After the release of "Live in London" in March of last year, and "Live at the Isle of Wright 1970" in October of last year, Leonard Cohen has just released another, yes ANOTHER, live album/DVD combo. I have to admit that my first reaction was "money grabbing move!!" I mean, last year's "Live in London" 2CD/DVD combo is a fantastic document from his on-going (never-ending?) world tour.

"Songs From the Road" (12 tracks; 66 min.) brings a collection of tunes recorded all over the world during the 08-09 world tour. Upon reviewing the set list closer, I was pleasantly surprised that there is only a 4 song overlap (Bird on a Wire; Suzanne; Hallelujah; Closing Time) between this and the "Live in London" album. Testament to the depth of Cohen's catalogue, for one. There are some really great songs on here, including "Lover, Lover, Lover" (one of my all-time favorite Cohen songs), but also "Famous Blue Raincoat" and some lesser-known songs like "Heart With No Companhion" and "That Don't Make It Junk". The DVD (91 min.) brings the same 12 songs and some bonus backstage footage filmed by Cohen's daughter. Of course, considering that the capacity of a DVD is about 3 hrs, the DVD is under-used. At the same time, the quality is a step up from the "Live in London" footage.

Incredibly, there is also a track on here ("Hallelujah") from the set I saw Leonard Cohen do at the Coachella music festival last year. Cohen's set, which happened just as the sun was setting, was one of THE highlights of the entire festival for me. So immediately this became a must-have for me, period. So it may be there a hint of "money-grabbing" by releasing this collection, but in the end, who would begrudge the legendary Leonard Cohen?

Has a sharper-sounding, better mixed, more passionate, organic live album been released? There is reason to doubt it.

All the more power to Leonard Cohen that he has been able to command high prices as of late in his touring - after all, he needs the money - but for those with sophisticated musical taste and a wallet that is incongruous "Songs from the Road" is a mighty handsome consolation prize.

The applause from the audience is non-intrusive, but warm and enthusiastic. Cohen wraps his warm, trademark voice around every syllable. His backing vocalists complement him with angelic, lilting, delicate beauty, and his touring musicians are impeccable - never a beat is missed.

To see and hear this live CD/DVD combo on the home entertainment system is better than being in row 200 at the concert. After all, Cohen's idiosyncrasies and incisive lyrics are too heady and sublime - in a setting that lacks intimacy they lose something.

With "Songs from the Road" we get the feel of an audience of thousands appreciating the music, but they are firmly in the background. The sound quality here is the quality of being fifth row center. The knowledge that these songs were recorded at various venues is remarkable, as they flow seamlessly on the CD.

The urgent, complex "Waiting for a Miracle" sounds undilutedly smoky and probing, and "Lover Lover Lover" is a rousing joy to hear - the bristling enthusiasm Cohen displays here is something most of his peers are, by now, phoning in or feigning during live appearances. The same can be said for the particularly poetic "Chelsea Hotel."

"Avalanche," from 1971's "Songs of Love and Hate," is sharply draped in cool, elegant vengeance. The iconic, eloquent "Suzanne" still sounds fresh as well. If Cohen has tired of it, it does not show in his performance.

"Hallelujah" would benefit from a starker arrangement. Here, the backing vocalists and band dilute the power of the song slightly, although their contributions miss no beat and sound crisply professional. It is a minimal misstep, especially when there are so many different recordings of the song to choose from.

It is a breath of fresh air to see Cohen enjoying the renewed burst of popularity he has enjoyed since reintroducing himself to the spotlight, and "Songs from the Road" distills this new phase of his career into a gorgeous, well-wrought, clearly labored-over live album.

This new CD/DVD comprises footage from around the world during the first two years of Cohen's monster 2008-10 tour, and it makes a welcome sequel to "Live in London," which was a great show filmed at the beginning. The DVD has a nice bonus feature of over 20 minutes of backstage footage, and it's fun to have a peek behind the curtain--a rarity for this tour.

On that note, one may wish for a sequel to a different Cohen tour picture, "Bird on a Wire," which would give us more of a documentary approach. This is not that, nor is it meant to be. But how welcome such an endeavor would have been.

The only quibbles I can imagine will be strictly subjective; in my case, at the show I saw outside Baltimore, I seem to remember the audience being mesmerized by a stark, solo "Famous Blue Raincoat," but it's a fuller band arrangement here. But, big deal. Everything here is worthy, especially for Cohen enthusiasts. Cohen's warm reception by the young crowd at Coachella might be the most moving moment of the whole collection.

And let's not overlook what a generous package this is: a CD and matching DVD under one cover, the songs brilliantly recorded and edited into a seamless whole, with an excellent set of insightful liner notes.

I've been following Cohen since the late 60's. There have been albums I felt close to and those I could appreciate from a distance - writings, as well. I fell in love with the Live From London DVD and am really glad I saw it before this bit of fluff. Had I seen this tripe first, I would have closed the door.

This DVD/album is superficial and brings forth zero emotion that, otherwise, is Cohen's hallmark. Some may praise the renditions but they were flat and lifeless to this long-time friend. The pieces felt like snapshots. The backup singers, behind (although they are are a force in reality). There was little blending with the audience that, normally, catapults Cohen's concerts to the extraordinary. The album notes were banal, at best.

If you don't care for my opinion, so be it. You have yours that may differ but we both are right. For my part, this is a major pass and a severe letdown. Perhaps I expected Cohen to stay on the pedestal. This version is cheap, and a ripoff, at its finest moments.

From "Live At The Isle Of Wight" to "Songs From The Road", the journey of Leonard Cohen has been an enviable life filled with the impressions the ordinary man can only hope to express. I'm overwhelmed by his various interpretions of the songs he created out of the breath of his life. Like a fine wine, he ages in the bottle of his existance and his performances exhibits an exceptance of his mortaity. I can only hope for more from this master of the words, poems and songs of life, and I shall mourn when his words and songs come forth nomore. Truly, one of the best of the best, a master of interpreting the human condition. Thank you Leonard, you enhanced my life.