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Elliott Smith

Musical Group or Musician
Forfans of singer-songwriters and indie rock; listeners interested in lyrical intimacy, lo-fi aesthetics, and 90s alternative songwriting.
11 Reviews 12 Definitions 16 Charts
Singer-Songwriters New Acoustic Pop Rock

The Profile

Elliott Smith (1969–2003) was an American singer-songwriter known for intimate, guitar-driven songs and a style often compared to Nick Drake. He gained wider attention after “Miss Misery,” written for Good Will Hunting, received an Academy Award nomination. His catalog spans lo-fi acoustic recordings and later, more elaborate arrangements; a major posthumous release is From a Basement on the Hill.

Born: 1969. Died: 2003. Nationality: American. Notable public recognition: Academy Award nomination for “Miss Misery” (Good Will Hunting).

These reviews frame Elliott Smith as an American singer-songwriter whose intimate guitar-and-voice songwriting balances crystalline delicacy with darkness. They highlight key albums from the lo-fi solo debut through the indie peak of Either/Or and the arranged, Beatles-leaning XO/Figure 8 era. Recurring themes include depression, addiction, and the shadow cast by his 2003 death. There’s also strong emphasis on cultural touchpoints like “Miss Misery” in Good Will Hunting and the lasting emotional pull of his performances.

Notable Quotes

❝ “The usual sick melodies aren’t missing, irreproducible combinations of beauty and brutality.”
❝ “The solo debut of Elliott Smith is the classic CD to listen to on a sleepless night, between a packet of cigarettes to empty and a glass of Johnny Walker.”
❝ “The usual Elliott Smith: perhaps no one in the ’90s represented his demons in music so touchingly and inspirationally.”
❝ “Elliott Smith, for those who do not know him, is an American singer-songwriter, born in 1969 and (apparently) died by suicide in 2003”
❝ “From A Basement On The Hill is proof of that. It is a splendid album, which unfolds from beginning to end, maintaining its entire intensity among ballads, acoustic guitars, and electric fragments.”
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