Joseph Wambaugh
American writer
Elliott Smith was an American musician and singer-songwriter born in Omaha, Nebraska. He had a distinctive vocal style and played various instruments, including the guitar, piano, and harmonica. Smith rose to mainstream prominence with his song “Miss Misery” which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Table of Contents
About the Elliott Smith
Steven Paul Smithand depression. His struggle with drugs and mental illness affected his life and work, and often informed his lyrics. He died at his Los Angeles home from two stab wounds to the chest at age 34 in 2003. The autopsy evidence did not determine whether the wounds were self-inflicted. At the time of his death, Smith was working on his album From a Basement on the Hill, posthumously produced and released in 2004.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elliott Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska.
Elliott Smith primarily played the guitar, but he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica.
Elliott Smith gained mainstream prominence when his song ,Miss Misery,, which was included in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting, was nominated for the 1998 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Elliott Smith’s distinctive vocal style in his solo career was characterized by his ,whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery, and he often used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies.
At the time of his death, Elliott Smith was working on his album From a Basement on the Hill, which was posthumously produced and released in 2004.
Elliott Smith died at his Los Angeles home from two stab wounds to the chest at the age of 34 in 2003. The autopsy evidence did not determine whether the wounds were self-inflicted.
Elliott Smith was a heavy drinker and drug user, and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression, which affected his life and work and often informed his lyrics.
29 Quotes by Elliott Smith
- 1.
I was coming off of a lot of psyche meds and other things.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 2.
I just wanted to move out of Portland to do something.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 3.
It touches on drug use. I got caught up in that for almost two years.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 4.
I like home recordings and studio recordings just as much as each other – I don’t think one is better – but for this record I wanted to see what I could do in a real studio with real producers.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 5.
I was trying to do the same thing that I always do which is make an interesting record.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 6.
The band’s filter, but playing live is a lot of fun.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 7.
I’m just writing songs about how I feel or about how people I know feel.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 8.
There’s always that argument to make – that you’re in better company historically if people don’t understand what you’re doing.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 9.
I didn’t know how many people knew who Ferdinand was.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 10.
There are lots of things I like about playing in a band, the things I can’t do by myself you know.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 11.
I don’t really like New York better than Portland. It’s just a different place.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 12.
Well, I try not to think about the general public since I have no idea what the general public is and I don’t think anybody does.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 13.
I wondered if I would talk about drug use. But I guess, why hide it?
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 14.
But I was also doing odd jobs around Portland, like spreading gravel and transplanting bamboo trees.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 15.
It was kind of ridiculous to carry it up to a certain point and then drop the ball or the bomb, like quitting the band right after we had signed to Virgin.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 16.
I can’t think of anything off the top of my head that seems more important than something designed to raise money to keep something going that keeps IV drug users from dying.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 17.
If you play acoustic guitar you’re the depressed, sensitive guy.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 18.
I rode on a float in one of the parades in Mississippi. It’s an experience.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 19.
I don’t think that Dreamworks would have signed me expecting to really mess around with whatever it is I do.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 20.
It’s a lot easier to tell the truth usually.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 21.
It’s just that a lot of songs that are popular right now, they don’t have any meaning.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 22.
My girlfriend at the time convinced me to send these songs to Cavity Search. When they wanted to put out my record I was totally shocked.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 23.
And I’m not trying to write heavy songs.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 24.
I watched myself put my paw in the bear trap on that one because there was this clause about leaving members.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 25.
I actually don’t think that I’m gonna sell a lot of records.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 26.
Because God only knows why people like what they like and don’t like something else.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 27.
I didn’t think I was gonna be playing on the Oscars or anything.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 28.
I didn’t have a hard time making it, I had a hard time letting it go.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)
- 29.
I mean people just have a way of – y’know they’ll review your record in two sentences and put you in this little stupid box that you don’t want to be in.
Elliott SmithAmerican musician (1969-2003)