Jeff Buckley’s Grace. One hardly knows where to start. What a record. At this point, it is undoubted that no one was doing it like Jeff Buckley was – not even his own father. As a son of famed Folk singer, Tim Buckley, Jeff very clearly grew up around good music. That is most likely the reasoning and explanation behind how he so delightfully mastered the crafts of songwriting and lyricism. Grace is often regarded as one of the most influential Alternative Rock albums to exist. Musicians such as Lana Del Rey, Thom Yorke, and surprisingly, Bono have made comments expressing their gratitude towards the artist’s only studio album.
What draws listeners into the album from the jump is Buckley’s soft and enchanting Falsetto vocal. Despite high pitched male vocals being uncommon for the year that the album was released (1994), the record consistently stayed in the charts for 7 weeks, rivalling bands like Nirvana and Oasis. The opening track, ‘Mojo Pin’ is bursting with those beautiful and smooth guitar licks that personify Jeff Buckley. His whisper-like singing tones contrast with the common crescendos he presents us with. On title track ‘Grace’, we are introduced to the bright and airy capabilities of Buckley. It is with such ease that he seems to produce those prepossessing harmonies and runs in his vocal delivery.
Upon hearing Jeff Buckley’s name, one song will spring to a majority of people’s heads – ‘Hallelujah’. Jeff Buckley’s famous rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ is what initially inspired people to continue listening to him. He so beautifully reimagined Cohen’s ideas for the song and added his own flair to the timeless track that’s been the soundtrack for countless TV shows and Films. Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’ is a true tale of love and adoration for someone who has control over you.
Jeff Buckley is rightfully known and praised for his lyrical abilities. Listening to ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’ alone helps you understand why. His seductive, poetic charisma is crystal-clear in each track. Buckley was perceived as a true artist when it came to lyricism. Among his most appreciated lyrics is “Too young to hold on / Too old to just break free and run.” What a gut-wrenching statement. It truly takes a consequential level of musicianship and poeticism to be able to produce the lyrics that are on ‘Grace’. Very few acts spring to mind which equal Buckley when comparing Musical quality. Each song on ‘Grace’ is a journey of its own. The tracks range from melodramatic mourning for a past flame in ‘Last Goodbye’ to a cover of Benjamin Britten’s ‘Corpus Christi Carol’ which details the fairytale of a falcon.
‘Grace’ is undoubtedly Jeff Buckley’s Magnum Opus. It is a record full of tracks that leave listeners wanting more and thinking of what might have been if he had still been with us. When an artist passes away, we see their music in a different light. We realise that they were just like us, and Buckley certainly was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. He had expressed that so beautifully on “Grace” that I will always regard Jeff Buckley as a pure drop in an ocean of noise.
5/5