Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Dude sure can sing
A lot of interesting varied material. Listen again
Album 14 of 1001 Jeff Buckley - Grace Favorite Track : Last Goodbye Rating : 4 / 5 I should refrain from reading other reviews until I've formed my own opinion. Reviews ran from calling this the greatest album ever to relating it to spending an hour alone in a room with a narcissist. I'm trying to stick to the music only, so whether or not he is a narcissist doesn't really come into play. I listened to this album twice. I've heard "Hallelujah" before, but wasn't familiar with any others on here. This is a nice piece of work. Solid performances and good songs. The biggest hit was a cover, but Buckley's own songs hold up just fine. I can't rate it 5 stars because that rating is saved for that just don't miss, but it came close Give it a listen.
I knew this album really well heading into this listen. Def this is a great record and iconic and historic even but it's not a 5 for me. Probably I'm supposed to rank it as one of the very best but the meandering in the middle of the record and the weepy vocal delivery let the rest of this record down I think. Still fantastic, just not fantastic enough for a 5
Very good album
nice
Enjoyed more this time than when I listened to this years ago.
This was giving me major Spinetta (Pescado Rabioso-Artaud specifically)/Sui Generis (the album Vida) vibes. I highly recommend both of those albums but really enjoyed this!!!
Found it overhyped and overdone at the time, and one's opinion hasn't much changed since. And though it's clearly aiming for timelesness (with Cohen and Benjamin Britten covers), this thing wreaks of '90s self-seriousness (see last few cuts and cover photo, too). One's pretty convinced that this would never had the liftoff or the legacy without his dad and untimely death. Just sayin'. Yes, it's sad he couldn't figure out who he wanted to be, artistically, Big Hair Vocalist or Opera Singer are among the personae he tries on here, and not always convincingly.
Highlights: "Grace," "So Real," "Mojo Pin" It's a critic's fantasy to champion an obscure record and have their taste validated over the years by the biggest artists in the world. My guess would be Buckley didn't have a punchy single that could contend with the grunge-alt craze in 1994, and his slow building but dramatic melancholy had to wait for internet music culture to become ubiquitous. Radiohead who? Coldplay who? Acts like Wild Beasts and Muse are transparent here, and if you squint you can even make out Grizzly Bear, Wovenhand and post rock. But it's really prescient of the broad shift in off-radio '00s guitar based bands to this moondrunk moodiness.
Nice
Great album, especially Lilac Wine and Corpus Christi Carol hit home for me
Impressionante a capacidade vocal dele, bem como a emoção posta nas musicas.
great range and melody to boot. I support his lowercase yells
Dude has an amazing voice, his cover of Hallelujah is 10/10.
Jeff goes hard and has the voice of an angel.
wow - I've heard this before but never really appreciated. the way his vocals soar is just amazing. great album
Whew, I really used to love this album as a teenager/young adult. There are still some really beautiful songs on here (particularly Hallelujah and Lover you should have come over), but I do admit that some songs now come across as overly dramatic.
Only knowing him from "Hallelujah" I was kind of gritting my teeth heading into this, expecting the exact kind of singer-songwriter music that I can't deal with, but I ended up being really won over by this! the backing arrangements really elevate his voice & make the thing work for me
Jeff Buckley has an amazing voice, and this album was great. I enjoyed the harder songs, and was especially surprised by the early “Tool” sound of Dream Brother. Loved it.
It's a great album that only makes you wonder what could have been. Haunting vocals, great guitar playing, good lyrics. The only major problem I have with it is "Last goodbye" which is a horrible song, incredibly corny and in a bad way. It kinda seems like throughout the entire album he was balancing well between making catchy romantic ballads and at the same time making them interesting musically or lyrically, but on last goodbye this balance is broken and its just a mess, ed sheeran style. It could have been a 5 but very skippable last goodbye makes it a four.
It took a minute but I ended up enjoying this album a lot. Decent bit of variety in the tracks and fantastic songwriting. I wasn’t very familiar with Jeff Buckley before this so it was a shame to learn about his tragic death. I think he would have done a lot of amazing things had he not died so young. Standout tracks: So Real, Lover, You Should’ve Come Over, Dream Brother
I can see how you would love this album. I like it, but I think it’s a very Nicko album. His cover of Lilac wine made me melt 🤤. Hallelujah.. I had a phase in HS where I would ONLY listen to hallelujah.. actually Elena and I would listen to it together in my car and scream. Lover, you should’ve come over was very powerful. Loved the build up. Overall a very emotional album! It feels like each song really seeks to tell a story through clear progression. Also it kind of feels like you’re at an intimate venue listening to Jeff Buckley just absolutely pour his heart out to you. Loved it! Great! Yeehaw! I’m gonna go listen to Hallelujah on repeat for the rest of the day now
Ok. Another one I had on tape. Stands up well and can understand why many people love it, but music is unique and this just doesn't click with me. Love Lilac wine though. No complaints, nice listen.
A small part of me wants to say that this was a narrative hit. (If I could be bothered, I'd cross reference sales before Jeff Buckley's death against reviews and features either side of the sad event, and then look for the plugger who earned his Christmas bonus many times over in 1997.) But then "Grace". God, what a song. Even now. (I was very surprised to discover, not that long ago, that Joan Wasser – Joan as Police Woman – was dating Buckley when he died. I liked it more when I was less cynical and could easily believe that talent (yes, she is good) naturally finds its place. I'm not saying anything as crude as JaPW riding on her late paramour's coat tails. Not at all. But, you know, the narrative effect has a long reach. Even back in the day when music journalism was still respectable and listicle-free.)
Best Song: Lover, You Should've Come Over. This might be the perfect ballad. Worst Song: Eternal Life. This sounds like Stone Temple Pilots, not the angel-voiced Buckley. Overall: Jeff Buckley has a knack for singing with (what feels like) genuine emotion. His vocal range is incredible, and he sings with this endearing vulnerability. There is also a sort of quiet and honest simplicity to his lyrics. And his cover of Hallelujah competes with the original for quality.
Iconic (only) album from the guy with the voice who died young. Overwrought at times, spectacular at others.A great set of songs with covers. It doesn't romance me the way it used to do but its still special.
Having not listened to Jeff's stuff before, I was more expecting singer-songwriter stuff. There's a lot of backbone to this record. Despite a lull in the middle, the record explodes with the Jane's Addiction-esque "Eternal Life". Call it a solid 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Eternal Life", "Grace"
Solid record.
Some of these songs would have gotten 5 stars from me. Not a big fan of the hymn like songs though. Still a great album with lots of personality.
Beautiful album, he sings with a lot of emotion
First Listen: Very emotional album; holistic, somber, yet powerful vocals; great instrumentals and production; Favorite tracks: "Last Goodbye", "Hallelujah", "Dream Brother", "Lover, You Should've Come Over", "Forget Her"; Second Listen: TBW
I know a lot of ppl love this album. It just never hit me at the same level. It is good though
He was really all over the place with this one and probably is credited with what I call "Kurt Cobain Syndrome" - the instance of celebrity for the sole reason of dying. This is a good album and his KCS paired with his Hallelujah cover are probably what got it onto this list, but when viewed through the lens of the music of the period, it's… pretty good. 3.5 / 5.
Great album I think. Really strong 4 this one. Been a good few years since I listened. Whilst the obvious stand out for me will always be Hallelujah, I think the back to back songs of ‘Corpus Christi Carol’ followed by ‘Eternal Life’ is great. His voice is damn perfect.
way way better than i was expecting
1/16- Hot tubbing
This is the 4th great debut album I've gotten in the last 5 days (the other 3 being The Doors, Steely Dan, and Tori Amos). I love hearing the first work of great artists, but in this case it's such a shame to not be able to hear how the artist evolved over time. Such a talent. More than anything, this album reminded me of Led Zeppelin. With Buckley's soaring, ethereal vocals, and the mix of soft, gentle tunes along with occasional harder rock. But at the same time this is unique and something altogether different. It's a great album, and I would have loved to hear where he went from here. 4 stars.
- art rock vibe - mix of great moody tracks and covers of famous tracks i didn't care for - Great voice - 4.25/5
Would recommend to a friend
Vond het een prima album. Niet helemaal mijn stijl, maar een aantal nummers toch maar even bewaard en kon er wel inkomen.
Heard a lot of hype, and a lot of downplaying the hype. Really enjoyed it
Really enjoyed it
I enjoyed very much. Quite eclectic.
High quality
It felt like a Thursday night in November. Warm sadness.
Very good album with some great songs.
Pretty amazing instrumental and vocal performance.
It's near impossible to listen to this album without thinking where Jeff would have gone from there, had he lived longer. But all we have as a completely finished product is this, and this is frankly enough to give him is place in rock's most important artists. He's been influential for many bands like Radiohead and Coldplay, Jeff himself apparently wanted to go a "dirtier" and more lo-fi road after that first album, so he might have fitted perfectly in the 90's indie rock scene that was shaping up. The album's not perfect, but it does contain some perfect songs, as well as the best Hallelujah cover ever.
Nice voice, glad that I've listen to it.
One I struggle with. Does the myth exceed the quality?
Nice start, good vibe. Oh I'm going to like this aren't I. Don't love mojo pin but is very different. Grace hits hard. Lilac wine mmmm. Too busy to right notes, but he holds it down for the final track Forget Her. Very pleasant experience. Closer to a 5 than a 3, but gonna have to go 4. But can see myself absolutely treasuring this in the future.
Haunting
The albums complete lack of pretense is disarming and enchanting. The songs are seemingly plain but there is a richness that steadily reveals itself in the re-listening. 'Mojo Pin' alone shows it all. The song flows and sprawls and climbs and falls, showing how perfectly harmonious the band and the performances are. Of course, there is also the album's pinnacle that is 'Hallelujah', which plays out as a lovers' embrace between Buckley's voice and his guitar. It is beautiful and fleeting vision of what could have been, being Jeff's one and only.
Accomplishes a neat trick of being both minimalist and full of expression. Best track: Eternal Life
Not my style
His vocals are incredible at points. I also loved a lot of the guitar.
Some great songs, didnt mind it at all
Yeah, I really like this.
This is one of those albums that took me a long time to get to, despite the fact that it's cover is pretty iconic, and as a result I was aware of it for a long time. The first thing that's striking about this album is the absolute angelic quality of his voice. I think that he could have been a more successful artist if he didn't want to do interesting things with the music. Luckily for us, he was interested in putting effort into the music. He seems to always keep a light touch with the instrumentals; they come off as very quiet in the mix. This helps feature his voice, but it also gives the album a cool stripped-down quality 4/5
First time I've actively listened to a Jeff Buckley album, I rather enjoyed the expereince
Lovely.
I'd heard of, but never listened to Jeff Buckley before. I liked it.
We know his legacy as a quiet giant in terms of influence on other artists, but what an incredible vocalist and vocal performance. Wow. Pushes some average songs to the next level.
4/5!
I've never listened this full album but I've heard so many much about it so i'm very interested! 1.You can hear from the first track that he has a nice and strong voice and the music is very cool and a bit experimental. Nice switch up.Very strong start to an album! 2. Also very good second track. I love his voice sm. Pretty similar to the first song. 3. Ohh I like this 3rd track more. 4. Damn 4th one should be in a movie if it isn't alread!! Nice, bit slower song👍. 5. I've heard this 5th song it's so goodddd! 6. i mean I've heard hallelujah so so many times but it suits his voice so well. def one of if not the best version i've heard. 7. Bit slower, bit basic but alright song. I'm not very into long songs tho. 8. I love his falsetto. Such a beautiful song. 9. Ohh more rock here, i like it a lot! Have i already said that i love his voice?!!! 10. Again a different vibe, i like it. Love the build up and then the drum instrumental/solo thingy. 11. Ok this is the last one let's see. Amazing ending to the album i love it!! Overall very very good album. Bit dramatic, bit slower, bit of rock, bit of everything! Strong start and finish. Again, an amazing voice and vocal range!!! I'd say 4/5 from this first listen.
Surprisingly solid tunes.
Some fantastic songs but not the perfect album most people think it is. I think some people want this to be a perfect album because they know he had the potential to make a perfect album but never got the chance to do so.
Awesome drums, pretty cool guitar playing, pretty chill album, a bit sad, but pretty good.
I hadn't listened to thus album previously, despite knowing the tragic story of Jeff Buckley and the poignant Hallelujah. Album is a lot more electric than I thought it would be, and is a healthy slice of 90s rock
Really good, I like his voice
S Tier = So Real; Hallelujah; Lover, You Should’ve Come Over A Tier = Grace; Dream Brother; Forget Her B Tier = Mojo Pin; Lilac Wine; Eternal Life C Tier = Last Goodbye D Tier = Corpus Christi Carol AVG SCORE: 3.5 / 5 - - - Sickeningly beautiful. Top to bottom. I’ve listened to it 4x today. I feel certain that, based on my mood, any of these songs could at least be “A Tier” in the moment. Is it possible to have a crush on an album?
Incredible album, love it
Superb voice, some absolutely fabulous tunes too
This had an interesting backstory as well. Of course the Leonard Cohen cover was amazing. Through the rest his talent shown even if it's not my kind of thing. Interestingly, more than anything it reminded me of Ours. Until I did a deep dive into that discography.
An album I love to listen to all the way thru.
Had to listen 3 times to figure out my rating
its some singing voice that. some of this album is really good, some of it dull as dishwater. not really in to whiny ballads but the ones with a bit of weight to them are very strong. that boy had some serious talent.
Jeff Buckley died for all our sins. It was a snowy December night 43 years ago. A lithe young man climbed through the window of a barn. He had been out all night, he was tired, broken and shivering. His body was bruised and his anus was bleeding. He sobbed himself to sleep. He never woke. He was found on a frosty Christmas morning by a group of businessmen who used the barn for blistering bum sex during the holiday period. They finished a marathon buggering session and folded his body into quarters and stuffed him into a backpack. One of the businessmen, Iain with two I's , ran to a nearby airport and threw the backpack onto a conveyor belt where it spent 4 weeks circling unaware passengers.
Literally have never heard of Jeff Buckley, and was very pleasantly surprised how much I dug this album.
I liked this album a lot
Great album that needs further exploration.
Bra 8.7/10
It's such a pretty album. The iconic Hallelujah cover is fantastic, as is Last Goodbye. However, Corpus Christi Carol makes me feel like I'm listening to something entirely different.
How high can a tremendous track elevate an average album? To a low 4 from a high 2 I think.
Real, dark, raw. Words and messages that still relate to today’s person.
Enjoyable revisit
Great album, if a little long and slow. His voice is beautiful though. 4/5
Wow, 100 days. And what a way to celebrate. Buckley’s voice really was lovely. It’s a shame that he was here for such a short period of time. A-
4/5
8/10. Nice mix of fast and slow songs.
This album really took me on a roller-coaster ride. At moments I was totally in love, at others I found what I was hearing as too intense for my mood, and others I had feelings of like and a notion that the track could grow on me. I think it is a really good album, but I really did find it challenging at times. I think I am in like with it...probably a deep like though...
Классный альбом. Первая часть альбома великолепна, дальше было слушать сложнее. Но музыкант однозначно мой.
Good but shmaltzy
Damn this was pretty good, sounded great and his voice is so smooth and captivating. A high 4
Pretty nice album. I can definitely hear the Led Zeppelin influence in Jeff’s music, and the songs end up being really well written. 7/10
Overall solid, with a couple great tracks. Love his version of hallelujah
I wasn't really sure Grace was going to do it for me because I've heard so much about Jeff Buckley and heard some of his stuff, but this was really, really good. It's full of pain and passion and really simple but effective musicianship, his vocals are on point, you have songs like Lover, You Should've Come Over that are quality, the title track too, and as much as Hallelujah might be overplayed now it's bloody outstanding, especially if it can take you to a place or time. It's forever associated with The West Wing for me and that show is a happy place I know inside out. This is an easy 4 pushing a 5, it just doesn't hit the highest highs often enough but it's quality.
Listened to this without really concentrating yesterday, didn't enjoy it particularly. Listened to it again this morning, and have completely changed my tune. We had that Rufus Wainwright album a week or so ago, and this feels like what that could have been - both have wonderful, haunting voices, but JB is just better at imparting energy and emotion into the music. There's a great variety here, from slow, almost creepy sounds to proper rock music (often within the same song!). Solid 4/5 for me. The Hallelujah cover is obviously amazing (but I've heard it so many times that the effect is starting to wear off), and the title track is also brilliant.
Beautiful stuff, but I really wish he hadn't covered Hallelujah. His version is great, but the crappy covers of it grind my gears something rotten.
Brilliant album, such a shame there were never any more.
The only song I knew from this already was hallelujah. I think that and the other ballads were the best songs but overall liked most of this. The more upbeat songs in the beginning had some unusual structures and weren’t my favorite but overall I liked how modern this sounded. Some of these songs felt like they could be released by Harry Styles or another pop rock artist today
Last song is great. I never realized how operatic Buckley’s voice is. First side was a little slow for me
the vocals are way prettier than i expected, there’s some really cool stuff here. i feel like it drags a bit at the beginning of the b side and i dont love this hallelujah, but otherwise a really solid record.
solid sound, need to listen to it more!
Excellent album. A career high ;)
I'm glad this project introduced me to this album. I'm pretty sure the only Jeff Buckley song I'd ever heard before is his cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. This album is really, really strong. He's an excellent songwriter, his vocal control, expression, and range are all spectacular, and he's a superb guitarist. I love the variety of styles and influences he weaves together. I will definitely listen to this album again. I read the Wikipedia entry on this album, and then the one on Jeff Buckley. I had remembered he died tragically at quite a young age. Reading the story of his death was heartbreaking.
Got me shook. Não estava a espera de curtir logo no primeiro track, honestamente é um bom album para ouvir quando é domingo e estou no chill
Full of soulful vocals and beautiful instrumentation, and some rockers, too. Predicted Radiohead and Coldplay but is somewhat better. Ripe for more listens
Never heard of him but he has the voice of an angel. Ahead of his time
"Grace" is a nice alternative rock album, with jazz and folk references, and even some hard rock moments, like the banger title track "Mojo Pin". His version of "Lilac Wine" is also very interesting, but the great song, that makes this album really great, is his reendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". His choice of verses fits his style perferctly and in shone new light to an already classic tune. Nice arangements and a great voice by Jeff Buckley makes it a 1990s rock classic.
I can appreciate that Jeff Buckley was on his way to greatness when he passed away. It's a sad story. Maybe he is the first soulful folk singer to make a name for himself in the '90s, but from 2022 there are a whole lot of voices that sound like his. Gone too soon!
Vibrant. Passionate. Powerful.
Probably a 2.5, but rounding way up for his rendition of Hslleluja.
Very good. Surprised I've never heard of this before.
love it
Fun
That Hallelujah was gold...
beautiful but not my cup of tea
This was a revelation, I never really got into Jeff Buckley before - he somehow just completely passed me by in my teenage years. Really enjoyed the textured sounds at work here.
I previously only knew Buckley'a Hallelujah-Version, which I find overrated. But with the album I was pleasantly surprised. This is a nicely flowing and varied collection of songs, which could be great for letting it play in the background. Standouts: Lilac Wine, Last Goodbye, Eternal Life. 4/5
I enjoyed this much more than I expected, it was really varied and even though I found some of the songs a bit dull, I found most of them really textured and found myself widing the waves of the music
This was a lot of fun. Love the guitar sounds bit dad rocky. Think this is my favourite version of Hallelujah as well
Instrospective
Noch nie mehr als nur Halleluhja angehört. Ein Album für Musiker gleichzeitig zeitlos und voll gas 90er Unglaubliche Stimmkontrolle und Umfang, tolle Gitarrenarbeit. Überraschend breites stilistisches Spektrum - von Klassik über Folk Singer Songwriter Stuff, v.a. einige "härtere" Alternative Rock Nummern oben (Pearl Jam lässt auf Eternal Life grüßen). Der hat auch keinen Bock auf Strophe Rephrain Strophe :-D Hab mir wohl Rufus Wainwright erwartet, bekommen hab ich musical Genius Eddie Vedder (und bissl Rufus Wainwright dazu). Einziger (mini) Kritikpunkt: Manchmal steht der Song ned ganz im Mittelpunkt - und er könnte bissl weniger in die Songs reinpacken (man kennt das... ;-) )
This album surprised me. I really liked it and wish he had lived to make a second album.
Great voice. Sad he only got to make this one album. Would have been interesting so see what he would have done if he had more time. Enjoyed Lilac Wine the most
Saved Prior: Hallelujah, Forget Her* Off Rip: Grace, Last Goodbye, Dream Brother Cutting Edge: So Real Overall Notes: It borders on a violation of the Geneva Conventions that Forget Her was left off the initial album.
Not at all what I was expecting. Kind of a weird album, really. Strangely catchy. That voice!
What a voice, great falsetto work. Of course many know only of Hallelujah and in some ways is almost the definitive version, although I think both Leonard Cohen and Buckley bring different things to the table. I definitely enjoy the guitar-work on the album, especially the little delayed pitch-y things in the background in Mojo Pin, which is funny cause it's the same stuff I like to do. Definitely feels like a pure musician. Also never realized he drowned to death without drugs/alcohol in his system... tragic.
Gorgeous album. Buckleys's voice is an incredible instrument. The songs are generally good and the sound is warm a day intimate. I've listened to it previously but never truly bought in until this listen. 4 🌟
Surprisingly good and a talented artist.
One of the best singers in rock music. Some really good songs as well but not the classic he might have been able to make if he'd stuck around
I only knew Jeff Buckley because I had heard his cover of "Back In NYC," which was not very good. People had been touting "Grace" for a long time. I was surprised by how much I liked the album. It was a lot better than I expected it to be. The singing and instrumentation worked a lot. More than I was expecting. The "Hallelujah," unfortunately, has been done to death. But even with that, the rest was surprisingly good. I did go back to listen to his cover of "Back In NYC." I still did not like it, but not as much as the first time. I appreciate it for what it is, but it's not something I have to have.
I don't own this album but I've listened to it (on Spotify) several times over the last few years. Caught a podcast on the top male rock voices (in terms of vocal range) since the 80's and he was number one - so I had to find out more. Too bad we never got more from him while he was alive. His vocals are superb (check out Corpus Christi Carol) and the musical arrangements are pretty good. His version of Hallelujah is haunting. Last Goodbye is pretty awesome too. Some so-so songs mixed in. I definitely enjoy the album but it didn't completely blow me away.
Obviously now on an absolutely massive pedestal, but easy to see why. Powerful vocals, great writing. Perhaps not quite worthy of being held up as high as it is, but a fabulous album nonetheless.
Actually very good. The songwriting isn't amazing and sounds a bit dated to my ear, but more than made up for by the musicianship.
Just wish hed have gotten to make a follow up.
Good album, wasn't blown away by it except for the Hallelujah cover. But all solid tracks .
halluejah
Glad I was able to enjoy this. Hallelujah is a amzing track and the rest of the album show the rtest of Jeff's amazing talent.
De va vackery särskilt from lilac wine
Uvodna pjesma Mojo Pin je definitivno highlight za mene na ovom albumu. Predivno nešta. Inače preferiram njegovog oca po glazbi, ali nije fer je Jeff nije uspio izbaciti drugi album kako treba prije svoje smrti. Vjerujem da bi isto bio kvalitetan kao Tim. Sve u svemu, ima jedan album u cijelosti, ovaj, te je bome divan. Favoritne: Mojo Pin, Grace, So Real, Hallelujah (draža od originala), Corpus Christi Carol, Dream Brother i sjajna zadnja stvar Forget Her.
Grace by Jeff Buckley (1994) The voice is simply astonishing. Jeff Buckley’s four-octave range, crisp diction, superhuman breath control, and confident timbre are a perfect fit for the execution of his grandly innovative melodies. Freddie Mercury would’ve been impressed. And Buckley’s performances on guitar, keyboards, and (even) percussion are all combined to produce entrancing, genre defying music. Do not play this album while working, driving, or babysitting. This is Saturday afternoon alone music, when you’ve got time to think and feel at once. Karl Berger’s sublime string arrangements are kept slyly hidden until they need to bloom, sometimes explosively. The lyrics lay bare the sadness of a man who lacks the means to satisfy his overwhelming desire. That man lives in you and me. He selects the darkest five of the 80 verses that Leonard Cohen penned to the classic “Hallelujah”, and he delivers them with powerful effect (even subduing the sometimes, frankly, trite rhyme at the ending of the third line of each verse—a masterful example of ‘correcting’ the poet in the delivery, a difficult and dangerous enterprise approaching the finest work of great Shakespearean actors). And he holds the softly spooky and airy “lu” on the penultimate “hallelujah” for a full 25 seconds—long enough to get in his own guitar solo. Did he have some sort of oxygen infusion? His most soulful song (“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over”) captures the mournful response to loss of love and life. And his effort to put his love behind him (“Forget Her”) is frustrated by the unshakable awareness that “She’s out there somewhere now”, searingly shifting from the third to the second person in the last line of the song (and the album). The listener wants to lift him up in his sadness, only to be foiled by the horror of Buckley’s accidental death a couple years later, at the age of 30. I wish he’d lived to write a happy song. 4/5
Was für ein Organ, Hallelujah! Kannte hiervon nur Hallelujah und Forget Her, der Rest ist ebenfalls mehr als hörenswert. Songwriting hakt manchmal etwas. Ein Jammer, dass er so früh von uns gegangen ist und keine Gelegenheit hatte, mehr zu machen.
Amazing, Jeff Buckley’s vibrato, the almost ethereal sound makes a unexpected compliment to the slow and simplistic blues rhythms.
Good guitar
What a voice, amazing vocals, great guitars, superb album, check out the duet with Elizabeth Fraser from The Cocteau Twins which you can find on YouTube 8/10
Solid album. Really.
First half was better than second half. Forget Her and Hallelujiah slap
I can't really complain about anything about this album. A lot of the songs are relatively simple, but Buckley has a powerful voice and he gives his songs the same power and passion. The range of the album also made the album so much more engaging. All that being said, nothing about the album super stuck out to me, but It was a great album and I really enjoyed it.
What a beguiling, beautiful show-off Jeff Buckley is. Of all the power-house albums designed to showcase one person's skill, this is surely one of the biggest. Vocal acrobatics abound across every track, from the sensual whisper to a yearning croon, to a vibrato-filled wail. It's unrivalled, unquestionable technique, executed with stunning control to dazzling effect. Buckley's own material blends in well against the covers- "Lilac Wine", "Hallelujah", "Corpus Christi Carol"- which are the strongest tracks for me, shining as inspired reworkings of classics. In particular, the hushed, lullaby-like rendition of "Lilac Wine" is my favourite offering here. Coincidence or not, the covers are also the most "stripped back" musically. And even then, I struggled to find some of Buckley's performances as soul-bearing as they're made out to be. Every track, every line, is so stuffed with vocal affectations that- dare I say it- "Grace" occasionally threatens to tip into style over substance. It also doesn't end particularly well, with "Eternal Life" taking a frustrating detour into more standard 90's-style hard rock and "Dream Brother" leaving things feeling incomplete for a record that revels in show-stopping flourishes. On the flip side, "style over substance" is an easy claim to make when a record's emphasis is on musical talent. Buckley's skill as a vocalist is undeniable, and he's a deft guitarist, with some inventive chord shapes and structures thrown in ("So Real" and "Mojo Pin" are highlights for this). If it never feels "authentic" enough, maybe it's because his skill goes beyond anything I can relate to as a listener. This was a difficult one to rate. Although the vocals weren't always to my personal taste, it's no reason to mark it down. Objectively, these are really strong recordings, as well as the document of a supremely talented singer with a life cut tragically short. In the echoing silence after the album finishes, if you listen closely you can hear 25 years worth of male singer-songwriters tuning up their guitars and doggedly reaching for those soaring highs.
Not my usual thing, but I enjoyed this 👍
Swoon. I've been on a 90s kick lately, so this is a nice way to start. Looking forward to the reviews and discoveries along the way.
Another good one. I haven't given this a full listen to since the late 90s I reckon. An amazing voice and some great songs. Last Goodbye and Hallelujah are both awesome.
Cantor impressionante com versões poderosas.
Don't rate his singing, but the rest of it is great. Mojo Pin has nice progression. Grace is good (singing is mostly ok at beginning but later screams don't do it for me). Last Goodbye is nice. Lilac Wine is nice. So Real is very interesting. I never liked Hallelujah but admit it is well composed and executed. Dream brother is nice. 4-
Dream brother was pretty good. The whole album is unexpectedly good from the guy who sang hallelujah.
Grace is a fantastic, sweeping piece of alt rock. It stands apart from it's other 90's alt rock contemporaries, like Radiohead, the Pixies, and Sonic Youth. Jeff Buckley plays his own songs and it comes with his own flavor of alt rock. It's really fuckin good. Wide-ranging barn burners to quiet, tender moments make for a great album with expert pacing.
4 из 5
Enjoyed
The late Jeff Buckley captured the crippling desperation of heart ache as effortlessly as his angelic voice allowed. The crowning glory on this record, in my estimation, is Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (long before EVERYONE started covering it). The other knockout is the anonymously written Corpus Christi Carol. The original songs are not in the same class, but I liked Lover, You Should Have Come Over and Lilac wine. This is a very good record, created by a now lost talent.
This album is kind of many things rolled into one and ahead of its time. It’s kind of Proto-iron and Wine and Bon Iver, but also sounds like a combo of Elliott Smith and STP, but also, there’s songs that seem to predict 2000s harder rock—though not in a good way. What really shines is his voice and what extermination he’s willing to do with it, it’s really something special and shines on the album. There are some interesting instrumentation choices, some cool breakdowns but also some dated stuff that isn’t working. I’d give his singing and songwriting a 5, but some of the instrumentation was 2-3 range so that detracted. It’s interesting to think about which route he would’ve gone were he still alive, could’ve been really great, but also, maybe not.
Absolutely slaps, way cooler than I thought it would be
Really beautiful. Especially his falsetto is!
I've listened to this album a great deal during my twenties and thirties so it was great to have an excuse to listen with "older" ears and hear some things I hadn't heard before. Why 4 stars? Just because I think the album could "flow" a little better.... be a bit more cohesive maybe. Also, I've never been a fan of the number of covers on the album. Still a classic for very good reason.
Very classic album. Lilac Wine, Hallelujah, and many other great songs.
I've often had a problem with singer-songwriters where a lack of emotive performance will cause my eyes to glaze over in reaction to some otherwise excellently written songs, and I've previously written off Jeff Buckley on cursory listens as having that problem, but this album is fantastic. This is one of a select few albums that I've completely come around on as a result of this listening exercise. Good show.
Taken too soon. Voice like an angel one minute, howling blues man the next. Don't blame him for making "Hallelujah" ubiquitous with singing competitions. Everyone should listen to this album. Best Tracks: Grace; Last Goodbye; Lover, You Should've Come Over
Went in with no idea what Grace was going to be like, ended up really enjoying it. Maybe gets a little less exciting in the second half, but still a good listen.
- I didn't enjoy the first minute of the album which is where I usually quit - First song is pretty though, pretty badass at the end - Love the distorted guitars on so real - Definitely an incredible rendition of hallelujah, perhaps over shadowed because people have copied what he did in the last 25 years in their own performances - powerful accordions surprise on lover, you should've come over - intro guitar on Eternal life is good, fucking hard even, the rest of the song goes on a little long but the guitar remains strong. - most of the songs seem a bit long, perceptions of what a songs length should be have changed a lot in the last 25 years - closing out the album, good rock album not something that I would listen to normally but I enjoyed the whole thing, wish the songs were a bit shorter but the music that's there is great, the organ on the last song is beautiful
mehr als nur ein Halleluja
Great album. Vocals were a bit too soft for my liking though.
Pretty great album! Tons of variation across the whole album as well as within each song. Lots of 90s nostalgic alt rock sounds but with a lyrical and musical complexity a cut above his contemporaries. Hearing another cover of Lilac Wine was also a pleasant surprise - my previous album was the Nina Simone album with her cover of the same song. These albums ARE random, right?
I really liked it - especially his covers. It's calm but still full of feeling. Feels like he just sings what moves him and I can really respect that.
Great album. The best "Hallelujah" cover in my opinion. Sad this was his only album.
Heyyyyyy Hallelujah! Eternal life sounds familiar in the intro, but the rest doesn't. It sounded like something from Foo Fighters. Overall a good album. Giving it a 4.
Classic album that I discovered through this service. Awesome! Will definitely add to my regular rotation
I like it
It's very good. Tails off towards the end, but so many classics. The problem is with albums like this, they are almost too good, so you don't NEED to listen to them.
Great album
Al liceo si acchiappava di brutto co Jeff
hallelujah is a jam, rest are pretty good too
Jeff Buckley isn't really my jam, but his passion, creativity, and originality cannot be denied. On Buckley's debut album, Grace, his incredibly rich soundworld, melodies, and song forms spring to life fully formed like Athena springing from Zeus' head. You could listen to this album every day for a month and hear new details every time. Reviewers reach for comparisons to Robert Plant, grunge, folk music, Arabic singing, but the truth is that he sounds like none of them. The only thing he sounds like is Jeff Buckley. I'm not sure I would call Grace a masterpiece. I don't care for the timber of Buckley's voice and it's not like I'm going to be humming these tunes any time soon. But if you're the type of person who gets bored easily, you'll be fascinated by how the serpentine twists and turns of the music, and how Buckley never, ever repeats himself. I've got to give credit where credit is due. 4 stars out of 5.
god bless jeff buckley's voice
Excellent Album. Intense, passionate and soulful throughout
fuck this is powerful, what an incredible voice. the way these songs shift and move is impressive, the flow and feel of this album is pretty unparalleled, the way it aches, the tension.
Somehow able to blend ethereal cathedral sound with riffing rock, Jeff Buckley is a gift. His voice resonates the soul. All the more haunting given how young he left the world.
I thought this album was very good. Although the tempo of the songs were quite different then I am use to, Jeff makes up for this with his incredibly strong voice.
New one for me - Outstanding singer. Tragic story.
Highlights: Grace, Eternal Life Lowlight: Hallelujah Dreamy and meandering (but not pointless), Jeff Buckley has the vocal and guitar chops to make it big, so why haven't heard more of him? Seems a shame, I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Aside from a pedestrian cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", Grace is a perfectly wonderful journey to experience.
Jeff's voice is weird, reminds me of like a 60s singer but the title track has this crazy prog rock sound. Lilac Wine is a good tune
I was a little skeptical of this album when I read that it received much of this acclaim a few years after Jeff Buckley died. I'm still kind of skeptical. It's a great album, and I like several songs on the track list but I'm not sure about it's inclusion on this list. The songs are beautiful and the covers are interesting interpretations of originals, but there is nothing revolutionary to me about this album. I will say that I do enjoy the variety of musical styles that it represents. maybe that's why it is included.
Really liked this one. Just feel like everything was extremely well balanced and I was fully into the album all the way through. Everything was well done and I don’t have much bad to say about it.
Very powerfully vocals. Good energy thought out the album. Reason why over 20 years later this album still gets talked about. Very nice production.
This album is really interesting because it really doesn’t have that mid-90s sound. I like it, though.
Kinda Radiohead vibes, good, good.
Tal vez es muy aclamado por la gente (y personajes muy pesados en el medio) no solo por la forma en que murió sino por lo que pudo haber sido, en lo personal conocía solo 2 rolas del disco y la verdad Hallelujha no me pasa mucho aunque ahora la entiendo mas por que la toca el solo con su eléctrica sin distor un sello que ahora se que era único. Le voy a dar una vuelta a los discos póstumos por que fuera del mame que le dan o no por su muerte o por que fuera el mejor disco de esa época se me hace que es muy bueno sin llegar a ser excelente
Qué buen descubrimiento. Nunca había oído de él y cuando leí las opiniones tan positivas que tuvo en su momento el disco, pensé que iba a ser una cosa exagerada y mamadora que solo se volvió de culto por su muerte tan rara… pero no, la verdad es que la música está buena, su voz me gusta porque tiene un timbre particular y un rango muy bueno, las guitarras son también un plus y la variedad de estilos en las canciones hace que el disco no se vuelva aburrido ni repetitivo. Lástima la "misteriosa" muerte del fulano, quizá pudo haber tenido mucha influencia en la música actual, o quizá se hubiera quedado en one hit wonder.
Aside from the fact it sounds like the soundtrack to every 90s teen drama ever made I absolutely loved it
It’s good, I’m just not into it
This is a surprisingly great album. I thought that 'Hallelujah' would be the gem, but it was certainly 'Last Goodbye' and 'Dream Brother.'
More going on here than I was expecting
Amazing album one of my fav oat 9/10
Despite the now subdued caterwauling, this is an enjoyable record.
Liked 7/11 songs, had some songs I already liked. 3.5/5
Great
Pretty good, and the original Halleljuah on it
good but sad. idk if i could listen again
He's got a great smooth voice, lot of soul and sadness and in it. Standout Track(s): So Real
This is one I've heard before. Nothing has changed, I still think the guy was fantastically talented singing and playing wise, however I stand by thinking this seems a little unfocused and not quite my thing.
Okay album. No further comments.
It's a perfectly nice album. I'm mostly impressed with his guitar sound and the overall mood and atmosphere on the album. The sound is very rich, with lots of deep layers of sound, nice minor keys and so on. He has a nice voice of course, but it is a bit over-dramatic. I know that's what everyone loves about him, but I find it a bit much, and even a bit annoying at times.
Hallelujah - that is all I am going to say, since this song alone is better than 3 albums of some random artists on these lists ❣️
First time hearing this album, though I've seen it recommended to me by Apple music for some time. This album sounds like an artist trying to find his voice. There are some incredibly high moments like the song Forget Her and So Real. And there are some that fall rather flat like Corpus Christi Carol and the cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Several times on the album he seems to be trying to channel Robert Plant, but his voice type isn't quite up to the task. And other times he sounds more like Thom Yorke, which seems a much better fit. It's a shame that we weren't able to hear more from Jeff Buckley as this album seems like a promising start for a musician starting to carve out his sound.
It will be rated 3.5 *. Very sensitive lyrics! Music style is varied. I love also the related music videos. Jeff Buckley seemed to be a very passionate musician. Thanks for this album.
Favourite songs: - Last goodbye - lover, you should’ve come over - Dream Brother - Forget her
Musically solid but I don’t love the vocals. A couple classics here but would not listen to the album regularly.
I still prefer his father.
I really like Jeff Buckley's Live at Sinai recordings but this does nothing for me. He's got an amazing voice and can do great covers, but I think his song writing is pretty poor and the rock band thing doesn't really work. 2 stars brought up to 3 by the great covers of Hallelujah and Lilac Wine.
Didn’t know what to expect outside of Hallelujah but was pleasantly surprised with the lot of it. I can see myself finding more here.
solid
great - loved it. A little radioheady at points
2 outstanding songs but the rest was kinda meh?
I like this less than I thought I would. He's just kinda going on. All respect to Mr. Buckley but you really only need to hear LYSHCO. No further comments. Favourite: Lover, You Should've Come Over Least favourite: So Real
1994. Only studio album (tragically died of an accidental drowning before finishing his second album). The lyrics for "Grace" were inspired by Buckley's separation from his ex-girlfriend at the airport before moving to New York City.
Tragic all around
Coveret af Hallelujah er ikonisk, det er Lilac Wine nok også, men jeg er endt med at foretrække Nina Simones version. Og selvom det er et album, jeg har haft, fordi det havde man, så er det nok grundlæggende et, der ikke siger mig så meget, som jeg troede, det gjorde.
Cameron winter. Good voice. Nothing made me excited or have a, what’s colloquially known as, a “music boner”
I can tell this is a really good album but I can't make up my mind about whether I'm actually enjoying it... It's whiney in a way that's sometimes sexy and sometimes kind of annoying. I feel like I'd mesh with this album way better if I was depressed.
I mean...I can see why people like this, but if just doesn't do much for me.
3.8
On the whole, this is much more interesting than I thought it was going to be. It’s still not exactly my thing, but still greatly exceeds expectations, I think because of the band. He has a marvelous voice; the opening to “Corpus Christi Carol” is haunting. I know his covers of “Lilac Wine” and “Hallelujah” are good, but I'd rather have Nina Simone and Leonard Cohen singing them; there’s a restraint and an intensity to those two versions that somehow is missing here for me. I just put Nina Simone’s version on now, and there’s no comparison.
I always know they don't have any Buckcherry or Buckethead CDs when I get to Jeff Buckley.
Not bad. Really like his version of Hallelujah.
A decent interpreter of other people's works. Overrated as a singer-songwriter
This was fine? I was a little underwhelmed. I knew "Hallelujah" obviously but I've never been a huge fan of that song. "Lover, You Should've Come Over" and "Eternal Life" were the standouts here for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Crazy pipes, Hallelujah is a classic, gets a bit tiring after a while
didnt realize this was a man's cranberries highlights: last goodbye hallelujah
Ethereal, religious sense about love. Liked didn't love, would be great in the Fall months
3/5
Mlil baby babu, oou sweet lil boy with Jesus
Honestly, this was better than I expected
His voice was impressive. I did enjoy his version of Hallelujah- best song on the album. However, it is never good when the best song on the album is a cover.
Undeniably some great stuff (RIP), but let’s be real; he can be—how do you say—a bit much.
As a music dork for over 30 years I’ve tried listening to this album several times since it frequently shows up as a ”must listen” but I just can’t get into it. I know he has a great voice but for me, less is more. The music is creative but the vocals are too much for me. It’s the equivalent to pop singers sound endless vocal runs. Yes, you are a good singer but showing off is not a good look.
Gerade im Vergleich zu Grant Lee Buffalo - ähnliche Zeit, ähnlicher Vibe - wirkt mir das alles ein wenig rückwärtsgewandt. Mehr die Vergangenheit zitierend und nostalgisierend als was neues zu gestalten und zu bauen. Das totgehörte Hallelujah sticht auf Grund der Bekanntheit raus. Ist aber auch nichts was das wirklich rettet. Wenn auch ein schon herausragendes Cover. Komm sonst nicht rein.
145. Grace - Jeff Buckley (1994) 7.17.26 Variety: 2 Adequacy: 3 Listenability: 2 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 4 = 2.8 rounded down up to a 3 "And I couldn't awake from the nightmare that sucked me in and pulled me/ under/ Pulled me under, oh" This is an album that has a certain reputation. A couple actually. For some it's a beautiful and haunting soulful alt rock classic, for others one of the mainstays of "sad boy" music and full of cringeworthy earnestness. I heard this once decades ago and remember falling into the latter camp, but tastes change and I've been surprised at my reaction more than a few times by this list, so as much as I am able, I'll try and set aside the vague memories I have ( I can only recall one song - you know which one) and go in with an open mind. THE TRACKS "Mojo Pin" - Right away the thing that stands out about this is the live to tape production quality. Not sure it it's legit, but they did an awful good job faking it if not. It feels like a very intimate space, and all the atmospheric effects stuff hits pretty well. Buckley's voice is just as good as I remember, as mannered as it gets. The high register, and the jazzy drumming remind me a lot more of Radiohead than I might like to admit. Things end on a bluesier note when the whole thing explodes at the end, and we're left with some more effects that fade us out. "Grace" - This one makes feel like Coldplay must have ripped it off. I'm not familiar with enough of their music to pin it down though. There's a rushed, purposefully heavy feel to this that contrasts well enough with the moments where this gets loud. The guitar arpeggios are the best thing about this, but it's very easy to see how this sound might have been more influential than I previously thought. Buckley seems to be painting with a very impressionistic brush. More so than I expected from anything labelled as "singer songwriter alt rock" from this period anyway, "Last Goodbye" - This sounds like much more of what I expected. Kind of like if Thom Yorke had collaborated with the Goo Goo Dolls. Buckley seems to be taking some influence with his inflection at least from Robert Plant here a bit. There's a much more radio friendly version of this buried underneath all the endless bending of syllables and the over ornamentation of these vocal runs is already proving a bit trying for me. "Lilac Wine" - Damn. That's a swing, taking on a song that Nina Simone owns on the popular imagination. His voice is fine enough, but what really rankles me here is the arrangement, which is equal parts sappy and boringly predictable, which is interesting given all the artsier touches we've already seen on here. For a much better sub-Simone take on this, check out this version by Depeche Mode's own Dave Gahan and the Soulsavers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDs9XKPl04I , which manages to feel traditional but lacks the chintziness of this version. "So Real" - This works vastly better than anything else we've seen so far. A genuinely catchy and memorable core melody, with a great slightly menacing build towards a pretty soaring chorus that doesn't over do it. Another instance where I can easily imagine both Thom Yorke and Christ Martin's ears perking up. "Hallelujah" - And here's the one anyone has heard if they've heard anything off this album. As overplayed of a "this means SOMETHING!" moment that it was used to score way too many maudlin 2000s tv and film scenes, the song itself is pretty objectively well done. I like the simple guitar work especially. And it's not nearly as overbaked vocally as it was in my mind. Removed from any of those ill-thought out media appropriations, I didn't get any of the cringe I expected, and Buckley even manages to end on a tasteful note even with the showy sustain, as he cuts it off just before it becomes painful. All that said, this still ranks in the middle of the pack of the many other notable versions of the song for me, with the John Cale one grabbing the brass ring. Sorry Leonard. - John Cale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DinEKqtCDkg - Willie Nelson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GikuXfHwXXc - k.d. lang - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTOslDiMd4E - Rufus Wainright - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0DKOGco_o - Leonard Cohen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtVn2bqU6B8 - Brandi Carlile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1sFYdwlXtI "Lover, You Should've Come Over" - Loved the harmonium opening of this, and there are some other bits I like - especially the tremolo guitar leading up into the bridge, but on the whole this feels like a bit of sanitized soul music, with gospel aspirations that it can't quite fulfill. "Corpus Christi Carol" - Yikes. No notes on the voice control, but save that shit for special moments, dude. A whole song made up of the exact bits I hated most on all the other songs. "Eternal Life" - The only real rocker on the whole album I think, pushing "So Real" out of that spot with its heavier, bass driven sound. This was not unlike some Collective Soul stuff, but maybe a bit more frayed around the edges. Solid. "Dream Brother" - Things end with this pseudo raga rock intro'd number that had major Radiohead vibes to me. Later Radiohead though I think. This had loads of atmosphere and led down dozens of interesting little musical cul de sacs. Man... a whole album of this would have been great. HIGHLIGHTS - "Mojo Pin" - "So Real" - "Hallelujah" - "Dream Brother" MIDLIGHTS - "Grace" - "Last Goodbye" - "Lover, You Should've Come Over" - "Eternal Life" LOWLIGHTS - "Lilac Wine" - "Corpus Christi Carol" FINAL THOUGHTS While I can't say I actively enjoyed much of this, I can't claim that there's a lack of vision and craft on this that makes it hard to understand why people do legit love it. It sounds just slightly ahead of its time, and seems to have especially influenced Coldplay and by proxy, all their imitators. And maybe even Radiohead a bit. There were standout moments throughout, but even the highlights were not especially in my wheelhouse. I just didn't hate it like I expected I guess is my big takeaway. Solid stuff, but not really for me. My biggest criticism would be that Buckley seems to understand that his voice is the main draw, and so a lot of otherwise intermittently interesting instrumental stuff takes a backseat to his often cloying instincts to over do things vocally. Sad they we never got to hear what his musical evolution would have been like, but the hints on this album make me think it would have been interesting at the very least. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Highlights only please FURTHER LISTENING - Pink Moon by Nick Drake - The Bends by Radiohead - Parachutes by Coldplay - Imposter by Dave Gahan and Soulsaver
Нормальный такой инди-фолковый альбом. Есть даже замашки на альтернативный рок и немного гранж. Конечно же, есть песня из Шрека, иначе зачем слушать этот альбом. Eternal Life и Dream Brother очень понравились, в остальном - средненько.
Jeff Buckley described himself in his own press bio as "the warped lovechild of Nina Simone and all four members of Led Zeppelin, with the fertilized egg transplanted into the womb of Edith Piaf." This is either the most accurate self description in music history or the most exhausting one, depending on your tolerance for that kind of energy. Buckley had a four octave range, could play guitar like Jimmy Page on a good day, and sang with the kind of emotional intensity that makes other singers quietly reconsider their career choices. He was also, by all accounts, chronically scattered, constitutionally unable to focus, and in constant need of someone pointing him toward the next decision. His producer described him as among the most talented musicians he had ever worked with, immediately followed by the word "but," which is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. Grace peaked at number 149 on the Billboard 200 in 1994, sold roughly 175,000 copies in Buckley's lifetime, and was not certified Platinum in the United States until 2016, nineteen years after its author waded fully clothed into a Mississippi tributary singing Led Zeppelin to his road manager on the bank and drowned at thirty years old. David Bowie called it the one album he would take to a desert island. Bob Dylan named Buckley one of the great songwriters of the decade. Jimmy Page called it close to his favourite album of the decade. Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave it a C and suggested the force of hype would blow Buckley all the way to Uranus. Nobody agreed on anything, which is usually a sign that something real was happening. The album is front loaded in a way that rewards the first three tracks and tests your patience with the rest. Mojo Pin, Grace, and Last Goodbye arrive like a punch, a slow burn, and a heartbreak in sequence. Then the album spends its remaining runtime being interesting rather than immediate, which is the honest critical distinction between a 3 and a 4 for someone who needs both great lyrics and a great musical arrangement to fully commit. The album also contains a cover of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, delivered by a man with the voice of an actual angel, which is the most complicated listening experience available to me personally cause I don't really like Cohen's music at all. The song is genuinely extraordinary. The ghost of a man I find musically intolerable is visible in every chord change. This is not Buckley's fault. He recorded over twenty takes to get it right, insisted on including it over Columbia's objections, and was proven spectacularly correct when it became the song that introduced him to an entire generation of new listeners after his death. None of that changes the fact that Leonard Cohen is in there somewhere, looking smug. 3 out of 5. One star for the first three tracks, which deserve their own separate rating. One for the voice, which belonged in a different universe from the rest of us. One for Buckley not listening to the record execs and doing what he wanted. The fourth star is on a desert island with David Bowie, who apparently had better taste and more patience than I do.
Fairly high voice, blend of folky and kindapop rock
too many songs of I need therapy bin grad nicht in der Stimmung =) - Kirchensongs gekippt - warum war ich damals "happy" während ich LYSHCO & forget her gehört hab lol
Its so beautiful. Really like the guitars here. So real felt like a radiohead song. Also had no idea he did his version of hallelujah wtf. His voice is insane. Its just a bit of a sad album. I like the mix of melancholic christian and intense rock and roll. My fav song was probably lover u should have come over. It didn't change my life though
I had know Jeff Buckley only as the "Hallelujah Guy", but listening to "Grace" I was surprised it had lot of alternative rock influences. 2.5
Not really my thing, wasn't particularly memorable either but it was pleasant enough to listen to.
*Quality singer songwriting but goes too deep and slow at times. *No questions its good musically, just doesn't excite me too much
I think I knew I was going to dislike this album. I can totally appreciate its appeal and the unique skill involved in making it and also its influence on artists that followed, but I don't like it so I'll give it a neutral 3.
81/100
Nada de otro mundo
Me gusto pero no mucho
bof un peu mou
This is the only album he made before dying... It came out in 1994... Is it Ready to Die all over again? No, it's not, because it's not a rap album. Instead, it sounds incredibly reminiscent of early Radiohead, but worse. Yes, Buckley is a good singer, but these songs are not that good. The guitar playing is alright, but I find these songs rather boring. Many of the songs run on way longer than they should, attempting to interest the listener with dramatic swells but not quite managing it. So, basically, this is a mediocre album that became insanely overrated because the artist died after its release. Yes, Hallelujah is great, but to me that says more about Leonard Cohen's greatness as a folk songwriter than it does about Buckley. Most of the rest of the album is mediocre alt-rock that is glazed to an insane degree by music people. I want this album to be good, but it consistently disappoints me.
He's talented, he has a great voice, it's just his songs are so forgettable. Like if Thom Yorke was in Coldplay, but without memorable songs. I can't recall any hooks or riffs or motifs. Nothing. I just know they sounded nice enough while they were playing.
this album had a chokehold on me in highschool
Solid album here. Never heard of Jeff Buckley, but there were some undertones of Robert Plant/Led Zeppelin in his music.
Sorry, dawg, but I liked your Dad's music better. Another album perpetually recommended to me by my algorithms. I've listened to it a handful of times (but not recently) and it's got some nice highlights, but if Jeff didn't die a tragic death, would it have the reputation that it does? I think not!
MOJO PIN - i love the guitar background but what is a mojo pin GRACE - the bridge and his voice are beautiful, feels more modern LAST GOODBYE - feels like springtime and cherry blossoms, i love the line "kiss me out of desire, not out of consolation" LILAC WINE - quieter then other songs so far, feels older SO REAL - more rocky than other songs, punky HALLUJAH - more intimate (both in speech and in literal) - the contrast btwn piety and sex is interesting LOVER, YOU SHOULD HAVE COME OVER - already listened to CORPUS CHRISTI CAROL - holy vocal ability, i love the "ye olden lyrics" ETERNAL LIFE - so real esclated into super crazy, feels like an oppenent to hallujah in meaning DREAM BROTHER - feels like a spooky nightmare FORGET HER - good summary of the album
I was really into this one when it was released. I got tired of the vocal gymnastics after a lot of listens. It's still a great album but I don't care if I ever hear it again.
1 so real
It was fine
Not as good as I was hoping.
Emo dad album. Bridges are great. Really nice impact moments and gradual buildups. the breakdown in so real is awesome. This has the "it's never over song". Really beautiful in context. Great album about heart break and living after a really tough breakup. Really captures all of the emotions you go through. Forget her is amazing. Started off not liking this one but really got into it around the middle. Pretty solid and great overall listen. By the end I didn't want it to be over.
There are 2 beautiful songs on this album, but I don't like it as much as it is (belatedly) critically acclaimed. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #147 Best Songs Lilac Wine Hallelujah
I'm well aware of this album, and know a few of the tracks. I don't really enjoy the tracks I do know. Otherwise, I've never listened to this album start-to-finish. Here's the thing... Jeff Buckley is obviously an incredibly gifted singer. But sometimes when you reach a certain skill level as a musician, you attempt these insanely difficult things, and it's admirable on that level, but that doesn't necessarily mean it sounds good. Every time I think that a given song is going along just fine, he attempts one of those nearly impossible feats that just doesn't sound good. This album would be much better if Jeff Buckley held back a little more.
Bought this one when it came out, but haven't listened to it in at least a decade. Some bits I like (Eternal Life) the rest I can take or leave.
It’s good, but uber overrated. I haven’t listened to this album since the breakup. That certainly tainted my experience. I would give it 3.5 stars, so we’ll go for 3 instead. He is better than his dad though.
not sure if it lived up to the mythology and hype...
I've always liked the track, 'Grace', which IMO turns out to be the standout track on the album. A shame really, I was looking forward to hearing the deepcuts, but it turns out to be mostly pretentious dinner party music. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (5/10) Total reviewed : 342 Already owned : 77 Purchased : 16 To buy : 3 Nope : 246
Anytime this decides to be a rock album, I’m very on board. The snoozy lounge stuff ain’t it, but the writing was at least mildly interesting. I’m tempted to give it a three because I really liked that “Eternal Life” song. RIP
Shame that Hallelujah brings the album down.
Such a curious album. Tonally experimental at times. "Last Goodbye" was a highlight. I skipped right over the too-played "Hallelujah". The beginning instrumentals of "Lover, You Should've Come Over" were fantastic, and I really enjoyed the relaxed (melancholic?) vibes of the rest of the song.
неплохая гитара, приятный голос
Kinda christian rock. Famous songs though like Hallelujah. Not terrible.
honestly landed closer to the Lenny Kravitz album than i'd like to admit
This is an album I’ve listened to plenty of times but never really got. He’s got a great voice but it’s a lacking in restraint for me. Great guitar playing although production is a little murky throughout. Maybe one day it’ll click like it does for so many other people
Too much fluff, but Hallelujah is an amazing, all timer version
I was bored for a lot of this album. Hallelujah obviously slaps but considering it's a cover it's not adding a star for me. Lover, You Should've Come Over was pretty solid but overall this album wasn't really doing it for me.
This was interesting but not enough for me to ever listen again
Another instance where I completely missed out on something being in Germany, not having MTV, etc. I didn’t hear this until 2000, 2 years after his untimely death. I remember seeing the cover around a bit and thinking he was doing some rockabilly schtick maybe? Ultimately Buckley is at his best interpreting other’s material or working with a cowriter, but that can’t take away from the first side here, one of the best of this or any decade. We played Sin-é and you can bet Mojo Pin was on my mind! Just an incredible piece of music and a performance to match (his; ours was OK). All that said, I rarely have any interest in listening to Grace. Just completely burned out on it and then of course the Cohen cover became inescapable, a kind of ubiquity afforded very few (even if his interpretation is a bit of a misread).
Неплохо, но не мое. Хотя две-три песни прикольные.
Another re-listen, but it’s been so long and I think I’d only listened to it once before so I went into this listen with little memory of it. And I think the reason I haven’t given this more of a chance over the year is I find Buckley’s vocals overdramatic for my taste. I feel a little disrespectful admitting that, and I wonder if repeated listens would reveal more and more for me to appreciate. Standout moment: Lover, You Should’ve Come Over. I love the gradual build and the use of harmonium/organ.
There are only so many words in the English language to describe how this sounds. I think the one word I would choose would be ethereal. Jeff Buckley had a unique voice, not a great voice, but he put his heart and soul into his music. The guitar is a beautiful bonus. While I wouldn’t choose to listen to this album, it absolutely belongs on the list and I appreciate the opportunity to listen to it. Many people have said that Buckley’s version of Hallelujah is the best. I respectfully disagree, I prefer the original by Leonard Cohen. Each version brings something different, and both are worthy. 3.5 stars
Don’t listen to the internet the best song on here is clearly eternal life
Timeless sound. Father of indie rock? Love the composition of the upbeat stuff. Loses me in the second half of the album
Okay,
it is okayish for me
I need to return to this one on another day. I could really like this if I listen to it when the time is right.
Nice
I hear the influence on Muse and Radiohead