Maps of Music

Elliott Smith (1995)

Where the lyrics of Elliott Smith take you, and where it was really made.

The cover is a xeroxed photo of two figures falling from a building, taken from a 1992 art installation in Prague.

Place unknown

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Second studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith
Released July 21, 1995 through Kill Rock Stars, his first full-length album on the label
Preceded by the single 'Needle in the Hay', released in early January 1995
Minimalist acoustic folk sound, similar in style to Roman Candle
Smith mostly appears alone on acoustic guitar, occasionally with harmonica and drums
Lyrics contain many drug references, which Smith claimed were merely metaphorical
Lyrics also mention Portland's Foster-Powell neighborhood, St. Ides malt liquor, Alphabet City and Queens
Smith said he could not get more dark personally than on this self-titled album

Recorded from late 1994 to early 1995
Discogs notes: recorded Jan/Feb '95 at Leslie Uppinghouse's house, tracks 1 and 8 in Sept '94 at Tony Lash's house
Mixed with much help from Tony Lash and Leslie Uppinghouse at Tony's house

Depicts two figures falling or jumping from a building
Xeroxed copy of a photograph by J.J. Gonson of a 1992 art installation at the former Museum of Modern Art in Old Town, Prague
Falling figures are the work of Czech sculptor Kurt Gebauer
Gonson also photographed the cover for Roman Candle

Steven Paul Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003), known as Elliott Smith, was an American musician and singer-songwriter.
Raised primarily in Texas; lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he gained popularity in the 1990s.
Began playing piano at age nine and guitar at ten; at fourteen moved to Portland to live with his father.
Took the name "Elliott" after high school; graduated from Hampshire College in 1991 with a philosophy and political science degree.

Formed the band Heatmiser with classmate Neil Gust while at Hampshire College; the band performed in Portland from 1992.
Heatmiser released Dead Air (1993), Cop and Speeder (1994), and Mic City Sons (1996) before disbanding.

Began a solo career in 1994 with Roman Candle on Cavity Search Records, then released albums on Kill Rock Stars (Elliott Smith, Either/Or).
Signed with DreamWorks Records in 1998; released XO and Figure 8 (2000).
"Miss Misery", written for Good Will Hunting (1997), was nominated for the 1998 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Known for a whispery vocal style, artful chord changes, and themes of addiction, depression, and alienation.
Died in 2003 from two stab wounds to the chest; From a Basement on the Hill was released posthumously in 2004.

Not believed to have been reviewed by many critics, if any, at the time of release

Critically well-received in retrospect
AllMusic (Steve Huey): contains the blueprint for Smith's later successes and is a fully-realized work itself
Trouser Press: described it as 'bleak, almost uncomfortably unsparing and yet tragically beautiful'
Trouser Press: songs, melodies, arrangements and production are stronger and more fully realized than on Roman Candle
Rolling Stone: the sound is hummable pop, slowed and drugged, with tricky but unshowy guitar work driving the melodies
Rolling Stone on Smith: 'ferociously talented'

Pitchfork: 'Needle in the Hay' ranked No. 27 on its 2010 list of the best songs of the 1990s
Pitchfork: the album ranked No. 50 on its 2022 list of the best albums of the 1990s
Paste: named 'Christian Brothers' one of the best 100 songs of the 1990s

'Needle in the Hay' appeared in Wes Anderson's 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums, and Smith was reportedly unhappy about that use
'Clementine' reworks the 19th-century American western folk ballad 'Oh My Darling, Clementine', which Smith referenced again in 'Sweet Adeline' on XO (1998)
'Christian Brothers' was also performed with Heatmiser in a full-band arrangement, and the Heatmiser version was released on the soundtrack of Heaven Adores You, a 2014 documentary about Smith
Queens of the Stone Age covered 'Christian Brothers' on the Canadian tour limited edition of their 2007 album Era Vulgaris
The 25th anniversary edition released on August 28, 2020 added Live at Umbra Penumbra, a 1994 performance at a Portland café
J.J. Gonson released one photo print of Smith per month through August 2020, sold through Morrison Hotel Gallery