Grace

This man did indeed die too young, tragically, he drowned in a swimming accident shortly after this album was released. But, this one work, is so transcendent that it deserves a place in the collection of anyone who truly loves music and understands its ability to move one's soul and emotions beyond the mundane life that one ordinarily lives. Every song on this album is a true gem which becomes more beautiful with each listening, as one is able to hear it more clearly, applying the jewelers loupe of one's ears to catch each nuance. I hardly know where to begin, so I'll start with the song that is my favorite on this album: a song which is rapidly becoming one of my favorites of all the music I've ever listened to - 'Hallelujah', written by Leonerd Cohen some time ago. I first heard this tune as part of the soundtrack of 'The Lord of War' The opening sound one hears is of Jeff sighing deeply before starting to sing with only an unaccompanied acoustic guitar melody that can only be described as haunting in its simplicity. The first words of the song: Well, I heard there was a secret chord That David played and it pleased the LORD But, you don't really care for music, do ya? Well, it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor fall and the major lift The baffled King composing, Hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah The religious references simply drip from this song as the acoustic guitar continues to echo in the background. From its overtly religious beginning the song moves into the story of a broken relationship with a lover who meant more than anyone in the singer's life. The heartbreak is so evident that he who can listen to this song without shedding at least a tear or two has no humanity left within him: Well, baby I've been here before I've seen this room and I've walked this floor Ya know, I used to live alone before I knew ya And I've seen your flag on the marble arch Our love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Well, there was a time when you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show that do me. Do ya? But remember when I moved in you And the holy dove was moving, too and every breath we drew was hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Maybe there's a God above But, all I've ever learned from love was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya And it's not a cry that you hear at night It's not somebody who's seen the light It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah This album is worth the price simply for this one song. But, the thing is that there are no weak songs on this CD, making it a bargain at any price. Beyond that, though, this is the type of thoughtful, caring, and insightful music upon which no price can really be placed: it is priceless, timeless. Jeff Buckley obviously made this album for the sheer love of his art. The craftsmanship and effort of the making shows through every note and line, every word, and every thought.

What else needs to be said about Jeff Buckley's recording of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"? Compelling lyrics, dramatic melody, outstanding vocal. That territory has been covered. But last year, an American Idol contestant sang it, and the Earth moved. All of a sudden, everyone remembered, or discovered, who Jeff Buckley was. But what about the rest of the album? I wasn't sure, but I got a clue when, this year, Adam Lambert's riveting Idol performance of "Ring Of Fire" was described as how Jeff Buckley would have done it. That was enough for me, so I bought the album. Where to start? Buckley's vocals on this 10-track album range from ethereal and fragile to hard rock, roaming unfettered up and down the scale, all over the place, in every style. The music backing the vocals is just as varied. But more than that, there is the range of emotion expressed. On "Mojo Pin", in a delicate, nearly feminine voice, Jeff is in despair: "...if only you'd come back to me...", he sings, backed by music with, first, a jazz flavor, then, Led Zeppelin rock. The title song has a more straightforward folk-rock feel, and the vocal ends by being raw and intense. "Last Goodbye" is another song about a dying relationship, with a touch of an East Indian influence; and you can hear this more strongly in "Dream Brother" - trance-inducing guitar, droning melody. "Lilac Wine" is a soft, uncomplicated track paradoxically about confusion and uncertainty. With "So Real", we are back to jazz, loaded with chord, tempo and genre changes; and I get the impression that the experience described might have been a little TOO real. "Lover, You Should've Come Over" is a slow, steady folk/blues track, and, as the title suggests, the singer is longing for his lover to appear. On "Corpus Christi Carol", Jeff sounds like a member of the Vienna Boys' Choir as he sings an acoustic-backed, hymn-like song. In a complete reversal, "Eternal Life", despite the title, has killer grunge-rock music with hard-edged lyrics and very earthy delivery. So, why does this album remain so fascinating 15 years after its release, 12 years after Jeff's untimely death? Besides the obvious talent, his fixation on romantic love - the driving force of the album - makes him a very alluring figure. This, coupled with the dreamlike atmosphere of the tracks, gives him an elusive quality. You want to grasp who and what he is, but you can't, not really. Who knew that such a debut would also be the finale? What could this young man have accomplished if he had lived longer? Sudden tragic deaths, like Jeff's and that of actress Natasha Richardson last week, leave me with an uneasy feeling, a feeling that there is unfinished business. Well, maybe in the next life?

Was a gift. And it was amazing. My friend LOVES it.

Excelente 🎼🎵👌🏼

Classic Album Updated With Great Sound

Worth it. Missing Forget Her though.

Steven Wilson’s ATMOS mix shines. SW is in an Immersive Audio-class of his own.

cool people love jeff buckley.

Love it

Jeff Buckley my beloved…..

perfect

Si eres amante de la música, este disco debe estar en tu colección si o si, este fue un gran disco de Jeff. Había pedido este disco y lamentablemente llegó maltratado de las esquinas debido a que pusieron el disco en una caja sin nada que lo protegiera, así que tuve que regresarlo porque para mí no es opción tener un disco o funda maltratado, ya esta vez el disco llegó bien embalado y en perfecto estado; lo bueno de comprar en Amazon es que puedes regresar algo que te llegó maltratado, muy bien por Amazon.

Avevo pensato di non dire nulla su questo album, di soprassedere.... del resto che si può dire di uno dei dischi più incensati degli anni 90, cosa si può pensare di aggiungere? Allora dico semplicemente le mie sensazioni. Avevo questo album in cd ma come sempre cedo poi al fascino del vinile... Ricordo che all'inizio mi ero avvicinato con sospetto a Jeff, il figliolo prodigio di Tim... più celebre del padre e con un solo album realizzato... Dico questo perché io adoro Tim Buckley e credo che sia stato uno dei più grandi e innovativi cantautori degli anni 60 e 70. Credo che la quadrologia ""Happy said", "Blue afternoon", "Lorca" e Starsailor" sia una delle cose più preziose della musica rock del novecento. Quindi vedere questo ragazzo incensato in ogni dove a causa di questo unico album mi fece storcere il naso.... ok come sempre accade la morte prematura di un'artista ne alimenta il mito e le lodi (morte prematura e tragica anche per il padre che però non subì una simile santificazione) ma Jeff Buckley godeva prprio di una venerazione a mio avviso eccessiva. Poi presi l'album e lo ascoltai cercando di non avere pregiudizi, cosa diventava sempre più facile ascolto dopo ascolto, rapito dalla bellezza di questa musica. Sia detto per inciso, a mio parere il padre era e resta inarrivabile, ma è impossibile negare lo stato di grazia del giovane Jeff e di questo album. Che vive di armonie cristalline, di un impeto rock costantemente trattenuto dall'indole delicata del suo protagonista, che regala prove vocali da brividi, che è innegabilmente uno dei vertici espressivi del cantautorato degli anni '90. Poesia pura non c'è che dire, il frutto di uno stato di grazia probabilmente irripetibile. Mi permetto di chiudere con un consiglio, sia a chi ha amato questo album che a chi si avvicinerà per la prima volta... se non l'avete ancora fatto date una possibilità al padre, a Tim Buckley... non ve ne pentirete....