Elliott Smith any day ! But Tallest Man on Earth is sweet too ... but Smith is more complete and his music played an important role (even more than that) when I started taking interest in music... _________________ That's right, I'm an Asshole
I've been dreading this day. I absolutely am a HUGE fan of Elliott Smith. He is definitely in my own little top 10 fave songwriters and maybe even musicians ever.
I love Kristian Mattson - The Tallest Man On Earth - much much more.
Why do I love his music?
One I think he's a really great great guitarist. Great finger picker. Great folk, and blues, and bluegrass, and even at times jazz guitar influences laced throughout. As a guitarist he sorta reminds me of Mississippi John Hurt. He is very dexterous and able to switch from style to style and do all sorts of cool lil filips here and there to spruce the music up. He is influenced also, he says, by Nick Drake in his alternate tunings he sometimes uses in his guitar playing. I don't really have a technical ear for this, so I can't say I can hear it. But there ya go.
Here's a great song and perhaps my fave song of his. It's a great example of all those things I said about him... "CRIMINALS". Check it out just below.
I also love his songwriting. Very abstract and very visual and very touching. It's like... Idk, hard to explain. Brilliant stuff really. And his vocals are very cool, very passionate and very unique. Love it! Vocally he reminds me more of a fiery Dave Van Ronk more than Dylan. Yes, he has a nasally voice somewhat. But there is a lit more fire here than just another nasally voiced folk singer.
Case in point this song, "Love Is All"... Very emotional vocals, some really intricate guitar playing, and a vocal delivery which should be legendary. I love how each time he comes around to the chorus he somehow manages to squeeze all the more emotion I to the lines. Anyway, check out the song just below...
http://youtu.be/rvWstzEUTfU
And also to show he is also a very charismatic and fun live performer, here is one of his more popular songs "The Gardener" being played live on KEXP. The song itself is great, up tempo, and it's just another song I really love by him. Here it is...
http://youtu.be/Wa3lyo_Eowc
Anyway, yeah, there isn't much hope he will win. I don't mind. I love Elliott too. I hope some of you discover Mr. Mattson because if this or revisit his work because of this. I really think he is a marvel.
And he's my most favorite singer. _________________ -Ryan
Sorry, I just can't listen to Tallest Man on Earth without thinking he's just a poor Bob Dylan impersonator who lacks the songwriting ability. Elliot Smith on the other hand, is brilliant, plus I watched The Royal Tenenbaums today so he's been on my mind.
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
Sorry, I just can't listen to Tallest Man on Earth without thinking he's just a poor Bob Dylan impersonator who lacks the songwriting ability. Elliot Smith on the other hand, is brilliant, plus I watched The Royal Tenenbaums today so he's been on my mind.
I hear that a lot. Yes, Dylan is a big influence. But his songwriting style, guitar style and even vocal style is actually totally different.
The closest thing I can think is in the voice. Got that. But as a guitarist he is very different, and more technical than Dylan. Lyrically Dylan is more linear (generally) than TMOE. Mattson is more abstract.
It's like... I hear the Dylan, buuuuut I hear a lot of other influences too and I also hear a lot of his own style. Maybe if Dylan had a more intense voice, a more subtle and intricate guitar style and basically paired some of the aspects of his '63 style austere folk style with his '66 style abstract poetic stuff, you would get Tallest Man On Earth. Idk. Just an idea. _________________ -Ryan
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Dingerbell
HazeyTwilight
SamuelPear
drakonium
meccalecca
Mercury
MrFrogger
SuedeSwede
