College/Art Rock: Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim & Jeff Buckley

Setting aside the obvious commentary about how the songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley definitely deserve a tribute album such as Dream Brother, the other applause for Dream Brother is how it brings together contributions from so many critically-acclaimed artists working at the edge of wide recognition—Sufjan Stevens, the Magic Numbers, King Creosote, and the Earlies, to name a few. This tribute album gives the listener to hear these fresh, adventurous voices sending up their interpretation of the Buckleys—who themselves were fresh, adventurous, and at the edge of wide recognition.

Though diverse stylistically in their normal roles, minimalist is the overall feeling from these artists covering the Buckleys—from the Magic Numbers to Bitmap. It’s a feeling that reflects the original tones of the lyrics while also seeming to be mourning the loss of both elder and younger Buckley. The treatment are not funereal but certainly melancholy—matching the line from Jeff Buckley’s “Morning Theft” sung so graciously here by Stephen Fretwell, “I miss my beautiful friend.”

Adem lends a beautifully, atmospheric, acoustic guitar to the younger Buckley’s “Mojo Pin.” The guitar is highly reminiscent of Mice Parade’s “Spain” from the Obrigado Saudade album. Mice Parade (Adam Pierce) delivers soundtrack-like electronica where samples do not shove aside things like acoustic guitars, such as on “Spain.” I know we’re talking about the Buckley tribute album, but seriously, if you fall in love with Adem’s playing on “Mojo Pin,” Mice Parade is your next sonic love affair.

Of course, while you’re online ordering Mice Parade, you’ll let the Adem track run out, leading to Tunng’s darkly Simon & Garfunkel vocals laid over another lushly inviting yet electronic-tricked guitar on their version of “No Man Can Find the War” (Tim Buckley).

Thank you to Full Time Hobby and Rykodisc for the review copy of Dream Brother. Mice Parade is available at Bubble Core Records. Thanks to Adam Pierce for his help.