Jeff Buckley – Grace
On May 29, 1997, one of the most acclaimed artists of a generation was taken at the height of much anticipated fame. Jeff Buckley was one of those musicians with whom you remember where and when you were when you first heard him. His music is intensely moving, even spiritual. In fact, every copy of Grace I’ve loaned out, I have yet to see returned. Legions of fans still dedicate memorial shows in his honor and his website is still very much alive. On May 29, 1997, one of the most acclaimed artists of a generation was taken at the height of much anticipated fame. Jeff Buckley was one of those musicians with whom you remember where and when you were when you first heard him. His music is intensely moving, even spiritual. In fact, every copy of Grace I’ve loaned out, I have yet to see returned. Legions of fans still dedicate memorial shows in his honor and his website is still very much alive.
While there are other EPs and some live recordings, Grace is the magnum opus of his short-lived career. Sadly he was just getting started and developing a fan base that included legendary musicians Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan and David Bowie (there’s plenty more). Ten years after its original release in 1994, Grace was enhanced and reissued with additional tracks dubbed the “Legacy Edition.”
His lyrics are genuine poetry. His voice is unmistakable. His influences far reaching: Led Zeppelin, Edith Piaf, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Miles Davis to name a few. Every flicker and inflection in his voice siphons raw emotion. He flawlessly covers Nina Simone’s “Lilac Wine,” Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and Bob Dylan’s “Mama, You’ve Been On My Mind” (on the Legacy Edition) while making them his own.
Grace is a heavy listen but Buckley’s three and a half octave voice and his richly textured and personal lyrics make it a memorable and engaging experience.
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