Elliott Smith sits in the middle of “The Royal Tenenbaums” soundtrack amid such monumental artists as the Clash, the Ramones, Nico and the Velvet Underground. Though he is the only artist on the soundtrack chosen from the present (all the others stayed with a decade between the late 1960s and late 1970s), he fits perfectly. Like the other artists, Smith will not go down in the history books of rock ‘n’ roll for his chart-topping, radio-smash singles or platinum albums. But he will forever be remembered as a definitive songwriter with a remarkably soft and beautiful voice that was soaked in life’s anguish.

From his 1995 self-titled album, which included such haunting tracks as “Needle in the Hay” and “The White Lady Loves You More,” Smith captured a dedicated fan base starting with the indie/college scene but extending far beyond that with the help of a major label and an Oscar nomination for “Miss Misery” on the “Good Will Hunting” soundtrack.

Smith’s lyrics contain the rare ability to reach a stinging truthfulness. His song “Alameda” off of “Either/Or” chants “Nobody broke your heart/You broke your own because you can’t finish what you start Ö And now you see your first mistake was thinking that you could relate.” But these brutal punches of honesty are bandaged with some of the loveliest melodies of the last decade.

Unfortunately, Smith’s ability to capture despair came in part from his own struggles with depression and drug use. Last Tuesday, Elliott Smith ended his life with a single stab wound to the heart. He will be greatly missed.