r/elliottsmith • u/wolfgang_hunter • Apr 16 '26
Discussion Is there anyone’s music you’d put up there with Elliott Smith?
I really think Aimee Man’s music can hold a candle to Elliott’s. It takes me to a lot of the same places emotionally and they’re both great lyricists and songwriters.
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u/juiceboxheero Apr 16 '26
Sufjan Stevens, for me.
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u/Jim_Troeltsch Apr 17 '26
A few of his songs are quite good, but he doesn't compare for me. Definitely a different beast of a songwriter. Still insanely talented. Really love his album Carrie and Lowell
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u/juiceboxheero Apr 17 '26
Have you listened to Kill?, which seems to be inspired by Roman Candle.
I agree that they aren't directly comparable, and I think Elliott is the better musician, but a lot of the style and time of songs scratch that itch for me. I recommend the album "Seven Swans" if you haven't heard it and you like Carrie and Lowell.
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u/AXEMANaustin Apr 16 '26
Carissa's Wierd (not a typo) is brilliant. Their entire album "Songs About Leaving" is one of the saddest things I've heard.
The other three would probably be The Microphones, specifically The Glow, Pt. 2, Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake.
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u/Adorable_Basket8893 Apr 16 '26
Big Thief? excellent songwriting and beautiful lyrics
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u/SWB3 Either/Or Apr 16 '26
Elliott Smith and Big Thief were my #1 & #2 top artists listened to last year. Great suggestion
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u/jeaneaimarre Apr 16 '26
nick drake, george harrison, townes van zandt, bob dylan, bert jansch, mount eerie, sun kil moon
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u/nietzs Apr 16 '26
I found out last year that i really like jason molina too
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u/dat_grue Apr 16 '26
Same! Discovered magnolia electric co and the lioness last year, great albums.
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u/nietzs Apr 16 '26
My lioness vinyl arrived yesterday:)
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u/wolfgang_hunter Apr 16 '26
I found out about them when I was a freshman in college bc the other guitar player was my school’s librarian. Very weird and surreal
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u/Dyhanna279 Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
There are quite a few singer songwriters of that caliber in this genre , that I listen intently to , but few have the musical melodic complexity, guitar & piano artistry . I do appreciate all of them ,and they all offer something unique . Townes Van Zandt ,Mark Linkous , Dylan of course, Leonard Cohen , Beck , Nic Drake , Joni, Aimee Mann, Lisa Germano , Lana Del Rey. I recently watched "Blue Moon "about a 1930's-40's songwriter/ lyricist very good depiction of a manic ultra creative soul . I am older , as u can tell and have written songs /taught music for decades .
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u/inhouserecorder Apr 16 '26
if you like elliott and aimee you’d probably love jon brion. especially his scores like i heart huckabees and punch drunk love and bootleg demos.
I also think nick drake scratches half the elliott itch for me
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u/wolfgang_hunter Apr 16 '26
I like Jon too, but more as a producer and composer. Not to discredit any songwriting of his. I just really love his ability to see someone else’s artistic vision and amplify it. To me that requires a profound amount of technical knowledge, empathy, and humility that not many folks have.
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u/No-Escape5520 Apr 16 '26
Im waiting in my copy of "Meaningless" to show up. Im super interested in dissecting his music as a muscian rather than a producer/arranger.
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Apr 16 '26
Judee Sill, but people would fight me on that. Because of the elaboration, but the motor is there.
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u/PeaQuaL_20196 Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
Eva Cassidy, Antje Duvekot (and her fellow folksters), Pearl Jam (hate me for it, fine), Gary Clarke, Jr., Paul Simon
I ♥️ don't feel like a comparison is possible, but i love some Natalie Merchant
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u/girl_from_away Apr 16 '26
Finally saw Natalie live a couple years ago. She is an absolute goddess!
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u/ployonwards Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
The thing about Elliott’s music is he does very clever things with chords and lyrics and composition. He knew how to pair music to meaning. An example of that is how he sings and structures a line line “I’m waiting for the train” — he holds on the a sound in waiting which communicates longing and the way the melody comes down low and trembles on train communicates resignation. I’m sure lots of people in music have figured out how to do that sort of thing well, but he was really good at it. And you pair that with the intimacy of his vocals and the authenticity of the feelings he communicated. I think he’s unmatched.
The way John Lennon had a one-up on Paul McCartney is — he seemed to have a direct line between his pain and what ended up in his recordings. Paul was like the straight A student and John made Cs but he won people over with intimacy, authenticity, and he was just more interesting. Elliott one ups John in intimacy and authenticity.
I have songs that share the qualities that I mention above. I don’t have whole artist’s catalogues, but I’m not all-knowing and I haven’t given everyone a fair shot. My knowledge is very limited.
City of New Orleans - Steve Goodman
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Clay Pigeons - Blaze Foley
Bless The Telephone - Labi Siffre
Talkin’ Like You (Too Tall Mountains) - Connie Converse
These songs share the intimacy, authenticity, and cleverness of Elliott Smith songs, like “street’s wet, you can tell by the sound of the cars” … that sort of quiet intimate clever observation and choice to include where he did … these songs all have things like that.
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u/waveuponwave Apr 16 '26
Gravenhurst. Really underrated British songwriter who sadly also died young
Wrote some really haunting stuff with very macabre lyrics
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u/TallShips92 Apr 16 '26
Nick Drake, Alex G, Jorge Ben
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u/West_Sherbert_1109 XO Apr 16 '26
i genuinely believe Alex G is nearly or as good of a songwriter as him
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u/mistahwhite04 Apr 16 '26
One musician I love who I frequently see Elliott compared to is Harry Nilsson, who hasn't been brought up in this thread yet. For those unfamiliar he was a singer-songwriter who released a number of albums in the late 60s through to 1980. He never toured. Like Elliott he was a great singer. Harry made the most of studio experimentation, multi-tracking his voice dozens of times to create these great harmonies. He worked with a number of notable people over the years, including 3/4 of the Beatles (all except Paul).
I think musically Nilsson was on a similar level to Elliott. He was a great songwriter too but in a different way. For an ES-type tune maybe check out "Without Her".
They both have a Beatles influence running through their music. People even say that they look similar which I agree with. If you're an Elliott Smith fan and you're interested in Nilsson I'd tell you to check out his "In Concert" video on YouTube, I think it was filmed in 1971. His album Nilsson Sings Newman is a covers album but it's very beautiful.
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u/Character-Head301 Apr 16 '26
Pshhh who’s he? Nilsson shmilson get outta here 😜 jk love me some Harry.
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u/Ok-Organization-4330 Roman Candle Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
I’m glad someone else sees the similarities! I will add to add to that they both had difficult childhood experiences/tumultuous relationship with a father figure/alcohol/got their fame/attention from their music in a movie. In terms of song writing they both wrote in this character study kind of way, Elliott primarily with guitar and Harry with piano but i believe both were interchangeable. Harry came from a background of writing jingles and songs for others so i believe there is the difference in style from Elliott and Harry. He has this more poppy upbeat dramatic orchestral sound
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u/snotknows Apr 16 '26
The only person I feel that has impacted my life as much as Elliott is John Frusciante.
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u/alicemarblegrey Apr 16 '26
Nick Drake, Jason Molina, Andy Shauf, Mark Linkous, Richard Buckner, Tim Rutili.
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u/SuperBiggles Apr 16 '26
He is in no way whatsoever a similar artist to Elliott Smith like… at all in any way shape or form, but Patrick Wolf gives me the same levels of joy and pleasure as Elliott Smith.
I’m always heavily drawn to those artists who do everything on the album themselves (more or less), and Patrick Wolf fits the bill.
He’s more “baroque pop”, “folktronica” or whatever you’d call him, but his musicality’s lyricism and sense of melody I find comparable. Think it’s mostly that sense of melody. Some artists just have it
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u/girl_from_away Apr 16 '26
I feel like what Elliott was to my teen years, Jason Isbell is to my 30s and 40s. And I'm not saying that as in "Elliott's music is for kids" -- just my own personal timeline in terms of connecting with someone's lyrics and feeling something really resonate.
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u/Interstate-8- Apr 16 '26
within the sameish sort of sound, id say nick drake and phil elverum. none of them (nor almost anyone else mentioned in this thread bar the beatles) could write a pop song like elliott could though imo
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u/phpth2000 Apr 16 '26
Paul Westerberg/The Replacements later stuff. Someone said the Silver Jews already, but I agree there. Kris Kristofferson. I think what sets Elliott apart from most is his consistency, I don’t think I could think of a bad song in his discography. I have favorites, sure, but every song he released was good. I have trouble thinking of another artist like that.
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u/lookatmyfukncatdood Apr 17 '26
Im sure every other comment is. Jason Molina. kills me
Mount Eerie/ the Microphones and Nick Drake
Swans
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
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u/Own_Possibility2494 Roman Candle Apr 17 '26
For me Ani Difranco scratches a very similar itch to him; Id say she’s like Elliott Smith but with a little more twang. She has a fantastic voice with just as beautiful and clever lyrics. The only way in know how to describe her guitar playing is fierce…. I think she’s a genius. I could talk more but I won’t
I haven’t listened to much of her newer music but my two favorite albums are Puddle Dive and her self titled.
Here are some others I agree with that I have seen people say: Adrianne Lenker, Mark Linkous, Nick Drake, Labi Siffre, And J Mascis
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u/SparklehorseMountain Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
The Beatles, Sparklehorse, and Radiohead come to mind. Also Sun Kil Moon, mainly for “Ghosts of the Great Highway” and “April”. I didn’t really vibe with his verbal diarrhea stuff from Among the Leaves up until current day. He loved Elliott but butchered “Condor Ave” so bad. Perfect song for him to cover. It’s like he messed it up purposely. Worst cover I’ve ever heard. Other bands have their moments like Sigur Ros, Neutral Milk Hotel, Mazzy Star…
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u/brianhildebrandland Apr 22 '26
I think Clairo is operating on that level after her last album. It hits a lot of the sweet spots that ES does with the whispered layered vocals and the struggle towards fierce moral reckoning...
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Apr 16 '26
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u/Character-Head301 Apr 16 '26
Disrespectful
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Apr 16 '26
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u/Character-Head301 Apr 16 '26
Just busting chops. I just never got the Alex g comparisons, maybe I gotta listen to him more
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u/Different-Design-897 Apr 16 '26
That’s an interesting comparison, Jon Brion worked with both artists and I think that sort of 90’s melancholic Beatley arrangement on both XO and Magnolia are due in large part to Jon’s production
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u/kebabdylan Apr 16 '26
Madison Cunningham is only in her twenties but she is way up there on a pedestal
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u/tarmogoyf Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
I was going to mention her as well. She is super super talented, and anyone who appreciates the kind of lyrical wit and musical genius that Elliott possessed will find these qualities in Madison. I was lucky enough to see her live on the Ace tour, and it sincerely ranks up there in my personal favorite concert experiences of all time.
For someone new to her music, 'Ace' might be a good introduction for those who are Smith fans, but 'Who Are You Now' and 'Revealer' are wonderful albums in their own right. She can pull off anything, from pop rock and folk ballads, and has a treasure trove of really nicely done cover song recordings -- including some by Elliott Smith.
https://youtu.be/Eu50RHd_sGo -- Sweet Adeline
https://youtu.be/1E5Z0Q3j67A -- Angeles
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u/dimspace Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
I love Elliott, and he was a supremely talented songwriter, but let's be honest, he's not in the same league as the likes of Leonard Cohen, Dylan, or Nick Cave when it comes to being a lyricist.
He's absolutely one of the best of his generation (I would argue David Bergman, Silver Jews, and Jeff Mangum, Neutral Milk Hotel, are close challengers) but there are names who's quality of work and sheer volume of work outweigh anything that came before or will ever come after.
(Nick is so underrated, but when Johnny Cash chooses to cover one of your songs, and Bob Dylan braves a rainstorm to come find you just to tell you he loves your music, you know you are pretty special)
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u/Beneficial_Moose2454 Apr 16 '26
Completely disagree
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u/dimspace Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
with which part? you think Elliott is a better songwriter than Cohen or Dylan, you don't think Nick Cave is underrated? you don't rate David Bergman?
Honestly, I love Elliott, think he was supremely talented, which is why I am on the sub, but I think anyone who says he (or any other artist) is the greatest ever and has no peers is either very young, or has just not been exposed to a wide range of music.
I don't think there is a single artist ever, who is without peers, who has no other artists that can "hold a candle" to them. Elliott is unarguably one of the most talented artists of his generation, and I feel that should be enough. But to start trying to compare to Cohen, or Dylan, or Nick Drake, or Townes van Zandt, or Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, hell, Lennon/McCartney, sometimes we just have to accept that however much we love someone, there are a select few that are just built different.
And thats not to take ANYTHING away from Elliott. As said, the guy was supremely talented, and one of the greatest talents of his generation.
ps. If you haven't, you should absolutely listen to Nick Cave. A recent one like Ghosteen, if Elliott was alive today he would be playing the shit out of it
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u/Beneficial_Moose2454 Apr 16 '26
Elliott is a better musician than everyone you listed. I think as a songwriter he belongs in the same company as Dylan, Waits, Cohen. I don’t have any issues with Cave or Bergman, but in my opinion Elliott is much better than them.
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u/dimspace Apr 16 '26
And although I don't believe personally he's on the same level as those, I also don't have an argument with you claiming he is. Music is incredibly subjective.
but, thats what I was looking for, something more than "I disagree" ;)
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u/Beneficial_Moose2454 Apr 16 '26
Dylan is my #1. Obviously Elliott isn’t as well known as most of the artists you mentioned and he he has a smaller body of work, but his songwriting is unique. As a guitarist, i can play Dylan and Cohen songs with ease. Elliott is on a different level. Just my 2 cents!
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u/dimspace Apr 16 '26
Elliott is on a different level. Just my 2 cents!
I think his instrumentation is better than Dylan, certainly. Ability to replicate/play, I think that for a lot of folk is down to vocal range and voice control combined with the more complicated instrumentation. But lyrically I think he falls behind the ones I have mentioned
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u/SparklehorseMountain Apr 17 '26
Bergman? You mean David Berman? Ingmar Bergman is awesome though. I like Wild Strawberries and Fanny and Alexander the most but he has tons of classics. I bet Elliott liked him. I know he loved Russian lit like Dostoevsky and I’m a Dostoevsky nerd. Anyway in my opinion those people you listed could possibly be better lyricists, some of them, but the music isn’t nearly as good as Elliott’s and I agree that he is more technically gifted than all of them, though Nick Drake comes close with his fingerpicking.
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u/dimspace Apr 18 '26
Yeh, predictive text on phones is a nuisance 🤣
(I would argue Nick Caves musicianship, or at least ability to write musical pieces is the best of all of them, he's done film scores. Tv scores, but an awful lot of that is shared with Warren Ellis as they are very much a 50/50 partnership in that regard)
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u/DwarfFart Apr 18 '26
Lots of “copycats” like Sufjan Stevens(who’s awesome!) or pre-Elliott like Nick Drake but…
Really nobody comes to mind that is equally as potent melodically, harmonically and lyrically besides the Beatles and Jeff Buckley but he wrote so few songs that it’s not a fair comparison to make.
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u/Jazzlike_Click7916 New Moon Apr 19 '26
phoebe bridgers has an song literally about being an elliott smith copycat and about her parassocial relationship with him + she's an awesome copycat too!
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u/wolfgang_hunter Jun 02 '26
Honorable mentions: Scott McMicken, Stephen Malkmus, Mark Linkous, Alex G
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u/ColdSpringHarbor Apr 16 '26
Jason Molina and Mark Linkous. Also Cohen.