Best sounding Cohen album

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:15 pm

If "Death of a Ladies Man" is the worst sounding Cohen album, which is then the best sounding in terms of sound quality and production?

muddy · Post by **muddy** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:03 pm

"New skin for the old ceremony".... I've got no doubts about it.

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:39 pm

The Future

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:07 pm

jerry wrote:The Future

I thought "The Future" was the Cohen album everyone said sounded muddy. The sound-quality is not so good one that one.

Partisan · Post by **Partisan** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:11 pm

DOALM is not the worst Humph. TNS is appalling in that respect and so many others. It does make an excellent drink coaster though.

p.

muddy · Post by **muddy** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:15 pm

Sorry, Humphrey...could you explain yourself?

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:37 am

The Future sounds "muddy" intentionally. As does Ten New Songs and Dear Heather, in some extent. That's "the sound" od late Cohen, intended and planned.

Most clean records I think are indeed New Skin For The Old Ceremony, and also Various Positions. Although Recent Songs is the best gem, I think.

muddy · Post by **muddy** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 4:49 pm

Now I understand...
well, I like the old albums more than the recent ones. I don't know why but I feel they're honest without that overloaded production; anyway -i know this is not going to be received in a good way- I like the foggy dirty sound of Death of the Ladies Man.

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:44 pm

muddy wrote:i know this is not going to be received in a good way- I like the foggy dirty sound of Death of the Ladies Man.

In a way I like it too. It suits the music, although the album would have sounded better sonically with a smoother and less muddy production.

A'af · Post by **A'af** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:23 am

Hey High-End Bear,
are you a critical listening like me?

seems almost your post here is about sound quality, GOOD, cause just a few people discuss it seriously

according to your question:

1. Song of Leonard Cohen as a direct acoustic is the best, but i listen from song to song is different. Maybe perfect in vinyl, esp japan pressing is the limit.

2. As a Live recording, three Live album is quite good but in the diff era. Another opinion for Cohen Live is, look who's in the mastering desk... Yeah Doug Sax!! But this album is too little bright IMHO

3. Recent Song and Future mastering by another oldcrack Bernnie Grundman...wow too many up and down process there, so the soundstage and dimension are reduced

better in Warnes FBRC
4. The last two album TNS and Dear Heather, in my opinion is so so. almost instrument there are electronic

5. New Skin and Song from a Room is an upgrade from previous album, good too

6. Death of... the sound is the same of the made of that album

7. Various Position and I'm Your Man, no comment

8. Song of Love and Hate, no comment

So the best recipe sounding album is Live Song with a couple can of beer

PS: I use single-ended amp with single fullrange speaker

A'af · Post by **A'af** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:27 am

Hey muddy,
AGREE....

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:39 pm

I think TNS is one of the best sounding cohen albums. The best of the late work is Im your man, the best of the early work is songs of love and hate, just listen to the little bells on Famous blue raincoat.

I still think that cohen should gather round him a cool jazz quartet, and then maybe sharon and anjani, or paula and julia bringing in the divine "raylettes" sound".

...and then maybe I could stand in the back, and serve icetea and cookies.

Peter

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:43 am

certainly the production on new skin for the old ceremony is excellent

though there is something i really like about the slightly raw, uncomplex sound on songs from a room (although i enjoy this the least out of his early albums)