Grace/Mystery White Boy - Jeff Buckley

Its not everyday that you get arguably one of the best albums of all time packaged with one of the best live albums released in recent years. I guess more surprisingly is the dirt cheap price tag that surrounds this deal, most recently paraded in tesco supermarkets for a measly £5.

When I first heard of Jeff Buckley he had a cult following, especially in the UK. I had always had it on the mind list of 'albums I must get in future' ...
...a crowded train five years ago where we were both forced to stand the packed train from Manchester. When I said that I was a poor student and just hadn't got round to affording it the guy suggested I steal it as it was that good.

You'll be pleased to know I didnt revert to those measures but I did cobble together some piggy bank/drink fund to buy it the next day and for the next 5 years it has been played on a regular basis since. ... more

Its not everyday that you get arguably one of the best albums of all time packaged with one of the best live albums released in recent years. I guess more surprisingly is the dirt cheap price tag that surrounds this deal, most recently paraded in tesco supermarkets for a measly £5.

When I first heard of Jeff Buckley he had a cult following, especially in the UK. I had always had it on the mind list of 'albums I must get in future' but was pushed when I randomly met a fanatic on a crowded train five years ago where we were both forced to stand the packed train from Manchester. When I said that I was a poor student and just hadn't got round to affording it the guy suggested I steal it as it was that good.

You'll be pleased to know I didnt revert to those measures but I did cobble together some piggy bank/drink fund to buy it the next day and for the next 5 years it has been played on a regular basis since. Son of a cult folk singer Jeff has a unique style, fantastic voice and potential for greatness shattered only by his unfortunate death from drowning in 1997.

Grace was the only full length completed album of his career. Featuring collaborations, covers, originals, it remarkably flows from start to finish (sign of a good album). Now Jeff is widely reagrded as a massive inspiration ot many up and coming singer songwriters. Below is my breakdown of each track from the album where it all started: -

MoJo Pin - one of two collaborations with Gary Lucas. This builds up with guitars and is an unusual album opener but one that Ill admit took a few years to fully appreciate. 8/10

Grace - the title track is as perfect song as your ever likely to hear. Fantastic guitars and vocals that make hairs on the back of your neck stick up. Another collaboration with Lucas though if MoJo Pin was Jeff flexing his muscles this undoutedly confirms that the gloves are off. 10/10

Last Goodbye - a love song if ever one was written, a sad but uplifting portrayal of split from a close one. Uplifting due to the sheer beauty of what Jeff is writing about and the perfect performance alongside it. 10/10

Lilac Wine - cover of a nina simone track that is not too dissimilar to Hallelujah in terms of its simplicity. A chilled out, raw edition of a song that Jeff makes his own 8/10

So Real - Originally the plan was for 'Forget Her' to be track 5 and indeed the first single for Jeff Buckley. The fact that this track was included in its place is high enough praise indeed (for those who have heard 'forget her'. 9/10

Hallelujah - no need to discuss this track for long. Fastly become his best known song due to MTV playing it to death in recent past. 10/10 but this album is so much more than Hallelujah

Lover, you should have come over - Likened to the ballads of none other than Led Zepp this ballad is unbelievably poignant. Jeff at his best vocally, another standout 10/10

Corpus Christi Carol - a short, cover of a religious song that again showcases Jeff's much heralded vocals. 8/10

Eternal life - Just as you think the album is descending into a slow melt down this all out rock track with bordering heavy guitars turns the volume back up. Another superb track 10/10

Dream Brother - another grower, this was my least fav track until a good few listens, particularly on headphones made me feel different. Soft end to the album but ties up the whole of Grace to leave you feeling positive about the artist.

For me, I often think it takes most great artists three albums to really secure their place in history. Grace, achieves Jeff's place but leaves you in no doubt that without his death he would have written many more classic albums.

Mystery White Boy

To ensure that the hoards of fans weren't left with just Grace there are numerous different Jeff Material to come out of the woodwork since his death. Mystery White Boy being one of them showcasing Jeff's talent as a live musician. Featuring seven off Grace it is the more interesting covers like the smiths 'i know its over' that standout here. There are some really good guitar tracks on here, illustrating Jeff's genre and being the top of his game with songs like 'I Woke Up In A Strange Place'. I think live albums are often a tease especially 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. 

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