Customer Reviews

Richard Buckner

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4 star:		(1)
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The songs here will be quite familiar to fans of Buckner's "Devotion + Doubt" and "Since"; all of them appeared on those two albums in different form. It's remarkable, however, to hear the contrast in the different versions of the same songs. All of the tracks on this appropriately self-titled disc (recorded in 1996) are stripped down to acoustic guitar and vocals. As such, these recordings are a perfect expression of the melancholy troubadour spirit that animates Buckner's songwriting.

What is remarkable about this album is how it seems that nothing stands between the song and the listener on these recordings. Buckner's voice is right there, and his guitar playing is dynamic; rarely do you hear an acoustic guitar generate such contrasts between picking and strumming, between wispy lilting and forceful crashing. The absence of a backing band allows him to follow his own varied pace on each song. Listening to this album, you can hear "Goodbye Rye" as a strained but intense anthem and "Jewelbomb" as a mournful ballad, not as the less subtle rockers that they are on Buckner's MCA recordings. On the short story-ish "Boys, the Night Will Bury You," the vocal delivery is less hurried, giving the song a spookier tone. Even the poignancy of "Lil Wallet Picture" seems somehow more pronounced. Buckner has achieved the difficult feat of making an all-acoustic recording interesting, engaging. You wonder if this was the way he originally wanted these songs to be released seven years ago.

This album is sure to be compared to Springsteen's "Nebraska." Besides the sparse arrangements, both albums share the same raw intensity. Like the tracks on "Nebraska," the tracks on "Richard Buckner" could have been demos, but really they sound too good for that. Beyond these considerations, however, Buckner's impressionistic lyrics and his ragged but rich baritone bear little resemblance to Springsteen's work. Both are great albums, though, and deserve an honored place in any singer-songwriter, rock'n'roll, or alt-country fan's collection.

This is the kind of music that keeps you captivated from beginning to end. Richard's lyrics are hypnotic. His guitar work is like nothing I have ever heard before. I was already a devout fan listening to Richard's other CDs-- Bloomed, Devotion + Doubt, The Hill, and loved each one in separate and unique ways. But, I was not ready for this raw performance. He sings these songs in a more consise way than the more arranged versions, but yet there is something so much more intimate listening to just Richard with his guitar. It complements my Buckner collection. Now it's time to get aquainted with Impasse, his lastest installment.

I picked this album up not knowing anything more than the fact that I didn't have it. I put it on while cleaning up after dinner and didn't pay much attention to it until I realized that I sorta knew the songs. The songs, however, where quite different than the one's I knew. Needless to say, I turned up the volume and started again from the beginning. For Buckner fans, this really is a great listen. The songs are familiar but their difference gives thema somewhat newer/personal feel. I know this may not be as helpful as some but if you really do like Buckner's stuff you'll really like this album. Trust me.

I began my appreciation for Richard Buckner rather recently. My wife had been talking about how much she had enjoyed seeing him perform several years back, so I bought her Dents and Shells upon it's release. Unfortunately for her, she didn't get to listen to it much, because I borrowed it for a listen and reluctantly gave it back after falling for the wonderful tone with with Richard presents his music. After quickly grabbing up the rest of Buckner's works, this album became an immediate standout.

If you want to whittle down the essence of Richard Buckner to the truest of form, this is the album for you. I say that not just in the sense that it is acoustic versions of some of his best songs, but because it's not that simple. There's something about the spirit and honesty that's recorded here that transcends your usual acoustic foray. While Buckner has been fortunate to have had excellent production throughout all of his career, nothing captures the personal touch and meaning in these songs more than hearing Richard and his guitar with these songs in the original beauty with which they were originally written.

Some singer/songwriters need elaborate production to provide depth to their songs, and while it has certainly served Richard well on other albums, this album proves that he is best without it. If you've ever been touched by any of Richard Buckner's work, you owe it to yourself to discover this album, and with it, the true spirit of his music.

I'm guessing this is the demo recordings for Buckner's second album 'Devotion + Doubt'. Whilst saying that, these recordings are not in any way inferior quality, but just Buckner at his best - an acoustic guitar and his voice. In my experience you either love or hate this man, my personal opinion is that he's a genius... up there with the likes of contemporary songwriters Will Oldham and Bill Callahan.

Buckner shares a space in my racks with Will Oldham(Bonny Prince Billy)as a premier poet of the darker recesses of the heart; a 2am poet of, in his own words,'devotion and doubt' with a decided leaning to the latter. While there are variations in his expression and the weight of his delivery, the focus is insistent. This eponymous collection is close-up, stripped and raw. For the Buckner fan, it's a valuable addition. I don't rate it as highly as the rockier, Bloomed. And none of his work ranks as highly as, The Hill, which I reckon to be a masterwork, a twenty-first century classic in the realm of Van Morrison's, 'Astral Weeks', or The Blue Nile's, 'Walk Across The Rooftops'.

This album was my introduction to Richard Buckner. Browsing music on Amazon, I happened upon a buyer's "top 10" list and ended up ordering this 11-track b-side album that at first listen seemed specifically geared toward hard-core Buckner fans. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. He had a strange yodel quality to his voice, much like Dwight Yoakam. He added sometimes abrasive hammer-ons and flourishes to his guitar-playing, attempting--like Cat Stevens and Jim Croce in the old days--to play both rhythm and lead, which at times made the songs seem choppy. But by the second listen I understood the complexity of what he was doing. The lyrics were intense, and the riffs were not only surprising, they almost toyed with your expectations of the melody. The progression of the songs also clearly reflect his choices as a guitar-player--the music swings from punchy and upbeat to dark and brooding. For instance, "On Traveling," the very first track, starts the album off on a high note just before segueing into the almost murderous, forboding tone of "Boys, The Night Will Bury You." If you want a more polished, big-band sound, definitely check out Buckner's other albums, where you will find the accompaniment of dobros, bass, and electric lead. But whether you are familiar with his music or not, this is simply a fantastic solo acoustic album, comparable to Neil Young's Live at Massey Hall.