Elliott Smith and similar artist on naim systems

Music Room
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I recently had a listening session of some naim kit and gave some Elliott Smith songs I love a listen and it was genuinely haunting. Maybe the experience is tainted by his passing but the depth and spontaneity of anything off of XO or either or is insane. Anyone else had this experience?

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They frequently get selected for a listen here. His work has undeniably stood the test of time.

The two you mention (XO snd Either/Or) I think are the best but none of the others are bad. The posthumous ‘From a Basement on the Hill’ is good for a work released in this way and I prefer this (and his lo-fi first eponymous album) to the slightly slicker but, for me, less engaging ‘Figure 8’.

Bruce

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Another artist similar to Elliot Smith is Sufjan Stevens. I don’t have all his albums but I can recommend ‘Illinoise’ and ‘Carrie & Lowell’.

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I think ‘Carrie and Lovell’ is almost painfully personal, but excellent.

His catalogue is more diverse than Elliott Smith and has some missteps (or diversions depending on your viewpoint) but agree with ‘Illinoise’. ‘Javelin’ was my favourite album of 2023.

Bon Iver’s first album ‘For Emma, Forever’ has some of the LoFi confessional feel of Elliot Smith perhaps?

Bruce

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Wholeheartly agree Bruce. Beautiful but small doses. It’s nice to see it’s not just me!

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Whilst it is great to enjoy music at face value there are some artists and albums where the backstory magnifies the experience. Another of course is Nick Cave’s work after his personal tragedy, but I can think of plenty more.

Bruce

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This is adding to the list of personal test track, thanks for the ref’s. Idc about money for nothing, if I can hear the wine glass move during a day in the life then the systems worth listening to and Elliott’s music seems to test how our systems reproduce the room, him and the vibe. The only other track ill rely on to do this is band on the run by Wings& Paul McCartney

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I gave that a listen a while back and just the other week, I understand the link but maybe it’s just the feel I’m after. Like the track division day, it this happy vibe but if you read what he says..

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I totally agree, for me I try my best to stay away from the parasocial side and focus on the history, most importantly how the work relates to and effects me. I guess I’m just looking for other artists that fulfill that idea.