Brian Buckley
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Brian Buckley

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The best kept secret in music

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""For Her" (2005)"

If Jeff Buckley would have known how many artists he was going to influence after
his tragic death he probably wouldn’t have taken that walk into the ocean, cause
here is another guy that you can put under the category – influenced by Jeff
Buckley. A lot of the guys who are influenced by him aren’t that good though so it’s
very nice to hear the guys that can be compared to the myth and be proud of it.
Now, it’s unfair to just compare Brian’s music to Jeff, because you can hear much
more influences than just his. Santana, “the aware-generation” (read Franky
Perez, Ari Hest etc) and Dave Matthews are just three other comparisons that
describe his music quite well. This is a really cool album that takes a lot of you as a
listener. It’s damn cool. That is what it is. The soft “Ready For This Love” with a
bluesy electric guitar and his amazing voice as the two leading instruments are just
pure heaven, the groovy “Spanish Tragedy” (listen to the drums played by Vinnie
Colaiuta… phew) and “Score” with a dramatic verse and a show from Brian and his
voice close to the microphone are all three favourites. The main part of this album
are up here on this 4 star-level but there are a few tracks that feel a bit
uninteresting and transport roads to the good ones. But nah, folks… it’s
unnecessary to sit here and read more about this guy and his album. Its better that
you check him out at his homepage right away, if you’re open minded and want
something more than just that regular top 40 shit. His voice is one of the coolest I
have heard in a long time and with a 10 track album (instead of 13) this would
easily have been a 4 plus album. I can just imagine what this man can do with his
talent in the future cause he's got worldstar-potential. - Par Winberg, Melodic.Net


"Brian Buckley "For Her""

Yo, A & R dude. Yea you, the 45 year old in the ugly suit. Remember back in
1991 when you stumbled into that tiny hole in the wall of a club on the lower east
side… what was it called again? Oh yes, sine. Remember that skinny white kid
singing about pain, heartache, and pain caused by heartbreak. Remember him?
What was his name again? Oh yes, Jeff Buckley. Remember the next two years
seeing his demo come across your desk, or hearing about him from the mail boy,
or from the intern answering your phones? Yea, you remember, and it haunts
you. Remember telling everyone that you couldn’t “sell” this kid, and that he had
no “staying power?” Too bad you didn’t have the balls that Columbia had (eeek). I
know you’ve been kicking yourself over this for the past 10 years; you probably
even signed some horrible acts just to make yourself feel better about your
mistake.

Well listen up, because you may just have a second chance at a once in a lifetime
move. Similar in vocal range, similar in talent, similarly named, and similarly
seemingly unclassifiable is Southern California’s own Brian Buckley (just
coincidence). His debut record, “For Her,” was independently released earlier this
year, after recording sessions with producer Arthur Barrow (Billy Idol, Frank
Zappa) in Venice, CA. The record reads like an eclectic music lovers play-list from
I-tunes, drawing inspiration from songwriters past, blues, country, bluegrass, pop,
rock, r&b, and funk, but remaining true to his vocal prowess by arranging like Jeff
Buckley (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery). “My World” sweetly drips the
lyrics “this is what it is, we’ll never be more than what it was.”

Quite perceptive. What’s more (perceptive), is his own view of his music: “I don’t
believe that music is technical or scientific or even universal… music can’t be
defined or categorized.” With that said, you really can’t categorize, market, or sell
this record (tell that to Columbia, and the over 1 million owners of ‘Grace’).

Check out this incredible talent in and around LA. He seems most comfortable at
Mint, so don’t be surprised if you pop in for tapas and hear an eerily familiar
voice. Myspace calls this guy a member, and you can grab his CD on his site www.
brianbuckley1.com. Although the disc isn’t quite as expressive as the older
Buckley’s ‘Grace,’ the album still begs an answer to the question: is it the streets
of Van Nuys that make you sing emotion like that boy? Cause last I checked it’s
sunny every day in the valley. - Keith Adam, Radio Host KWVS-FM


"Brian Buckley "For Her""


ALBUM:
For Her
www.brianbuckley1.com
TAYLOR USED:
310ce

SONG CLIPS:
Score
In Another World (She is Gone)

I’ll confess that the instant I matched Brian Buckley’s voice and surname, I wondered if the late Jeff Buckley had a younger brother, or half-brother, or some genetic link to this kid. (No relation, it turns out.) While Jeff’s spectacular voice has left a stylistic imprint on a whole generation of singer-songwriters, Brian’s voice often bears a hauntingly uncanny resemblance not only to Jeff’s timbre and range, but to the natural, sweeping grandeur with which JB could inflate a melody. As flattering as this Buckley might find the comparison, it would seem to paint him in a derivative light, and he’s anything but, as he proves on his powerful and moving debut record, For Her.
Seeing Buckley perform might be the truest way to experience the free-flow of his artistry, yet this studio effort manages to project the in-the-moment vibe of a live performance. One senses that Buckley is eager to transcend the captivity of the studio, and throughout For Her, he brings his songs to life with a pure, instinctive musical spirit, in a fluid dynamic of tenderness and power. Conventional song structures don’t confine Buckley, either. Most of his tunes shift both shape and tempo to create a dramatic complexity of mood.

Some choice hands help articulate the musical moments, including Zappa alumni Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and five-tour Zappa vet and producer Arthur Barrow (bass, piano, organ), who also produced and engineered the record. Listening to them work the grooves never gets old. Buckley’s lead guitarist, Mike McGraw, shines as well, matching Buckley’s vocals (and acoustic playing) in tone, expressive range, and emotional impact.

Intimate moments abound, among them the achingly beautiful ode to a lost friend, “Cyanide”; the soulful ballad, “Ready for This Love”; the delicate acoustic introspection of “This Life of a Dreamer”; and the naked vocal power of “In Another World (She is Gone)”. Elsewhere, Latin hand percussion and Colaiuta’s intricate hi-hat work set up a little Santana jam-out bliss on “Little Pieces” and “Spanish Tragedy”, while “Ugly Head” slips into a good kind of a funk. From soft confessions to soaring vocal vamps, For Her leaves no doubt that Buckley is blossoming into an artist who’s making a name for himself.

— Jim Kirlin
- Wood & Steel Magazine Summer 2006


Discography

LP "For Her" (2005, Independent); produced by Arthur Barrow & Jared Padalecki. All music & lyrics written by Brian Buckley; copyrighted July, 2005. NOW AVAILABLE on iTunes, and featured as a "Staff Favorite".

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Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

"I know a guy named Brian Buckley who is about to
put out an album. A day doesn't go by that I don't listen to him on my iPod. He's a singer-songwriter, and he has amazing lyrics, and he's an amazing
guitarist. He's going to be gigantic, soon." ---- Actor Jared Padalecki (Supernatural, House of Wax, Gilmore Girls), associate producer of Brian Buckley's debut album, "For Her."
~ Alternative Press Magazine (June, 2005)

Recently, The Viper Room and The Mint (two of
L.A.'s hippest musical venues) booked a fresh face in Southern California's live band scene. Brian Buckley, originally from Sacramento, CA is a singer-songwriter who brings a new twist to the Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Pete Yorn, Phish, live jam band
style. Brian, 25, a San Fernando Valley resident, brings a loyal following of youth devoted to his
serene, acoustic, electric, folk-rock pain. His
voice (reminicent of a combination of Bono and the late Jeff Buckley, though not related) reaches levels of emotion untapped in mainstream sound. In fact, "Cyanide" was written about a close friend whose suicide had a profound effect on Brian's emotionality. With each new track, Brian has delved into many various genre's: jazz, blues, funk, folk, latin and rock. Last year in October, after playing Karma Coffeehouse and Molly Malones, Brian caught the attention of music icon (and ex-Frank Zappa bassist, producer of Billy Idol and Diana Ross) Arthur Barrow. With help from close friend and TV star Jared Padalecki ("Supernatural") and Barrow, they independently recorded a full album entitled "For Her" which can be purchased through Brian's website: www.brianbuckley1.com. Arthur was so enthralled with Brian's sound, he contacted Vinnie Colaiuta (legendary drummer for Sting and the face of Ziljdan cymbals) who played drums along with Mike McGraw on guitar, Barrow on bass, Erik Leckrone on percussion and Adam Watkins on keys and organ.

In April, 2006 Brian filmed a music video for "The Fuse" with a single entitled, "Pretty Lady" and has gigs lined up throughout the Los Angeles area. What is most impressive about Brian's
style of play is his utter love of the art. This
love, compounded with a relentless live act are just two reasons why Buckley's music is truly rising
as the days pass. In November, Buckley was
interviewed on Malibu and Pepperdine's 101.5FM, and after a stirring live performance with fellow
guitarist Mike McGraw, he was quoted as saying--"I can only hope each listener has their own individual experience from each song. I have no
pretenses. I have faith in people's potential to
hear something universal, associate a personal moment to it, go home and enjoy a good healthy cry, wake up and start the day with fresh eyes and an open soul".