Sheer brilliance (Mystery White Boy - Jeff Buckley)

Member Name: phill@leeds

Product:	Mystery White Boy - Jeff Buckley
Date:	18/05/02 (312 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Jeff Buckley's voice, Sheer unadulterated bliss, A showcase for the talent of Jeff and his band

Disadvantages: none

For fans of Jeff Buckley out there, all I need say is buy this album. For the uninitiated, its probably best to start with Grace. My album review goes as follows;

Dream Brother – An epic opening, almost nine minutes long with the famed Buckley falsetto soaring throughout the song. This version is a marked improvement on the version in Grace.

I woke up in a strange place – A ‘new’ song (not on any other albums), crashing drums and guitar led, with Jeff adopting more of a screech than anything during parts. Ok, but not a particular favourite of mine.

Mojo Pin – Slowed down from his album’s version, that tiptoes for 3 ½ minutes until Jeff and his band let go with a rushing crescendo. The song then enters another high-adrenaline raucous phase. Overall, stunning.

Lilac wine – This song is growing on me, and I think this particular version compares well with both the version on Grace and Live at l’Olympia. A tender gentle song that could well shatter at any moment.

What will you say – My current favourite song, only found previously on Live at l’Olympia, this 7 minute epic encompasses everything that a truly great song ought, namely wonderful singing, a perfect ‘hook’ and music that swoons behind, with and over the vocalist. The song has tender meaning – Jeff wrote it about his dad (the country artist Tim) who he only met once.

Last Goodbye – This song is another Jeff Buckley classic with the classic line “kiss me, please kiss me, kiss me out of desire babe, not consolation”. A beautiful, beautiful song.

Eternal life – An up-tempo ROCK song that provokes famed shakings of the head and much toe tapping! A broody, angry noise that’s positively blasted out by the band. Much better than the album version.

Grace – Another song better than the Grace’s counterpart, you’ll end up lovi
ng this song for every second until, the final exhausted moment. The best song on this album perhaps?

Moodswing Whisky – A new song, in a style set apart from the others on the album, this is a drunken song that stumbles about like the man it talks about. One of the weaker songs on the album, but still showing Buckley hallmarks (angry piercing vocals, driving guitars)

The man that got away – Again new, and again in an unusual style. A melodic plodding song with minimal music. Jeff’s voice is laid almost bare, and with clever, if simple, character and lyrics, it marks a welcome and refreshing change.

Kanga Roo – This is the longest track on the album at over 10 minutes long. A graceful introduction to the song leads into another epic Buckley crescendo, the type that punctuates so many of his songs. Jeff’s voice is quite simply awesome on this quite excellent track. The tempo picks up toward the end - a rhythmic pulsating song (the drummer, Matt Johnson, stealing the limelight) that thrills the crowd.

Hallelujah/I know its over (medley) – The final track on the album begins with another charming rendition on Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ leading into The Smiths’ ‘I know it’s over’. Wonderful.

Overall, this is a stunning album to compliment Grace; a sumptuous compilation that everyone who enjoys music should own. Jeff Buckley has the greatest voice i've ever heard, with an almighty range and such power. Combine with this driving guitars and you've got yourself a band who could have been globally huge, instead of a cult treasure.

Note, this album is particularly quite as a whole, and will need to be listened to on a high volume to pick up the intimate live warmth of the album. Also, get your hands on the Australian import if possible, because it contains another CD of unrealesed tracks.

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