Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 10/22/2002

The tracks on this two-CD, 31-song anthology, spanning Cohen's career from his 1967 debut album through 2002's Ten New Songs, were chosen by Cohen himself. It could thus be regarded as an accurate mirror of how Cohen sees his own career path and catalog highlights. And there are many of the songs you would expect from any decent Cohen retrospective: "Suzanne," "Sisters of Mercy," "So Long Marianne," "Bird on a Wire," "Famous Blue Raincoat," and "I'm You're Man," for instance. Still, the balance and selection isn't ideal. There's just one song ("Famous Blue Raincoat") from Songs of Love and Hate, and no songs at all from Death of a Ladies Man. Cohen's 1988-2002 period is arguably overrepresented, with about half of the package's tunes dating from that era. And because his later period is so prominently featured, most listeners won't be able to get around the fact that his voice declined in expressive range in the later years, and his material was less striking than his best early songs. Still, for those who've enjoyed Cohen all along, it's a good dose of much of his better work, and certainly doesn't skimp on the running time, with each of the discs lasting 78 minutes.

~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Be the first to review this product!

Leonard Cohen - Producer
Leonard Cohen - Illustrations
John Simon - Producer
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Roscoe Beck - Producer
Rebecca de Mornay - Producer
Yoav Goren - Producer
Bob Johnston - Producer
Henry Lewy - Producer
Steve Lindsey - Producer
John Lissauer - Producer
Bob Ludwig - Mastering
Bob Metzger - Producer
Michel Robidoux - Producer
Sharon Robinson - Producer
Leanne Ungar - Producer
Nancy Donald - Art Direction
Dominique Issermann - Photography
Jean-Michel Reusser - Producer
Sam Tata - Cover Photo
Darren Salmieri - A&R
Steven Edward Moore - Project Director

Nebraska
    Bruce Springsteen / CD / 1982
The United Artists Collection
    Gordon Lightfoot / CD / 1993
More Best of Leonard Cohen
    Leonard Cohen / CD / 1997
Words & Music
    Paul Kelly / CD / 1998
The Essential Simon & Garfunkel
    Simon & Garfunkel / CD / 2003
Greatest Hits
    Neil Young / CD / 2004
Vanguard Visionaries
    Eric Andersen / CD / 2007

Release Date: 10/22/2002
Genre: rock