Songs from the Road

iTunes Review

It’s unexpected and amazing that at 74 years old, Leonard Cohen draws large and dedicated crowds to hear him perform his highly literate songs. The man whom many considered to be only for hardcore folkies who stayed up well past midnight is receiving the kind of renaissance his work has always deserved. The releases are coming fast and furious ever since Cohen’s longtime manager reportedly ran off with his life savings. This collection from his 2008-2009 World Tour features an interesting mix of songs from Cohen’s career. The obscure “That Don’t Make It Junk” sits well right alongside “Suzanne,”  “Bird On the Wire,” “Famous Blue Raincoat” and the now ever-popular “Hallelujah.” The real excitement for Cohen fans is hearing songs such as “Lover, Lover, Lover,” “Chelsea Hotel” and “The Partisan” exhumed with a crack band that help Cohen transform from a bookish icon into the great chansonnier and bandleader he really is. Plus, he’s solid with each era, twisting up “Waiting for the Miracle” with the same authority as “Avalanche.” What a long, fabulous career that keeps on moving.