Before he died in 2003, Elliott Smith released five albums (plus the posthumous From a Basement on the Hill), but he had dozens and dozens of songs recorded, either alone on a four track or with friends in various studio settings, that had never seen the light of day. Kill Rock Stars -- the label for which he made arguably two of his best records, 1995's Elliott Smith and 1997's Either/Or -- with help from the late singer's archivist, Larry Crane, collected a handful of these pieces, added extensive and often personal liner notes, and made them available to the public under the title New Moon. Written and recorded between 1994 and 1997, the 24 tracks on New Moon showcase Smith at his most instinctive and natural, when he uses hardly more than his (double-tracked) voice and his guitar. Though some of the songs here, especially the earlier ones, can be quite simple, even raw at times, there's a sad, clean sweetness that comes through despite the occasional bit of tape hiss, of tinny chords. In fact, much was done by the album's producers to maintain the integrity of Smith's original tracks, remixing them only when absolutely necessary (the only song that took vocal and instrumental elements from two different sessions is "New Disaster," and is clearly marked as such). This means that New Moon embodies an unadulterated Smith, singing and playing songs how he wanted to, carefully layering his voice and adding the occasional harmony, the second guitar, the subtle drum tap -- and with little of the full-band sound he moved into after he left KRS and went to a major label -- but it doesn't mean that the pieces sound incomplete or unprofessional; almost all them could've been included on one of Smith's albums, and in fact many of them were near to making the cut. "Looking Over My Shoulder" has a great hook, catchy in that monotonously melodic kind of way Smith knew how to do best. "You're always coming over with all of your friends and all their opinions I don't want to know," he sings, a slight anger in his voice, while "All Cleaned Out" reveals a kind of pity for his subject. There's a depth of emotion in New Moon, more than pure sadness, seen in his cover of Big Star's "Thirteen," recorded live in DJ Rob Jones's basement and played back later on air, the near indignation of "Georgia, Georgia," the fast picking on "Almost Over." Even the rendition of "Miss Misery" included here, the song that propelled him into the spotlight, has a lightness that doesn't exist in the final product. Instead of that hauntingly sad refrain, that last plea, "Do you miss me, miss misery like you say you do?" Smith hints at a different ending. "'Cause it's all right, some enchanted night I'll be with you," he sings. There's distant hope for redemption, for resolution here, something that was not present in the later version. In fact, that's the overall feeling that New Moon gives, a sense of opportunity, of possibility, of life within the bleak reality. The album portrays a more stable Smith and promises something brilliant to come, full of words and chords that will touch thousands, alluding to the future and the past, but mostly, in its own quiet way, screaming to show off the immense talents of one man and his songs.
When the life of an artist or a band is cut tragically short, the greatest hits album or the b-sides compilation release is almost inevitable. Elliott Smith was a prolific songwriter and recorder, with scores of tracks that never found their way onto any of his classic albums. For years, much of this material circulated in bootleg-form in various corners of the internets, helping to build a q...
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There he was standing in front of a world wide audience. Performing one of his signature songs because for a split second the entertainment industry recognized that he was something special. Of course he didnt win but his song "Miss Misery" was infinetely better than anything that the Canadian chest thumper, that did win, has ever done. His name was Elliott Smith and he was an amazing singer/so...
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Cool track on the upcoming album of previously unreleased Elliott Smith recordings, New Moon.
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Via Yahoo..Posthumous releases on tap from Drake, BuckleyNEW YORK (Billboard) - As Elliott Smith's "New Moon" CD hits shelves this week, he's not the only lamented singer-songwriter whose material is generating posthumous releases.Well after their untimely deaths, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley continue to inspire new generations of fans, and their catalogs continue to grow.Olympia, Wash.-based in...
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When the life of an artist or a band is cut tragically short, the greatest hits album or the b-sides compilation release is almost inevitable. Elliott Smith was a prolific songwriter and recorder, with scores of tracks that never found their way onto any of his classic albums. For years, much of this material circulated in bootleg-form in various corners of the internets, helping to build a q...
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I'm really not trying to overhype New Moon but it was just brought to my attention that Pitchfork has a track up and you too can download it. Listen to *"High Times":http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/42345-elliott-smith-high-times-mp3*over at the p-fork. EDIT: Am i the only one who senses any irony in the posting of a new track from Elliott on Friday the 13th?
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We’re getting a late start to week 20 of The Program after the holiday, but bendblock and I are in full swing now, and we’re listening to:Elliott Smith: New MoonI think Elliott deserves a week of his own too.Wondering what The Program is all about? It's never too late to join in the fun. Click here to learn the origins of The Program. Or check out my MOG (music blog) for up-to-date information
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Here is a song from New Moon, an Elliott Smith compilation.
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hi all,i've just bought "new moon", the unreleased songs album of elliott smith.i already knew some of the songs (angel in the snow, riot coming, going nowhere, placeholder, half right...) thanks to www.elliottsmithbsides.com (website with all his demo or b-side tracks) but that's so great to listen to elliott smith again... but so sad, to remind that i couldn't see him playing live again...the...
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Back in May I bought the "New" Elliott Smith album New Moon, which contains 24 never released on album tracks from his Kill Rock Stars days and it is amazing. This B-Side / Demo album is better than the finished products that big name artists are putting out now a days. The song-writing and guitar playing are Elliott at his best with that voice that is strictly Elliott. And though most of these...
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There he was standing in front of a world wide audience. Performing one of his signature songs because for a split second the entertainment industry recognized that he was something special. Of course he didnt win but his song "Miss Misery" was infinetely better than anything that the Canadian chest thumper, that did win, has ever done. His name was Elliott Smith and he was an amazing singer/so...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Angel in the Snow |
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| 2 Talking to Mary |
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| 3 High Times |
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| 4 New Monkey |
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| 5 Looking Over My Shoulder |
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| 6 Going Nowhere |
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| 7 Riot Coming |
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| 8 All Cleaned Out |
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| 9 First Timer |
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| 10 Go By |
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| 11 Miss Misery [Early Version] |
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| 12 Thirteen |
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| 13 Georgia, Georgia |
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| 14 Whatever [Folk Song in C] |
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| 15 Big Decision |
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| 16 Placeholder |
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| 17 New Disaster |
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| 18 Seen How Things Are Hard |
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| 19 Fear City |
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| 20 Either/Or |
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| 21 Pretty Mary K [Other Version] |
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| 22 Almost Over |
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| 23 See You Later |
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| 24 Half Right |
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Click to purchase…
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 "New Moon")
