#338: Tim Buckley - Happy Sad (1969)

Zack: Originally, I only knew Tim Buckley as blog-favorite Jeff Buckley’s negligent, dickish dad. Now I know him for GRATUTIOUS XYLOPHONE. Seriously, not since my 2^nd grade music teacher has anyone demanded more xylophoning. Technically, my first impression wasn’t quite correct. It turns out that the instrument in question was actually a vibraphone, not a xylophone. Which just means GRATUTIOUS VIBRAPHONE. Once I got over the excessive vibraphoning, I noticed that Happy Sad is sort of like an inverse Nighthawks at the Diner. Both albums are quite good, feature heavy jazz influences on artists who made their reputations in other genres, and have some great jam sections. But where Nighthawks adds a little grit to everything in his path, Tim Buckley is content to leave the songs as pleasant as possible. Overall, Happy Sad was a good album, even if the vibraphone was a bit distracting.

Favorite Tracks: Gypsy Woman; Buzzin’ Fly; Dream Letter

Emily: I picked Tim Buckley (a) because Zack put 2 of his albums as choices for this part of the list, not-so-subtly influencing me to choose one; (b) because of the potential relationship to Jeff Buckley, based purely on last name alone (and my instinct turned out to be right, as Tim was Jeff's father); and (c) because I was intrigued by the concept of Happy Sad. Would the album jump between happy and sad, like manic depression? Would it blend the emotions together into soulful musings? Would it be neither happy nor sad, just selecting the name to deceive listeners? After a listen, it seems that Happy Sad is all three of those. Some tracks are more psychedelically upbeat, reflecting the optimism of the era, while others are more plaintive and introspective. But the concepts of happy and sad blend throughout the six tracks with influences from jazz, folk, and psychedelic rock, creating an album full of interest and emotion that I will certainly return to again.

Favorite Tracks: Gypsy Woman; Sing a Song for You; Buzzin' Fly

#271: Nina Simone - Wild is the Wind (1966)

Zack: I could talk about the epic title track here, but I won’t. Instead, I’m going to focus in on Lilac Wine, a song we saw a couple hundred albums ago on Grace by Jeff Buckley that I had, at the time, no idea was a cover. I’ve listened to Grace roughly a billion times since then and Lilac Wine remains a song that I sort of like. It’s part of a three-track break between the powerful intro of Mojo Pin and Grace and the mid-album tear-makers of Hallelujah and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over that lulls you into just the right headspace. On Grace, it’s more a placeholder than a powerful, album-defining song. Not here. Not for Nina Simone. Lilac Wine was the first song that made my brain draw parallels to Jeff Buckley. But once I had finally made the connection, I just couldn’t stop hearing it. Honestly, I’m kind of disappointed it took me so long. They have almost identical singing voices (gender be damned!) and the music is almost identical in composition. I’ll admit to liking Grace more. But it was still cool to hear where that all came from and it was fantastic hearing someone perform Lilac Wine in such a way that was so similar, and yet so different, from the way I had initially heard it.

Favorite Tracks: Lilac Wine; Wild is the Wind; If I Should Lose You

Emily: What's crazy to me about this album is that it's made up of leftover songs from previous recording sessions. If these are the leftovers, the choice cuts must be absolutely amazing. Wild is the Wind is excellent exhibition of Nina Simone's talents. Her voice combines the musicality of jazz with the heart-wrenching emotion of soul and blues, creating music that pulls in both the listener's mind and heart. Some of the tracks have an upbeat Motown feel as well, adding in another element to reflect the music of the times but which didn't really fit in with the rest of the album. Where the album really shines is on the ballads. With a little bit of music and a lot of Simone's voice, these songs will fill a room with emotion and soul.
Favorite Tracks: Four Women; Either Way I Lose; I Love Your Lovin' Ways

#48: Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)

Zack: Grace is a true alternative album. I can’t explain the technicality behind that statement because it isn’t the instrumentation, or the pacing, or the subject matter of the lyrics, or anything like that that defines why this album is such a perfect example of alternative rock. It just has the feel of alternative music is and what is should be. There is a subtle beauty to the music, most notably in the song Hallelujah, a cover of the Leonard Cohen classic. Buckley truly does that song justice, a rare feat considering how poor some of the versions I’ve heard sound when compared to the original. It’s difficult to pick out a high point for this album because it remains at an extraordinary level of excellence throughout, but I believe that Grace peaks in the song Lover, You Should’ve Come Over. That song is absolutely brilliant. It is 95% depressing, but that somehow just makes the 5% of hope even more magnificent. Truly, it is a masterpiece that fits into the largest masterpiece that is the album, Grace.

Favorite Tracks: Lover, You Should’ve Come Over; Hallelujah; Dream Brother

Emily: Jeff Buckley's music is simply beautiful. Everything about it, from the arrangements to the guitar to Buckley's voice, creates a sound of quiet, subtle grace. His guitar interludes throughout the album add dimension and weight to the tender vocals and dark themes. The guitar creates the mood for each song, whether it is the harder sound of Eternal Life or the gentle beauty of Hallelujah. The latter song is one of my favorites, not just from this album, but of all time. Its perfection is in its subtlety. Buckley elicits complex, powerful emotion with just a guitar and his voice. It is sad, it is bittersweet, it is nostalgic, and it is beautiful - just like the brilliance that is Grace.

Favorite Tracks: Hallelujah; Last Goodbye; Mojo Pin