From a Basement on the Hill

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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0045778674121
Label: Anti
Manufacturer: Anti
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Anti
Release Date: October 19, 2004
Studio: Anti


 

Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Posthumous releases fall into two categories: those which the artist was working on at the time of their death, and those which are gathered from every nook and cranny to keep fans enthused and cash registers ringing. Elliott Smith's from a basement on the hill is of the former variety. It was close to completion at the time of his untimely death. Over the course of the set's 15 songs, Smith's powerful songwriting and production skills are shown in their full breadth. From thickly interlocked chordal guitar riffs ("Coast to Coast") to shimmering melancholia ("A Fond Farewell"), the songs are each brought to their own particular focus by whatever means were most appropriate. There are lush background vocals, keyboard washes, pounding rhythms, and heart rending balladry. This disc is a sad goodbye to richly emotive artist. --David Greenberger

Album Description:
Elliott Smith has been a patron saint of the indie scene since his days helming Portland heroes Heatmiser. As a solo artist, his fondness for Beatlesque melody led to some of the most beautifully orchestrated pop of the last decade. This is his final recording, which found him returning to an edgier, guitar-driven sound, alongside his trademark heart-rending balladry.

MUZE Notes: Elliott Smith's death in 2003 left a cavernous hole in the world of popular music. Tender, intimate, and painfully honest, the songs in Smith's catalogue capture the fragility of human existence with rare, breathtaking beauty. On his first posthumous release, Smith reaffirms his status as an extraordinarily gifted artist, giving fans yet another reason to mourn his tragic loss. Conceived as an ambitious double album, FROM A BASEMENT ON THE HILL was ultimately narrowed down to 15 tracks by Smith's close friends, producer Rob Schnapf (Beck's MELLOW GOLD, Smith's X/O) and musician Joanna Bolme (the Minders, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks). The result is a heartbreaking collection of songs that plays like a retrospective of Smith's entire career. "Strung Out Again" reflects the early edge of ROMAN CANDLE; "Last Hour" recalls the bittersweet melodies of ELLIOTT SMITH; "A Fond Farewell" is a sad anthem in the tradition of EITHER/OR; "Shooting Star" employs the more polished sound of ! X/O; and "Don't Go Down" is an extension of the more electrified FIGURE 8. Of course, the most haunting aspect of FROM A BASEMENT ON THE HILL is the lyrical content, which is impossible to hear without placing it in the context of Smith's untimely passing.

Album Description:
Elliott Smith has been a patron saint of the indie scene since his days helming Portland heroes Heatmiser. As a solo artist, Smith led a revolution of home four-trackers, from Beck to Cat Power, out of the bedroom and into the studio, where Smith's fondness for Beatlesque melody led to some of the most beautifully orchestrated pop of the last decade. from a basement on the hill is Smith's final recording and finds Smith returning to an edgier, guitar-driven sound, alongside his trademark heart-rending balladry.

Average Rating:

Rating: - A beautiful album. Sorry it was the last.
Elliott Smith was an extraordinary musician. This album is diverse -- every facet of the artist is here, all that he'd known and learned through the years: you'll find it here.

There are songs like oracles, eerily predicting the future. And songs that sound fully alive and intending to remain that way.

This man's ability to convey such intensely personal feelings and observations in few words and his complex guitar work...mind-boggling. I've tried to figure it out, decipher ... Read More

Rating: - One of the True Elliotts
Everyone seems to have a proprietary take on Elliott. People who came to him with this album will probably always feel this is the quintessential Elliott, whereas those who knew his earlier stuff tend to be put off by the more elaborate and rockist arrangements here.

This was my first contact with Elliott, and I quite fell in love with the album. I had been listening to Grandaddy's "Under the Western Freeway" and "Sumday" right before I started listening to "From a Basement. . ", and as ... Read More

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Rating: - Unfortunately, Elliott's last was also his worst
I first heard Elliott Smith's music in 1995, shortly after I moved to the U.S. My local radio station would play "Clementine" quite a bit, and it wasn't long before I fell in love with his self-titled album and quickly decided to track down a copy of his first album, "Roman Candle", which is still my favorite album of his and one of my favorite albums of all time. His next two albums, "Either/Or" and "XO", are both excellent, and "Figure 8" is very good. After four excellent albums, I was very disappointed ... Read More

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Rating: - Good beginning
I've recently begun listening to Elliot Smith and this is my first CD to own. It's quite good and I am anticipating acquiring more music from Mr. Smith.

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Rating: - it rocks, it weeps
I was hooked after the first two tracks.

Does Elliot Smith have any bad material?