Leonard Cohen + Daniel Lanois=?

[Simon]

Leonard Cohen debuted his new album at the Spoke Club on Tuesday to a room of record company types and producer Daniel Lanois

Does this imply that Daniel Lanois might produce LC's coming album? Maybe is it possible to think so since LC and U2 seem to get along fairly well. There might be a connection.

How great could that be? I really enjoyed Lanois with Dylan on "Time out of mind". I'd be very curious about the same kind of contribution to a LC album.

U2 is in Montreal this week. There were actually rumours about U2 moving to Mtl. Jokingly Lanois said, in an interview on Radio-Canada, that himself and Bono were looking for a flat here and plan to be room-mates.

So the scene would be set for a collaboration with LC in his home-town.

[jerry]

Look what Rick Rubin just did for Neil Diamond.

[Young dr. Freud]

I think DL would do wonders for LC.

By the bye, is Leonard a member of The Spoke Club?

"The Spoke Club is for individuals with an interest in media, entertainment and the arts. The annual fee for membership is $700, with a one-time initiation fee of $500. All application forms go before the Membership Committee for approval."


I guess you have to keep out the rabble.

YdF

[johnny7moons]

hey, a rick rubin-produced cohen album - now there's a thought to conjure with

[jerry]

Or how about John Cale as producer?

[tomsakic]

I always mistake Rubin and Lanois (both did wonders to failed careers of former giants), but the fact was that Leonard did met one of them in early 1990s, I guess before The Future, because Sony or someone insisted they try do the album together. Leonard simply walked out of their introductory meeting because it was total failure. I guess he needs shallow producer who won't intervene in his work and only figure as producer (what everybody were expect Spector, from Hammond, Johnston and Lissauer, to Leanne and Sharon). Also, he needs to produce it alone, how he likes it. He told something like he understood he doesn't need that guy. (I presume he tried to persuade him he must record acoustic album only with guitar...)

And on the other hand - Leonard isn't failed former giant, his albums sell quite well without Lanois/Rubin and similar boring guys. I'd say, if someone wants Lanois to produce new Cohen and make him more money, they wouldn't allow that new Anjani's album is "Produced for Sony by Leonard Cohen", not they would allow that John Lissauer works on it. John Lissauer of New Skin for the Old Ceremony and Various Positions fame. (The debuted album was Anjani's first record for Sony - not LC's.)

So, if Leonard's next year's album is going to be more vibrant and mainstream and with wider commercial appeal (what I do expect after this Lynch/Agile catastrophe and to support his come-back to stage and touring, and with new management), first, I am not sure if he can sound that way now, after TNS and Dear Heather's songs, and 2nd: he can do it anyway better alone, as he did with The Future.

[Simon]

Tom, you are probably right, LC might be more of a loner. I was, of course, not thinking in terms of failed former giant. I like the works of both LC and DL. I was thinking more in terms of what it might be like if they were to put their creativity together, and more in terms of Daniel Lanois musically. The result could be quite fabulous. But of course they would have to be in it mainly for the fun.

I'm not sure if Daniel Lanois's own work can be qualified mainstream.

[lizzytysh]

they would have to be in it mainly for the fun.

On this, I think Leonard is more likely to incorporate his fun into his own, self-produced album....as he did with the song "Dear Heather" on his last one . I doubt "mainly for the fun" will measure too greatly on his current scale of life, as he imparts more of his work to us. I could, of course, be wrong .

I'm very pleased, already, with the way he perceives, and applies his perspective, to his songs .

~ Lizzy

[Young dr. Freud]

I am ambivalent about TNS. Hated Dear Heather. The last thing I want to hear on the next album is more of the same. I hope he gets a world class producer who can reign him in a little.


YdF

[johnny7moons]

i'll second that - a good outside producer might be exactly what leonard needs. ten new songs and dear heather seem to me to trace a sharply downward trajectory, and he clearly needs something, if this new album we're promised next year is to be any good at all.

[Jay]

If DL has produced the album it'll be great, i too liked what he did for Dylan on 'Oh Mercy' and 'Time out of mind'.

[Sophistikitten]

The thought of DL producing Leonard's next album frightens me.

[muddy]

"If DL has produced the album it'll be great, i too liked what he did for Dylan on 'Oh Mercy' and 'Time out of mind'."



I think if was the producer of theses album -Dylan's better ones of terms of sound in the last years in my opinion- he could take out the best of Leonard.
I'm looking forward it.

[Shane]

Lanois is surely one of the best producers out there for years now. Rick Rubin and Joe Henry too. I think Leonard should try them all out!

[linda_lakeside]

Anyway we look at it, there are not going to be many more LC albums. I'd like to see LC do his own production. In that fashion we get a true sense of what he wants his pomes to sound like. We know where 'his head is at' so to speak. I think only he could deliver the product as the product should be delivered.

I'd hate for him to be a sideman in his own show. Let him do what he wants. Although, I'd bet that his management and record company would twist his arm very high and very tightly for Lanois.