From Beyond

I was browsing Amazon today and ran across this: a new Elliott Smith album. It appears to be demos and outtakes from the Roman Candle through Either/Or period, which is my favorite set of albums.

I'm having a hard time sorting out how I feel about this development. Of course, I ordered the album immediately and I CAN'T WAIT to hear it. I didn't really like From a Basement on a Hill, I'm sorry to say, but since these tracks come from the earlier period I expect they'll be pretty wonderful. I listend to only one of the samples on Amazon. The rest will be a surprise.

I guess the feeling is strong anticipation, but it's also subdued and a bit sad. This is a bonus I never expected, and it underscores the fact that my favorite musician is dead. Maybe I'm just being morose on a Monday. Everything does seem dialed down a bit today. I also bought a newly and very posthumously released book by an author who died a Auchswitz.

So, today's theme is missives from beyond.