Elliott Smith - An Introduction To (Domino)
4/5
By: Liane Escorza
What is there to say about Elliott Smith that hasn’t been said before? One of the finest singer-songwriters of his generation, his blossoming talent, fight with depression and tragic suicide could have been used as a successful plot to a Shakespearian tragedy. Smith, however, was not much of a friend of the mass public acclaim such tales were privy to, and left behind a body of work that was consistently rooted to his heart, and only touched the hearts of others seemingly as a bit of an afterthought.
Domino Records has compiled fourteen of the best tracks from his seven studio albums, by way of inspiring new generations and providing the rest of us with a bit of a better understanding of the influential trail he subtly blazed along his way, now we’ve had time to establish a bit of context.
Whether you’re here for discovery or to reminisce/reassess, it’s about time you did so either way. To this day, the likes of ‘Waltz No.2’ and ‘Between the Bars’ are works so strong they are capable of resonating the deepest corners of the soul. The whispering vocal style, the texturally layered guitars, the harmonies, the moody tones, lyrics pouring out as if from an open wound... the many (often contradictory) aspects to Smith’s creative personality went to form private confessional pieces which connected and related to people in a manner so strongly unexpected by Smith himself.
References to Nick Drake’s haunting body of work still abound, but Smith was particularly fond of finding the magic in simpler melodies like ‘Needle in the Hay’, ‘Twilight’ or ‘Angel in the Snow’. In comparison to some of these masterpieces, engaging with Drake’s work seems like staring at a particularly runny set of watercolours.
Though it’s a record shot through with meaning, yearning and tragedy, An Introduction to Elliott Smith is a release that consistently shines and delights, proving that even introducing oneself to Elliot Smith after his untimely death will prove an entirely life-enriching encounter.
Ballad Of Big Nothing - Elliot Smith by FOE
Artists in this article: Elliott Smith
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