Grace - Jeff Buckley

Advantages: Jeff's amazing voice; great song writing ability; emotionally powerful
Disadvantages: absolutely none

...the Mississippi and sadly drowned. Grace is his only completed studio album, but what an album it is! Its influences are incredibly diverse, combining elements of Radiohead (circa The Bends, OK Computer), Led Zeppelin, and Van Morrison, fusing rock, jazz, gospel and folk into an intense musical experience. Every track on this album is truly amazing, and from the haunting opening of the very first track, Mojo Pin, it’s obvious that this is ...
...Hallelujah. In terms of production, Grace has thankfully been kept raw enough to retain the genuine feel of the music but not so untouched that it shows its age. The album as a whole is very melodically driven: Buckley is capable of weaving extraordinarily beautiful melodies seemingly from nowhere and nowhere is this more apparent than on the 7 minute epic, Lover You Should’ve Come Over. The gentle opening reveals a soulful, soft, pained, ... Read review

Advantages: Buckley's voice is amazing
Disadvantages: There can't be more

For years, my former flatmate kept telling me I should listen to “Grace”, the one studio album Jeff Buckley released before his premature demise. For years, I resisted, in much the same way as I have stubbornly resisted her calls to listen to Radiohead and Beck. After all, what I had heard of those I hadn’t enjoyed and if they were symptomatic of her musical tastes, then I could quite happily survive without ever hearing Jeff Buckley. Another reason ...
...Cobain. Cobain is another musician who dies too young and his music has been revered ever since, despite not actually deserving it. Would we still be talking about Nirvana with such regularity had he still been alive and the band had just split up? Somehow, I doubt it. Knowing that Jeff Buckley had also been taken from us too soon made me wonder if the album really was as good as my flatmate used to tell me or if she was speaking too well of the ... Read review

Advantages: Jeff Buckley's voice.
Disadvantages: none

To me, 'Grace' is one of those albums that can stand the test of time. There is something to love in almost every single song on the album. Jeff Buckley had an amazing voice, ranging easily over 5 octaves, and he put his heart and soul into every song. One of his most famous songs - Hallelujah, deserves a whole review on its own really. The lyrics of this song have been wildly debated, yes, there has even been sites started up, dedicated to talking ...
...I could put the lyrics of the full song on here for you to see for yourself. Although, the credit for the lyrics can not go to Jeff Buckley, as this song was originally written by Leonard Cohen. What Buckley did though, was bring the song to life, sing it with passion and meaning, with only a simple guitar tune to go with it, something Cohen never managed to do in my opinion. The raw emotion that you get from this song is due to the fact that Buckley ... Read review

Advantages: Great songs, incredible voice
Disadvantages: There was never a second album proper

...If there was any justice, Grace would do just that. It’s not that I don’t like Led Zeppelin; in fact, they’re one of my favorite bands. But Grace is simply majestic. The first thing you notice is Jeff's voice. You have to hear it to believe it; it’s truly one of the greatest voices in the history of rock. Every note he sings has the sort of soaring quality that even the greatest singers only manage when they sing falsetto. ...
...lovesick nightingale”. “Mojo Pin” opens the album; a dreamy showcase for Jeff’s singing and a great song in itself. But the title track, “Grace”, which comes next, is something else. A soaring chorus and wonderfully melodic guitars are the highlights. Robert Plant of Led Zepp said that this song actually made his hairs stand on end. The third song, “Last Goodbye”, is quite possibly the greatest thing ... Read review

Advantages: Lyrically and Musically enchanting
Disadvantages: Only one album from one so talented

'Grace' Label - Columbia. Released - 1994. I was reading a magazine article recently about Mark Greaney the lead singer of 'JJ72' who was doing an interview. He was asked who his musical influences were to which he replied Jeff Buckley. Now believe it or not I had never heard of Jeff Buckley until this point but made a mental note and thought no more about it. A few days later I noticed Jeff Buckley again in the sale section of my local record ...
...the magazine article I had read, I decided to buy it not knowing what to expect, parting with a fiver in the process. Was it a fiver well spent or not ?? Before I review the album I ought to give you a little background on the artist himself. Not knowing much about him personally I have been doing a little research and was more than a little surprised at what I found ! Jeff Buckley was the son of Tim Buckley, a legendary sixties folk singer who ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful song structure and the voice of an angel.
Disadvantages: Eventually, it comes to an end.

...It was the song 'Hallelujah' (a cover of a Leonard Cohen song / poem) that originally got me into Jeff Buckley. Since then, I have musically fallen in love with all of Jeff's music. 'Grace' was the only studio album brought out by Jeff himself, who was the only son of cult folk singer / songwriter Tim Buckley. Jeff was determined not to be simply a sum of all of his creative influences (including The Smiths, Led Zeppelin, and Nina Simone), but wanted to create his own unique style, and this breathtaking fusion is present on 'Grace'. From the moving 'Mojo Pin' to the emotion of 'Lilac Wine', and from the heartfelt sigh at the beginning of 'Hallelujah' to the philosophical questions of 'Eternal Life', the album is perfect. Ten years and one day after the release of the original 'Grace', the re-mastered 10th anniversary edition... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Grace, buckley, sensational voice and lyrics, an extra song
Disadvantages: Not as good as the anniversary edition, little new appeal

...This expanded version of Grace has all the original Grace tracks and "Forget her". It was released 10 years after the original Grace was released, and is veiwed in negative light by Buckley fan's as it was basically put out after the far superiour legacy edition. The opening track is Mojo pin a track co-written by Gary Lucas and Jeff Buckley from there "Songs to no-one 1991-1992" album (which I've reviewed on here). A song with only a lil change in the time from which it was originally written, and it keeps Buckleys' impressive vocals that go from slow soothingly amazing to chasing like a panther through the opening line of the chorus: "Precious, precious silver and gold and pearls in oyster's flesh" The song keeps the original lyrics that shoot images into your head right through, a great opening track to a very memorable album... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A must have album, fantastic price
Disadvantages: Jeff isn't here to release studio albums rather than live ones

...when you can never see this guy live for yourself. However mystery white boy has enough to like though I think the Live at L'yompia is a slightly better option in terms of comparisons between the two cds. Overall, there is now so much material from jeff Buckley out there that without knowing much about it you could easily end up with the music that was only released as a bonus for the fans but not his best work. Grace is the only way to start to look at his music. This package is ideal though the add on live CD is a welcomed bonus. For those who like this they should 'sketches for my sweetheart the drunk', decent recordings of what would have been the follow up to Grace. This album whenever I have recommended it to others it has gone down well so I would do nothing different on here.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful