Elliott Smith's nearly completed fifth solo album will find the singer/songwriter

continuing in the melodic, lushly produced vein of 1998's critically acclaimed

XO, while branching out to include a harder rock sound and other

elements, according to his producer, Tom Rothrock.

Rothrock said Smith is intent on challenging himself, and the new LP reflects that. "It's always an evolution in songwriting and

harmonic structure — he always pushes himself and pushes his envelope," Rothrock said.

The producer added that the new album is a direct progression from XO, on

which Smith first fleshed out his previously lo-fi sound on songs such as "Baby

Britain" (

href="http://media.addict.com/music/Smith,_Elliott/Baby_Britain.ram">RealAudio

excerpt). "Like XO, it contains acoustic stuff and then electric

stuff, and the use of string sections. It has some of the same elements. It's a

really nice record — it's the next step," Rothrock said.

The as-yet-untitled album, which does not have a final track listing, is set for

a late spring/early summer release, according to Smith's publicity firm, Girlie

Action.

Meanwhile, "Happiness" (

href="http://media.addict.com/music/Smith,_Elliott/Happiness.ram">RealAudio

excerpt) — a midtempo, Beatles-esque track from the new album

— has quietly been made available as a free MP3 file on the

Rollingstone.com website. The song will be the new LP's first single, Rothrock

said.

Several songs slated for the new album, including "Happiness," use string

sections, he said. But the album won't be limited to lush pop.

Another song, "Son of Sam" — heard in a bootlegged live version circulated

among fans on the Net — evokes Buffalo Springfield in its choppy rhythms

and Neil Young–like guitar solo. "I told the boss off/ And I made my move,"

Smith sings.

"A few songs that should be on the album rock," said Rothrock, who co-produced

the project with Smith and Rob Schnapf.

Another relatively aggressive song slated for the album is "Stupidity Tries,"

which, in a bootlegged live version, mixes a typically sweet Smith melody with a

bouncy, distorted, rhythm-guitar part.

Bassist Sam Coomes of Quasi, the hard-rocking duo that has backed Smith on some

of his live shows, plays on several of the album's tracks, Rothrock said. Coomes

also played with Smith in the defunct rock band Heatmiser.

Other musicians who appear on the album include drummer Joey Waronker, who

performs with Beck and R.E.M., and drummer Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello's

Attractions, Rothrock said.

As on past albums, Smith played most of the other instruments on the record,

even taking on drums for some tracks.

"The recording process is pretty intense, because it rests on [Smith's]

shoulders. Before you start recording, he's got the song in his head — he's

sort of spooling it out, part by part," Rothrock said.

The lilting "Happiness," with its sweet, doubled falsetto vocals and walking

basslines, wouldn't be out of place on XO. "All that used to be will pass

away/ And then we'll see/ All I want now is happiness/ For you and me," Smith

sings on its refrain.

Smith fans are grateful for the online release of "Happiness," but it's only

whetted their appetite for the whole record, said Charlie Ramirez, a 26-year-old fan from Salinas, Calif.

"Everybody's really excited about it. They want it now, not just a little

tease," said Ramirez, who runs the Smith fansite "Sweet Adeline"

(http://members.tripod.com/~pitseleh/elliottsmith.html).

Smith's latest release was a cover of the Beatles' "Because," which was included

last year on the soundtrack to the dark comedy "American Beauty."

"Miss Misery," a song Smith included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film "Good

Will Hunting," was nominated for an Academy Award. The Portland, Ore., native,

who recorded for the small Kill Rock Stars label before moving to DreamWorks,

sang "Miss Misery" at the Oscars that year.

According to Girlie Action, a possible track listing for Smith's new album is:

"Son of Sam," "Junkbond Trader," "Everything Reminds Me of Her," "Pretty Mary

Kay," "Color Bars," "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud," "L.A.," "The Lost and Found," "I

Better Be Quiet Now," "Happiness" and "Stupidity Tries."