Brad Mehldau: Ride into the Sun

Elliott Smith (1969-2003) recorded six solo studio albums and was acclaimed for poignant, sophisticated songwriting and reedy, melodious voice. Tragically, he suffered from mental health issues and substance abuse throughout his life. On October 1, 2003 Smith died of two stab wounds to his chest. While initial media reports said the fatal wounds were self-inflicted, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner refused to endorse suicide as a cause of death. Toxicology tests found no illegal or controlled substances in his system. "The trauma that he sustained could have been inflicted by him or by another and the coroner has not been able to make a determination," the medical examiner said. Smith was 34 years old.

Everyone wants me to ride into the sun. But I ain't gonna go down, Laying low again, high on the sound.

In the extensive liner notes to Ride Into The Sun, Mehldau said that Smith was among the "visionary depressives" who took his light and shone it into the abyss of depression and loneliness. What came out was a body of art filled with beauty and meaning. In a video discussing the album (Matthew Edginton, 2025), Mehldau spoke about working with Smith in Los Angeles during a regular Friday night show, which he described as a "kind of renaissance of songwriting."

In Ride Into The Sun's 16 songs, Mehldau reinterprets, re-orchestrates, and honors 10 of Smith's songs, two that Smith covered (Big Star's "Thirteen" and Nick Drake's "Sunday'"), and four Mehldau compositions ("Ride Into The Sun" (Part I and Conclusion), "Sweet Adeline Fantasy," and "Somebody Cares, Somebody Understands"), which he says are "inspired by, and reflect, Smith's oeuvre."

The album opens with "Better Be Quiet Now" Smith's meditation on loneliness from his 2000 album Figure 8 (DreamWorks).

But I better be quiet now, I'm tired of wasting my breath, Carrying on, getting upset. Maybe I have a problem, But that's not what I wanted to say. I prefer to say nothing. I got a long way to go. Getting further away.

Mehldau's rich piano tone and the sweet 18-piece orchestra bear none of the shame in Smith's lyrics, as if he is trying to lift him out of his despair. Mehldau explains, "[W]e wish that he hadn't suffered."

"Between The Bars" appeared on Smith's 1997 Either/Or (Kill Rock Stars). Its lyrics reflect the psychic pain of being caught in a cycle of painful memories that may only be subdued with drugs and alcohol.

Drink up with me now, and forget all about the pressure of days. Do what I say and I'll make you okay. And drive them away, The images stuck in your head. People you've been before, That you don't want around anymore. That push and shove and won't bend to your will, I'll keep them still. Drink up baby, look at the stars. I'll kiss you again, between the bars, Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air, waiting to finally be caught.

Mehldau plays the song in a trio format which features a flowing, mellifluous solo by bassist Felix Moseholm and Mehldau's jagged improvisations around Smith's melody.

In "Tomorrow Tomorrow" from Smith's 1998 album XO (DreamWorks), Smith tells us about the "static in my head" and a grim premonition that "it's just about to drown tomorrow out."

I got static in my head, the reflected sound of everything. Tried to go to where it led, but it didn't lead to anything. The noise is coming out, and if it's not out now ,I know it's just about to drown tomorrow out.

Daniel Rossen's brisk guitar arpeggios and Chris Thile's chirping mandolin open the song as Rossen and Thile join voices. Mehldau's bouncy piano solo leads to the final, prescient verse (above).

Ride into the Sun's 16 tracks are bursting with great music, love and respect. The album—like Smith's music, like life itself—is beautiful and sad.

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