scene things were a lot different than they are now. There weren't
that many sensitive singer songwriters roaming the underground and
there was still a pretty huge divide between the 'indie' and the
mainstream. Of course that has all changed so much, but when Elliott
first started to get wider attention thanks to Gus Van Sant's use of
his songs in Good Will Hunting and the Oscar nomination that
followed, it was really an exceptionally strange occurrence in the
indie music scene. It kind of marked the moment where much of what
had been a big well kept secret would soon become a part of popular
culture. We can still remember watching Smith on live TV performing
at the Oscar's in his white tuxedo looking so sweet, nervous and
humble. It truly felt like one of US was finally getting their
deserved moment in the spotlight. Of course he lost to Celine Dion,
but there was really no one you would rather get to represent so many
of the underdogs than Elliott Smith. It was like finally getting to
see someone honest and uncorrupted in a mainstream Hollywood setting.
His music was so pure and beautiful, with this uncanny ability to
make the bitter sound so sweet.
