The life of elliott smith was recently released, called portland the site of his artistic flowering. Torment saint illuminates the troubled world of elliott. William todd schultz has given elliott fans an invaluable gift with this book and also to people who havent yet discovered this remarkable person. Smiths primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica.
The life of elliott smith is a fascinating, compelling and well researched biography taking us right through from his troubled childhood to his tragic death at the age of thirty. Elliott smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 90s, adored by fans for his. Major biography of musician elliott smith by william todd schultz, author of emergency in slow motion on diane arbus and tiny terror on truman. Elliott smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the nineties, adored by worshipful fans for his subtly melancholic words and melodies. A musician, friend of elliott smith, speaks about jennifer. Fans of smiths ethereal music will appreciate this book. Torment saint started off quite well intentioned but somewhere along the way what is a book full of never before reported information and facts about music, about elliotts life, etc, turned into a jumble that is all built around the narrative that elliott killed himself.
The internet has provided us with an opportunity to share all kinds of information, including music, movies, and, of course, books. A forensic pathologist reexamines elliott smiths autopsy. And yet, although his intimate lyrics carried the weight of truth, smith remained unknowable. In torment saint, william todd schultz gives us the first proper biography of the rock star, a decade after his death, imbued with. The life of elliott smith, which included conversations with smiths livein girlfriend. Ten years ago this november singersongwriter elliott smith, then 34, died in an echo park bungalow from two knife stabs to the chest. William todd schultz knows that the music is the key to understanding elliott smith, but he doesnt settle for what the songs alone will tell him. Smith was born in omaha, nebraska, raised primarily in texas, and lived much of his life in portland, oregon, where he first gained popularity. Once he gave her a rothko bookan interesting choice, since like elliott, rothko also attended lincoln high school in portland as had poet gary snyder and simpsons creator matt groening. There was trauma from an early age, years of drug abuse and a chronic sense of disconnection that sometimes seemed almost selfengineered. There was trauma from an early age, years of drug abuse, and a chronic sense of disconnection that sometimes seemed selfengineered. K records and the rise of independent music schultzs torment saint offers a candid, heavily researched and truly empathetic look into a troubled geniuss. William todd schultz drawing from extensive interviews with close friends, lovers, bandmates, music peers, managers, producers, and others, a biography of the gifted songwriter and music icon unravels the mysteries of.
In torment saint, william todd schultz has written his own kind of love song an. Kierkegaardwhose book eitheror was on my brain because i had found some connections between it and the work of samuel beckett, one of the topics of my. In torment saint, william todd schultz has written his own kind of love songan account of smiths life that does full justice to his memory and the impressive legacy of his art. Torment saint elliott smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 90s, adored by fans for his subtly melancholic words and melodies. Elliott smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 90s, ado. Torment saint is the perfect companion and literary equivalent to elliott smiths timeless, sublime music. A persuasive reckoning with elliotts inner demons andmuch more importanta full appreciation and celebration, of his undeniable genius. The life of elliott smith and millions of other books are. We are now able to understand him and his life as much as we possibly can and deserve to. Filled with beauty and pain and clearly put together with tremendous care and deep respect, this is the book elliott smith deserves. The life of elliott smith by william todd schultz isbn. Musically, he was a bit of a savant, recording from the age of on a four track reeltoreel in texas. A forensic pathologist reexamines elliott smiths autopsy report posted by alysoncamus on may 30, 2016 august 2, 2019 i have no doubt dr.
The sadness had its sources in his life he had suffered trauma from an. Elliott smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 90s, adored by fans for his subtly. The life of elliott smith, by william todd schultz. The details of smiths case were investigated in william todd schultzs 20 biography, torment saint. The life of elliott smith%% in this detailed biography of elliott smith, the gifted singersongwriter who was beloved by the indierock world and. The life of elliott smith by william todd schultz 20, hardcover at the best online prices. Elliott smith torment saint is a biography book about the american singersongwriter elliott smith, written by william todd schultz.
Scheinin who carried out elliott smiths autopsy is a renown professional and did a careful analysis, however, the manner of death was left undetermined, and we still dont know what happened more than. In torment saint, the author goes deep, crafting an engrossing tale of a troubled young man with a great gift whose complexity rendered him a puzzle to his ardent fans and even his closest friends. William todd schultz elliot smith was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 1990s, adored by fans for his subtly melancholic words and melodies. The life of elliott smith by william todd schultz paste. Torment saint is a biography book about the american singersongwriter elliott smith, written by william todd schultz. This book unravels the remaining mysteries of smiths life and his. Torment saint is also much better written in my opinion. Steven paul elliott smith august 6, 1969 october 21, 2003 was an american singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist. This is much more than internet hearsay, i had conversations with key people and i would say i am challenging the common belief elliott killed himself largely spread in the media by people like w. Earlier this month, bloomsbury published torment saint. The life of elliott smith by professor william todd schultz isbn. Since his death a decade ago, elliott smiths music has continued to earn him more fans. Finishing reading william todd schultzs torment saint.
The life of elliott smith part 1 april 10, 20 april 10, 20 by william todd schultz so, youve done books on capote and arbus tiny terror, oxford university press and an emergency in slow motion, bloomsbury, and youve published articles on everyone from kafka to oscar wilde to james agee to ludwig. Read online elliott smiths xo and download elliott smiths xo book full in pdf formats. The life of elliott smith july, 2019 i uploaded some master recordings and i found a stellar up tempo acoustic track that i know was based on a high school song but later reworked with the lyrics you should stay awake dont sleep tonight repeated. The life of elliott smith, by william todd schultz actually, publication is actually a window to the world.