Search - Richard Buckner :: Richard Buckner

Buckner at his naked best

Matt Patterson | Washington, DC United States | 01/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Low Light

Justin | Stone Mountain, Ga United States | 03/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Buckner has never been better

Brad | Nashville, TN | 06/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."