wouldn't say i feel guilty in anyway, more like it ruins it a bit coz i keep thinkin, yeh i really like this but how good would it have been if it was 100% finished, especially with a perfectionist like elliott smith. Sorta like after the world cup in 2002, yeh we did well but how would we have done with roy keane?

Hindsight is a great thing. I'm only really getting into Elliott Smith, just have the one album so far 'XO', and haven't heard 'From A Basement On The Hill' yet. I understand what Amawaster said but I think that if you are really into the artist, then a guilt would not exist. Well not as much. For example, if there was a cd released of what John Lennon was working on before he died then I would be very interested in hearing it. Sometimes that raw quality is something to be sought after of a great artist. Lennon's 'Wonsaponatime' is a brillant for that, but Beatles/Lennon fans might think that they are eavesdropping especially on the tracks where he speaks to his son. But albums like these give a further insight to the artist, what they are like before everything is polished over. I suggest that someone review this album to reveal how the album affects them. And in reference to Bren's comments, we would've have at least reached the semi's with Keane (in my opinion). But he's back now, so onwards and upwards if we can.