Elliott Smith
has always garnered a great deal of respect from fellow songwriters. His balance of melancholic indie folk and nuanced pop sophistication stuck a chord with fans and peers alike, who were drawn to his honesty and vulnerability. Since his untimely death in 2003, a handful of tribute albums have appeared, with 2016's
Say Yes!
offering a number of high quality renditions. An impressive spread of
Smith
's forebears, peers, and followers make up the playlist with alt-rock stalwarts like
J. Mascis
,
Tanya Donelly
, and
Lou Barlow
paying their respects alongside newcomers like
Julien Baker
Wild Sun
Waxahatchee
. Many of these adaptations honor
's more stripped-down style, with
's "Between the Bars" and
William Fitzsimmons
' "Say Yes" taking a more delicate approach and
Amanda Palmer
moodily pounding out the keys of her piano on "Pictures of Me." Austin's
Caroline Says
offer a particularly dreamy, lo-fi reading of "No Name #3," while Nashville duo
Escondido
take a lusher approach on "Waltz #1." As with any compilation, it plays a bit unevenly at times, but overall,
is a solid listen born out of great respect for
's legacy. ~ Timothy Monger