Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill
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Music Reviews of From a Basement on the Hill
Music Review: Elliott Smith makes his case for immortality
Rating: 5 Stars
Elliott Smith has left an indelible mark on the music world with some of his finest work yet. From a Basement on a Hill, with every song...with every note, captures the very essence of what true art should be. He poured his broken heart and the longing of his soul into this masterpiece. I heard a man that was so racked with the torments of "fakeness" (as J.D. Salinger would put it) that he was inevitably overcome with cynicism and depression. This album is absolutely THE must buy album of the year and will undoubtedly go down as one of the best albums of the decade. Every track is a highlight, however, one in particular climbed this Everest of an album and sparkled above the rest. "King's Crossing" is perhaps the most heartfelt, truth bearing, haunting song I have ever heard im all my life. I couldn't help but put it on repeat and listen over and over and over again. If you are thinking about buying this album...I can guarantee that you will not be sorry. Elliott Smith has always come through in fine fashion giving such delights XO and Figure 8, but this album eclipses even the brilliance displayed in those fine works of musical genius. BUY THIS ALBUM NOWMusic Review: we are all suicide machines
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the final album from Elliot Smith. It was meant to be a double album. Songs like "Suicide Machine" have been removed from the final tracklisting. Of course he died in the midst of it and never completed that original vision. Smith had not released an album for a few years. He had not toured in a while either. This album is no surprise. There are moments that are evocative of The Beatles, Neil Young and even The Eagles. There are personal songs dealing with his life: themes of relationships, drug addiction, and depression. But most of this album seems forward-looking. It seems like the beginning of a new period in his life. I could see many more albums to come. It's not like the album Closer by Joy Division, which seems to have an ominous pallor cast over it. Songs like "Pretty" and "Shooting Star" are as moving as anything Smith has done. Some of the guitar playing and harmonies are inventive. This is definitely a strong album to check out. It is one of the best of the year. It might be a cool album that people revisit year after year. I suggest you read the new biography Elliott Smith and The Big Nothing by Ben Nugent.
Music Review: a sad but glowing memorial
Rating: 4 Stars
this is an incredible album that draws more than a few comparisons to elliott' beloved beatles' White Album. it has a perfect balance of folkish, quiet songs like from his first three albums ("Last Hour", "let's get lost") as well as a number of stunning orchestral pieces with gorgeous layered vocals, very similar to figure 8 or xo. "little one", "king's crosing", "coast to coast" are all essential elliott tunes. the only bad things that i could say about the album are a) one can't help but read into EVERY LITTLE MENTION of death or suicide as prophetic (which may be fair or not, who knows), and b)this is the only elliott smith album that i had to listen to more than once to love it(which i guess could be seen as positive, too). One thing that makes me kind of sad is that i'm afraid that some people will buy from a basement because of the tragic circumstances surrounding it, this i would not recommend. Instead, go pick up a copy of either/or, and figure 8. Try and understand the music he made before he died before you try and understand what he's saying with from a basement on the hill.Music Review: Through the Looking Glass...
Rating: 5 Stars
Like Alice in Wonderland, "From a Basement" leads the listener into a world where things are just slightly askew, but strangely beautiful and awe-inspiring at the same time. "Basement" was my first introduction to Elliott Smith and I was instantly hooked, lured into the music by easily recognizing the heavy influence of The Beatles, and being reminded in more than one cut of the dream-like essence of Pink Floyd. Now here was someone that had my attention ! Of course, by then, Elliott had sadly been long gone. Having gone back and listened to the earlier cds prior to "Basement", I understand why some of his long-time fans were puzzled a bit by this release. It is a break from his traditional style, but does follow the path set by "Figure 8". Each track on "Basement" has its own allure, and you may find that it is a cd that takes multiple listenings before you realize that lyrically and musically it has gotten under your skin and nothing will do except to hear it again and again. A beautiful piece of work, and one that will make you wonder just how far Elliott could have transported us had he not been taken from us way too soon.Music Review: i have (sold back) every ES record but this
Rating: 4 Stars
yeah--you can tell i have really tried to give Smith a chance. i've just got really put off by the whispery-quadruple-plus-tracked vocals and the deification of a guy who, sure enough, liked the beatles but who only vaguely approximated what they did. "fond farewell," "king's crossing," "coast to coast"--these, and others, are great tracks. there's a queasiness to the guitars (tons of vibrato) that may get you (don't listen while drinking!) spinning in a bad way. the band are confident, and the writing is, unlike so much alt rock these days (with the exception of the very exceptional THE BLACK WATCH or IVY), quite melodic. i think it's sentimentality that fuels Smith worship--the little lost lamb that everyone wanted to take care of. he's not the great artist that everyone WANTS him to be/WISHES he were--but, in this last disc, he very much achieved something stellar. "shooting star" indeed--and now gone from the night sky. i used to see him around both NY and LA, writing on cocktail napkins. you can't say he wasn't a dedicated artist. i would recommend "from a basement"--but ignore the rest of his sad canon.