(Not exactly 'creative' writing, I know, but I did write this, so it makes sense to put it on here)
In less than a week It'll be 10 years since the death of the since unparalleled singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. Since his untimely passing, he hasn't exactly become a household name, remaining one of the indie worlds best kept secrets. This is all despite critical acclaim that has continued after his death, having two albums released by DreamWorks, and even playing at the Oscars. For most artists, reaching these impressive heights would surely lead to gold and platinum albums aplenty, but this was not the case for Elliott. The record buying public may have been deterred by the nature of many of his songs, which predominantly featured just his voice and acoustic guitar, and contained deeply personal and visceral lyrics, that often dealt with drug abuse, failed relationships, and depression. His live performances were occasionally erratic affairs, as Elliott's substance problems and anxieties could become overwhelming. Yet for all his inner demons and melancholy moods, there was no other artist during the mid to late 90s who was creating music as deep, heartfelt and honest as him.
Elliott Smith's first two solo albums were released while he was still a member of the grunge band Heatmiser. They are perhaps the two sparsest efforts in Elliott's catalogue, and while not recommended for someone new to Elliott's music, they have both become fan favourites, especially 1995's self-titled effort. His self-titled second album was also the first to be released on renowned indie label Kill Rock Stars, as was his acclaimed third album, Either/Or. Either/Or represented the pinnacle of Elliott's indie years, as his songwriting and lyrical content had greatly improved, featuring almost poetic descriptions of drug abuse, the celebrity lifestyle and one of his most charming love songs. He was now adding more instruments on his songs than before, such as electric guitar and more prominent drums. The album also unexpectedly landed Elliott in the media spotlight, as a few of his songs were used in the film Good Will Hunting, leading to Elliott's song 'Miss Misery' being nominated for best original song at the 1998 Academy Awards (sadly losing, like many other nominees that year, to Titanic).
This increased exposure eventually led to him signing to the less revered but much larger label DreamWorks Records in 1998. What followed were his two most lush and well-crafted records of his career. While the wide sonic pallet he was utilising had little in common with the humble acoustics of his previous albums, Elliott's songs still managed to be as lyrically dark as ever (The multi-traked, a capella 'I Didn't Understand' being especially caustic). The dark undercurrents of most of his songs were often overlooked, as people's focus turned to the shinier, major label production. Far from selling out however, Elliott's songs managed to retain the indie magic of old, and his songwriting was still of the highest calibre. Some of the best songs from this period, and indeed, his whole career include 'Independence Day', 'Son of Sam' and the Beatles cover 'Because', which was played over the closing credits of the film American Beauty.
Shock waves rippled through the indie community on the 21st of October 2003, when it was announced that Elliott Smith had died, from two apparently self-inflicted stab wounds to the chest. While he had made an attempt on his life at least once before, at the time of his death many though his mental state was improving, as he had given up alcohol and his oft-abused psychiatric meds, and with several musical projects nearing fruition. His near-finished last solo album, the more stripped down From a Basement on the Hill, was released a year later to great critical acclaim. While his music could stand as a beautiful yet bleak testimony, it is comforting to think that he never though of his own songs as sad, as they brought him so much happiness. While personal anguish in music can often comes across as false or as a ploy to sell more records, it helps to remember that there was once a sincerely troubled mind, whose songs gave comfort and hope to numerous people who felt the same as him.
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