Elliott SmithLive @ Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
(May 18th, 1998)
I think it's safe to say that most everyone has gone through a phase with Elliott Smith in which his music dominates your CD player, record player, iPod, and your life basically . And, I'm sure for some of you his music is more than a phase, but rather a lifelong-love affair. His lyrics were so personal they seemed to be able to strike a chord with people across-the-board. It didn't always feel like you were really listening to his music; instead it was like you were commiserating a troubled soul.
Elliott, who changed his name from Steve because he thought it sounded too much like a "jock" name, began having traumatic flashbacks of his step-father sexually abusing him while he was a kid. Nobody can confirm whether he was sexually abused as a child, not even Elliott, who was never positive that his flashbacks stemmed from reality. Some people have suggested that Elliott suffered from false memory syndrome. Either way it's certain that his drug and alcohol addiction played a key role in his deteriorative mental state.
I found this album while browsing through the Internet Archive website. The website provides lots of live bootlegs from musicians all over the world; though some of the files can be low quality. Luckily, this one of Elliott performing at BOTH is one the best. Elliott Smith did lots of Beatles covers during his shows, and in this one he does a pretty good job covering John Lennon's, "Jealous Guy." Although he almost forgot the lyrics about 3/4 of the way through, he calmly recovered and finished it off nicely.
It is soon to be five years since the mysterious passing of Elliott Smith. For those of us living in the Bay Area, there will be an Elliott Smith photography exhibit opening February 28th at Queens Nails Annex. If anybody wants to join me let me know.
Tracklisting:
1) Angeles
2) Division Day
3) Waltz #2
4) Clementine
5) St. Ides Heaven
6) Between the Bars
7) Alameda
8) Rose Parade
9) Oh Well, Ok
10) Needle in the Hay
11) Jealous Guy
12) Say Yes
13) Pictures of Me
14) I'm So Tired
15) Bled White
16) A Question Mark
17) Southern Belle
18) Coming Up Roses
19) The Biggest Lie
Download Elliott Smith - Live at Bottom of the Hill (5.18.98)
Recommended Tracks: "Angeles," "Waltz #2," "Between the Bars," "Jealous Guy," "Say Yes"
BTW
I couldn't upload Faces in the Rocks because the file size was too big. You're just going to have to check it out on your own. The song below will give you an idea of what her music is all about.
MP3: Mariee Sioux - “Wizard Flurry Home”
