I have been meaning to pick up Elliots' posthumous album but was afraid an unfinished work would spoil my memories endearing brew. Thing is, i keep hearing cuts from it and they are all 1st rate. If I were to try to sum up Elliot Smith for 'fatty' (low blow, by the way) and others who are unfamiliar with him, it would be to think of a stripped down Beatles (abbey road) mixed with REM and an unhealthy, albeit fascinating, dose of vulnerability.
I'm having trouble accepting the "profecient all around musician" description given to him in his "wiki" entry... probably just an overzealous fan... which I feel some of you are guilty of being.. "so talented"..
Weird timimg on this thread. I spent about an hour watching him on youtube yesterday. Incredible performance of Stupidity Tries on Letterman: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pAfPfcwgUM8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pAfPfcwgUM8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
http://donmilleris.com/2011/10/21/remembering-elliott-smith/ It was today, eight years ago, that Elliott Smith passed. He was a Nebraskan kid, transplanted to Texas before finding his adult and creative home here in Portland. He rose to acclaim when creator Gus VanSant found him in a club, and used several of his songs on the Good Will Hunting Soundtrack. We all loved Miss Misery. Born Paul Smith to his mother Bunny Welch, Smith would become one of contemporary musics greatest creators. The end of his life was tragic, giving himself to drugs, then believing Dreamworks was out to get him in a white van. He died of suicide. Remembering Elliot Smith: <object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zH8-lQ9CeyI&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zH8-lQ9CeyI&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></embed></object>
Wow. I can't believe it has been eight years. Such a sad, tormented, spiraling end to such pristine, captivating sort of unopened genius. I'm still not convinced he killed himself. Everyone go enjoy the day! Chase down your white vans, and get your affairs in order. It's the chopping block, people. Spoiler <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kUnUIssMmOs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aQkhsVCWXyg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Elliott Smith is better than the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen combined. I haven't listened to anything else in the last ten months.
We think the same about you and your Lil Wayne and Soldjer Boys and other street trash parading around as clever to people who don't even understand basic science.
This was always one of my favorite live Elliott clips. (song starts about a minute in) <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XnqjZzMscFo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you like Elliot Smith, you will probably love Nick Drake. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IUqN9ozmhw&feature=related
I am saddened by a loss of any good soul, but I just watched at least 1 minute of every video on that. A good soul lost? Absolutey. A great musician? I have to disagree.
