Search - Tim Buckley :: Tim Buckley

'...LISTEN TO MY MAGIC VOICE'

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 01/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's the way I remember reacting to this recording when I first heard it, back in 1966 - it's as stunning now as it was then. It's incredible that he was only 19 years old when he made it - the voice, the intelligence and emotion, the songwriting, are all what you would expect from a much older, more seasoned artist. Did I mention his voice? Of course I did - but that voice is one thing that set Tim apart from so many of his contemporaries (and from so many current artists as well). He had amazing control and an unbelievable range - he could soar upward and upward, seemingly without limits, without slipping into an obvious falsetto. The songs on this recording are a foreshadowing of the incredible work that was to come - and perhaps of the apogee that his creativity (and his life) attained too soon. Like all of his fans, I was crushed when he died in 1975 at 28.The songs here - all written by Tim, or co-written with lyricist Larry Beckett - shine like diamonds. Recorded and released during the folk-rock era, the arrangements and instrumentation reflects that influence, but with an individuality and earnestness that raises them above the crowd. The opening lines of `Song of the magician' sum it up nicely: `When I sing, I can bring everything on the wind flying down from dizzy air...' Buckley's voice always had that power - and combined with some of the most beautifully poetic lyrics ever set to music, the songs on this album (and most of his subsequent releases), it's demonstrated again and again.Highlights? Almost every song is a highlight, but my favorites are `I can't see you', `Wings', `Song of the magician', `Valentine melody', `Song slowly song', and `She is'. The only two here that don't completely work for me are the more straightforward `Understand your man' and, to a lesser extent, `Grief in my soul' - but I can't recall ever listening to this cd and skipping over them. There is magic in this music - a magic that continued to smolder and burn in Tim's work, through all of the stylistic changes he would manifest. It's an incredibly powerful, moving start to a breathtakingly creative career."

Timeless gem of 60's folk

Larry L. Looney | 08/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a Tim Buckley fans and I love "Tim Buckley" most. It's hard to imagine a 19years old guy can offer the world such a passionate, romantic and beautiful record. The lyrics are heart-telling and very poetic. "Wings", "Songs of the magician" and "It happens every time" are my all-time favourite. I would rate this album above "Goodbye and Hello", and this is one of the best record of the era."

Musical Magic

David R. Teves | Sacramento, CA USA | 04/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simply put, "Tim Buckley" is a spectacular album. It had an enourmous effect on me when I first bought it, nearly 40 years ago, and seeing it on CD is a joy almost beyond words. In my opinion, none of Tim's follow-up CDs can hold a candle to his first one. And that's not an easy thing to say, being a fan. If you appreciate songs of beauty and romance sung by someone with the voice of an angel, "Tim Buckley" is the record for you!



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