From A Basement On The Hill [Digipak] - Elliott Smith

...for and was hooked almost from that moment forward. I have chosen to review this particular album as I believe it to be arguably his best work which makes the situation such a shame that he isn't around to receive its plaudits. The fact that the album wasn't finished and several songs would have had further work on it does not deter its quality. Having had a commercially viable album in 'Figure 8' have limited success Elliott Smith tries on this ...
...wants to. It is clear from the distorted electric guitars in "Coast to Coast" that this is a signal of intent. "Let's get lost" follows and reminds us all of his biggest strength, the rawness of his voice, lyrics with a beautifully figure picking acoustic guitar. The album really takes off with "Pretty Ugly Before", an electric strum along with demonstrates his love for Beatles esque melodies. Often touted as the albums biggest triumph I think this ...

dtait07 10.02.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of From A Basement On The Hill [Digipak] - Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith, a man so ill at ease with his appearance he hated photo shoots, who double tracked his vocals due his lack of confidence in the power of his voice, a man who felt he was the ugly duckling but on record and to his fans a beautiful swan. I've been a fan for years, the beauty contained in his fragile voice seeing me through a few dark spells myself. This Cd marks the recorded farewell of Elliott Smith, the final songs recorded before ...
...worth of tracks, the majority unfinished and it fell to some of his closest friends to complete the recordings for release. The wonder of this, and the testimony to Elliott and his cohorts, is that this is unnoticeable throughout, the album sounding like years were spent perfecting the arrangements and production. Stand out tracks are Pretty (ugly before) a glorious almost (power) ballad, should hav been a commercial breakthrough,Twilight with it's ...

vanhaddock 21.08.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of From A Basement On The Hill [Digipak] - Elliott Smith