Grace - Jeff Buckley

Rock music has had it's fair share of tragic deaths but there can't be many more as tragic as the death of Jeff Buckley; drowning from the passing wake of a boat whilst taking a spontaneous swim in a river. As if the manner of his passing wasn't enough, one does wonder what he would have gone on to create.

If his debut, and only, album 'Grace' is anything to go by then rock music lost one of its most promising future stars. Anyone who doubts this rather grand statement should take a listen to his version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. Skillfully avoiding the cloying and mawkish sentimentality that other versions have displayed (I'm looking at you X Factor!), in his hands it's a quietly powerful hymn backed by sparse electric guitar picking. Simply beautiful.

But as well as accomplished cover versions there are also strong rock tracks such as 'Last Goodbye' and the title track 'Grace'. This is no ordinary rock album though; it has more in common with PJ Harvey, Antony and the Johnsons and Radiohead (when they were good) than Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

In the history of rock there have been many foolish deaths; usually caused by the oh-so predictable substance abuse. It's difficult sometimes to feel full sympathy for those lost in this way. This is not the case here. A real tragedy and a genuine heartbreaking shame to have lost someone so talented.