Elliott Smith

Sound

Elliott Smith

Born 1969-08-06 · Omaha - Nebraska - USA

Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived for much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity. Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he was also proficient with piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. Smith had a distinctive vocal style, characterized by his "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery", and used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies. Smith died on October 21, 2003 at the age of 34 from two stab wounds to the chest. A possible suicide note, written on a Post-it note, read: "I'm so sorry—love, Elliott. God forgive me."

Acting credits

Untitled Modest Mouse Documentary poster
NR

Documentary about the indie rock band Modest Mouse made around 1997, as they were recording their second album, The Lonseome Crowded West

Untitled Modest Mouse Documentary

1997

Strange Parallel poster
6.4

Strange Parallel is a documentary/short film revolving around the American singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. The film features interviews with Elliott himself as well as fans, friends and other acquaintances of his (including Gus Van Sant, Larry Crane, and the members of Quasi). The film also includes snippets of Elliott Smith performing as well as footage of him recording an unreleased song, "Brand New Game". The film sometimes moves out of reality, with acted-out, metaphorical sequences that involve Elliott considering purchasing a mechanical hand (a "robot hand" ) to improve his music.

Strange Parallel

1998

Heaven Adores You poster
6.9

Heaven Adores You is an intimate, meditative inquiry into the life and music of Elliott Smith. By threading the music of Elliott Smith through the dense, yet often isolating landscapes of the three major cities he lived in -- Portland, New York City, Los Angeles -- Heaven Adores You presents a visual journey and an earnest review of the singer's prolific songwriting and the impact it continues to have on fans, friends, and fellow musicians.

Heaven Adores You

2014

Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician poster
4.8

Chance, a hapless Los Angeles musician is searching for the coveted Moletron synthesizer through the classified ad paper the "Southlander", and meeting interesting characters along the way.

Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician

2001

Elliott's Suicide poster
NR

A homage to the late American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, Elliott’s Suicide is a sentimental 15 minute tribute, lacking Anger’s usual irony for obvious reasons. The film begins with shots of friends’ and fans’ last words written on Smith’s memorial on Sunset Boulevard, then to footage of a Macy’s parade, focusing closely on the oddly outfitted participants, some in renaissance attire, cowboys with lassos, and beauty queens. The film is scored with Smith’s music, resulting in a melancholy effect, especially in the segment that follows Smith through the woods and films him as he digs up a guitar, then plays a song. This footage is repeated in the end of the film, but in a negative reversal print, suggesting pretty damn clearly that the subject matter has moved beyond the veil.

Elliott's Suicide

2007

The Road to Ruane poster
NR

Billy Ruane, storied impresario of the 90s Boston indie music scene. Billy promoted shows and inspired cult-like followings of bands by the likes of The Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Superchunk, Buffalo Tom, Elliott Smith, Pavement, and Sonic Youth. His gracious treatment of artists set new standards in music. But underneath Billy’s exuberant cartoon-like demeanor and Harvard education, was the pain of a man with deep trauma, who struggled with bipolar disorder and substance abuse, and was confounded by the weight of an endless supply of money.

The Road to Ruane

2024

Elliott Smith: Live at Fuji Rock poster
NR

LIVE 7/28/2000 Fuji Rock @ Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan

Elliott Smith: Live at Fuji Rock

2000

Elliott Smith: Olympia, Washington poster
NR

Live performance from Elliott Smith 1. Son Of Sam 2. Angeles 3. Rose Parade 4. Happiness 5. Easy Way Out 6. Southern Belle 7. Wouldn't Mama Be Proud 8. Division Day 9. The White Lady Loves You More 10. Stupidity Tries 11. See You Later 12. Independence Day

Elliott Smith: Olympia, Washington

2004

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait poster
7.2

Described as "a cross between a video and a documentary, but actually being neither of the two", singer/songwriter Elliott Smith plays three acoustic songs in this Jem Cohen-directed short film.

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Elliott Smith: Live at Bumbershoot Festival 2000 poster
10.0

Filmed on the 2nd of September, 2000, Live at Bumbershoot Festival is one of Elliott Smith's most notable live performances to date.

Elliott Smith: Live at Bumbershoot Festival 2000

2000

Elliott Smith: Live at Redfest poster
NR

Elliott Smith's final concert at Redfest, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on September 19, 2003. Just a month later, on October 21, 2003, Smith passed away. Smith's final concert was described by some as upbeat and even happy. One attendee noted he seemed comfortable, happy, sober, well-rested, and smiley.

Elliott Smith: Live at Redfest

2003

No artwork available
NR

On June 20, 2005, in conversation with a LMA curator, Dr. Smith gave his go-ahead for Elliot's shows to be hosted at the Archive. More notes: Quotes from sweet adeline faq: what did elliott think about places where i download music (like napster)? "i like the idea...sure, people should be able to trade musically with each other, i mean people do anyway...there's arguments to be made...but i don't really have an opinion...i'm not one of those bands that sells millions of records and then gets mad at napster"

Elliott Smith: Live at the Steamboat

2003

Elliott Smith: Live at the Yo Yo a Go Go Festival poster
NR

1.Son of Sam 2.Angeles 3.Rose Parade 4.Happiness 5.Taking the Easy Way Out 6.Southern Belle 7.Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? 8.Division Day 9.The White Lady Loves You More 10.Stupidity Tries 11.See You Later 12.Independence Day

Elliott Smith: Live at the Yo Yo a Go Go Festival

1999

Searching for Elliott Smith poster
NR

The unauthorized biography of the Patron Saint of Indie Rock.

Searching for Elliott Smith

2009