Grace Around the World

iTunes Review

As of 2009, Jeff Buckley’s legacy is firmly established among his hardcore cult following who have been treated to exhaustive archeological digs of his recorded works. He died young and didn’t leave as much behind as his audience would prefer. Since supply cannot meet demand, his every note becomes all the more significant. This collection takes his lone finished album, Grace, and presents it as a live performance with renditions from Europe, MTV specials and anywhere else a decent recording showed up. Buckley approached his work as an improviser and performed his material with an elastic reality that enabled the songs to transform themselves as the moment revealed. “Mojo Pin” could last twelve minutes, while Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” could expand over seven. Songs such as “Last Goodbye,” “Dream Brother” and “Eternal Life” only have their meaning and impact deepened by the ensuing years. Buckley was a young artist just finding his way. His ambitious dreams were often still sketches of a greater work he envisioned in his mind.