Washington Square Serenade (DIG) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's been 3 years since Steve Earle released a new studio album. In that time, George W. Bush has been reelected, Steve got married again to the beautiful Allison Moorer, and he packed up his Nashville paraphernalia and moved to the city. New York City, to be exact. In fact, if you don't already know it, Steve now resides on the same block so famously pictorially memorialized on the cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, and it's very clear from listening to him that he takes the spirit of Greenwich Village very seriously and very much to his corazón.
With all that in mind, Steve's new gift to music is Washington Square Serenade, an album of 11 originals and 1 cover. Recorded in the famed Electric Lady studios, the album is different from his others by default, because as he says right in the bonus disc's interviews, he now "tests positive for ProTools." This is immediately apparent from the album's beginning, which has drum beats and samples throughout the 12 tracks. If you can get past the beats, you've got a pretty darn good album ahead of you.
The album begins with Steve's farewell to Nashville, "Tennessee Blues." Personally, I think the acoustic-only version is better (more on that later), but the lyrics are downright beautiful--"Blue dog on my floorboard, redhead by my side, cross the mighty Hudson River to the New York City side. Redhead by my side, boys, sweetest thing I've found. Goodbye, Guitar Town"--and a perfect goodbye to the place he used to call home. Next comes "Down Here Below," a mostly spoken-word song about the resident NYC red-tailed hawk Pale Male that is very reminiscent of the Drive-By Truckers' "A World of Hurt." Steve's voice is hypnotizing on it. "Satellite Radio" is probably one of the more hip-hop influenced tracks on the album, and the ProTools influence is very obvious on it. Steve sings about a radio DJ wondering about his prospects on satellite radio. Fairly catchy, but nothing too mind-blowing here. The fourth song is the first single off the album, "City of Immigrants." Steve performed it on the Late Show last month and it includes backing by the Brazilian group Forro In The Dark. This is Steve's non-aggressive answer to Lou Dobbs' views on immigration, and once it grows on you, the song is quite good.
Then comes the first love song of the album, "Sparkle and Shine." The song is very simple, very light-hearted, and very beautiful and is definitely a highlight of the album. Unfortunately it is followed by the throwaway track "Come Home to Me." This is a very sub-par Earle ballad that has been done many times before and much better. With the exception of some nice chord structuring during the bridge, this isn't one to get too excited about. "Jericho Road" is another barely-passable track. It's not necessarily bad, but compared to other tracks on the album and other songs that Earle has written, this doesn't do it. Think of the groove to "Telephone Road" from El Corazón (released 10 years ago, coincidentally), and then take out a lot of the fun and energy. This is basically a darker and less-interesting version of that song. "Oxycontin Blues" will immediately draw comparisons to "The Truth" from 2002's Jerusalem album. Combine that feel with the feel of 1996's "CCKMP" and you get the general idea of what this song sounds like as Steve sings about drug addiction (hence the comparison to "CCKMP").
"Red is the Color" takes things up a notch with some great harmonica blowing as Steve sings and yelps over a slow jam. Next come possibly the two finest songs on the album, "Steve's Hammer (for Pete)" and "Days Aren't Long Enough." The former is dedicated to folk pioneer/icon Pete Seeger, and lays Steve's political views right out front for the listener ("When the air don't choke you and the ocean's clean and the kids don't die for gasoline, one of the these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down"). The refrain is extremely catchy, and when it breaks out into a full sing-along chorus, it becomes even more infectious. Plan on turning this one up. The latter track was co-written by Steve and his wife Allison and is one of the most beautiful ballads/duets that Steve has released in the last several albums. It is simply a gorgeous song that is destined to become a classic Earle ballad. Finally, the album ends with Steve's version of Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole," which will also be used as the theme for the 5th and final season of The Wire in January. It's not a strong song to end on, as Steve's voice just doesn't really mesh too well with the song itself and the hip-hop-ish groove that he employed for it. A decent cover, but no more than that.
And finally, if you are trying to decide whether or not to buy the deluxe edition with the DVD, here's a breakdown of what you get: extensive interview footage of Steve talking about the album, his past, and the history of Greenwich Village; video footage of Steve discussing Dylan at the site of Dylan's first NYC gig, discussing the beauty and craftsmanship of an old 1966 Gibson guitar at a local music shop (and then jamming a little on the guitar), and discussing the vital importance of Washington Square Park to Greenwich Village; and 3 live acoustic performances of "Tennessee Blues," "City of Immigrants" (with Allison), and "Days Aren't Long Enough" (also with Allison). All told the DVD is about 38 minutes long. I mentioned earlier that I'd come back to the acoustic-only version of "Tennessee Blues." I found that when it was just Steve and an acoustic guitar and nothing else, the song was much more of an effective goodbye. You can judge this for yourself. Is it worth the extra money for you? I bought it, and I'm happy I did. It's worth watching. It's up to you whether that's the kind of thing you'll continue watching in the future or simply set inside its case and never pull out again.
Washington Square Serenade is by no means perfect, but there are enough great songs here to make this a worthy addition to any Earle fan's catalog. I can only hope that it won't be 3 years before he records another album, and that NYC will continue to supply him with inspiration for his musical passions.

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After an extremely rare three year break from recording, Grammy Award winner Steve Earle is back, with Washington Square Serenade. The album represents a number offirstsfor Steve: his first record for New West Records, his first album produced in New York City (now his home), and his first produced by John King of The Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys) at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. The deluxe CD/DVD version will be available with bonus packaging art plus an exclusive documentary DVD about the inspiration behind the album. The bonus DVD includes 3 acoustic performances, interviews and a walking tour of Greenwich Village with Steve and noted journalist Mark Jacobson.The album will also be available as a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record.

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Las Consecuencias Review

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(More customer reviews)After the electric/guitar-filled Hellville De Luxe, Enrique delivers his newest album, defined by himself as an intimate work and "chamber music". Recorded during the 'Hellville de tour', 'Las consecuencias' present 10 new songs (without a doubt these can be included among the best songs he has written in his solo career) in an LP format. Whether you get this on CD or LP format, the album is divided on two sides, the first five songs acoustic tunes with the second part of the album being more electric. The cover picture, by JoseGirl, clearly shows before even listening to the album, that this is the 'dark' follow up to Hellville de Luxe. Some songs may be reminiscent of El Tiempo de Las Cerezas, especially 'De todo el mundo', but then again this is Enrique as he has never sounded before, open and heartbreaking.

The opening track, "Las consecuencias" is a slow and dark theme descriptive of what you are about to listen to, Bunbury clearly states in the chorus 'Porque siempre conviene alegrar a la gente, tambien de vez en cuando esta bien asustar un poco'. Again the writing style of Enrique is present, in which he borrows phrases or lines from other places, in this case a line from The Seventh Seal (The Criterion Collection) is used in the first part of the song (from the scene where the knight shares with the performers the wild strawberries and milk, "Faith is a heavy burden you know? it's like loving someone out in the darkness who never comes, no matter how loud you call")

The second track, "Ella me dijo que no" is as Beatle as Enrique will ever be. This is a song that could be inserted in any Beatle album from their last years (say Revolver (Remastered) or even Abbey Road (Remastered)) and It would not sound out of place. Great lyrics, an amazing Ana Belen Estaje and a particularly good performance by Enrique. One of the highlights of the album.

Enrique has always been fascinated by the figure of the boxer (let us remember the whole conceptual 'Flamingos' and its cover), a character that falls only to rise again in the third track, "El boxeador". Metaphorical in nature, this acoustic soft song takes the character to a new level, 'golpea mejor, quien golpea primero, levantate antes de que cuente hasta diez' Enrique says in the chorus.

Ironically, the fourth track and single 'Frente a frente' (with its shockingly bizarre video) seems to be the only song that sounds out of place compared with the rest of the album. It is a great cover version and Miren Iza does a great job performing this song with Enrique. I can only understand its presence in the album after reading Enrique explaining in an interview that EMI needed a single and he already had this cover version prepared for a Jeannette tribute that never took place.

"21 de Octubre" continues with the same acoustic mood, Dylanesque guitars, a soft and intimate melody with aggressive lyrics.

"Lo que mas te gusto de mi", is another great example of why Bunbury is considered a great lyricist, the music could be defined as Flamingos-meets-El tiempo de las cerezas, a very intriguing Mediterranean sound. Enrique's new band sounds better than in Hellville and Jorge Rebenaque shines in this track, so does Miren Iza backing vocals. This song starts side B of the LP format in which the album was released and includes more electric songs.

"Los habitantes" sounds more like the Bunbury we are used to from prior works. This is actually the most electric song in the album with an incredible guitar riff in it. The lyrics are some of the best of the album.

"Es hora de hablar" is without a doubt my favorite track of the album, the combination of lyrics, the Japanese violin, the guitars and Enrique's voice crying as he sings make this one of the best songs in Enrique's career in my opinion. The album builds up to its end and reaches its highest peak in track 8.

"De todo el mundo" is a classic ballad (quite reminiscent of "El rumbo de tus sueños") that follows the same line in lyrics from "El extranjero". Enrique talks about himself having no owner and how he belongs to the world ('Soy vagabundo siempre de paso, de aqui de alla, de todo el mundo') One thing I liked of this song (and the whole album) is how Enrique's voice sounds softer than in prior works; he himself has said that while recording this album he was more focused on his voice and singing well than in the production details as he did for previous albums, and that is something you notice from the very first song in 'Las consecuencias'

Fans of Enrique will recognize the last track of the album, "Nunca se convence del todo a nadie de nada" from the tribute album released back in 2008. This song back then was performed by Niños del Brasil and was given to them by Enrique. As with "Ahora" and "Ven y camina conmigo", he decided to record his own version of the song. An excellent song to complete and close the album, Bunbury sings once again accompanied by Miren Iza.

Enrique once again delivers a profound, round album, highly recommended if you are a fan or music lover in general.


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Bunbury is set to release his highly anticipated new album Las Consecuencias through EMI/ Capitol Latin. The first single "Frente a Frente" is a remake of the popular hit song made famous in 1981 by singer Jeannette. For his first single, Bunbury collaborated with Tulsa singer, Miren Iza who added a special emotion and character with her unique voice to song. The music video, directed by Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) includes a special cameo appearance by singer Jeannette. Las Consecuencias was produced by Bunbury himself and it features an intimate look into his storytelling lyrics and acoustic/ electric musical arrangements.

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Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man Review

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(More customer reviews)Saw this film at the Los Angeles premiere end of June 2006 - the film is full of love for the creative talent of an extraordinary wordsmith whose music mystically takes his words to an even higher vibration.
the film is so real the audience gave standing ovations for performances in the film!!!
And Leonard himself came out to thank the audience, saying he was retiring to the green room to fortify himself with a drink to deal with "the moral pneumonia that comes after the blizzard of praise."
OBTW - he did say he was thinking of going on tour again - at 71 - imagine!

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Sure to please both die-hard Cohen fans and the newly initiated, this film is full of captivating music and offers an intimate portrait of a truly singular artist, poet, songwriter, cultural icon.

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Songs From The Road (CD/DVD) Review

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(More customer reviews)After the release of "Live in London" in March of last year, and "Live at the Isle of Wright 1970" in October of last year, Leonard Cohen has just released another, yes ANOTHER, live album/DVD combo. I have to admit that my first reaction was "money grabbing move!!" I mean, last year's "Live in London" 2CD/DVD combo is a fantastic document from his on-going (never-ending?) world tour.
"Songs From the Road" (12 tracks; 66 min.) brings a collection of tunes recorded all over the world during the 08-09 world tour. Upon reviewing the set list closer, I was pleasantly surprised that there is only a 4 song overlap (Bird on a Wire; Suzanne; Hallelujah; Closing Time) between this and the "Live in London" album. Testament to the depth of Cohen's catalogue, for one. There are some really great songs on here, including "Lover, Lover, Lover" (one of my all-time favorite Cohen songs), but also "Famous Blue Raincoat" and some lesser-known songs like "Heart With No Companhion" and "That Don't Make It Junk". The DVD (91 min.) brings the same 12 songs and some bonus backstage footage filmed by Cohen's daughter. Of course, considering that the capacity of a DVD is about 3 hrs, the DVD is under-used. At the same time, the quality is a step up from the "Live in London" footage.
Incredibly, there is also a track on here ("Hallelujah") from the set I saw Leonard Cohen do at the Coachella music festival last year. Cohen's set, which happened just as the sun was setting, was one of THE highlights of the entire festival for me. So immediately this became a must-have for me, period. So it may be there a hint of "money-grabbing" by releasing this collection, but in the end, who would begrudge the legendary Leonard Cohen?


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Following the celebration of his 40th year as a Columbia artist in 2007 and coinciding with his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2008, Cohen thrilled his fans by announcing his first tour dates in 15 years. He's gone on to play the most prestigious and beautiful venues in virtually every corner of the globe, mesmerizing and charming audiences with performances that were hailed as some of the best of his career. When legend Cohen takes to the stage, raved Ireland's The Independent (June 2008), it's no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions. One dozen of Leonard Cohen's most famous songs from those recent world tour performances at auditorium halls, festivals, arenas, and stadiums from Tel Aviv to London, from across Europe to the California desert and his native Canada are now collected on Songs From the Road. The 12-song program filmed in high definition and recorded in 5.1 surround sound will be issued in three separate packages: CD+DVD in a beautiful softpak with a 12-page book, Blu-ray, and 2-LP 180-gram audiophile vinyl in a gatefold jacket.

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Live In London (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I swore I would not open this DVD until after seeing L. Cohen in Oakland the Monday after next. But I'm so glad I broke my vow.
This is one of the most wonderful concerts I've ever seen captured on DVD.
The band and Leonard's singers are top-notch, and one senses that they feel as though they are a part of something special.
The songs span nearly 40 years of a canon that is second to none.
Most amazing of all,though, is how a digital disc can cut through its own technology and exude so much warmth and passion. Even when the camera shows a close shot of Cohen, one can still sense the warmth, love and admiration coming from the ecstatic London audience.
As for Leonard Cohen...if he were to do nothing but sing, that would be enough given the wonderful breadth of material performed at this concert.
However, his gentle and gracious command of the stage provides this show an added depth and dimension. Within the span of minutes he can be hilarious, self-deprecating, humble, poignant, appreciative...and I could easily go on with the superlatives to describe his on-stage demeanor.
Very often I make a point of remembering to trust the art and not the artist. In the case of Leonard Cohen, I tend to trust both. His warmth seems genuine. Unlike so many of his stature, his humility comes across as real. His spoken words are every bit as powerful as those that are sung. Given the way that the barriers are broken down between the singer and the band and the audience...to the point where it feels as though they are all part of one celebratory evening...such humility, graciousness and warmth cannot be anything but genuine.
The highlights are too many to mention: "Suzanne" sounds as fresh as it did 40 years ago. "Anthem" sounds more urgent today than when it was first penned. "The Future" & "First We Take Manahattan" are even more biting now in the 21st Century than when they were first penned. Cohen's increased age gives songs such as "Boogie Street," "Tower of Song," & "Democracy" a world weariness that makes these songs all the more penetrating. His lovely "If It Be Your Will" sounds as much like a prayer as it does one of the loveliest songs ever written. If I don't stop now, I'll wind up writing accolades about every song on this DVD. Yes, it is that wonderful!
I've been fortunate to see so many of the greats in my lifetime - legends whose works will be remembered for decades to come. Some have been surly and stand-offish. Others have been appreciative and welcoming toward their audience.
It is refreshing to see the best of everything embodied in this Leonard Cohen concert. Songs that are amongst the best ever written, still performed with a passion (as well as with the added wisdom that comes from Cohen being 74 years young), with a band & audience & singer all equally committed to one another.
There are moments when I laughed out loud at Leonard's deadpan, wry humor. There were times when tears welled in my eyes from the sincerity of the words that came out of his mouth, either spoken or in song.
In a day and age where so much seems packaged and perfunctionary, it is refreshing to see & hear someone such as Cohen whose observations can warm the heart or cut like a knife to get to the heart of a matter. He is the real deal. No airs, no faux modesty...just a man with four decades' worth of majestic material, with an excellent band whose respect for Cohen is reciprocated by their singer with his respect for their talents & abilities, along with a genuine warmth & sense of humanity that allows Leonard Cohen to turn a large London venue into a setting that is as intimate as being in one's living room.
Without a doubt, one of the finest, most moving and most satisfying concert DVDs I've ever seen.
I'm glad that I opened this prior to April 13. Seeing this makes me look forward to seeing Cohen in a small Oakland theater even more so than I already was.
However, had I not been fortunate enough to have gotten a ticket for his upcoming concert, I have to say that this DVD would have been a more than fine consolation. It is worth every cent. The staging, lighting, musicianship, song selection and sound are painstakingly stellar, obviously given great care & much thought.
This is a true gem, a most worthy representation of one of the greatest songwriters of our time.


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For over four decades, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a figure whose body of work achieves greater depths of mystery and meaning as time goes on. His songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Sex, spirituality, religion, power - he has relentlessly examined the largest issues in human lives, always with a full appreciation of how elusive answers can be to the vexing questions he raises. But those questions, and the journey he has traveled in seeking to address them, are the ever-shifting substance of his work, as well as the reasons why his songs never lose their overwhelming emotional force. Documentaries, awards, tribute albums and the ongoing march of artists eager to record his songs all acknowledge the peerless contribution Cohen has made to what one of his titles aptly calls "The Tower of Song."
In 2008 Leonard Cohen embarked on his first tour in 15 years. Quickly recognized as musical folklore in the making, 29 of the original dates sold out almost immediately, leaving fans and critics alike hailing the show as a once in a lifetime experience. By popular demand, the Canadian/UK tour was extended and by the end of that year it had reached 84 markets worldwide, selling more than 700,000 tickets. The Live In London release fully captures and recreates the extraordinary show from that tour that earned Cohen more than 80 five-star reviews for his performances. Track Listing: 1. Dance Me To The End Of Love 2. The Future 3. Ain't No Cure For Love 4. Bird On The Wire 5. Everybody Knows 6. In My Secret Life 7. Who By Fire 8. Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye 9. Anthem 10. Introduction 11. Tower Of Song 12. Suzanne 13. The Gypsy's Wife 14. Boogie Street 15. Hallelujah 16. Democracy 17. I'm Your Man 18. Recitation w/ N.L. 19. Take This Waltz 20. So Long, Marianne 21. First We Take Manhattan 22. Sisters Of Mercy 23. If It Be Your Will 24. Closing Time 25. I Tried To Leave You 26. Wither Thou Goest

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Live In London Review

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(More customer reviews)Leonard Cohen is still a magnificent performer, even at 73-years old, and this concert captures that fact wonderfully. This two-disc cd set was recorded live at the concert in London at the O2 Arena on July 17th, 2008. Sony has done a marvelous job in putting this package together. Both cds are filled to maximum capacity and Amazon's tracklisting above is correct. There are several nice photographs of the event in the included booklet with liner notes by John Aizlewood.
The performance is spectacular on this set and very typical of the level of quality the current world tour has been regularly achieving at various venues. The backing singers and band members are all in top form and Leonard himself sounds in good voice. Sharon Robinson and the Webb sisters provide background vocals, while Roscoe Beck, Neil Larsen, Javier Mas, Bob Metzger, Dino Soldo, and Rafael Bernando Gayol comprise the band. Leonard throws out some light banter at times and probably is too gracious in the regular and profuse compliments he gives out to his supporting players.
On a technical level the recording is very good and sounds better than most live cds. The cds are mastered by Bob Ludwig, a well-known and respected mastering engineer. He did a fine job here as the music shows no signs of overcompression or clipping. The audience is well-behaved and generally can not be heard during the songs, though vigorous applause greets each song and Leonard's sly jokes.
The set captures the live magic of Leonard Cohen's current tour with many fine performances. While not every song on here is the definitive live version, many are great like "Tower Of Song" and "Who By Fire". Anyone with a marginal interest in the music of Leonard Cohen needs to pick up this cd set. It is essential in my estimation as a document of Leonard Cohen's current live performances. Hopefully more dates from this tour will be officially released.

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For over four decades, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a figure whose body of work achieves greater depths of mystery and meaning as time goes on.His songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Sex, spirituality, religion, power - he has relentlessly examined the largest issues in human lives, always with a full appreciation of how elusive answers can be to the vexing questions he raises.But those questions, and the journey he has traveled in seeking to address them, are the ever-shifting substance of his work, as well as the reasons why his songs never lose their overwhelming emotional force. Documentaries, awards, tribute albums and the ongoing march of artists eager to record his songs all acknowledge the peerless contribution Cohen has made to what one of his titles aptly calls "The Tower of Song." In 2008 Leonard Cohen embarked on his first tour in 15 years. Quickly recognized as musical folklore in the making, 29 of the original dates sold out almost immediately, leaving fans and critics alike hailing the show as a once in a lifetime experience. By popular demand, the Canadian/UK tour was extended and by the end of that year it had reached 84 markets worldwide, selling more than 700,000 tickets. The Live In London release fully captures and recreates the extraordinary show from that tour that earned Cohen more than 80 five-star reviews for his performances.

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Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 Review

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(More customer reviews)I admit to having collected a few bootleg tapes of Leonard Cohen in concert. Though he is not known to be prolific, his 30-year music career has produced a nice trunk of smuggled concert cassettes circulated among die-hard fans. So when I heard about this live album from the 1979 European tour, I had mixed feelings. What could it offer that I did not already have? Well, not only was I not disappointed, I suspect my bootlegs will be gathering dust for many months to come. Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 sounds so clear, so alive, so strong, so breathtakingly real, you had better check out your window several times to remind yourself you have not been transported back to a concert hall in England and the year is not 1979.
Cohen has always been known for a lyrical precision that is unmatched in music and the songs chosen for this album are a celebration of his greatest talents: "Oh bless the continuous stutter of the word being made into flesh" ("The Window"); "Long ago we agreed to keep it light. So let's be married one more night." ("The Smokey Life"); "I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial. You can use itto make some woman smile." ("Lover Lover Lover"); and"Do you need his labour for your baby? Do you need his beast forthe bone? Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady? I know that youcan make, make it on your own." ("Why Don't You Try").These are the lyrics that send your jaw dropping and the mind graspingfor the meaning of the meaning. But no man can survive on gloriouslyrics alone and it is the music of this album that makes you remember each song long after the CD has stopped spinning. The violin solos by Raffi Hakopian, especially on "The Gypsy Wife," touch you to near tears. John Bilezikjian's magic from the little known oud is stunning. Paul Ostermayer's saxophone solo on "Memories" adds so much fun and spirit (yes, let's make all those who ever labeled Cohen's music depressing hear this one!). Add to the musicians' talents, the haunting and gentle voices of Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Robinson and you are simply swept away.
Finally, Cohen's own voice really is a golden voice. He has never sounded better, a mix of that deep, rich, sensual quality with the buoyancy and exuberance of the young Cohen. Were this not enough, Cohen brings something else to the table: a love of the song, a simple desire to perform at his best, and a genuine appreciate of his audience. You will hear it clearly on every song on this album.

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