Elliott Smith's third album sees his one-man show getting a little more ambitious. While he still plays all the instruments himself, he plays more of them. Several of the songs mimic the melody mastery of pop bands from 1960s. The most alluring numbers, however, are still his quietly melancholy acoustic ones. While the full-band songs are catchy and smart, Smith's recording equipment isn't quite up to the standards set by the Beatles and the Beach Boys. The humbler arrangements are better suited to the sparse equipment. "Between the Bars," for example, plays Smith's strengths perfectly. He sings, in his endearingly limited whisper, of late-night drinking and introspection, and his subdued strumming creates a minor-key mood befitting the mysteries of self. "Angeles" is equally ethereal -- Smith's acoustic fingerpicking spins out notes which briskly move around a single atmospheric keyboard chord, like aural minnows swimming toward a solitary light at the surface of the water. The lyrics are a darkly biting rejection of the hypercapitalist dream machinery of Los Angeles (it would make a great theme song for Smith's label, Kill Rock Stars). Ironically, "Angeles" was included on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, which won Smith the acclaim of Hollywood's biggest, brightest, and best connected voting body, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Smith's stock in L.A. soared after he took his bow at the Oscars with Celine Dion and Trisha Yearwood. It might have been more interesting had he sung "Angeles."
The main thing that surprised me about Elliott Smith, Autumn de Wilde's book of images of the singer/songwriter (Chronicle, 2007) was that it was even published. I love Smith's music and have ever since I was first introduced—as millions were—via his astoundingly poignant contributions to the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting. For me, "Between The Bars", "Angeles" and "Miss Misery" to
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His lyrics, sentiments and musical composition on his album, Either/Or, have won me over. The appeal is the simplicity in his style of music and the realism in his lyrics. Too, I am huge on acoustics and this particular album is high on that vibe. I need MORE MORE MORE.Though I am aware that he has passed on, I appreciate him leaving his music for us to discover and appreciate. I wish I had kno...
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Alright, alright - Elliott Smith did a cover on Metric's 'Between The Bars' right? and then Madeleine Peyroux covered it as well. right? I'm totally confused. I don't know who did it first - please help! I personally like Elliott Smith's and Madeleine Peyroux's version the most. But I really just like the song, so any version of it is fine with me.
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WARNING: Downer post, esp considering it is Friday. I seem to have found myself in a particularly glum mood today and thought it was about damn time to post that second track I've got for Elliott Smith, in anticipation of the release of Elliott Smith's previously unreleased material on New Moon, It's from Either/OrDrink up, baby, look at the stars.I'll kiss you againBetween the bars,Where i...
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It's moving. I can't resist putting up Metric's cover of it as well. Emily Haines is so amazing, she can do no wrong in my book.
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I miss someone I never knew.rest in peace Elliott Smith.if you ever feel like you're entirely too happy, read about his life and death.what could have been? the world is deprived.....and now I'm talking to my drunk best friend.I hate how college changes you.I'm pretty depressed now.goodnight.
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ohkay.I'm quite tired. and I can't sleep.I don't have insomnia,I have a terrible roommate.woe is me.so there was this article I read once. it was in a free magazine, and it was about the way no one walks in silence anymore - that everyone listens to music. the article was negative. their angle = no one appreciates silence.oh-so many things to say.first of all, forgive me if I can't stand to lis...
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dare I say it? I think my iPod may be functioning! but I will not be able to tell until I return de le classe de Francais. oh, man, life would be amazing.I hope this works.::crosses fingers::
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Today I heard Elliott Smith's "Miss Misery" on the radio. On a mainstream radio station (!). It felt very strange to be hearing such an intimate, familiar song over the open airwaves, but I liked it. There was something a little surreal and unsettling about it. But not in a bad way. It was like having some past secret of yours revealed to the public. Past, because Elliott Smith saw me through m...
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or is Elliott Smith the Jim Morrison of his generation? Both very talented, and somewhat popular before their untimely deaths. And, massively more popular and revered after their passing. I just thought of this after seeing some of the posts which have popped up the past few days (and I know the anniversary of Elliott Smith's death was just a few days ago), and seeing "this mp3 post at Chromewa...
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Elliott Smith "Between The Bars" (mp3) from "Either/Or" (Kill Rock Stars) Popularized by the film Good Will Hunting, Between The Bars is one of my favorite Elliot Smith songs. His beautiful melodies and lyrics probably made him one of the most talented songwriters of our time. A song featuring his signature solo acoustic guitar and double tracked vocals, this song's lyrics can be interp...
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The main thing that surprised me about Elliott Smith, Autumn de Wilde's book of images of the singer/songwriter (Chronicle, 2007) was that it was even published. I love Smith's music and have ever since I was first introduced—as millions were—via his astoundingly poignant contributions to the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting. For me, "Between The Bars", "Angeles" and "Miss Misery" to
More >
His lyrics, sentiments and musical composition on his album, Either/Or, have won me over. The appeal is the simplicity in his style of music and the realism in his lyrics. Too, I am huge on acoustics and this particular album is high on that vibe. I need MORE MORE MORE.Though I am aware that he has passed on, I appreciate him leaving his music for us to discover and appreciate. I wish I had kno...
More >
I'm bored. Here's a clip that makes me laugh. While we're on the subject of boredom, I gotta say that I've given Belle & Sebastian, and The New Pornographers a bit of a chance and they just don't do it for me. Talking about what I don't like bores me too, I don't usually do it. I bring it up in the hopes that some of you can suggest THE album to try by each band before I make up my mind. Thes...
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I'll admit it up front ... Valentine's Day is just the excuse I'm using to post about a musician I adore beyond words, and Cupid's Trick seemed such a fitting song ... but secondarily, I happened upon a news story today regarding a double CD that will become available in May. Last year, previously unreleased Elliott Smith material was leaked onto the web, and hoards of die-hard Smith fans were ...
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last year i went to visit his memorial in l.a.it was strange and lonely but then i saw someone else was there..and he looked really lost too, so we started talking and it was honestly the best day of my life.
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or is Elliott Smith the Jim Morrison of his generation? Both very talented, and somewhat popular before their untimely deaths. And, massively more popular and revered after their passing. I just thought of this after seeing some of the posts which have popped up the past few days (and I know the anniversary of Elliott Smith's death was just a few days ago), and seeing "this mp3 post at Chromewa...
More >
Admit it, sweater-setter: this is your favorite time of year. Even if you live in sunny California, watching the leaves fall as summer sighs into autumn is the activity of choice. Picking apples, making pies, listening to essential fall albums. Using headphones, enough wool clothing to make a sheep blush and number of brisk walks, I've delicately chosen the finest albums for the season: a col...
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WARNING: Downer post, esp considering it is Friday. I seem to have found myself in a particularly glum mood today and thought it was about damn time to post that second track I've got for Elliott Smith, in anticipation of the release of Elliott Smith's previously unreleased material on New Moon, It's from Either/OrDrink up, baby, look at the stars.I'll kiss you againBetween the bars,Where i...
More >
I miss someone I never knew.rest in peace Elliott Smith.if you ever feel like you're entirely too happy, read about his life and death.what could have been? the world is deprived.....and now I'm talking to my drunk best friend.I hate how college changes you.I'm pretty depressed now.goodnight.
More >
dare I say it? I think my iPod may be functioning! but I will not be able to tell until I return de le classe de Francais. oh, man, life would be amazing.I hope this works.::crosses fingers::
More >
ohkay.I'm quite tired. and I can't sleep.I don't have insomnia,I have a terrible roommate.woe is me.so there was this article I read once. it was in a free magazine, and it was about the way no one walks in silence anymore - that everyone listens to music. the article was negative. their angle = no one appreciates silence.oh-so many things to say.first of all, forgive me if I can't stand to lis...
More >
Alright, alright - Elliott Smith did a cover on Metric's 'Between The Bars' right? and then Madeleine Peyroux covered it as well. right? I'm totally confused. I don't know who did it first - please help! I personally like Elliott Smith's and Madeleine Peyroux's version the most. But I really just like the song, so any version of it is fine with me.
More >
I just found out my work computer doesn't block MOG. This could be a problem.
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It's moving. I can't resist putting up Metric's cover of it as well. Emily Haines is so amazing, she can do no wrong in my book.
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Speed Trials |
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| 2 Alameda |
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| 3 Ballad of Big Nothing |
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| 4 Between the Bars |
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| 5 Pictures of Me |
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| 6 No Name No. 5 |
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| 7 Rose Parade |
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| 8 Punch and Judy |
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| 9 Angeles |
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| 10 Cupid's Trick |
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| 11 2:45 A.M. |
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| 12 Say Yes |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Either/Or")
