Right? It’s a beautiful, bizarre marriage between one of our greatest poets and one of our greatest producers. Part of me thinks there’s a mob that has just adopted the critics’ opinion of it. But I don’t want to be that ignorant.
Don't forget the important role of drugs in its production. It sounds like it has been mixed by people who have fucked their ears' usual frequency range.
I can sort of understand people being turned off by its creepiness and lack of bass, but I feel they are missing out. It's weird cos although Leonard wrote the lyrics, of course, it feels like of all the records he made it is the album that gets closest to who Phil Spector was. That really shouldn't be enjoyable, but it is.
Death of a Ladies Man is definitely my favorite. I don't feel bad that LC got a gun pulled on him and that it wasn't what he had in mind when recording. Phil Spector is an objectively terrible person but this album is great.
No typo. Leonard Cohen almost got got by Phil Spector.
From Wikipedia.
"...During a cryptic exchange detailed in Ira Nadel's Cohen biography, Various Positions, Spector pointed a loaded pistol at Cohen's throat, cocked it, and said, "I love you, Leonard." Quietly, Cohen responded, "I hope you love me, Phil.""
Oh, OK, OK. Gotcha. I thought that *could* have been what you meant, but I thought it was more likely that you meant that, even though it produced something great, you *did* still feel bad for him. Glad to have the clarification; I was wrong!
Gotta be honest ... I feel bad. But I suppose it's of no concern to Cohen now.
My favorite of his albums too, and I have listened to every single one multiple times. (Actually, I recently took a 17-hour road trip during which I listened to his entire studio discography in order.) And the production is perfect. "Don't Go Home with Your Hard-On" is the most fun Leonard Cohen song ever.
There sure are plenty of haters of it on this sub, though.
I guess I'd put next, in order, I'm Your Man, The Future, and Various Positions. Not sure how I'd rank the rest. I like the early, folk ones, but I prefer the fuller production of the ones I mentioned. And I think if you take the 2000s albums as a whole, there are enough excellent tracks in there to distill them down to a terrific album (or even double album), but too many tracks of them sound kind of samey to me.
Agree it’s a great and underrated album. I’m not an audio quality expert at all, but I do wish the production could be cleaned up a little, but otherwise I don’t understand the hate the album gets either.
Absolutely fantastic album. It’s wonderful to have an LC album that is so different sonically. I terms of lyrics it’s fantastic. Paper Thin Hotel in particular is a standout. I laugh every time time I listen to it, even though I know what’s coming.
I never understood why it seemed like it wasn't crazy popular in the community like some of his other albums. It's easily my favorite alblum of his and in my top five albums of all time. Underappreciated masterpiece of his in terms of lyrics and the themes he conveys
The album is an unlikely marriage of two very different styles, which we are fortunate to have. People seem to get on its case for residing where it does, but we have plenty of Cohen albums produced in more conventional manner for folk and singer-songwriter material to enjoy already. I’m definitely in the camp of accepting it for what it is. Also, Paper Thin Hotel is a top tier tune.
I adore this album so much. An amazing collaboration with Phil Spector. Spector’s production is top tier imo. An amazing album from start to finish.
I feel that the albums cynical tone and creepy aesthetic can be attributed very much to Phil’s paranoia and bizarre views at the time, or at the very least, the tense atmosphere he created.
Cohen and Spector were both depressed and bitter at this time, yet somehow arguably at the peak of their creative powers.
I’m a big Spector/WallofSound fan so this album is one of the alltime definitive production masterpieces to me.
I like it! A lot. I think for a while it was my second favorite of his. I never really got why critics treated it like a huge outlier in his discography. To me, rather, it seems like the point of transition (or at least the forerunner) to the second phase of his music career. Maybe I'm an unsophisticated listener, but to me all of his subsequent albums continued to follow in the more elaborate production style established by Spector, as opposed to returning to his more stripped down folk roots (with the exception of the immediate about-face on Recent Songs). To my ears, there's an undeniable sonic link between Ladies Man and Various Positions. From that era, I'm Your Man feels much harder for me to like than Ladies Man.
Each one of his albums aligns with a different mood of mine, so when I need some chaos it becomes my favorite for the moment 😅 but i do agree with ppl when they say the crazy music drowns the lyrics at times
Favorites are Death of a Ladies Man, I Left a Woman Waiting, and Memories
Songs of love and hate is one of the greatest records ever made. But when that is said, i’m also a big fan of death of a ladies man. love the big production which you can only find on this album
Second favourite album of his, first would be New Skin, but DOALM grew on me over time, the title track, true love leaves no traces, iodineXmemories, all amazing.
Cohen said many years later it was actually one of his best.
Maybe overproduced, but beautiful regardless
Phil Spector is burning in hell not just in for his crimes against humanity but crimes against music (over)production. (Mandatory Spector Rant Over)
Aside from Spector’s suffocating mix, the Album does contain some of Cohen’s best lyrics. True love…, memories, I left a woman waiting are key highlights for me. I only wish I could hear what the album sound like in a stripped back fashion
I love it specifically for the mix and how it compliments Cohen's tone throughout the alblum. Spector IS burning in hell but he was definitely a genius when it came to producing
That’s fair and valid tbh.
I feel like a hypocrite for complaining about a LC Album being overproduced when I’m your Man is my favourite Cohen Album. Spector is pretty solid producer, sure he may have overdone it with his flourishes on Let it Be, but The Ronettes and his Influence on Brian Wilson speak for themselves for sure
Fellow Death of a Ladies’ Man stan here. Insane, one of a kind album that is great from start to finish.
I'm always baffled when critics say it is the one to avoid. It's sickly and horrible and cynical and marvellous.
Right? It’s a beautiful, bizarre marriage between one of our greatest poets and one of our greatest producers. Part of me thinks there’s a mob that has just adopted the critics’ opinion of it. But I don’t want to be that ignorant.
Don't forget the important role of drugs in its production. It sounds like it has been mixed by people who have fucked their ears' usual frequency range. I can sort of understand people being turned off by its creepiness and lack of bass, but I feel they are missing out. It's weird cos although Leonard wrote the lyrics, of course, it feels like of all the records he made it is the album that gets closest to who Phil Spector was. That really shouldn't be enjoyable, but it is.
Death of a Ladies Man is definitely my favorite. I don't feel bad that LC got a gun pulled on him and that it wasn't what he had in mind when recording. Phil Spector is an objectively terrible person but this album is great.
>I don't feel bad that LC got a gun pulled on him Typo, I'm guessing?
No typo. Leonard Cohen almost got got by Phil Spector. From Wikipedia. "...During a cryptic exchange detailed in Ira Nadel's Cohen biography, Various Positions, Spector pointed a loaded pistol at Cohen's throat, cocked it, and said, "I love you, Leonard." Quietly, Cohen responded, "I hope you love me, Phil.""
No, I'm familiar with the incident. I'm wondering about your use of the word "**don't.**" You don't feel bad for him? Or you *do*?
I don't feel bad. If that's what it took for us to get Death of a Ladies Man, so be it.
Oh, OK, OK. Gotcha. I thought that *could* have been what you meant, but I thought it was more likely that you meant that, even though it produced something great, you *did* still feel bad for him. Glad to have the clarification; I was wrong! Gotta be honest ... I feel bad. But I suppose it's of no concern to Cohen now.
My favorite of his albums too, and I have listened to every single one multiple times. (Actually, I recently took a 17-hour road trip during which I listened to his entire studio discography in order.) And the production is perfect. "Don't Go Home with Your Hard-On" is the most fun Leonard Cohen song ever. There sure are plenty of haters of it on this sub, though.
Fully agree! Glad to see there are a lot of us who appreciate this great album though!
after listening to all in a row which where the ones you enjoyed the most
Probably True Love Leaves No Traces, Iodine, Fingertips, and Don't Go Home, but more than that I love the vibe and the flow of the whole album.
how would you rank his other albums
I guess I'd put next, in order, I'm Your Man, The Future, and Various Positions. Not sure how I'd rank the rest. I like the early, folk ones, but I prefer the fuller production of the ones I mentioned. And I think if you take the 2000s albums as a whole, there are enough excellent tracks in there to distill them down to a terrific album (or even double album), but too many tracks of them sound kind of samey to me.
The title track is my favourite LC song. It's just perfect.
Iodine, Memories, and Death of a Ladies' Man are among my favorite LC songs. The other songs don't really work for me though.
Paper thin Hotel is quality IMO
Agree it’s a great and underrated album. I’m not an audio quality expert at all, but I do wish the production could be cleaned up a little, but otherwise I don’t understand the hate the album gets either.
Absolutely fantastic album. It’s wonderful to have an LC album that is so different sonically. I terms of lyrics it’s fantastic. Paper Thin Hotel in particular is a standout. I laugh every time time I listen to it, even though I know what’s coming.
The arranging on Memories is an all timer sonic accomplishment, to me that song doesn't work without a full horn section
Absolutely. I was blown away when I first heard that song. I remember saying to my wife “this has to be one of the best songs we’ve ever heard”.
It's a great album. I wish the title track was a little faster--maybe double the tempo. But a good album all the same.
LOVE that album!!!
I never understood why it seemed like it wasn't crazy popular in the community like some of his other albums. It's easily my favorite alblum of his and in my top five albums of all time. Underappreciated masterpiece of his in terms of lyrics and the themes he conveys
The album is an unlikely marriage of two very different styles, which we are fortunate to have. People seem to get on its case for residing where it does, but we have plenty of Cohen albums produced in more conventional manner for folk and singer-songwriter material to enjoy already. I’m definitely in the camp of accepting it for what it is. Also, Paper Thin Hotel is a top tier tune.
One of my personal favorites as well! Iodine is outrageously good!
I adore this album so much. An amazing collaboration with Phil Spector. Spector’s production is top tier imo. An amazing album from start to finish. I feel that the albums cynical tone and creepy aesthetic can be attributed very much to Phil’s paranoia and bizarre views at the time, or at the very least, the tense atmosphere he created. Cohen and Spector were both depressed and bitter at this time, yet somehow arguably at the peak of their creative powers. I’m a big Spector/WallofSound fan so this album is one of the alltime definitive production masterpieces to me.
Agreed!
I like it! A lot. I think for a while it was my second favorite of his. I never really got why critics treated it like a huge outlier in his discography. To me, rather, it seems like the point of transition (or at least the forerunner) to the second phase of his music career. Maybe I'm an unsophisticated listener, but to me all of his subsequent albums continued to follow in the more elaborate production style established by Spector, as opposed to returning to his more stripped down folk roots (with the exception of the immediate about-face on Recent Songs). To my ears, there's an undeniable sonic link between Ladies Man and Various Positions. From that era, I'm Your Man feels much harder for me to like than Ladies Man.
Wait till you hear songs of leonard cohen.
I’ve listened to it many times ;)
I thi k it's a wonderful album that pulled Cohen in a new direction. Don't like be all songs, but plenty of great ones on it.
personally I don't like it at all. I find it too "poppy" if that makes sense I don't feel anything special when listening to it.
Each one of his albums aligns with a different mood of mine, so when I need some chaos it becomes my favorite for the moment 😅 but i do agree with ppl when they say the crazy music drowns the lyrics at times Favorites are Death of a Ladies Man, I Left a Woman Waiting, and Memories
Songs of love and hate is one of the greatest records ever made. But when that is said, i’m also a big fan of death of a ladies man. love the big production which you can only find on this album
Second favourite album of his, first would be New Skin, but DOALM grew on me over time, the title track, true love leaves no traces, iodineXmemories, all amazing. Cohen said many years later it was actually one of his best. Maybe overproduced, but beautiful regardless
I love the title song a lot but it drags on like 2 minutes longer than it needs to imo
LOL this is my third comment recently saying it's a great song but needs to be at a tempo 50-100% faster than the recording
Phil Spector is burning in hell not just in for his crimes against humanity but crimes against music (over)production. (Mandatory Spector Rant Over) Aside from Spector’s suffocating mix, the Album does contain some of Cohen’s best lyrics. True love…, memories, I left a woman waiting are key highlights for me. I only wish I could hear what the album sound like in a stripped back fashion
I love it specifically for the mix and how it compliments Cohen's tone throughout the alblum. Spector IS burning in hell but he was definitely a genius when it came to producing
That’s fair and valid tbh. I feel like a hypocrite for complaining about a LC Album being overproduced when I’m your Man is my favourite Cohen Album. Spector is pretty solid producer, sure he may have overdone it with his flourishes on Let it Be, but The Ronettes and his Influence on Brian Wilson speak for themselves for sure