Jeff Buckley — Grace Around The World

Grace Around The World

Columbia/Sony

Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

06/10/2009 12:01pm

The cult of Jeff Buckley continues to grow, and with good reason. Although Buckley only released one full-length album during his lifetime before he accidentally drowned at the age of 30, Grace is rightly recognized as a classic.

Buckley placed much emphasis on live performance, and that's the main idea behind Grace Around The World. The CD/DVD set features Buckley and his three bandmates performing songs from the 1994 classic album at many different locations in North America. The live clips, which are all unreleased save for "Lover, You Should Have Come Over," are interspersed with interview footage that's mostly from a sit-down session Buckley did with MuchMusic.

Buckley repeatedly emphasizes the importance of live performance in this interview, and his ideas truly come across in the live clips on Grace Around The World. The sheer power in his flexible, emotive voice is evident when you hear it on a recording, but it reaches an entirely different level when you watch him sing. That Buckley was so emotional and so into every word he sang should be obvious to anyone who watches this DVD.

Buckley's refusal to perform any show at a "half-assed" level and continually give his best in a live setting is what makes him a true legend. Most of today's "rock stars" would do well to watch this and take lessons from a true pro.

Grace Around The World also serves as a good primer for the Buckley newbie. The interview footage is used sparingly and doesn't interfere with the performances, but contains enough information and quotes from the man himself to educate about one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.

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