"Grace" Album review
This album is listened to/reviewed in chronological order
Headphones used: Sennheiser HD 280 Pros
Streamed via Spotify (I need the vinyl, I know)
Mojo Pin - This song is definitely an experience. Buckley is an artist who does not typically articulate all of his lyrics clearly, so I recommend reading them along whilst listening. So poetically tragic, beautiful descriptions of longing for someone using physical and metaphorical lyricism – his use of resembling a person by their hair colour is so enchanting in this piece. I definitely understand why all the girls/boys with black hair default to this song being their favourite by Jeff Buckley. Some of my lyrical standouts appear in the verses, such as;
“I'm lying in my bed, the blanket is warm, this body will never be safe from harm, still feel your hair, black ribbons of coal, touch my skin to keep me whole”
“Don't want to weep for you, don't want to know, I'm blind and tortured, the white horses flow, the memories fire, the rhythms fall slow, black beauty, I love you so”
Grace - I'm not as crazy about this song compared to the others on the record. Still, absolutely beautiful lyrics, you can hear his articulation far better in this one. Additionally, he really shows off his vocal range by the last chorus. I think Buckley uses this song as a self-portrait in a way, with lyrics such as: "There's the moon asking to stay, long enough for the clouds to fly me away. Oh, my time is coming, I’m not afraid (afraid to die). My fading voice sings of love”. That being said, I can't help but feel like there was something too overwhelming, musically: maybe the layering of vocals at the end went on for a little too long or something.
Last Goodbye - Absolutely one of my highlights among this album. In my opinion, Jeff's unmatched abilities of writing poignant and bittersweet poetry becomes so extremely apparent in Last Goodbye. The introduction is somewhat misleading: the song is established with cheerful chords paired with an upbeat strumming (?? sorry IDK that much about guitar yet LOL), with sharply contrasting lyrics. My main lyrical standouts include:
“Kiss me out of desire, baby, not consolation. Oh, you know it makes me so angry 'cause I know that in time, I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye.” (so beautifully heartbreaking!!!)
The tone of the guitar grows moodier further into the song, but juxtaposing lyricism and melodic harmonies give off a strong The Smiths vibe… and I think its rad as fuck!
Lilac Wine - Boys, I do not play about this song. I love Lilac Wine by Jeff Buckley. From the first strum of the guitar this song completely wells you into a world of heartbreak. “I lost myself on a cool, damp night”— I'm sure you did, bro. So effortlessly poetic and, dare I say, graceful, Buckley's voice swims through this song, making the listener absolutely swoon for lost love or someone you long for. The brassy ride sybil, paired with gentle strumming on an electric guitar flows in and out of each other, holding the listener in a chokehold. I would say the lyrics of Lilac Wine are my favourite of any of his songs, with my standouts including:
“When I think more than I wanna think, Do things I never should do, I drink much more that I ought to drink, Because it brings me back you”
“Listen to me, I cannot see clearly, isn't that she coming to me? Nearly here, Lilac wine, Is sweet and heady, where's my love?”
“Listen to me, why is everything so hazy? Isn't that she, or am I just going crazy, dear?”
“Lilac wine, I feel unready for my love, feel unready, for my love”
So Real - With lyrics that stay simple compared to the other songs on Grace, this song is predominantly music-based for me. I think the lyrics really emphasise what this song is about – a past love that was profoundly intense and painful to remember – with the drums playing such a significant part in the song! I’m a fucking drum Slut so I really liked this one :) I listened to it a few times over because I was slightly preoccupied, but this is definitely going on my playlist. My stand-out lyrics from So Real are probably the repetition of; “I love you, but I'm afraid to love you, I'm afraid, Oh, that was so real, Oh, that was so real, (...)”, I think it was immensely powerful amongst the instruments playing, it gives this song a shiny gold star. (Also, the way he says "I love you/I'm afraid to love you" is so fucking hot and breathy I swear to god)
Hallelujah - As one of the most popular songs off of this album, I was super excited to take a listen! I was not disappointed; I actually went into this album not knowing that there were any covers. Jeff relies on his own voice and the gentle playing of his electric guitar, which did not disappoint. The original song is written and sung by Leonard Cohen, which surprised the fuck out of me, because I only listen to his song titled “I’m Your Man”, which is a song about a sadomasochistic relationship featured in the film Secretary. But that is beside the point LOL. This was beautifully executed. Jeff’s voice is a work of art on its own.
Lover, You Should’ve Come Over - Oh god. Literally what do I even say. This song is established with synth, then, subsequently, the iconic strumming of guitar bursts in. So moody and emotive… yet there’s a cheery element to it. It kind of feels like an artist happily indulging in his despair, desire and longing for someone, a person who remains irreplaceable. Buckley’s voice harmonizes and complements the instrumental aspect of this song so extremely well, with his soft and sweet tone almost leading the guitar where to go. This song resembles a two-act story to me, the first act being more gentle compared to the second. The abrupt, emotional nature and intensity of the “It’s never over” segment to the song is so beautifully overwhelming, with simple, yet impeccably delivered lines ending every four bars. And these Fucking lyrics I swear to god. Jeff Buckley is my favourite poet of all time. Here are a few of my stand outs from this song:
“Broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it. Where are you tonight, child, ya know how much I need it.”
“Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in. Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him.”
“It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder, It's never over, All my riches for her smiles when I've slept so soft against her”
Corpus Christi Carol - This song was good. Buckley sings higher than I thought he could, showing off his different forms of vocal expression… very opera like! Extremely beautiful. I don’t really have many notes, I think it’s a lovely interlude. He could possibly have swapped this with Lover, You Should’ve Come Over order-wise, but other than that, I really did enjoy this one for what it is.
Eternal Life - FUCK YEAH! I really liked the energy of this song. A lot more ‘rock n’ roll’ compared to the others off this album, the whole five minutes is sectioned into a respectable verse #1, chorus, verse #2, interlude, bridge then verse #3, which is the set-out of your everyday classic rock hit… I can't say I’m complaining! Every good record has one inspired by that layout. I really enjoyed the lyrics too; it has religious tones to it, with references to Jesus and his preaching of peace and love — describing it as “a prison for the walking dead”. In my interpritation, this song is about modern christianity and how twisted it has gotten, which to be honest, is a really interesting change to the other songs on this record being only love poems. A few of my standout lyrics from this song are:
“Did you really think this bloody road would pave the way for you? You better kiss hello to eternal life.” (DIVA!)
Dream Brother - This song was beautifully produced; When you listen to it, you get fully grasped in the surround sound. I genuinely think Dream Brother is a standout for me on this album, with an ambience of lost hope and betrayal hidden inside the lyrics. Pairing this with the extraordinary usage of the vibraphone alongside Jeff’s iconic acoustic and electric guitar, it not only brings the song to life, but it builds a whole world of poetic tragedy around the listener. Some of my standout lyrics include:
“Her green eyes blew goodbyes, with her head in her hands, and your kiss on the lips of another”
“I feel afraid and I call your name, I love your voice and your dance insane — I hear your words, and I know your pain”
Forget Her - Forget Her is a song already quite familiar to me; it illustrates a narrative of getting over someone you love and can’t forget after they were unfaithful/ after cheating on your relationship. As the conclusion of the album, this powerful, emotional ballad is driven to a point of devastating climax, leaving the listener absolutely shattered, yet heart-racing. The song is introduced with a beautiful press roll on the snare, followed by a rock beat with a double kick (fuckkk.), and a melancholic chord progression on the electric guitar. The lyrics are pure poetry; Buckley recites an inner monologue of sorts, trying to convince himself/the listener to not romanticize somebody who hurts you so deeply. The lyrics are absolutely beautiful and illustrative, with some of my favourites being:
“All full of wine, the world before her, was sober with no place to go”
“Well my tears are falling down as I try to forget her love was a joke from the day that we met, all of the words, all of her men, all of the pain when I think back to when”.
As a conclusion to the record, Forget Her is timed perfectly at the end, giving the listener one last thing to cry about.
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