Band: Jeff Buckley Album: Grace Release Date: 8/23/1994 Length: 51:49 Label: Sony/Columbia Rating: 8.8

Track Listing

1. Mojo Pin (5:41)

2. Grace (5:21)

3. Last Goodbye (4:33)

4. Lilac Wine (4:31)

5. So Real (4:41)

6. Hallelujah (6:52)

7. Lover, You Should've Come Over (6:42)

8. Corpus Christi Carol (2:56)

9. Eternal Life (4:52)

10. Dream Brother (5:26)

Review

It is 10:20 PM. I sit alone, flanked only by pen and paper, raspberry Pop-Tarts, and a glass of Dr. Pepper. In addition to, of course, a copy of the late Jeff Buckley's lone completed album, Grace, secured within my Discman (extra bass boost optional). Listening hour has begun. Unabridged and unaltered, here are the notes I take while listening through Grace:

1. Mojo Pin

- This album was released in 1994. In other words, before everyone associated the word "mojo" with Austin Powers

- The crescendos and sudden fall-offs in this track are done brilliantly. It keeps teasing you into thinking that it's going to turn into an all-out rocker until it finally does, without warning, at the 4:40 mark.

- How can Dr. Pepper be so addicting? Are they coming out with a patch for this soon or what?

- I like this song. Quite a bit, actually. A definite contender for a coveted "thumb-up."

2. Grace

- I love how this guitar line that appears for the first time near in "Grace"'s introduction is constantly returning, working as a certain sort of interlude. It doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the song's melody, but enters and exits so seamlessly that it just sounds right.

- "Grace" really starts to get interesting at the three-minute point. The rest of the song is almost like a roller-coaster ride.

- Jeff Buckley was one amazing singer. Whe What makes it so impressive is how easy he makes seemingly effortlessly he does it. You can be listening to "Grace" and saying "Hey, I could sing that," until you actually make an attempt at it, at which point you realize that you have a better chance at fitting into a Britney Spears outfit than soun singing like Jeff Buckley.

- Either I need to write faster or use the Pause button more. Rewind, rewind.

- If you are still in doubt doubting Buckley's singing prowess, listen to the last minute and a half of "Grace." We are nearing dog-calling territory.

3. Last Goodbye

- This is the third consecutive song where that works like a good film or book: catchy hook and intro, strong body, but always rising to a grand climax in the finale. A novel formula.

- A solid, if unspectacular, third track, "Last Goodbye" would probably ra come in the middle somewhere if I was to rank the album's songs in order of preference.

- Is that all that I could come up with for this song? I need some more Dr. Pepper.

4. Lilac Wine

- This is different. Abandoning the rock 'n roll-based approach of Grace's first three songs, Buckley opens "Lilac Wine" with a sing-speak lyrics over sparse guitar chords.

- It feels like he is inside my head. Headphones really are the best way to listen to music.

- I suppose some sample lyrics are long overdue: "I think more than I wanna think / I do things I never should do / I drink much more than I oughta drink / Because it brings me back you."

- It should be noted that all of Grace's songs are, in one way or another, love songs. But don't worry, not in a Dashboard Confessional sort of way.

- Making fun of Dashboard Confessional is one of those things that never gets old.

- The way Buckley sings, "Isn't that she or am I just going crazy?" here really needs to be heard. I can't adequately describe this on paper.

5. So Real

- "So Real" starts off so in the same vein as "Lilac Wine," as he meaning that mellowness prevails over rock, though it does meander venture into loud distortion after a couple of minutes, before regressing into silence, at which point Buckley proclaims, "I love you," waits a beat, then admits, "But I'm afraid to love you." Just one of those moments.

- I'm stretching for material again. Time for a bathroom break.

6. Hallelujah

- This song was originally written by Leonard Cohen, though Buckley has taken some liberties with the lyrics and music in his remake.

- I should learn how to play this song on guitar. It can't be that hard.

- "Well there was a time when you let me know / What's really going on below / But now you never show that to me, do you?" It is easy to see Leonard Cohen performing this song.

- Another very good track, though I think it may go on a little long. Passing the 6:30 mark now. I guess that on a disc with ten songs spanning fifty-one minutes, it could drag at some points. Good to see that this is the first time I've noticed it though.

7. Lover, You Should've Come Over

- A tale of loss, desperation, longing, and love, I can't identify with much of it, but do I ever love this song.

- ......

- Sorry, blissed out for a few minutes there.

- "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 / But maybe I'm just too young / To keep good love from going wrong." Eat your heart out, Chris Carrabba.

- According to the digital display on my Discman, that track was nearly the exact same length as "Hallelujah." I trust my digital display and all, but "Lover, You Should've Come Over" seemed to be over in no time.

- A thumb-up is definitely in order.

8. Corpus Christi Carol

- I had to look at the liner notes just to see what track eight was actually called. Needless to say, I don't listen to this one much.

- Is that Jeff Buckley singing?! I have once again consulted my liner notes, which do not provide any additional credits, vocal or otherwise, for this song. The man's voice is unreal.

- But Unfortunately, I still don't like this song much. I think it's the lone track on Grace that I'd even consider calling a dud.

9. Eternal Life

- Now we're talking.

- At the 0:20 point in "Eternal Life," the instruments absolutely explode into sheer rock 'n roll goodness bliss. I remember reading somewhere that Led Zeppelin was one of Buckley's favourite bands, and their influence is evident here. This song rocks harder than any other on Grace -- it's not even close.

- The best way to listen to "Eternal Life" is: loud. Also, with a lot of room to jump around. The contrast between this song and the ones prece directly preceding it is amazing. It's hard to believe they're ever performed by the same guy.

- Again with the rising to a huge climax. I love it.

- "You'd better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye to life eternal!" Stick a fork in me. I have to listen to this song again. How am I going to give a thumb-up to "Mojo Pin," "Grace," "Lover, You Should've Come Over," and this? A good problem to have, I suppose.

10. Dream Brother

- Okay, I just got preoccupied with a mosquito in my room for some three minutes and totally tuned out this song. Restarting it.

- I think this one fits next to "Last Goodbye" in the "solid if unspectacular" category. The only thing that I could think to write was: "good melody."

And so endeth the Great Note-Taking Experimental Review. But before I go, a few parting thoughts, in the usual note format:

- I need to come up with another synonym for "song" and "track." This was driving me crazy.

- A lot of Dr. Pepper = a lot of bathroom breaks. I must remember this.

- Raspberry Pop-Tarts are much better than the strawberry ones.

- Oh, and buy Grace as soon as you can.

Rating: 8.8

- Luke Adams

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