New Moon (2xCD)

Product Description Arguably the most gifted songwriter of his generation, Smith produced a large body of work that includes five solo albums and a collection of songs completed before his death in 2003. This double CD contains twenty-four songs recorded between 1994 and 1997, a prolific time in Elliot's career, when he recorded his self-titled album and EITHER/OR. Like his other work, NEW MOON reflects the power of Smith's ability to integrate rich, melodic music with poetic, multi-layered lyrics. Review Elliott Smith's legacy is best spoken by his records. For all the emphasis placed on his unhappy backstory and the distressing nature of his death, Smith left behind a body of work that defies and exceeds any stereotyping. Sadness may be the easiest emotional current to pick up on in his songs, but Smith's expressive range was as wide as it was subtle; his music could be angry, funny, hopeful, and despondent, often at the same time. New Moon collects two CDs worth of material recorded around the same time as 1995's Elliott Smith and its 1997 follow-up Either/Or, and unlike typical posthumous releases (not to mention second ones), is a genuinely worthy addition to a stunningly consistent catalog. Part of what makes both Either/Or and 1998's XO so essential is Smith's avoidance of classic album compartmentalization; you don't get the sad song, followed by the experimental song, followed by the upbeat song. Smith didn't record specifically towards any album, he just recorded-- more or less constantly. At their inception, the songs compiled for New Moon were no less significant than those that wound up making the cut for Elliott Smith and Either/Or, and for the most part they re no less developed. Smith s signature style is more musical than it is aesthetic; from the lo-fi folk of Roman Candle through the muscular chamber-pop of Figure 8, Smith's songwriting tics remain completely recognizable. New Moon is overflowing with characteristic melodic turns and unexpected chord changes, yet still covers a good deal of ground stylistically. The chugging acoustic guitar of Big Decision conjures Johnny Cash, while New Monkey subtly nods to a similarly titled Beatles song. Each song seems fully realized in its own right; for a 2xCD posthumous compilation, it s unbelievably refreshing to not pick up even the slightest whiff of exploitative barrel-scraping. Like much of Smith's material from this era, New Moon is by and large quiet, acoustic, and emotionally complicated. It s easy to see why Smith's music earned him a reputation as a sad sack, but such dismissals don't really hold up to any scrutiny. When asked whether he considered himself a lo-fi artist, Smith once responded that he simply didn t want the recording process to be a drag. Smith s interest in the the expressive potential of recording comes through loud and clear on New Moon; even when the subject or tone of a song is depressing, it still carries an unmistakable note of joy... Phrases like rare talent are thrown around all the time these days, but this compilation makes painfully clear just how unique and valuable this music is. Smith's visionary qualities were not terribly flashy or transgressive, and his great musical gifts were not those of innovation. Instead, he steadily and quietly wrote, honed, and recorded a body of beautifully executed, deeply moving records not quite like any others. Consider him the patron saint of hobbyists, a talented and dedicated craftsman with a tireless love of the creative process. --Pitchfork With most recording artists, the unveiling of an album made up of tracks rejected from other discs wouldn't be a particularly big deal just another odds-and-sods record relevant to the devotee, but entirely dismissible by the casual fan. When it comes to Elliott Smith, though, things are different: There are no casual Smith fans. They re pretty much all fanatics, acolytes who've invested the lo-fi icon with the kind of awe reserved for The Beatles at the height of their creative powers. And just as Beatles fans had their revelatory Anthology, Smith fans will have New Moon. Produced by Smith's old friend and sometime engineer Larry Crane, the package collects two discs' worth of demos, album outtakes, and out-of-print material recorded between 1994 and 1997, a period rightfully considered Smith's golden age. Spa --New York Magazine With most recording artists, the unveiling of an album made up of tracks rejected from other discs wouldn't be a particularly big deal just another odds-and-sods record relevant to the devotee, but entirely dismissible by the casual fan. When it comes to Elliott Smith, though, things are different: There are no casual Smith fans. They re pretty much all fanatics, acolytes who've invested the lo-fi icon with the kind of awe reserved for The Beatles at the height of their creative powers. And just as Beatles fans had their revelatory Anthology, Smith fans will have New Moon. Produced by Smith's old
ASIN: B000OMD4BG
VSKU: DBV.B000OMD4BG.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Elliott Smith
Binding: Audio CD
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