| Recent Songs | 
 enlarge | Artist: Leonard Cohen
Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
Category: Music
List Price: $7.98
Buy New: $3.25
You Save: $4.73 (59%)
New (26) Used (9) from $3.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 10528
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 723978
UPC: 886972397825
EAN: 8869723978254
ASIN: B0012GMX3S
Release Date: February 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Tracks:
| • | The Guests | | • | Humbled in Love | | • | The Window | | • | Came So Far for Beauty | | • | The Lost Canadian (Un Canadien Errant) - Leonard Cohen, Gerin-Lajoie, M.A. | | • | The Traitor | | • | Our Lady of Solitude | | • | The Gypsy's Wife | | • | The Smokey Life | | • | Ballad of the Absent Mare |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Poetry In Motion June 28, 2001
28 out of 30 found this review helpful
Not widely recognized as being a very good Leonard Cohen album, but it, in fact, is. A lovely use of violins throughout and the presence of the band Passenger on several tracks, makes this the best Leonard Cohen album, musically. There are actually fairly-long musical interludes and solos on this album, which is somewhat rare for Cohen... hence, the longer-than-usual running times of the songs on this album compared to previous ones. This is, of course, in addition to his usually brilliant lyrics. They are more poignant here, in fact, than almost any place else. Some of his most beautiful songs lie herein. The opener, The Guests, is a perfectly sardonic way to open the album. Humbled In Love is lyrically similar, in it's delivery, and about as good. Songs like The Window, The Traitor, and The Smokey Life, are excellent, seemingly highly-confessional songs that fit nicely into Cohen's repetoire. However, my personal favorite off the album is Came So Far For Beauty, a poignant, absolutely beautiful touching little piece with a totally appropriate musical backing. The cover of the Lost Canadian is also a nice addition. The allegerical Ballad of The Absent Mare brings the album to a triumphant close. A must-own.
The Rare Genius of a Maestro February 28, 2000
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
The Rare Genius of a MaestroThe unmistakable talent of Leonard Cohen was apparent from his early days, but when one looks at his work in chronological order (see below), then his need to break from his almost folksy style occurred after "New Skin for the Old Ceremony" (1974). His first experiment with a different form of expression was Death of a Ladies' Man in 1977, arguably his worst performance, and one that he himself denotes as a "catastrophe". That was also the last time that Cohen had allowed someone else (in this case, Phil Spector) to influence his work. Recent Songs appeared in 1979, and although not always widely acclaimed, contains some of his best work as an artist. The old Cohen is still there, but the power of his poetry blends extremely well with his beautiful but haunting delivery. Here is the watershed that is the hallmark of true art - allowing the author to break free entirely from the bonds of method and style, culminating in an exceptional and unique piece of work. In contemporary music there really is no equivalent. On this record Cohen covers the gamut - from his cynical and outright scary "The Guests" - where he deals with his struggle to understand God - to the "Ballad of the Absent Mare" - which is an absolute testament to the power of the artist. All his work on this album is outright marvelous, but especially the cuts "The Window", "The Traitor" and "Ballard of the Absent Mare" deserves further mentioning. Here Cohen combines reason, rhyme and beauty in an apparent effortless fashion, and proves beyond any doubt why he should be considered as possibly the most outstanding English balladeer of modern time. The record is a must for the truly discerning mind. . Releases in sequential order: 1997 - More Best Of Leonard Cohen 1994 - Cohen Live 1992 - The Future 1988 - I'm Your Man 1984 - Various Positions 1979 - Recent Songs 1977 - Death of a Ladies' Man 1975 - The Best of Leonard Cohen 1974 -New Skin for the Old Ceremony 1973 -Live Songs 1971 - Songs Of Love And Hate 1969 - Songs From A Room 1968 - Songs Of Leonard Cohen
OH MOTHER OF GOD.... January 11, 2002
22 out of 25 found this review helpful
This is the first LC album I've ever heard, and I've got a bad feeling that I'm going to do something crazy tomorrow -- LIKE BUY THE REST OF HIS ENTIRE CATALOG IN ONE SHOT -- because "Recent Songs" is absolutlely masterful. And beautuiful. And haunting. And every thing else affecting Art should be. ...
Not to be missed! May 7, 2002
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
My favourite Leonard Cohen album of all time is "Songs of Love and Hate". And it wasn't until I heard "Recent Songs" that I found an album that matched "SOL+H"'s lyrical and musical beauty. After his ridiculous collaboration with Phil Spector - "Death of A Ladies Man" - , "Recent Songs" was a wonderfully welcome return to form. Among my favourites songs on this album are "The Window" - a beautiful song in the tradition of "Last Year's Man"; "Un Canadien Errant", sung entirely in French by the Montreal born Cohen; "The Guests", "The Gypsy's Wife", and "Ballad of the Absent Mare". This is a must-own for any Leonard Cohen fan. And it should also be pointed out that this is the last album Leonard Cohen recorded before his voice transformed into the gravely sound which has been his trademark since "Various Positions".
 "But the rumors of my virtue, they moved her not at all ..." May 23, 2000
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I don't know how to describe this album. The songs it contains are beatiful, but somehow intangible. I am moved by the music and the words every time I listen, but when the album isn't on, I find them hard to recall. I guess I would say it's like a pleasant dream that evaporates upon waking. And that's not a bad thing.
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