Feature Photo: llaurens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Elliott Smith was born on August 6, 1969, in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised primarily in Texas before moving to Portland, Oregon, he began his music career in the Portland area. Smith first gained prominence as a member of the alternative rock band Heatmiser before embarking on a solo career. As a solo artist, he released five studio albums: Roman Candle (1994), Elliott Smith (1995), Either/Or (1997), XO (1998), and Figure 8 (2000). Following his death in 2003, a posthumous album, From a Basement on the Hill, was released in 2004.
Smith’s music was known for its intense, introspective lyrics and melding of acoustic and electric soundscapes. He achieved some chart success; his album XO peaked at number 104 on the Billboard 200, while Figure 8 reached number 99. Additionally, Either/Or eventually garnered widespread critical acclaim, although it did not chart initially. Smith was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Miss Misery” from the Good Will Hunting soundtrack but did not win. His work, both as a solo artist and with Heatmiser, had a significant influence on the indie music scene of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Smith’s contributions to music also include one posthumous compilation album, New Moon (2007), which features previously unreleased material. Throughout his career, Smith was known for his multi-instrumental abilities, often recording alone and playing each instrument himself. His lyrical depth and innovative use of multi-track recording techniques left a lasting legacy in the music industry, influencing a wide range of artists and bands that followed.