Happy Sad

I fucking love Jeff Buckley. His deadbeat dad has a nice voice and some pretty boring music to go with it!

It was alright - nothing to come back to in the future though.

I like every consecutive Tim Buckley album more than the last. Happy Sad is pretty much gorgeous from beginning to end. From what I've heard, this seems to be his magnum opus, the moment where his Earthy folk music was able to meet his jazz influence and slight psychedelia in a way that makes this album feel like it just floats along. The songs are expansive, Buckley is expressive, and the lengthier movements never overstay their welcome. The cumulative effect is just spellbinding. It feels like in this moment, Tim Buckley transcends all of his components and influences and just makes an album outside of scene and time. To the extent that the best moments here remind me of some of my favorite Radiohead songs. And, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were influenced by this, it just makes sense. Anyways, I don't want to call this a 5 yet, because this thing hasn't immediately transcended to the top of my pantheon, and I've spent so little time with it. But it's incredibly strong, and I will be revisiting it. Just an absolutely gorgeous album.

The first time in 139 albums that I’m positively impressed by an album I had not heard before. Really like this, a bit singer-songwriter, a bit jazz, a bit psychedelic and even a bit modern classical. Sad songs make me happy.

First time listening

Puzzling stuff: the vibraphone/marimba is pretty cool, so are the double bass, the vocals and, at times, the lead guitar; one or two songs are quite good (for instance, Buzzin' Fly); still the overall effect is mostly uninteresting and even boring.

Operatic Kermit trying to make as many different noises as possible

Tim’s got some big feelings, and he’s gonna express them through his songs, accompanied by the most prominent vibraphone I’ve ever heard. It’s seriously front and center in the mix on most songs, certainly a choice. This was just OK; he croons on a little too long on most tracks, but it’s nothing unpleasant. 3/5

Excellent standing bass action.

I’ve tried to get into Tim Buckley in the past, but both back then and now it easily just fades into background music. It really should be right up my alley, though.

I agree that 3 Tim Buckley records is too many, even though I like him, and we owe him (genetically at least) for Jeff. This is good, but I wish the author would break the trend of obsessing over lots of average artists.

This was bad.

It was ok but quiet and kinda nothing burger

This album gets the vibraphone buff

Happy? Sad? What’s the difference?? 3.

So boring. Just....boring

Not for me

This dude kinda woke sings like a frog but it's a good singing frog

Starts off kinda honkey tonk with dramatic vocals. Hmm. Don’t know what Buzzin Fly is all about, although it’s maybe the best song on the record. Which ain’t sayin much. Then we get to a couple of real downers. Mopey and sobby. And so dramatic. Then back to some attempt at like blues sort of with experimentation and wait… did I hear some glockenspiel in there?! Not helpful. Then we end on a real high note that makes you want to off yourself. I do not like this record very much. About the best I can say for it is that the title makes sense.

Not really my speed, and not the biggest fan of a 12 minute "gypsy" song. The a side was pretty solid though. 4/10

1.2/5 I thought he had a great voice but he barely used it to its full potential. Pretty boring and uninteresting but I could see his other albums being better if he uses his voice to the max

Tim Buckley is not really my cup of tea. Probably influential because his sound is very similar to later artists including some right up to modern day. So will give some credit for that

A bit Meh

I don’t know if it’s my favorite album I’ve ever heard, but it put me in a peaceful place despite my ride home on the city bus with loud teens. That’s definitely worth something. Worth a second listen.

Kinda good, kinda blah

Standouts Strange Feelin'

Dross

for me personally inconsequential

One good track otherwise dookie.

Never had a feeling for him

This was more like I was expecting from Buckley and although it didn’t hit quite like _Greetings From LA, there was enough of his slightly left of centre folk here to enjoy and return to.

So, this is the third Tim Buckley album that I’ve listened to on this list, and this is the one that sits in the chronology between the one where he abandoned his pregnant wife and the one where he had just about wrecked his voice with booze and drugs. On the positive side, I really liked the laid back, jazzy feel to this (with a nod to Miles Davies who heavily inspired the first track “Strange Feelin’”). There is some nice use of vibraphone in the instrumentation here too. Lyrically speaking, Buckley started writing his own songs around this time and it really shows something of his state of mind. “Dream Letter” is probably the most egregious track, where he is feeling sorry for himself and wondering if the child that he abandoned ever asks about him. I mean, read the room here, Tim. For all of his maudlin self pity he didn’t bother to see his son for another five years. Think I’m all about Tim-Buckleyed out at this point.

Trevligt skval i bakgrunden

This album drifts along like it has nowhere in particular to be.

Had its moments but overall it was just so so boring. Let’s just say, the best thing about listening to this album was that it auto played a Jeff Buckley song when it finished…

Not the most exciting album in the world, but it would be a fine record to throw on during a lazy sunday morning. Also sounded amazing on my best pair of Sennheisers.

Moody soft ugh

Ok folk sound

I like it, very slow

Some of this is genuinely cool, which makes me mad because I don't like Tim Buckley. No idea why, cause I love Jeff. Some of this sounded like Led Zeppelin, some of this sounded lowk like Radiohead, a lot of it was kinda an attempt at a Van Morrison thing, kinda like Moondance (though thats next year I know). Most of it kinda was just a shamanistic 60's jam thing. Actually did enjoy this, but can't really bring myself to give it a 3

1969 strikes again. I was gonna give this a 2 for being okay but boring as fuck, however I really dug Gypsy Woman so this is a 3. Favorite Track: Gypsy Woman

Ok 2/5

The first song, Strange Feelin', is an All Blues rip off, right??? This album had an identity crisis to me. Is it folk? Is it jazz? Is it blues? It's a little of each, but overall I didn't find it appealing even though I like all three of those genres. I guess Happy Sad left me more sad than happy.

I don't like this

When he's not being self-indulgent it's not too bad

The two long songs weren't the best in my opinion, they really dragged on but I really liked everything else

Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:❌️

A pretty enjoyable collection of songs! Lots of interesting experimentation and instrumentation. Shame about the 5th song on the album.

it was ok, some interesting parts Standout songs: Buzzin Fly Gypsy Woman

Boring and not very happy.

I'm pretty sure "Gypsy Woman" is still going. I'm not sure the song even has an end.

Yawn

Buzzin' Fly is a track I always find myself coming back to and is easily the best song on the album, which I remember liking more a couple years ago. Maybe it was whatever I was on that day but upon giving it another listen, there's really not too much that really stands out. There are some interesting blends of jazz and folk but he never takes it beyond the ground floor. It was a great musical idea in 1969 but I wish he would've played around with the sound a little. The fact that there's still a third Tim Buckley album left for us feels like a little overkill. I know this original list was made decades ago but how much of an impact did Tim Buckley have on contemporary music, even back the list was first published? I'm not saying he wasn't talented, influential, or important to the overarching story, but c'mon...three albums worth?

there was a period of time where i wanted to really like tim buckley because there is some talent there. but then there's the lyrics. and i just don't like his vibe.

Sounds a bit like Neil Diamond but more jazz and psychedelics, hippy schlager. Rufus Wainwright must have worn this record through

Марко 3,5 Сара 3, "једва" каже

If you were hitchhiking to San Francisco in 1969, this would be your soundtrack.

440/1089 crazy that this is the voice of a ~22 year old, love the soulful folkyness, this first track is very much an example of a 60s song that appeals to me in the right way. like it’s weirdly of its time and timeless simultaneously listening to Dream Letter brought me about to tears, especially since i discovered Jeff and Grace through this project (and gave the album 5 stars), what a poignant song… Gypsy Woman i think is the song where i can most hear Jeff in Tim’s voice, there are some moments where he sounds SO similar faves: Dream Letter, Strange Feelin’ 75/100

Christ!

Whatever

Sad sad :(. This one unfortunately did nothing for me.

I’m glad I wasn’t driving during this super sleepy album. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised given the title of the album.

If this were a review for the quality of his offspring, it would be 5*, but as it's for this record, then it's not.

the guy operates outside and above his surroundings

Sounds like a college hipster sitting in the quad with his guitar and just endlessly noodling and droning acoustic songs. I’d don’t get it.

Pleasant enough but didn’t rock my world. I suspect it may reward repeated listening

He has a nice voice and style but some of these songs can only be described as self-indulgent and over long.

Some good vocals, and not without its merits, but with songs that go on for 9 minutes after they clearly ended, and basically devolve into some form of random drum circle, makes listening to this more tedious than listening to Paul McCartney singing the nanana nas for 6 months whenever he plays hey Jude… glad I listened, won’t be listening to it again

Yeah…I didn’t love this. Gypsy Woman was a bop, albeit a long one. And there’s definitely some interesting stuff going on here, but it was a little too experimental for my taste. I hadn’t heard of Tim Buckley until I watched the Jeff Buckley doc. Interesting, sad life for this dude.

I enjoyed this album, particularly the first song. I like the mixture of psychedelic folk and jazz and Buckley is a good singer and a decent singer. The overall, improvisational aesthetic works, but its a little self indulgent. Most of the songs could have a minute or so cut, but Gypsy Woman could probably lose about six minutes. This is something that could have been addressed by a little judicial editing.

pretty good

Not my jam

Appears this album came (1969) the other 2 albums by this artist both of which received 1s. Sort of surprised given I actually enjoyed this one - like crap to good back to crap. Anyway this album actually reminded me in several spots of what his son would produce 30 years later. Maybe that explains its favor? Potentially also helping it: my love of sad and dreary music. I’m not sure I enjoyed it enough to earn higher marks but I would give it a solid 3. 3/5

Boring

An interesting jazzy/avant garde album from the man with a beautiful voice.

🫤

I get the distinct impression listening to this that finishing songs wasn’t one of Tim Buckley’s strengths. The components were mostly there - the music rolled along and I liked his voice. There’s something of a low-key, lazy summertime vibe, but bloody hell, mate, rein it in a bit, I’ve got a bus to catch.

Sorry Tim, this gently burbled in the background but did nothing to make me pay attention or be remotely interested.

Not a big fan

solid 4.5.

Awful, the epitomy of sensitive man early 70s light and white weeny clown music. Gypsy woman has some okay guitar riffs.

Experimental y variado es un rato, la verdad. No tengo background previo de quién es ni con quién ha estado en otras bandas, así que me ha caído de nuevas. Me ha resultado interesante lo distinto entre canciones, las mezclas de cosas y elementos sonoros. No ha sido mi día para disfrutarlo al 100%, sí que queda pendiente una reescucha Canciones favoritas: Tim Buckley Buzzin Fly

Not enough psychedelic folk in my life. Haven’t heard this before, enjoyed it thoroughly. Jeff Buckley’s dad? Stuff like that shouldn’t impact my enjoyment, but this fact gave it a boost. Getting a mid 3, which as I doubt I’ll go out of my way to listen to it again & there isn’t a track that I would consider “stand alone” great.

Better than pleasant. Of interest due to his son (a much better singer). I can't escape the feeling that I'd rather be listening to Nick Drake whilst I was listening to this. I wanted to give 3.5 stars, but I've opted for 3, as I'd rather be listening to Nick Drake.

Nice calm music. Felt good to listen to in a day I was sick

Had he not died would we be interested in this album? I don’t think so. He may have gone on to a long career. But trauma porn rates highly here. It’s not bad. Just not outstanding. 2 stars.

There is absolutely no point in having THREE Tim Buckley albums on this list. These days, he is a largely forgotten and increasingly irrelevant figure. But, if you were going to include one of his records, this is probably the best example of his oeuvre.

Absolutely loved it. Great example of how non binary songwriting can be so captivating. Feels like Cameron Winter took a lot from this guy. Instrumentals are so rich and deep. 6 amazingly unique songs. A genuine surprise 5/5 album. Awful bloke though

Definitely more sad than happy, but overall a nice jazz rock blend. Likes: Strange Feelin; Buzzin Fly

I’m sure that Tim was insufferable but this worked for me. I cannot believe how much Jeff sounds like daddio

Much like going to church it's an interesting album that bounces between transcendent and downright boring

I get the hate, but slow jazz with Buckley's gentle voice was a lovely pairing with my coffee and book today (3.5)

I think there’s a part of me that, as I get closer to the end, is expecting the surprising or interesting picks to start showing up. But no. It’s a third Tim Buckley album.

I'm sorry but the album cover here is sending me. Just a picture of a dude looking kinda sad. Poor dude. Why are you sad? Please sing to me about all your sad thoughts. This is so very much not my jam. I like a good sad song. These are not good sad songs.

I've officially listened to every Tim Buckley album on the list. All of them seem to be on the same level of quality: a three-star rating. None of the songs on "Happy Sad" clicked. On the bright side, none of them was bad at all. Now on to the next album. 3 stars for "Happy Sad".

not bad

..

I like some Tim Buckley songs, but none of them are on this album!

3.5

enjoyed it until dream letter