Elliott Smith - Self Titled



Another staple in the realm of quiet music, Elliott Smiths second solo release was a self titled affair and many consider it a favorite. I discovered Elliott though his album XO then moved onto Either/Or followed by this release as well as his first album Roman Candle and the album Mic City Sons, (the last album he released with the band he was part of Heatmiser before taking his solo carrier head on). I think that last sentence made sense. Well, the album is nothing short of brilliant really and belongs in anyones record collection. My personal favorite from this album has always been St. Ides Heaven and I couldn’t tell you why, just one of those songs that has somehow been permanently installed in my mind somehow. Thats not to say the rest of the album is no less embedded there as well.

This album holds the feeling of movement in my mind if that makes sense. Something about them feel perfect for driving on a warm summer night. Hmm, I don’t really feel anything I can say will ever be a proper description of the music you will find here so I will as that you simply check it out for yourself if you have not already discovered his music. I will eventually have a number of his albums listed on these pages and simply wanted to take the chance to add this to the archives here.

iTunes Link • Artist Page

Tags: Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith - Either/Or

Of all the albums I have owned and listened to over the years the late Elliott Smith’s ‘Either/Or’ has remained at the top of my list. It fell into my ears during a time when I was just starting to explore the depths of what music had to offer me in my life. Music that had a comfortable resting place under the radar, hiding behind the pop music storm cloud that seemed so dominant in the music world. Either/Or was a stepping stone that taught me to appreciate the simpler side of music. It helped me see that you did not have to have a well produced, clean sounding record to be something incredible. The quiet, subtle presence of the music and its modest production value filled my mind with a feeling that I didn’t realize music was capable of giving me. All in all, this album and a handful of others that I discovered in that time period gave birth to my love for the calmer side of music. It’s one of those albums that I have love as much now as the first day I heard it and it’s magic has not eroded with time.

It’s an album that is no secret small release by any means and I felt posting it here is simply the only proper way to start this site off. If you have not heard this album then you owe it to yourself to at least listen to it once. While it may not have the profound effect it had on my own music life surely it will at least leave you with calm mind if you let it.

iTunes link • Artist Website

Tags: Elliott Smith