New Moon (Elliott Smith album)

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New Moon
File:New Moon (Elliott Smith album) cover.jpg
Compilation album by Elliott Smith
Released May 7, 2007
Recorded 1994–1997
Genre
Length 73:18
Label Kill Rock Stars
Producer
Elliott Smith chronology
From a Basement on the Hill
(2004)From a Basement on the Hill2004		 New Moon
(2007)

New Moon is a posthumous compilation album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released on May 8, 2007 by Kill Rock Stars. It contains twenty-four previously unreleased songs, most recorded between 1994 and 1997 during the sessions for Smith's albums Elliott Smith and Either/Or.

The album was well received by critics and reached number 24 in the US Billboard chart, selling about 24,000 copies in its first week.

Background

In August 2006, an "excited" employee at Kill Rock Stars made a post on the label's official website stating that an extended version of Either/Or would be released in 2006 to commemorate the record's tenth anniversary. This information was quickly pulled from the website, as the album was in very early planning stages. Eventually, Kill Rock Stars announced that Either/Or: Extended Edition (as it was to be called) had been scrapped in favor of a rarities and unreleased music compilation from Smith's time at the label.[1]

Mixing for the album was done by Larry Crane, the archivist for Smith's estate.[2] The album cover was created by Portland, Oregon artist Mike King, who has produced work for numerous other musicians.

Track information

"Angel in the Snow", "Talking to Mary", "High Times", "Riot Coming", "Georgia, Georgia", "Whatever (Folk Song in C)" and "Big Decision" are taken from the Elliott Smith sessions. "New Monkey", "Looking Over My Shoulder", "Going Nowhere", "Go By", "Placeholder", "New Disaster", "Seen How Things Are Hard", "Fear City", "Either/Or", "Pretty Mary K (Other Version)" and "Almost Over" are taken from the Either/Or sessions. "Thirteen", "See You Later" and "Half Right" are taken from a 1996 radio session. "All Cleaned Out", "First Timer" and "Miss Misery (Early Version)" were recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in 1997.

For the Either/Or record, Smith recorded a song entitled "Pretty Mary K", which is featured on this set. However, after scrapping this song, Smith used the title "Pretty Mary K" for a different song on his Figure 8 album. Later, while recording From a Basement on the Hill, Smith recorded a new version of the former song under the title "Everything's OK". Thus, "Pretty Mary K (Other Version)" on the New Moon set is essentially an early version of "Everything's OK".

Release

New Moon reached number 16 in the US chart. It sold around 24,000 copies in its first week.[3] A significant portion of the proceeds go to Outside In, a social service agency for low-income adults and homeless youth in Portland, Oregon, the city where Smith resided for a significant portion of his life.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 85/100[5]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars[6]
The A.V. Club (A)[7]
Entertainment Weekly (A)[8]
NME 7/10[9]
Pitchfork 8.7/10[10]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[11]
Stylus Magazine (B+)[12]
Uncut 5/5 stars[13]

New Moon was very well received by critics.[5]

AllMusic wrote, "New Moon [showcases] Smith at his most instinctive and natural".[6]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Elliott Smith, except as noted. 

Disc one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Angel in the Snow"     2:39
2. "Talking to Mary"     3:44
3. "High Times"     3:13
4. "New Monkey"     3:14
5. "Looking Over My Shoulder"     3:41
6. "Going Nowhere"     3:53
7. "Riot Coming"     3:45
8. "All Cleaned Out"     2:59
9. "First Timer"     2:44
10. "Go By"     3:48
11. "Miss Misery (Early Version)"     2:58
12. "Thirteen" (Big Star cover) Chris Bell, Alex Chilton 2:43
Disc two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Georgia, Georgia"     1:48
2. "Whatever (Folk Song in C)"     2:19
3. "Big Decision"     2:02
4. "Placeholder"     2:32
5. "New Disaster"     4:12
6. "Seen How Things Are Hard"     3:23
7. "Fear City"     3:31
8. "Either/Or"     2:29
9. "Pretty Mary K (Other Version)"     3:26
10. "Almost Over"     2:13
11. "See You Later"   Neil Gust, Smith 2:56
12. "Half Right"   Gust, Smith 3:50

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/review/elliott-smith-emnew-moonem-7850
  8. ↑ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20039781,00.html
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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