Definitely! Although when I first discovered him 5 years ago I played speed trials in the car on the way to school in the morning and my friend who was carpooling with us thought about it all day and at the end of the day asked me like “who was that artist I need to know” and Elliott been his favourite since then. So he’s also the kinda artist that hooks you in right away.
Yep! I remember liking XO a lot the first time I heard it then within 3-4 listens I was head over heels in love with Elliott's sound and decided to hear the rest of his work. I'm so glad I did because Elliott's has such an incredible discography. He was insanely talented.
No he wasn't. However, Elliott Smith didn't know who Nick Drake was until people started comparing them, also I don't feel that they're all that similar besides being two "Sensitive guys that picked up a guitar" Regardless, nobody is a thief for being inspired that's for sure. In Elliott Smith's song "Flowers for Charlie" he uses a very similar melody to Lennon's "War is over" most likely to fit the metaphor, however I wouldn't call him a thief for being inspired, or being clever.
the reason that melodies sometimes turn out to be similar if they are very catchy like this is because in music theory chord progressions many times have implied melodies that follow certain tendencies and a musician can arrive at it naturally by just ear or through knowledge of music theory, they are tendencies to the tones and there is a limited palette so the same melodies come up again whether someone has heard them or not because the melodies arise out of the chord progressions,
this is sick. wonder if mary lou lord still has the tape and would digitalize it again... don't believe there are many early videos of him solo like this.
also music theory is just a way of describing the natural patterns in the sound vibrations that make up music, and that's why you can create a gorgeous song and not be aware of music theory at all, its not necessary to create good music but its a useful way of thinking and analyzing the music afterwards and also good for communicating with other musicians what you are going for
Apparently filmed by Mary Lou Lord at the Horseshoe Tavern, Ontario, 1995. If this was from their first tour they were in Vancouver 2nd March 1995, Seattle on the 3rd, Portland 4th, San Fran 6th, Los Angeles 7th. I suspect this is from 1st March 1995 or before. They were also in Olympia, WA playing shows on 8th Feb and 12th Feb. He also played Alphabet Town at this show, but the video was uploaded by someone else.
Chord progression which were the basis of most of Elliott Smith's music has implied melodies within the progression. Quite easy to come up with an interesting melody that others have also used without even hearing those other musician's melodies. I also don't think Elliott Smith was into Nick Drake at all. The only two songs that remind me of Nick Drake songs are "Rose Parade" which reminds me of "Time of No Reply" and "New Disaster" which kind of reminds me of "Hanging on a Star."
I noticed that too (about the Lennon connection) but also Quasi has a song called Empty Words that has that same melody too, my theory is Coomes from Quasi subconsciously pulled it from Lennon and Elliott subconsciously pulled it from Coomes.
also before i realt started listening to elliott smith a lot someone on youtube said one of my songs reminded them of conor oberst/elliott smith and also in a songwriting class the melodies i was creating reminded the teacher of nick drake who i hadnt listened to at all, so there is just another example of one big music coincidence
JULIAN ORMOND It really is, i've been trying for ages. The man was, and continues to be, an enigma. You'd think it would be easy to just watch his fingers and copy, but nope!
Thank you so much! It reads very well, you're a saint. I'm still having a little problem with the part that goes up higher (I can't for the life of me name it right now) but thats more on me than you.
I think so. I am not good at this (if you need proof, I did a cover) so im just going to trust that you understand what I mean. I'm pretty sure hes just some kind of wizard?
haha yeah I have a thick book on chord progressions and the number of songs and artists that use the same progressions is limitless. I kind of prefer exploring other modes like lydian and dorian to get a little different modal sound texture in say like DADGAD tuning. I play a lot of Irish fingerstyle guitar and a lot of non-major and minor modes go great with it.
No, but back then, it was the kinda punk/skater rebellious, don't give a fuck attitude along with bleaching hair. It wasn't 'trendy' @ all, even amongst sk8'rs n such. By chance, I also had bleached hair back in '95 & '96; but I only knew of maybe 1 guy that bleached his hair from time2time.(in No.CA), & he was kinda sh8'r/punk. El had punk rock roots too. Against the Grain (Greg Graffin/Bad Religion) attitude n core. LA rox btw! It's gota lil bit of it all! N u can blend in2 the background ther
Conor Oberst's songwriting style is barely similar to Elliott's though. Sure they both play sad songs and sometimes sing in a whispery way but that's about it. Elliott's songs have much more of a clear 60's pop influence and generally rely on a MUCH more intricate style of guitar playing and often more complex chords. Almost all of his songs retain that wispy, super melodic vocal style and his lyrics tend to be extremely impressionistic. Conor's music draws more from an emo/folk-punk background gradually transitioning into more of a country style but with a lot of sonic experimentation (use of sound collage, electronic elements etc) but his guitar playing is generally far simpler. And his vocal style is much more abrasive and varies much more drastically than Elliott's, transitioning from quiet to throat-shredding screams sometimes all in the space of a single song. And his lyrics usually tend to be less abstract, less minimalistic and more narrative-driven. I mean can you even point to a Bright Eyes song that has a melody that's ripping off an Elliott Smith song? Or is the entire basis of this assertion just This depressed guy with an acoustic guitar MUST be ripping off this other depressed guy with an acoustic guitar? As though those are rare attributes in the world of singer songwriters? Conor was definitely inspired by Elliott, in fact he covered this very song on a live album, but influence and inspiration aren't the same as theft.
![Elliott Smith - KALI THE DESTROYER [hypothetical album, 2022] (43:39)](/img/1.gif)
He's one of those artists that the more you listen to him the more you like it.
Yep... 100 freaking percent :'(
Definitely! Although when I first discovered him 5 years ago I played speed trials in the car on the way to school in the morning and my friend who was carpooling with us thought about it all day and at the end of the day asked me like “who was that artist I need to know” and Elliott been his favourite since then. So he’s also the kinda artist that hooks you in right away.
Yep! I remember liking XO a lot the first time I heard it then within 3-4 listens I was head over heels in love with Elliott's sound and decided to hear the rest of his work. I'm so glad I did because Elliott's has such an incredible discography. He was insanely talented.
"you spent everything you had, wanted everything to stop that bad"...brings tears to my eyes..i can really relate
Yeahhh boi
This was shot by Mary Lou Lord, on his first solo tour I think. Really magic stuff
This is like walking along, and finding a hundred-dollar-bill on youtube.
Thanks for posting this.
I've seen your picture on a hundred dollar bill
No he wasn't. However, Elliott Smith didn't know who Nick Drake was until people started comparing them, also I don't feel that they're all that similar besides being two "Sensitive guys that picked up a guitar"
Regardless, nobody is a thief for being inspired that's for sure.
In Elliott Smith's song "Flowers for Charlie" he uses a very similar melody to Lennon's "War is over" most likely to fit the metaphor, however I wouldn't call him a thief for being inspired, or being clever.
the reason that melodies sometimes turn out to be similar if they are very catchy like this is because in music theory chord progressions many times have implied melodies that follow certain tendencies and a musician can arrive at it naturally by just ear or through knowledge of music theory, they are tendencies to the tones and there is a limited palette so the same melodies come up again whether someone has heard them or not because the melodies arise out of the chord progressions,
oh god.. he was beautiful
words can't say how much he make me feel when i listening to his song
this is sick. wonder if mary lou lord still has the tape and would digitalize it again... don't believe there are many early videos of him solo like this.
Instead of being with Kurt I would be with him lol
What an angel.
This song would bring me to tears...long story short I can't cry. But, the raw emotion of Elliott Smith is something more musicians should strive for.
So true, in order to make music that resonates with others you have to tap into your own pain.
wow, can't believe I haven't seen this performance before now! So special; he looks so young and fresh with the short blonde hair :D
One of my all-time favorite Elliott Smith songs. Thanks for posting!
also music theory is just a way of describing the natural patterns in the sound vibrations that make up music, and that's why you can create a gorgeous song and not be aware of music theory at all, its not necessary to create good music but its a useful way of thinking and analyzing the music afterwards and also good for communicating with other musicians what you are going for
Happy Birthday old friend
Apparently filmed by Mary Lou Lord at the Horseshoe Tavern, Ontario, 1995. If this was from their first tour they were in Vancouver 2nd March 1995, Seattle on the 3rd, Portland 4th, San Fran 6th, Los Angeles 7th. I suspect this is from 1st March 1995 or before. They were also in Olympia, WA playing shows on 8th Feb and 12th Feb.
He also played Alphabet Town at this show, but the video was uploaded by someone else.
Wow so he had a lot of overlap with the people Kurt Cobain knew small world I guess
This is beautiful. I love Elliott Smith.
I just want to keep watching this over, and over... Thanks
1:05 sounds so fantastic!
incredible performance
Goddamnit elliott. God fucking damnit.
These are friggin' great. Get so inspired when I see new live stuff. Most definitely going to have to go play open mic tonight....
i watched miss misery he played at the oscars i cant believe that stupid titanic song beat out elliot smith.wtf?
batcountry04 his fate was to lose, even with that crap. if he had won, it wouldn't have been his style
losing isn't a style.
batcountry04 The stupid titanic song was recently voted the worst song ever written. Justice prevails.
M D I like it tbh
Kit Palmer still....justice
even more of a pleasure to hear
Chord progression which were the basis of most of Elliott Smith's music has implied melodies within the progression. Quite easy to come up with an interesting melody that others have also used without even hearing those other musician's melodies. I also don't think Elliott Smith was into Nick Drake at all. The only two songs that remind me of Nick Drake songs are "Rose Parade" which reminds me of "Time of No Reply" and "New Disaster" which kind of reminds me of "Hanging on a Star."
i love you so much elliott.
Happy Birthday Elliot! RIP
Yeah, hell even John Lennon was quoted as saying "All music is rehash. There are only a few notes. Just variations on a theme."
amazing, very airfull, so great, so long
he looks so young and not strung out
I noticed that too (about the Lennon connection) but also Quasi has a song called Empty Words that has that same melody too, my theory is Coomes from Quasi subconsciously pulled it from Lennon and Elliott subconsciously pulled it from Coomes.
magic
Beautiful
Wonderful.
imagine the choir in heaven
Tired of dancing on a pot of gold... flake paint. Wow
that was the perfect description. your comment is like finding a twenty dollar bill in a pile of ones.
also before i realt started listening to elliott smith a lot someone on youtube said one of my songs reminded them of conor oberst/elliott smith and also in a songwriting class the melodies i was creating reminded the teacher of nick drake who i hadnt listened to at all, so there is just another example of one big music coincidence
If anyone knows how to play the interlude can they please send tabs or something, this is *killing* me
Insufferable Know-It-All it's almost impossible, he took the tabs to the grave
JULIAN ORMOND
It really is, i've been trying for ages. The man was, and continues to be, an enigma. You'd think it would be easy to just watch his fingers and copy, but nope!
Verty
I do! It's the fingering thats bothering me.
Thank you so much! It reads very well, you're a saint. I'm still having a little problem with the part that goes up higher (I can't for the life of me name it right now) but thats more on me than you.
I think so. I am not good at this (if you need proof, I did a cover) so im just going to trust that you understand what I mean. I'm pretty sure hes just some kind of wizard?
I saw his new hair cut now!
Fucking hell! This is an amazing video!
I went a long time not really knowing what this was about. Once knowing it's obvious and I'd rather not know. :(
is there a definite known meaning to this song? i kind of always thought it was about his mother but that was just me
Michael Penny elaborate thanks
Clockwork Owl I know about his dad but what about his mom? What did she do
He reminds me of kurt cobain where he let you think he was messy looking to hide he was actually cute lol
omg I love Elliott and kurt
Ineffabile
Sorry; it's spelled 'ineffable'
Correct spelling in italiano tho
🇮🇹😎🇮🇹
haha yeah I have a thick book on chord progressions and the number of songs and artists that use the same progressions is limitless. I kind of prefer exploring other modes like lydian and dorian to get a little different modal sound texture in say like DADGAD tuning. I play a lot of Irish fingerstyle guitar and a lot of non-major and minor modes go great with it.
whats the book
anyone know when this was recorded?
In Canada 1994.
loovelovwloveLoveeeeee
Does anyone know when/where this recording is from?
Conner Oberst is as Mick Jagger was to John Lennon, I find.
What year was this?
+Patrick Chole 1995 according to some comments below
thanks
yeah, what year was this recorded plz?
ah, according to another video from the same gig, it's 1995.
+StevenAndrew777 hahaha that isn't how analogies work
How old was he here?
Around 25 years old
*hiccup*
@Ehenderson88 "new"....never seen =/
Shed a tear or two or three or four😊🥲
No, but back then, it was the kinda punk/skater rebellious, don't give a fuck attitude along with bleaching hair. It wasn't 'trendy' @ all, even amongst sk8'rs n such. By chance, I also had bleached hair back in '95 & '96; but I only knew of maybe 1 guy that bleached his hair from time2time.(in No.CA), & he was kinda sh8'r/punk. El had punk rock roots too. Against the Grain (Greg Graffin/Bad Religion) attitude n core. LA rox btw! It's gota lil bit of it all! N u can blend in2 the background ther
I will never forgive you for the ads on this one.
+Duane Yaiser AD BLOCK
I don't know, Elliott was a really big Beatles fan.
Jesus sometimes listening to Elliott Smith makes Conor Oberst sound like a fucking thief.
Conor Oberst's songwriting style is barely similar to Elliott's though. Sure they both play sad songs and sometimes sing in a whispery way but that's about it. Elliott's songs have much more of a clear 60's pop influence and generally rely on a MUCH more intricate style of guitar playing and often more complex chords. Almost all of his songs retain that wispy, super melodic vocal style and his lyrics tend to be extremely impressionistic. Conor's music draws more from an emo/folk-punk background gradually transitioning into more of a country style but with a lot of sonic experimentation (use of sound collage, electronic elements etc) but his guitar playing is generally far simpler. And his vocal style is much more abrasive and varies much more drastically than Elliott's, transitioning from quiet to throat-shredding screams sometimes all in the space of a single song. And his lyrics usually tend to be less abstract, less minimalistic and more narrative-driven.
I mean can you even point to a Bright Eyes song that has a melody that's ripping off an Elliott Smith song? Or is the entire basis of this assertion just This depressed guy with an acoustic guitar MUST be ripping off this other depressed guy with an acoustic guitar? As though those are rare attributes in the world of singer songwriters?
Conor was definitely inspired by Elliott, in fact he covered this very song on a live album, but influence and inspiration aren't the same as theft.
It’s shaking because she knew he was going to be murdered