LEONARD COHEN
Dear Heather (Columbia)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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The good news: Leonard Cohen has climbed down off his mountain top and recorded a new batch of songs. The bad news: Sharon Robinson is involved. Leonard's always had a weak spot for the ladies, especially back-up singers, and letting Robinson, she of the ultra slick pop stylings, in on the production duties turns the polish faders a tad too high. Cohen's always at his best when left to his own struggling baritone and maybe an equally monotone guitar strum, because as we've all come to understand it's more about the words than the music. Sure there have been some melodic ballads of note but generally the simpler the better. Dear Heather has both sides of the coin, some sappy lush stuff, and some inspired poems with a beat. Take the title track for instance, which is basically a curt haiku with a bit of piano tinkling. Leonard repeats his five lines robotically, then starts spelling some of the words like he's hypnotized. In anyone else's hands this would be catastrophic, but in Leonard's, it's a good fit.

© 2004 - John Sekerka