Search - Jeff Buckley :: Live at L'olympia

An Engaging Product

Martin P. McCarthy | North Chili, New York | 03/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The hallmark of Jeff Buckley's recrodings is his engaging style. This is only magnified when one listens to his live recordings.This CD, even more than "Mystery White Boy" gives us a playful, respectful and engaging Jeff Buckley. The CD packaging is also superior to "White Boy" because, in addition to its fantastic photos, it also has lyrics and some of Jeff's own penmanship (a la "Sketches For My Sweetheart the Drunk").Another reviewer had previously offered ratings on the songs for this album and I would just like to add a few of my thoughts.(1) "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" - Everyone has a favorite song and this one just happens to be mine. The version that appears on this album is superior but, believe it or not, the EP import of "Everybody Here Wants You" has an acoustic version that is truly amazing.(2) "Dream Brother" - Haunting, emotional, breathtaking.(3) "Eternal Life" - I like this song very much but I thought the "Mystery White Boy" version was better than this version. This version has a certain raw energy that is very powerful but the "Mystery White Boy" offering strikes a better balance between energy and lyrical delivery.(4) "Kick Out the Jams" - Continues the energy from "Eternal Life." This is the kind of song you NEED when you are stuck in traffic...(5) "Lilac Wine" - A bit too quiet at times... but that is not necessarily a bad thing.(6) "Grace" - In my opinion, this is the best version of "Grace" out there... even better than the studio version.(7) "That's All I Ask" - A great showcase for Jeff Buckley's vocal talents. (8) "Kashmir" - I was hoping that this would be a full length cover but, alas, it was only a short funny bit...(9) "Je n'en connais pas la fin" - A solid song that gives the listener an idea of the interaction between Jeff Buckley and his audience.(10) "Hallelujah" - The only real relative disappointment on this disc. This version sounds tired and daresay, uninspired.(11) "What Will You Say" - Those who come to this song expecting the rocker from "Mystery White Boy" will, instead, be treated to a stripped down intimate version featuring the vocals of Alim Qasimov. The two versions are an interesting contrast and when one considers them both, side by side, one sees that had Jeff Buckley recorded this song in a studio it would combine both the energy found in the "White Boy" version and the intimate subtlety of this version.All in all, this is a great CD. A true find... if you can find it."

Those strange wonderful people...

Jayne MacManus | San Francisco, CA | 11/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fascinating recording of Jeff Buckley's concert in Olympia, France. Perhaps not as quintessential as the previously released "Mystery White Boy" live album, but significant because of the late singer's fame in France. He was adored like a major rock artist by fans who cheered, sang along, and held their lighters up in sweaty, glowy bliss. You can hear Jeff Buckley's bemused gratitude when he calls the French audience, "you strange wonderful people." Someone shouts out "You've given us so much!" and humbly Buckley replies, "You've given me very much too." *** It's gratifying for fans in the aftermath of JB's untimely death, to hear him receive in person a taste of the adoration he had inspired. He was only just getting started in his own country, but overseas in France and Australia particularly, Jeff Buckley was a rave hit in his lifetime. *** There's a particularly zany interlude during the "Olympia" concert when he spontaneously breaks into a 45rpm rendition of a 33rpm Lynyrd Skynrd song. But the most beautiful track is the last -- a version of "What Will You Say" sung as a duet with Alim Qasimov. It's a fine embodiment of JB's love of international music and a showcase for his own transcending voice."

Brilliant addition to any Buckley collection

tman755 | Andover, MA United States | 10/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I own Mystery White Boy, Grace, the live DVD, and Sketches for my Sweetheart. I recently came to France, and saw this album for sale in a grocery store. I picked it up, and it didn't disappoint. It's taken a place in my collection almost even with Mystery White Boy, my favorite.Here are the songs in this 11 track piece of beauty:
Lover You Should've Come Over(9/10) - Very good version, on par with the original, but not incredibly different. I LOVE this song though.Dream Brother(10/10) - Jeff shines here, in the best version of this song I've heard yet.Eternal Life(9/10) - Extremely rocking, better than on mystery white boy, he really gets into it.Kick Out the Jams(6/10) - He doesn't go as crazy on the live DVD, but if you need this song on CD, look no further.Lilac Wine(8/10) - A beautiful song, well performed.Grace(9.5/10) - One of the best performances of this song(they're all awesome), Jeff goes off into his beautiful voice at the end.That's All I ask(8/10) - A bit slower, not incredibly intricate, but great vocals as always(duh)Kashmir(5/10) - I give it a 5 just because it's short, but it's not really a song, more of a quick parody of Led Zep. Jeff's a funny guy though.J n'en connais pas le fin(8/10) - Great song, my only complaint is that Jeff stops in the middle to talk for a bit. But hey, that's the quirk and beauty of a whole show, rather than a compilation.Hallelujah(7/10) - Ok, this is one of my favorite songs ever. And I'm giving it the 7 because he talks before the last verse, and it's not quite as perfect as on Grace. I like to be harsh, but the truth is I'll still listen to this over and over."