Leonard Cohen has well and truly proved me wrong with this new album. Although I am a huge fan, and rate his concert performance as probably the best I've ever enjoyed, I had doubts about his ability to come up with a bunch of new songs and deliver them well. Silly me. Cohen recently celebrated his 80th birthday but on the back of his resurgent late career activity on the stage, he has found a renewed enthusiasm in the studio.
Although Cohen's vocals aren't as strong as they were his voice still has that special timbre and delivery and makes the songs on Popular Problems sound fresh. Slow starts the album in languid style and with another top track Almost Like the Blues to follow. Patrick Leonard has a major influence on Popular Problems, co-writing songs and producing. No Webb Sisters with back-up vocals but top notch accompaniment by Charlean Camon and Dana Glover. Did I Ever Love You is another typically heartfelt new classic from Cohen, while Born in Chains explores familiar themes but again sounds fresh.
I am more than happy that Leonard Cohen has dismissed my doubts in the best way possible. Popular Problems proves that there's much much more to expect from the octogenarian that we may have thought. His live shows are still memorable events, and with these new recordings, his studio work is also to be much admired.
Leonard Cohen
Popular problems
Rating: 4/5 stars
