Personnel: Leonard Cohen (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ron Cornelius (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Bubba Fowler (acoustic guitar, banjo, bass instrument); Charlie Daniels (acoustic guitar, fiddle, bass instrument); Bob Johnston (piano); Corlynn Hanney, Susan Mussmano (background vocals).
It doesn't get darker than this. Though Leonard Cohen had already established himself as the doyen of doom with his first two albums, his third, SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE, finds him kicking off the 1970s with the sharpest repudiation of the '60s peace-and-love/flower-power ethic the world had yet seen from the "sensitive troubadour" corner of the music map. Though it's not really a "concept album," SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE feels like a guided tour through one man's battle-scarred love life. The utter emotional degradation of "Avalanche," the suicidal frenzy of "Dress Rehearsal Rag," and the bitter regret of "Last Year's Man" all sound like stops on the same ill-fated journey. The arrangements are wisely based around Cohen's world-weary voice and hypnotic acoustic-guitar patterns, with occasional orchestrations rising like dark clouds in the background. Possibly Cohen's finest album, LOVE AND HATE would stand as a monument to explorers of the musical Dark Side for decades to come--such as Nick Cave, who memorably covered "Avalanche"--and to anyone nursing a bitter, broken heart.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (9/2/71, p.43) - "...the record as a whole has not the charm that his first develops after a long while--it is not as likable, because it is frequently down and out depressing..."
Q (p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The record itself is a masterpiece of bitterness and cynicism....The self-lacerating honesty makes it the most fascinating album of his early career."
NME (Magazine) (8/12/00, p.28) - Ranked #5 in The NME "Top 30 Heartbreak Albums" - "...[His] most vicious, lonely and unforgiving album....Much, much more than the sum of its dark, monumentally crafted parts, and a soundtrack to a generation of bedsit breakups."
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Reviews
5.0
out of 5 based on
3
reviews.
– Customer review on 05/06/2009
I, personally, believe that this album is Leonard Cohen's best ever. Yes, it is dark, however, in saying that, I recommend that whether you a newcomer to his music or a huge fan such as myself, you will not be disapponted
5.0
out of 5 based on
3
reviews.
– Customer review on 03/09/2008
This album, the second Leonard Cohen release, is simply a masterpiece.
If you know Leonard Cohen already, then this will help round off your collection, if you are new to his work then sit back and let the poetry wash thru you and over you. If in doubt, ponder for a while on the stand out track "Famous Blue Raincoat" - it's haunting, sad, cutting, cynical and angry - all at the same time.
Enjoy with someone you love (or hate).
5.0
out of 5 based on
3
reviews.
– Customer review on 30/08/2007
This album is an incredibly dark and moody stroll through the purest of human emotions. Jealousy, love, hate, longing are all encompassed in this mesmerizing album that is perhaps Leonard Cohen's best work. Stand out tracks include the opening track avalanche (which was covered by Nick Cave) diamonds in the mine, Sing another song boys, and famous blue raincoat which is perhaps the most easily accessible song on the album. Grab it its damn good.
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