I couldn’t have done an album review column without ever mentioning my favorite artist of all time, Jeff Buckley.
The late singer was an avid songwriter, artist, and poet. Despite his most known album (and technically his only studio album) being “Grace,” I wanted to instead write about “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk.” The album is a compilation of songs he recorded that were supposed to be on his second album, titled just “My Sweetheart the Drunk.” It was released a year after he passed away, after negotiations with Buckley’s mother were made.
The album consists of 2 discs, each with 10 tracks, that comes to about an hour and 40 minutes. As a huge “Grace” enthusiast, I knew that this album wouldn’t disappoint. Because of the album’s length, I cannot talk about each song unless I want to bore the absolute heck out of anyone reading this, so I decided to focus on some of my favorite songs.
The album starts with “Everybody Here Wants You,” a love song dedicated to Jeff’s girlfriend at the time, Joan Wasser. It’s a soulful, smooth track that expresses Buckley’s ardor and attraction to his lover who remains emotionally distant. There is a bittersweet quality to the song, as though Buckley is reaching for something just out of his grasp. Interestingly enough, the sound of the song leans into his earlier work, with its slow and warm guitar tones and an intimate atmosphere that scratches at the listener’s soul. I believe this is actually the first song that I heard from this album, and it immediately intrigued me. I was led to believe that “Grace” was his only released piece of work but I was pleasantly mistaken.
The next track that I really enjoy is “Witches’ Rave,” which blends alternative rock with jazz and even folk (all rounder king, Jeff!). The song can be described as magically unsettling, filled with evocative imagery that describes Buckley being caught in a spell, an intoxicating and chaotic attraction to someone with an almost supernatural hold over him. The rhythm and guitar create a very hypnotic atmosphere and does a good job at delivering that magical, witchy feeling.
Moving on to “Morning Theft,” probably my second favorite song on this album. It’s on the more melancholic side, with plenty of delicate guitar work and soft melodies. The title suggests something being stolen, perhaps a relationship or a fleeting moment of happiness that didn’t last. The song feels like an intimate reflection on a past love, with both sorrow and hope present in the lyrics and the melody. Buckley is appreciating the beauty that once was, filled with mourning but also gratitude for being able to experience such feelings even for a short moment in time.
“Vancouver” depicts a sense of isolation and longing, using brooding rhythms and guitar work. The song feels both urgent and mysterious. The city of Vancouver itself can represent distance between Buckley and someone else who’s slipping away. The lyrics hint at a relationship filled with conflict, with the song conveying the emotional turmoil of someone torn between attachment and self-preservation. Buckley’s vocals are explosive and melancholy, which reinforces the song’s restless feel.
There are so many more songs that I could mention, but this article would just get too long. All in all, this album is a beautiful reminder of who Buckley was as an artist, and it captures his unique sound forever, alongside “Grace.“
Personal ranking:
1: Everybody Here Wants You
2: Morning Theft
3: Thousand Fold
4: Vancouver
5: Opened Once
6: Haven’t You Heard
7: Witches’ Rave
8: Back In N.Y.C
9: Jewel Box
10: Yard Of Blonde Girls
11: Satisfied Mind
12: Nightmare By The Sea
13: Gunshot Glitter
14: You & I
15: New Years Prayer
16: I Know We Could Be So Happy Baby
17: Your Flesh Is So Nice
18: Demon John
19: The Sky Is A Landfill
20: Murder Suicide Meteor Slave
