Elliot Smith -- XO
This is Elliot Smith's 4th album. I am constantly impressed with Elliot Smith ever since I took a bunch of his albums from my roommate. Elliot Smith is a singer songwriter who was taken way too early. He made some amazing stuff which I'm now just getting into. This album in particular is very very good. I haven't yet listened to all of his albums, but from what I've listened to, this is my favorite of his albums. We'll have to see if anything changes. His sound is very ranged, from mellow and melodical to hard and pumping, he could do it all. For those that actually do read this, and know elliot smith, could you tell me your favorite album of his? Thanks. I especially like the song "Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands".
This album is amazing. If you haven't picked up Elliot Smith yet, give it a try, it took me quite a while myself, so don't take my word for it. 4 out of 4 stars.
posted by Thirdmango at 1:22 AM
2 Comments:
So, should I be getting into Elliot Smith? Maybe this is that new sound I've been needing in my life...
I take issue with your use of the term "was taken", when it was the man himself who nixed his own life. "Taken" is a participle (probably a perfect participle) that implies the completed action of gaining possession by force or effort.
Now, don't get me wrong... it takes a good deal of physical force and mental effort to want and have to stab yourself in the chest with a steak knife. Homey "took" his own life... it was not "taken". Nobody obtained anything ('less 'o'course'n it was his girly friend done him in, but I don't buy that angle).
At any rate, still not a fan of his music (those whispery harmonies grate on my nerves and his morose demeanor recalls his humourless cohort in suicide Kurt Cobain, whose cheerless expressions of self-pitying grief I can only imagine would've been more productively channeled with peppier beats and a little more jouissance). It makes sense how he's become everyone's pet, however... we all need a good cry every now and then (some need it more than others, I figure) and that's fine.
But I'm just sitting back wishing that this ecstasy of sorrow was delivered a little more a la Nick Drake's extremely witty A Man and His Shed or Radiohead's more optimistic cry for human connection The Bends--two songs by two artists whom I am also not terribly fond of but have managed to refrain from being pigeonholed by stretching their idiosyncracies a bit beyond their respective (though at times strikingly similar) rhythmic comfort zones.
I understand that in some circles it is tantamount to heresy to say anything bad about Elliot. I offer no apologies.
Peace!
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