Jeff Buckley: So Real (Legacy/Sony)

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Jeff Buckley: Last Goodbye
Jeff Buckley: So Real (Legacy/Sony)

Given that when Buckley died over a decade ago he left only one complete album behind (the breathtaking Grace) and a couple of EPs, it seems to have been remarkably easy to keep the product coming.

A couple of years ago there was the Grace Legacy Edition which came with bonus tracks, a doco DVD and videos. There have also been a few live collections, the double disc The Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk, and the expanded edition of Live at Sin-E (up from a four song EP to a double disc with DVD).

So even the halfway dedicated Buckley fan who maybe has Grace and something else probably has most of what is here -- the sole exception as far as I can see is the previously unavailable version of the Smiths' track I Know It's Over.

That said, if Buckley went past you and you're wondering what the fuss is about then this is a good single-disc cross-section: all the really pretty and pretty impressive vocal gymnastics are here (Lover You Should've Come Over, Grace, Hallelujah), there are two live tracks (So Real in an acoustic version from a rare promo single, and Mojo Pin from Live At Sin-E), his take on Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin (also from Live at Sin-E), and an alternate take of Dream Brother. So this is a one-stop shop on Jeff and it is terrific, as expected -- because he was.

But for my money I'd be looking at lashing out on the Grace Legacy Edition and maybe the expanded Live at Sine-E. That would wrap up most of Jeff for you without making you look obsessive.

Until the next anniversary then . . . 

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