It's all in the arrangements, apparently... (Home To Oblivion: A Tribute To Elliot Smith - Elliott Smith)

Member Name: beedubblyer

Product:	Home To Oblivion: A Tribute To Elliot Smith - Elliott Smith
Date:	15/02/01 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything Elliott Smith has done is good.

Disadvantages: Start with the later albums, if you love them, work backwards.

There's something great about Elliott Smith's way with an arrangement. On his later albums, "Figure 8" and "X/O", he's been afforded the luxury of good studios and an ever-expanding band. But to see where he first flexed these dynamic musical muscles, have a listen to his first two offerings, "Roman Candle" and the eponymous second album.

There's the restrained anger of 'Needle In The Hay', or the blunt poetry of 'Christian Brothers': "Nightmares become me, it's so f****** clear..." Then there's the menacing 'Southern Belle', a bruised 'Good To Go', the sweet comedown closer 'The Biggest Lie'.

And hey! The great thing is, he wrings all these moods out of mostly just a couple of acoustic guitars, and one exceptionally evocative voice. The depth and subtle emotional shading on each of these tracks! This is sounding hopelessly vague and semi-muso, but the constant melodic invention, the restless movement of his arrangements... 'S good stuff.

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