But to me it shows that Cohen was interested in experimenting. I may not like Spector's work, but that doesn't mean other people don't hold him in esteem. If you're going to do popular music, why not take some chances? At least that way you're never going to be bored. Death Of A Ladies Man may have been a failure as an album but it showed that Cohen wasn't content to be just another folkie.
Leonard Cohen Under Review 1934–1977 is a fascinating view of the first five studio albums Leonard Cohen recorded. What makes this superior in a lot of ways to so many different rock or pop documentaries is the fact that the people involved are not afraid to offer a negative opinion about a disc or a song.
For individuals interested in an up-close view and in-depth analysis of the early years of Leonard Cohen's music, I would highly recommend this documentary. Not just to fans either, but for those looking to learn about his music for the first time as this is as close to an unbiased opinion on his work as you're probably ever going to get .
Article comments
1 - Graham Lester
I think Death of a Ladies Man must be one of the most underrated albums of all time. Two of the tracks ("I left a Woman Waiting" and "Paper Thin Hotel Walls") are pure gold, and several others are pretty close behind.