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The lyrics, “you’re a symphony man with one fucking note” showcase Smith’s incredibly poetic but still unrefined side. “Some Song” is an underrated song of Elliott Smith’s that people tend to leave out of the discussion. For the first time in years, we got a taste of the old Elliott with understated songs like “Placeholder.” Whether that was a good or bad thing all depends on opinion. With New Moon, fans got to hear unreleased material from Elliott, recorded in the mid-’90s and returning to that stripped down, raw sound of his earlier projects. Up until New Moon, Elliott’s music was becoming progressively more produced and fine-tuned. It almost sounds upbeat, but there a bittersweet element to the song, both lyrically and sonically, that give it depth. For an Elliott Smith song, that immediately distinguishes it from the majority of his work. Like “Baby Britain,” “Independence Day” has a bounce to it. Elliott Smith – “Independence Day” (1998) Songs like this aren’t meant to be dressed up and cleaned to a shiny finish.Ĥ5. To others, that’s part of the beauty of it. One of Elliott’s standard, dark acoustic tracks, “Clementine” has a lo-fi, unfinished feeling to it. Tune in for the guitar solo in the end and you can hear the distinct classic rock feel that gives some of Elliott’s music a timeless feel. His influences run deep, and on songs like “A Passing Feeling,” those influences rear their heads. Elliott Smith – “A Passing Feeling” (2004)Įlliott’s music, although saturated with a post-1990 attitude, often borrows from classic rock as much as anything else. “You can do it if you want to be like me.”Ĥ7. “Good To Go” is a frequent Elliott expression that’s synonymous with “prepared to die.” The song is about meeting “a low riding junkie girl” who gets Elliott hooked on junk and leaves town just as quickly. It lacks some of the charm of his more raw material, but it gives a glimpse at the growth that Elliott may have shown if he remained on the path of continually more polished music.Ī standout from his self-titled album. Elliott Smith – “Pretty (Ugly Before)” (2004)Īnother one of Elliott’s fully-realized songs off the posthumous From A Basement On A Hill, “Pretty (Ugly Before)” could be a fucking Tom Petty song musically, but Elliott’s exposed cracks and lyrical introspection put a different spin on things. Not your typical Elliott Smith track, but here’s a glimpse into the depth of his musical capabilities.Ĥ9. Possibly Elliott’s most dramatic song, “Everything Means Nothing To Me” opens the curtains with the confident keys of a grand piano and builds with angelic layers of vocals before breaking with an unexpected Phil Collins “In The Air Tonight” style drum climax. Elliott Smith – “Everything Means Nothing To Me” (2000) Hit “next” or click the pictures to read on…ĥ0. Here are The 50 Best Elliott Smith songs. Luckily, he’s left us with plenty to remember him by. Most likely, it will be avoid that exists forever when somebody entirely unique comes along and leaves. Nobody has filled the void left by Elliott. Brutally honest lyrics about drug use, alcohol, and emotional issues bleed through Elliott’s work and even at his most gentle and poetic, there’s a punk rock ethos that adds a layer of complexity to his entire body of work.
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But there was a recklessness about Elliott that separates him from other singer/songwriters and bands with a knack for catchy tunes. From the lo-fi acoustic style of his early days to the lush arrangements of his later albums, his music was crafted with precision and an attention to melody that rivals (gasp) The Beatles. It’s been almost nine years since Elliott committed suicide, and time has only proven what we already knew: Elliott Smith was a one-of-a-kind artist. The second reason this list was so hard to put together is that going through 50 Elliott Smith songs will leave even the most cheerful of people in a slump of depression. Ask 50 Elliott Smith fans what their favorite Elliott song is and you won’t get much overlap in responses. First of all, Elliott is not the kind of artist with a few big hits and a bunch of throwaways and filler. Putting together a list of the best Elliott Smith songs is difficult for a couple of reasons.