SPIN Editor Writes About Elliot Smith
I thought this was a really great piece in SPIN’s editorial blog, “Why I Can’t Listen to Elliott Smith’s Music.” Ellen Carpenter writes about her days as an Elliott fan, and as research editor for SPIN’s 2004 story about his death (Tuesday was the 5 year anniversary) and how it changed his music for her. The SPIN article touched on the possibility of a homicide by Smith’s girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba. While I can’t relate to this exactly, I can understand it. Very well.
When I was in college I’d have XO and Figure 8 on repeat-play, sometimes hearing them three or four times a night. My roommate and I would waltz around the room, singing along to every song, completely unaware of the sentiments spilling from our mouths. We knew his lyrics were “deep,” but we heard what we wanted to hear. To me, the songs were dark but beautiful, haunting yet comforting, stark and lush at the same time.
Then I learned. Way too much.
Read the full editorial, here.
Posted: October 24th, 2008 under Random Poprok.
Tags: elliott smith