SOTD Elliott Smith - Between The Bars

I always think of Jeff Buckley when I think of Elliot Smith. Jeff Buckley, who died so young, just like this talented sweet guy did. I might be bold enough to make the claim that quite a few of you are not familiar with Elliot Smith and his work. Oddly, I think he would have been comfortable with that. He was of the 'underground' set- not 'popular' music (which you know I always say guarantees them as being really good)
He started writing songs at 9 years old and he was just super sensitive and, ultimately, a tragic, wounded poet type. Again, what makes his music so good. He was a drug addict (sad, unfortunate and not surprising) and as talented as he was, he hated the PR machine of the music industry and preferred to write and play small intimate settings for people whom he really felt 'got' what he said. He was somewhat like a tortured Kurt Cobain type of soul. I always find this so sad, because it just seems like the art produced from these artists would never be as good without this kind of suffering- I mean it helps us get through our own suffering, one of the great gifts of music- but, man does the catalyst pay so much for it.
Anyway, sweet Elliot died of self inflicted stab wounds to the chest when he was 34- I think this was around 2003. But, thankfully he has left a legacy. To give you more of an idea of his work, he wrote some sad, thoughtful songs for Good Will Hunting. Elliot is a good friend during a breakup or a loss.
RIP Elliot. xo