Popular Problems

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Popular Problems
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Studio album by
Leonard Cohen
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2014
Recorded2013–14
GenreContemporary folk, folk pop, soft rock
Length35:56
LabelColumbia
ProducerPatrick Leonard
Leonard Cohen chronology
Old Ideas
(2012) 		Popular Problems
(2014) 		Live in Dublin
(2014)

Popular Problems is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen,[1] released on September 19, 2014 in Friday-release countries (such as France and Ireland) and on September 22, 2014 elsewhere.[citation needed]

Overview

[edit | edit source]

Most of the songs were new, though Cohen did debut "Born in Chains" onstage in 2010 and "My Oh My" was played during a soundcheck the same year.

The 2010 version of "Born in Chains" differs radically in terms of arrangements and singing compared to the 2014 studio version, and the song itself was first performed as early as 1985, during an (unofficially recorded) soundcheck in Europe. The early version used earlier lyrics set to the music which later become the song "I Can't Forget", released on Cohen's 1988 record I'm Your Man. Through the years, Cohen referred to the song as "Taken Out of Egypt", reciting it on show in 1988, and humming it to the new melody in 2005 documentary Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man.[2]

"A Street" was recited by Cohen in 2006, during promotion of his book of poetry Book of Longing, and later printed twice, as "A Street" in the March 2, 2009 issue of The New Yorker magazine,[3] and as "Party's Over" in Everyman's Library edition of Cohen's Poems and Songs in 2011. Both versions include a verse referring to 9/11.

"Nevermind" was published as the poem in 2005 on The Leonard Cohen Files website, and in Book of Longing in 2006. In 2015, it was used as the opening credits theme of the second season of the HBO series True Detective.

Critical reception

[edit | edit source]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.2/10[4]
Metacritic86/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[6]
The A.V. ClubB+[7]
Cuepoint (Expert Witness)B+[8]
The Daily TelegraphStarStarStarStarStar[9]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[10]
The IndependentStarStarStarStarStar[11]
NME8/10[12]
Pitchfork7.6/10[13]
QStarStarStarStar[14]
Uncut9/10[15]

Upon its release the album received uniformly positive reviews from critics, with Metacritic tallying 26 positive reviews for an aggregate score of 86, designated on the site as "universal acclaim".[5] Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote that, at 80 years old, "Cohen not only has plenty left in the tank, but is at his most confident and committed" and called it his best album since 1992's The Future.[6] The New York Times gave a moderately positive review, calling Cohen "one of rock’s most profound aphorists" but dismissing the "bouncy country" production of "Did I Ever Love You" as the album's "major misstep".[16] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph called the album "a masterpiece".[9]

The album was a shortlisted Juno Award nominee for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015.[17]

Commercial performance

[edit | edit source]

The album peaked at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 20,000 copies in its first week.[18] In its second week, the album fell to number two behind Bryan Adams's Tracks of My Years, with sales of 10,500.[19] As of January 2015, Popular Problems has sold 80,000 copies in Canada.[20]

In the United States, the album debuted at No. 15 on Billboard 200, No. 1 on Folk Albums and No. 4 on Top Rock Albums, with 20,000 copies sold. The album has sold 67,000 copies in the US as of May 2015.[21]

Track listing

[edit | edit source]

Written by Leonard Cohen and Patrick Leonard, except where indicated

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slow" 3:25
2."Almost Like the Blues" 3:28
3."Samson in New Orleans" 4:39
4."A Street"Cohen, Anjani Thomas3:32
5."Did I Ever Love You" 4:10
6."My Oh My" 3:36
7."Nevermind" 4:39
8."Born in Chains"Cohen4:55
9."You Got Me Singing" 3:31
Total length:35:55

Personnel

[edit | edit source]

Chart positions

[edit | edit source]

Certifications

[edit | edit source]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[58] Gold 7,500*
Canada (Music Canada)[59] Platinum 80,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[60] Platinum 20,000^
France (SNEP)[61] Gold 50,000*
Hungary (MAHASZ)[62] Gold 1,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[63] Platinum 20,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[64] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[65] Silver 60,000*
United States — 67,000[21]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit | edit source]
Date Region
19 September 2014 Friday-release countries (such as France[66])
22 September 2014 Worldwide

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ "The 2015 Juno Awards Nominees Announced in Toronto" Archived 2019-02-27 at the Wayback Machine. Cashbox, January 29, 2015.
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  23. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems" (in German). Hung Medien.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems" (in French). Hung Medien.
  26. ^ "Leonard Cohen Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  27. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 40.Týden 2014 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart.
  28. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Leonard Cohen: Popular Problems" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  31. ^ "Lescharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  33. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2014. 39. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  34. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week {{{week}}}, {{{year}}}". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  35. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  36. ^ "Charts.nz – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  37. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  38. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  39. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  41. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  42. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  43. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems". Hung Medien.
  44. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  45. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  46. ^ "Leonard Cohen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  47. ^ "Leonard Cohen Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  48. ^ "Leonard Cohen Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  49. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  50. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  51. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  52. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  53. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  54. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  55. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  56. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  57. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  58. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  59. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  60. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  61. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  62. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  63. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  64. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  65. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  66. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Popular_Problems&oldid=20667213"