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04-12-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,664
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 1
Post ID: 7190
Reply to: 7190
Non-classical genius (starting with Leonard Cohen)
Maybe this won't work at all.  I can sure see how it could get way out of hand very quickly.  In fact, I have seen it at the "other" forum, and it's not a pretty sight.

Romy, it's your site, and I trust you can decide if this turns into a quipper's forum for all manner of dreck, or even if you just don't want to risk it.

What prompted my own first post under this header was the happy coincidence of great electricity and Leonard Cohen.   I just had to share the Simply Vinyl Columbia "Greatest Hits" re-issue LP.  This is amazing poetry that synthesizes/synergizes words and music into a spaceship/time machine that can literally transport you, either away or deep within.  I happen to love Cohen's arrangements, too.  They can sound corny, but get VTA etc. just right and prepare for lift off.

So smart, and so magical.

Best regards,
Paul S
04-12-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 2
Post ID: 7191
Reply to: 7190
I do not know how about 'genius'…
Paul, I would like generally to keep the music section of this site excitedly dedicate to classical music. The rational is not based on my personal preferences but from the fact that my site is audio-centric and nothing beside classical repertoire has audio value and audio interest. It does not mean that I do not listen anything besides classical music, I do but I would never consider looking at those listening experiences as anything that has any audio significance. I do not know how about call them genius but there were many interning harmonies I many musical directions, even in rap. So what? The Pink Floyd, Queen, Beatles and Led Zeppelin for instance had some extremely interesting harmonies but considering how then were rendered in the actual music those harmonies has no meaning to handle them with audio methods.

Regarding Leonard Cohen, I am happened to be a fan of him as well and own whatever he released, including a few bootlegs. Unfortunately, Cohen’s LS were not lucky as he has not the best versions on them. Probably the best single album that Cohen relisted with the truly the best (in my view) version of the each of the included songs (with exeption of "Aleluia") was his CD “Leonard Cohen in Concert” (Columbia CK 80188)

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-31-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 3
Post ID: 8672
Reply to: 7190
For European visitors of my site.
fiogf49gjkf0d

Looking the IIS stats it looks like my site has a lot of British and France visitors. Well boys, here are a treat for you: Leonard Cohen started today his European Tour.  Mr. Cohen does not tour a lot and he will not be around infinitely. You have a chance to catch a phenomenal artist live:

http://www.leonardcohen.com/tour.cgi

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
11-20-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
twogoodears


Italy
Posts 116
Joined on 03-26-2008
Post #: 4
Post ID: 8919
Reply to: 8672
Leonard Cohen on Mojo magazine
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In his proud, bald 74, Leonard Cohen have been someone who lived life on his very own skin, always... from being a Canadian young Jewish, the son of a tailor, to a lover's lover who had the most beautiful women on the planet in his palmares, a talented writer, a novelist (the superb Beautiful Losers and The Favourite Game, my fave ever) and a poet, he lived for long years in Hydra island, just ouside the Athens, Greece shores and, since few years ago, in a Zen monastery in California's hills... music always seem a marginal tool in his palette, anyway, being a polite, old-timey gentleman since his boyhood, his severe and minimalist musical approach has always been out-of-time and out-of-fashions... listen to any of his records... the first four/five the better... and you'll understand... like Bob Dylan or Nick Drake this so rare feature is a true God's gift... something any singer, composer or musican would sell his soul to Devil for...
On December issue, UK's MOJO Magazine shows Leonard Cohen in an intense portrait-shot is on the cover and a CD of LC's covers by young, talented musicians, pay homage to the old (!?!) master is enclosed for free to mag... WOW!
From Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (superb on Hallelujah) to Judy Collins... a special disk, indeed... great recording, too.
... also a nice, well informed interview which enlight on LC's last year, his being fond of live concerts experience etc...
Is it "serious music"? Yes, IMO... it's sincere, classical, able to stand the abuse of Nick Cave and others, still keeping an aplomb, giving shivers, moving... isn't enough, for songs like "Suzanne" et al. we listen to since 1967?
It's Music.
   
   

"Use your ears as your eyes" - Gertrude Stein

Stefano
06-29-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 5
Post ID: 10945
Reply to: 7190
Leonard Cohen Live in London
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Everyone adores this new album with Cohen live performance. I got it today and… I very much do not like. Probably if Leonard Cohen would not be 74 and would not be the subject of unconditional worship from many people, including me, then the album of this quality shall not be released. Let out love to Cohen’s art do no substitute with our acceptance of poor artistic quality. Unfortunately the new album has a LOT of almost painful moments and not all of them were the “old Cohen’s fault” – I think he needs to hire better musicians and better audio-engineers at least. The sound is quite bad, what was kind of expected and some of the fantastic, almost mesmerizing, harmonies of the Cohen’s music from past this time were substituted with some kind of pop-surrogate fantasies on the Cohen’s themes…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
06-29-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,664
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 6
Post ID: 10946
Reply to: 10945
The Last Gasps of Old Artists
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I have little positive to say about the "10 New Songs" CD I just bought.  Instead of his patented weird productions, he used primarily a synthesizer and two girls for the whole CD.  The whole thing also smacks of wooden overdubbing, taking it easy to cut studio time, get it all done as quickly as possible.

Too bad, because I think some of the songs could be OK with better treatment.

And this album also featured a very low-key, "pop" feel that was trashy, and not trashy enough to be camp.

But I have long since reconciled myself with the fact that few artists know when and how to quit.

Best regards,
Paul S
06-30-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007
Post #: 7
Post ID: 10948
Reply to: 10946
Cohen or...Tosca
fiogf49gjkf0d
I was offered for birthday by my dear mother in law the choice between Cohen live or a Tosca open air performance.
It took me some time to decide because this would have been my only chance to listen to Cohen but in the end I felt it would be wiser to avoid the risk of disappointment.
I'm looking forward to Saturday's Tosca in the wild...


Cheers,
Ricardo

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
06-30-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 8
Post ID: 10950
Reply to: 10948
Very interesting debate!
fiogf49gjkf0d

 tuga wrote:
I was offered for birthday by my dear mother in law the choice between Cohen live or a Tosca open air performance.
It took me some time to decide because this would have been my only chance to listen to Cohen but in the end I felt it would be wiser to avoid the risk of disappointment.
I'm looking forward to Saturday's Tosca in the wild...

I kind of read your post and got lost as it would be an interesting decision to make. The live concert is not only the people at the stage but the whole atmosphere of the concert whole. It is like going to watch some crappy new movie in a move theater in back neighborhood and to have fun how the folks in the theater would “ornament” the film with those sometimes phenomenal commentaries. In some cases that “atmosphere” migh be is the punch-line of the whole performance.

I do not know how good or bad Tosca might be, I hope the open air status would not make people bring popcorn and walky-talky. From another side despite some artistic despoilment the crowd you will be able to experience during the Cohen’s performance will be absolutely unique. It is not the rock-n-roll or pop concert and it will be different people in there. also, whoever will be  there will truly love the Man and it in my view it might be worth to experience.

Saying that I have to admit that Cohen was in Boston in the end of May and I desired do not go… Go figure…

Tosca vs. Cohen – that is very interesting debate if you have to go…

The Cat

PS:  http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/2009/05/_photo_by_micha.html

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
07-05-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007
Post #: 9
Post ID: 10990
Reply to: 10950
Culture vs. Entertainment...
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:

 tuga wrote:
I was offered for birthday by my dear mother in law the choice between Cohen live or a Tosca open air performance.
It took me some time to decide because this would have been my only chance to listen to Cohen but in the end I felt it would be wiser to avoid the risk of disappointment.
I'm looking forward to Saturday's Tosca in the wild...

I kind of read your post and got lost as it would be an interesting decision to make. The live concert is not only the people at the stage but the whole atmosphere of the concert whole. It is like going to watch some crappy new movie in a move theater in back neighborhood and to have fun how the folks in the theater would “ornament” the film with those sometimes phenomenal commentaries. In some cases that “atmosphere” migh be is the punch-line of the whole performance.

I do not know how good or bad Tosca might be, I hope the open air status would not make people bring popcorn and walky-talky. From another side despite some artistic despoilment the crowd you will be able to experience during the Cohen’s performance will be absolutely unique. It is not the rock-n-roll or pop concert and it will be different people in there. also, whoever will be  there will truly love the Man and it in my view it might be worth to experience.

Saying that I have to admit that Cohen was in Boston in the end of May and I desired do not go… Go figure…

Tosca vs. Cohen – that is very interesting debate if you have to go…

The Cat

PS:  http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/2009/05/_photo_by_micha.html

Well, Romy, I am sad to report that even though the reasonably performed Tosca was staged at the garden staircase of an 18th century royal palace and the audience quite knowledgeable, the whole thing was amplified, turning the concert into an Andrew LLoyd Webber like musical.
I am going to email the event organizers complaining about the fact that there was no mention of the opera being amplified.

Cheers,
Ric

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
07-05-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 10
Post ID: 10991
Reply to: 10990
The amplified orchestra: friends and foes…
fiogf49gjkf0d

Ric, you are losing the point – this is a wonderful opportunity to blame the Mother-in law… From another side you still have live orchestra? Some opera houses in NY are practicing now to stage opera production with recorded orchestra sound.

Sure, no one with sanity would live amplified orchestra but I know what the event organizers would reply to you. Sine I do not prove to other that I am sane I would state heresy: I love the amplified orchestra. The key in this is “properly amplified orchestra”, something that you will hardly ever experience in real world. The whole idea to properly and smartly amplify an orchestra and to make it so good that no one would recognize the fact that the orchestra is sound reinforced is so attractive to me (for years!) that if I have a chance I would love to work in such a project pro bono.

Try to identify everything in the amplified orchestra that you like? Make note. Then itemize what you did not like and work on resolution of those “do not like” items.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
07-06-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007
Post #: 11
Post ID: 10996
Reply to: 10991
(Im)Properly amplified orchestra
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:

Ric, you are losing the point – this is a wonderful opportunity to blame the Mother-in law…



My wife and I both had a good laugh at that.

 Romy the Cat wrote:

Ric, you are losing the point – this is a wonderful opportunity to blame the Mother-in law… From another side you still have live orchestra? Some opera houses in NY are practicing now to stage opera production with recorded orchestra sound.

Sure, no one with sanity would live amplified orchestra but I know what the event organizers would reply to you. Sine I do not prove to other that I am sane I would state heresy: I love the amplified orchestra. The key in this is “properly amplified orchestra”, something that you will hardly ever experience in real world. The whole idea to properly and smartly amplify an orchestra and to make it so good that no one would recognize the fact that the orchestra is sound reinforced is so attractive to me (for years!) that if I have a chance I would love to work in such a project pro bono.

Try to identify everything in the amplified orchestra that you like? Make note. Then itemize what you did not like and work on resolution of those “do not like” items.

The Cat


The sound could have been acceptable had the organizers, as you so often say, educated themselves on how to properly amplify the orchestra and singers (the choir was singing "live").
This did not happen, though, and despite the relaxing HF roll off microphones were incorrectly (in my view) positioned, the timbre (most noticeable on violins) was totally off and I was for the first time very bothered by the distinct presence of different drivers.
Sitting close to the left speaker didn't help either and in the silent moments one could hear the PS van.

In this case I can't really find anything I liked about an amplified orchestra and since I was siting less than 10m away I didn't really need any amplification.

Cheers,
Ric

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
11-22-2011 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 12
Post ID: 17420
Reply to: 7190
Leonard Cohen announces new album: Old Ideas
fiogf49gjkf0d
http://m.fans.sonymusicemail.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=4ef9b2cfd1f6fedfc0

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
05-04-2012 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 13
Post ID: 18123
Reply to: 7190
Cohen's US tour.
fiogf49gjkf0d

Legendary singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen will be gracing stages throughout the U.S. and Canada with a new live show, beginning October 31st in Austin, TX. The North American leg of Cohen’s “Old Ideas World Tour 2012” follows on the heels of his previously announced European concert dates. For updated tour information visit www.LeonardCohen.com.

October 31 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
November 3 - Denver, CO - 1st Bank Center
November 5 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
November 7 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
November 9 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
November 11 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
November 12 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
November 16 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
November 18 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
November 20 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
November 23 - Chicago, IL - Akoo Theatre
November 26 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
November 28 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
December 2 - Quebec City, QC - Colisee Pepsi
December 4 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
December 7 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
December 11 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
December 13 - Kingston, ON - K-Rock Centre
December 15 - Boston, MA - The Wang Theatre
December 18 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
December 20 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
11-11-2016 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,664
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 14
Post ID: 22835
Reply to: 18123
RIP, Leonard Cohen
fiogf49gjkf0d
RIP, Leonard Cohen.  A fine, musical poet.


Paul S
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