New Skin for the Old Ceremony Leonard Cohen

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Vinyl LP

  • Release Date: 05/19/2009
  • Original Release: 1974
  • Label: SUNDAZED MUSIC INC.
  • UPC: 090771528612

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CD$7.99

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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New Skin for the Old Ceremony

1LISTENIs This What You Wanted 4:13
2LISTENChelsea Hotel No. 2 3:06
3LISTENLover, Lover, Lover 3:19
4LISTENField Commander Cohen 3:59
5LISTENWhy Don't You Try 3:50
6LISTENThere Is a War 2:59
7LISTENA Singer Must Die 3:17
8LISTENI Tried to Leave You 2:40
9LISTENWho by Fire 2:33
10LISTENTake This Longing 4:06
11LISTENLeaving Greensleeves 2:38

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

Leonard Cohen was a poet long before he decided to pick up a guitar. Despite singing in a dry baritone over spare arrangements, Cohen is a gifted lyricist who captivates the listener. New Skin for the Old Ceremony may be Leonard Cohen's most musical album, as he is accompanied by violas, mandolins, banjos, and percussion that give his music more texture than usual. The fact that Cohen does more real singing on this album can be seen as both a blessing and a curse -- while his voice sounds more strained, the songs are delivered with more passion than usual. Furthermore, he has background vocalists including Janis Ian that add significantly to create a fuller sound. It is no surprise, however, that he generally uses simple song structures to draw attention to the words ("Who By Fire"). The lyrics are filled with abstract yet vivid images, and the album primarily uses the metaphor of love and relationships as battlegrounds ("There Is a War," "Field Commander Cohen"). Cohen is clearly singing from the heart, and he chronicles his relationship with Janis Joplin in "Chelsea Hotel No. 2." This is one of his best albums, although new listeners should start with Songs of Leonard Cohen. ~ Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

New Skin for the Old Ceremonyby Anonymous

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May 26, 2008: This is a very good all around album from Is This What You Wanted to the haunting, plaintive wail of Leaving Greensleeves. Cohen's heroin induced spare arrangement of Chelsea Hotel #2 frames the album.

This review was written about the CD edition.

New Skin for the Old Ceremonyby Anonymous

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September 13, 2006: Leonard Cohen, the most literate of all the singer-songwriters of 60's and 70's, including Dylan, proved he was also a great instrumentalist in this album with clever violas and mandolins. One of his most infamous songs "Chelsea Hotel Number 2" is on here, discussed with great bluntless, especially for Cohen. I loved his themes of the interlocking of love, hate, war, and identity in such works as "There is a war" and the elusive "The Singer Must Die." Bravo, for Lenny.

This review was written about the CD edition.


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