Thursday, December 06, 2007

Life-Altering Music

While at a stoplight in my wife's car earlier this week, I began fumbling through our CD stash and stumbled upon Jeff Buckley's album Grace.

I've listened to this album plenty in the past, but something really struck me this time. The CD rolled over to Track 4 - "Lilac Wine" - and, maybe it was the mood I was in, but I was quite literally blown to smithereens with tears in my eyes. I realize this isn't his original composition, but it might well be the most moving piece of music I've ever heard in my life.

In an age of overproduced, computer-tweaked, soul-less pop shit-music, I found myself engulfed in Buckely's raw emotion, musical simplicity and extraordinary talent. I had it up so loud I could hear every breath and subtlety in his voice. Listen to that vocal control throughout, but especially in the last line. Completely breathtaking.

The lyrical poetry is amazing and the arrangement is sweet and heart-felt. A thousand churches don't contain the depth of spirit that's in those four and a half minutes.

----------------
Now playing on Trev's iTunes: Jeff Buckley - Lilac Wine
via FoxyTunes

6 comments:

isaiah said...

Yes, Jeff is one of my favs and Lilac Wine is something else. I do the exact same thing- turn up the volume to hear the breathing, the subtlety in how he phrases words- because he teaching us something here, he's singing out of the head and from his heart here... and everything is perfect now, and now, and now.

His version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is another song where the same lesson is being taught.

He was amazing.

Amy Harden said...

Tommy, Hallelujah is my favorite on the disc Trev is referring. What a stunning piece of musical loveliness.

anonymous julie said...

overproduced, computer-tweaked, soul-less pop shit-music

v.

raw emotion, musical simplicity and extraordinary talent

there you have it.

i've heard his version of "Hallelujah" as well... intense stuff.

it's so nice to find something worth listening to, isn't it?

Craig LaSuer said...

Thanks Trevor. I had not heard that song. So very beautiful.

Celeste said...

Wonderful song. I was saddened to find out he died so young, I didn't know that.

Unknown said...

You know he covered that song?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_Wine

I put that song on a mix cd (yea, that's right) for Brandy and gave it to her on our first date. How smoove is that?

...and yes, that is certainly one of favorite songs of all time.