Ten New Songs

Singer-Songwriter · 2001 · 10 tracks

Ten New Songs

Leonard Cohen's 'Ten New Songs' is a late-career masterpiece, offering a deeply intimate and reflective journey through aging, love, and spirituality, marked by his iconic baritone and the ethereal ha

October 8, 2001 · Invisible Halahup

This is the sound of quiet wisdom, a late-night conversation with a sage. 'Ten New Songs' wraps you in a warm, melancholic embrace, with Leonard Cohen's gravelly baritone delivering profound poetry over sparse, elegant electronic arrangements and the angelic backing vocals of Sharon Robinson. It feels like a candlelit room on a rainy evening, a soundtrack for introspection and gentle contemplation. It's an album to own for its unparalleled lyrical depth and the serene, almost spiritual comfort it offers, a testament to enduring artistry.

Tracklist · 10 Tracks

01

In My Secret Life

4:58

02

A Thousand Kisses Deep

6:31

03

That Don’t Make It Junk

4:30

04

Here It Is

4:21

05

Love Itself

5:28

06

By the Rivers Dark

5:23

07

Alexandra Leaving

5:28

08

You Have Loved Enough

5:44

09

Boogie Street

6:07

10

The Land of Plenty

4:36

Moments Worth Listening For

The profound intimacy created by Cohen's baritone intertwined with Sharon Robinson's ethereal harmonies, particularly on tracks like 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' or 'In My Secret Life', which define the album's vocal texture.

The subtle, almost ambient electronic washes that underpin the acoustic elements, providing a modern yet timeless feel, often emerging as delicate synth pads or understated drum programming.

The lyrical precision and weary wisdom delivered in Cohen's voice, making each line feel like a profound pronouncement, especially evident in the opening lines of 'In My Secret Life' or the stark honesty of 'Boogie Street'.

The understated rhythmic pulse that drives many tracks, a gentle propulsion rather than a forceful beat, allowing the lyrical and vocal interplay to remain at the forefront.

Reviews

BBC Music

AllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does Ten New Songs sound next to the rest of Leonard Cohen's catalogue?

Keys/Synth+1.1σ

The instrumentation foregrounds keys/synth notably more than the catalogue usually does.

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