Any musician who gives the world an amazing catalogue of groundbreaking and emotionally charged music and then offs himself deserves a cover album to be made in his honor.

To: Elliott, From: Portland is such an album. Bands from Portland, Ore., came together to pay tribute to famed singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.

The Decemberists is the most well-known and also the best band on the album with their cover of “”Clementine.”” Other notable tracks are “”Satellite,”” covered by The Helio Sequence and “”Ballad of Big Nothing,”” covered by The Thermals.

Unfortunately, most of the tracks on this album fall short of expectations. Only a few of the bands made tracks that could easily stand alone, but none of the bands were able to capture the melancholy sadness that makes Smith’s music so unique. In all fairness, it is an impossible task to try to recapture what Smith has left us, but To: Elliott, From: Portland is a valiant effort.