Im pleased for him that he has such a diverse range of orgasms, but it spoils the album when he dubs them over the end of every song. Competent, but he really lverdoes each song.
Grace is the only studio album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, released on August 23, 1994, by Columbia Records. The album had poor sales and received mixed reviews at the time of its release. However, in recent years it has dramatically risen in critical reputation. An extended version of the album (subtitled "Legacy Edition"), celebrating its tenth anniversary, was released on August 23, 2004, and peaked at number 44 in the UK. Grace re-entered the albums chart in Australia at number 44 for the week of January 29 to February 5, 2007, 13 years after its original release date. It is currently certified 8× platinum in Australia. The album has been cited by critics and listeners as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Im pleased for him that he has such a diverse range of orgasms, but it spoils the album when he dubs them over the end of every song. Competent, but he really lverdoes each song.
Its tragic that this is the only album we ever got from Buckley, but what an album it is. Right off the bat, we have a song where Buckley's voice transforms from a whisper to a yell, it fades and swells throughout the song, something that is characteristically done throughout the album in a powerful way. The progression is superb on every song. A sense of importance is created for certain elements of the songs by his generous use of give-and-take. We become aware of almost every musical component by it's inevitable absense, almost a dark metaphor for Buckley himself. Instruments are used to add power to his already so powerful voice. It's so full of emotion, and much more somber than you would expect if you only ever heard his cover of 'Hallelujah'. Something about this album reminds me of early Radiohead, except Jeff seems to have a more straightforward direction with his songs. The album art is inconic, it shows us how central Buckley's voice is to these songs, and perfectly captures a feeling of sadness or darkness, which is reflected in the tracks. Overall, this is such an iconic and beautiful album with some serious jams on it. It makes me think of all the talented individuals taken before their time, who may not have had a chance to give us amazing art that could be timelessly enjoyed. Favorite song: mojo pin Least favorite song: lost highway
Very interesting mix of different rock styles, particularly classics and alt. rock, with a tiny bit of prog/psychedelic. Great voice and musical style, loved it...
Not looking forward to this. My apprehension was fully justified. This album is the emotional equivalent of an oversized mallet wielded by a character from a 1950s cartoon. It is fairly obvious that Jeff had his eyes closed whilst singing for this album, because the music is just so very overwhelming. One is reminded of the Clueless quote - "What is it about college and crybaby music?". Cher was, of course, referring to Radiohead in that quote, but the sentiment (and boy, there's sentiment abound) remains valid for this self-indulgent wankfest.
First time listening and was blown away. What a legend. So haunting.
Unbelievably skill underscored by the tragic end of the artist that's hard to ignore when listening to it. I wish he lived longer because he really could have had his own niche--soulful but raw, virtuosic but not academic, pretty but not vapid.
In late 94 I had just fallen head over heels in love with a girl, Sascha. After about six weeks of dating, she’d flown off the England to spend Christmas with her mother for a month or so, and I was pining. I was pining bad. And during that time, Triple J started playing this album a lot, and it really grabbed me straight away. It was unlike the ironic tone and rock-ist approach of nearly everything else on the radio, which was peak grunge era. And I was primed and receptive for the melodramatic, high romanticism of his songwriting. The recording and production was clean and playing sophisticated, with a unique songwriting style and that voice. You didn’t hear a lot of falsetto or acrobatics like that at the time, although it was much imitated in the following decades. I started listening to the album obsessively, and when Sascha returned to Australia, we listened to it together. We saw Jeff Buckley’s first Australian show at the Metro Theatre that August. We saw his following tour in 1996 at the Enmore Theatre, too. He was amazing live, especially that first tour. He was mesmerizing live, and could absolutely deliver on the record. Australia was probably Jeff Buckley’s biggest market. Grace went 8x platinum here, and something like 25% of all copies sold of this record were sold in Australia. You can attribute that success to a lot of radio play on the Triple J network, the public broadcaster’s ‘yoof’ network, that had recently gone national. They flogged this record, and Australians really took to it, myself included. I think this is one of my all-time favourite albums, and one which I have probably played more that nearly anything, and I know every note by heart. It helps that I associate it with the early stages of the most important relationship of my life. Sascha and I eventually married, and we’re still together 30 years later. We don’t play this record as much any more, but both get nostalgic when we hear it. I understand some people find Jeff Buckley a bit self-indulgent and eclectic to the point of inconsistency. I’m prepared to tolerate that, because he caught me at a moment when I was open to what he had to sell; a weird composite of classic rock, folk, blues, torch song, and god-knows-what. This is a unique and pretty much perfect album in my opinion whose reputation is bolstered by Buckley’s tragic and untimely death. I don’t have much time for any of the posthumous releases. None of the hodge-podge of rejected recordings, demos, live tracks and bric-a-brac that has been released since touches the vision of this album. Side note: I am becoming weary and wary of records where the legend seems to be an important part of appreciation of the record (qv. Syd Barret, Skip Spence, Jeff Buckley, etc.). It seems like we, the audience, are getting some emotional charge out of the story, which is really the suffering of some poor human being. Poor Jeff didn’t want to die, just to establish his legend and prompt a thousand think-pieces on what he might have gone on to create. Death was not a great career move; it’s a tragedy for Jeff and his family. I’m sure he’d much rather be alive than providing a vicarious emotional thrill for record collectors.
Brilliant rock arrangements and vocals
Ive gotten back into this album in a big way in the last couple years. Buckley gets a lot of (rightful acclaim) for having an incredible voice, but he was a fantastic songwriter and arranger as well. Given the fact that he died so young, and the transcendent, ethereal nature of his music, it sometimes seems like he has this aura of sadness around him similar to other musicians who died young. But if you watch live videos and interviews of him, he actually seems like he was pretty goofy and high strung and had a corny sense of humor. Which would’ve been…interesting to see how it would’ve informed his music had his career had a chance to continue. Anyway, this album fucking slaps and the drums are incredible.
I really did not love the style or the music. It was sort of whiny and lame in my opinion.
Much better musically than I previously appreciated. Every song grabbed my attention and quite a few held it. The title tune is flat-out good, folding back on itself with convincing urgency. Last Goodbye rises and falls at unexpected times, if not in unexpected ways. The climaxes and dramatic shifts throughout are traceable (first time I’ve realised that I value the traceability of a song’s progress), the riffs exciting, the melodies haunting. It all adds up to a defined sound it'd be disingenuous to deny. And that really is a good rendition of Hallelujah. Contrary to my previous comments, he does pay attention to getting the song over, withdrawing vocally to give an equal share of the stage to the lyrics and the accompaniment. He earns that wail at the end, too. Yet by the end of the album, I was tense and worn out. What I’ve boiled that down to is this: 50 minutes in the company of a narcissist is unpleasant. That narcissism is partly a lyrical problem, but mostly it’s spiritual. Maximum drama all the time, with himself at the centre of that drama, is, to my ears, emotional immaturity at its wort. It’s not only allowed but indulged—fetishised even—which is how he ends up insisting the couch, her “simple city dress”, the egg he just boiled, or the particular brand of kettle he uses is 'So real'. To Jeff, his experience is the most important experience of all because it happened to him. I can roll with self-mythology all day, but self-idolatry is where I draw the line. While Grace can be exciting and even beautiful, its core is ugly.
Cela faisait 9 mois que cet album apparraissait assombri, avec un cadenas aposé sur sa pochette dans ma bibliothèque Spotify. Aujourd'hui enfin, après 9 long mois d'attente, nous avons pu débloquer le bijou de Jeff Buckley. Tel un bon vin, cet album, grâce à la censure totalitaire imposée par Robert, s'apprécie d'autant plus. Pour cela, je remercie Robert, qui n'hésite pas à user de sa force autoritaire pour nous dicter des lois toutes plus formidables les unes que les autres. Merci Robert, tu fais de la population générateurienne une grande population, à la race pure et aux valeurs intactes.
Some of the most gorgeous guitar work ever put on record. The songwriting here is personal and original, and the cover of Hallelujah is the best version of the song by miles. Sometimes chill and sometimes jammy, a great album top to bottom.
John Mayer once said to never cover Jeff Buckley. It's amazing, especially as a debut. It makes sense that originally it wasn't as highly received, but many that have listened in the decades since have recognized the glory and intimacy of this album. It's so personal and emotive. It ropes you in with feelings, good and bad, that feel like your own. An amazing performance that deserves such a high rating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI2X9ZY35PM
The whole album is a sexy love letter written with the windows open to a view of a rainy funeral across the street
Uno de los mejores álbumes que el género del rock puede entregar. El salvaje talento de Jeff Buckley, su voz angelical, su habilidad para tocar la guitarra y su sensibilidad al momento de reinterpretar clásicos de artistas legendarios, construyen un LP indispensable para cualquier melómano, fanático de las tendencias musicales de los ‘90s, o compositor musical.
Always loved this album and always remember how good Buckley's voice is. But, I seem to have forgotten how awesome his band is on this recording. They kill it!
i love this album, rip 2 a legend
I was going to give this a 4 or 5 based on my memory of songs like the epic title track and Halleluiah. Buckley had an angelic voice and was a great song-writer. The album has a real classic feel to it. In a rare move my co-judge offered, unsolicited, that I should "give this one a 5" so my mind was made up.
I tried many times but still don't really like this man's music. He was hot and had a good voice and he did what is possibly the definitive version of the insanely overplayed Hallelujah, but if he wasn't the son of a famous musician he wouldn't have had this record deal and if he hadn't died young, no one would have bought this album. To me, this sounds a lot like a million other mediocre albums by mid '90s artists who haven't really figured out what they are all about yet.
L'apparition de cet album a évidemment soulagé le tandem que je forme avec mon compère eltrapeze dans la mesure où nous sommes très clients de ce que gazouille Jeff Buckley. L'interdiction formelle d'écouter le moindre morceau de Grace devenait donc difficile à vivre. J'ai à ce propos récemment constaté qu'une grande partie d'entre vous transgressait sans complexe les dix commandements imposé par Robert au moment de créer le générateur. Je tenais de ce fait à rappeler son décalogue dans cette critique : 1. Je suis Robert, le créateur, qui t'a fait sortir de l'ignorance. Tu n'auras, dans ton cercle proche ou lointain, aucun autre Robert que moi. 2. Tu laisseras de côté tes a priori et jugeras les albums avec la plus grande objectivité. 3. Tu éviteras de m'ajouter sur LinkedIn et ne créeras aucun générateur pirate venant concurrencer celui des 1001. 4. Tu observeras deux jours de repos chaque semaine sauf si tu décides d'activer l'option « weekend albums ». 5. Honore tes goûts musicaux et honnis ceux des autres. 6. Tu critiqueras les albums avec pertinence et n'en sauteras pas. 7. Tu n'écouteras les albums qu'après leur génération, quand bien même tu les connaîtrais déjà. 8. Tu te procureras le grimoire pour une somme au moins égale à 20€. 9. Tu mépriseras les approximations musicales de ton prochain et les rectifieras. 10. Tu ne remettras pas en question mes choix et les glorifieras.
I haven’t listened to this album in a couple of years, mainly because I played it so much that I had to let it rest for a while. Putting it on today I’m still blown away by so many aspects of it. First there’s Buckley’s voice. If it doesn’t send shivers down your spine, you should check your pulse ‘cause you’re probably dead. Next there’s the songwriting. The songs are well-crafted and complex without being too complex as to push listeners away. Lastly there’s the production. Andy Wallace didn’t force anything onto this album that would draw attention from Buckley’s voice. He realized that the album would be centered around it and that the choices made in the studio would be all focused on keeping the listener’s attention on it. There are a lot of great albums out there but this one is in a league by itself. There’s so much that I love on here about every track and when I listen to it. I’m actually sad when it’s over, wishing there was more. I would give this album 6 stars if that were possible.
Layering emotion and incredible instrumentals, Jeff’s voice is centre stage here. A beautiful collection of original material and covers, complicated and delicate, it gets better and better with more listening as nuance and detail keeps emerging. Top tracks: Mojo Pin, Grace, So Real
Great album! I’ve got this one and it is brilliant…
Shrek- hallelujah
Maybe greatest sad boi album ever?
One of those artists I hear about a lot but have never really listened to. Of course I've heard "Hallelujah," which I didn't know was a cover, but that's it. He's got a really powerful, haunting voice. The production on here is really great too, very engaging. Lots of songs I enjoyed, and it makes for a good listen front to back. I'm starting to think the list is trying to make amends for last week by just giving us a slate of great albums. Favorite tracks: Hallelujah, Lilac Wine, Dream Brother, Lover You Should've Come Over. Album art: Simple, but very effective. He's got the brood of a singer-songwriter but his shirt and the mic correctly suggest a more ambitious sound. Crazy that this was his first and only album--this picture seems almost too appropriate for that. I was expecting to read that he overdosed or committed suicide, but perhaps even more tragic that he died going for a swim. 4/5
The rock tunes tend to the multi-movement, and maintain their forward motion despite moderate length across the board. Buckley's voice is what ties the project together through its softer cuts, which were quiet highlights for me. The last couple tracks are examples of what could have been, with Eternal Life's tight but on-the-nose lyrics and Dream Brother's new sonic territory.
Haunting and intricate. The influence on Thom Yorke’s vocal stylings is so undeniable that Yorke’s imitation borders on theft. Ultimately, not a record I see myself returning to, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Hallelujah is a good cover, everything else is subpar soft ballads. Maybe worth a two, but I ain't feelin it
Jeff I was not familiar with your work. Superb. Tragic story
Meticulous songwriting writing paired with vocals that must have come from Buckleys soul. Dark and heavy but not macabre, more like a heavy fog after a summer storm. I need more time with this album.
Solid album. This guy had a strong set of pipes. Above average vocals in my opinion. I've listened to this a few times over the years, I really enjoyed it today.
Perfection. Yes, even the warbling.
maybe its reputation is a bit inflated, but i can't deny that Grace has an incredible sense of melody and atmosphere, especially in regard to his falsettos. you could probably trace a whole taxonomy of alt-rockers who heard the chorus of "So Real" and built a whole sound off of it. it's impossible to say "i hate Jeff Buckley's voice" because no, you don't. Buckley's voice is one of the most agreeable things i've heard in my life and i'm sure most people who aren't even fans of Grace can agree the guy can sing. odds are you're just really sick of hearing "Hallelujah" everywhere. i feel like the only thing holding me back from considering this an all timer is that every so often, you get a little hint of his cock rocky, KISS or Led Zeppelin roots here. being influenced by cock rock isn't necessarily bad -- i mean, Kurt Cobain thought Aerosmith's Rocks was on the same level as Swans or the Raincoats -- but on "Eternal Life", you can really taste that Jimmy Page drank out of this can. you can taste a bit of backwash on a few songs on the follow-up record if you don't believe me. still, a very minor complaint of a record that i think is an easy 9/10. Jeff Buckley should not be dead. he should be selling out stadium shows and happily married with four kids, but the world proves too cruel to let a kindness go unpunished. Jeff Buckley should not be dead.
there was a period of time where i thought this was overrated and i can’t believe that was the case
I really got into Jeff Buckley in 2024 and I am excited this is my first album of 2025. Stunningly beautiful album. I wish he was able to make more music, but at least he left the world this masterpiece. My favorite song is probably Lover, You Should've Come Over, but this version of Hallelujah is incredible as well. Best Song: Lover, You Should Have Come Over Rating: 10/10 5 Stars
This was SO GOOD!!!! I think I liked almost every song. There’s such a range on here of quiet and loud songs and his voice lends itself beautifully to all of them. His version of Hallelujah did make me cry. I’ve obviously heard that one before but it felt different in the context of the other lyrics on the album about his relationships. Admittedly I missed a lot as someone who can’t process lyrics when I listen so I think I might benefit from reading them later. I’m sure that will only enhance my appreciation of this album. *fav tracks: Last Goodbye; Hallelujah; Lover, You Should Come Over; Eternal Life*
Stay away from rivers
Devastating
Yearn and sorrow. Breathtaking.
LOOOOVEEEE!
Este álbum es toda una experiencia, muy agradable para mi gusto alternativo y progresivo.
Amazing, loved it.
Haunting vocals and such promise
Perfect
The album that turned a cover of "Hallelujah" into his own song, incredibly powerful and emotional
good but really overrated, by everyone and myself included. But, to be honest, this was the soundtrack when I was around 15 and 16, so there is that
Music was better than the actual songs but overall it was ok
Strong Durham vibes. Not listened to in years. Did not spark much joy.
Grace Hmmm. Like everyone else I had this, and I think I tried to convince myself I liked it, but there’s something about it that never quite landed with me. On the surface it should be something I like, and in parts I do appreciate it, but I think I always got a sense of self indulgence from it. And despite him obviously having a good voice there’s some quality to it that I struggle with, to the point I find it a little bit annoying. The songs themselves I also feel tend to wooliness, not quite reaching the elegiac, transcendental heights he’s obviously striving for, and maybe that disconnect is what gives me the sense of self indulgence Having said that I do like The Last Goodbye, and despite it being played to death Hallelujah is an undeniably good version. Maybe the circumstances around his death and the reputation this album subsequently developed has created unrealistic expectations, but ultimately it feels like an average album with some good moments. I wouldn’t rule out listening again but it doesn’t really grab me. It feels a bit wilfully obtuse to give it 2 so it just scrapes a 3. 🏊🏊🏊 Playlist submission: The Last Goodbye
I guess I must have been under a rock when this album came out, and all the hype about Jeff Buckley accompanied it (apparently to disappointment among some, adulation among others). I'm pretty sure I haven't heard anything from this album before, aside from perhaps his cover of "Hallelujah" (and while it's a very nice version of the song, it seems a bit ironic that he did a cover of John Cale's cover, not knowing that Leonard Cohen was the original author). A fine album, I suppose, but I didn't find his crooning/wailing style all that...interesting? involving? not sure what exactly. I'm not sure if it's a production or mixing issue or his style, but it feels like the entire album is lacking depth or something similar to that: everything feels just kind of flat, coming at you from a long distance (ironic since he was such a small club player); the only real exceptions to that are "Hallelujah" and the weirdly almost-rocking "Eternal life", although even with a more full sound I still didn't really enjoy the latter.
It's OK. I didn't understand the fuss when it came out, still don't. Not as good as his dad, much better than copycat whiners such as Radiohead. John Cale doesn't get the credit he should for the OG arrangement of Hallelujah but I doubt he cares.
Last Goodbye is a great song. The rest of the album is histrionic (been wanting to use that word in a sentence for a while).
I confess I did not finish the album. I nonetheless feel qualified to say: this sucks. It's like he's doing vibrato and falsetto AT me.
"While the album initially had poor sales and received mixed reviews, in subsequent years it has dramatically risen in critical reputation." Why? I feel like they had it right the first time.
Super Dope
He had a sweet and precious voice, and his interpretations were fantastic. A unique artist who is sorely missed today. The version of Hallelujah on this album is, for me (and for many others), the best version of Leonard Cohen's classic. There are no mistakes here. 5 stars.
Dynamic vocals with haunting glows, production compliments the melancholic vibe with its diverse guitar sounds and moody percussion.
Perfection. Beautiful songs and instrumentals, but the real highlights are the covers of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ and, especially, Benjamin Britton’s ‘Corpus Christi Carol’. The latter ranks as one of my favourite songs and song versions of all time.
Brilliant. Lilac wine is so much better than Elkie Brooke’s version even though I love her’s.
An undeniable classic 5*
I was already listening to it as it came up lol. Amazing.
Wonderful. What a talent we lost when Jeff passed away. Most famous for Hallelujah of course, but the rest of the album is heartfelt, evocative, ethereal, atmospheric, and just plain beautiful. Worth several listens, because this is one of those albums that gives back a little more with each repeated playback.
I've loved this album since it came out. It's still one of my all time favourites. This is one of those word of mouth albums. As a teen I bought the album after hearing a couple of tracks on the Triple J radio station. My mum fell in love with it and bought a copy. Then my uncle, grandmother, cousin, friends. Before you know it everyone you know owns it. Age, sex, etc was no boundary to the spread of this masterpiece.
Wonderful. Great voice.
Can say I enjoyed every song on this album, think it suits my desire to hear soulful, raw and hauntingly heartbroken music. Love how the guitar, drums and voice all complement each other to create an hour of sombre sound.
Incredible album. Have had a few songs on immediate repeat rotation.
Best!
This is something else. Wonderful.
He really put his whole Bucklussy into this album.
i already knew a couple songs but holy shit
Took me back to my uni days. Incredible record.
A really good album, he had such a vibe, I guess it should have been a really good album to listen while kissing or more a girl or a boy. Obviously "Allelujah" is an absolute banger, one of the best interpretation ever as Jeff isn't the creator of this song. I also really looove "Lover, You Should've Come Over" the lyrics are so damn good and the chords and everything. I also loved "Dream Brother" really touching song, the guitar riff adds something soo special and spiritual to the song and Jeff has such an insane voice. I usually don't like long songs but these ones are insaaaaane, damn that sucks that Jeff died so young because he could have made some more bangers that's for sure, rest in peace man and congrats for your insane work.
I recently was introduced to this album before and thought it was amazing. His song writing, vocals and music are great, this is an immediate 5 star album and I'm glad to revisit listening to this today.
This is an extraordinary album. I've never encountered another album that sounds anything like this. Jeff Buckley has such control over his voice that even when it sounds like he's going to completely lose control of it and it'll turn into a some sort of off-pitch screech, he sticks the landing perfectly. Everyone knows his cover of a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." That isn't even close to being the best song on the album. I'd probably put "So Real" or "Eternal Life" at the top of the heap. But then there's the really risky performance of Benjamin Britten's "Corpus Christi Carol." 5 stars. I would give more if I could.
Easy five. A beloved childhood favorite.
пять бэнгеров на этом альбоме (каждый из которых поднял бы до 4), о чём тут говорить. подарила Диме Колдуну микстейп с Джеффом с комментарием из гарден стейта
Excellent ! A bunch of emotions and talent, in a smouth dreamy ambiance.
Incredible. Jeff had a unique sound, wild and unpredictable and compelling. I’d never listened to Grace all the way through before, but I will listen again. He met his father only once, and the two sound very different, but both made music that was one-of-a-kind.
A very emotional album that has only become more potent as time progresses. Rest in peace Jeff Buckley. Mid 9
This is so beautiful. One of my favourites
Breathtaking, the more I hear about Jeff the more I wish he didn't take that swim on the Mississippi river. His angelic voice is what most people notice, but the guitar playing on this album is top notch, amazing songwriting. To imagine that Jeff didnt liked his voice at first and only wanted to be known as a guitar player... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYmIlkCgIvU
Its Jeff.... one of the best when it comes to song composition. If you aren't studying/analyzing his songs, you most definitely should be. And his voice is just insane. No decimals taken off for this one.. Probably as close as youre going to get to perfection as far as an albums concerned. The sound, flow, composition, and overall vision are off the charts. 5 out of 5
Grace by Jeff Buckley is an absolute stunner from start to finish. I’m blown away by the sheer brilliance packed into every track. Buckley’s vocals are nothing short of wonderful, they stir up all sorts of emotions and make you feel every word like it’s your own. The guitar work is fabulous; each riff and delicate lick is played with such passion and precision, it really sets the tone for the whole record. Of course, if I’ve got a minor gripe, it’s that there aren’t many flaws to call out here. A couple of moments feel a tad over-reverent, like the production sometimes gets so lush you might miss the subtle shifts in mood. But honestly, that’s more of a quirk than a real downside, it hardly detracts from the overall magic of the album. It’s an absolute shame, really, that Jeff Buckley tragically died after that infamous river accident and left us with only this one masterpiece. Grace is a poignant reminder of what could have been a long and even more illustrious career. In my book, it’s a timeless classic, a record that continues to inspire and move me every single time I put it on. A solid 4.9/5 stars. pure unadulterated genius that I’ll always be grateful for.
It was another of those ones where as soon as I put it on, I knew it was gonna be good. Incredible stuff all throughout. Loved the chordal structures and Jeff's insanely sweet tenor. RIP.
gone too soon
4.5 stars. So good. Takes alt-rock on a haunting ride with fantastic songwriting. Beautiful tenor voice, varied guitar playing with different tunings and styles. It's avant garde enough to be interesting without losing the listener. Standouts are cover of "Hallelujah" and "Last Goodbye" but there are no weak tracks.
It's one of the greatest albums for me personally. Some of this is due, not to the album, as much as the stories around it. I am aware that critically that shouldn't have an impact. However, the fact that such an album would come out of the progeny of Tim Buckley and that he would tragically die a few short years later helps to contextualize it. Jeff did his own thing. Jeff had every right to the fame his solo project was gathering. We will never know if we would hear this music without his father. We'll never know if we would have heard more had he not simply walked into the Mississippi river. These facts cannot help but be factored and so I cannot help but allow them into my critical analysis of this album in its place in history. His voice is damn near alien and his lyrics, while heavy-handed, are absolutely beautiful. What a shame and what a gift.
Knowing only Hallelujah, I was pleasantly surprised by how dynamic and energetic the rest of the album is. The title track literally had me hooting and hollering In My car.
A whole album of anthems to love. Unpredictable, varied, and vibrating. The stalwart Hallelujah clinches the 5.
Delightful
This guy is Tim’s son? For some reason I have never listened to this one. I sorely regret that now. This is absolutely fantastic. The kind of music that can strongly affect me and make me feel. It feels very 90’s yet at the same time has shades of the 60’s singer-songwriter.
was like WAIT HOW DO I HAVE THIS WHOLE ALBUM SAVED its bc 1 of u recommended it to me + i added it 2 a playlist of albums to listen to + then promptly didnt listen to it oops. ohhhh lovely intro to mojo pin....warm n ghosty.....this body will never be safe from harm okay going to punch me in the face i see. "touch my skin to keep me whole" yeah okay going 2 punch me DIRECTLY in the face i see OH WOW ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN SONG DYNAMICS. david im glad i listened to u this is lovely. his voice is so pretty + im obsessed w the instruments. what all is that. 1 or more guitars obvs. but theres like synths. fuck is there anything lovelier than a blues note OH we are going INTENSE for a second woaaaaahhhh. im face journeying here. wow okay restarting the song making myself an enormous volume of food bc im starving + suddenly aware that i need to just. relax. self indulgently. ive been working too hard i just need to eat n listen to a warm cloud of electric guitar. GOD THE REFRAIN COMING IN ALL LOUD bro this is how you do an almost 6m song that feels like it should be that long some of u need 2 b taking notes. omg the intro to grace doing the intriguing mysterious --> DUNNHHG --> upbeat --> but still mysterious?? idk. neat trick! what is this genre called? its like not Just Rock Exactly but idk any genre names. his voice is so lovely dude. the bends on last goodbye at the beginning are soooooooo [hearteyes emoji] dude <3333 and then the chorus is so lovely that i dropped my phone on the floor and yelled FUCK (shes okay tho). MUST I DREAM AND ALWAYS SEE YOUR FAAAACEEE (<-- phone is dropped here) + then the post chorus guitar chugging!! i love the fucking range all of these songs show. KISS ME OUT OF DESIRE NOT CONSOLATION....OH YKNOW IT MAKES ME SO AAAANGRY CUZ I KNOWW THAT IN TIME ILL ONLY MAAAAKE YOU CRYYY...turning my headphones Down so i can continue to listen 2 this beautiful album for years to come!! goddamn this instrumental break is like [ask me in chat later what dancing discord emojis this is] the section at 2:50 HNNNNNhhh!! the intro to lilac wine.....swooooonnnn. goddamn i am thinking more than i wanna think maybe i do need me some lilac wine (this is a joke but also that would be a banger cocktail name) OHHH this is a NINA SIMONE cover. fuck yeah. okay i need 2 listen to that too after this. the little chord climb is executed so nice n soft under it toooo. omg the little intro to so real. sorry im saying omg constantly actually im not sorry deal with it. as someone who wakes up what feels like every 5-45m w nightmares most nights im really feeling this 1. like the bit where it gets rlly distorted GGGNNRRHHNGRRRHNNRGGHRRRHHHH is like. #mood. the nightmares that make u wake up doubting everything like I LOVE U...BUT IM AFRAID TO LOVE U.....ur right they Are so real ;;__;; he has a HALLELUJAH COVER??? okay the intro guitar is suuuuper promising but i go into hallelujah covers skeptical. will u make it horny and not xtian. okay...promising......"there was a time when u let me know" is 1 of my favorite verses and thats good but the chorus after is a little weird but mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm the instrumentals after.....okay the test is coming up....okay its "maybe theres a god above" this passes. a good hallelujah cover. ohhh lover you shouldve come over starting out as another good gloomy tune....being in bed....being in a warm car as it rains + u watch some canada geese in an empty field.....walking at an odd hour or on a weekday when people are sposed to be at work or school. TOO YOUNG 2 HOLD ONN AND TOO OLD TO BREAK FREE AND RUN....fuck dude this is giving me chills at the verse at 3:53 or so aaaaaaawuughhhhhhh.....jeff u gotta go over to her place to apologize 1st tho i gotta say. okay i kinda love the corpus christi carol bc its the same song kind of??? as the hern by john fleagle which is 1 of my favorite songs. somewhat diff vibes but i love this vibe of fucking. medieval songs that r abt riddles or allegories idk. OH ETERNAL LIFE OKAY. HELL YEAH. FUCK. turned to my friend genius dot com bc i was curious what it was abt him hating the guy who shot mlk + the nazis. fuck yeah dude o7 "man youve made a killer of your unborn son" goes hard as a line. WHAT IS LOVE...WHERE IS HAPPINESS...WHAT IS LIFE....WHERE IS PEACE? WHEN WILL I FIND THE STRENGTH TO BRING ME RELEEAAAAAEASE? TELL ME WHERE IS THE LOVE IN WHAT YOUR PROPHET HAS SAID? MAN IT SOUNDS 2 ME JUST LIKE A PRISON 4 THE WALKING DEAD <-- id say im always saying this at family thanksgiving but ive uninvited myself for the rest of time + changed my last name legally. but like in spirit i would hope they can hear me there being pissed off at them. mm and then dream brother is very classic kinda psychadelic trippy vague fantasy themes dream stuff. not really my thing but okay enough. forget her sounds nice n moody to start tho....nmmmmn like what is the way to find more guitars like this. the world before her was sober w/no place to go......yeah thats a good one. GROWLYYYY GUITAARRR man i wish i knew how to write for guitar. i have never known how 2 write for polyphonic instruments + it was kind of my downfall as a composer + also the aphantasia kind of + also the lack of practicing. but nkt knowjng how to write for keyboard or guitar really. god this guy is good is that like. organ??? haha unless???? okay the musicians whosoever they may be also rocked out this album. david that was so delightful. this is 5 stars. ik im like "would i buy a vinyl" ad my review bit but if i wasnt kinda =( abt the petrochemical consumption of vinyls i would buy a vinyl player just so i could get grace by jeff buckley. standout tracks: mojo pin, last goodbye, lilac wine, so real, eternal life. if i could name a fault for this its that this is still straight guy music but like. fine hes allowed
This is a rare, very easy 5 star record for me. I first dug into this record about 15 years ago because I was intrigued by the timeless cover of Hallelujah. What happened was that I realized that it was not even the highlight of the record, but rather a compliment to the overall sound and feel. Jeff’s voice is unlike anything else I have ever heard. He could sing reading from a phone book and it would pierce right through me. The vulnerability with that much strength at the same time? God damn, man. The guitar tones throughout the record also have a phenomenal sound that perfectly compliments everything else happening. The whole record is really beautiful and dark. It will lift you up and haunt you just the same. A fucking perfect album start to finish, highlighted by some of my favorite tracks: Grace and Eternal Life
nothing I could say here can match the love I have for this album. Every time I hear this it makes me feel good, sad, beautiful feelings. 5/5.
Been meaning to listen to this for ages, I've already heard a couple of songs and love them so expecting good things Update: This is genuinely now a favourite album, holy shit
ogni volta che ascolto "so real" mi innamoro sempre di più disco nella mia bucket list cmq
Personal favourite, greatest album of all time 10/10. Jeff Buckley was a talented individual with an immense ear for music. You can hear the emotion in his voice, an album that is timeless and still popular today. 10/10.