Elliott Smith

From A Basement On The Hill

Is this the finished product that Elliott would have wanted?

Review Score:

(8/10)
That's the question I repeat over again when I listen to 'From a Basement on a Hill". I've been excited about this album since it was first mentioned by Elliott as possibly being a 2cd set many years ago. This cd is great but more along the lines of "Figure 8" then the flawless "X/O", which isn't a bad thing.
"Coast to Coast" starts the album in an unusual direction, almost like a wall of sound, with lots of textures and emotion.
It isn't until the fingerpicking on "Let's Get Lost" and the simple strumming of "Twilight" and" Pretty Ugly Before" that the familiar Elliott shines through.

It's only little things or shall I say flaws that disturb this listen..Would he have wanted "Ostriches and Chirping" as a an actual track instead of just an intro, also, the hissing on "Last Hour" is out of place on such a well-produced album, it almost sounds like it could have been on the self titled cd.
In keeping with the theme of previous albums, a song as stong as "A Distorted Reality..." I think, wouldn't have been stuck as the last track, something like "Little One" would have been a more appropriate ending.
Never afraid to tackle his sadness and write down what hurt him inside, most of the songs deal with depression and often his dependence on chemicals that always made him the most honest in the singer/songwrite genre.
Highlights include said songs above and "Fond Farewell" which though it probably wasn't meant to be at the time, seems to be the most auto-biographical and it pains me to listen it because it is so beautiful.
"Don't go Down" and "Strung Out Again" aren't as good other tracks that I'm sure are lying around, waiting for another volume of the posthumous releases to come.

I'll take any Elliott recordings, especially now, anyway I can get them and I am truly thankful to his family for giving us the gift he left uncompleted
The high points outweigh the low and Elliott will always be the artist you turn to when you need to listen to something that makes you feel.

More Reviews: