Considered one of the greatest vocalists of all time, it is a sad loss that he went too soon in such a tragic way, much like his father Tim Buckley.
I write this with an ache in my chest for his work means very much to me and his only finished album, Grace, is my favourite.
10 Best Jeff Buckley Songs
10. Mojo Pin – Grace
Starting out with a lovely ethereal melody and Jeff’s humming voice it slowly and softly transitions into lovesick fools’ poetry. Listening to it feels intimate as if you need to be alone while listening. Letting it consume you, it sends chills down your spine and Buckley’s vocals are the cherry on top. It finishes as it starts, sweet and softly.
9. Dream Brother – Grace
When Jeff was a baby his father left him and his mother, and he only saw him once as a little boy. The same mistake almost made one of his friends and so that inspired this song from the incredible work of art that is the Grace album.
8. Witches’ Rave – Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
This is the first song on the list from his never finished album, it was released posthumously in 1998, a year after his drowning. He wasn’t satisfied with the song on the new album when working on it. To me, all songs seem finished and perfect as they are but wonder what else kind of magic he could’ve brought to the music if only he had time. This is a rather fun tune though.
7. Everybody Here Want You – Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
Now, this is how you seduce a woman with a song, poetry my dear. A song to dance with your better half to.
6. Forget Her – Grace
I’m sure we all wanted to forget someone, and doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship. It seems that all of Jeff’s songs are rather haunting, is that just because of his early death and he seems like a mythological creature because of it? Grace is the album that just may help you get through a hard heartbreak, thank you for your music, Jeff.
5. Nightmares By The Sea – Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
Such a soft angelic voice, it seems hitting notes high or low was very easy to him. This song rocks and it will rock your socks off!
4. Lover You Should’ve Come Over – Grace
Let him explain it better himself, he had such a way with words.
“Words are really beautiful, but they’re limited. Words are very male, very structured. But the voice is the netherworld, the darkness, where there’s nothing to hang onto. The voice comes from a part of you that just knows and expresses and is. I need to inhabit every bit of lyric, or else I can’t bring the song to you – or else it’s just words.”
3. Last Goodbye
A sweet farewell to lost love, and they made it out to be as if Ariana Grande’s “Thank u Next” was the first song to not bash exes, as if!
2. All Flowers In Time Bend Toward The Sun ft. Elizabeth Fraser
This is an unreleased song, and Elizabeth Fraser did not want it be released. As beautiful as this song is I can’t help but feel guilty listening to it. It is very intimate, with lovers singing to one another and the recording ends with both of their sweet laughter. Undescribable, that is what it is, you have to hear it. Apologies to Miss Fraser.
1. Grace – Grace
Here we are, number one and of course, it had to be Grace. This just may be the song with the best guitar riff and vocals as well. Buckley momentarily screaming makes you wonder how is something like that even possible to come out of someone and how a man can hit such high notes. A masterpiece.
“Jeff Buckley” by www.higbyphotography.com is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.