From A Basement On The Hill
by Elliott Smith
  • Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Oct 19, 2004
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 117 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 129
  3. Negative: 7 out of 129

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. HyphenatedMeta
    Aug 6, 2023
    5
    I had a long drive yesterday, a perfect opportunity to queue up this masterpiece and let it wash over me. It ranks among the most-played albums of my life, yet enough time had passed since my last listen that I was able to approach it with fresher ears. Simply put, it’s an astounding collection of music, lyrics, themes, and craftsmanship that form memories in and of themselves.

    Singing    I had a long drive yesterday, a perfect opportunity to queue up this masterpiece and let it wash over me. It ranks among the most-played albums of my life, yet enough time had passed since my last listen that I was able to approach it with fresher ears. Simply put, it’s an astounding collection of music, lyrics, themes, and craftsmanship that form memories in and of themselves.

    Singing along to “Coast to Coast” reveals how gymnastic the lyrics are yet how effortlessly he delivers them.

    I played “Kings Crossing” three times in a row to bask in its calliope of storytelling and jaunty carnival organs.

    I could linger in this review with personal liner notes from each track. That’s an essay for another time. For now, it’s enough to leave with appreciation. It’s one of the great albums of my lifetime.    … Expand
  2. jorecu
    Apr 25, 2021
    10
    Genial album, probably his best even if all of them are really really good, of one of the greatest artist of the last years and perhaps of all time!
  3. Katiedoesmusic
    Nov 29, 2020
    10
    Elliott has always been phenomenal. He always showcases melodies and instrumentals (especially his amazing guitar playing) over his voice and I find that very unique. The music is so creative and unlike anything I've ever heard.
  4. afulayter
    Jan 4, 2017
    9
    The album features Elliott's coldest lyrics, but features his most instrumental use in any album. The album gives us great singing and rhythm you don't see often together, Elliot's whistling voice oddly goes along well with the electric guitars and the drumming. It's like their perfectly pulling a rope apart from each other, a perfect balance, an exquisite equilibrium. You can feel theThe album features Elliott's coldest lyrics, but features his most instrumental use in any album. The album gives us great singing and rhythm you don't see often together, Elliot's whistling voice oddly goes along well with the electric guitars and the drumming. It's like their perfectly pulling a rope apart from each other, a perfect balance, an exquisite equilibrium. You can feel the distraught in his voice, as he's going down his downward spiral. He talks about heroin in "Little One" and his constant pushing away and hurting independence in "Let's Get Lost". Elliott's acoustic is soothing as normal, and this album just completes the end of his career.… Expand
  5. pkindieboy
    Aug 17, 2013
    10
    Maybe this isn't the fairest review, because I'm a huuge Elliott Smith fan. I do feel like this album has a rawness that is invigorating, particularly on the rock tracks. Some of his finest picking resides here as well. King's Crossing is one for the ages, and the sequencing totally works. This is amazing stuff. If you're not a fan, I don't really get that, and if you are then youMaybe this isn't the fairest review, because I'm a huuge Elliott Smith fan. I do feel like this album has a rawness that is invigorating, particularly on the rock tracks. Some of his finest picking resides here as well. King's Crossing is one for the ages, and the sequencing totally works. This is amazing stuff. If you're not a fan, I don't really get that, and if you are then you don't need my encouragement. All the same, pick this up.… Expand
  6. pictic
    Jun 6, 2012
    10
    The best Elliott Smith album, I wonder how it would turn out if he was still alive. Its so sad how much sadness he carried. It seems often that the people with the most talent and soul are taken so soon.
  7. mecbirdhouse
    Aug 14, 2011
    9
    By no means an easy listen, but a remarkable album in every regard. Tracks like A Fond Farewell and King's Crossing, and Coast to Coast are among the most affecting Elliott ever made. I still think Either/Or is his best album (partially because every song on it is brilliant, but largely because it has extreme highs to match it's extreme lows, which unfortunately can't be said for most ofBy no means an easy listen, but a remarkable album in every regard. Tracks like A Fond Farewell and King's Crossing, and Coast to Coast are among the most affecting Elliott ever made. I still think Either/Or is his best album (partially because every song on it is brilliant, but largely because it has extreme highs to match it's extreme lows, which unfortunately can't be said for most of his work), but criticizing someone for making an amazing album just because I don't think it's their magnum opus would be silly.… Expand
  8. adamwouldcould
    Mar 25, 2011
    9
    Works on every all levels in my opinion. Composition, vocals, production and weirdness. For all sorts or reasons, I've avoided knowing any more about this artist or his albums beyond what is recorded and in the liner notes. Regardless, Mr. Smith's collection seems forgotten way too soon. Even in the alt. music media. I consider this album a standard of the era and the genre. Dare to compare!
  9. Matthews090
    Mar 7, 2011
    9
    It would have been interesting to see what sequence Smith would have chosen for the album, but if anything, the jumbled order and unpolished masterpieces adds to the charm and mystery of the record. Some of the unfinished songs recorded at the time, such as 'See You In Heaven' would have made this album one of the greatest pieces of music in the last 60 years. Very nearly a perfect record.
  10. TomP
    Jul 27, 2009
    8
    So...it's pretty good. Let's just not get too excited.
  11. ConnorO
    Jun 23, 2009
    10
    Amazing album. It's what inspired me to start playing guitar. Elliott Smith is great.
  12. fionnk
    Apr 27, 2009
    10
    He is truly timeless and had the most honest voice this blends the best bits of all the other albums some songs have the strip back sond of either/or and some have the musical wizardry of xo god only knows how it would have ended up like but I'm happy we got to hear this.
  13. MyronC
    Mar 27, 2009
    10
    Over time it just gets more poignannt and transcendent. Although I would have gone for a 9.7 if the option were possible.
  14. WesC
    Nov 30, 2008
    10
    It's got an 88/100, countless plaudits and its still sorely underrated. Can't be recommended more to Smith fans: it's absolutely essential.
  15. DavidW
    Nov 21, 2008
    10
    Hard to imagine a better album from start to finish. Truly the greatest songwriter since Dylan and the Beatles.
  16. AdamS.
    Oct 20, 2007
    10
    A swansong, hidden and obfuscated by those who understood his vision but dared not commit themselves.
  17. MarcusP
    Apr 25, 2007
    10
    Magnificent album, from "Coast to Coast" to A distorted reality...It really touches one in the heart
  18. TylerV
    Jan 24, 2007
    10
    This album has so many unforgettable tracks. Any music collection that is absent of this album and the rest of Elliott Smith's catalog is indeed lacking. Every track is worth investing time into and when one does that, they will quickly find several of them to be simply haunting pieces of music.
  19. JonL
    Nov 25, 2006
    10
    You can debate forever about Elliott's intended album (and indeed, looking at the darkness of many of the demos of this album, this comes across as the decidedly family-friendly interpretation, which makes sense as his family compiled this album and left out many of the darkest songs), but taken as a collection of songs from a forever uncompleted album, it is truly astonishing. His You can debate forever about Elliott's intended album (and indeed, looking at the darkness of many of the demos of this album, this comes across as the decidedly family-friendly interpretation, which makes sense as his family compiled this album and left out many of the darkest songs), but taken as a collection of songs from a forever uncompleted album, it is truly astonishing. His gift for melody was as strong as ever, he was emerging as a master of studio work, and, of course, the sheer melancholia which is even more saddening (yet enigmatic) in light of his death. If I want to cry, I put this album on. Hopefully the family will cave in and properly release the rest of this project someday.… Expand
  20. PatrickO
    Nov 19, 2006
    10
    Smith's legacy is as clear as day with this album and is the pinnacle of his works.
  21. carlosa
    Nov 4, 2006
    10
    Nearly flawless record. I've listened to all of elliott's cds and this is easily one of his best if not his best ever ( even though all his albums were nearly flawless). His ability to write ridicously great songs and melodies only improved with age. With "From A Basement On the Hill" I feel like I am listening to the work of an artist at his absolute prime; he doesn't hold Nearly flawless record. I've listened to all of elliott's cds and this is easily one of his best if not his best ever ( even though all his albums were nearly flawless). His ability to write ridicously great songs and melodies only improved with age. With "From A Basement On the Hill" I feel like I am listening to the work of an artist at his absolute prime; he doesn't hold anything back.… Expand
  22. GabridlL
    Sep 27, 2006
    10
    A work of genius. Better than The Beatles. Smith had a gift.
  23. Andy
    Aug 16, 2006
    8
    Not his best group of songs by a long shot, but that still means its better than 99% of anything out there.
  24. AddisonK
    May 18, 2006
    9
    From a Basement on the Hill is not Elliott's best work, but it could have been. Elliott had grand ideas for this album, and many of them were left out by those who compiled these tracks to make this album. Many songs were left off of the album because the family thought they were too saddening, a few songs were unfinished (ie there were no vocals on some tracks), Elliott intended the From a Basement on the Hill is not Elliott's best work, but it could have been. Elliott had grand ideas for this album, and many of them were left out by those who compiled these tracks to make this album. Many songs were left off of the album because the family thought they were too saddening, a few songs were unfinished (ie there were no vocals on some tracks), Elliott intended the album to start with simple acoustic stuff and gradually turn into nothing but noise by the end, and there are many things that no one, but Elliott, even knew about that would have affected this album. With that said, Basement is a fantastic album. The songs that were finished and put on the album are nothing short of brilliant. Twilight may be Elliott's greatest song. King's Crossing is haunting and beautiful. This album gets somewhat of a bum rap because we all feel cheated, but if we can look beyond that and just look at the album for what it is, we can truly appreciate the beauty.… Expand
  25. MusicLover
    May 7, 2006
    10
    I thought this album was his best, and I didn't even know about his death until 2 years later.
  26. ShaunM.
    Jan 6, 2006
    10
    The sequencing is near perfect. No one would have any complaints about it if Elliott hadn't passed away and it became a well-known fact that he did not do the sequencing on it. It's unfortunate that people are too musically immature to realize the genius of this album and how beautiful it is. Just because it's not easy to get into doesn't mean it's been sequenced The sequencing is near perfect. No one would have any complaints about it if Elliott hadn't passed away and it became a well-known fact that he did not do the sequencing on it. It's unfortunate that people are too musically immature to realize the genius of this album and how beautiful it is. Just because it's not easy to get into doesn't mean it's been sequenced wrong or is "sloppy" or lazily done. Let's face it, this album was ALMOST done, granted Elliott hand't put it final touches on it at all and we will never know how it would have turned out. (Probably better, yes). However, the songs are so good, it shouldn't matter what order they're in. This is musically and especially lyrically his best work to date, and it is obvious how he was maturing in leaps and bounds over time. All of his studio albums are masterpieces, and all for very different reasons. I think this should be looked at for it's musical genius and lyrical depth for why it deserves a ten. A near-perfect album from the most genius singer/songwriter of the last fifty-five years.… Expand
  27. AK.
    Dec 1, 2005
    7
    As an album, this is great. As an Elliott Smith album, not so much. I like the music, but had Elliott not died, we all know it would've been so much better (LESS DISTORTED GUITAR!!!). I don't know why this has a higher rating than Figure 8.
  28. joes
    Oct 26, 2005
    8
    its a sad reality that the death of an artist can make his work more powerful. A better album than figure 8, but not the same league as his three earlier masterpieces. fond farewell would not be song it is if elliot was alive, it just wouldnt carry the same meaning. But the point is i guess that it just does - the whole album shimmers in tradagy - but music icons, geniuses shouldnt have its a sad reality that the death of an artist can make his work more powerful. A better album than figure 8, but not the same league as his three earlier masterpieces. fond farewell would not be song it is if elliot was alive, it just wouldnt carry the same meaning. But the point is i guess that it just does - the whole album shimmers in tradagy - but music icons, geniuses shouldnt have to die to make powerful, beautiful music… Expand
  29. [Anonymous]
    Oct 20, 2005
    10
    it is amazing it is a great legacy to the artist. and his music will live on with us forever.
  30. PaulH
    Oct 15, 2005
    6
    this album isn't as good as they all say, it's not bad but it's Elliott's weakest album. but critics always do this to people who have just died, just like George Harrison and Warren Zevon's last albums which also weren't that great. Still though Elliott Smith was amazing and he'll be missed.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best Album of 2004
27
#27 Most Discussed Album of 2004
27
#27 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Splendid
    100
    It's simply wonderful -- bristling with pop masterpieces large and small, and reassuringly unburdened by Smith's deep-seated malaise.
    Read full review
  2. Almost Cool
    65
    While it makes a lot of musical leaps (it's probably the most "experimental" work he's done), not all of them work, but there are still some great moments for fans of his work here.
    Read full review
  3. Stylus Magazine
    90
    From a Basement on the Hill is a far better album than it has any right to be, with its bizarre sequencing and improbable ambitions.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »