Complete Live At Sine [2CD + DVD] [CD+DVD]

Sin-e was a small club where Jeff Buckley would often play sets while still trying to make it and this basic setting really allowed him to learn just what he could achieve with a guitar and that wonderful voice of his.

There are early versions of his songs that would eventually end up on 'Grace' and a whole bevy of ecclectic songs from Bob Dylan numbers to his version of a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan tune. Even with all these different styles Buckley delivers an accomplished and infinately enjoyable performance and his enjoyment in sharing all this stuff he has inside him comes out beautifully in his music and his witty monologues (musical chairs is great).

It would take too long to mention highlights as the whole double CD is littered with real gems and one time you'll say 'Lover, You Should Have Come Over' is the best, then you'll disagree with yourself and go on about 'Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin' or 'If You See Her, Say Hello'. For me the real highlight lies on the bonus DVD and the poem 'New Years Eve Prayer' as it really shows all the sides of what made Jeff Buckley such a capitivating artist as it is at times moving, funny and thouroughly heart wrenchingly honest.

If you own 'Grace', and everyone should, then you will no doubt be desperate to find something more and you can't go wrong with Live at Sin-e (Legacy Edition). It is a reminder of just what can be done through music and how powerful it can be when placed within the hands of a true genius. Wonderous.

If you can forget about the dark clouds on the horizon, though, you will be dazzled by almost every song he performs. Jeff Buckley's technical skill on the guitar was fairly obvious on Grace, but being primarily a songwriter, Buckley apparently knew better than to crowd his record with excessive guitar showmanship. In other words, nothing can prepare you for the stunning guitar work on this album.

I remember, back when I was forcing all my friends to listen to "Yeh jo halka halka saroor hai", the first question everyone asks is "How many guitarists are there? 2 or 3?". I then smirk and reply "Only one," watching their faces show first confusion, then awe. He basically carries three melodic and rhythmic lines side by side, without any apparent strain, placing him among the best guitarists I have ever heard.

Of course, the vocals are there to complement the guitar, and what vocals they are. Sensitive as ever, but with a few outstanding flourishes on songs like Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai and The Way Young Lovers Do (in which he reaches the highest note I've heard anyone sing - the third C above middle C, I believe). The emotional connection is heightened by the intimacy of the tiny café, so that when you hear climaxes like those on Just Like a Woman and Hallelujah you are completely transported.

The relative looseness of the recording may be off-putting to Buckley newcomers (I know I was annoyed at first by the ubiquitous monologues), but for anyone who already owns and appreciates Grace or the other live CDs, this purchase will be the jewel in the crown of your CD collection.