To think about the way "From a Basement..." could have been with him deciding on the way that album was arranged & put together in terms of what tracks ended up being on it. Stickman, Dancing, My new Freedom, ect; to imagine that double disk (what he envisioned it being) turning out being anything other than the best release of his career seems impossible
i wish i could visit an alternative universe where he didn't die just so i could listen to the proper basement album :( and anything else might have released after that
It's already arguably his best album even without him putting the finishing touches on it and selecting the tracklist (for me it's between that and Figure 8). Just amazing how many great songs he has. I thought I covered my bases on outakes with New Moon, which is great, but now I'm finding so many random gems like this one on YT.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Elliott Smith songs next to St. Ides Heaven, New Disaster, King's Crossing, and A Distorted Reality. Pretty good lyrics and personally I love when Elliott Smith chose to finger-pick an entire song.
You think you've heard everything, then You go and discover another New ES Song... Said it before I'll say it again, Why was this Not on any Album it's ACE...
This is the ONE song I know start to finish. I fucking love playing it. It's like trying to enter in a cheatcode on an old console. How the hell did he come up with it?
He may have felt this was too “Folky” since he was sensitive about having that label stuck on him. Also he sometimes sat on songs for long periods... I think it’s more likely that he thought it was too much like Simon & Garfunkel...
Took it like medicine, horrible in a hurry Lots of plans go awry, nothing's wrong, I won't worry But I rolled for a dollar on your advice And I lost you bad because that's the luck of the dice Taking a fall You don't know who to call Well, you don't know who, do you? Taking a fall Why do the neighbor's kids have to scream when they're playing? You know I never can understand what you're saying Then you won't hear a word out of me Because I know how indifferent someone can be Taking a fall You don't know who to call No, you don't know who, do you? Taking a fall When there's someone to call But you don't know who, do you? Taking a fall But you don't know who, do you? Taking a fall Well, you don't know who, do you?
having no chance steps in a dance your whole life's been in combat now i'm the king of the ward 'cos i'm good and i swallow my sword and puke it out for the doctors to write a new prescription tranquil as a dove
God. I always think of the music he'd be releasing in this day and age... probably not the level of this era. but we'll have to only speculate that. If Elliott had oberst's lyrical abilities; greatest song writer to ever walk the earth.
S M L obersts lyrical ability , excuse me for sounding arrogant but Elliott's lyrics are some of the most awe inspiring, colorful, and self reflective I've ever heard lol that being said , I agree with you I guess but idk man
i love Elliott but i find Conor more of a poet. I think Elliott is more honest lyrically and obviously a way better musician. ^^Glad someone else said it though, can't help but compare the two.
Mr. Anonymous Damn, fans of Elliott Smith AND Conor Oberst? I've never met a single person who's heard of either of them, so to see someone who knows both is kind of a big deal to me. They're my top 2 favourite artists of the last 20 years. At least we still have Conor. I hope he gets well and starts taking better care of himself.
Holly Daugherty Sometimes it feels that way. You might be surprised to hear this is actually in the San Francisco Bay area. Although, I'm currently in Texas, on my way cross country to Maine, to find a better life. Hell, maybe they'll have better taste in music up there. California is a very commercial, superficial place.
