Either Or

Like, it's fine. Elliott Smith music is good enough, but it doesn't really excite me, his stuff has never really clicked with me as much as it has with so many.

Better than I expected

Nice music, guy's voice is a little too girly but its ok.

It was ok but not my type of music. Some songs I really like, some I don’t need to listen to

- Didn't like it as much as the last Elliott Smith album, but still fine - Got better in the second half - A little more lowkey than the other one

Its alright, songwriting was decent. A bit soft for me and not much variance between songs.

Boring

This was enjoyable but not memorable

Very laid-back indie rock (?), although the sameness of the vocals and guitar can get a bit repetitive, I don’t particularly mind it though

Ok but not amazing

Fine

Ja ach, prima. Het zegt me niet zoveel

It's undeniably great song writing, just not fully my vibe. Fav track: No name Number 5 3.5

BL: I have listened to this album before - and consider it the best of Smith’s work from what I’ve listened to (though I’ve only listened to around half his discography) so it’ll be good to give this one a repeat. “Say Yes” is in my top 100 songs of all time AL: still like I remember it. It’s a very sweet and concise album. But to me “Say Yes” dwarves almost every other track on the album. As it is so good. The rest of the album is incredibly solid though FT: “Say Yes”, “Alameda” 3/5

It was good. There were a few songs that were enjoyable.

Un album très sympathique de la part d'Elliott Smith qui s'est fait connaître en étant écouté à l'avant du bus par Lomepal.

Libérez ltrapèze et robgruyères par pitié

It’s good songwriting, just gets a little one dimensional

L'influence des Beatles est manifeste. Agréable, mais parfois un peu anodin.

"do what you want to whenever you want to" - Speed Trials Otherwise not really my vibe

It's a nice album. Quite chilled and soft. I like his style, but also feel like it tailed off in the second half a bit.

Very low key. Took a while to adjust.

Was an ok album

Weird energy for a Monday

Hygglig platta utan låtar som sticker ut.

first time listening

Figure 8 remains my (subjective) benchmark (in that whilst I was aware of Smith, it was the first album of his that I listened to 'properly'). I'm not going to slight this with faint praise (Cupid's Trick, for instance, is up there with his best), but I couldn't and still quite warm to this. The retrospective gaze always sets a high bar, I suppose

Figure 8 oli parempi levy. Tää levy on enemmän pelkkää kitaraa ja laulua, mutta ei niin iskeviä kappaleita muutamaa lukuunottamatta

it was rainy and cold yesterday, somehow it fit but also made me a bit melancholic

3.5

Either/Or is the third album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. This indie folk rock, Americana, lo-fi, and pop rock album was critically acclaimed at release, but did not chart in any country. It's been certified silver in the UK, and is Elliot Smith's best selling album. The movie Good Will Hunting used three of this album's tracks in its soundtrack and also contracted Elliot to write an original song called "Miss Misery". He would then perform this song at the 1998 Academy Awards where the song was nominated for Best Original Song. Overall, this is a wonderful album of Americana music using a wide variety of popular genres from the late 90's. It was a relaxing and inspiring vibe. Give Either Or a listen if you like folksy/pop/indie rock music.

I swear I had heard this before and wasn't so impressed but actually this is super amazing. Even so, it's not quite my genre, so sadlyl only a 3

Soloalbuum van de singer-songwriter Elliot Smith. Tracklist bestaat uit veelal melancholische nummers. De kwaliteit is goed, maar verder is het album ietwat te somber. leukste nummer: Pictures Of Me De album viel in de smaak bij regisseur Gus Van Sant, waardoor het te horen was op de soundtrack van Good Will Hunting.

it was nice but i’m not sure i’ll listen to it again

Clearly good, just not my scene.

Another good singer/songwriter album - a bit more cheerful than the album of his we had last week, but not by a lot! Not quite as soulful though, and didn't grab me as much as the previous effort did. Feels harsh to only give it a 3, but there we are.

It's nice but unremarkable

Fíla þetta. Þarf að hlusta meira á Elliott.

i wanted to like this more than I did.

This is fine. Maybe not "top 1001" fine, but it's fine.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Speed trials

This was actually enjoyable, some more upbeat songs with a band, nice indie vibes. However, it's Elliott Smith. You know what you're getting. I enjoyed the listen, but I don't see myself listening again unless I was in the mood.

6/10. Kinda zoned out while listening to it, but I'd give it the benefit of the doubt.

Nice vibe, nice voice. Not much on the album really jumps out though. It's consistently 'alright'

I wanted to like this. I like the genre and had heard about this album over the years. But I put it on while working, and when it was over, nothing had grabbed my attention. Nothing stood out. I listened to it two more times, with some focus on the "hits", and it still didn't click. It's not bad, but I don't see what's special about it either. If I could, I would give it 3 1/2 stars.

Quite a breathy delivery. I liked the idea of the album. I mostly liked the Nick Drake song that came after it, which really caught my attention. 🫠

A really pleasant album which reminded me of similar time-period offerings from Badly Drawn Boy and Sean Lennon. Was sad to read what happened to this artist not long after.

Me gusta la voz y las mezclas en general. Tiene buenas ideas. Es un 3.5 para mi, y lo unico que le juega en contra es la falta de variedad en la instrumentacion.

Elliot Smith.

Easy listening, easy to get caught in the lyrics but quite samey in a lot of the songs.

Not in the mood today. Too slow and melancholy.

S'écoute bien, un bon son tranquille, deuxième album que j'écoute de lui, mais je m'attendais à être un peu plus wow overall avec la réputation du gars.

When I started listening to this today I wondered why I wasn't more of a fan of his when he was still alive. Most of my friends were big fans of his, but I don't know. Maybe I didn't want to get on the Elliott Smith bandwagon. So I was digging his melodies and the whole one-man-band thing, until about four or five songs in and it all started sounding the same to me, and that's when I remembered why I wasn't more of a fan. I can take him a song or two at a time, but as with so many bands/artists, a little goes a long way. But I really do enjoy him. In small doses.

I really need Elliott to stop whispering. It’s a hurdle I just can’t get over and basically ruins his music for me. Still gets a 3 for songwriting.

Good album, Nice to listen to but also nothing too special

This was okay, kinda folk acoustic stuff, just feel that if I wanted to listen to this kind of music I likely wouldn't choose this artist or album

This record was ok. Smith's song writing talent is unmistakable, but it's just a style that I am not super into, so I wouldn't likely listen to this again.

I’ve never been cool enough to ~get~ Elliott Smith

Probably a 3.5 for this list. Good group of moody songs

6,5/10

I feel like I’m watching a Wes Anderson movie…

Was alright, nothing stood out, just seemed like sad boy music

I think this is a good but not great album. Not sure why it/he is considered to be so influential. Definitely liked the update, "rockier" tracks more. My favorite is Cupid's Trick.

Fine but not particularly memorable. I can see how this influenced a lot of indie rock that came afterwards.

The vibes are super chill. I enjoy the vibes. Though, whenever I listen to the lyrics, it sounds like people in a very crappy situation. There wasn't anything that reached out to grab my ear, but I enjoy just cruising along with the album. 6/10

Pretty good. Had never heard anything by him before and it was enjoyable enough

My only prior knowledge of Elliott Smith was his Figure 8 album which came out a couple of years before his death. Either Or is good, but not something I'd actively listen to.

good album. respect the artist, just not my favorite genre.

Elliott could sound sweet and lyrical or morbid and sad, love the former, less certain about the latter. Sad stuff is good if you want a good old wallow.

Depressing

I mean, I’ll be honest, its merit lies in its lyrics. That’s where the album shines.

again i guess this is the birth of modern indie

90's Dad rock. Pretty good album, but not so much of a iconic album illustrative of the genre / era of the time. 3.5/5.

This is so lo-fi it's reeking of dust and musky dead wood smell. I love it. The quality of the guitars, the drums, and the vocals gave it a sincerity and vulnerability that I've always admired with folk. Too bad it's too easy to make this sound boring. It has incredible highlights, but the listening experience as a whole was quite a daze. Perhaps I need a couple of relistens.

Nice songs, really nicely recorded. I'm not quite sure why Elliott Smith has two albums on the must hear list. It's OK... just OK. Strong Beatles influences (which is a good thing) and more than a pinch of Nick Drake. Some good tunes, but a bit same-y. I like the production (acoustic and electric guitars, surprisingly muscular bass, very tasteful organ washes, intimately recorded vocals) and tunes better than the other Elliot Smith album I reviewed.

smooth. nice. not really worth listening but not problem listening to this anytime.

Average. Some tunes might be worth listening to, but I don’t think the minimalist vibe works for me.

Kickball? More like something something

I like Elliot Smith but his music is always the same. Good stuff, mostly.

It’s ok - some potential but a forgettable record overall

Inoffensive

Elliot Smith is able to perfectly balance the folk/Americana sound with indie rock, without making it too whiny or annoying. Speaking about what he knows best he is able to weave his experiences from his hometown coupled with the immense personal struggles he was - and continued - to go through. Best: Pictures Of Me Worst: Alameda

Good roadtrip vibe, emo feel with a little grungy touch.

meh 3/5

This album sound like out of time. Its sound reminds me records from the 60's. I liked it, but I do not appreciate why it is in this list.

I don't know what it is with Elliott Smith and me. I understand why people have this in their favourite album lists, I understand why Elliott is regarded as a very talented songwriter. It just never clicked for me. And have listened to the album 3 times over the last day. But it's all going past me.

Elliott Smith is on paper someone who I should really like, but I've unfortunately never gotten into him much. Lyrically things are great, but for some reason his voice doesn't gel with me. I imagine I have the same reaction to Elliott as many do to Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst. I can see how people would really like him and I want to like him more than I do, but that's where I'm at.

Kjøpte platene den gang da, men fikk aldri helt fot for dem. Hyggelig gjenhør.

Ok

It was alright.

can't get passionate

Elliot Smith is a tragic figure, and this is a good album. Its not an album with a bunch of top 10 songs or any particular earworms or bangers on it, but its an overall very good and very listenable in general. 3/5

This album is okay, very mellow but I appreciate his lyrics. I wish more songs didn’t have the layered vocals, not a huge fan of that sound. But it sounds like so many of the acoustic indie artists that I’ve listened to over the years so it’s easy to see the influence he’s had.

Yeah it’s kinda depressing, but it’s also pretty good. I’d say 3.5 stars, but I’ll round it down.

Not sure why every song is such a bummer.

I enjoyed listening to the songs. I'm just unsure if this needs to be on this list.

There were some good folksy moments but I wasn’t compelled by the lyrics

this was fine i guess?

Lov the build up in “Do it Again” Forgot how much I like this album. Very well written and executed music! Dirty Work was like listening to Chicago, playing so many instruments . Always loved Reeling In the Years- wow what great🎸strumming. well done Steely Dan. .

I’ve had an Elliott Smith album before on here and it exceeded my expectations, much more dynamic than I was expecting. This one didn’t. I’m not a big fan of his whispery tone and had to make a bit of an effort to listen all the way through. Nice enough but a bit too angsty for me.

"Either/Or" is my first exposure to Elliott Smith's music. It's an unfussy-sounding album that's less concerned with pristine production or technical skill than it is about conveying mood, atmosphere and sentiment. I'm very happy with this approach: the stripped back style (often just acoustic guitar and spidery-thin vocals) works to the credit of much of the material. Paradoxically, it was the more filled out, upbeat tracks that felt a bit lacking for me. "Speed Trials", "Cupid's Trick" and "Pictures of Me" felt a little too beige: fairly standard 90's bedroom rock that didn't quite feel suited to Smith's voice, lyrical talents or aesthetic. When he took the simplicity in another direction, the ballads he's perhaps more known for, I was much more taken in. In general, the second half of the album kicked things up to another gear on this front, with some lovely melodies blossoming and finding beauty in simplicity. "Say Yes" is absolutely lovely: its genuine earnestness redeeming it from what might otherwise be cliched progression and melody. It's the sweetest tune here and worth sticking out the album for. Elsewhere in the back half, some similarly tuneful offerings stood out to me: "Rose Parade" is the Magnetic Fields song I never knew I needed, and "Angeles" manages to do a lot with a little. The guitar playing is often deceptively complex (take the speed and precision of "Angeles", or use of open-tuning to augment some of the chord structures- a little Nick Drake-y in this regard). Even though a lot of the chord progressions don't break the bank, they can also mask a deeper complexity. The meandering and sprawling "Alameda" is good for keeping a listener guessing, even if it does seem a little unfocused. On paper, Smith's music is everything I really like but I haven't managed to connect with a lot of the tracks after a few listens: it's been enough to show me there's something in them, so I'm keen to keep trying.

While I think I prefer the larger production and uptempo feel of 'Figure Eight,' this LP offers a collection of beautiful, small-scale tracks that highlight Elliot's penchant for simple but poignant songwriting.

Weer een bekende naam, waar ik nooit echt naar geluisterd heb. Best leuk, maar verwacht het niet vaker te gaan draaien.

Goeie plaat. En Ballad of Big Nothing is een van mijn favoriete tracks.

Elliott Smith is bij mij nooit echt geland. Wel een paar erg mooie nummers maar het geheel is me toch iets te ielig en lijzig.

Wel mooi. Lijkt we op veel andere dingen.

Okay, so everyone is right... It's just lovely and heartbreaking and he's clearly a genius but... It was all quite tonally meh, everything is chugging away at about the same speed and it left me a little, not bored, but easily distracted from what is clearly the work of a genius, but one which could use a better producer? The last couple of tracks (2:45 and possibly Say Yes?) Are the best of the bunch, and the first point I started listening intently.

meh

31st March 2022 Listened in the front room while working. Drove home with mum in the evening through a snow storm and chatted investing. Not bad, but feel like he’s been posthumously inflated.

Obviously it's absolutely beautiful; just very sparse

Easy listening

Driving to the airport with my mom a few years ago, I heard Oliver Nelson and Eric Dolphy's "Images" for the first time. That tune features melodies in stereo, half a step apart. Even on the highway, the effect was striking. Either/Or created a similar feeling at times with its double-tracking, emotional instead of intellectual. On top, earworm potential galore. There are also plenty of things I like: Moving guitar lines (especially low ones), a hint of dream noise. It's a bit grab baggy, though the last two tracks are exceptionally strong.

3 i guess, it was fine

Good singer. Another States-type singer of many

Solid meh.

I can only relisten to an album so many times trying to work out if I like it. Sorry Elliott you've had multiple chances now.

Is there a homelier elitist troth stronger that Elliot fans? Tragedy aside, it’s enjoyable but a little lackluster

Better than previous ES album

Op zich wel aardige muziek. Lekker op de achtergrond, maar het maakt me niet echt nieuwsgierig naar meer. ***

Schöner Singer Songwriter, aber ich merke dass ich dem im Rahmen des Projekts nicht die Aufmerksamkeit geben kann die es vllt verdient, gerade auf lyrischer Ebene. Musikalisch ist das nett aber jetzt auch nicht super krass beim 1st listen, deswegen muss da irgendwo mehr drin stecken, bin noch nicht durch hiermit!

A sad, soft album. I liked that it never screamed at me about the things it was trying to say, just let the lyrics and his soft-spoken voice do the job. A pleasant listen that I think will grow on me more with age.

Considered a classic album and one of the best of its decade. I however have a hard time loving it as much as other people. I find it easy to listen to and it sounds nice but I’m not quite able to grasp what truly makes this so much better other than it’s a bit more emotional and melancholy. Still good though. 6.6/10

passed me by first time round - all good and fine though no massive breakthrough tracks

It remembered me some moods by Lennon.

Not awful.

It was ok but I didn’t hear a standout song. I thought a lot of it blended together. It was musically good and could appreciate his skills but it didn’t grab me.

Boring and calm. At least not terrible

An nice, easy listen. However, the tracks really all sound the same.

First time Listen of this and see the links with Lo-Fi and the alt/indie stuff. a little dour for me but some interesting tunes including "Speed Trials" "Angeles" and "Say Yes" are all good songs in my opinion. Not on my list but interesting stuff.

The real ball-breaker to this album is when it ends and another Elliott Smith song comes on, invariably with noticeably more energy than these droopy acoustics. 5/10

songs for easy listening

Wasn't particularly overwhelmed by this, but it was okay. The songs were catchy and pleasant to listen to.

Boring.

Its not bad if you're in that sorta mood

Not my speed

Was kind of forgettable

3.5 | Tiene un punto brillante y es que sabe cuando detenerse antes de que el disco se comience a sentir pesado y demasiado repetitivo. No tenía mucho conocimiento ni de las canciones ni del artista y aunque me deja un buen sabor de boca tampoco impresionó demasiado. Las letras muy muy buenas, canciones muy bien escritas. Las letras a menudo evocan imágenes, texturas y situaciones muy específicas. Y, sin embargo, al igual que con muchos compositores verdaderamente grandes, utilizó esta especificidad como una forma de explorar temas emocionales que resuenan profunda y ampliamente. No son canciones de amor, exactamente, pero tampoco son solamente, como pudiera parecer cancioens sobre adicción, exactamente. Trata sobre las formas en que proteger a alguien que amas se convierte en la necesidad de controlar a esa persona. El hecho de que fuera capaz de incorporar tanta complejidad emocional en una canción que suena como si nada en un Starbucks habla de su don como compositor. Lo que le baja un poco es que, aunque se entiende y cuadra un poco la idea de mantener todo demasiado simple y hacia el lo-fi, me hubiera gustado que presentara un poco de máyor complejidad musical o producción. Tiene partes que me agradan mucho y partes que suenan demasiado genéricas. A pesar de lo que me agradaron sus canciones por lírica, su música ronda entre los puntos de buena/adecuada y repetitiva.

Pues bonita música noventera, así con sus onda de ansiedad y melancolía y todo eso, pero no hubo un momento que destacara o me hiciera voltear a ver el título de la rola. Y eso que le di sus tres vueltas.

Surullinen mies ja kitara-musan paremmasta päästä. Herkkä levy.

Very lo-fi, subdued. Weird sentence but I feel like this record and Liz Phair's "Exile In Guyville" are two sides of the same coin: very singer-songwriter, earnest. I liked a lot of the recording tricks found on here, all seem very made-with-love, for lack of a better phrase. Favorite tracks: "Rose Parade", "Cupids Trick", "2:45 AM"

Absolutely not what I was expecting. Went in thinking it would be pop-punk, instead it was like calming folk? Didn't realise the album had ended and shuffled on to something else, so was easy listening, but wouldn't go out of my way for it again.

It fades to the background quite well. Not to say I didn't enjoy it. I particularly enjoyed the last tracks. When first hearing 'Cupids Trick' I thought it was finally picking up a bit, but was disappointed it took until the 3rd to last track to do so. There are a couple of tracks that I added to my always-on playlist on Spotify, but I shan't be listening to the whole album again. Solid 3/5.

Not his best album

I understand why people love or hate Elliott Smith. Its dreary and a tad depressing but I always enjoy his music.

Lovely album but very 1 dimensional

Some cool songs, and I sued to love this album. On listening to it now I just wasn't interested, and it does seem quite one dimensional and samey.

I’m not moody enough for this on the regular, but maybe with winter coming up, maybe

Well. It was absolutely OK background music. Didn't sound bad at all. But not interesting at all in any way. Just some regular melancholic singer/songwriter fare.

Typical indie stuff really. Personally not my thing as I'd prefer something more upbeat, but this grew on me a bit on a second listen through.

Lotta whispering. Recognized the popular song though

This album is fine. Enjoyable enough. I don’t find anything particularly noteworthy here. Elliott’s voice is fine too. Nothing spectacular.

Ok listen

“Either/Or” by Elliott Smith (1997) Can a guy with a very bad voice sing well? This album comes as close as possible to answering that question in the affirmative. Elliott Smith has such a quiet and airy voice, yet he’s still able to sustain each strangely selected pitch. And that’s not all. Unconventional melodies predominate, and the listener is continually wondering if the next chord will be another one that he/she will be unable to identify. This is a radically uncommercial product. And it’s mesmerizing. Singer/songwriter/multiple instrumentalist Elliott Smith puts together a fascinating product. And he basically did it all himself. He plays all the instruments and sings all the vocals, with just a bit of help on mixing and mastering. He sounds comfortable with his whispering voice. And there’s a very cozy relationship between lyrics, melody, voice, and acoustic guitar. I almost feel like I’m invading his personal space. And it’s a pretty sad space. This is pure studio music. I can’t imagine hearing this in a concert. I also can’t imagine this music being performed by a group. It’s too idiosyncratic. But it is strangely musical. It’s not for the casual listener. The album is not one to listen to while working or even driving. It’s too densely complex. From Wikipedia: The album's title derives from the Søren Kierkegaard book of the same name, in which "either/or" refers to the contrast between aesthetic/subjective experience and ethical/objective. And from Kierkegaard’s text: “What is a poet? An unhappy man who hides deep anguish in his heart, but whose lips are so formed that when the sigh and cry pass through them, it sounds like lovely music…. And people flock around the poet and say: ‘Sing again soon’ – that is, ‘May new sufferings torment your soul but your lips be fashioned as before, for the cry would only frighten us, but the music, that is blissful.” I may need to consult a philosopher to analyze this message. But as for “Either/Or”, I choose both. 3/5

Alright, but forgettable

Very laid back indie rock. Not super into it.

Either utterly forgettable or great for the background.

3.5 - Sorry, my last couple of CDs have been 4 or 5, this doesn't make the cut.

Nothing bad just didn't really get into it.

2nd Elliot Smith Album I have listened to and it felt very much the same. Good instrumentals but the vocals lack range making each song sound too similar.

I wanted to give this more than 3 stars, but could barely justify even that. Maybe with more listens and a closer attention to the lyrics I'd appreciate it more, but it ended up being too easy to ignore.

Me gustó lo acústico, no le presté atención a las letras pero fue entretenido de escuchar

kinda boring, but good to do work to

Slow indie rock. Not my jam, still had a couple of good tracks.

Immediately hearing Sufjan Stevens. Also, not something I’m into right now. I can see putting this on just out of high school, while drinking with a friend or two and getting ready to watch an art film.

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Alameda, Cupids Trick, 2:45 AM, Say Yes Cutting Edge: Speed Trials, Between the Bars Overall Notes: I'm not singer-songwriter depressed, I'm more twitchy guitar/drums depressed.

Melancholy, pop/folk gained momentum towards the end of the album

Not bad, very mellow.

Good Will Hunting discover....

Not too bad

I wasn’t familiar with Elliott Smith. I initially liked the simple, almost grungy sound. But it was a little too consistently whispery and depressing for me to deeply enjoy it.

I don't think I've really ever listened to Elliott Smith, but somehow I found it kind of nostalgic, it was pleasant I felt like I kind of drifted through the album

I've heard this before but it's never stuck. The songwriting is obviously good but the lo-fi sound doesn't grab me

Un tanto lineal. Buena voz, pero no destacaría especialmente

A calm and introspective album with some very good songs in it. I didn't know anything about Elliott Smith, but his songs sound like a good remember of the simplest teenage years, including all the teenage problems.

Un poco rollo. Le doy un 3 porque me gusta la música de este estilo.

Estilo tranquilo, melancólico y un poco grunge. Buena voz. Mola

Nice vibe

These all feel like they should be on the Garden State soundtrack. It was a decent listen but I didn't hear anything that blew me away.

A great melodramatic indie album for anyone in a melancholy mood looking for sad songs. The album is just shy of 37min, making it the shortest album I've listened to on this list so far. Smith's singing and song composition keep each track as interesting as the last, however some of the songs sounded very similar to each other, which made immersion difficult. Overall, I would say that I enjoyed this album and would listen again if the mood was right.

A little bland. Very college rock. Some songs reminded me of Rilo Kiley. I could see how this influenced early 2000s indie rock.

Chill AF. Not bad, nothing I'll listen to again.

Mellow and kinda boring. Not terrible, but I doubt I'll listen again.

2 songs waren nice - 3

It's got a solid mood and vibe throughout. Not exactly my preferred style but I enjoyed it a bit. Found the lyrics a bit hit or miss. 6/10?

i remember when he died, and a lot of people were really broken up about it, but i didn't know anything about him, so i felt bad for not feeling bad. i get that he had some massive talent, but this one just kinda left me cold.

Emotionless boring whisper singing in the fashion of Garfunkel just really kind of Ech.

Huh. I’m shocked by how much I like some of this. I’ve been chasing the feeling that I got from his song at the end of Good Will Hunting since I first saw it. Don’t think it’s possible to get that again.

Slow, broody dreamy vocals. Sad chill out vibes. Quite liked “Pictures of me”

Glad I got to dig into this one finally. Sleepy, but good.

Ehh

Not bad, some good tunes

I can see the influence, and quality in this. Something about it failing to connect for me. Too gloomy, and doomed.

Väldigt life is strangeit. Helt ok amerikansk vispop, inte riktigt min genre, och inte mini typ av sångröst.

Enjoyable. Not going to rush back to it, but won't be opposed to listening again.

@@@. strong indie vibes, some good tracks.

A little emo for my taste.

This was good. I really like Elliott smith from his good will hunting days and this is during the same time.

2.9

Favorites: Alameda, Ballad of Big Nothing

Disco de baladinhas agradáveis. Voz dele é muito suave e combina bem com as canções. Entre elas, destaquei "Between the Bars" pela letra genial (álcool falando pro alcoólatra) e a lindíssima "Say Yes"

I can definitely see why ES is fantastic and a legendary artist, however his work hasn't really clicked with me yet

Ok. Chill indie rock. Doesn't seem to stand out in first few songs.

3

Intimo e chill, gusto personale non trovato

It's not bad, it's breezy and nice enough. It's just completely bland and forgettable.

Слишком узконаправленный и «нишевый» альбом для грусти когда ты учишься в колледже и жизнь дерьмо. В более зрелом возрасте и в другой обстановке звучит не так пронзительно

Speed trials - 3/5 Alameda - 2/5 Ballad of big nothing - 3/5 Between the bars - 3/5 Pictures of me - 3/5 No name no.5 - 1/5 Rose parade - 2/5 Punch and judy - 1/5 Angeles - 1/5 Cupid's trick - 3/5 2:45 AM - 1/5 Say yes - 2/5

Wasn’t really that interesting.

Neither for me please

Eh, it was fine … picked up a bit at the end but overall pretty forgettable 2.5

Speed Trials: 2/5 Alameda: 2/5 Ballad Of Big Nothing: 2.5/5 Between The Bars: 1.5/5 Pictures Of Me: 3/5 No Name No 5.: 2/5 Rose Parade: 1.5/5 Punch And Judy: 2.5/5 Cupid's Trick: 2.5/5 2:45 AM: 1.5/5 Angeles: 2/5 Say Yes: 2/5

Quite whispery vocals set a mood, but I didn't appreciate anything groundbreaking

688/1001 2026.08.26 😴😴🌗🌑🌑

En del trevligt, lite tråkigare än vad jag vill lyssna på. Stark 2a

I liked this a bit more than I expected, but overall, it's not really my thing

Ugh. I listened to this and thought, "Man, this guy is really troubled." Then I read his Wikipedia entry and yeah. Tragic guy with a tragic story. That said, the music was boring to me. A troubled manifesto set to acoustic guitar.

I've heard worse

Bit of a mopey fella

Decent album kinda boring 5/10

Indie rock. Very raw, melancholic and angsty music. Gave some nirvana vibes, but not as good. 2/5

Pretty much as boring as the other album we've got ! happy to forget the existence of this music

Liked it but couldn't connect to strongly with anything. 2.5.

Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for an album like this. I can appreciate its melancholic charm and its lo-fi feel, but not sure I’d reach for it when that’s the vibe I’m looking for. I have enough options that do this way better.

Soft rock vibe with soft vocals, very chill vibe.

The opening song is interesting, Speed Trials. Reminds me of some of the lo-fi bands from the early 90's. It quickly goes downhill, every song is so similar and it is way to depressing. I hate the studio tricks he is using on the vocals and the spoken word singing here gets old. For only being 36 minutes it felt like a lot longer than that to get through this thing. I will save about 3 songs to a playlist but that is all I can take of this sad sack album

Bo-Ring. But not as bad as the other Elliott Smith album I had to endure.

This was a struggle took multiple spins to get thru…was better than the last one but I’m not a fan of this dribble

Fine if you’re into it, but he’s just mumbling stuff over an acoustic guitar. It’s kinda a snooze fest.

Meh Not a fan of the vocals on this. The music was alright

ballad of big nothing

Basically the same song 8 times.

I thought this album would have resonated with me more than it did. I found it a bit boring!

Miserable af

Pretty boring

definitely a 90s album. too boring for me.

This is my second Elliott Smith album on this list, and whilst this seemed to fare a little better than the other one it still didn’t do much for me. Nice drum sound on Alameda, and a good production overall, but nothing much appealed to me.

Zzz

привет Ваня! скукотища альбом конечно

ПОЛИНА ПРИВЕТ)

Sad singer-songwriter album with lots of acoustic guitar and whispered vocals. Not really my style but it was a bit less boring than some of the similar albums on this list so far.

I don’t like this. His vocal delivery rubs me the wrong way. The style is overly uniform. The big positive here for me is the guitar playing. I like the guitar work on Angeles quite a bit. I think it’s just not my style because I certainly don’t think this is bad.

Mais uma vez um artista folk, e mais uma vez alguém que não conheço. Fica dificil de comentar sobre, meu tipo de música melancólica e sentimental é bem diferente disso aqui, porém não diria que é ruim. É compreensível quem gosta. Me parece muito trilha sonora de filmes noir (ainda mais com essa artwork onde o artista parece um p*sicop*ta kkk). Interessante. Não é de se jogar fora.

Didnt gel with this. Like listening to a Beatles cover solo artist ok a coustic who doesnt know the words or tune.

Weepy whispery whiny. I do like the low fi recording and the music is pretty good, but the voice spoils it for me.

This is just so incredibly boring.

Try being a bit upbeat now and again.

Eh. Either Or is appropriately titled. Take it or leave it.

this was better than i thought it was gonna be, i did think it was going to be a lot more depressing than it was although the end sort of went in that direction. will have to give it another listen i think

This was just a little dull, unfortunately.

Not very memorable.

Ikke min kopp te, svært forglemmelig.

It was a bit of an odd album to be honest I wasn’t too fond of it it had a couple of alright songs but honestly I wasn’t too into it. Top three: Ballad of Big Nothing, Cupid’s Trick, Rose Parade

All songs sound the same. There was probably one song that I really felt rocked.

Never been the most enthusiastic about Smith (aside from “Needle in the Hay”), but he’s alright

Mum music - mellow guitar singer songwriter stuff. Not my cup of tea.

This wasn't near as good as his figure 8 album. This just sounded like incoherent whispers over a repetitive acoustic guitar. Each song sounded the same. It was as if Paul McCartney lost his voice and only wanted to do slow songs.

Uninspired

Just didn’t hit for me. All the songs blended together and sounded the same. Might be good background listening.

It's alright

Reading the reviews I thought that I’d like this album more than I actually do. I like melodic singer songwriters but this was all a bit beige and nondescript. Even when listening in bed on a Sunday morning, the perfect time for an album such as this, it did nothing for me. 2/5 17/5/26

Not really for me? I don't have much to say about this album, except I liked Figure 8 more. Looking at the other reviews give big "you just had to be there" vibes, but it just hits the one-two punch of boring and depressing that makes an album like sludge to listen to. I think I have an aversion to this kind of acoustic indie folk stylings and can only take it in certain moods. By the end everything sounded the same. It's between a 2 and a 3 for me and I think it would depend on the day. Today it's a 2.

Sad boy songs. Felt like I needed headphones to really appreciate it. I think it didn't catch me on the right day.

His music is fine, but it leans too much on the boring side for me.

..

Nah.

I don’t get him.

The poster child for angst in the 90s. A unique voice and unique playing but not many memorable songs

Started off well but then everything started to sound the same.

2 stars bc i wish i liked it more but if this is the best of elliott smith not my guy i just feel like everyone hypes him he’s prolly beloved by my beloved artists so?

Jesus, cheer up man

not at all related to this album but i just wanted to say that i don't really get the appeal of lana del rey. been too afraid to say that anywhere else. elliott smith sucks

i'm sorry elliott my brain just isn't big enough for ur mellowjams :(

Quickly became repetitive.

Didn't grab me as much as his other album, I felt detached

Yeah this is just way too soft. At least it's short. Frankly, so bland it deserves a 2. I'm bored and I'm 3 songs in. Didn't bother to finish. - Curious soft rock intro - Lame but fine. Kinda emo

I hate myself for saying this, but I didn't really like this album. I understand people love this guy and, I mean, he really is the epitome of sad music but my idea of sad music is it a bit different. Elliot Smith sounds like he wants to go to sleep and never wake up but in a weirdly comforting away, I want to hear pain and emotion, else I'd rather listen to classical music. I get this man was really going through it so this is probably a horrible thing to say (sorry) but there's just this sense of wallowing in self-pity that makes me feel uncomfortable and like I want to distance myself from this... I don't know, maybe that's my inability to deal with other people's emotions coming through here.

Well.... Elliott Smith. Didn't find it objectionable but I didn't really find it engaging either. Kept hearing snippets of other american bands like Pavement, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr, Ween, but nothing on the level of any of those. Fave Track - Rose Parade Least fave - 2.45am 5/10

Olen nüüd kriitiline: see vokaal tüütab kohutavalt ära. See on see 90ndate ja 00ndate õhuline sosistamise vokaal, mis lihtsalt minu jaoks kriibib kõrva täielikult. Lood ise on isegi põnevad (kuigi mitte väga meeldejäävad). Laulmine on täitsa pihta ka, aga see tämber on tõesti kohutav. 2.4/5

This will forever be one of those albums that critics love, and die-hard fans get; just not my style of music. And I am not hearing the guitar-god, genius label some apply.

Toen ie 6 nummers diep in “no name no. 5” zei “I hope you like waiting” zong, bereikte ik wel mijn fysieke staat van verveling. Nee, ik hou niet van wachten, en zeker niet tot dat langzame album van jou nou eens klaar is. Verder wel best wel rustgevende muziek. Het is relaxt, maar het maakt me ook niet warm of koud. Echt muziek op de achtergrond in een koffiezaak. Of in de lift. Of op je iPod omdat dat het enige album was dat iTunes gratis erop zette, en je wil hem nog niet jailbreaken. Of op de radio in de voorbereidingskamer alvorens de verbrandingsovendeur geopend wordt van het crematorium. Dan is elliot smith wat je hoort, en specifiek “say yes”. Super.

Like a slow folksy album. Kinda boring.

I liked how he was inspired by Kierkegaard!! too sad for me though. i liked Angeles. or, i didnt dislike Angeles should i say. also the lyrics pretty good. but overall dry and sad lullabies.

Buena música, pero no es mi estilo . Demaciado romántico para mí gusto

I can't say I care for Elliott Smith's voice. Can't say I care for the aesthetic or songwriting. By the time I break Elliott Smith down, there's not much left for me to enjoy. I may be a little critical. Smith doesn't put me completely off, but he does bore me. I think I may be too old and too emotionally stable to buy in to what Smith is selling.

Well played, production sounded good. I was personally just bored and all the song ran together for me. Not something that I'd want to revisit

yeah, its nice lofi, maybe for my coffee shop ambience

I like depressing music but not this depressing music. Maybe if I started listening to his in my 20’s it would be a different story.

Muy melancólico para mi gusto, pero Between the bars muy buena

This reminds me of a bookshop band that had regular subdued gigs in the '90's. Those bands always made me want to do violence to the band, stage, and pretentious turds shushing those of us who didn't give a crap about your boyfriend's "band." That said, musically, it's not offensive. The guy had his flash from Good Will Hunting, but no matter what Rolling Stone says (i.e., old white guys whose fantasy boyfriends were "with the band"), this dude's no Paul Simon. Not even close. This is a two-star album. I love Good Will Hunting, so I considered a bump, but that's not fair to actual 3* albums. So, this should be replaced on this list by Blind Melon's Blind Melon, which is a solid 4* album. Blind Melon has similarly introspective but vastly superior lyrics, an actually unique sound, a certified smash hit that made an actual cultural impact, and balls.

me gustaron algunas. está bien.

Alright. I get why people liked this, it is musically interesting, but honestly the vocals take a lot out of it for me. They’re very hard to process but not even in the interesting Cocteau Twins or Beck kind of way. It seems like the lyrics should be what carries or maybe justifies the mood/atmosphere but that’s not happening for me. It could just be my problem between my hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties. I enjoy the slightly heavier/grungier stuff but this just isn’t for me.

Some nice ideas but it's so painfully average in it's production and sound with not enough variation or fire.

Fine. Downbeat lyrics make the album feel like a bit of an unenjoyable slog at times, even if it’s fairly short. 2:45 AM the only song I’d maybe listen to again

Not really for me

Overall I thought I would like this a bit more than I did. But I liked 2:45am and Say Yes quite a bit.

Where the heck was that recorded in the submarine?

Slow. Couldn't gather anything special from lyrics or story.

Pretty chill album, got a little boring in the middle, not bad just not memorable.

It was alright, I might have missed something on this album. Not my usual digs.

Singing and musical quality is great but I found myself mostly bored with forgettable songs.