Next week, Leonard Cohen returns with his 13th studio album "Popular Problems," a nine-song collection that finds the singer-songwriter in vintage form. Over the course of 36 minutes, Cohen explores life, death, war, love, and religion with the wry wit and passion he's been known for over the last 50 plus years. Like a lot of his work, the song arrangements mix jazz, blues and country sounds, with many featuring a chorus of female backup singers that give a nuanced balance to his rich baritone.

Cohen made a brief...