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Elliott Smith — Color Bars
Album: Figure 8
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 720









Released: 2000
Length: 2:13
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I see color bars
When I come
Sgt. Rock broke the key off in the lock
To where I come from

Sir, no sir, we have no power in the air
The battle's on the ground
Laying low again
High on the sound

Bruno S. is a
Man to me
You're just some dude with a stilted attitude
That you learned from TV

You'll undo, but I'll be connecting everything
The traffic in my town
Riding high again
High on the sound

Everyone wants me to ride into the sun
But I ain't gonna go down
Laying low again
High on the sound
Comments (64)add comment
One of my all-time best discoveries from RP!  A truly hidden gem of a musician and songwriter.
I recently started teaching a short class on the basics of video production.  One of the key lessons is calibrating video monitors using color bars -- this was at the top of the playlist I played during all the breaks that day
 {#Bananapiano}
 kcar wrote:

Neek-a-rah-gu-ah...I'm sure the citizens of that country snicker loudly when they hear that. 

I once convinced a British roommate with a posh accent to say "I've just sheduled a massage with that wanker Stephane." My other roommates (all American) burst out laughing because it sounded so funny to us. (Stephane, the Brit's boyfriend, was actually a great guy though). 




 
There are literally thousands of distinct accents in these beautiful isles, and dozens in my home town.  As a Bristolian, it is easy to identify which area of the city a resident is from.

There is no such thing as a "Brit" accent, any more than there is any such thing as "American".  Just ignorance on both sides.

 
How is it that the Elliott Smiths of the world commit suicide while the John Mayers of the world just go on getting rich while being complete deuche bags?
 Hannio wrote:


Have you ever heard a Brit pronounce "Nicaragua"? 

 
Neek-a-rah-gu-ah...I'm sure the citizens of that country snicker loudly when they hear that. 

I once convinced a British roommate with a posh accent to say "I've just sheduled a massage with that wanker Stephane." My other roommates (all American) burst out laughing because it sounded so funny to us. (Stephane, the Brit's boyfriend, was actually a great guy though). 



 Hannio wrote:


Have you ever heard a Brit pronounce "Nicaragua"? 
 
Or "aluminum"?
 sharkey wrote:

enough with the US vs CDN spelling. Do you say tomayto or tomatho? US vs CDN vs Brit.... I say potahto you say potayto.....

 

Have you ever heard a Brit pronounce "Nicaragua"? 
 sharkey wrote:

enough with the US vs CDN spelling. Do you say tomayto or tomatho? US vs CDN vs Brit.... I say potahto you say potayto.....

 
I think both of those words are spelled the same in most english speaking countries.
I do like this song though. It's new to me and I like it more every time I hear it.

 Hannio wrote:

I say tater.
 

I like spuds.....
Sweet! 7 leaning hard toward an 8. Txs RP!
 LongGoneDaddy wrote:
emo
 
Definitive emo, of course.  And utterly brilliant. 
emo
 sharkey wrote:

enough with the US vs CDN spelling. Do you say tomayto or tomatho? US vs CDN vs Brit.... I say potahto you say potayto.....

 
I say tater.
Cranking this song UP - wow!  Too bad he's no longer with us earthly humans - imagine what kind of music he'd be giving us now...
What a great set, and look what's coming...love it here in paradise
Beck - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime
Elliott Smith - Color Bars
Guster - What You Wish For
Gomez - Revolutionary Kind

 Jack_Jefferson wrote:
I just upped my rating to a 9.  This sounds much better on my home PC speakers.
 
The CD sounds best on this behemoth audiophile rig I've got upstairs, but that's just an excuse to post. The more I listen to Elliott Smith, the more I'm convinced he's one of the finest songwriting geniuses of the past couple of decades. I put him in a class with Mark Oliver Everett, Sam Beam, Beck Hansen, Jakob Dylan, Damon Gough, and a few others. Kid had chops.

This is WAAAAY too upbeat for Elliott Smith....8!
I just upped my rating to a 9.  This sounds much better on my home PC speakers.
Great album, great body of work overall. I went to high school with elliot smith in portland and, being a typical stoned idiot, failed to recognize what was happening there, musically. In fact, I only got to know his music after he died. Fantastic, ere I hardly knew ye!
After hearing Elliott hear on RP I've become a fan. Thanks again to RP for introducing such artists.
 ick wrote:

You can't spell center.

 
At least I can mine some aluminium, if the fancy takes me.

"You're just some dude with a stilted attitude
That you learned from TV . . . "

One of my favorite lines.
 i4niblind wrote:
hahaha.. colourful commentary in this centre of the musical universe.

 ick wrote:

You can't spell center.

 
 
enough with the US vs CDN spelling. Do you say tomayto or tomatho? US vs CDN vs Brit.... I say potahto you say potayto.....

hahaha.. colourful commentary in this centre of the musical universe.

 ick wrote:

You can't spell center.

 


 WonderLizard wrote:
Reason No. 63 Why I Listen to RP: I'd never really bothered with Elliott Smith until I heard his amazing stuff on this channel. Now I do.
 

Oh man, I have been on the Elliot bandwagon since the beginning!{#Yes}
 ZedLeppelin wrote:
He can't spell colour.
 
You can't spell center.

Reason No. 63 Why I Listen to RP: I'd never really bothered with Elliott Smith until I heard his amazing stuff on this channel. Now I do.
He can't spell colour.
The first few notes sound like the Johnny Cash & Tom Petty cover of "Sea of Heartbreak"
Sweet melody, poignant chord changes.
 cullyvan wrote:
It's a same how now I can't enjoy Elliot without being sad because he's dead. but I still love the music.
 
But wait, think about how Elliot is feeling?  Happy?  Sad?  Angry?  Depressed? or just plain pissed off because Everything Ended Too Soon?

I'm thinking he's satisfied at the irony of it all.

Elliott Smith - is it fair to say the most talented songwriter of his generation? He's a lot more than just a Gen-X Nick Drake.
 nate917 wrote:

Sure you do, cupcake.  I'll bet you see pink pillowcases while she's pegging you.

 
Ah, Nate. What would this place be like without you?

And, by the way, the sheets are mauve.

 horstman wrote:
I see my wife.
 
Sure you do, cupcake.  I'll bet you see pink pillowcases while she's pegging you.

 themotion wrote:
Wow. No one or two votes. Impressive.
 
Well, that is the way it should be, but no longer.  {#Rolleyes}

Finally bought this album a month ago. Love it.
 Pharlap wrote:


seconded. "Pretty" or "A Fond farewell" would be nice
 

Either of those would be good, that's true...
Platypus wrote:
why, after all this time... does RP still not have a single track from Basement on the Hill? travesty, i tells ya.
seconded. "Pretty" or "A Fond farewell" would be nice
Trustocity wrote:
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
I see my wife.
Platypus wrote:
why, after all this time... does RP still not have a single track from Basement on the Hill? travesty, i tells ya.
DITTO DITTO DITTO
It's a same how now I can't enjoy Elliot without being sad because he's dead. but I still love the music.
Elliott saw the face of god without a full set of armor Figure 8!
Wow. No one or two votes. Impressive.
Could be a ten if it matches your mood...or a three if it does not.. good song, nice words, thankyou for singin it!
why, after all this time... does RP still not have a single track from Basement on the Hill? travesty, i tells ya.
this guy always reminds me of simon and garfunkel. the early stuff
jakeinprogress wrote:
I mourned his loss and I regret that there are no upcoming recordings to anticipate.
That's where you're wrong bro. DEMOS B!TCHEZ! https://www.elliottsmithbsides.com/BasementIIDemos.htm
junebaby65 wrote:
Never heard of him, but I'd like to hear more...
I envy you. You've just been turned on to some REALLY good ish.
Never heard of him, but I'd like to hear more...
I love this entire album, and just about everything by him. I remember when eliot smith died....
sutcliff wrote:
Yes.
I see color bars when i come Sargeant rock broke the key off in the lock To where i come from Sir, no sir. We have no power in the air The battle's on the ground Laying low again, High on the sound Bruno s. is a man to me You're just some dude with a stilted attitude That you learned from tv You'll undo But i'll be connecting everything The traffic in my town Riding high again, High on the sound Everyone wants me to ride into the sun But i ain't gonna go down Laying low again, High on the sound
Trustocity wrote:
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
Yes.
simply beautiful R.I.P
The piano reminds me of Vince Guaraldi. Has that Peanuts sound to it. Love Elliott Smith, it' a shame he had to leave us so early.
I have no desire to advance conversation here. I just think Elliott Smith was a very gifted songwriter who had a way with melodies and who put forth an imposing body of work. I mourned his loss and I regret that there are no upcoming recordings to anticipate. I hope he has found peace, and failing that, relief.
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
I love the sound of acoustic guitar and piano....and Elliott - hopefully happier now than in his previous life.
Great song for a Monday morning. Thanks for playing it.
StevenQ wrote:
I was having a good day till I clicked on the song after it played, the clicked the AMG entry and read about his death.
Yes...I was thinking, sounds like a happy Tim Buckley or Nick Drake....evidently not that happy. How sad.
I was having a good day till I clicked on the song after it played, the clicked the AMG entry and read about his death.
its almost haunting to listen to his music. sometimes you hear a glimpse of his own decided fate within his lyrics. i guess talent comes at a price.
I had to look up his entry on AMG to see what you were referring to when you said, "poor Elliot." What a shame. He had a lot of talent. I really like this song.
Poor Elliott.... This is one of my faves.