Remastered?

And what for? I'd have expected some noise reduction in the songs of the first CD (for example, try The Partisan). The original recordings were noisy. This remastered version keeps all the noise, but now the sound is even poorer than in previous releases.

Cohen's Raw Truth

This is an excellent compilation of some of the best work by this great artist. For many people it will be all they need. It contains one of my all-time favorite lyrics by anyone - in the song A Thousand Kisses Deep: : "The ponies run, the girls are young, the odds are there to beat. You win a while, and then its done, your little winning streak. And summoned now, to deal, with your invincible defeat. You live your life, as if its real, a thousand kisses deep". Leonard unflinchingly looks at the reality of the shortness of life, regardless of how good it sometimes can be. It reminds me of these lines from my favorite Leonard Song, Closing Time: "And I lift my glass to the awful truth, which you can't reveal to the ears of youth, except to say it isn't worth a dime". These 2 passages always make me think of my mortality. The only one who holds the power over death is Jesus. By believing in his sacrifice on the cross you can have peace about the fact that your life here must soon end. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16. I encourage you to read the Bible. You need God; you can pretend that you don't, but in your heart you know it is true. God will be found by those who seek Him.

Very Disappointed ...Thoughts from a Cohen "First Timer"

I had never heard Leonard Cohen's music but saw references to it frequently when looking at other singers/songwriters. Given his status/reputation I thought I should get this CD and learn what all the fuss was about.