4 stars out of 5 - "He was great....Here are 15 more reasons not to forget Elliott Smith's harrowing sadness - and his singular musical intelligence.", 5 Out of 5-"Every Track on Basement Is a Highlight.", 3 1/2 stars out of 5 - "This is an album about the seductions of oblivion...Smith teases extraordinary wit and warmth from songs that float lazily toward happiness.", Ranked #8 in Uncut's "Best New Albums of 2004" - "The songs are variously full of hope, frustration and weary resignation...", "Smith's intentions cry out from the album's every discordant corner - he clearly wanted to test himself, to unhinge parts of his sound....In the music, in these songs, the guy's still with us." - Grade: A-, "The Record Is Strong and Radiant..."-Grade: A-, Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "A gripping trip to oblivion, sparkling with barbed wit and elegantly tangled guitars.", "It's the Most Complete Document We Have of the Music He Was Hearing in His Head Those Final Years.", 4 stars out of 5 - "As ever, his chord changes and arrangements betray an inventiveness seemingly borne of brilliant instinct.", Ranked #6 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of the Year"-"Basement Feels Monumentally Final..."
This is a phenomenal cd....so many brilliant songs....love the aural chaos of Coast to Coast....very unacoustic...almost like Nirvana covering Rain by The Beatles....Pretty Ugly Before is the best song George Harrison never wrote....Shooting Star is another incredible song...the whole album has an integrity to it....not too many overdubs...every sound counts....absolutely love it....buy it yesterday....
