Maybe I missed it, but I've looked and I cannot find a thread dedicated to Elliott Smith. I was listening to XO yesterday, and I think it's hands down his best album. I'm not a big fan of the self-titled or Roman Candle and I thought his last one was pretty mediocre. If I had to rank them it'd go like this:

XO
Either/Or
Figure 8
S/T
From a Basement On A Hill
Roman Candle

Tie: Either/Or, XO
Elliott Smith
From a Basement on the Hill
Figure 8
Roman Candle

Question: what album would you start with to get to know Elliot's work? Keep in mind that I know nothing of his albums or songs, but from what I read, I'm pretty sure I'd get into it. Actually, I lied. I did hear that one song from "Good Will Hunting" and didn't care for it, but I doubt one song is a good representation of his music.

To tell you the truth, that song is very representational. Good Will Hunting actually has six Elliott Smith songs. Four are from Either/Or: "No Name #3", "Say Yes", "Between the Bars", and "Angeles", and one is a new, short orchestra version of "Between the Bars". The one you're probably talking about is "Miss Misery", which was played at the end and got the Academy Award nomination. "Miss Misery" is probably closer to what Smith did after the movie than what he did before. He really got into some Beatles territory after Good Will Hunting.

From a songwriting standpoint, I'd say Either/Or is far and away his best effort. I think the rest of his releases all have their moments, and the production is a little richer on some of his later efforts, but if you're looking for a really solid start-to-finish album, Either/Or's the way to go.

RL, out of curiosity — and this probably belongs in the "define: indie/semantics" thread — why did you start this topic in Alternative? Smith's first release was on Cavity Search, the next two on Kill Rock Stars, two on Dreamworks, and the last on Anti-, the independent Epitaph imprint, after Dreamworks sponsored a failed intervention for Smith. (Allegedly Smith and Dreamworks execs struck a deal that allowed Smith to release his next album on whatever label he wanted, and to Dreamworks' credit, they still permitted Anti- to release the disc, despite it being unfinished.)

Huh. You're right, Leland. For some reason I always thought all his records except his last one were on major labels. I suppose this thread could be moved to Indie. Then again, two of his later records were on Dreamworks, and he probably gained his most exposure by the songs he did for the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. I guess you could make a case for this thread belonging in either Alternative or Indie.

I forgot to add:

I am furious at your mislabeling of Elliott Smith as "Alternative"! Raaaahhhhhhhh!

It's probably better to play it safe than sorry around here. Last time someone posted a thread about a major label artist in the Indie catagory, it turned into a huge semantics debate.

Some people around here would say that releasing two albums on Dreamworks makes Elliott Smith a tool for the RIAA, thus making him ineligible for the Indie catagory.

Ah...jeez...m.leland's furious again. I swear, if this keeps up, we're going to have to just Scotchguard(tm) this place.

I've personally come to Elliott Smith in a pretty bass ackwards manner. I'd sampled Either/Or and XO on and off right after his death, and neither really spoke to me. From a Basement on the Hill, however, was one of my favorite albums of 2004. A friend of mine who's a big fan suggested that the very fact that Smith was trying for something very different with FaBotH might be why I enjoyed it so much after not really caring much for his catalog and think there's something to that. I'm warming up much more to the back catalog now, so perhaps that's an alternate way into his music.

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From a Basement was his White Album, as some have suggested. From interviews I've read he really seemed to believe in it, and only mild alterations were made during production. It makes me wonder if the chilling answer from Jennfier Chiba (?), "Because we love you," at the end of "King's Crossing" was added post-mortem. It creeps me out.

Oh, still furious at the "Alternative" thing. I'm also mostly Irish, so I'm furious with your suggestion we "Scotchguard™ this place." But I'm also part Scottish, and my Scottish 1/8th is furious at my Irish 3/4s for being suppressed. Oh the rage!

Your petty need to one-up me by inserting the proper trademark symbol to Scotchguard™ rather than my quick and dirty (tm) is infuriating, m.l, but not nearly so infuriating as your setting the colloquial title of the "White" album in italics rather than its proper name The Beatles.

It's perhaps a comment for another topic, but I would be awfully happy if From a Basement received the deluxe edition treatment sooner rather than later. I know that the albums' creation and completion have received a fair amount of press, but it's a story that merits a documentary in and of itself.

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not nearly so infuriating as your setting the colloquial title of the "White" album in italics rather than its proper name The Beatles.

I am furious at my inaccuracy!

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It's perhaps a comment for another topic, but I would be awfully happy if From a Basement received the deluxe edition treatment sooner rather than later. I know that the albums' creation and completion have received a fair amount of press, but it's a story that merits a documentary in and of itself.

I think there was, at least at one point, talk of Smith's family releasing the cuts that didn't make the album in some format or another. From a Basement was — and somebody correct me if I'm wrong — originally intended as a double album, but Smith hadn't brought enough of the tracks close enough to completion for his friends to put the final touches on.

I was obsessed with this guys music for so long, ha. I still listen to him quite a bit, I've been a fan for ages and he did some great things.

Self-titled is the best hands-down, that man could do wonders with just a harmonica and a guitar. It was so intimate and amazing and haunting. The only album of his that I don't think is up to par is XO, it's got quite a few mediocre songs. The overproduction really took away from it and the album just disappoints me most of the time. It's got a few brilliant songs though. He made 5 brilliant albums I think.

Self-titled
Roman Candle
Either/Or
Figure 8
From a Basement on a Hill
XO

quote:

Self-titled is the best hands-down, that man could do wonders with just a harmonica and a guitar.

I don't remember harmonica on the self-titled. Was I asleep the hundred times I listened? I need to listen to it again today when I get the chance.

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Either/Or is pretty much unbeatable for me, one of my all-time favorites.

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I don't remember harmonica on the self-titled. Was I asleep the hundred times I listened? I need to listen to it again today when I get the chance.

Really? It's most prominent in 'Alphabet Town'.

Ah, yeah, "Alphabet Town". It's just barely noticeable on "Coming Up Roses", also.

Either/Or is the only really complete album for me. He has amazing tracks all over his discography but most of his albums don't seem very complete. Either/Or is his masterpiece with XO in 2nd. I lovethe guy but I really think his suicide has been too glorified. Really horrible thing really. It makes me a little uneasy that I have fed off his depression for so long. It is hard for me to listen to sometimes. I don't like it.

Either/Or or Figure 8 but I think the former just edges it for pure, raw beauty.