Songs of Leonard Cohen (Original release 1968)
29 years after its original release, Leonard Cohen's debut record, Songs of Leonard Cohen, encapsulates some of Cohen's greatest hits ("Suzanne") and best-written songs ("The Stranger").
Of course, what reissue would be worth buying for fans of the artist without the inclusion of a few previously unreleased tracks? For this disc, Sony/Legacy included "Store Room," which is an exquisite tune about the smallest pivotal moments. The song has a lounge-music swing to it, and Cohen's voice is perfect for such narration.
The other bonus song here is "Blessed is the Memory," which embodies more of the trance-like melodies of many of Cohen's tunes. His low, meditative voice sings of "the vow of compassion you swore through your teeth."
Songs From a Room (Original release 1969)
This eponymous sophomore effort from Cohen begins with the line, "Like a bird on the wire, like a drunken midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free." The anthemic "Bird on a Wire" gives way to the epic narrative of "Story of Isaac," which exemplifies Cohen's ability to quickly and artfully shift gears.
Possibly the best of the three discs, Songs From a Room includes Cohen greats like, "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes," "The Old Revolution," and "You Know Who I Am."
In addition, there are two bonus tracks here: different versions of "Bird on a Wire" and "You Know Who I Am." On both, Cohen's voice sounds lower, older, and more cynical than their originals. Both feature far more prominent basslines, but "Nothing To One (You Know Who I Am)" comes across more hauntingly than the version on the original record.
Songs of Love and Hate (Original release 1971)
Where the other two records began with a relatively introspective love song (or as close to one as Cohen gets), Songs of Love and Hate begins with "Avalanche"—a low, creepy song that sings both of love and hate. "You who wish to conquer pain, you must learn, learn to serve me well," he sings, as the strings swell and the song enters further into a sonic cave.
The bonus song for this CD is a newer version of "Dress Rehearsal Rag," which appears in its original form under track 3. Love and Hate is definitely the darkest, most cynical entry in this reissue, and if there's any song that exemplifies that darkness, it is "Dress Rehearsal Rag." The revised version is decidedly more rocking than the original, adding a somewhat (rightfully) grating mandolin part, and faster guitar strums.
Not the strongest of the three records, Love and Hate is still miles ahead of what so many songwriters create. Cohen's gift as a songcrafter is no secret, but, with any luck, this reissue will introduce his work to a new audience.
