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NEW VINYL REVIEW: Jeff Buckley GRACE 180gr. RTI

LPMike

LPMike

Vinyllicus Diversicus
GRACE - Jeff Buckley
2010 HQ-180 LP Re-Issue from Sony Legacy / Record Technology Inc. (RTI)

Just picked this up. Review will be forthcoming (later tonite)... first visual impressions: packaging is top notch. quality sleeve, vinyl is clean and heavy, well pressed. Insert with all original artwork from '94 but sized up nicely for the LP format. RTI did the vinyl work and its one of the nicest looking new LP's ive seen in a while. We'll see if it plays as well as it looks....


Stay Tuned!
 
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Alrighty then.. just finished listening to the new LP. Keep in mind, I first started listening to J.B. in 93 when the Live at Sin'e EP came out. No one knew who this guy was and I was digging his stuff. I bought Grace as soon as it came out and was thoroughly floored by this new "discovery"... i listened to that CD all through 94 and into 95 when it seemed, suddenly BAM here was Jeff Buckley on the radio..... the rest was history, he got big real fast. I was proud to have had no less than a year-long "lead" on everyone else..... I listened to Sin'e then Grace hundreds of times in that 1-2 year period... by the time J.B. came to my region on tour, he was so big I opted to NOT go see him... (stupid move!)

I was shocked when he died a year or so later, and regret not seeing him (two times) when I had the chance.... Now... on to the review...

This LP is stunning. I listened at moderate (50%) volume, which is loud-ish on my system. The dynamics at this volume are excellent though, so its a good test volume. The record is as clean as a whistle. The new JICO SAS helps, of course, but honestly, the surface noise is nearly invisible.... the mastering/engineering for this pressing is spot-on to my ears with no audible cuts in or out. J.B.s vocals are immediately present front and center, with a soothing mix of reverb and punch. The band is well mixed. drums have serious kick, organ is distinctly clear and everything is put together well.... in all honestly, I've never heard 'Grace' sound this good.

There was just a slight bit of inner groove distortion at the inner run out after the music faded out at the end of side one, but this was the only noise on the whole LP of any notice.

I would buy ANY RTI pressing without hesitation after listening so closely to this one. Job well done. I recommend this pressing to anyone and everyone. Cue this LP up, find your sweet spot and stay there. You'll have a great listening experience from start to finish.

My original '94 CD never sounded even remotely as good as this LP.
 
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I just bought this LP as I am a recent fan. I found Jeff on MOG and thought I should have the vinyl.

I agree this version is top notch in presentation. Clean vinyl is uncommon in new vinyl unfortunately and this was pristine.

I have listened to it once while we were making diner so have not had the chance to give it a proper high SPL critique but it is on my list of things to do.

Enjoy!
 
I have "Grace" on I believe the first reissue (?). It came with a 45. Anywho.. To this day it is one of my go-to reference records. Superior sound in every way. It is rather quiet- meaning I have to turn my volume knob up have way to get things rockin' but literally sounds like he and his band are playing in my living room :yes:

Sounds like I should pick the RTI up as well just for giggles
 
LPMike said:
This LP is stunning. I listened at moderate (50%) volume, which is loud-ish on my system. The dynamics at this volume are excellent though, so its a good test volume. The record is as clean as a whistle. The new JICO SAS helps, of course, but honestly, the surface noise is nearly invisible.....
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree completely. I've purchased a lot of brand new vinyl releases since Xmas (Pearl Jam's '10' remaster, Kiss 'Destroyer' redo, Jean Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene' redo, the MSFL of Dead Can Dance) to name a few, and none come close to how quiet this release is (actually, only 1 does: Cocteau Twins dbl compilation 'Stars & Topsoil', on 4AD). A few odd little (very quiet) ticks between tracks, but that's it.

The music is allowed to do it's thing, beautifully. A couple of times I forgot it was vinyl playing.

Thanks for the recommendation. :thmbsp:
 
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Awesome, thanks for posting your impressions. I've never had JB on vinyl, just tape, CD, and mp3.

This is one of those magical albums, I agree, that feels surreal at times and seems to belong no matter the circumstance. It's an album whose songs move you. I like Sine and the stuff that was later released but as an album, open to close, this is a masterpiece imo.

Any fans of his dad, Tim Buckley?
 
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