Topic: Let's discuss Elliott Smith (Read 10468 times)

Skittish · « **on:** 10 Jan 2007, 08:54 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYjjMqZ1N8U

An incredible video from the Oscars to get the ball rolling.

Skittish · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 09:03 »

There are bad covers of every artist. If anyone deserves to be honored through cover versions of their work, it's Elliott.

valley_parade · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 09:16 »

A ladyfriend got me into Elliot a few months ago. I can't believe I hadn't heard of him until then.

Skittish · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 09:19 »

He didn't release a bad or even subpar album. I'm listening to the self-titled right now. So sparse and haunting.

pettycrimes · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 09:47 »

They can't clap loud enough for him.

In interviews, too. His interviewers should have clapped for him. Because he's amazing, and they are 98% vapid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0iUG-8EDs
"Killing your...emotions." Tricky minx.

Will · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 10:29 »

I really didn't get into Elliot Smith until after his death, whenever From A Basement On A Hill was released...I've since then enjoyed that album quite a bit, as well as the other works I've heard of his, but I can't help but get chills whenever I listen to it. I suppose you can't ever really look back at an artist such as Elliot's work posthumously and pick out elements that maybe were what some might call warning signs, but there are definately lines throughout that just seem so much more poignant when you take into consideration the circumstances surrounding his death.

That all being said, I have more than once been moved to tears by the song "Ugly Before," having been fortunate enough in my life once or twice to have been with a person who had that effect on me of making me sort of forget about all the things I dislike about myself...sorry if this is a blogpost, but I figure it's warranted in this case.

Tyler · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 10:55 »

I was lucky enough to see him twice live in the Boston area. He was just haunting to watch. XO and Either Or are probably two of my top albums of all time to this day. There was always something that just resonates with his music, and really always strikes an emotional chord.

Ben yayayayayayayay · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 11:52 »

I'm depressed now

Hat · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 13:07 »

I am ashamed to say this, but I have not heard much Elliot Smith.

Guys, help a brother out. I pretty much deliberately refused to listen to him on the grounds an old housemate would not stop trying to get me into him, and I resented that. I put on Roman Candle one day and wasn't impressed enough to lift the self-imposed ban though, are their more suitable albums for kicking my teeth in?

(I do not include Heatmeiser in this ban because I listened to Mic City Sons and it rocked my fucking face off, and I should really get some of their other albums)

squawk · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 13:45 »

There are two T's in his name, you guys. TWO

Elliott has been my favorite artist dude for about two years now! I'll come back to this later.

jolijn · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 16:20 »

I heard only a little of him before he died but I did really dig his stuff afterwards and it bums me out that there'll be nothing left coming out and that his last album really wasn't done the way he wanted. Either/Or is my fave.

Spinless · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 18:35 »

I do think that there can never be a good cover of an Elliott Smith song. Nobody does it better. Infact, I think that there could only ever be HORRIBLE Elliott Smith covers.

If you guys REALLY want to see what I'm talking about, try these search terms on YouTube for shits and giggles.

Bright
Eyes
Cover

Now, I'm not going to stop trying to figure out other people's songs that I like, but at least I know I'm awful enough not to put a video of myself playing them on the internet.
I havent' tried looking for Elliott Smith covers on youtube, I'll do that now.

Does anybody else remember being relieved when 'From a Basement' didn't suck? It's just a shame his girlfriend from the time didn't have any input since she was the only person who really knew where he wanted to take it. It's also a damn shame that some of the best tracks were omitted from the album entirely. I think they got leaked, try looking on soulseek!

Spinless · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 19:22 »

So your distaste has nothing to do with the fact the any smith cover will be complete shite?

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Jan 2007, 02:01 »

I love Elliott Smith, but his sparser stuff is infinitely better than the more orchestrated and produced songs. Basically, self titled > XO.

Beautiful Maladies · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Jan 2007, 08:33 »

Actually, regarding "new" Elliott material, they're set to release a collection of "B - Sides and Rarities" sometime later in the year. I somehow got my hands on a pre-release copy (my lady found it in a second hand record store for christmas for me), which is obviously not the final edition; it even misspells his name as "Elliot Smith" on the CD.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jan 2007, 09:55 »

personally i think the attempted suicide in the royal tenenbaums, set to needle in the hay, is so beautiful and the song is so perfect for it. that may be because wes anderson wrote that scene specifically for the song, but he did it perfectly.

chamberk · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Jan 2007, 08:59 »

XO is just about the most wonderful album ever made.

squawk · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Jan 2007, 09:37 »

I think I listen to Elliott way too much. This habit is not as bad as it was maybe three months ago, where I would listen to his entire discography like three times a week, but I love him and his music to bits!

More people should also check out his b-sides and unreleased stuff, it is wonderful. Particularly the stuff that was considered for 'Basement,' I wish he had finished it.

And that Bright Eyes cover... aaaaaaghahdlbfadhsfafd

Gress · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 03:54 »

Elliott Smith is the definition of dichotomous feeling for me.

I feel supreme joy when I hear his songs or when people mention him.
Yet, I also feel deeply saddened that he's dead.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 04:12 »

What's so bad about that Bright Eyes cover? The one done by the girl? It's okay, certainly not horrible, unless you already hate Bright Eyes I guess.

What I like to do is play Neutral Milk Hotel songs for people who have never heard of them, so they think I wrote them. It has gotten me laid.

It works with Pulp songs too, but most of those are harder to pull off with just an acoustic guitar.

MusicScribbles · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 10:29 »

My fingers smell like a field of wheat. And on that note, I've been planning on purchasing some Elliott for a while now, but haven't' gotten around to it, mainly because his stuff cost so much. Some things I'll torrent, but this is something I wanted to buy, because, well, I prefer supporting artists, even if they're dead.

Lexington, 125 · « **Reply #21 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 22:00 »

Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 11 Jan 2007, 02:01

I love Elliott Smith, but his sparser stuff is infinitely better than the more orchestrated and produced songs. Basically, self titled > XO.

Winner. IMO it goes self titled, either/or then the rest in terms of top albums....while I enjoy Bright Eyes, Oberst could only dream of being half as talented on the geetar/vocally. You tube has Elliott performing Biggest Lie with Rose Melburg of the Softies, B.E. couldn't hold a candle to that. Search for the live at Stinkweeds for great performances off of the ST album....

debaser24/7 · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Jan 2007, 02:41 »

say yeeeeesss

one of my all time favorite songs

Thrillho · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 Jan 2007, 02:49 »

Is this guy actually as good as people claim he is, or is he just good, but a martyr?

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 Jan 2007, 02:52 »

truthfully he's one of the much better accoustic singer/songwriters i've heard. i think his suicide may have deified him a bit more than he deserves but his talent is unquestionable.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Jan 2007, 03:21 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 24 Jan 2007, 02:49

Is this guy actually as good as people claim he is, or is he just good, but a martyr?

He generally got slightly less good with each album - his final album, with tracks chosen by his overly-religious family, is particularly limp - but hiis first two are absolutely excellent, and songs like "Needle in the Hay" and "Miss Misery" prove he had the songwriting skills.

Besides which, he was just as popular while alive as after he killed himself, so it's definitely not a martyr thing.

charlesegabel · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Jan 2007, 10:51 »

It's funny this topic should come up, as I've just been going through one of my regular Elliott Smith binges. Truthfully, he's one of my favorite artists of all time.

Probably one of the biggest influences to the way I think about songwriting.

samoasneoartform · « **Reply #27 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 18:11 »

how can we even begin to talk about Elliott Smith?

Elliott Smith is my favorite singer/songwriter/or whatever you want to call him ever! also on the list is Sufjan Stevens, Chad Vangaalen, Cat Stevens, and bonnie prince billy

but yes elliott

he is absolutely amazing, he really is. I love every one of his albums a lot. I'd say my favorite would have to be self titled. Recently I have been listening to a lot of Roman Candle though, its lovely as well

if you don't have it, check out Basement II Demos, they are much better than From a Basement On a Hill, like really this would be a fantastic LP if it was more refined...well I think it would be anyway

you can get it legally, and free on elliottsmithbsides.com
as well as many other demos

I miss you Elliott

UnmadeBed · « **Reply #28 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 12:09 »

Double album out on KRS this year kids of unused material. Loved Elliott myself, managed to only catch him once at the dreadful Reading Festival, standing at the back of a packed tent... wish I could of seen him in a more intimate setting.

Miroku · « **Reply #29 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 14:24 »

i love Elliott..
i first heard him in The Royal Tenenbaums.. i almost saw him in 03 but got sicK(REALLY SICK!) WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT IT WAS ONE OF HIS LAST SHOWS!

i own all his solo and Heatmiser work.. gone to the Figure 8 wall many times.

i also about peed myself when i saw T-mobile has Say Yes as a ringtone now.

pilsner · « **Reply #30 on:** 25 Apr 2007, 23:36 »

New Moon is fucking rock solid. I look forward to a series of future posthumous releases. Elliott Smith can be the Notorious B.I.G. of the indie world.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #31 on:** 26 Apr 2007, 00:07 »

Elliot Smith was one of the greatest musicians of the last 20 yrs, and I won't hear any different. "From A Basement on the hill", is particularly good, even though its incomplete. I really liked the more experimental angle he was starting to take, and the electric guitars that would cut into his choruses suited his voice to perfection.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Let's discuss Elliott Smith (Read 10468 times)

Skittish

Skittish

Skittish

pettycrimes

jolijn

Spinless

Spinless

ScrambledGregs

chamberk

Gress

debaser24/7

charlesegabel

samoasneoartform

UnmadeBed