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Live In London
Universal acclaim
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 33 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sony
Release Date: 31 March 2009
Discs: 2 disc
Genre(s): Folk, Live
Summary
The Canadian singer returned from a Buddhist monastery to discover that his business manager had stolen his retirement money. The two-disc set recorded live at London's O2 Arena on July 17, 2008 was part of the tour to help rebuild his retirement.
Also By This Artist: Dear Heather Ten New Songs
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Mojo
Apart from the comprehensive compilation aspect and the rich live presence, this double CD also pauses to capture the remarkable way he welcomes 20,000 people to his fireside. [May 2009, p.98]
MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
The band is on it, the backup singers are solicitous, and Cohen's husk of a voice has been juiced up by the exercise.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Live in London is a reminder that Cohen is as gifted a performer as he is a songwriter.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
The wry humour on display even extends to the setlist, with 'I Tried To Leave You' being the first song of the encore. It's little touches like that which make Live In London both the perfect souvenir for those who were there on the night and also a handy introduction to one of the true living legends of the music industry.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
The London performance has yielded one of the finest live albums to come our way in a long while.
Read Full Review >Slant Magazine
London is by far Cohen's most generous live release, and if it tilts too heavily to the last two decades of his career, it compensates by including virtually all of the classics from the first three.
Read Full Review >Uncut
An uncommonly thoughtful victory lap, which deserves--and has received--a handsome recorded memorial.
Read Full Review >Billboard
Between tunes Cohen recites lyrics from the next song to be performed, and these 26 tunes, delivered in his steady rumbling baritone, may have never sounded better, certainly not in one place on one special night.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Perhaps fate forced Leonard Cohen's hand to stage the tour documented in part on Live in London, but it seems that fate knows just what it's doing, and this album eloquently demonstrates how much Cohen still has to offer, and how clearly his music still speaks to him (and us).
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
Cohen manages to find the happy (and probably most obvious) middle ground between his spare origins and the sheen of his later work with light, jazzy instrumentation, with the songs stretched out to allow for several solos and interludes.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jack L. gave it a10:
In the waste land of contemporary performances Cohen's farewell tour reminds that music is art and can elevate us.
Pierre-Michel F. gave it a10:
Fantastic album and great "entry door" to the world of this awesome musicia for those who didn't know him. I can tell because I was one of them! Thank you mister Cohen, I bow in respect.
Ardo gave it a10:
I would just like to say that John B, much like most prog fans, is a shallow-minded imbecile. "The Incident" is Porcupine Tree's worst album in a long time. This, on the other hand, is a heartfelt and moving performance by one of the greatest singer-songwriters in history.
JOHN B gave it a1:
This cd might be good if you want to fall asleep how old are the critics 70 years old. porcupine tree the incident is the cd of the year.
Adam C. gave it a10:
A CD that will enrich your life!
Nathan L. gave it a10:
Cohen's lyrics possess a depth that no other songwriter seems to be able to convey. His deeply personal, poetic offering is amazing. This is definitely the best album I've bought this year. Cohen's aged voice sounds sublime leading the waltz. I highly recommend to all long-time fans or people unfamiliar with the genius' work.
Zeezou gave it a10:
Excellent and everything a fan could ask for.
