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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 723









Released: 2000
Length: 2:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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.
Posted 8 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
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}
Posted 10 years ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
 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.

 
Posted 11 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 11 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
 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). 



Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:


Have you ever heard a Brit pronounce "Nicaragua"? 
 
Or "aluminum"?
Posted 11 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
 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"? 
Posted 11 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 12 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:

I say tater.
 

I like spuds.....
Posted 12 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
Sweet! 7 leaning hard toward an 8. Txs RP!
Posted 12 years ago by djaychicago    [ Reply ]
 LongGoneDaddy wrote:
emo
 
Definitive emo, of course.  And utterly brilliant. 
Posted 12 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
emo
Posted 12 years ago by LongGoneDaddy    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 12 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
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

Posted 13 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
This is WAAAAY too upbeat for Elliott Smith....8!
Posted 14 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
I just upped my rating to a 9.  This sounds much better on my home PC speakers.
Posted 14 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 14 years ago by peterhgrimm    [ Reply ]
After hearing Elliott hear on RP I've become a fan. Thanks again to RP for introducing such artists.
Posted 14 years ago by nszasz    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:

You can't spell center.

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

Posted 14 years ago by ZedLeppelin    [ Reply ]
"You're just some dude with a stilted attitude
That you learned from TV . . . "

One of my favorite lines.
Posted 14 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
 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.....

Posted 14 years ago by sharkey    [ Reply ]
hahaha.. colourful commentary in this centre of the musical universe.

 ick wrote:

You can't spell center.

 


Posted 14 years ago by i4niblind    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 15 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 ZedLeppelin wrote:
He can't spell colour.
 
You can't spell center.

Posted 15 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
He can't spell colour.
Posted 15 years ago by ZedLeppelin    [ Reply ]
The first few notes sound like the Johnny Cash & Tom Petty cover of "Sea of Heartbreak"
Posted 15 years ago by inmanart    [ Reply ]
Sweet melody, poignant chord changes.
Posted 15 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by Jungle_Jim    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 16 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
 horstman wrote:
I see my wife.
 
Sure you do, cupcake.  I'll bet you see pink pillowcases while she's pegging you.

Posted 16 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
 themotion wrote:
Wow. No one or two votes. Impressive.
 
Well, that is the way it should be, but no longer.  {#Rolleyes}

Posted 16 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
Finally bought this album a month ago. Love it.
Posted 16 years ago by teapot    [ Reply ]
 Pharlap wrote:


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

Either of those would be good, that's true...
Posted 16 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 16 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
Trustocity wrote:
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
I see my wife.
Posted 16 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 16 years ago by jojopodo    [ Reply ]
It's a same how now I can't enjoy Elliot without being sad because he's dead. but I still love the music.
Posted 16 years ago by cullyvan    [ Reply ]
Elliott saw the face of god without a full set of armor Figure 8!
Posted 17 years ago by ecocommie    [ Reply ]
Wow. No one or two votes. Impressive.
Posted 17 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
Could be a ten if it matches your mood...or a three if it does not.. good song, nice words, thankyou for singin it!
Posted 17 years ago by culchie    [ Reply ]
why, after all this time... does RP still not have a single track from Basement on the Hill? travesty, i tells ya.
Posted 17 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
this guy always reminds me of simon and garfunkel. the early stuff
Posted 17 years ago by ndad47    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 17 years ago by 99    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by 99    [ Reply ]
Never heard of him, but I'd like to hear more...
Posted 17 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
I love this entire album, and just about everything by him. I remember when eliot smith died....
Posted 18 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 18 years ago by Bocephus    [ Reply ]
Trustocity wrote:
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
Yes.
Posted 18 years ago by sutcliff    [ Reply ]
simply beautiful R.I.P
Posted 19 years ago by cassano18    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Midnightrambler    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by jakeinprogress    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by designerGirl    [ Reply ]
Is he really saying, "I see color bars when I come?"
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
I love the sound of acoustic guitar and piano....and Elliott - hopefully happier now than in his previous life.
Posted 20 years ago by shell    [ Reply ]
Great song for a Monday morning. Thanks for playing it.
Posted 20 years ago by ontheroadid    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by StevenQ    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by tony620d    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Poor Elliott.... This is one of my faves.
Posted 20 years ago by marci28    [ Reply ]