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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Go No More A-Roving |
| 2. Because Of |
| 3. The Letters |
| 4. Undertow |
| 5. Morning Glory |
| 6. On That Day |
| 7. Villanelle For Our Time |
| 8. There For You |
| 9. Dear Heather |
| 10. Nightingale |
| 11. To A Teacher |
| 12. The Faith |
| 13. Tennessee Waltz |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Anyone who thinks that rock stars should have a retirement age is obviously not a big Leonard Cohen fan. Aged 70, Cohen has rolled out Dear Heather, which stands, alongside Ten New Songs and I'm Your Man as proof positive that there is life after youth for this part-time monk. But even on his early albums, Cohen sounded positively ancient, wise beyond his years- you get the feeling that he's at the age he was born to be, and Dear Heather feels like the album he's been waiting to make. As soon as it starts, you know it's not going to be anything less than classic Cohen. His deep rich croon, weathered slightly through the ravages of age, has matured like an oak tree, betraying enough expression that even a man of 50 would sound immature with his words. Musically, he's ably supported primarily by soft keyboard textures and female vocals that sooth the rough edges of his voice, but nothing too obtrusive to blunt his vision. Impossible to pick a standout, the album works as a whole piece, and even when Cohen tackles country standard "The Tennessee Waltz", its heartbreaking content make it sound like his own work. Essential. --Thom Allott
Product Description
The follow-up to Ten New Songs, legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen releases Dear Heather, twelve new songs plus a live rendition of the old country standard "Tennessee Waltz".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm a late-comer to Leonard Cohen and it was the slinky soulfulness of '10 New Songs' that first got me listening. 'Dear Heather' has one or two tracks that would fit easily on that album but generally is far more varied, intriguing, and ultimately more interesting.
The growling voice is deeper than ever, and is once again augmented by female support. On the tracks where he more or less recites poems he forces concentration on the words by repetition and simple musical arrangement, creating a powerful atmosphere on 'Villanelle For our Time' especially. By turns funny, sad, libidinous and political, this is an album of varying mood but consistent quality (although the final live track feels irrelevant).
'Dear Heather' is likely to annoy some, it feels resolutely un-commercial and it is undeniably challengingly varied. But to my ears it sounds like an artist comfortable with producing the songs and moods he wants without corporate blandification. Unique and characterful, not better than '10 New Songs' but richer in many ways.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After 2001's Ten New Songs, Cohen returns with a stunning new album, which clearly show than certain artists in their seventies, thankfully, are far from done with honing in their well-crafted wisdom.
Unlike his last album, Sharon Robinson's production allows Cohen's voice to carry the heft of these poems, whether sung or spoken. Actually, where Ten New Songs was more a collaboration than Leonard's solo album, Dear Heather finds her providing great vocals -specially in the The Letters- and more measured in the use of female back-up singers.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the work of a man who has meditated on mortality and found peace and reasons for gratitude, and yet remains unsentimental although more tender about his life. Here, Cohen's poignant and breathtaking poetry achieves a clarity only matched by its courage.
The first two examples which come to mind are Because Of ("Because of a few songs / Wherein I spoke of their mystery, / Women have been / Exceptionally kind / to my old age."), and The Letters (The wounded forms appear: / The loss, the full extent; / And simple kindness here, / The solitude of strength"), which are gorgeous expressions of a man settling accounts, whether thay may need to be apologies or gratitude.
Ultimately, this album shows more hope than somberness. Although Cohen could be called an elder of the dark and brooding song, he's, beneath it all, struck by beauty and loyal to a richer soul. This is an album about a vibrant life bared for examination, and the lesson is love, love above all else.
As he says in Villanelle For Our Time, a Frank Scott poem he musicalized:
Unlike his last album, Sharon Robinson's production allows Cohen's voice to carry the heft of these poems, whether sung or spoken. Actually, where Ten New Songs was more a collaboration than Leonard's solo album, Dear Heather finds her providing great vocals -specially in the The Letters- and more measured in the use of female back-up singers.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the work of a man who has meditated on mortality and found peace and reasons for gratitude, and yet remains unsentimental although more tender about his life. Here, Cohen's poignant and breathtaking poetry achieves a clarity only matched by its courage.
The first two examples which come to mind are Because Of ("Because of a few songs / Wherein I spoke of their mystery, / Women have been / Exceptionally kind / to my old age."), and The Letters (The wounded forms appear: / The loss, the full extent; / And simple kindness here, / The solitude of strength"), which are gorgeous expressions of a man settling accounts, whether thay may need to be apologies or gratitude.
Ultimately, this album shows more hope than somberness. Although Cohen could be called an elder of the dark and brooding song, he's, beneath it all, struck by beauty and loyal to a richer soul. This is an album about a vibrant life bared for examination, and the lesson is love, love above all else.
As he says in Villanelle For Our Time, a Frank Scott poem he musicalized:
"From bitter searching of the heart,
Quickened with passion and with pain
We rise to play a greater part.
This is the faith from which we start:
Men shall know commonwealth again
From bitter searching of the heart."
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As with other reviewers, I concur that one first experiences bafflement, then dawning realization that this is yet another example of a genius at work. Those who characterise LC's work as: "Music to commit suicide by" just do not get the irony and subtle humour of a man who is simply irrepressible. My star track is: "To a Teacher" with phrases like: "Where the shadows live in the rafters like day-weary bats" and: "I have entered under this dark roof as fearlessly as an honoured son enters his father's house" - almost orgasmic, which is how music and poetry should be. If you are getting less then you are missing out. My main complaint about LC is that he has spoilt my life by making other lyricists seem pale by comparison; nobody else comes close and, even if one cannot grasp the full intricacies of his musings (like me!), it is still a combination of mood and phraseology, along with innovative use of delightfully obscure instrumentation and high quality arrangement, that stuns the soul and uplifts the spirit. This is a must for your collection - how can so many people miss the point?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Genuinely soulful and grows on you
This is a very good album, although a little bit of a slow grower even to a long-standing Leonard Cohen fan. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Will Mac
Dear Heather, Leonard Cohen - Mature, graceful, lyrical music that...
Quite simply, this is a delightful album. With all of Cohens trademarks, the gruff voice, introspective lyrics, slow paced and low key arrangements, it is a great follow up to his... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Victor
Fills out the LC collection
When you're really keen on Leonard Cohen, you have to have all his albums. It's worth getting this to make your collection complete and there are some good tracks on it But it's... Read more
Published 22 months ago by ms clare fuller
Leonard at his best!
I cannot stop listening to Dear Heather. Leonard, methinks is brilliant in this album and I particularly loved 'undertow'! Such a beautiful poetry! Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by bric-a-bac
Takes a while to reveal its subtle beauty
Far more varied than Ten New Songs, Dear Heather sounds patchy at first listen. But repeated spins reveal the subtle layers of beauty and the cohesive themes of the album. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2008 by Pieter
Masterpiece
Much more varied than Ten New Songs, Dear Heather sounds patchy at first listen. But repeated spins reveal the beauty and the cohesive themes of the album. Read more
Published on 13 May 2007 by Pieter
Persevere!
Like some of the other reviewers my initial reaction to "Dear Heather" was surprise and disappointment: having also recently bought "Ten new songs" I had expected something... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2005 by Paul Dalheim
Cohen manages another masterpiece
I thought I'd leave some time between buying this CD and reviewing it, as Leonard Cohen is never an artist who does the obvious. Read more
Published on 24 May 2005
Majestic
I only own a few Leonard Cohen albums, ` I`m Your Man - The Future - Cohen Live `, I prefer his later work to most of his earlier albums, although some of his earlier songs are... Read more
Published on 8 April 2005 by John-HP
Farewell songs?
Much more varied than Ten New Songs, Dear Heather sounds patchy at first listen. But repeated spins reveal the beauty and the cohesive themes of the album. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2004 by Pieter
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