Elliott Smith

From A Basement On The Hill

Give It Some Time

Review Score:

(10/10)
The first time I heard this album I was very disappointed. Not because i thought it was bad, just because it didn't sound like Elliott at first (i mean coast to coast is completely unlike the rest of his stuff), but this has happened with every one of his albums with me. so i put off writing a review for a week. Now i think this may be his best stuff. Its hard to argue against XO or Figure 8 but i really think this may be Elliott's most complete, creative album (and also easily his most beatle-esque). a look at each track and my grade:

Coast to coast- (C) - The only track on the album i think should have been left off. Its not bad for a hard rock song, but this is just not a style Elliott pulls off too well.

Lets Get Lost- (A) - This is classic Elliott, obsessive downward progressions (its a lot like white album John Lennon), nice and simple vocals and guitar work.

Pretty(Ugly Before)- (A) - I think this track should have led off the album, its a perfect bridge between the styles from Figure 8 and From a Basement. Great song.

Don't Go Down- (A)- I love this song. Its nice to hear Elliott rock out in a way that maintains his style (which he didn't do so well in coast to coast). Very beatle-esque (guitar work sounds a lot like I Want You (She's So Heavy).

Strung Out Again- (C+ or B+ depending on my mood)- I honestly can't figure this one out. The vocals are painful and i never feel that i like the song while im listening but when the song is done i want to hear it again.

Fond Farewell- (A+) - This is one of the three best tracks on the album, and among Elliott's best. The lyrics are great and the guitar work is great. Amazingly sad and beautifull song.

King's Crossing (A Googleplex) - Best song on the album. One of Elliot's best ever. Its like Elliott Smith meets Abbey Road meets For The Benefit of Mr. Kite. And the lyrics are astonishing for the most part, its an incredibly poetic song.

Ostrich and Chirping (F)- Its not a song, its an intro. I'm pretty sure Elliott would not have wanted this as a track (given that he used The Gondola Man and Honky Bach as outros to songs on Figure 8)

Twilight - (A-)- Very nice song. Sad. The solo goes on too long, or this would be a perfect song.

A Passing Feeling- (A-)- Another very John Lennon like song. I like the ending alot, nice guitar work.

Last Hour- (A+)- The last of the really great songs on the album. Very quiet, the song has a very interesting build and the timing is perfect. Great solo too. Reminiscent of his old stuff (from Elliott Smith and Either/Or) but more refined and produced better.

Shooting Star- (C+)- Not a big fan of this one. Its kinda cool, but a little repetitive and way too long, even though the outro is the most interesting part of the song.

Memory Lane- (B+) - It took me a while to come around on this one but i like it. Kinda goofy, until you start listening to the lyrics. Then its good and depressing.

Little One - (A-)- Background vocals make this one. This is the closest he comes to the style of XO on this album.

A Distorted Reality is A Necessity to be Free- (B)- It's a good song, again very beatle-esque especially in the vocals.

The first half of this album competes with the brilliance of XO and Figure 8, and i think after a while people will come to realize that this may be Elliott's crowning acheivement, or at least certainly competes with his other albums.

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