Post by Ezekiel on Aug 25, 2008 20:37:08 GMT
Tim Buckley - Goodbye And Hello (1967)
This is not your average “folk rock” album.
9.5/10
Personnel:
Tim Buckley – vocals & guitars
Lee Underwood – guitar, keyboards
John Farsha & Brian Hartzler – guitar
Jim Fielder & Jimmy Bond – bass
Don Randi & Jerry Yester – keyboards
Carter Collins – congas, percussion
Dave Guard & Eddie Hoh – percussion
Produced by Jac Holzman
Tim Buckley recorded and released his second album “Goodbye And Hello” in 1967. Or was that 2007? Of course not, the point is that this album is, from the very instant you put it on, timeless. It’s something extraordinary from a time when music like this was very rare or simply didn’t exist, and neither does it in our day. What you find on “Goodbye And Hello” is so peculiar, special and yet so available. Why so special? It’s the overall sound, the song writing and Tim Buckley’s wonderful voice. The moods are many and the songs are diverse; everything from desperate love songs to piercing anti-war songs.
The songs on here are written by Tim Buckley and his friend Larry Beckett has co-written some of them and provided some lyrics. From what I’m hearing this partnership has brought nothing by good over this album, though I must admit I enjoy the songs written by Buckley alone hits me the strongest. There are no doubts that Tim Buckley was one of the finest musicians, artist and songwriters of our times.
Feelings are never hidden on this album, which would be impossible to do for a man like Tim Buckley who always sings directly from the heart. He is afraid but at the same time warning and preachy in the album opener “No Man Can Find The War”, and in “Hallucinations” he is dejected and mysterious. The entire album is a statement of what a great vocalist Tim Buckley was; his voice was distinctive and he could everything with it. Most impressive is the loud and almost operatic “I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain” where Buckley sings high-pitched and loud throughout. Buckley wrote this song for his estranged wife and son, Jeff Buckley who I’m sure most of you know.
Tim Buckley and his band got complete freedom to do whatever they wanted on “Goodbye And Hello” which is why you always get the feeling that it is pushing the boundaries. The somewhat psychedelic nature of the album is a great example of the freedom they were allowed, and though the psychedelic aspects of the album aren’t very prominent you always know that this isn’t the ordinary late sixties album.
Tim explores some darker themes and music on this one as well. “Pleasant Street”, which is easily my favourite from the album, is so dark and almost scary with the haunting piano and the brilliant electric guitar riff. This is the one track where both Buckley and the band really shine and it shows how ambitious Buckley was. He didn’t make music in hope that it should peak at any chart or sell in millions. No, he made music with the sole purpose to express his creativity and see what he himself was capable of. “Pleasant Street” is about disappointment I think, and the lyrics are absolutely brilliant; “You thought you were flying but you opened your eyes/And you found yourself falling back to yesterdays lies”. The emotion in the instrumentation and in Buckley’s voice is something you simply do not find very often. It is just so exceptionally great.
Another clear favourite of mine is the heartbreaking love song “Phantasmagoria In Two”. Buckley’s voice alone is enough to make me cry, and when the lyrics are so sad and well written and the instrumentation is enough to tear a soul apart you simply don’t know what to do with yourself. Look at this verse for instance: If you tell me a lie I’ll cry for you/Tell me of sin and I’ll laugh/If you tell me of all the pain you’ve had/I’ll never smile again”. It’s wonderful and heartbreaking.
Now, let’s talk about why this album isn’t a 10/10. First we have the song “Carnival Song”, which I do find pretty uninspired and a little silly. It has got your average carnival melody and Tim Buckley sings – the only time I’ve heard him do that – pretty uninspired. It is not dreadful by any means; it’s just pretty disappointing when you hear what Buckley and his guys actually are capable of.
The other thing that bugs me a little is the title track, “Goodbye And Hello”. This is a fabulous piece of music consisting of many different musical themes. Most of these various themes are brilliant as usual, but sometimes it does get a little too overladen and pompous for it’s own good. Well, I guess I’m ready to ignore those parts as that song otherwise is wonderful.
“Once I Was” is another gem, and perhaps the most obvious “folk” song. It’s a wonderful ballad and it has an fantastic harmonica in it which plays throughout. The lyrics for this one are also very cleverly written and very moving. This is more than I can say about “Knight-Errant”, a song I think I’ll never get. It has a good melody and it’s a good listen but there’s something about it that I find awkward.
The album ender is perfect. “Morning Glory” is a soft and touching song about Tim Buckley talking to a hobo, wanting him to tell him stories of cold and stories of old. It’s a great finale for this wonderful piece of art.
This is one of the greatest musical experiences I've ever had, all the way up there with Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of The Moon" or Bob Dylan's "Desire". This is an album I'm sure a lot of people on here would enjoy. It's kind of genre-free and distinctive and a true artistic accomplishment for Tim Buckley.
This album review is dedicated to Tim Buckley who passed away way too early in 1975, aged 28. Rest in peace. The music lives on.
This is not your average “folk rock” album.
9.5/10
Personnel:
Tim Buckley – vocals & guitars
Lee Underwood – guitar, keyboards
John Farsha & Brian Hartzler – guitar
Jim Fielder & Jimmy Bond – bass
Don Randi & Jerry Yester – keyboards
Carter Collins – congas, percussion
Dave Guard & Eddie Hoh – percussion
Produced by Jac Holzman
Tim Buckley recorded and released his second album “Goodbye And Hello” in 1967. Or was that 2007? Of course not, the point is that this album is, from the very instant you put it on, timeless. It’s something extraordinary from a time when music like this was very rare or simply didn’t exist, and neither does it in our day. What you find on “Goodbye And Hello” is so peculiar, special and yet so available. Why so special? It’s the overall sound, the song writing and Tim Buckley’s wonderful voice. The moods are many and the songs are diverse; everything from desperate love songs to piercing anti-war songs.
The songs on here are written by Tim Buckley and his friend Larry Beckett has co-written some of them and provided some lyrics. From what I’m hearing this partnership has brought nothing by good over this album, though I must admit I enjoy the songs written by Buckley alone hits me the strongest. There are no doubts that Tim Buckley was one of the finest musicians, artist and songwriters of our times.
Feelings are never hidden on this album, which would be impossible to do for a man like Tim Buckley who always sings directly from the heart. He is afraid but at the same time warning and preachy in the album opener “No Man Can Find The War”, and in “Hallucinations” he is dejected and mysterious. The entire album is a statement of what a great vocalist Tim Buckley was; his voice was distinctive and he could everything with it. Most impressive is the loud and almost operatic “I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain” where Buckley sings high-pitched and loud throughout. Buckley wrote this song for his estranged wife and son, Jeff Buckley who I’m sure most of you know.
Tim Buckley and his band got complete freedom to do whatever they wanted on “Goodbye And Hello” which is why you always get the feeling that it is pushing the boundaries. The somewhat psychedelic nature of the album is a great example of the freedom they were allowed, and though the psychedelic aspects of the album aren’t very prominent you always know that this isn’t the ordinary late sixties album.
Tim explores some darker themes and music on this one as well. “Pleasant Street”, which is easily my favourite from the album, is so dark and almost scary with the haunting piano and the brilliant electric guitar riff. This is the one track where both Buckley and the band really shine and it shows how ambitious Buckley was. He didn’t make music in hope that it should peak at any chart or sell in millions. No, he made music with the sole purpose to express his creativity and see what he himself was capable of. “Pleasant Street” is about disappointment I think, and the lyrics are absolutely brilliant; “You thought you were flying but you opened your eyes/And you found yourself falling back to yesterdays lies”. The emotion in the instrumentation and in Buckley’s voice is something you simply do not find very often. It is just so exceptionally great.
Another clear favourite of mine is the heartbreaking love song “Phantasmagoria In Two”. Buckley’s voice alone is enough to make me cry, and when the lyrics are so sad and well written and the instrumentation is enough to tear a soul apart you simply don’t know what to do with yourself. Look at this verse for instance: If you tell me a lie I’ll cry for you/Tell me of sin and I’ll laugh/If you tell me of all the pain you’ve had/I’ll never smile again”. It’s wonderful and heartbreaking.
Now, let’s talk about why this album isn’t a 10/10. First we have the song “Carnival Song”, which I do find pretty uninspired and a little silly. It has got your average carnival melody and Tim Buckley sings – the only time I’ve heard him do that – pretty uninspired. It is not dreadful by any means; it’s just pretty disappointing when you hear what Buckley and his guys actually are capable of.
The other thing that bugs me a little is the title track, “Goodbye And Hello”. This is a fabulous piece of music consisting of many different musical themes. Most of these various themes are brilliant as usual, but sometimes it does get a little too overladen and pompous for it’s own good. Well, I guess I’m ready to ignore those parts as that song otherwise is wonderful.
“Once I Was” is another gem, and perhaps the most obvious “folk” song. It’s a wonderful ballad and it has an fantastic harmonica in it which plays throughout. The lyrics for this one are also very cleverly written and very moving. This is more than I can say about “Knight-Errant”, a song I think I’ll never get. It has a good melody and it’s a good listen but there’s something about it that I find awkward.
The album ender is perfect. “Morning Glory” is a soft and touching song about Tim Buckley talking to a hobo, wanting him to tell him stories of cold and stories of old. It’s a great finale for this wonderful piece of art.
This is one of the greatest musical experiences I've ever had, all the way up there with Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of The Moon" or Bob Dylan's "Desire". This is an album I'm sure a lot of people on here would enjoy. It's kind of genre-free and distinctive and a true artistic accomplishment for Tim Buckley.
This album review is dedicated to Tim Buckley who passed away way too early in 1975, aged 28. Rest in peace. The music lives on.
