I managed to not see this when Merlin first posted it. But this week, it’s like I have radar for All Things Elliott Smith Related, so cultural references that had been there all along (as Smith’s music has been, although he’s been gone for five years now) are suddenly jumping out at me.

Also, sob.

merlin:

Elliott Smith - “Angeles” (from Lucky 3)

All three songs in Lucky 3 are terrific and capture Elliott at (what appears to be) his most confident and, from a guitar nerd’s perspective, technically deft. But this one’s my favorite.

Maybe around Either/Or’s recording? Given how close these versions are to the Rothrock/Schnapf versions (nb. different lyric here about “broken arms” vs. “poison arms”).

Gorgeous. And the little smile at the end breaks your heart.