Made a mixtape, hope you like it: Elliott Smith

In her column “Made a Mixtape, Hope You Like It,” Amanda Altarejos ’26 curates a “mixtape” of modern music for older artists. Listen here for a playlist “for elliott smith.”

Content warning: This article discusses suicide. 

“Do you miss me, Miss Misery?” Elliott Smith asks, in a song made for the “Good Will Hunting” film soundtrack.

I didn’t think he’d ever ask. But yes, I do, because Elliott Smith is gone. The Oscar-nominated indie folk singer committed suicide in 2003 in Los Angeles, and with him, his sound of sad, sad 90s folk is gone too. But his music is still here, breathing life into all the Ms. and Mr. Miseries of the world. That’s funny, I think, because half of his songs are dedicated to the anticipation of his death — his absence. Most of the other half sounds like it’s about other people — like a dreadfully sad, sad girl named Clementine — but it still feels like him. Everything is Elliott, through and through. Everything is childishly tragic, through and through. So these songs are not too happy; I will try to give him what he gives many: sadness in solidarity. And a story, or a laugh. Occasionally.

1. “Bad Apple” by Billie Marten

Like a lot of Smith songs, the instrumentals on “Bad Apple” feel like looking out a window. Folk singer-songwriter Marten murmurs of life in the sea and wearing animal skin, relishing in the sweetness of her “rotten core.” The guitar is as whimsical as that of Smith’s “Pitseleh” but softer, which I think Elliott would find calming. Despite the ominous beat of a siren, “Bad Apple” could bring him some peace. Just a little. 

2. “Pines” by Men I Trust

“Pines” is just as peaceful but traces a scene between two modern lovers, written by the pop band Men I Trust. I think Smith would be reminded of the love story he tells in “Say Yes,” which sprouts from the girl who stayed the morning after. They’re broken up, but Pines Girl and Pines Man may not be. They just stay in bed, close and warm. There is nothing else — just them. 

3. “Old Friends” by Pinegrove

If Big Nothing, a character in Smith’s song, “Ballad of Big Nothing,” was a person (like Elliott, or a really nihilistic guy), he’d be the Old Friend that Pinegrove lead singer Evan Stephens Hall belts about. Big Nothing aimlessly walks through his town in shame, finding romantic tragedy at the pier and a funeral at the end of the street. I hope “Old Friends” makes Smith smile: this is a promenade with grief. He might smile and skip to the sound of Hall feeling solipsistic and sad. 

4. “Love in the Time of Socialism” by Yellow House

Here is a reference-filled song for Smith to geek out to, given that his third studio album was inspired by existentialist philosopher Soren Kierkegaard’s book, “Either / Or.” Maybe this mixtape is a little happy — or, at least, it is an escape. With “Love in the Time of Socialism,” the feeling of being adrift is shared, but he’ll fall into a philosophy lover’s dream world instead of a dark death. 

5. “People” by Alex G

Smith would have really liked the indie rock singer-songwriter Alex G. This song is short, and not very sweet. “People” is desolate. It is lonely. It is honest and thrumming with a guitar that has something stuck in its throat. Alex makes a “special drink” to “feel good,” and he might have done the same in a song sometime, somewhere. Cheers to pride in desperation — it makes beautiful and warming sounds. 

6. “Bag of Bones” by Mitski

Indie rock artist Mitski is offering a hand to hold while she and Smith both stand in waters of fatigue and the over and over and over of it all. She knows. She feels a bit done (and undone), too. 

7. “Miss World” by Hole 

Smith asked for Miss Misery — here she is. Hole, while more contemporary to the 90s, has delivered Miss World right to Smith’s doorstep. She knows what he knows, feels what he feels and is angrily proud of it. She’s telling him that she “made [her] bed” and will lie and die and cry in it, which feels miserable enough. 

8. “This Is How It Went” by beabadoobee

I know I said I wouldn’t make this happy, and this isn’t all that happy if you consider that alternative-indie singer-songwriter beabadoobee is writing goodbye to an old filmmaking boyfriend who gloats and sings along to songs about himself. But “This Is How It Went:” a relationship ended, but Bea’s love for her Smith did not. She writes about this “situation” while “blissfully listening to Elliott,” because he did the same. So this is still sharing, still love. 

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective thoughts, opinions and critiques.

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