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View Full Version : Essential Albums: Grace - Jeff Buckley #3


MBS
11-23-2005, 07:10 PM
As you can see, sporting a new moniker, I have started my own series called "Essential Albums". These are albums that I think must be in every music fan's collection. Most of these albums will be Classic Rock, Indie, Alternative, or Jazz. And because I feel we don't have that many CR based mailing lists out there, each thread will come with an UPLOAD! HOORAY!

Here's the thing about uploads: Until I get a cable connection (which should, hopefully, be soon), I will not upload files over 80 megs, because that will take far too long. Expect uploads an hour or two after I edit this post with the words UPLOADING (It's going to be in size 7 font, if you miss it, you're blind). If the words read UPLOADED, then ask someone to forward the email to you, and add your name.

Anyways, on with the thread!

Grace

Jeff Buckley's voice has sometimes been described as haunting, beautiful, and intimate. It is often debated on how big his range was. Some say 3 1/2 octaves. Some say 4. I think it's somewhere around the middle, but it's a huge range. Jeff was born in Orange County, California and was the son of cult singer-songwriter legend Tim Buckley and was expected to live up to his father's legend. And he did.

Lover, You Should Have Come Over

Jeff released Grace in 1994. At first, sales were slow but later picked up the pace after musicians such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and Paul McCartney praised the album with their highest reccomendations. Buckley then went on a 2 year tour to promote the album. Examining his growth from his humble coffeeshop roots to world tours really shows how much he grew during the years.

Hallelujah

The songs on this album are perfect. Every song has it's definite high points and they all stand out from each other. Starting from the soulful Mojo Pin to the furious beauty of the title track, Grace, Buckley gives his all on this album. Last Goodbye was his only MTV hit and the emotion in this song is overpowering. When he sings this song, you know he means it from the bottom of his heart. Lilac Wine is one of his slower, mournful songs and his voice really shines on this track. So Real is one of his best songs, in my opinion. Have you ever heard a song and just thought that the chords completely matched the vocals and the words? This song is a key example of that. His cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is eerily haunting, but beautiful at the same time. Lover, You Should Have Come Over, with it's haunting organ intro has some of Buckley's best lyrics and the vocals truly shine on this gem of a track. Corpus Christi Carol, a cover, shows Jeff's best vocals and you could mistake him for a woman. The rocker Eternal Life shows off Buckley's guitar playing skills and how diverse his voice could be. He's got good lyrics in this song, also. The last track, Dream Brother, is very Indian sounding, but also very cool sounding.

Last Goodbye

Unfortunatly, Jeff lost his life at the age of 30 as he was recording his new album My Sweetheart, The Drunk. An unfinished album called Sketches for My Sweetheart, the Drunk has been released. Although not as polished as Grace, it shows Jeff's potential and what he could have been.

Many people thought that Kurt Cobain was the symbol of the 90's. However, I believe Jeff Buckley is overshadowed by Kurt Cobain. Jeff could have been so much more than Kurt if he hadn't died.

I give this album my highest reccomendations and I highly suggest you download it if you don't have it already.

For a review of Grace, check out Iai's review here. (http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=864)

Post your email here if you want this album. Only once is necessary, do not post your email in other threads, or I will be insanely confused and my head will explode. Thanks.

Check your inboxes around 9:00 tonight (Pacific time), roughly around 4 hours.

UPLOADED

Britney Diva
11-23-2005, 07:16 PM
Cool thread. :)

I love this album; it's my favourite of all time and that's not likely to change soon. My copy is broken though, Lilac Wine doesn't work at all. :(

MBS
11-23-2005, 07:20 PM
Cool thread. :)

I love this album; it's my favourite of all time and that's not likely to change soon. My copy is broken though, Lilac Wine doesn't work at all. :(

Ouch. :( Does it skip or just not play at all? That sucks.

PinkFreud
11-23-2005, 07:21 PM
ahhhhhhhh! favorite album ever! good write up mbs, you did the album justice.

possibly the most perfect album ever (for me).

Paranoidd
11-23-2005, 07:30 PM
Jeff Buckley is pretty much my favorite person, ever. Grace is easily my favorite record, I listen to it at least once a week, usually more.

What a loss.

Britney Diva
11-23-2005, 07:33 PM
Ouch. :( Does it skip or just not play at all? That sucks.
Yeah, it skips at various points throughout the first 5 songs, and Lilac Wine is completely gone. Eternal Life skips as well, but not in my computer. It's so wrecked it can't even be copied. :-\

MBS
11-23-2005, 07:35 PM
Yeah, it skips at various points throughout the first 5 songs, and Lilac Wine is completely gone. Eternal Life skips as well, but not in my computer. It's so wrecked it can't even be copied. :-\

Signs of an overplayed album. You did it justice, my friend. Want me to send you the .zip file so you can make a burned cd?

Britney Diva
11-23-2005, 07:39 PM
Signs of an overplayed album. You did it justice, my friend. Want me to send you the .zip file so you can make a burned cd?
Heh, that'd be wonderful. I don't why I've not done so already, thanks :)

davey.donnelly@gmail

EightMilesHigh
11-23-2005, 07:40 PM
I'm all for the Jeff Buckley whoring, hombres. Such a talent lost so early :(

Paranoidd
11-23-2005, 07:50 PM
The Legacy Edition with the DVD is nice, you actually get to hear Jeff talk about stuff.

King_Of_Terrors
11-23-2005, 08:16 PM
Havent heard it. Would like to though.

Britney Diva
11-23-2005, 08:27 PM
I remember the first time I heard Forget Her. I plotzed.

Whoever is responsible for leaving it off the album deserves no less than eternal hell.

Spinal Pap
11-23-2005, 08:29 PM
I've been meaning to pick this album up, but now you've gone and saved me the trouble. :)

UTvol48@aol.com

Nice write up.

MBS
11-23-2005, 08:42 PM
Whoever is responsible for leaving it off the album deserves no less than eternal hell.

I think Jeff left it off because he said he couldn't bear to perform it live. Check out the review I linked in my first post for more details. In other news, 80% finished.

Havent heard it. Would like to though.

Post your email and I'll send it to you, these threads double as a mailing list.

PinkFreud
11-24-2005, 01:48 AM
mama, you been on my mind is among my favorite covers, if not songs, of all time.

i have the regular cd and the legacy edition. the legacy edition is definitely worth the extra cash.

On The Edge
11-24-2005, 02:02 AM
I love Jeff, Grace (Legacy Edition) is one of my favourite albums ever.

The DVD adds a lot to it. I loved seeing him interviewed

PinkFreud
11-24-2005, 02:05 AM
yeah. the live in chicago dvd is amazing too. i need to get it back from my neighbor. he's had it for like 4 months.

Apocalyptic Raids
11-24-2005, 03:41 AM
Great album. Good write up too.

One of my favourite non-metal albums for sure.

ibanez_line6
11-24-2005, 07:14 AM
Yeah, I would have to say this is my favourite album of all time. I am a Buckley freak, I have every album and every book. This CD can be listened to in any mood, Last Goodbye is my favourite song of all time, it is beautiful. He is voice is amazing, his death is still sad to me, and I wonder what his music would be like today

tehnick
11-24-2005, 07:46 AM
I don''t know if all the hardcore fans have already seen this. But I think this version of Hallelujah is superb.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9006141501152795211&q=Jeff+Buckley

Iron Bars
11-24-2005, 08:32 AM
His two albums were recently sent out with Neurotoxins mailinglist and I realy enjoyed them. He is one of the few artists I've relistened a few times the last week. His voice is great and the emotion in his work brings it to a top level.

Bartender
11-24-2005, 10:03 AM
I'm not so much of a fan of Grace.

Well actually, that's quite misleading. To say it like that makes it sound like I don't like it. I do like it, it's a great album. But I don't love it, declare it my favourite album, give it full marks, or anything like that.

Britney Diva
11-24-2005, 10:10 AM
I find that most people who love Grace fall really hard for it.

Schyma
11-24-2005, 10:55 AM
I've heard too much about this not to be interested in downloading it. I'm really digging these write ups you're doing, keep it up. :)

bjschyma@hotmail.com

Iai
11-24-2005, 11:25 AM
Hey, somebody else is whoring my reviews. Nice. Even though I don't really review Grace as much as the bonus disc. br3ad's review is better for the main album.

http://www.musicianforums.com/sputnik/album.php?albumid=504

Anyway, love him, have everything he ever released, know all of his songs on guitar, yadda yadda.

CantBuyAThrill
11-24-2005, 12:26 PM
I've only heard two or three songs off of "Grace" and have really been wanting to hear this full album alot, lately. Nice write-up as well.

CantBuyAThrill72@hotmail.com

DeusExMachina
11-24-2005, 12:28 PM
I love this album. I just got it recently, and can't get enough of it. Good writeup!

Knifeboy
11-24-2005, 01:40 PM
I don''t know if all the hardcore fans have already seen this. But I think this version of Hallelujah is superb.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9006141501152795211&q=Jeff+Buckley

Thanks!.. I hadn't seen that before

Jacaranda
11-24-2005, 02:06 PM
This album sucks.

Jokes, but its surprising around where I live how many people don't know him. I've lent my Grace copy out about 20-30 times and most of the time the people think he sounds gay (Whateva!), girly (Bah!) or think its boring but the other half usually love this album. I like it alot.

Keep up the good threads Mr. Blue Sky, I think you should have a poll on which ablum to do next. :P

Paranoidd
11-24-2005, 06:14 PM
This album sucks.

Jokes, but its surprising around where I live how many people don't know him. I've lent my Grace copy out about 20-30 times and most of the time the people think he sounds gay (Whateva!), girly (Bah!) or think its boring but the other half usually love this album. I like it alot.

Keep up the good threads Mr. Blue Sky, I think you should have a poll on which ablum to do next. :P

Someone told me he sounded gay and overly dramatic once. I beat the ****ing **** out of her.

Bartender
11-24-2005, 06:30 PM
Jeff Buckley's voice has sometimes been described as haunting, beautiful, and intimate. It is often debated on how big his range was. Some say 3 1/2 octaves. Some say 4. I think it's somewhere around the middle, but it's a huge range.

Amazon claim seven.

EverytimeIBodom
11-24-2005, 06:40 PM
Nice write-up, although why don't you talk about the songs under their headings? :p Great album, I already own it so I see no reason to download it.

EightMilesHigh
11-24-2005, 06:41 PM
I don''t know if all the hardcore fans have already seen this. But I think this version of Hallelujah is superb.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9006141501152795211&q=Jeff+Buckley

Nice, thanks.

Someone told me he sounded gay and overly dramatic once. I beat the ****ing **** out of her.

:eek::lol::lol:

Iai
11-24-2005, 06:55 PM
Amazon claim seven.
Hah, and there's one review on there that absolutely trashs them for claiming that. Considering that, according to my music teacher, the world record is just shy of eight....

Paranoidd
11-24-2005, 06:58 PM
Yeah, Jeff definitely did not have seven. His falsetto was excellent, but seven is a ridiculous claim for anyone.

Jacaranda
11-25-2005, 01:27 AM
Wow, no Jeff Buckley love or is it because of that Jeff Buckley thread I've seen around here.

Bartender
11-25-2005, 04:15 AM
Yes, it rather annoyed me that they felt the need to try and make something already special sound yet more special by.. well, lying.

Knifeboy
11-25-2005, 08:07 AM
I actually prefer Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition) to this album...

tehnick
11-26-2005, 12:38 AM
Hah, and there's one review on there that absolutely trashs them for claiming that. Considering that, according to my music teacher, the world record is just shy of eight....


The world record holder is a guy from my city, he has 7 octaves.