Elliott's leaky Basement

Download it: Elliott Smith Basement II Demos
Play it: Thumbsucker Original Soundtrack

So I really had no excitement for any new releases (that made it into Rhapsody as of Tuesday afternoon) this week, and while this blog is certainly not a 'record review depot,' I do have the itch to share new music, and it hasn't been scratched this week. So I'll reach forward and back with these two.

Recently making the rounds this week in the blogosphere is the leak of 22 songs from Elliott Smith, compiled together under the title Basement II, a sort of clearing house for songs that didn't make the last post-humous release, From A Basement On The Hill, and rarities/demos that have been floating around for years.

Three of the songs ("Thirteen", "Trouble" and a different version of "Let's Get Lost") also appear on the recently released Thumbsucker Original Soundtrack. "Thirteen," for one, has been floating around for years, and "Either/Or" and "No Name #6" were during the Either/Or sessions, if memory (and song title clues) serves me correct.

Of the tracks here, only "Amanda Cecilia" and "Taking a Fall" sound like they're finished products from the original Basement sessions, but clean up a few others and they could've been as well. ("Let's Get Lost" was actually on From A Basement On The Hill, this version was originally recorded for Thumbsucker, along with "From a Basement" which doesn't appear in this leak, or on From a Basement or on Thumbsucker, oddly enough.)

For Thumbsucker's part, Tim Delaughter (Polyphonic Spree) makes for an interesting score, stepping in for Elliott Smith (who had tentatively agreed to record some music for Mike Mills' film before his untimely death.) It's essentially a more subdued Polyphonic Spree album, but majestic and sweet at the same time. Just listen to "Skinny Dip" and melt... or the blasts of happiness from "Debate Montage" and you'll be a believer. While Smith's contributions to the soundtrack are important, Delaughter really stepped up and delivered for Mill's quirky film.

tags: playlist, music, soundtrack, elliott smith, thumbsucker, polyphonic spree