Customer Reviews

Grace-Around The World Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD+DVD Documentary Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley)

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OK, I just bought the deluxe "Grace Around The World" by Jeff Buckley, of course put together by Jeff's Estate (his mom Mary Guibert really), and it's basically good value for yer money, plus it has essential ingredients which make it not exactly a cheap cash-in by Mary but a treasure trove of stuff for Jeff's legion of admirers, new and longtime alike.

Just read the review of the single disc compilation "So Real", and I could understand why people would be frustrated and confused, but I found it to be an ideal introduction for newbies, and it plays as a cool "greatest hits", as an album, so I have no problem with it.

This package "Grace Around The World" will make lots of people happy. It's a 3-disc set, 2 DVDs and 1 CD. DVD 1 has footage of live performances of every "Grace" song performed around the world, mostly all unreleased commercially, plus lots of rare TV appearances on shows like MTV's 120 Minutes, as bonus footage, 2 hours long total. The CD is sort of unnecessary, as it consists of the first 12 performances from the first DVD...I guess to play in your car, on yer stereo and put on yer iPod and computer. The 2nd DVD is the reason to pick up this package...it's the documentary film "Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley", 1 hour long, and screened at different festivals worldwide & won all sorts of awards...the concept is pretty cool, made for no money and by first-time filmmakers, it's about the power behind his musical legacy, about his legion of fans...NOT a biography about Jeff...definitely different. I think I saw a screening of it at the Knitting Factory in NYC, during a tribute get-together set up by his mom, a year or so after his death...which did hit me hard when I heard about it on the radio in 1997...nobody but a small cult of fans had heard of Jeff at the time, and when I heard that announced, I was like HUH??!!?? Jeff died??!!?? What the...??? I've been a huge admirer from the beginning and saw Jeff do an instore appearance/performance at NYC's downtown Tower Records in 1995...I still remember it like it was yesterday...met Jeff afterwards and he was spaced out but really cool and happy to have met me, appreciative too...likewise.

Anyhoo, this package...it's like a DVD boxset, packaged not unlike Tom Petty's 4-disc "Runnin' Down A Dream" BestBuy package. The DVDs come out in a double gatefold enclosure, with a 24-page booklet inside, well-written notes and lots of pics...even an epilogue as to what his bandmates are currently working on and with...outside the gatefold is a large, double-sided poster...one side is the French Grace tour poster...with the full black & white band photo, and the other side is the Australian tour poster with a different band pic...I would NOT hang this sucker up, unless you buy 2 boxsets and frame each poster, representing each side...otherwise, not recommended.

There's also a laminated envelope with the title of this box and logo in silver print on the front of the envelope, sealed with a clear round sticker...inside is more memorabilia...a replica of his Sydney flight boarding pass, a backstage laminate, a small replica of a Columbia press release of his Grace tour, dated June 10, 1994, and 4 nice black & white postcards...pretty cool, all.

All in all, a nice package for the longtime fan...hardcore ones might have this stuff already, but probably on shoddy-sounding & looking bootleg videos...nice to have it in a pretty package for a good value. Mary put her heart into this thing...I met her at that Knitting Factory shindig, and she was quite nice and appreciative to me as I came to the event and I support Jeff's music and art...if people are not happy with this thing, oh well, I am...can't please everybody I guess...just know that it comes across that her heart is in the right place...I believe Jeff would be happy with this package, I really do.

Jeff Buckley, RIP.

This collection of video footage and audio footage is excellent. It gave me chills watching the DVDs. If you love Jeff Buckley then this is a must have. It is so great to see all this rare footage finally! The extras in the deluxe edition are wonderful. There is even a copy of one of Jeff's plane ticket stubs and a laminated backstage pass. Not much "officially" released JB video stuff exists out there so this is a real treat. Highly recommended! Thank you! thank you! thank you! for releasing this! We love you Jeff!

Being that Jeff's mother has had almost everything to do with all of Jeff's posthumous releases, I have to give her props for releasing this amazing 3 disc set packed with Buckley amazingness. Theirs a lot on here that fans may have heard or seen before but theirs plenty that most fans haven't.

The documentary on disc 3 is great for getting lots of insight into the man that was Jeff Buckley. Their are interviews intertwined throughout so you can see for yourself that information being presented is faithful. Also on disc 1 you get lots of live stuff, with Jeff speaking about his music, life, and philosophy in between each song. Basically this is for hardcore Jeff fans for the most part, which it seems to me that most of his fans are. So buy, buy, buy people!

Twelve years after Jeff Buckley's death, we are still presented with new items. Here we have a disk of live performances, both in DVD and CD form. The performances are tremendous as always, and it is interesting to see the camera movement in the MTV recordings, and the evil eyes Jeff gives them. Vancouver is always a pleasure to hear live because it was in the beginning stages at the time the band was touring; it turned into a gorgeous song. The "Star Tours" segment and Merri Cyr's interview are fabulous (albiet short) clips that showcase Jeff's sense of humor and sense of frustration with fame.

Also included is a documentary called Amazing Grace made by a few fans. It is about Jeff's legacy through his fans, which runs the gamut of unknown painters and musicians to big names and friends. There are some really insightful comments about Jeff in the documentary, about his music and his own soul, why his music is so important to artists, and what he has inspired.

The set also includes some cute little additions, like postcards, a copy of a backstage pass, Jeff's boarding pass, and a two-sided poster.

Jeff lives and breathes through his music, and sets like this prolong his memory. It is truly beautiful.

I'm a hufe Jeff fan, owning almost every official release - and having seen many interviews, etc. on the Web. I hesitated to buy this, thinking that it might just be a re-packaging of everything I've seen before. It's way more than that.

The "Amazing Grace" DVD is a great representation of Jeff. The interviews with the band and others (mainly David Fricke of Rolling Stone and Chris Cornell)confirm his talent and spirit - and legacy.

Highly recommended.

This was such a great video. The insight into his being was far greater than I expected. The music was amazing of course. Not knowing who this person was prior to watching I feel deeply rewarded and enriched.

A must have for all Jeff Buckley fans. Excellent concert footage and interviews, mostly never before seen. I highly recommend it.

Love is Real. Life is a gift of magic.
Music is a beautiful, one of the most, forms of God we have.
Jeff was a musical being made of stardust. We are so lucky to have experience him in some form.
Thank you to his bandmates, friends and family for loving him and supporting/inspiring him.
Thank you to the folks who put this great boxset out. It's wonderful.
To becoming our greatest dreams,
Live Beautifully.
Thank you.
Adam Sica

I was so elated when I got this package in my mail. The minute I opened it I could see how thoughtfully Mary (Jeff's mother) had packed everything together - the photos, boarding pass as well as the booklet inside. Reading and looking at everything was wonderful. The CD and Dvd of Grace Around The World contains the live shows that Jeff did and are ,ofcourse, incredible. Before I ordered this package I had everything that was available of Jeff's music, and was afraid that it would just be the same stuff. But this package contains very different and unique performances as well as the touching documentary ''Amazing Grace''. I'm so happy I chose to buy this - it keeps Jeff's memory, talent, and legacy alive.
Much Love to all Jeff fans out there.