If you're in the mood for morbid introspection and a bleak perspective of life, then you should check out Elliot Smith's new release, From a Basement on the Hill. Even the title alludes to solitary depression.
Similar to Smith's other albums, From a Basement on the Hill is not for the light at heart. The lyrics take a haunting trip through subject matter including drug addictions, suicide and depression.
Smith committed suicide in October of 2003, but left behind an unfinished album.
In October 2004 the album was released to the public so that Smith's music could live on. Although Smith's suicide was a surprise to many, his lyrics answer some of the questions about his mindset before his death.
A lighthearted beat barely hides desolate lyrics and Smith's spooky mood. His lyrics are amazingly deep and insightful as well as horribly depressing and hopeless.
In his song "Coast to Coast," Smith hints at his depression with lyrics like, "Last stop for a resolution end of the line, is it confusion?"
In "Strung Out Again," Smith alludes to his drug use with lines including, "Strung out again / Standing, smiling on some fantasy island." Smith apparently never found release in his drug use.
Even if Smith hadn't committed suicide, his music still would be perceived as incredible and prodigious. He has shown amazing talent and individuality with each one of his albums, especially appealing to society's dejected souls.
Smith has inspired the indie crowd for years, and he even impressed the mainstream crowd with his work on the soundtrack of "Good Will Hunting."
Smith's music also captures the disjointed reality of a drug trip. His variety in style and beat, as well as the mix of background dialogue, create an unsettling sound that reflects Smith's worst encounters with his addictions.
His melancholy final album works just as well for the pensive and depressed, as well as the average person who just enjoys good music.
Reach the reporter at kelsey.havens@asu.edu.
