New Elliott Smith Video
Here's a piece of good news for the legions of Elliott Smith fans out there, who remain steadfast in their devotion despite the Portland singer-songwriter's terrible death in October 2003. Director Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, The Master) released some "lost" footage to YouTube that he shot for the pilot episode of The Jon Brion Show in 2000. Brion, a producer and collaborator of Smith's, was to be the host of this low-key music and talk show, somewhat similar in format to the BBC's Later … With Jools Holland. VH1 declined to pick up the pilot, however.
Anderson said of this video treasure trove, "I tore up the floorboards at H.Q. the other day and came up with this little number on VHS. She holds up well." The video quality is a little janky, but it's nonetheless amazing footage.
Smith performs nine songs, including covers of John Lennon ("Jealous Guy"), Big Star ("Nightime"), and The Kinks ("Waterloo Sunset"). Enjoy and remember.
1. Son of Sam
2. Independence Day (accompanied by pianist Brad Mehldau)
3. Bottle Up And Explode (accompanied by percussionist Dan McCarroll)
4. Everything Means Nothing to Me
5. Waterloo Sunset
6. Jealous Guy
7. Trouble (Jon Brion song, with Elliott Smith on guitar)
8. Nightime
9. Happiness
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