Jeff Buckley will forever remain one of the most influential and inspiring musicians in the ‘90s alternative scene. He possessed a multitude of talents that ranged from sweet melodies that sprung from both his heavenly voice and delicate guitar playing to vicious riffs and rough-cutting vocals that gave his audience chills. Buckley’s stardom was unfortunately cut short when he decided to go for a swim in the Mississippi River and only came out days later when authorities discovered his dead body, according to Biography (biography.com). Before this tragic event took place, Buckley was working on his second studio album Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, which he believed needed to be completely reworked because he wasn’t satisfied. This is, without a doubt, the best record I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. 

   The songs on this record are extremely unique. Feeding the conspiracy surrounding his untimely death (Did he intentionally wade into rough waters or did he just get swept away by a current?), there’s a common theme of water and drowning. “Nightmares By The Sea” is a particularly striking song in this sense, not only because of the brilliance of its composition but because of the hidden messages in the lyrics. The lyrics in this song are just utterly devastating when you know how he ended up — “I’ve loved so many times and I’ve drowned them all” and “Stay with me under these waves, tonight / be free for once in your life tonight.” These eerie lyrics are aided by his haunting vocal harmonies and a guitar riff that will put you in a trance. It’s all very soft grunge and absolutely beautiful in every sense of the word. 

   In contrast to this, the second track on this record, titled “Everybody Here Wants You”, creates such a profound sense of longing, you can’t help but think of your most unrealistic celebrity crush. There’s an edge of hopefulness towards the end of the song that reminds you that the chances of your celebrity crush liking you back are extremely slim but never zero. The pace is set to a precise and simple drum beat that defines a groove for the guitar to snap back in retaliation, completed by Buckley’s honeyed melodic voice. 

   My favorite track on this record will always be “New Year’s Prayer”, not just because of its pure genius but because there’s something so captivating about its gothic, folky roots. You feel somewhat hypnotized when listening to this song, as if Buckley is the snake charmer and you’re the snake that’s helpless against his bidding. It’s definitely on the experimental side of things, though it remains true to his respective style. You can’t help but wonder why he would want to change any part of this song, but due to his unfortunate accident, nobody else will know how he heard the song in his head. If Buckley wasn’t satisfied with one of the most perfect songs I have ever heard, I can’t even imagine what else he could have done with it, which is truly an indicator of just how talented he was. Senior Sarah Catubo described this experience as something akin to listening to angels cry. 

   Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk bursts at the seams with sheer brilliance from an artist of such high caliber that the world has known only a few times before. Buckley’s legacy lives on through this album that acts as a stunning display of his many talents.