Well, Elliott Smith's not with us in the physical world any longer, but, especially for those of us who got to know him at least briefly, he's still living in his beautiful songs, a double-CD of which is being released in a few weeks on May 8 (which I dig, because that makes a great birthday gift for me). His friends and fans still mourn his apparent suicide (though the coroner's office never offically named a cause of death and the investigation by the L.A.P.D. remains open). Still, we've still got his mind-blowing catalogue of music, which is expanding soon.
I'm listening to the new double album, New Moon, right now, though I don't have a promo copy of it as yet (Kill Rock Stars, which is releasing New Moon, is streaming it on a password-protected site for journalists to preview). It's classic Elliott, from the years when I personally was most impressed with his songwriting (darker, more drug and drink obsessed), and also about the same time period when I knew Elliott and would sit with him on my porch listening to him play acoustic songs by himself, Neil Young, and Hank Williams. The songs span 1994 - 1997, when he released his first self-titled album and the seminal Either/Or. I'm pretty averse to songs making me tear up, but these are starting to have that effect. As soon as I figure out a way to post a couple songs up here or get a promo CD, I'll share a couple with you; until then, you've got something to look for. Here's hoping your resting in peace, my friend.