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 Brilliant and gorgeous Jan 14, 2010
Jeff's first album, Live at Sin-e, is for me an incredibly special, delicious treat, especially since I was unfamiliar with his music before his death. Personally, Live at Sin-e moves me more than Grace (although not more than the amazing song Forget Her, available only on the double re-issue of Grace). Although Live at Sin-e is mostly Jeff doing covers of other people's compositions, he made them completely his own. His selections (some surprising for a man to have done) were unique and wonderful, showcasing his willingness to let his vulnerability and delicate sensibilities not only show but soulfully shine through. The taste and artistry on this recording never fail to send me. Also, I find his comments and interactions with the audience on this both entertaining and telling. And, more than anything, I love the free spirit of this session. As a companion recording that's equally uninhibited, I highly recommend his father's (Tim Buckley's) fantastic jazzy/psychadelic session Live at the Troubadour, which features a trio totally immersed in long, groovy jams on some of Tim's songs.... IMHO, in this father and son were two brilliant creative voices that ironically were both taken from us far too soon. RIP.
a key moment for jeff buckley Oct 03, 2009
Live at Sin-e is a great album for the serious Jeff Buckley fan. It captures him at a moment of musical transition, as he was saying goodbye to solo performances in the tiny club Sin-e and preparing to form the band that would eventually record his only studio album, Grace.
Live at Sin-e documents Buckley as he was described by his friends: the human jukebox, the goofball, the uncanny mimic, the exceptional musical artist who was always pushing himself into new territory. At times his performances are over-the-top, at times sub-par (for Buckley). But what really matters how genuine he is. He was a performer above all else, and this recording captures him at the end of his formative period.
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The perfect venue for a near-perfect performance Jan 10, 2009
General Observations:
-- Sin-e is acoustically perfect. This is apparent from the opening number, an a capella performance. Seriously, the venue could not possibly have provided a better sound quality, which is amazing for a coffee shop.
-- There are unfortunate ground hums throughout the recording. The first becomes quite noticeable during "Grace", gets loud around "The Twelfth of Never" and lasts, at varying levels, throughout the first set. The second gets loud around "The Suckiest Water" and lasting through the second set.
No song is ruined by it, and it is mostly faint, but you will notice the ground hum on a high-end sound system.
-- If you dislike Jeff Buckley's tendency to wander off during a song, testing out unscripted, unexpected and sometimes un-listenable guitar or lyrics, you'll want to pass on this album.
He doesn't reinvent every song in this performance, but he does tinker quite a bit, especially during the second set and especially during longer songs.
For example, you won't recognize this album's "Hallelujah" as the studio version. I think it's far superior to the studio version, but you might not.
You'll recognize "Calling You," "Drown In My Own Tears" and "The Twelfth of Never" as fairly faithful renditions; you won't recognize "Just Like A Woman" as a Bob Dylan song; you'll barely recognize "Strange Fruit" as Billie Holiday's signature.
On the other hand, you'll love your introduction to Qawwali via Buckley's performance of "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai," but most believers in Sufi would probably consider the performance heresy.
Top Tracks:
-- "Sweet Thing" alone is worth the purchase price. Every fan knows Buckley's great gift is the ability to make a song his; it's especially true of this Van Morrison tune.
It has replaced "Forget Her" as my favorite Buckley tune, and for the same reason: A perfect mix of joy, sadness, and longing.
-- "Night Flight" was previously released on the EP version of this album, and it's no wonder. Passionate, aggressive.
-- "Calling You" is an incredible demonstration of Buckley's virtuosity; I would say the same of "Je N'En Connais Pas la Fin" but I believe that as angelic as Buckley's voice may be, that song should be sung by ladies only.
-- This recording concretely proves that "Mojo Pin" was meant to be played live and in the tone / tenor of the moment. It's a song that changes meaning depending on Buckley's mood, and his mood changes at least twice during this one take.
Life's too short Nov 25, 2008
The startling beauty in this piece is its fragility. It plays, if one can say so, like a quiet evening amongst close friends, where little is forced, and the occasional silences come to play as well as the impromptu jokes, allowing one ephemeral moment to blend within the next, permitting an occasional smile from the listeners. I have found myself listening to this amazing collection on repeat, making my way through the day, occasionally losing myself in work only to be drawn back by a certain song or joke. It is all the more powerful because it does not play like a collection of individual pieces, but like Grace, with an incredible unity - a harder feat here I believe, given the length of this collection. Buckley's occasional commentary, jokes, and imitations (which have been commented on by other reviewers - my favorite is the Jim Morrison) give those who are already fans of his small body of music, another confirmation of his rarity, and our loss. The few covers included here also permit one to delve in a little deeper than most studio albums will also allow. Indeed, some of these are so remarkably captured by Buckley that I would not have been surprised if, not having heard some of them before, someone had told me he wrote them himself.
A Different View Jun 09, 2007
This CD set, probably more than any other product released, reveals more of the personality and charm of Jeff while interacting with the audience, and more importantly, shows his passion and emotion for the music he plays. Listeners familiar with the songs released on the Grace album will find them re-presented in a new, but certainly not diminished, light. Some songs in particular that show their more sentimental sides are "Eternal Life", "Grace", and "Lover, You Should've Come Over".
This is an exquisite representation of Jeff's talent and charisma. A must have.
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