Elliot Smith
has been deemed as one of the greatest songwriters of our era. He has produced
seven albums throughout his life and his the record label Kill Rock Stars has taken
14 of their favorite tracks from each album to create An Introduction to… Elliott Smith. This collection hopes to reach
the hearts, souls, and ears of many new individuals who have not been lucky
enough to hear the folk/punk tunes when Smith was living. The lack of attention
paid to Smith’s extraordinary music might make him one of the most underrated
musicians out there.

Exploring his musical talents at the young age
of 9 allowed Smith to grow up to not just write and sing his own lyrics, but
also dabble in the guitar, piano, clarinet, drums, and harmonica. Smith’s
family was musical. His grandfather was a drummer and many women in his family
were singers. This interaction with music further motivated Smith to explore
his own musical talents. He took to music fast and excelled with any instrument
he picked up, but the guitar became his primary weapon of choice and can be
heard often throughout his albums as well as seen in many of his performances.

The mellow tunes and tear jerking lyrics of
Smith’s songs closely coincided with his own life struggles. His battle with
drugs and alcohol and depression created experiences and emotions that often
show up in his music. Smith passed away at the age of 34 in 2003 with multiple
stab wounds to the chest.

            Despite
his early death, Smith was still able to leave his mark in the music industry. He
was a member of the hardcore rock band Heatmiser, but became better known as a
solo artist. Popular “Miss Misery” was heard on the soundtrack from Good Will Hunting, which was Oscar
nominated for best original song. Although this song fast became one of Smith’s
most famous pieces and also made Kill Rock Stars collection, his other pieces
should not be ignored.

           Although
Smith might have been a suitable cast for the character Professor Snape in the
Harry Potter movies, everyone knows that you should never judge a book by its
cover. Smith was a talented musician who should not be taken for granted.
Everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of the collection An Introduction to… Elliott Smith. All his
best songs are put together to create an album worth listening to.