An Introduction to... Elliott Smith

Last updated

An Introduction to... Elliott Smith
Es anintroduction.jpg
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedNovember 1, 2010 (2010-11-01)
Recorded1993–2003
Label Kill Rock Stars
Producer Elliott Smith, Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf, Larry Crane
Elliott Smith chronology
New Moon
(2007)
An Introduction to... Elliott Smith
(2010)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 81/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Drowned in Sound 10/10 [3]
Pitchfork 8.8/10 [4]
PopMatters 6/10 [5]
Clash 8/10 [6]
Tom Hull B [7]

An Introduction to... Elliott Smith is a posthumous compilation album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released on November 2, 2010 by Kill Rock Stars in the United States.

Contents

Background

The press release by Kill Rock Stars described the aim of the compilation's assembly and release:[ citation needed ]

An Introduction To... is, as the title suggests, intended as an introduction to one of the greatest songwriters of our era. We hope this will enable new generations to learn about Elliott's music by providing a pathway for people to delve more deeply into his immensely satisfying catalog.

Larry Crane, Smith's archivist, remixed "Last Call" for this compilation from the 4-track cassette master.[ citation needed ] "Angel in the Snow" is also a new mix, done later than the version that appears on New Moon . Crane stated "I had used an inferior noise reduction process on New Moon; plus, I now have better tape transfers". [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elliott Smith.

No.TitleLength
1."Ballad of Big Nothing" (originally appeared on Either/Or ) 
2."Waltz No. 2 (XO)" (originally appeared on XO ) 
3."Pictures of Me" (originally appeared on Either/Or) 
4."The Biggest Lie" (originally appeared on Elliott Smith ) 
5."Alameda" (originally appeared on Either/Or) 
6."Between the Bars" (originally appeared on Either/Or) 
7."Needle in the Hay" (originally released as a single; later appeared on Elliott Smith) 
8."Last Call" (originally appeared on Roman Candle ) 
9."Angeles" (originally appeared on Either/Or) 
10."Twilight" (originally appeared on From a Basement on the Hill ) 
11."Pretty (Ugly Before)" (originally released as a single; later appeared on From a Basement on the Hill) 
12."Angel in the Snow" (originally appeared on New Moon ) 
13."Miss Misery" (early version; originally appeared on New Moon) 
14."Happiness" (single version; originally released as a single; later appeared on Figure 8 in a slightly altered version) 

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliott Smith</span> American musician (1969–2003)

Steven Paul Smith, known professionally as Elliott Smith, was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he gained popularity. Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. He had a distinctive vocal style, characterized by his "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery", and often used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies.

<i>Either/Or</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Elliott Smith

Either/Or is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Either/Or was recorded in several locations, mostly in Portland, Oregon – while Smith was still a member of Heatmiser – and was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997, on the Kill Rock Stars record label, following Heatmiser's dissolution. Book-ended by its two singles, "Speed Trials" and "Ballad of Big Nothing", Either/Or did not chart in the US, but was acclaimed by critics.

<i>XO</i> (Elliott Smith album) 1998 studio album by Elliott Smith

XO is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was recorded from 1997 to 1998 and released on August 25, 1998, by record label DreamWorks; Smith's first solo album on a major record label. Two singles, "Waltz #2 (XO)" and "Baby Britain", were released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Kil Moon</span> American folk rock act

Sun Kil Moon is an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, founded in 2002. Initially a continuation of the defunct indie rock band Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist Mark Kozelek. The project is named after the Korean super flyweight boxer Sung-Kil Moon.

<i>Elliott Smith</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was recorded from late 1994 to early 1995, and released on July 21, 1995, through Kill Rock Stars, his first album on the label. It was preceded by the single "Needle in the Hay", released in early January 1995.

<i>Roman Candle</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Elliott Smith

Roman Candle is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was recorded in late 1993 and released on July 14, 1994 by record label Cavity Search.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deerhoof</span> American band

Deerhoof are an American musical group formed in San Francisco in 1994. They consist of founding drummer Greg Saunier, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez. Beginning as an improvised noise punk band, Deerhoof became widely renowned and influential in the 2000s through their self-produced albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marissa Nadler</span> American singer-songwriter

Marissa Nadler is an American musician and fine artist. Active since 2000, she is currently signed to Sacred Bones Records and Bella Union, and released her ninth full-length studio album, The Path of the Clouds, in October 2021. As a singer-songwriter, her music has been characterized as blending "traditional folk, Gothic Americana, and dreamy pop into an original musical framework". Her music "is rooted in old-school country and folk but brings in elements of experimental and black metal". Sometimes the term "dream folk" has been invoked to describe her work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammock (band)</span> American ambient/post-rock band

Hammock is an American ambient post-rock duo formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005 by Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Needle in the Hay</span> 1995 single by Elliott Smith

"Needle in the Hay" is a song by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was released on January 1, 1995, by record label Kill Rock Stars as the sole single from his second studio album, Elliott Smith.

<i>New Moon</i> (Elliott Smith album) 2007 compilation album by Elliott Smith

New Moon is a posthumous compilation album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released on May 8, 2007 by Kill Rock Stars. It contains twenty-four previously unreleased songs, most recorded between 1994 and 1997 during the sessions for Smith's albums Elliott Smith and Either/Or.

<i>Surgery</i> (album) 2005 studio album by the Warlocks

Surgery is the third full-length album by American psychedelic rock band the Warlocks. It was released by major label Mute in 2005, and was produced by Tom Rothrock.

<i>Death to False Metal</i> 2010 compilation album by Weezer

Death to False Metal is a compilation album by American rock band Weezer, released on November 2, 2010 by Geffen Records. The album comprises several previously unreleased tracks from throughout Weezer's career, with vocalist and guitarist Rivers Cuomo stating that the songs together make an album that should "logically follow Hurley". The album debuted at number 48 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Best of 00–10</i> 2011 greatest-hits album by Ladytron

Best of 00–10 is a greatest hits album by English electronic music band Ladytron. It was released on 28 March 2011 by Nettwerk. The compilation includes remastered material spanning from the band's previous studio albums, as well as two previously unreleased tracks—lead single "Ace of Hz" and a cover version of Death in June's 1992 song "Little Black Angel". A deluxe version was also released, featuring a bonus disc of 16 additional tracks and an 80-page photo booklet.

<i>The Money Store</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Death Grips

The Money Store is the debut studio album by American experimental hip hop trio Death Grips. It is the follow-up to their debut mixtape, Exmilitary. The album was officially released on April 24, 2012, but had been leaked to YouTube on April 14, sold by the band at Coachella on cassette on April 20, and made available on vinyl on April 21 to celebrate Record Store Day. The Money Store was announced alongside the group's second album, No Love Deep Web, which was released later in the year.

<i>Heaven Adores You</i> 2014 American film

Heaven Adores You is a 2014 documentary about the life and music of indie rock singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (1969–2003). It premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival on May 5, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Grips discography</span>

American band Death Grips has released six studio albums, one compilation album, four extended plays (EPs), one mixtape, seven singles, eight promotional singles, three remixes, and 47 music videos. The band was formed by MC Ride, Zach Hill, and Andy Morin in Sacramento, California, during the winter of 2010.

<i>Is the Is Are</i> 2016 studio album by DIIV

Is the Is Are is the second studio album by American indie rock band DIIV, released on February 5, 2016 on Captured Tracks. Self-produced by vocalist and guitarist Zachary Cole Smith, the album was recorded at Strange Weather Recording Studio and The Bunker, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was preceded by the singles, "Dopamine", "Bent ", "Under the Sun" and "Is the Is Are".

<i>The Ooz</i> 2017 studio album by King Krule

The Ooz is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Archy Marshall, and his second album under the stage name King Krule. It was released on 13 October 2017 via True Panther Sounds and XL Recordings. The album incorporates elements of trip hop, R&B, punk rock, and jazz.

<i>Phases</i> (Angel Olsen album) 2017 compilation album by Angel Olsen

Phases is a compilation album by American musician Angel Olsen. It was released November 10, 2017 through Jagjaguwar.

References

  1. "An Introduction to Elliott Smith by Elliott Smith Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  2. Sendra, Tim. "An Introduction to Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  3. Skinner, James (October 21, 2010). "Elliott Smith – An Introduction To... / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  4. Pytlik, Mark (November 2, 2010). "Elliott Smith: an Introduction To... | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  5. Kott, Crispin (November 4, 2010). "Elliott Smith: An Introduction To... | PopMatters". PopMatters . Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  6. Harris, Steve (November 2010). "Elliott Smith – An Introduction To..." Clash . Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  7. Hull, Tom (December 2010). "Recycled Goods". Static Multimedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020 via tomhull.com.
  8. "Elliott Smith – Angel in the Snow (The "An Introduction To" Mix) – YouTube". YouTube. December 24, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2013.[ dead YouTube link ]