You Want It Darker

Rolling Stone - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This is Cohen's gift to music lovers: a realistically grim, spiritually radiant and deeply poetic worldview, generally spiked with a romantic thrum and an existential wink." Spin - "Cohen has long been preoccupied with death, and never more so than on the eve of his own passing." Entertainment Weekly - "The production, by his son Adam, is lush but lean: Crisp guitar lines, the steady whispery whisk of percussion, and the occasional orchestral flourish surround vocals that sound like they've spent the past six decades in a rock tumbler lined with gravel and mescal." -- Grade: A- Uncut - "[I]t's hard to imagine a richer, finer or more satisfying finale than this. There's no question the man's earned his smoke break." Paste (magazine) - "Making peace with the world and oneself is a theme that runs throughout YOU WANT IT DARKER. Tracks like 'Treaty,' 'Leaving The Table,' 'On The Level' and 'Traveling Light' each examine the duties and pitfalls of mortal life."

本国カナダはもちろん、欧州各国のチャートでも首位を記録した前作より2年ぶりとなるアルバム。テン年代に入って3枚目という、80代とは思えないリリース・ペースからも好調ぶりが窺えようか。内容は過去2作の流れを踏まえ、スロウで統一。ゴスペル風の女性コーラスやピアノの美しい音色を交えながら、詩を朗読するように淡々と歌う御大のシャガレ声が渋すぎる。プロデュースは息子のアダム・コーエン。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二