Kill Rock Stars has some big things in store for what should have been Elliott Smith’s 43 rd birthday. First, a number of alternate recordings, and unreleased tracks like this early version of ‘Alameda’, a song featured on his 1997 album ‘Either/Or’. The lyrics are slightly different, something very usual for Elliott, and there is a piano at the end missing in the other version, but beside this it is very similar and I think it will only interest die-hard fans – and sure, there is no shortage of them!

At the top of this, KRS will be selling the 2010 compilation, ‘An Introduction to Elliott Smith’ for only $4.99 on August 6, the day the late songwriter was born. Later this month, they will also reissue his two great albums, ‘Either/Or’ and ‘Elliott Smith’ on vinyl, as well as his entire KRS discography (‘Roman Candle’, ‘Elliott Smith’, Either/Or’, ‘New Moon’, ‘From A Basement on the Hill’) in the form of a 74-track digital box set, ‘Elliott Smith: The Indie Years’, for $49.

So, go buy this alternate version of ‘Alameda’ here, and if you sign up for the Kill Rock Stars email newsletter here, you will also receive a free unreleased track, the alternate version of ‘Needle in the Hay’ with trumpets.

One last thing, any purchases made this month will also receive a 10% off vouchers for future Smith related purchases.

So what can we think of all this? Is it homage, or is it exploitative? I already own all the songs off this upcoming box set, but I understand it is a good way to expose the next generation to Elliott’s greatness,… however, I have always been uneasy with posthumous re-issues.