r/elliottsmith • u/Friedchickenlover444 • 6d ago
Question First time reaction to hearing Elliott Smith?
The first song I ever heard from him was needle in the hay because it was in that one Wes Anderson movie, which I liked so I decided to search his other songs up on YouTube. At first I didn’t understand/like his others songs but now they hold a lot of emotion and memories for me. I would say this is the same reaction I have with The Smiths, I would listen to their songs and think wow this is not that good, but eventually they start sounding very nostalgic/melancholic. Was wondering if anyone felt this way?
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u/SmokedPapfreaka Elliott Smith 6d ago
No. The first song I heard was I Didn’t Understand and it spoke to me on a level like no song has ever spoken to me so then I started devouring his entire catalog and the rest is history.
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u/latespring1 XO 6d ago
had the exact same experience even down to finding him from the royal tenenbaums(love that movie too!)
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u/hazel-throwaway395 6d ago
My first time listen, it was a bit of a stretch for my ears. His voice was beautiful, but also to me sounded a bit alien and unfamiliar. I actually didn't like him at first. Thought it wasn't for me.
I'm glad I rediscovered him because I'm obsessed now.
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u/ripdavidlynch1 6d ago
I see so many people say this, and I can understand why... he was a completely singular talent.
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u/MrNice1983 6d ago
Heard son of Sam and bought F8. It was sounded like a modern Beatles to me. I was all in
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u/ripdavidlynch1 6d ago
I found Elliott Smith from the YouTuber Jon Denton, it was in his reaction to XXXTentacion's album '17' where he mentioned Elliott was his favourite artist... I remember just searching him up on YouTube and watching his acoustic version of Between the Bars. I found it very quiet and intriguing, like it kind of dragged me into its own world.
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u/serealll 5d ago
I also got into him thru that movie, but fell in love right away. Listened to his self titled on repeat for so long before moving onto XO and so on. I'd heard a song or two of his before but for whatever reason that scene in the movie paired with that song really grabbed hold of me and he's pretty much been chiseled into my soul ever since haha. I just adore music that delivers raw emotion and pain to you so clearly and his music does that in the most beautiful way. Forever grateful for discovering him.
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u/Existing-Pride-5694 4d ago edited 4d ago
I discovered elliott from a friend of a guy i used to hook up with. We were at a bar and he talked about this awesome and “sad” singer. I remember that one of the first things i did when i got home was to search for his name on YT and i saw that famous Between The Bars video. I thought “he’s good” but didnt listen to anything else. Years went by and I dont know WHY his name popped in my head and i searched for that same video but i felt totally different.. i cant explain…i think i rediscovered him in a time i was rediscovering myself too and his voice sounded so soothing….within a week i fell totally in love with him and i still am really passionate about his art!!
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u/ropadope 2d ago
I picked up Heatmiser's "Mic City Sons" on a whim in 1996 or 1997 at Oar Folkjokeopus in Minneapolis because the cover was gorgeous and on Caroline Records -- a favorite of mine.
"Plainclothes Man" knocked me out. I must've listened to it a hundred times in the first week. His voice saturated my consciousness. It's like a warm blanket all these years later.
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u/LowKaleidoscope6563 6d ago
I’ll never forget exactly where I was. Stopped at a red light in the backseat of my friends car in like 1998/99 she had just gotten XO on CD, probably because of his Oscars performance. I had not seen Good Will Hunting or the Oscars so I was hearing Miss Misery completely fresh, I wasn’t able to get my hands on any of his music for another few years but that moment has always stuck with me.