RECOMMENDED: Leonard Cohen - Live In London

Available now on 2XCD and DVD.

From the press release:


Recorded live on July 17, 2008 at London's 02 Arena, one of Europe's largest indoor venues, during Cohen's phenomenal 2008 World Tour, Live In London offers definitive performances of classic songs drawn from the artist's 40-year repertory.

With his 2008 World Tour selling more than 700,000 tickets across 84 shows worldwide, Leonard Cohen is coming to New York City's Beacon Theatre on February 19 to perform his first U.S. concert in 15 years.

Leonard Cohen's first newly recorded release since 2004's gold-certified Dear Heather, the Live In London collection fully captures and recreates the extraordinary show that earned Cohen, who celebrated his 40th year as a Columbia Records artist in 2007, more than 80 five-star reviews for performances during his fall 2008 UK and European tour.

Leonard Cohen's return to live performance in Canada and Europe was met with extraordinary and unanimous accolades throughout 2008:

"Cohen poured everything he had into a stunning performance." - Rolling Stone, June 9, 2008

"Cohen's master class will become Irish concert lore.... Quite simply, it doesn't get much better than this." - The Independent (Ireland), June 16, 2008

"The mood in the hall was adulatory.... This show is one for the ages." - The National Post (Canada), June 7, 2008

"An epic concert for an ecstatic audience." - Macleans (Canada), June 2008

"Cohen didn't just present the songs that made him famous - he brought them to life, animating his well-tuned verses with wit and passion and presence." - Toronto Globe and Mail, June 9, 2008

"Charming, funny, poignant, smart, sharp and sexy.... Leonard Cohen was our man" - Toronto Sun, June 7, 2008
"When legend Cohen takes to the stage, it's no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions" - The Independent (Ireland), June 15, 2008

"Leonard Cohen's first show in Britain in 15 years is immaculate, beautiful, exquisite." - Daily Telegraph, London, June 18, 2008

"Leonard Cohen is the coolest dude on the planet, bar none." - Sunday Tribune (Ireland), June 22, 2008

"Here is a performer who reigns supreme in his ability to illuminate the spiritual, the political and the personal with passion, insight and wit." - Birmingham Mail (England), August 4, 2008

The first Leonard Cohen concert collection to be released since 2001's Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979, Live In London includes the songs:

Disc 1 -

1. Dance Me To The End Of Love
2. The Future
3. Ain't No Cure For Love
4. Bird On The Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who By Fire
8. Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye
9. Anthem
10. Introduction
11. Tower Of Song
12. Suzanne
13. The Gypsy's Wife

Disc 2 -

1. Boogie Street
2. Hallelujah
3. Democracy
4. I'm Your Man
5. Recitation w/ N.L.
6. Take This Waltz
7. So Long, Marianne
8. First We Take Manhattan
9. Sisters Of Mercy
10. If It Be Your Will
11. Closing Time
12. I Tried To Leave You
13. Wither Thou Goest

Our verdict: A keepsake of one of the most exhilarating and unexpected returns to the stage in recent memory, Leonard Cohen Live In London amply shows that 14 years away from the stage has done nothing to diminish Cohen's ability to captivate an audience. As on previous tours, an outstanding band (in this case a 9-piece featuring, amongst others, a banduria, stand up bass, achilaud, wind instruments and a trio of backing singers including Sharon Robinson whom we interviewed last year on the podcast) has been assembled to recreate and enhance such undeniable triumphs of songwriting as 'Suzanne', 'Sisters Of Mercy', and 'Hallelujah'.

The well rounded set also features recent gems such as 2001's Ten New Songs' album highlights 'Boogie Street' and 'In My Secret Life'. In the 20,000 capacity o2 arena, Leonard's show loses nothing of its intimacy. His ability to silence the audience with a recitation of his poem 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' (included in the recent 'Book Of Longing') backed only by a single keyboard is truly something to behold.

As for Leonard himself, at 73 he still cuts a dapper and effusive figure, belying the 'miserable, bedsit poet' tag that has stuck with him all these years despite never being truly earned. On the contrary, Cohen seems at peace with himself, cheerful, cracks jokes, runs, skips and doffs his hat in gratitude to the spellbound audience at every opportunity. If this truly is his farewell jaunt, fans will surely be satisfied and this memento will be held dear for a very long time to come.

If you only pick up one edition, be sure to go for the DVD. You won't regret it.