Does anyone remember the first time that they heard the delicate beauty of the late great Elliott Smith? I do. I was in a shitty cafe where punk noise filled ear canals nearly as much as smoke filled nasal passages, when a softer sound started to crackle from the speaker above the bathroom. I quickly took cover and started to pack my bag as I anticipated an uprising caused by the quietly strummed guitar and hushed emotions that were sung with a voice that cracked as octaves raised. I thought I was in for a Hell’s Angels caliber shake up. But, to my surprise, the smoke still billowed and caffeine continued to flood the veins of the cafe crowd as no one complained, left, or heavily exhaled smoke from their nose in protest. Instead they all listened, pretended to listen, or carried on with exactly what they were doing when The Buzzcocks “Orgasm Addict” shook the walls.
As it turned out, Elliott Smith’s lyrics and vocal delivery made him raw and emotive enough to satiate the toughest kids in the room. Most of his songs draw from a well of emotions that are melded perfectly with a voice that has anger, confusion, saddnessm, uncertainty and much more built in. From that moment on my appriciation for everything he put out grew like wildflowers. I lusted after his three albums with Heatmiser, sold oregano to pay for his obscure 7 inches, and put in long hours at the state fair to buy all of his proper solo albums.
Tears ran and dried while sitting at the very same cafe the day that I overheard he died from a self inflicted stab wound to the chest. I chose this track because I feel it hits everything that’s good about an Elliott Smith song. I think it’s a perfect choice even if it was written by and recorded by the unbelievably talented and influential Alex Chilton and Big Star. I am truly not trying to take anything away from the original by glazing over it, it’s just that Elliott really nails it! It’s nostalgic. It’s honest. It’s pretty. It’s “Thirteen.” Happy tuesdaY!
BONUS!!
Browse Timeline
- « Wave Machines – Wave If You’re Really There Mp3s For Your Download Pleasure
- » Album Review: Passion Pit’s Chunk of Change EP
