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In his first studio album in eight years, celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen delivers a soul-filled work of art to rival his own legacy. His 12th album in his over 40-year-long career, Old Ideas calls to mind Cohen’s classic themes of religion, sexuality and love, while simultaneously taking an unabashed, introspective look at Cohen himself and his own mortality.
Cohen’s voice dominates the release, with his full, deep baritone setting the pace of the album. Each track provides a different situation, a new frame of reference for his voice to define the setting, tone and mood of his message.
Instrumentals on the album are kept to a minimum, yet a plethora of instruments are used. From piano riffs to finger-picked guitars and harmonicas to a synthesizer, Cohen expertly guides listeners through the album, using his own voice to shepherd them from start to finish.
Old Ideas begins with “Going Home,” where Cohen’s narration takes up the mantle of God and elucidates on concepts of morality, accompanied by a church choir that helps to make the opening track one of cerebral spirituality.
Continuing with his religious themes, “Show Me the Place” allows Cohen’s poetic lyrics to truly shine, placing himself in the role of the slave looking to the god from “Going Home” for instructions. The song takes on a certain somber quality, of a man willing to follow unflinchingly, which is reflected in the strain and weight of Cohen’s voice on the track.
Cohen ventures toward the topic of love in “Anyhow,” with the song inching along to the fluid sound of brushes as he constructs his argument for why the unnamed woman in the song should love him, despite what he has done wrong. “Even though you have to hate me / could you hate me less?” he asks with mordant guile, daring this woman to take another chance on the 77-year-old rapscallion.
“Different Sides,” the final song on the album, explores the idea of sexuality in relationships through a quicker tempo and more rasp in Cohen’s voice.
Similar elements are present in “Darkness,” characterized by the familiar handpicked guitar prominent in Cohen’s older work. In the song, Cohen romances listeners as much as he does his prey, using a steely tone and smooth-as-silk lyrics such as: “I said: ‘is this contagious?’ / You said: ‘Just drink it up.'”
From the singer who gave the world “Hallelujah,” popularized by Jeff Buckley, Old Ideas is a spectacular album that carries a weight of importance and mysticism that exists in a league of its own. Cohen provides listeners with expertly crafted lyrics and carefully selected instrumentals that paint an expressive and profound musical landscape that fans will likely love.
