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Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen Songs of Love and Hate Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Bettie Snyder

LEGACY RECORDS is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Leonard Cohen's first release. Songs of Love and Hate is one of the three CD re-releases.

The man certainly knows how to turn a phrase. Musicians look to him for inspiration. His lyrics sting your brain. Sometimes he makes you think, wondering what it's all about, Alfie. Sometimes you get it; sometimes not.

Songs of Love and Hate opens with a dramatic flaminco guitar and strings introduction that says "an AVALANCHE is coming." It's powerful, to say the least. I wish he had sung it in a trifle higher key.

This is the CD that tells about the FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT, the tale of the Gypsy woman with the rose in her teeth wearing the blue raincoat torn at the sleeve who gave Jane a lock of her hair. You get caught up in Cohen's laments. You yearn to know more about Jane!

DIAMONDS IN THE MINE rocks along with a funky Nashville beat explaining "No letters in the mail - no grapes upon the vines - no chocolates in your boxes - and no diamonds in the mine." Haven't we all had days like that!

Well, Leonard Cohen, Congratulations! Thanks for 40 years of making us tap our toes, listening to your beat, and wiggling into our minds.