hi there. i'm aaron.

Hi there. I'm Aaron Sonnenberg. I work at Blip and live in Greenpoint. You can find me on flickr, twitter or e-mail me at: aaron/at/blip/dot/com

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somesongsconsidered:

“Half Right” – Heatmiser
(Words/music: Elliott Smith, available on Mic City Sons, Caroline Records 1996)

Until Elliott Smith’s New Moon collection came out a couple years ago, I only knew this version of “Half Right” (or “Not Half Right,” depending on who you consult). In interviews after Heatmiser broke up, Smith distanced himself from the band’s louder sound, but “Half Right” fits in aesthetically with Smith’s material around the same time period. Perhaps it’s softer arrangement relegated it to the very end of the album. In any case, this more restrained arrangement complements Smith’s song without crushing it. The drums play crisply without getting too heavy (although the bass drum makes its presence known). When coupled with the bass guitar, the drums give the song depth rather than muscle, making the tune feel fully formed. Of course, many of Smith’s compositions thrive with just voice and guitar, but “Half Right” benefits from the additional musicians, particularly when the band cuts out before the final verse. This light dramatic touch, when combined with the haunting harmonies and double-tracking in the second and third verses, gives the song a broader feeling beyond the basic arrangement. While Smith is better known for his darkly confessional lyrics (and “Half Right” will do little to change that), he became a gifted arranger as well, particularly on his underrated Dreamworks-era albums. The arrangement in “Half Right” does exactly what it needs to do – specifically, complement the hypnotically beautiful melody in the song without crushing it.

More on Heatmiser: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm
- #Elliott Smith
- #Heatmiser
9 Mar 2010 / 17 notes