Elliott Smith

bearhead · Post by **bearhead** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:56 am

Is there anyone else on the forum who appreciates his music?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgxM_fef3ng

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:06 am

I've not really dug under the surface to be honest. I bought a hooky copy of one of his later albums a few years ago when I was travelling but I've not given it the time it probably deserves.

Where should I start???

I always imagine he's going to be similar to Mark Linkous / Sparklehorse (who incidentally also commited suicide, like Elliot :cry:

)

Treefingers · Post by **Treefingers** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:21 pm

Quite a big fan, though I think I prefer the earlier, more lo-fi stuff to his later work (which, to be totally honest, I need to familiarise myself with, as I've only got XO).

The Mark Linkous comparison would be interesting -- Elliott Smith is much more traditional in his sound, but the introspection and melancholy is still there. Definitely recommended, and it's worth mentioning again how both Smith and Linkous were big losses to music.

EDIT: Also Roman Candle or Either/Or would be good places to start; thinking about it, probably more the latter.

lightsoutnepal · Post by **lightsoutnepal** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:29 pm

I have lyrics from Tomorrow Tomorrow tattooed on my arm. Huge fan haha.
A rare artist where every album he put out had absolute gems on it.

Roman Candle: No name #3 \ Condor Ave
Self Titled: Needle in the hay \ Christian Brothers \ The White Lady Loves You More
Either/Or: Alameda \ Angeles \ actually this whole album is front to back incredible
XO: Waltz #2 \ Tomorrow Tomorrow \ Oh Well Okay
Figure 8: Happiness
From a Basement: Coast to Coast \ Lets Get Lost \ Twilight

...are all great places to start if you're unfamiliar with his work.

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 6:45 pm

Thanks all - really appreciate you taking the time

cubistking1906 · Post by **cubistking1906** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:18 pm

I was a huge Elliott Smith fan prior to getting into boc and switching over to other more electronic stuff. His self titled album and Figure 8 are my personal favorites and I'd highly recommend them to anyone. New Moon and From A Basement On The Hill are lesser heard ones that are definitely worth listening to as well. Every release of his is very much worth hearing though.

A couple of good songs off the top of my head:
St. Ides Heaven
Cupid's Trick
Angel In The Snow
Junk Bond Trader
Coast To Coast

He also did the best Beatles covers like this version of Because for example. Truly a brilliant dude.

diabolous616 · Post by **diabolous616** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:39 pm

love Elliott Smith, favourite track is 'True Love'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XB29zYh4gU

bearhead · Post by **bearhead** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:19 am

Mexicola wrote:I've not really dug under the surface to be honest. I bought a hooky copy of one of his later albums a few years ago when I was travelling but I've not given it the time it probably deserves.

Where should I start???

I always imagine he's going to be similar to Mark Linkous / Sparklehorse (who incidentally also commited suicide, like Elliot )

I would start at Roman Candle, being that was his first album, and then just listen through to the last one (not in one sitting obviously, unless you have that kind of time). Like treefingers, I definitely prefer his Kill Rock Stars work over his Dream Works/Anti stuff. I really do love his later albums though. Figure 8 was definitely his best album altogether. Great production, great songwriting, and great instrumentation throughout. Consider hearing his band Heatmiser, too. All the songs Elliott wrote for the band are quite obvious, and in my opinion, a lot better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CgnX57tV-o

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:58 pm

Roman Candle is blinding. A good start, in every sense. Thanks.

pianoforte · Post by **pianoforte** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:08 am

How has nobody mentioned "I Didn't Understand" yet?! It's one of his best songs, in my opinion.

link

I haven't really looked into much of his stuff yet, but everything I have heard sounds really nice.

edit: "Between The Bars" is also excellent. link

pianoforte · Post by **pianoforte** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:04 pm

There are 97 live shows/recordings of his available for free download here: https://archive.org/details/ElliottSmith

Completely legitimate and approved by his family.

I'm listening to this and it's really nice.

Elexen · Post by **Elexen** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:18 am

Love Elliott. He's in my top 10 songwriters of all time. Definitely. Beautiful.

pianoforte · Post by **pianoforte** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:44 pm

Elexen wrote:Love Elliott. He's in my top 10 songwriters of all time. Definitely. Beautiful.

Same here, along with Ben Gibbard, Jeff Mangum, Chris Simpson and Mike Kinsella (among others).

SonicDimension · Post by **SonicDimension** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 4:35 am

Elliott Smith is my favorite singer-songwriter. Most of his songs combine melancholy, introspective lyrics with happy pop Beatles-esque tunes that really get stuck in your head. He also had a very punk style. He maintained a traditional approach to pop music despite the prevailing production trends of his time and he played most of the instruments in the studio himself (including drums).

It seems like we just do not see artists like Elliott these days...

7T · Post by 7T » Wed May 15, 2013 8:08 am

Elliott Smith, to me anyway, was an absolute genius when it came to creating melodies. Also, the way he layers his vocals, there's really nobody else like him.

Case in point

^^^

Elliott is one of those rare artists where I can just listen to every song and never get tired of all it. If I had to recommend an album for a first time listener it would be probably probably be his S/T. It's his darkest album and some of the most depressing shit ever heard, it's hauntingly beautiful though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6CKOx_Rww

rainier · Post by **rainier** » Wed May 15, 2013 10:42 am

I love Elliott Smith. His self titled is my favorite of his. Love his flamenco influenced guitar style and his later more beatlesy sounding tunes with piano and such. I was remember i was listening to him constantly when MHTRTC came out.

bearhead · Post by **bearhead** » Wed May 15, 2013 12:06 pm

7T wrote:Elliott Smith, to me anyway, was an absolute genius when it came to creating melodies.

I completely agree with this statement. If you ever watch any of his live videos, watch how he incorporates the melody lines with the bass lines. It just blows me away how he could play two guitars' worth of music on just one. Seeing how quick he changes chords and nailing them every time makes me kind of feel like I'm bad at guitar. He was that good.

7T wrote:It's his darkest album.

I don't know how much I agree with this statement, since A Basment on the Hill was quite dark. I realize that album was a post-humous release, but I would definitely say that's his darkest record. I believe when he was writing that album, he was struggling with his use of heroin, so I think that's why there was a lot of elusion to drug use. Don't get me wrong, though... The S/T album is pretty dark, too.

7T wrote:Also, the way he layers his vocals.

Ah yes, the double-vocal trick. That's one thing that really fascinates me about his songs is that he can double his vocals without getting that weird phasing effect that normally comes from doing that. Even on Roman Candle he did it, and there were no studio tricks or anything since that album was all written/recorded on a 4 track. I think he doubled his vocals on almost everything, come to think of it.

North by North · Post by **North by North** » Wed May 15, 2013 2:23 pm

[quote="7T"]Elliott Smith, to me anyway, was an absolute genius when it came to creating melodies. Also, the way he layers his vocals, there's really nobody else like him.

Case in point

^^^

Elliott is one of those rare artists where I can just listen to every song and never get tired of all it.

So true. Brings to mind Nirvana/Kurt Cobain for me. And both died under suspect conditions. Has anyone read the details about the ES "cimescene" so to speak and the interviews with his then-gf?Leaves me puzzled. But I guess that's somehow fitting in some odd way.

aged sea · Post by **aged sea** » Wed May 15, 2013 2:32 pm

I always liked this version a bit more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFSuOqYNF6o

North by North · Post by **North by North** » Wed May 15, 2013 2:39 pm

aged sea wrote:I always liked this version a bit more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFSuOqYNF6o

I like it better as well.