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Elliot SmithFrom A Basement On The Hill Domino/Remote Control/Inertia There's no way to avoid the sense of finality that hits when listening to 'From A Basement On The Hill'. It's a sense that also mingles with the feeling that Elliot Smith didn't get to complete his vision for this collection of songs. Smith's final album gives the impression of an artist trying to find a new direction for his music. The dirty guitars of the opening Coast To Coast sound like a portent for a heavy album, and for a fair chunk of the album it's quite true. Densely layered guitar work pops up here and there, with crazy leads on Strung Out Again, and soaring cascades of noise lift King's Crossing. However, some of the best work here is the simplest. The upbeat strumming of Memory Lane recalls Somebody That I Used To Know from 'Figure 8' while the delicately plodding Little One is probably the most touching song of the bunch. Smith succeeds best when taking advantage of his production tools without overpowering the song; Twilight is a delicately layered example. A Fond Farewell also works brilliantly, delivering mellow pop hooks without compromising the honesty of Smith's intentions. At times it sounds a little incomplete (the idea of a double CD release was mooted), but this is still a fantastic batch of songs which adds to an already great legacy.  |
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