to his songs and the verbal asides are among the highlights of the album. Not that the music isn't exceptionally fine. Although 73 at the time of the performance, Cohen is in very fine voice. His voice has deepened greatly over the years. If you listen to THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN, released in 1968, and then to this recording, the change in his voice is almost shocking. He is backed by a large and crack group of players. As always he has a talented group of women backing him, in this case his sometimes writing partner Sharon Robinson and the Webb Sisters.

The paradox with Leonard Cohen is that while he has not been a very prolific songwriter, he has produced as many as truly great songs over the past forty years as anyone this side of Bob Dylan. I usually recommend to friend interested in Cohen getting his first album, THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN, and the flawed but still excellent THE ESSENTIAL LEONARD COHEN (flawed because too much emphasis is placed on Cohen's later career, to the neglect of his early songs). And most of his albums, even the very good ones, have several weak songs. This live album is actually an excellent place for someone coming to Cohen for the first time to experience his music, though like with THE ESSENTIAL, his earlier songs are neglected for his later.

Any live concert is going to leave aside some of any Cohen fan's favorites, and I'm no exception. I regretted the absence of "The Stranger Song" and the extraordinary "Famous Blue Raincoat," not to mention some personal favorites like "Joan of Arc." But unfortunately there is no single album that collects all of Cohen's best songs. We very much need a three-CD box set that does this (there was a foreign box set that came close, but it is no longer available).

All in all, this is one of the most delightful albums that I have listened to in a long time and I enthusiastically recommend it to both longtime fans of Leonard Cohen as well as newcomers who would like to get to know better the music of one of the finest songwriters of our time.

The year 2008 goes into my personal history, as the year I saw Leonard Cohen live in Vienna. What a performance! This "new" old Cohen is full of spirit, vivacious and with a twinkle in the eye. The music has been completely re-arranged and sounds better than ever. The way he interacted with the audience can only be described as lovely. Everybody was in awe of the great master. I highly recommend this CD which is a wonderful example of everything done right. All that's left to say is - I hope this was not the last recording of this wonderful man.

I saw Leonard Cohen and his fantastic band at the exquisitely intimate Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA last night. I'm still buzzing with both giddiness and a deep feeling of grace for being invited to 3 1/2 hours of soul massage. Aside from a sublime sound created by a 9-piece ensemble of talented musicians who have mastered the art of filling in just enough to let the greatness of these songs shine right through, I can hardly put in words how nice it felt to be carried through this musical journey by the simple power of . . . words.

There are love songs, the kind we are force-fed ad nauseum in daily radio and television diets, mostly shallow, formulaic professions of "Oh baby, you broke my heart, and I either want you back or you can go to hell." Then there are Love Songs, the rare kind that strike a chord so deep that they make a connection between our individual human condition or predicament and the infinitely more expansive and universal mystery behind our collective suffering and joy. The latter, of course, is Mr. Cohen's kind, tickling your soul's G-spot with his poetic feather until you can take it no more and surrender to the sensation of tears and smiles running side by side.

Inviting you in, through, and beyond, is the essence of poetry, and words are the cosmic training wheels that take you there, wherever there is. The most powerful words, however, may be the ones that -- like a caring guardian -- slowly fade into the distance once you're cruising, leaving you to explore all on your own the magic realm from whence they came while still feeling safely connected to their familiar ring. If these words are imbued in a deep dark whisper of a voice and carried by a cloud of sweet and gentle music, then you may find yourself catching a blissful glimpse of creation's finest, right through that crack where the light shines in.

The sound quality is very good, and Mr. Cohen did make sure he used the excellent Leanne Unger as mixer. My only regret is that those folks picked London as the show to record for the obligatory double CD. I think something grandiose like the O2 Arena might be an interesting venue for the DVD. But I remain convinced the CD would have even been better quality (sound, performance, intimacy, nuances, flamenco-guitar solos, etc.) had they picked a smaller theatre such as Paris' Olympia for instance. But Mr. Cohen and the suits over at Columbia are understandably in a rush to take advantage of the 2008-2009 tour's extraordinary momentum, and make money off of it. I don't blame them; it's tough out there, especially in light of Leonard's recent financial fiasco with his "friend" & "manager" Kelley Lynch. If I were an executive at Sony Music, I would release half a dozen double-CD package from the tour, like Pearl Jam and Tori Amos did not too long ago. Only means of capturing a tiny bit of the magic of such a remarkable tour.

i am normally averse to purchasing live recordings for reasons well known(sound quality,it somehow just never quite sounds like the original cd,drawn out versions of songs,etc).in respect of certain artists and for completist reasons,i from time to time deviate from this self imposed practise.leonard cohen is one such artist,and how glad i am that my policy does not apply to him.like a vintage wine,older,wiser,after having lived the life(from being involved with rebecca de mornay to spending time with monks)due to financial reasons,he during 2008 had to undertake a series of live shows,being back on boogie street.this double cd is of the concert he held in london. the sound quality is perfect.the atmosphere an appreciative audience and the artist one who is complety at peace and on song.i have always maintained that an album does not necessarily have to in respect of each song contain a five star song,for it to be a five star album.i believe that one song may be so striking,that it by itself may lift an otherwise fair album to four or five star quality(dylan's brownsville girl is a case in point).
in this instance,the song is "if it be your will" a stunning song when it appeared on the original album ,but given an interpretation on this album that makes it timeless.having said that,the gems do not end there."my sceret life","hey that's no way to say goodbye" (to name but two )also standout.and then there is "hallelujah".sure, the buckley version is great,but here,it is as if this interpretation could only be given by the man himself and only after all these years.
and,his interaction with the audience is also warm and intimate.
definitely one of the albums of the year.

I have listened to this collection four or five times now and am genuinely amazed at each listening. If you know Leonard Cohen's work, this album is going to be your favorite. It is a look at his career, his humor, yes, I said humor, and his darkness. The live recording is warm, and the sound is inviting. The band is flawless. You will not be disappointed.

This is a beautiful concert - the music and lyrics superb, the delivery wonderfully human - an excellent event.

What Cohen has done here, is what so many artists aspire to but few
achieve, not only does he present an outstanding body of work culled
over a lifetime, indeed he transcends it and creates a piece of work
that stands alone on its own artistic merit. This is a masterpiece. It should be on everyone's best of list for 2009

Leonard Cohen was truly blessed with a golden voice, as he whimsically opines in "The Tower of Song". More importantly, he is one of the most poignant song writers of our age. This is clearly a seminal collection of his work to date. I've been a fan ever since "Suzanne" took me down to touch her perfect body with my mind. The holy dove moved in me when Cohen found the secret chord that drew the "Halleluiah" from my lips... in a provocative song that's impossible to resist singing alongside the master. And even though I'm a little on the right and he's a little on the left, one can't help but admire his sentimental journey of "Democracy"... perhaps the finest protest song ever written. And if you're looking for total expressions of love and emotion, he's not lying when he croons, "I'm your man." Cohen's music soothes and excites while his lyrics penetrate and inspire contemplative thought. He is a consummate stylist, who elicits hidden meaning and promotes insight with every well turned phrase. This is a treasure chest of his very best songs showcased in his finest performance, lavishly produced and graciously served up for your total listening pleasure.