Report by someone who have listened to the whole album

[rpan]

Interesting snippet about conditions surrounding another of these advance listen sessions, in Toronto perhaps?:

"Sony Music held a listening session earlier this week for Leonard Cohen ’s Jan. 20 album Old Ideas, the poet’s 1st album of new songs in 8 years. Oddly, attendees had to sign off on a gag order stipulating that one could not mention, discuss or review the contents of the LP."

http://fyimusic.ca/headlines/morning-co ... december-9

[tomsakic]

Both Ten New Songs and Dear Heather were heralded as "farewell Leonard Cohen album" and "departure album" by majority of press, so pleeeeeeeeeeeassseeeeeeeee don't start this again.

What's more, Leonard said that songs mentioned or performed in last few years are left for "next (i.e. after Old Ideas)" album. Born in Chains, The Street, etc.

[JudasPriest]

rpan, the same thing happened with Dylan's Modern Times as I recall.

[Jonnie Falafel]

Dylan's Time Out of Mind was certainly received in this way much to his chagrin! To counter this he says he deliberately put up-tempo songs and plastered the lyrics with humour (albiet often dark-humour). Result: Probably his best-ever album. I personally loved some of the whimsy and lightness on Dear Heather which didn't sound valedictory to these ears. Dylan reminded the critics in interviews that we all live with our mortality.

[JudasPriest]

Any follow up from these people who heard the album? Were they not supposed to come back with extended reports of lyrics etc?