Elliott Smith – “Pretty (Ugly Before)” (2004)Īnother one of Elliott’s fully-realized songs off the posthumous From A Basement On A Hill, “Pretty (Ugly Before)” could be a fucking Tom Petty song musically, but Elliott’s exposed cracks and lyrical introspection put a different spin on things. Not your typical Elliott Smith track, but here’s a glimpse into the depth of his musical capabilities.Ĥ9. Possibly Elliott’s most dramatic song, “Everything Means Nothing To Me” opens the curtains with the confident keys of a grand piano and builds with angelic layers of vocals before breaking with an unexpected Phil Collins “In The Air Tonight” style drum climax. Elliott Smith – “Everything Means Nothing To Me” (2000)

Hit “next” or click the pictures to read on…ĥ0. Here are The 50 Best Elliott Smith songs. Luckily, he’s left us with plenty to remember him by. Most likely, it will be avoid that exists forever when somebody entirely unique comes along and leaves. Nobody has filled the void left by Elliott.

Brutally honest lyrics about drug use, alcohol, and emotional issues bleed through Elliott’s work and even at his most gentle and poetic, there’s a punk rock ethos that adds a layer of complexity to his entire body of work. But there was a recklessness about Elliott that separates him from other singer/songwriters and bands with a knack for catchy tunes. From the lo-fi acoustic style of his early days to the lush arrangements of his later albums, his music was crafted with precision and an attention to melody that rivals (gasp) The Beatles.

It’s been almost nine years since Elliott committed suicide, and time has only proven what we already knew: Elliott Smith was a one-of-a-kind artist. The second reason this list was so hard to put together is that going through 50 Elliott Smith songs will leave even the most cheerful of people in a slump of depression. Ask 50 Elliott Smith fans what their favorite Elliott song is and you won’t get much overlap in responses. First of all, Elliott is not the kind of artist with a few big hits and a bunch of throwaways and filler. Putting together a list of the best Elliott Smith songs is difficult for a couple of reasons.

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