I was excited to find the new Blu-ray Disc edition of one of my favorite albums from the 1990s at Amoeba Music: Jeff Buckley’s iconic rock classic, Grace. Featuring new DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mixes by acclaimed musician and engineer Steven Wilson, the disc also includes a high-resolution LPCM stereo version of the album.
The somewhat bare-bones package offers very little in the way of bonus material: just one previously released non-LP track, “Forget Her,” now remixed in immersive audio.
Hearing Grace in surround is a welcome complement to Andy Wallace’s outstanding original stereo mix. There are numerous small details to discover, including the moment Buckley sings about the “bright lights in sorrow” on the title track and a delicate sonic twinkle streaks across the room like a slow shooting star.
As for my own preferences, the clear winner after the original stereo mix, which will always remain definitive, is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 version. Full disclosure: I spent many years as a PR representative for DTS, but I am no longer affiliated with the organization.
In fact, I initially did not even check which codec was used for the 5.1 mix, but I ultimately found it more satisfying than the Atmos version. That said, I have heard many Dolby Atmos mixes that I have enjoyed, including several by Mr. Wilson. In this instance, however, the 5.1 mix won me over. It happens sometimes.
The Atmos mix delivers a strong presentation of Matt Johnson’s drum kit, making effective use of the height channels for a more expansive, soundstage-like presentation. The relatively stark treatment of Jeff Buckley’s voice, however, felt too exposed. On the title track, some of the song’s signature riffs leading into the verses become a little lost in the rear channels of the Atmos mix, while they remain far more distinctive in 5.1.
Overall, the 5.1 surround mix feels more in keeping with the character of Andy Wallace’s original stereo presentation, keeping Buckley’s voice gently bathed in echo or reverb and preserving a stronger sense of stage atmosphere.
In cinematic terms, the Atmos mix occasionally recalls the old soft-focus trick in which Vaseline was applied around the outer edge of a lens to create a dreamlike image. Most of the musical information is there in Atmos, but the edges feel slightly blurred. In the 5.1 mix, the details are clearer and more sharply defined, yet the presentation is no less dreamy.
As I have found with some other Atmos releases, the higher-resolution audio in the 5.1 and stereo mixes can sometimes bring a little more musical muscle. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM stereo mixes are presented at 96 kHz/24-bit, while the Dolby Atmos mix uses the format’s standard 48 kHz/24-bit resolution.
At the end of the day, splitting these technical hairs should not deter anyone from picking up this affordably priced Blu-ray edition of Jeff Buckley’s Grace. Buckley’s voice and music remain astonishing no matter which version you choose, and the disc gives listeners three distinct mixes to explore and is available from retailers like Music Direct for just $23.99. It is a must-own if you are a fan of Jeff Buckley’s music and have the home theater equipment to play it back on.
Our Ratings
★★★★★★★★★★ Album
★★★★★★★★★★ Sound Quality
★★★★★★★★★★ Pressing Quality
Where to buy
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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