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It would be easy to write another long-winded eulogy of a fallen (cult) hero that serves as a pre cursor to any comment on the Elliott Smith legacy (sic) Put simply: Elliott Smith is the ultimate in melancholic lament. Immortalised in the morbid collection of singer songwriter suicides, Smith had an unparalleled ability to capture resignation and portray it with an honest elegance and an underlying personal sadness.
A collection of rough studio cuts and rarities circa 1995, it would also be easy to view ‘New Moon’ as another corporate money-spinner from beyond the grave. However, if you eschew the Tupac logic, this is probably Smith’s last showcase - a final expose of all his delicate idiosyncrasies. It’s a mastered release current fans will cherish and one that those yet to inhabit Smith’s fragile world can tentatively do so.
From the familiarly downbeat sentiment of ‘Angel In The Snow’ with its pensive acoustic strum and gentle repeated husk of “Don’t You Know That I love You?” to the tender, pure as snow atmospheric of ‘Talking About Mary’, you’re captivated from the outset. Unsurprisingly, nothing much has changed: melodic guitar tones candy coat Smith’s defeated lyrics while the lo-fi strumming and vocals so frail they could have been scattered by a light breeze remain as much of a staple as ever.
Tracks like 'High Times' see an embittered edge to Smith’s vocal that, while not belying his personal sadness, veers more towards a silent frustration whereas, contrastingly, 'Thirteen' captures a lost, lamenting teen innocence better than any softly spoken sentiment Jack White ever tried to achieve. However, it’s the contemplative ‘Going Nowhere’ that serves as a reminder of what will be no more as a breathless Smith, amidst flickering guitar and keyboards, slows the song to a heart-breaking end.
Few legacies’ remain pure, but if you must invest in a stranger’s misery, make it Elliott’s.
