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Yes, I know there are other Elliott threads.

I hope to try and keep this one free of "whiny bitch, crap." and "divine force, worship him....not crap." comments. I want this thread to merely discuss his recording techniques, musical arrangements, etc.

Again, this is not meant to be a thread to boo/cheer his songwriting...I honestly would like to hear some criticism and/or discussion about his recording abilities.

I'm sure many of you know much more about these kinds of things than I do and I am honestly curious to hear your opinions on his recordings and what you like/dislike about them from a recording aspect.

The multi-tracking of his voice is pretty clever, since he doesn't have a strong voice. If he'd just recorded one vocal track it would sound pretty thin and weak, but double-track it and it fills out nicely, gets enough force going that he can actually sing his songs.

I like the drums sounds his making. goofey sounds. I think it's cool.

.....and when he combines the multitacking and the drum sounds by multitracking the drums on kings crossing, that sounds cool too

GAY

on a couple tracks it sounds like he will play a guitar line and then overdub himself playing the riff backwards/recorded backwards so its the same notes on both tracks, but one track is recorded backwards and one is straight. i think that is what im hearing. the end of the little solo in "coming up roses", for example.

also, a lot of times it sounds like his cymbals are being miked in another universe. im not sure how this is accomplished.

When is this going to get Kerbled? I've got to go back to talking old cranky women through writing their first text message.

no need to kerble it tallchris, CervixforaHeart explained the reason for this thread, and that's fair.

Antero wrote:The multi-tracking of his voice is pretty clever, since he doesn't have a strong voice. If he'd just recorded one vocal track it would sound pretty thin and weak, but double-track it and it fills out nicely, gets enough force going that he can actually sing his songs.

My good friend Chad helped engineer some of his stuff @ inner Ear in Arlington, VA. we were staying there on tour and talking shop when he explained that Elliot multitracked his voice (in elliot's paraphrased words) 'because [he] hated [himself] and when it's doubled, his voice no longer sounds like [him]'. I think about this sad window into his thought process every time I listen to his music. It's not so much a recording trick, but an indicator of his lack of self-esteem and despair.



Faiz

Elliott Smith was a genius. The drums are really unique. weird tuning and it really sounds like the cymbals are recorded in another planet.

kerble wrote:no need to kerble it tallchris, CervixforaHeart explained the reason for this thread, and that's fair.

Antero wrote:The multi-tracking of his voice is pretty clever, since he doesn't have a strong voice. If he'd just recorded one vocal track it would sound pretty thin and weak, but double-track it and it fills out nicely, gets enough force going that he can actually sing his songs.

My good friend Chad helped engineer some of his stuff @ inner Ear in Arlington, VA. we were staying there on tour and talking shop when he explained that Elliot multitracked his voice (in elliot's paraphrased words) 'because [he] hated [himself] and when it's doubled, his voice no longer sounds like [him]'. I think about this sad window into his thought process every time I listen to his music. It's not so much a recording trick, but an indicator of his lack of self-esteem and despair.



Faiz

Fair enough. My apologies.

I wasn't aware that Chad Clark had done some Elliott Smith stuff. Has this been released at all?