Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker

I bought this blind after thinking forever that Popular Problems was his last album, and I'm glad I did! Like others, mine didn't come with a download card, which doesn't bother me, but I wonder if it is a newer press than the listing. Just bought it sealed at a LRS today. Anyway, this album is fantastic, and it sounds so so good. His voice has never sounded better, and the instrumentation and harmonies carry and expand the emotion beautifully. My copy is mostly quiet and flat. And without checking I'm going to guess this is 200 gram vinyl. I know that really doesn't have any effect on sound quality at all, but it feels weighty in the hand in a very satisfying way.

Incredible sounding hot-wax, so 3-dimensional & lifelike it's as though Leonard is 'right there' ya dig? Vinyl on my copy is whisper-quiet as well...

Bought brand new sealed from Amazon for 33 CAD. My copy doesn’t come with download card and has a few major notches on its edge (first time I see this kind of poor quality control), so it looked like a no-brainer return. The record is quite flat but not well centered. But listening to it and side A sounded pretty pretty good... Leonard's voice sounds very deep, rich and intimate (it gave me some goosebumps). Bass is also very deep and enveloping and separation is great. I was initially very impressed by the mastering quality to be honest. Then listening to side B, it was a noisy mess (lots of distracting clicks and loud pops)... Fortunately, it now sounds a lot better after a deep clean. So finally, despite the quality control issues, I'm considering keeping my copy of this very emotional and touching album. 4.7 / 5

Amazing .
Sounds mint to me , no noise , beautiful pressing

Purchased brand new from local store in May 2024, my copy doesn’t come with download card. I am wondering if there is new repress off the same 2016 plate (2016 copy comes with download card). Audio wise it sounds very good.

Noisy surface with dimples. Cute in kids nor so much on vinyl.
Guess I’ll try the Euro version.

The songs ... as deep as it can get. Once I have it on the turntable I cannot stop listening to it over and over again. The album sucks be up completely.

I've compared the Europe vs 3 US pressings and the European copy comes out a long way ahead - MUCH less surface noise and better separation.
Amazingly emotional recording...a must.

I went through 3 US pressed copies and they were all terrible - crackles throughout and excess surface noise.
Switched to the European copy and it was infinitely quieter and the imaging and separation improved.
But as a recording this album is amazing...

Good lord this sounds good. Silent wax. Leonard's voice cuts through like gravel (in a good way). Sounds like he's playing right in front of you! You can't really argue with anything really. Bernie Grundman mastering, RTI press. It's a win