Either Or
Elliott Smith
1997
Album Summary
Either/Or is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Either/Or was recorded in several locations, mostly in Portland, Oregon – while Smith was still a member of Heatmiser – and was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997, on the Kill Rock Stars record label, following Heatmiser's dissolution. Book-ended by its two singles, "Speed Trials" and "Ballad of Big Nothing", Either/Or did not chart in the US, but was acclaimed by critics. Director Gus Van Sant was highly impressed with the album, incorporating three of its songs; "Between the Bars", "Angeles" and "Say Yes" along with a new song, "Miss Misery", into the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. "Miss Misery" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1998 Academy Awards, and was performed at the televised ceremony in an abridged version by Smith, backed by the house orchestra, briefly propelling him into the international spotlight. In 2020, the album was ranked at 216 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
WikipediaOh yeah. I know this one already. He was already dead before I discovered him, so I didn't get the "loss" part of this firsthand, but listening to this makes me feel for him, a little sad for what he must have wrestled with. The production is so intimate and unique. Multitracking vocals, the mic is practically in his mouth. The snare drum feels like a millimeter from your eardrum, the guitar's next to you on the couch, but the cymbals are out in the backyard. You can hear how he's influenced Beck, PortugalThaMan, of course Ásgeir Trausti, even Olivia Rodrigo. If you dig this guy but hadn't heard of him before... keep listening to XO and self-titled. And don't miss Mic City Sons from his previous band, Heatmiser.
Surprisingly, this supremely technologically advanced website didn’t save my review of Raw Power, so here’s that one: Really uncomfortable with how Iggy sings the word “penetration” as if it includes my name. But yeah, otherwise, this album sounds like it was recorded in a garbage can in the best possible way. As for “Either Or,” well… I’ll just say that when I was in grad school I was a student teacher for a bunch of freshmen taking a required writing class that most had absolutely zero interest in taking. I had no clue what the fuck I was doing, but I know for a fact that I turned at least two students on to Elliott Smith by making the class write about a song from “XO.” So I did my part to make the world a better place. I hope those students are somewhere in Ohio feeling sad right now about being adults, listening to Elliott Smith just to cope. As it should be.
It's hard to find new things to say about this utter classic. Its bleak, past-midnight quality is never oppressive, thanks to clever wordplay and Smith's understated musicianship. For all its influence, it's a modest album - standouts "Angeles" and "Between the Bars" are deceptively simple, and "Say Yes" balances mournful and hopeful so well it makes you want to play it on repeat. Even louder, more aggressive songs like "Cupid's Trick" make sense in context. One of the best records of the 90s.
A couple of clear Heatmiser castaways here; Elliott really never traveled down that path again with the bigger studio budgets for his major label works. Had "Miss Misery" been able to make the record, it would be the complete apex of his early career. Still, a stunning work that makes you ache to still have him with us.
I first listened to this album in 2004 when a member of the cross country team, Grant Hepler, recommended it to me. It quickly became my favorite 'sad' album and I listened to this like, 5 times straight when Lauren Dickerson (a Senior) was going to ask me to prom but some stupid ass Mormon kid asked her while I was in Florida visiting friends. She ended up banging Matt Dara who was honestly a very cool and nice senior who invited me to a lot of shit when I first moved back to NJ. Unfortunately he later developed a pretty bad opioid addiction after fucking up his back deadlifting. Good album though
I’ve loved a lot off this album for a long time. It really touches on the inner sadness of humanity. It’s really a shame he passed and couldn’t make more music. I love this album and will definitely listen again many times.
Some of the greatest songwriting ever. Elliot's style is so unique, intimate, passionate, vulnerable, and engaging. I will learn guitar, because of this record.
Awesome new discovery for me! His voice gives me the chills, guitar is simple but really powerful. Until now I had only known "Angeles" without knowing it was Elliott Smith. Definitely a great album and great addition to my repertoire.
Una preciosidad de disco. La voz, las melodías, ese ligero sonido LoFi combinado con arreglos intrincados.
One of the all-time great sad albums. Between the bars gets me every time... Elliott was a poet and his voice is incredible. The mixing of the acoustic guitar is also excellent throughout the album. A total classic
I had to wait until an appropriately gray day to listen to this because Elliott Smith is not sunny day music. I only ever had Figure 8, but thank goodness this album is on the list because it reminded me how much I enjoy wallowing in his music. He is like the male Aimee Mann to me, not quite folk but folk adjacent, not the biggest voice/range but super emotive, distressed in the best way like soft jeans.
Heatmiser's 'Half Right' was on a mix CD a friend made for me titled "Music to Slit Your Wrists To". It was track number three. I was fortunate enough to see ES at the Henry Fonda theatre just before he died. It wasn't a great show, even sad watching him stand up on stage and forget the lyrics to his own songs. A couple of months later, on the way to work, driving up Topanga Canyon, KCRW played continuous ES one-after-another and another for most of the drive until there was a break. Nic Hartcourt came on and said Elliott Smith was found dead in his Silverlake apartment, just on the other side of town a few hours earlier. I pulled over. Until receiving "Music to Slit Your Wrists To" I hadn't considered how truly sad Elliot Smith and his music was. That stuff is kinda just glossed over, or was... Everyone was sad in the 90's early 2000's but just accepted as normal life where depression hid in plain sight and nobody recognized it as something to pay attention to. For a lot of people, myself included, the music of ES provided a place to go and hide and be enveloped by unobjectionable solitude. Kind of like a place of rest, stagnation and complacency. Either / Or got a huge boost from Good Will Hunting and rightfully so, Elliott Smith's music complemented Will Hunting's loneliness perfectly. I listened constantly and bought most anything he released without hesitation, my favorite song, No Name No. 5 is on this album. I still love it though I hadn't listened all the way though in probably 15 years. I have a reluctance for change which may be why I liked ES so much. Three years after the new millennium closed the death of Elliot Smith ended the 90's for me. No Name No. 5, the heavy drop-d tuned song still sparkles dimly in my imagination as an artifact of a life with an errant existence and no place to be.
Now this is interesting. Somehow, even though it is far from a love letter, this album captures everything I love about cities, particularly Los Angeles. The raspy, vagabond delivery here tells me that this is an authentic cut, and digging into his story confirms that suspicion, excellent album.
I really liked this. Very intimate and subdued, but that didn't stop it from dragging me along and making me feel like I am walking the cracked pavement streets of LA.
<3 Elliott Smith means a hella lot to me. I'm always sus when people say "this artist got me through a hard time" but it was very much the case that this guy was the soundtrack to some pretty sad times in my life - you know that bit in High Fidelity where John Cusack speculates about whether letting kids have access to all this sad music is safe? I feel like if I had a kid and they came home with an Elliott Smith record I'd worry similarly. The latter albums also mean a lot to me - figure 8 and XO have a lot more multitracking and complex arrangements, which works for my imagination. The final album, From A Basement On The Hill, is so utterly devastating that I can barely listen to it. One of my all time faves, and an easy 5-star for me. A beautiful, singular songwriter. Standout track - between the bars, I think it has to be, but I also wanna point to rose parade, because people always remember Elliott Smith for the sad ones, but actually the best ones make you feel strangely happy
I hadn't heard of this album, or indeed Elliott Smith, before this came up here and, frankly, it's downright criminal that I haven't been listening to this for decades. I'm a sucker for anything that is or would be at home on a 'Life Is Strange' soundtrack and a lot of this album fits that bill perfectly. A new discovery that's going to make it firmly into more regular listening
Oh man... I love Elliott Smith but it's impossible not to feel a profound sense of sadness every time, in every song. Has there ever been anyone who has this affect? I think I get a bit of the same feeling listening to David McComb but not on the Elliott Smith level. Wonderful and heartbreaking and beautiful and despairing.
I had a hard time initially getting Elliott Smith's wispy vocals and folk guitar sameness. After repeated listens, I really like the introspection in the lyrics, the subtle variety of additional instruments on some tracks and the melodic nature of the songs. It is really good. Big fan of Cupid's Trick, Angeles, and Alameda.
Solid songwriting and I like his vulnerable, but not whiney, voice. The album starts with a handful of strong tracks but fades a bit. Very melancholic feel, but knowing he died young and led a miserable life could have contributed to that. Once again, Spotify sent me, to Nick Drake after the last song, which isn't a surprise.
Another artist that I have heard of before, but haven't listened to. This site really is one of the reasons why I love the internet! A couple songs in, I'm really loving the sound of this so far. Kind of mellow, warm, bright-ish lyrics and instrumentals, definitely something I'd listen to just chill out and take it easy. A lot of songs get kind of depressing when you read into the lyrics. Can't say I can relate with stuff like alcohol addiction all that well, but the way he phrases things and makes you feel is really striking and captivating. I like all of the songs on here so far. Not sure what else to say about this project, It's got interesting lyrics, that laid back, personal sounding accoustic guitar instrumentals, this warm energy.. I could go on and on, but overall, I really like this, 8/10 definitely!
Another one I've not heard before. I was aware of Elliott Smith and friends loved his albums at the time. But I'd never got into him. Really liked some of the stuff on this album. At times his melodies are incredible.
I've always loved Elliott and his depression-fueled melodies. This takes me way back to a very specific place in my high school career. Parts of this album reminded me of Sufjan Stevens, in a way that other Smith never really has before. Lovely stuff.
Love this album. Especially the songs from Good Will Hunting. So soft and mellow - but still a little haunting and depressing at times.
4.0 - This album is a great companion for when I'm feeling down. There's a morose vibe that's tinged with some hopeful light that helps buoy my spirit. In particular, I love "Speed Trials", "Ballad of Big Nothing", "Pictures of Me", and "Rose Parade." I love the grunge-like hooks tempered with the somber acoustic guitar anchor and the subtle fills that keep songs sounding tuneful and interesting.
It's melancholic and comforting at the same time. I've never heard anything by Elliot Smith until now, and I'm glad I got to listen to something so beautiful.
Genre: Indie Folk 4/5 Elliott Smith, who unfortunately left our world much too early, left behind one of the more influential bodies of work in all of indie music, and continues to be a benchmark of quality in the genre. Either/Or serves as his magnum opus (to most), and is an exercise in melancholy, played out in a brilliant, folk-driven way from Smith. While this sort of tempo and tenor throughout a project can leave me wanting a bit more, this album makes up for its lack of sonic variations with its heart-wrenching vocal performances and Elliot Smith's true songwriting talent. It didn't tickle me quite as much as I had hoped, but it certainly did not disappoint.
em comparação com seus trabalhos anteriores, either/or tem uma atmosfera ainda mais intimista com a incorporação de melodias ainda mais suaves nas composições. não que a música não tenha sido um fator importante antes, mas nunca na discografia dele ela estava tão alinhada com a atmosfera e com o storytelling característico do artista, o que faz parecer que ele está do seu lado, cantando diretamente no seu ouvido. um álbum absurdamente memorável, ainda que não seja meu favorito dele, foi o que me fez conhecê-lo. um dos álbuns que mais ouvi na vida.
Elliott Smith's music has always spoken to my soul, and this album is no exception. I love how his songs feel quiet and intimate one moment and the next they open up and fly. Not my favorite album of his, though. 4.5/5 stars
Surprisingly poignant and arresting. I wouldn't have figured a singer/songwriter could be this engaging. Also, it very much sound like the product of a tortured artist who wasn't going to survive.
Really dug this one. This is the Elliott Smith album that everyone talks about, perhaps its his holy grail. I enjoyed it a lot more than the previous album we got, as it veered much closer to the singer-songwriter style that I wanted to hear. He's got a really interesting voice that communicates pain very well. I can't say I picked up on too many lyrics, but just listening back to tracks more than once I know this all would grow on me even more and get under my skin in a good way. Kudos. Favorite tracks: Speed Trials, Between the Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, Cupids Trick, 2:45AM. Album art: I know my comment on the other Elliott Smith album was that he looked like a dork, this one he looks like a badass. Not sure where's he's located but he's smoking a cig in a way that the Surgeon General would hate because it looks cool. 4.5/5
I've weirdly been hesitant to listen to Elliott Smith until now. It's not that I worried it would be bad but because it wouldn't be this inspirational force in my life like how it is with most people. I walked away pretty amazed with how smooth and digestible this album is. It's emotionally complicated and Smith's voice really carries each song. What a stunning surprise.
I gave this a few listens, as its seems the sort of thing I might really like. This confirmed my initial impression of liking the gentle singer songwriter vibe with textured breathy vocals, and that the lyrics are interesting, sad and emotionally charged. However, I couldn't find that unknown something that would have made it click or resonate with me personally. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Ballad Of Big Nothing Date listened: 06/06/22
When I first listened to Either Or several years ago when working my way through this list I was absolutely transfixed by Smiths songwriting. Years later I still find the record striking a nerve with Smiths sense of melody and guitar sound stealing the show ('Alameda', 'Rose Parade', 'Punch and Judy'). Although most compositions are fragile and intimate, like 'Between The Bars', Smith shows quite the range on a few tracks like 'Cupid's Trick' and the Sgt. Peppers inspired 'Pictures of Me'. Strong disassociation all over the place from a very strong lyricist: "Crooked spin can't come to rest, I'm damaged bad at best"
Not my favourite Elliott Smith album - I tend to prefer his other albums (this a little too far on the mellow/low-fi spectrum) - but it's still Elliott Smith, which means good melodic songs which is in my wheelhouse. Very listenable but by the end there's a sameness that leads to diminishing returns. Take the top ~7 songs and it would have made a great EP - 3 stars (6/10).
Reminds me of being 14... didn't like it then don't like it now. I recognize some of the appeal but all it does for me is remind me of raging hormones and wild mood changes.
I listened but it was so forgettable I couldn't discern one song from the next. Mostly just droning on and sleepy guitar plunks. Why do the reviewers think I needed to hear this?
Double-tracked whisper singing is my kryptonite. Best track: Pictures of Me.
A friend once called Elliott Smith a 'talent vacuum'. I think he was being too kind. There is definitely a black hole of anything good around the man. One of the first albums of this quest was his, and I've dreaded another coming up since. It's fucking awful, it gives me a physical reaction because it's so awful. Pile o' shite!
Found this pretty damn boring, didn't excite me enough to really listen to many of the songs closely at all
Whenever dealing with lists like this, there are always entries which make me question their inclusion. This is the first of those, I attempted to fight my way through the album twice but just couldn't get past the fact this man cannot sing, and can't make catchy enough beats to make up for that fact.
As with all these medium known artists I didn't hate it, but I don't see why I should particularly like it either. Nothing stand out.
Classic Softboy music. I really think Elliot smith is so talented. Between the bars, A song dealing with addiction... or love maybe? I don't know really. I think it's the idea of wanting to help someone you love. But in doing that, you feel like you need to keep them from people who might damage them? atleast if they're always with you, you know they can't hurt you or themselves? A well meaning song I think, but really shows how quickly that relationship can spiral into a controlling mess. I really love that song. The more I sit with this album the more I like it. It's going to be in normal rotation from now on I think. It's really great.
Beautiful. I listened to it twice. I will be returning to Elliott Smith quite a bit
Saaaaaad but I love. Three of my favorite songs of all time so I’m gonna have to go five stars.
A masterpiece. I feel every word in my bones every time I hear this album, and it's been a special one to me for a few years now.
Have loved this album for a long time. Not my absolute favourite of his (the self titled for me) but still gorgeous.
I don't know how I avoided this album when it was fresh. But it has been holding up like a champ these last 25 years.
Drugs are bad, but they get a pass for resulting in an album as depressively great as this.
Great songs - perfect. Probably the most consist album of Elliott Smith and the one I usually go for.
Zwar das einzige Album von ihm was ich richtig gut finde, aber kann echt nichts Schlechtes drüber sagen. Wäre ich heute nicht so busy würd ich gern mehr drüber schreiben. Ist aber ein super schönes, emotionales, durchgehend catchy, sau gut geschriebenes Album. Die lyrics sind zwar recht simpel aber funktionieren sehr gut. So gut wie perfektes Album
Das ist richtig schön und traurig. Die Simplizität entfaltet hier eine ihre komplette Wirkung und macht aus so wenig so viel. Sowohl die Stimme als auch die Melodien sind einfach so emotiv und carrien das alles so sehr, auch wenn ich normal nicht so der Fan von singer Songwriter Kram bin. Aber hier kommt einfach ne stringente und schlagkräftige Melancholie und Menschlichkeit bei rum und das macht dieses Album sehr hörbar obwohl ich echt nicht gut traurige Musik hören kann. Rose Parade, Between the Bars und Angeles sind absolute Highlights. Auch hier ähnlich wie bei Joni Mitchell, eventuell keine komplette 5 aber 4 fühlt sich zu wenig an.
gehört zu den alben, die ich nur selten anhöre, weil sie mich echt mitnehmen (auf die traurige art). tatsächlich ein extrem gutes album, meiner meinung nach aber nicht das beste von elliott smith. "between the bars" und "say yes" verbinden malerische lyrics mit den schönsten melodien. ist glaube ich auch eines der wenigen arten, bei der die beste art, es zu erleben, mit kopfhörern ist. man merkt auf jeden fall hier den beatles einfluss, aber er macht da eben so viel mehr daraus. bestimmte zeitgenössische künstler/innen würden ohne elliott smith wiederum gar nicht existieren - das macht ja irgendwo musik aus.
Immer noch eins meiner liebsten Indie-Folk Alben. Vielleicht auch weil es eins meiner ersten, aber die Kombination der wunderschönen zurückhalteneren Songs und den eingängigen fast schon spaßigen Hymnen macht das ganze immer noch zu so einem guten Listen für mich 9/10
I really love this album. Elliott Smith’s ethereal delivery is so soothing. Kind of ironic for that to come from such a tortured artist. A wonderful soundtrack to help ease the daily stress of life with enough wistfulness to not be boring. Favorite Songs: Ballad of Big Nothing, No Name No. 5, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Say Yes
Every time it ends, I just start it over again. And the more I listen the more I like. Breathy vocals and vulnerable lyrics, lovely indie-folk instrumentation. Heart-achingly beautiful. A new favorite.
At first I was not sure that the soft gentle voice of the artist would be able to win me over, but it did.
A number of times in this project I have listened to beautiful music I have a strong connection to, only to find that the artist was full of terrible pain. Here we are again. I loved this one.
04/05/2022 I've kind of avoided Elliott Smith for a while just for how many internet opinons there are on his life, music, and passing. Glad I finally did take the time to listen - it's clearly very sad, but there's an overwhelming beauty to the lyrics and Smith's voice. I also appreciate that this isn't an album that was made for exclusively gloomy days.
I mean this is the blueprint of the singer songwriter that would become more prevalent in the decades that followed. It’s also a great love letter to the indie and folk musicians from before it. Absolutely excellent album from an artist taken far too soon.
The music is really welcoming in a life kinda sucks empathetic way. I really enjoyed being introduced to him. I have already listened to the album multiple times to listen more in depth to the lyrics and appreciate the whole sound he created.
Lots of love for this album, listened while walking to work in the rain. Pretty much the perfect way to hear its dreamy melancholy. Wonderful.
Beautifully subtle, subtlety brilliant. Incredible indie guitar album with the perfect amount of edge. Can hear how this has influenced so many to go after him eg Andy Shauf, Matt Costa and Tiny Little Houses. Can even hear a bit of Paper Mache era Gizz in the first couple of tracks. Strong start but even stronger finish in Rose Parade and Angeles. No Name No. 5 is a perfectly composed track. He also sounds exactly like another more contemporary artist (especially in Angeles) that I can't put my finger on if my life depended on it. Hopefully it will come to me one day in a future relisten. Also 50 points for punching a dart on the album cover.
One of my favourite albums of all time - and always a pleasure to hear it especially on a chilled Sunday or sunny morning 🔆