Album Review

Writer’s Note: The liner notes in Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk were referenced for parts of this article.

There have been far too many tragic deaths among musicians — one of them being Jeff Buckley, who in my opinion, was one of the most talented people to ever grace the earth. Quite a few people are familiar with the album Grace, but I’m going to talk a little bit about Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk.

Sketches, which was released in 1998, is a 2-CD, 20-song collection of studio and four-track recordings. Buckley’s first, and only truly completed album, Grace, was released at the beginning of 1993. Over the next four-and-a-half years, Buckley wrote a lot and recorded many songs up until his death on May 29, 1997.

Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk was originally supposed to be titled, My Sweetheart The Drunk. The material for this album that was meant to be recorded in June of 1997 was never altered. Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, demanded that all of the songs stay where Buckley left them, even if parts were missing. The point of this was to preserve the legacy of his music, and this is why the album name was changed.

After purchasing this album, these are the songs that you MUST listen to first:
On disc one listen to “Everybody Here Wants You” and “Opened Once.” The first will make you feel as if you are wanted, which is always nice. It’s amazing how a song can change your mood, or even your outlook on life. “Opened Once” is a song with beautiful lyrics: “Just like the ocean… always in love with the moon.”

On disc two, listen to “Nightmares By The Sea.” This song is definitely a change from a normal Buckley tune, but it’s an exciting sound. Next, listen to “Satisfied Mind.” This was actually the song that Buckley’s mother played at his funeral. The song is gorgeous, but once you know this was the song that was played at the funeral, you’re guaranteed to at least cry a couple of tears.

What’s (dare I say cool?) about this album are the songs that were recorded on a four-track recorder. You can tell the difference in the sound quality, but that’s what’s so great about it. You can just picture Buckley sitting in his house in Tennessee singing the songs. That’s what the quality of the recordings sound like… almost as if you’re there with him. The songs that were recorded in the spring of 1997 with a four-track include: “I Know We Could Be So Happy Baby (If We Wanted To Be);” “Murder Suicide Meteor Slave;” “Back In N.Y.C.;” “Demon John,” “Your Flesh Is So Nice” and “Jewel Box.”

Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk proves that Buckley was a musical genius. None of the songs were ever completed, and it’s still a miraculous piece of art.

R.I.P. Mr. Buckley. You’re greatly missed, but still deeply admired by many.

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