Can’t Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour
The fourth live album to come out of Leonard Cohen‘s 2008-2013 world tour is a fascinating glimpse into his creative process. More than half of its 10 songs were recorded in soundchecks, where Cohen and his band were able to test new tunes and refurbish standards like 1971’s “Joan of Arc,” heard here in a lustrous duet with Sharon Robinson. The highlight is a cover of George Jones’ classic alcoholic’s lament “Choices” — rather than try to go toe-to-toe with the most powerful voice in the history of country music, Cohen renders the song in a resigned, conversational rumble, amping up its grim power by singing it with uncanny closing-time cool.