Elliott Smith

This wonderful two-CD set compiles rarities the late Elliott Smith recorded from 1994 to 1997. There are acoustic guitars galore, group demos and alternate versions of famous cuts like "Miss Misery" (there's even a cover of Big Star's "Thirteen"). Instead of the usual odds 'n' sods collection, the high level of consistency from song to song is pretty staggering: Listen to "Fear City," "Pretty Mary K," "Either/Or" or any of the other 21 cuts.