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  "description": "i make my wife and kids listen to Between The Bars",
  "path": "/later-is-now-rediscovering-elliott-smith/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-22T20:30:40.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.arrieta.io",
  "tags": [
    "interview",
    "video",
    "playing the guitar again"
  ],
  "textContent": "the last few weeks have been, how can I say it, spiriting?\n\nIn the interstices of quiet that one finds here and there while rearing small children, I have been listening to the music of Elliott Smith.\n\n## 24 years ago\n\nThe first time was in 2002, my suitemate in grad school came into my room and threw a DVD at me. \"I rented this, it was supposed to be a comedy. I don't get it, but I think you'll like it.\"\n\nThere in my hands I had what would become one of my favorite movies ever: The Royal Tenenbaums.\n\nI not only loved the movie, but also its soundtrack. I bought the CD (no longer available, as far as I can tell). I studied it. I knew The Velvet Underground. I did not know Nick Drake. I did not know Elliott Smith.\n\nRichie Tenenbaum's scene in front of the bathroom mirror, with Needle In The Hay playing in full clarity is not from this universe. I heard Johnny Depp say that the song does something to him every time he hears it. Hard to explain. One just needs to experience it.\n\nBack then, though, my explorations went deep into the world of Nick Drake and I left Elliott for later.\n\n## later is now\n\nHow did he come back into my orbit? It's only been 3 or 4 weeks but I can't remember and it doesn't matter.\n\nThis was THE time to rediscover Elliott Smith and have my kids and my wife listen to his music. We watched Jack Black in an interview declare straight from the heart:\n\n> \"you know, one of my favorite musicians of all time was Elliott Smith. He wrote the most heartbreaking, beautiful songs. The melody is genius! He's a genius.\"\n\nMy wife and I even found energy one night (after the kids fell asleep and the chaos settled) to rewatch Goodwill Hunting, just because of the song Miss Misery.\n\nI also discovered that he was born to sing John Lennon's Jealous Guy. As simple as that. Period. There's a video in YouTube. Everyone should watch it.\n\nAnd later is now not only because I can share his music with my family, but also because of playing the guitar again. I have tuned down (one full step) my acoustic Epiphone Hummingbird just so I can play Between The Bars which, from every perspective, is genius.\n\nHe's a genius.",
  "title": "later is now (rediscovering Elliott Smith)",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-22T20:30:40.747Z"
}