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Elly Roberts reviews
Domino
- May 2007
- Rating: CD 1: 10/10, CD 2: 4/10
As Elliott Smith,Steven Paul Smith, born Omaha Nebraska August 6 1969, he became a cultartist in the USA.
The university graduate in Political Philosophy had long yearned to furtherhis songwriting career which began as a teenager. His major break came whensome of his songs featured in the film Good Will Hunting. His coverof The Beatles Because appeared in the OS of American Beauty.
In the UK, he charted lowly (top 60) with three singles and one album,Figure 8 (no.37 in 2000), though he generated a cult following inthe process. In October 2003 aged 34 years, the deeply troubled artist diedafter a single stab wound to the chest, apparently self inflicted. Smithhad battled with drink and drugs and is thought to have committed suicide,apparently, after a row with his girlfriend.
As a performer, he became a cornerstone of the burgeoning indie-rock scenein Portland Oregon. Smith is renowned for his penchant sombre tone and darklyrics: principally his own unhappiness, drug problems, and heartache.Its a profoundly potent mix, as we get quite close to the writers mindset,which is probably why some of these songs were not originally released.
So, you might think that the entire repertoire is downcast. Naturally, it hasstrong shades of melancholy, but there are songs that have genuine appeal,such as Going Nowhere and gorgeous Looking Over My Shoulderalong with beat driven New Monkey.
His husky voice often dips in to a hushed mode best found on opener AngelIn The Snow and First Timer, which in their own way are simpleacoustic jaunts. All Cleaned Out is a delightful stripped ballad withsweet harmonies and melodies. Closer Thirteen is just man and acousticand its one of his finest moments here.
On CD 2, possibly the weaker of the two discs, he does shine particularly ona Paul Simon-like simple ballad called Whatever (Folk song in C).
In fact its the best song on the entire collection. Hes less effective onthe frenetic Big Decision, Place Holder, Fear City and quirky organ-basedEither/Or, Almost Over and Half Right. He vastly improves again ofthe sprightly and almost up-beat See How Things Are Hard and theachingly beautiful See You Later
Smith is definitely an acquired taste, though his music does grow on you,eventually. A few spins and youll get there, I promise.
Weblink:dominorecordco.com
The full list of tracks included are :
CD 1:
1. Angel In The Snow
2. Talking To Mary
3. High Times
4. New Monkey
5. Looking Over My Shoulder
6. Going Nowhere
7. Riot Coming
8. All Cleaned Out
9. First Timer
10. Go By
11. Miss Misery (early version)
12. Thirteen
CD 2:
1. Georgia, Georgia
2. Whatever (Folk song in C)
3. Big Decision
4. Placeholder
5. New Disaster
6. See How Things Are Hard
7. Fear City
8. Either/Or
9. Pretty Mary (Other version)
10. Almost Over
11. See You Later
12. Half Right
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.