Elliott Smith | Artist

Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist born 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity. After playing in the rock band Heatmiser for several years, Smith began his solo career in 1994. Smith was an ardent admirer of Bob Dylan and The Beatles, has been compared to folk singer Nick Drake, due to his fingerpicking style, vocals and confessional subject matter. Smith himself compared his songs to stories or dreams. His distinctive vocal style was characterized by "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery", and used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies. In his short career Smith released six studio album, all of which are superb, in particular Either/Or and XO, which are masterpieces. His final album From a Basement on a Hill contained the last recordings Smith made and was released posthumously. Smith was a drinker and drug user, and was diagnosed with ADHD and major depressive disorder. His struggles with drugs and mental illness affected his life and work, and often appeared in his lyrics. In 2003, aged 34, he died in Los Angeles, California, from two stab wounds to the chest. It is not known whether the wounds were self-inflicted or if Smith was murdered. Smith was also a member of Portland based band No.2 who released two excellent albums.

Artist Website: sweetadeline.net

Featured Albums: Elliott Smith

Related Artists: No. 2