as far as the sound of entire albums is concerned, it's interesting to chart the progression of how he was able to upgrade and expand what he was able to do through the years. roman candle, s/t, and either/or were--at best--home recordings. xo utilized more studio trickery and arrangments that were much more grand than on the previous albums. figure 8 is to me the realization of what he wanted to sound like all along. i can't count the last album as a cohesive "album" because in the end he didn't have much say in what was released, and rumors abound about his intentions for it. so who knows...

anyone else care to expand on this?

in his book on elliott smith, benjamin nugent spends a lot of time dealing with the recording of the "basement" songs. i was left with the feeling that what was released sounds nothing like elliott intended. of course, to say he was not stable during those recordings would be a huge understatement. i also agree that figure 8 is the best representation of his abilities.

i know its not cool to admit you enjoy elliott smith recordings, but if anyone else cares to give any personal feelings about his recording abilities i would honestly love to hear them. positive or negative....just say it.

thanks to kerble.

is this the "needle in a haystack" guy?

um...sort of.

on the "basement" tapes....the alternate "distorted reality" track is far, far superior to the album version, in my opinion. so much so that i am forced to question the judgements of the two people responsible.

cervixFORaHEart wrote:on the "basement" tapes....the alternate "distorted reality" track is far, far superior to the album version, in my opinion. so much so that i am forced to question the judgements of the two people responsible.

is that the "basement on the hill II" thing? i don't remember an alternate take of this song. i say you EAforums@gmail it!

how do i do that, exactly?

here are the lyrics from the alternate version i have:

"I'm floating in a black balloon
I must make it through this afternoon
Shame shifting shadow down drifting
Way out of town
And all you ladies and you gentleman
Unhappy where you could have been
Drive people like you drive a car
Till you don't know where you are
You don't impress me
I'm sorry that you're chained to the ground
But no big brother is gonna bring me down now
Rim's rolling now with all his might
Rain drops falling through a starry night
Sunrise on a choppy crusade
Waving back at you not me
You don't impress me
You can't be satisfied anyhow
And now big brother is gonna bring me back down."

Larry Crane wrote a little blurb in the latest Tape Op magazine about working on some of Elliott's stuff for his estate...it was in his review of The Beatles "Love" album...I have already cut it out and mailed it to a friend so I cant quote it for you...it may be on the Tape Op website...it was pretty interesting.

About the alternate version of distorted reality appears at Suicide Squeeze "Pretty (Ugly Before)". I prefer that version "Distorted Reality" than the one on "basement".

I don't have much to add about his recording techniques, but his drums are really unique, it always sound like the snare is dopplering(as in doppler effect). It's sad that he died and that no one could have help him. or maybe they could, but ignored.