New Moon
Compilation album by Elliott Smith
Released	May 8, 2007
Recorded	1994–1997
Length	73:18
Label	Kill Rock Stars
Producer	Elliott Smith Larry Crane
Elliott Smith chronology
From a Basement on the Hill (2004) New Moon (2007) An Introduction to... Elliott Smith (2010)

New Moon is a posthumous compilation album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released on May 8, 2007 by Kill Rock Stars. It contains twenty-four previously unreleased songs, most recorded between 1994 and 1997 during the sessions for Smith's albums Elliott Smith and Either/Or.

The album was well received by critics and reached number 24 in the US Billboard chart, selling about 24,000 copies in its first week.

Background

In August 2006, an "excited" employee at Kill Rock Stars made a post on the label's official website stating that an extended version of Either/Or would be released in 2006 to commemorate the record's tenth anniversary. This information was quickly pulled from the website, as the album was in very early planning stages. Eventually, Kill Rock Stars announced that Either/Or: Extended Edition (as it was to be called) had been scrapped in favor of a rarities and unreleased music compilation from Smith's time at the label.^[1]

Mixing for the album was done by Larry Crane, the archivist for Smith's estate.^[2] The album cover was created by Portland, Oregon artist Mike King, who has produced work for numerous other musicians.

Track information

The selections on New Moon are primarily taken from the sessions of Elliott Smith and Either/Or, with some tracks culled from early XO sessions, and a 1996 radio session.

For the Either/Or record, Smith recorded a song entitled "Pretty Mary K", which is featured on this set. However, after scrapping this song, Smith used the title "Pretty Mary K" for a different song on his Figure 8 album. Later, while recording From a Basement on the Hill, Smith recorded a new version of the former song under the title "Everything's OK". Thus, "Pretty Mary K (Other Version)" on the New Moon set is essentially an early version of "Everything's OK". The original versions of the tracks "See You Later" and "Half Right" are both on the album Mic City Sons by Heatmiser, Smith's old band.

Release

New Moon reached number 16 in the US chart. It sold around 24,000 copies in its first week.^[3]

It was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 30,000 copies throughout Europe.^[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	85/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The A.V. Club	A[7]
Entertainment Weekly	A[8]
The Guardian	[9]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
NME	7/10[11]
Pitchfork	8.7/10[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]
Spin	[14]
Uncut	[15]

New Moon was very well received by critics.^[5]

AllMusic wrote, "New Moon [showcases] Smith at his most instinctive and natural".^[6]

Track listing

• Tracks 1–3, 7 recorded during the Elliott Smith sessions.
• Tracks 4–6, 10 recorded during the Either/Or sessions.
• Tracks 8, 9, 11 recorded at Jackpot! Studios in 1997.
• Track 12 taken from a 1996 radio session.

• Tracks 1–3 recorded during the Elliott Smith sessions.
• Tracks 4–10 recorded during the Either/Or sessions.
• Tracks 11, 12 taken from a 1996 radio session.