Everybody knows: Leonard Cohen MP3s

It's gratifying to see Leonard Cohen finally achieving the last steps of legendary status he's so long deserved. Throughout his career, he's sold a limited number of records, been dismissed or marginalized for his unadorned baritone and spare arrangements, and watched his songs attain greater popularity with other singers. But after two notable tribute albums (I'm Your Fan and Tower of Song) and more recently, a tribute documentary and soundtrack (Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man) and the reissuing of his classic first three albums, Cohen's canonization seems well underway, his widespread influence and a new generation's acknowledgment of it even more profound. That's a terrific opportunity for people who mostly know him from Jeff Buckey's spectral "Hallelujah" cover or may have heard his songs during Natural Born Killers. And it arrives at a moment when Cohen could surely use the money. But for me, a long-term fan who could probably sing (or at least speak-sing them a la Cohen) the first three albums by heart and has owned these albums for a decade-and-a-half, the best part of this resurgence of respect is undoubtedly the appearance of unreleased material. His debut, Songs of Leonard Cohen, which I love dearly but is still my least favorite of the trio, in particular comes repackaged with two "new" songs. The latter, "Blessed Is The Memory" is an easy addendum to the album, fitting very much into the vein and desires of its neighboring sounds. It's simple and graced like so much of Cohen's other music, with an elegance and saintliness unexpected in a debut album. Cohen frequently sings like he's achieved some higher status, and with the renewed focus he's received of late, it's wonderful to confirm that he has. * MP3: "Blessed Is The Memory" - Leonard Cohen from Songs of Leonard Cohen * MP3: "Stranger Song" - Leonard Cohen from Songs of Leonard Cohen [Buy it]