Happy Friday R&P, Could he make a whisper out of you? (#10)?

Hi Everybody.


Well, we're inside the top 20 on my Top 101 Mix Tape Rules countdown. "Mix tape rules" simply means that I limited myself to one song per band/artist.





Here are the recent selections:


25. the Smiths - Handsome Devil


24. John Lennon - Watching The Wheels


23. A.C. Newman - On The Table


22. The Roots - The Seed V. 2.0


21. Wilco - Theologians


20. Grandaddy - Chartsengrafs


19. the Folk Implosion - Natural One


18. the Decemberists - the Tain


17. Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out (Beatles Cover)


16. Tall Tales and the Silver Lining - Born Down By the Side


15. Belle and Sebastian - Simple Things


14. Dr. Dog - The Beach


13. the Pixies - Alec Eiffel


12. Dr. Octagon - Earth People


11. Elvis Costello - The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes





OK, so we've arrived at the top ten and my favorite solo artist. I've mentioned laboring over decisions, but this one was another that was particularly tricky. The result of my loving Elliott Smith's work so much is that though the spot officially goes to Condor Ave. I'm going to go ahead and link up Independence Day as well because, well I didn't do a song yesterday and I just felt like in this case more is more. Don't worry, I'm not going to do this the whole rest of the way.





#10. Elliott Smith - Condor Ave.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp57HFtY5鈥?/a>





Bonus: Elliott Smith - Independence Day


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8iWDrln8鈥?/a>





So, what did you think? Which one do you like better? What's your favorite Elliott Smith track?





Thanks a lot everybody. I hope your having a great week and it goes right into a great weekend.|||you will not believe this good Prof. but I actually answered this question twice yesterday while I was at work, the first time I accidentally wiped my answer and who knows what happened the second time..





what I was trying to tell you was that I felt it was an excellent choice and I wanted to share some of my thoughts about Elliot Smith..





say yes... yes I not only had the opportunity to see him perform several times I also got to meet and speak with him twice. of the performances? I say yes.. however there were good nights and nights where it seemed he might collapse, where it seemed he had difficulty holding his guitar.. and I was so saddened by what struck me as inevitable... In person? another yes as his sweet shyness and good spirit seemed to radiate from deep within him, one of those special people that you feel fortunate to meet should you chance to..





how much do I relate? not just to his indelible songs but to his struggles.. I can't begin to say frankly because I don't want my friends and family to go out of their mind with worry.. as far as his writing was concerned? His melodic sense and lyrical grace was razor sharp and finely honed.. A distorted reality is now a necessity to be free.. he wrote as one of my favorite and his final B-side.. the brutal honesty just pierces through the happy and contented shield that we all put up to appear sane and well adjusted... Do I relate? I say yes, to the cracks that splinter the mask and threaten to reveal the scared and abused child that lurks beneeth our hearts.. Neil Finn once said " theres nothing tougher then a good melody".. yes Neil, it is enough to pierce the skin and draw blood.. from a basement on a hill he composed his final works, the album shaping up as a double album masterwork.. but the songs were silenced by a mystery.. do we care what happened in his final hours? yes.. concern because it seems too brutal for anyone to have done to themselves.. but having met him and perhaps glimpsing in him a true romantic, his suicide and the means to his end might have seemed to him, to be poetic and just... I know one thing, he did not survive that moment, and that moment of loss will continue to haunt those who loved his art and those who knew him for years and his music will continue to enchant generations yet to come.





Condor Ave|||Both are amazing, I've been addicted to Elliott for the past year. If I had to choose one, I'd say "Condor Ave" ... "I'm lying down, blowing smoke from my cigarette.. little whisper smoke signs that you'll never get." - brilliant.





My favourite album of his is "From a Basement on the Hill", "XO" is also one of my favourites. Have you heard of Heatmiser, Elliott's old band? This is a great song of theirs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_UR61itZxo





This is my favourite Elliott song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF9MUnkIlQc - it's a rough demo, but it's so hauntingly beautiful.





This is the live version - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BsAyd0p2l8 - very sad, such a gem though.





EDIT - Actually, I'd say that I prefer Independance Day. It's one of very few songs that can actually alter my mood. It always makes me happy. Condor Ave. is brilliant though.|||Hey Prof, I love both those songs. Roman Candle has always been my favorite of his albums. Not sure about my all time favorite song. Condor Ave. is definitely somewhere in my top 5. Christian Brothers and Drive All Over Town are up there too.|||Hi Prof.!





I liked Condor Ave. better.


I don't have any favorites because everything I've heard by him is too mellow for my taste, Lol.


Unless you know something I might like of his?





Have a great weekend!





Edit: Thanks for posting those links. I enjoyed some of them but not enough to make me go out and buy the albums. I guess I just don't appreciate good music, Lol.|||sweet|||Hi Prof,





"Condor Ave" is certainly one of Elliot Smith's best written songs. Losing someone in a car crash for reasons of their being out of control is truly tragic. The words of the song spell out someone who is trying to force destiny. Great song.





Yeah, I saw Elliot Smith open for Grandaddy in 2000.


http://www.archive.org/details/esmith200鈥?/a>





I agree with Punch that it was truly sad to watch him deteriorate. Once he cut off his ability to play his music it was like having the IV removed.





For today the song I choose is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0Pvslqb鈥?/a>





Have a great one Prof. I am wondering what bands you have left. I sense a couple of surprises. I am looking for some Sebadoh? Guided By Voices? Fav Pavement song?|||Hey Prof, Happy Friday.





"Condor Ave." is off Roman Candle, which I don't have (I have every other album of his except that and New Moon).





The song was really good, as I expected it to be.





"i'm lying down


blowing smoke from my cigarette


little whisper smoke signs that you'll never get" - Dude was/is so awesome.








I'm inspired to pick up Roman Candle now, which I will do later today.


I love "Independence Day", such a fantastic song. XO is one amazing album.





So Prof, a bit of news for you.





Kings of Convenience, the headliner, decided to get sick, so no Franklin For Short, it's been postponed. On Tuesday, when Seth Pettersen and Tall Tales were playing at a cafe with a $5 entry, it decided to snow here in NJ again. So that's just wonderful.








On a more positive note, I'm going to see Rocky Votolato on the 24th. Heard of him?





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp57HFtY5鈥?/a>








Oh, and I'm not sure if you're familiar with Fruit Bats, but I picked up their most recent release The Ruminant Band, and I think it's amazing. Eric Johnson, their singer-writer, guitarist/pianist, has ties to Vetiver and The Shins. You've probably heard them, but here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvYR93-WD鈥?/a>








Have a good one.











Edit:





Hey Prof, thanks for mentioning me. That's so awesome. If they come back around, I'll be like, "I'm that dude from the East!!". Yeah it sucks it got canceled, but if they come back, I will definitely see them. I'm also getting a FFS record tonight. lol, sorry about the link before....





Here it is:





Rocky Votolato - The Night's Disguise


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGoTYbCWB鈥?/a>








Have a great weekend.|||My Mix CD being listened to at this moment





Magdalene Laundries--Jonie Mitchell


Man Over---Robinell%26amp; The CC String Band


Take Me Back Again--Rice,Hillman%26amp;Pederson


The Heart That You Own--Dwight Yoakum


The Lily of the West--Mark Knopfler


Tennessee Stud--Johnny Cash


Cold,Cold Heart--Lucinda Williams


Mona Lisa Nat King Cole


God Bless the Child--Chick Brown/Eva Cassidy


The Jokes On Me--David Bromberg


Poor Side of Town--Johnny Rivers


Everybody's Talkin'--Nillson


On a Bad Day--Kassey Chambers


The L%26amp;N Don't Stop Here Anymore--Michelle Schocked


Let Me Down Easy-- Chris Isaak


Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon--Neil Diamond


Crazy--Diana Krall


I'm Down To My Last Cigarette--K D Lang


Leavin' On Your Mind--Leann Rimes


Miguel--Gordon Lightfoot


I've Got That Old Feeling--Alison Kraus


All Along the Watchtower-- Bob Dylan





I know its a little Honkey, but I worked about 12 hr. last night and didn,t get in until 3Am and jut got up at 11 and am having tea.


I used to have rules about mixed Cd's, but now I kind of go with themes and story line some times I'll have two of the same artist on one Cd, but that's just me, have a good one guys.|||oh, hi! i'm interested to see what other artists you have in store, so i've added you.





I love both songs. I'm a big fan of Elliott. I'm always in the mood for him, so it's all good. As for my favorite song (s), I would have to say "Last Hour", "Pitseleh", "Miss Misery", "Angel In The Snow", and his self titled album as a whole. I love love love all of his music :)|||Hi Prof





Good , good and good songs . I haven't been listening to Elliot Smith in a while , too busy being focused on The Cure ,Bauhaus and The Comsat Angels at the moment heh . Yeah , a nice suprise though. I didn't know about Condor Ave , it's the first time I'm listening to it actually


My favorite Smith song is Coming Up Roses


Have a neat weekend Prof|||Hi Prof,


I was thinking that a Elliott Smith song would pop up sooner or later. You could have picked any of his songs and I would have loved it. Since I started listening to him about six or so months ago, he's become one of my favourite artists.





Out of the two songs that you posted I'd probably slightly prefer Independence Day.





I can't really pick just one Elliott Smith song as my number one favourite. Some of my favourite songs of his would be Twilight, Speed Trials, Waltz #2, Happiness, Needle In The Hay, King's Crossing, Angeles.|||I'm not familiar with those tracks but they're outstanding. I'd have to say I prefer "Condor Ave". Choosing a favorite Elliot Smith song is much like deciding on a cut of diamond...HOWEVER, oddly enough there is one song that I can say is my favorite - "Cupids Trick" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4525c9auM鈥?/a>





Until today, I only owned Either/Or but that's because it's such a perfect release that I figured I had no reason to pursue any other albums. While I still think Either/Or is phenomenal release, I recognize there's much more great work of his to discover.





Question for you Prof. - Have you checked out any of the Elliot Smith tribute albums? If so, what were your thoughts? To: Elliot From: Portland is pretty good. This cover of "Needle In The Hay" is one of the better tracks in my opinion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1oZICrK鈥?/a>