Album Club: 28.02.2012: Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)

[aquapiranha]

Like a good few others, I love this album. 8/10

[Alex_UK]

Nice one Steve. (Although 8 out of 10 might not quite read the same as it did earlier when the poll was set up, due to a little bit of judicial editing by a certain someone... )

[Welder]

I can see myself being a minority of one yet again.
I bought this when it first came out. Played it, took it back.
A few years later a friend was browsing my collection and mentioned with some concern that I didn't have Jeff Buckley Grace.
I gave my usual kind of comment about what i thought of the album and got told I was a deaf tosser and needed to give it another try.
A few days later my friend turned up with the CD, thrust it in my hand and said "have another listen".
Managed a couple of tracks and put it in the local charity shop.
I tried again last year when it arrived in a batch of CDs I bought; it went straight in the resell pile.
So, basically i just don't get it. I appreciate a vast number of music lovers think its a truly great album but there are one or two others of the same reputation I wouldn't just cant stand.
What can I tell you

[MartinT]

I had a hunch if she, whoever she was, loved me, she would at least give it a good listen.

Did you generally do well from this hunch?

[MartinT]

It's a great album and stands repeat listening very well. Mind you, I still prefer Cohen's own performance of Hallelujah. 8/10.

[Tim]

Well I don't really have to listen to this album, as it's played so often. I have the standard copy on CD as well as the 2 disc Legacy Edition. It was one of my favourite albums from it's first hearing and remains so to this day and that is unlikely to ever change - a timeless classic for me, 10/10 and it would most likely be going to a desert island.

I think every track is a winner TBH, but Lilac Wine, Dream Brother and Hallelujah and favourites and then there's Last Goodbye, which moves me as only a handful of songs are capable of.

If folks here are new to Jeff and they enjoy Grace, give Live at Sin-é a go. It might be a little raw for some, especially if you don't enjoy live music as much as studio. It is however a very personal recording, which IMO really highlights what a musical genius Jeff was.

Great choice Alex

Jeff Buckley - Live at Sin-é

[The Vinyl Adventure]

When I first heard this I was very dubious ... Bought it on a recommendation without hearing it...
Listened to it at a mates in town first, we turned our noses up a bit at it.
I then left and went to get the bus home and realised I had it in my head and realy wanted to listen to it again.
Got home, put it on, loved it since!

[Marco]

Nice one Steve. (Although 8 out of 10 might not quite read the same as it did earlier when the poll was set up, due to a little bit of judicial editing by a certain someone... )

Gosh, what rotter could have done such a thing?

Marco.

[The Grand Wazoo]

A quick reminder from an old Spinning Today posting tells me that I last listened to this on Sunday. I bought the album on it's year of release 1994 - in fact Mrs Wazzles & I each bought a copy for the other for Christmas of that year, just out of curiosity on the strength of the music that his Dad had made.

It's remained a constant fixture in our listening habits & I'm sure it'll remain so for a long time to come.

I think it's put together so well and works fantastically as a piece. Look at the contrast provided by the matching of the 'Corpus Christi Carol' followed by the sudden impact, dynamics and growling bass guitar of 'Eternal Life'. I nearly crapped myself the first time I heard that - it was playing loudly!

I also love the rich, chocolatey thick quality that the mix has - you can't fail to be engulfed in it. Fantastic album - 10/10 from me.

[Werner Berghofer]

Alex,

many people define this as an absolute classic album

I know, but personally I’m still not able to connect to the music on this album. Inspired by this thread, yesterday evening I gave it another try, but after the seventh track (“Lover, you should’ve come over”) I eventually switched to Jan Garbarek’s album “Rites”, which has been a constant source of joy for me since its release in 2007.

In my opinion songs with a complicated structure are not necessarily better with communicating emotions and feelings. While listening, most of the time I wanted to hear the raw power and simplicity of Patti Smith’s songs from “Horses”. Of course Jeff Buckley’s voice was very impressive and the musicians knew very well how to play their instruments, but I fear the only song from this album I enjoyed was “Lilac wine”.

Werner.