Elliott Smith "Roman Candle"

Seriously?

Let's look at Elliott's life than read some of these lines.

The king's crossing was the main attraction
Dominoes falling in a chain reaction
A scraping subject ruled by fear
Told me whiskey works better than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
And nobody gets a reprieve
And every wave is tidal - if you hang around
You're going to get wet
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
The game looks easy, that's why it sells
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
The method acting that pays my bills
Keeps a fat man feeding in Beverly Hills
I got a heavy metal mouth that hurls obscenity
And I get my check from the trash treasury
Because I took my own insides out
It don't matter 'cause I have no sex life
And all I want to do now is inject my ex-wife
I've seen the movie and I know what happens
It's Christmas time, and the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and return at five
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
But I don't care if I fuck up
I'm going on a date with a rich white lady
Ain't life great?
Give me one good reason not to do it
(Because we love you)
So do it
This is the place where time reverses
Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me be carried away
 
I don't think Miss Misery was anywhere near Elliott at his peak. Sure, that's the song that put him into the spotlight, so to say, but that was at the earlier stages in his career. In Elliott Smith and The Big Nothing, it talks about after the release of Good Will Hunting, people would mob up his shows, only wanting to hear that song. I'm not saying it's a bad song, though I like the early version that was released on New Moon better.

And Either/Or is more or less my favorite as well.
 
You have to consider what was going on in Elliott's life before you deem anything before Either/Or as his most depressing song.

I would say I Didn't Understand is pretty depressing, not to mention ****ing haunting as hell.
 
for me it's:
Roman Candle
Elliott Smith
Either/Or
XO
Figure 8
New Moon
From a Basement On the Hill
(pretty much the order they were released)


The early version of Miss Misery is way better than the one on Good Will Hunting, you hear the pain in his voice on the chorus is so much better 'but it's alright cause some enchanted night, i'll be with you'. But Roman Candle is my favorite album I perfer Elliott when it's just him singing and playing guitar.
 
god, i can't even help myself..

20070715-pwned1.jpg
 
well i have now listened to: Elliott Smith, XO, FABOTH, and Figure 8. I didnt dislike any of albums but figure 8 just didnt do anything for me. some of this is just a little too depressing for my taste. it is very evident that he had some demons he was dealing.

for me its:
XO>Elliott Smith>FABOTH>Figure 8....and eventually i will check out 'Roman Candle' and 'either or'
 
The earlier stages in his career? Good Will Hunting came out the same year that Either/Or did. The "Miss Misery [Early Version]" is a lighter and overall less good version of the original song. It became popular for a reason.
 
I think you forget that Elliott died before it was finished so it's not all his, i mean Ostriches & Chirping, wtf? I never said that XO was bad, but for someone new to Elliott is might not be, so Figure 8 over XO.
 
I'm really late on this one but...


How is Bye any different than Ostriches & Chirping?

XO as a whole is much better than Figure 8. The music, the message.. everything. I still can't get over the feeling that Figure 8 is totally impersonal, and has nowhere near the amout of genius that Elliott has exhibited in prevous albums.

For me its..
Either/Or > XO > Elliott Smith > From A Basement > Figure 8 > Roman Candle
 
Because Gus Van Sant decided he wanted it in his movie. And I know they both came out at the same time, half of Either/Or's songs are on Good Will Hunting. And the release Either/Or and the movie were when Elliott just started to get big, The first 2 albums released before that got nowhere near the amount attention as the albums that followed. Miss Misery was a hit, and I don't think it's as good. That's my opinion.
 
Back
Top