Customer Reviews:
 Heartrendingly beautiful October 24, 2003
L. Christensen (CPH, Denmark)
44 out of 45 found this review helpful
I've been a Cohen fan as far back as I can remember. I had a feeling I wouldn't be disappointed by this album, since Cohen's live backup singers are legendary, and I was right. These are without a doubt the most beautiful and emotional versions of the songs ever recorded, and I find it impossible to listen to the album as mere background music; as soon as the music starts playing, I can't help but close my eyes and just let the music envelop me completely.The songs "Bird on a Wire" and "Sisters of Mercy" are worthy of special mention. The tempo is lower, the saxophone sexier and the vocals deeper and more intense than ever before, and the result defies description. I would have gladly paid in blood to be at the show where they were recorded. I heartily recommend this album to all, it is beyond fantastic.
The best live album ever? November 6, 2001
58 out of 60 found this review helpful
I'm not usually a fan of live albums. They often contain little more than badly recorded, inferior versions of tracks you probably already own. So this live collection comes as a welcome exception to the rule.Simply put, this album is stunning. It contains many of Leonard Cohen's best loved songs, all played to perfection by world-class musicians and recorded with pin-drop clarity. The songs were recorded on various tours during the 80s and early 90s but the album hangs together as if they were all recorded on the same night. Particularly effective are the understated but arresting guitars, and the backing vocals providing a silky counterpoint to Cohen's world-weary tones. This was the album that introduced me to Leonard Cohen and I have to say, I haven't found a better version of any of these songs anywhere. This is, for me, the best live album ever made, and one of my all time top five albums, period.
|
