Book 81 - Alan Light "The Holy or the Broken"
Alan Light "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of Hallelujah" (Atria Books)
Can you knock an author down for being just too sincere? Alan Light's biography of the iconic song "Hallelujah", written by Leonard Cohen, enhanced by John Cale, Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright, and then destroyed by a zillion American Idol contestants, begins with an excellent introduction that could have served as a fine magazine article and that could have ended it. But he proceeds to do a good job, for the most part, of expanding the roles of John Cale and Jeff Buckley in their differing versions and recognition of Leonard Cohen's genius with a melody and with verses rarely if even sung. For those who have not read the riveting biography, "I'm Your Man" by Sylvie Simmons (and you should!), the details of Cohen's exile and late-life triumph are well told here.
The author does a fine job of enhancing our knowledge and appreciation. The KD Lang and Regina Spektor sections are particularly winsome, and Bob Dylan's small but significant role is a treat. But the book is about 3 chapters too long, and I just wish the lesser lights had never been turned on.
Can you knock an author down for being just too sincere? Alan Light's biography of the iconic song "Hallelujah", written by Leonard Cohen, enhanced by John Cale, Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright, and then destroyed by a zillion American Idol contestants, begins with an excellent introduction that could have served as a fine magazine article and that could have ended it. But he proceeds to do a good job, for the most part, of expanding the roles of John Cale and Jeff Buckley in their differing versions and recognition of Leonard Cohen's genius with a melody and with verses rarely if even sung. For those who have not read the riveting biography, "I'm Your Man" by Sylvie Simmons (and you should!), the details of Cohen's exile and late-life triumph are well told here.
The author does a fine job of enhancing our knowledge and appreciation. The KD Lang and Regina Spektor sections are particularly winsome, and Bob Dylan's small but significant role is a treat. But the book is about 3 chapters too long, and I just wish the lesser lights had never been turned on.