Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute by Christopher O’Riley

coast to coast

let’s get lost

i didn’t understand

speed trials

i better be quiet now

roman candle

satellite

independence day

cupid’s trick

oh well, okay

no life

between the bars

christian brothers

everything means nothing to me

waltz #1

not half right

stupidity tries

bye

Comments

[Andrew Hassler]

Thank you, for this album Mr. O'Riley. This is the best tribute for the fans that I can imagine. You did a beautiful job.

[James Harkins]

I must say this album is abosuletly perfect. Elliott Smith is my favorite musician, and I really enjoyed your radiohead albums. It was literally a dream come true when I found out you released an Elliott Smith tribute album. Thank you.

thank you, james.
i'm still in awe of elliott and his music.
although it may be obvious to someone else, i was listening to some of elliott's live concerts and noted something compelling about his performance style that had never occured to me before: he performs as an actor or poet, not with a sense of putting the song across the footlights, not telling the story, not trying to impress his audience, but trying just to get it right, to evoke the many-facted world created by the conflicting and contrasting senses of the musical and lyrical world in each song. it's less a performance than an immersion. i think that may account for the fact that anyone else performing elliott's music (myself included) seems a little vulgar, or grand-standing. we as perfoermers have a tendency to make things larger than life in the attempt to connect with the audience and make palpable to them the essence that elliott was able to put across just by his disarming sincerity and selfless passion for perfection.
i'm very glad you like the record. i can't wait to get around to doing more of elliott's songs soon.
best wishes,
chris

[davy long]

i want this sooo bad. i love elliott and i love chris.

[ben]

Hi Chris,
I downloaded your version of "Speed Trials" and I really like the way you arranged it. I thought you stayed true to the essence of the song. I am a jazz pianist and I am really starting to get into Elliott's music. I think it has some really great melodies and unique chord progressions. Lyrically speaking it is excellent as well.
Anyway I plan to check out the rest of your album as soon as I can.
later,
Ben

ben-
thanks! 'speed trials', as the first track on elliott's 'either/or', was the first song i was really taken with, as that was the first of elliott's albums i ever bought. i loved, in particular, the harmonic ambiguity, the sense of being on the cusp of major and minor tonality. it's been a quality, not just in a harmonic sense, but in many different ways, that inherent dichotomy, which pervased elliott's work and makes each song so compelling.
i'm really glad you've begun to get into elliott's stuff. as a jazz player, i'm sure you'll be continually, in subtly, amazed at the colour and intricacy of elliott's music. i'm positive you'll have a great time playing whichever elliott songs you happen upon.
thanks for writing.
best wishes,
chris

[Myke Mazzei]

Hey Chris!
I'm interested in checking out your tribute album! Is it linked from this site somewhere??
Always,
Myke

myke-
if you go to my main page and pass your cursor over my banner photo, you'll see that there are a few pop ups, one of them marked STORE. all of my cds and the radiohead book are available for order there.
best wishes,
chris

[Chris Hummell]

Chris,

You are one of my personal heros. When i first saw that you did a tribute to Elliott Smith i was shocked and amazed. I have been a fan of his for some time and after we lost him I thought his music would be lost as well. The way you composed his music was nothing short of beutiful. Truth be told, when I herd your version of "Lets Get Lost" it brought a tear to my eye. But more importently it inspired me to start writing music again. the way you play is vary thought provokeing and emotional. I hope to hear more from you. Thank you vary much for keeping the music of Elliott Smith alive for a bit longer.

C.H.

[Tom Lawry]

Just got your Elliott Smith Tribute. As a huge fan of his I was hopeful but skeptical. After a listen, I was truly amazed at what you had done. In particular, No Life opened up the song to me....I sometimes pass over his songs that are lyrically just a little too down... you opened up the music to me and revealed what an amazing piece it is. I just hope you eventually record another CD of his music in the future.

tom-
glad you like the cd. even more glad you love elliott's music. i think there's no music more inherently exuberant than his; there's so much life in it that it gives the lie to his music as constantly depressed. i even find his lyrics to be more representative of a full panply of feelings rather than strictly downer. there's redemption somewhere in just about every song.
i'm still so excited by elliott's music. i have no plans on making another whole record of his music at the moment, but there are a few newer things i've done with his music you'll find here in live performances available for free download. i just did 'new disaster' last month.
i'll be playing a combination elliott smith/robert schumann recital in NYC in the spring. hopefully at least one other location before then.
thanks again for your very kind words.
best wishes,
chris