Grace - Jeff Buckley > Reviews > Jeff Buckley, fallen from Grace

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Jeff Buckley's amazing voice, and talent
Disadvantages:	Very few

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Jeff Buckley was a wonderful song writer and musician, with possibly the best voice that has existed in the world of music! An extremely skilled man, especially with the ability at singing in both falsetto and his normal singing range, in order to give himself a huge range of notes that he is able to use in his music! I've never heard a man with such a beautiful voice.

Jeff Buckley's only full studio album made before his death, "Grace", includes songs that Buckley has covered, but also his own songs. The album demonstrates both his amazing song writing ability, and also the skill he had in order to make a song his own, and to put his own stamp on that song!

Buckley covers 3 song on the album to make them sound completely different, and I feel that he does this extremely successfully. Both Buckley's songs, and the ones that he has covered are amazing, and I definitely suggest that you purchase this album! A great piece of work!

Track listings:

1)Mojo Pin
A beautifully quiet start, with Jeff Buckley's falsetto voice echoeing out over a guitar. The tune is extremely beautiful, and slowly becomes more and more lively, with some drums, the guitar, and jeff's voice; a voice of an angel.

2)Grace
The song, which was used to name the album, and it is quite clear to see why! One of the fans favourites "Grace" offers a much more upbeat sound when compared to the first track, an extremely beautiful voice again, which is clearly amazing! The voice sounds so soulful, and with Jeff Buckley's wails the song has the making of a brilliant song! Grace is clearly a song, which is overflowing with emotion, which many would say was song writing genius!

3)Last Goodbye
One of my favourite Jeff Buckley tracks! Another song full of emotion, and a work of true beauty. Jeff intwines his use of falsetto and normal singing voice once again to give a beautiful feeling to the song.
The lyrics clearly express love, and a failing love at that:
"Well this is our last embrace, must I dream and always see your face, why can't we overcome this wall, baby, maybe it is just because I didn't know you at all. Kiss me, please kiss me, kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation, oh you know it makes me so angry, cause I know that in time, I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye!"
A true work of art, and a song that will last in our memories forever!

4)Lilac Wine (Elkie Brooks cover)
If you want to hear the most perfect chord progressions, listen to this song! A true song of beauty! A slower song that is, again, overflowing with emotion! Jeff Buckley's voice manages to sound out so beautifully, to bring many listeners to tears.

5)So Real
One of the weaker tracks on the album, but still very good! A different sound to Buckley's songs, with different chord progressions, that seem a little strange. However, the song still has many wonderful lyrics, and is a definite grower:
"Yeah, I never stepped on the cracks, cause I thought I'd hurt my mother"
The song also includes a beautiful part where Jeff Buckley says "I love you, but I'm afraid to love you". This is extremely moving. A good song.

6)Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)
Another one of my favourite Buckley songs! Quite simple, with simply Jeff Buckley's voice and a guitar accompaniment. Buckley adds 2 new verses, which are much darker than Cohen's original verses! A song that will make anyone cry! I'll admit, I have! Much more tuneful than Cohen's monotone approach, with much more emotion and beauty!
An amazing song, which has been performed amazingly well!

7)Lover, You Should've Come Over
Another one of my favourite songs by Jeff Buckley! This is probably my favourite song of the moment! Again, a song that makes you resort to tears. Buckley's voice is so soulful, and the song is full of emotion! Quite a long song, along with Hallelujah, but very enjoyable! Some of the most moving lyrics ever once Buckley gets going:
"Sometimes a man must awake to find that, really, he has no-one"
and...
"It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter, it's never over, she's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever!"
and...
"I feel too young to hold on, I'm much too old to break free and run, too deaf, dumb, and blind to see the damage I've done, sweet lover, you, you should've come over"
A wonderful song, that has to be loved!

8)Corpus Christi Carol (Benjamin Britton cover)
One of the weaker songs on the album again I feel. Performed beautifully, but it gives me the feeling that it is on the album to just show the world that Jeff Buckley can sing in falsetto. A nice tune, but quite boring. Luckily, it is quite short, and grows on you over time! This may also have something to do with my loathing for Benjamin Britton...Jeff manages to pull it off though!

9)Eternal Life
A much rockier feel to the song! A good listen. Another one of those songs with guitars, drums, and voice!

10)Dream Brother
A different sound for a Buckley song, but very refreshing to hear. Once this song gets going, it is extremely good, and before it gets going fully it sounds extremely different to any of the other songs on the album!
A good song to listen to, which includes Jeff Buckley's wailing voice and guitars again. A great song, which also involve tabla!

11)Forget Her
A slower song again to close the album. It is very beautiful with a lot of emotion once more. Again with some beautiful lyrics:
"Her love, is a rose pale and dying, dropping the petals..."
A good song to close the album, with Jeff Buckley's wonderful voice sounding as good as ever!
A fantastic album!

The only question you should be asking after purchasing this album is this; "Why did Jeff Buckley have to die at such a young age?!"
You will not regret purchasing such a divine album, and I guess the only possible answer is this; "All of the best, and most talented, people die at an early age..."