8. Leonard CohenNew Skin For The Old Ceremony

Leonard’s an important one for anyone who is interested in lyrics. I think this is brilliant, even as an album title. I love his Old Testament language. I love the directness of his songwriting, that he includes us in these whispered invitations to his lovers, and his confessions, and does it in a way that enables us to think about our own love in more rich and nourishing terms. It makes us feel like lovers. I think that’s so important. Sometimes a film, an album or a book can bring us closer into our own lives – the world is so unreal and full of pain that we lose touch with our own lives. When we see our lives reflected through the prism of a song, it reminds us of what we’re capable of feeling. For me that album does that – it reminds me of the things I enjoy about intimacy.