Coming Up Roses

Stream on your platform of choice Elliott Smith's music has been a part of both Matthew's and my life for years-- our connection to Elliott's music was one of the first musical commonalities we found, and continues to be a touchstone. It felt as if his music was following me since I was a kid, or perhaps I was following it, unwittingly stumbling upon his old stomping grounds--drinking in the same bars, living in neighborhoods where Elliott used to record in the basements, old friendships, old teachers. I discovered his music before I learned about his connection to Portland, the city that I always knew would be my home, and within those pirated Limewire tracks (I'm sorry Slim, I didn't have an allowance) I found a singular solace in his music, at once so gentle and so visceral. We chose to cover "Coming Up Roses," because of the tension of how it's almost a pop song, but the chords just fuck you up in a way that doesn't let that happen, turning inwards on themselves, and somehow, manag