Songs to No One 1991-1992 - Jeff Buckley

If Jeff Buckley hadn't have taken that fateful swim one late spring night in 1997, it's a fair guess that every single Buckley release besides Live at Sin-E and Grace would have never seen the light of day. And this has never been more apparent than with the 2002 release, Songs To No One 1991-1992, an eleven track compilation of live soundboard recordings, radio broadcasts, and demos. During the early �90s, Buckley was a member of a New York City based outfit called Gods and Monsters, which also featured ex-Captain Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas. Although the duo did pen a pair of songs that would go on to become Buckley classics, �Mojo Pin" and �Grace" (both of which are included as early versions here -- the latter as both a demo and live version), few of the other tracks on Songs To No One 1991-1992 are worthy of release. Exceptions include covers of �Hymne a l'Amour" (an eleven minute long album opener) and the lovely �Satisfied Mind" (a song that was played at Buckley's funeral). But the majority of the selections really never should have been released, especially the hard rockin' throwaway �Cruel" and the meandering �How Long Will It Take" (a fitting title). Another reason why Songs To No One 1991-1992 should be skipped over is due to the fact that a few overdubs were later added to the tracks, obviously without Buckley's input or consent (which brings to mind such now written-off posthumous Jimi Hendrix releases as Crash Landing). In a Rolling Stone news clip about the album's impending release in August of 2002, Buckley's mother admitted that the late singer/songwriter had put a note on top of a tape of his work with Gods and Monsters that read �Disgusto Garbage.' �Nuff said. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide