Reviews (page 3 of 14)
I don't listen to a lot of Elliot Smith so I had forgotten how great this album is but GODDAMN. Easily his best album. Favorite track: Pictures of Me 4.5/5
As someone who really doesn't care much about indie folk, or singer songwriter music that much, Elliott Smith is truly great. I don't know if this is going to make sense to anyone else, but I see a lot of the same songwriting techniques in Elliott Smith that I see in Kurt Cobain. They are both super authentic, and able to create amazing catchy melodies, that seem so deceptively simple that anyone could have come up with them. However, Elliot Smith is much more on that sad / somber scale compared to Kurt Cobain's angst and rage. Anyways, I really enjoyed this and have been meaning to listen to it for a while now. Low 5.
What a talent. Managing to make an album sound this good that was recorded in no fewer than four locations, while you play all of the instruments. The production is crisp yet raw. Love the guitar tone.
I am not usually one to talk about how an artist or an album got me through a time period but Elliot Smith might just be one of those artists. This entire album just flows seamlessly and sleepily (in a good way). I feel like I can relate to the subject matter and just immerse myself in the music. I sort of feel like I am in a dream or like when you were a kid looking out of a car window and pretending you were in a music video. So many great tracks here that tear at my heartstrings. I had a decent enough day but this listen still got some tears out of me. i also like the briefer run time. It has zero fat to trim. Standout tracks: Speed Trials, Ballad of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, Angeles, Say Yes. I might as well list the entire track list at this point.
Ok
Another of my all time favourites, and probably his best album.
A lovely little album
Elliot smith has always been the voice for the sad boy era globally. this album in particular is what i mean by it. Recording wise, this album is okay but its not as the album elliott smith elliott smith. but this album is still emotional. Elliott smith is a phenomenal writer ever even if most people does not care about his song.
Elliott wrote all of the music on this album himself. Wrote all the lyrics. Sang everything all by himself. Played all the instruments. The only thing missing from a total DIY experience is for him to help build the studio it was recorded in. He did that for the next album. The point is, Elliott was massively talented and hard working and it really shows on Either/Or. I've loved this album for many years, listened to it many times and it never gets old. The melodies are mesmerising, the lyrics a treasure trove where you discover something new in the words during each listening. The way he used mundane words to express complex situations and emotions, jamming three meaningful ideas into three words, building worlds within his music with so much empathy and expressiveness... He was so quiet but so, so loud.
Great stuff.
I remember being 18 finding this album and listening to it to the point my car CD player wouldn't play it any more.
This is one of a select few albums that I have listened to so much that I can hardly articulate what I want to say about it. But there is one main overarching theme that I always find when listening. And that’s how Smith lays out scenarios, concepts and characters in such a faultless way. This is how it is. Either this or that. It’s also the hallmark of a fantastic album when you couldn’t possibly definitively pick a best and worst track. Maybe it’s the interdependence of this album that makes it so genius. The sort of feeling that’s derived from classic books, the eureka moment that no human feeling is new. Great art is borne of great suffering. And Either / Or is Elliott Smith laying all his cards bare. A ‘portrait of the soul’. A sublime musical and poetic achievement.
10/10
1) Rose Parade 2) Angeles 3) 2:45 Am 4) Say Yes 5) Ballad of Big Nothing The album feels really nostalgic and calming, Songs like Rose Parade have an interesting message on this parade that is supposed to joyful but poor in town are just trying to get by while everyone else celebrates. His whispery singing pairs with the melancholy melodies, and complements the little instrumentation well. The guitar on Angeles is very detailed and the Ballad of Big Nothing chorus singing just hits. The darker emotional tone of 2:45 Am and when the drums come at the end I can't recommend enough every song is amazing
I been on this for a while so this reviews gonna be a bit sweatier. Tracklist Review Tier 1 — Elite • Pictures of Me • Between the Bars • Cupid’s Trick • Say Yes Tier 2 — Good • Big Ballad of Nothing • No Name Number 5 • Rose Parade • Punch and Judy • 2:45 AM Tier 3 — Mid • Speed Trials • Alameda Elliot Smith’s pretty definitive magnum opus. It’s the only folk album I could compare to Carrie and Lowell. His sound is so distinct, it’s hard to describe. The songwriting has both a poetic and raw, unfiltered side to it, and the contrast works perfectly. The acoustics are amazing, but more importantly, his voice comes through so immaculately at almost all times. The soft delivery, along with the layering and occasional reverb, is CINEMA. I wouldn’t say the album is perfect, as it comes through a little inconsistent, but the highs are so high and the lows don’t go very low. I’d go in the 9.4–9.7 range.
This album sounds good top 3 songs 1 Between the bars 2 Say yes 3 Ballad of big nothing all 10/10 songs 9.3/10
not my favorite elliott smith but still solid gold to me.
;_;
One of my big musical regrets is not seeing Elliott Smith live. I came to him late, near the end of his life, and it just didn't happen. I don't know Either/Or as well as his self-titled album, but this has a ton of songs on it that I like quite a bit. I should be listening to it more.
Awesome. Exactly the kind of artist I wanted to pick this up for. Wasn't sure at first but the music is really subtle in the ways that it keeps you pulled in. Feeling some Beatles influence here definitely.
Speed Trials - 5/5 Alameda - 5/5 Ballad of Big Nothing - 5/5 Between the Bars - 5/5 Pictures of Me - 5/5 No Name No. 5 - 4/5 Rose Parade - 5/5 Punch and Judy - 3/5 Angeles - 5/5 Cupid's Trick - 5/5 2:45 AM - 5/5 Say Yes - 5/5 Average score: 4.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ god this man was so fucking talented and influential, i remain devastated to this day that he isn't here to see the impact his music has had. the songwriting, the production, the multitracked vocals, the dreariness... he's inspired many of my favs, but Elliott's still considered one of the best in this genre i think there's still a couple albums in his discography i gave heard in full, but i'm pretty sure everything he's ever made will be 4+ stars at least, if not 5's across the board
Confession time: I am a sucker for the ’90s Pacific Northwest music scene. In a way, it was raw, unhinged and at the same time as beautiful as the Oregon coastline. The number of great musicians and bands from that time and place is just mind-blowing. And yet, Elliott Smith managed to stand out from the highly gifted and wildly creative pack. So much has been said about Either/Or, and I don’t really have anything new to add. Only this: when I look at the cover now, I’m reminded that I loved this album so much back in the day that my adoration for Either/Or overshadowed his entire discography. Today, I’ve finally come to terms that Figure 8 at least matches (if not surpasses) the brilliance of Either/Or. Elliott Smith was a truly unique songwriter: Someone whose kind doesn’t roam the earth or grace our ears and hearts very often. Even though many of his recordings come from dark places, the songs on Either/Or bring an unlikely sense of comfort; the lush, restrained arrangements can really lull you in. I’m so glad we had Elliott Smith among us, and that he chose to lay his idiosyncratic songwriting and angelic melodies to tape. Too bad his life ended so abruptly and far too early. We miss you, Elliott - and there are hardly any better voices to turn to in the search for solace than yours.
love this sad dude and his songs
Another very pleasant surprise that I'm happy I gave a go. I always wanted to explore Elliott Smith's music more and I'm glad this was the one, great album!
Dark and emotional
256/1089 - When I first listened to this I didn't expect to like it since I'm not huge on folk or indie but I ended up really enjoying Either / Or a lot and it eventually became one of my favorite albums! Wispy voice that worked very well with the creative guitars and drums. Extremely strong melodies throughout, just a great album. I like XO and Figure 8 a lot too.
I was walking home to my flat after a night out when it started pouring down. I ducked into a bar to get out of the rain and ended up catching the end of someone's open mic set. I was utterly captivated with the song I was hearing and having picked out some of the lyrics, I ran home before I would forget them (my phone was long out of battery). After a bit of drunk Googling at a stupid time of the morning, I learned that the song was called Needle In The Hay by some guy called Elliott Smith. I've been a diehard fan ever since that day (which I realise was 15 years ago now; christ I'm old). While the self titled album will always be my favourite on the whole, Either/Or contains some of Elliott's best songs. Between The Bars is the closest he came to a true hit single, Angeles has the most covertly complex guitar work I've ever heard on an acoustic song, and Say Yes is a beautiful bittersweet closer with some rare hope for an Elliott Smith song. The man never released a bad song, and even the droves of unreleased work that has been "released" since his untimely passing has been better than most other bands' entire catalogues. Elliott with a true one of a kind, and it's my biggest regret that I found out about him too late, but his work continues to give so much, and with a huge quantity of live recordings from fans kicking about the Internet, thankfully there will always be plenty of his work to be listened to.
my smile faded when i saw this album was next
Absolutely fantastic album by a much missed genius. Stunning songs with beautifully simple production focusing on the arrangements and that fragile voice . So good I own at least 5 copies of it
There are some voices that I'll never get tired of, and Elliott Smith's is one of them.
Elliott Smith debía de tener una de las almas más hermosas del mundo. Letras fantásticas, ambiguas, llenas de significados pero con líneas que van directo al cuore, cantadas con una emoción que corta como el diamante, y con arreglos alucinantes, super creativos. Me hace acordar mucho a John Lennon. En fin, Either/Or es un disco espléndido que se va a ganar 5 estrellitas. Es mi tercer disco favorito de SM, hay un par de canciones que no me dicen tanto, pero después me parece sobresaliente en todo. Es de esos que tendrían 4,5 estrellitas si esta página me dejara la opción. Musicalmente este es el último disco de Smith que es básicamente acústico, aunque hay guitarras eléctricas en algunas canciones, como Alameda, y la presencia de instrumentos de banda, como batería, en varias de las canciones. El disco abre muy bien con cuatro canciones que hablan sobre adicciones de manera muy diversa. Acá están mis dos canciones favoritas del disco (Alameda y Between the Bars). Eso no quiere decir que ahí se acaba la diversión. Recién comienza, después tenemos Pictures of Me, temazo beatlesco con letras de auto-odio. No Name #5 sigue en la línea del auto-odio, pero es una de las canciones del disco que me gustan menos. Tiene arreglos interesantes, pero nunca pude conectar mucho con este tema (Para ser sincero, lo asocio con Roman Candle, disco que no me gusta mucho). Y otra vez más en Rose Parade. Lo interesante es que Elliott Smith revisita estas sensaciones desde distintos puntos de vista. Si en Pictures of Me, Smith renegaba de la imagen que construían los demás sobre él, acá él mismo se retrata como distanciado de la "gente" que va al desfile. La música no me gusta tanto como la de las primeras cinco canciones, pero es decente y es una vuelta a la forma, después del tema 6. Volvemos a romperla toda con Punch and Judy. Es la canción más optimista del disco pero igual es para cortarse las venas. Punch y Judy aparentemente son dos marionetas populares en EEUU. Smith las usa como una metáfora del distanciamiento de dos personas (a partir de este punto es que el disco se empieza a poner más -no-romántico*). *Menos en el tema que sigue, Angeles, una crítica no al capitalismo, pero sí al exitismo y consumismo de Los Ángeles. Aparentemente en varias canciones del disco hay referencias a Los Angeles (malo) y Portland (bueno), pero esas referencias se nos escapan a los que no somos de ahí. La música del tema es de las mejores del disco. 2:45 es una canción que musicalmente no me gusta tanto, pero con una letra más filosa que varias espadas, hablando sobre el abuso sexual. Entiendo que podría ser un tema autobiográfico y hablar sobre como lo abusó su padrastro. Cupid's Trick y Say Yes son canciones de desamor. La primera la interpreto con como nos engañamos cuando nos enamoramos (ojo, también podría ser sobre la droga -!-). También esta puede ser la canción menos depresiva del disco. Es la más rockera, por cierto, y Say Yes, mi tercera canción favorita del disco, una idealización del amor que nunca se va a concretar. La melodía es tan pero tan bella que me hace llorar. Me pasa lo mismo con The Biggest Lie, el cierre del disco anterior. Ahora que terminé de hacer la reseña creo que estoy más cerca del 5 que del 4,5 (?). Solo No Name #5 no me convence mucho.
Heard it before. Oh what a fantastic album. Very powerful despite the very lofi instrumentation 5/5
What an album. I may be a bit biased because Smith is my favorite solo artist ever, but honestly I wouldn't even consider this his best as I think his later albums eclipsed this record due to their more refined songwriting and orchestration. Despite that, you can still see his true musical talent shining through this entire album, probably due to its stripped-back production. I think a lot of people only think of his music as being sad, but damn he is also just a lyrical and melodic genius and that's the aspect of his music that's most apparent to me. This album also makes me so nostalgic for Portland, where I lived in high school. Much love for this album, especially the songs Alameda, Rose Parade, and Ballad of Big Nothing. Til we meet again, when I inevitably get Figure 8!
Elliott Smith is not someone I had heard of previously, but his melancholic indie sound and deep lyrical themes really resonated with me. I also liked how unpolished it all sounded... As someone who wrestles with perfectionism in songwriting, I feel like this makes me feel better about things not having to sound exactly perfect. I will be listening to more of his stuff for sure.
his album is like whispering your secrets into a dusty tape recorder and then listening back years later just to hear yourself bleed. It’s fragile, bruised, hauntingly intimate. Elliott Smith doesn’t sing at you—he sings near you, like someone mumbling confessions in the next room. Acoustic heartbreak meets lo-fi whispers, stitched together with melodies so sad they loop in your head like intrusive thoughts. Rating: 5/5 Short Review: The kind of album that makes you look out a rainy window even if it’s not raining. Favorite Track: “Between the Bars” — because it feels like addiction, love, and self-sabotage all sitting at the same dimly lit bar.
Beautiful. Really enjoyed it.
Love this dude. So 90’s.
10/10 I know it’s an unpopular opinion that I prefer Figure 8 to this, but I still think this is a truly incredible album with so many fantastic songs
Very chill vibe
So Incredible!!!
Great album among many of Elliot Smith. What a loss.
90s bias here, but love this album
Havde hørt før men det havde aldrig rigtig klikket før! Det gjorde det *virkelig* den her gang. All timer, kun gode sange.
Very lovely also quite sad
Just a really sweet record. Probably his best and again makes me wish I had more of a lyrically bent brain.
obsessed in the best way possible. brings up so many feeelings always and reminds of my first apt in echo park. such a soothing voice he had
masterpiece
Brilliant singer, brilliant lyricist. So sad that he left us too early.
Loved this one, hadn’t heard of Elliott Smith before and reading about him made this one hit even harder. Also went back and listened to his self titled album which is also phenomenal both of them are now in my digital collection.
Love it, this is him at his best. Beautiful craft to these songs.
Beautiful beautiful raw album Slight Beatles undertones in a few songs
Wow!
This was great
My favorite Elliott Smith and an overall favorite album in general.
I've lost track of how many times I've heard this one. One of my personal favourites. 5
Surprisingly good, great and unusual harmonies, more instrumentation than expected from singer/songwriter, I liked it a lot. Makes me want to listen more of him. 4.5
One of the biggest influences on my teen angst years
Brilliant.
Is it possible to hear this record and not feel immediately enshrouded in the most sanguine and coddling melancholy? A weighted blanket of comforting sad; permission to fuck it all off and wallow. Wallow we can, but only for so long. By the time “Between the bars” has thrown you around with its sharp inversions and “Pictures of me” has dared to put you in mind of musicians no less vaunted as T-Rex and The Beatles you’re awkwardly close to having to admit there’s real depth under that mirrored sheen of self-soothing. The one-two punch of “Angeles” (perfect, perfect song) and “Cupid’s Trick”; “2:45 AM” … the ven diagram of wonderful songs on this album and its tracklist is a circle. And on it goes – variations on a theme, but always with something uniquely arresting about them. Tremolo guitars, drum kits apparently made of boxes, double-tracked vocals that refuse to aspire to total symmetry, a full band rock out; none of it a gimmick, all of it in service of the feeling. Elliott Smith’s genius – and it was genius – wasn’t in identifying that feeling out of love is as powerful and unifying an experience as falling into it, that’s been known for ages. His genius was in isolating that prickling, nagging, insistent shame and turning it into something else entirely. A shared thing. Nothing to be ashamed of. Troubadour Young Werther; you deserve to be happy, too.
Love this album.
Very relaxing album I enjoyed listening to this
One of my favorite albums of any time and certainly the 90s. It still sounds great and pretty timeless to me. Ballad of Big Nothing is my favorite slacker anthem. My 21 year old daughter, who loves Elliott Smith, was born on the same day he died and likes to imagine some piece of him was reborn with her. :)
5/5 - You need to hear this because Smith’s influence keeps living on. The whispered melodies and spare production keep the focus on the songwriting here, so I like this even more than XO I think. I’m glad this album came up because it had been a good long while since I sat with some of these songs. Great stuff.
Awesome
A beautiful bummer of an album. I was too hard on the first ES album we got, I think because at 35 with three children and a happy marriage I have very little use for depression or nihilism or sadness that feels performative in any way. But that doesn’t mean ES doesn’t have some pretty special songs or that his misery isn’t exquisitely expressed. Angeles, say yes, between the bars and rose parade were all songs I listened to all the time as a moody teen, and the fact that listening to them now I can picture exactly where I was the last time I heard them and how I was feeling at the time is a testament to their power and specificity. This is a great album I won’t ever listen to again (unless I ever get divorced).
Some of his strongest songs - Between the Bars, Say Yes, Angeles, Ballad of Big Nothing. Great acoustic guitar parts, songwriting, and melodies, everything song is catchy and pretty memorable, if a bit dour. Will need to compare this to Figure 8 at some point - very different production just from the few songs I went back to today.
Um lindo disco que já foi trilha sonora de lindos momentos na vida de muita gente, incluindo a minha. É difícil pra mim desvincular a imagem dele do filme Good Will Hunting, por exemplo. É um álbum bem cinemático mesmo, muito fácil sonhar acordado enquanto o ouve, pensar em cenários impossíveis, em memórias agridoces, em rostos deformados pela indiferença. Um LP para sonhadores e amantes. Logo de cara, você é pego de surpresa pelas composições minimalistas e pelos vocais íntimos. Ouvir este álbum no escuro faz parecer que o Elliot está no quarto comigo. Err. Sem maldade. Gosto muito da percussão, e as canções climáticas como 2:45 AM e Cupid’s Trick são incrivelmente satisfatórias. Fico perto de deduzir meia estrela da nota final por conta de uma certa monotonia que te ataca bem no meio do disco. O início e o fim deles são brilhantes, catalogados pela incrível combinação de abertura Speed Trials -> Alameda -> Ballad of Big Nothing -> Between The Bars. Seu final também é grandioso com Angeles -> Cupid’s Trick -> 2:45 AM -> Say Yes. Mas, o que se encontra no meio pode ficar na mesmisse. São lindas faixas e maravilhosas canções, porém, elas não impressionam tanto quanto as sequências de início e fim. Mas, sendo bem justo, é impossível deduzir qualquer fração da nota dessa obra só por conta disso! E não serei injusto com esse álbum tão belo, importante, e influente. 5/5
love this album. Easy 5/5.
very nice very
This one's a little tough for me to review. One of the few albums where I'll really have to dig into it multiple times. That said, I think I have listened to this before, it's just been so long that I don't remember it at all. But I'm really liking what I'm hearing. Very subdued but beautiful album that has a ton of unique little vocal tricks and guitar licks. I've heard music similar to this, but never music that is so specific on the little details. And everytime I get to a song that I think is just gonna peter out, he opens it up for a great finale, lik 2:45 AM. To my ears, kinda sits somewhere between a folk version of Nirvana and Foo Fighters. I'll have to dig around, but there's a specific Foos song that sounds like a lot of this album, especially Ballad of Big Nothing (which also sounds like a Foos song name). Other good tracks are Alameda and Cupid's Trick, but honestly the whole thing is great. Definitely one I'll be listening to through the rest of the day. Edit: I'm thinking of the Foos song Big Me.
One of my favourites of all time
I love this album. An artist I wish I could've witnessed live. This album was important to me when I was an emo teenager, and it is still just as important to me now, as an emo adult.
One of the best
One of the best albums ever made imo
I had never heard of Elliott Smith but was awestruck by how good this album is, and how it feels like it has always been with me. It is like a missing piece of my jigsaw puzzle that this album just slid into.
It's sad.. real sad
Beyond disappointed in myself for never listening to him sooner but glad I finally had a reason to. This album is great, it's so much of what I love about 90's american indie/folk/lo-fi music. Well crafted songs presented in an authentic package with no big studio production, just intimate performances and excellent song writing. Favourites - Speeds Trials, Alameda, Ballad Of Big Nothing, Pictures Of Me, Rose Parade, Punch and Judy, Angeles, Cupids Trick, Say Yes
I've always loved this album. When I first came across Elliott in college this was the first I heard. Between the Bars, Angeles, Say yes. So many great tracks on here. This might be one that you have to find at the right time, and I did so it gets a 5 from me.
It’s not cold enough and I’m not depressed enough right now, but it has been before and I have been many times before, and I’m sure it will be and I will be again very soon, and when that happens, this gorgeous little lo-fi observational album made for walking 75 blocks instead of taking the train will keep me good company while I do just that and ponder my life and take in the autumn air in an attempt to clear my head.
INCREDIBLY GOOD ATMOSPHERIC VIBES
Awesome album. Right in the 35 minute sweet spot. Really hit the anxious Charlie g-spot. Well balanced mix and cool vocal double ups. Very soft, but didn't feel weak at any times. Definitely going to learn some of these songs on my guitar. I think this might be the first album in a while that gets a 5 from me. Will definitely be doing a deep dive on this fella. Haven't given him the listening that he deserves. The conspiracy theories around his gf stabbing him also add to ambiance of this album. idk why
A gamechanger for me.
This is a really great album. Bummer that he gets lumped in with lo-fi sad-bois (nothing wrong with lo-fi sad-bois), since he had this really angry edge buried under the melodies. These could very easily be remixed with distortion into solid pop punk, not luckily Smith wanted to do this thing instead. Not a single filler track here.
Perfection ruined my life 10/10
This album feels like spending hot summer days in somebody else's basement, plucking at guitars and dreaming about imaginary women.
Elliott we miss you and your genius
Yes love it love it!
I will always and forever adore this album. A wonderful little intimate, heartbreaking, mirror-like package wrapped in a dulcet voice that fell into my lap exactly when I needed it. <3
Beautiful record! Amazing! I'd heard songs by Elliot Smith before mostly because the algorithms seem to think I'd like it, which was true. This is one of those artists who I always intended to explore further, but never did. Listen blind notes: the music production was textured and precise (in a good way). The instrumentation was well executed, especially the guitar and Smith has an amazing voice. Excellent album for chilling at home on a quiet night or while crunching numbers. Revisit this one with headphones. Post-listen notes: Holy shit, apparently Smith played all of the instruments and much of this album was Smith recording different tracks in his home and these combined later by producer collaborators. Even more impressive. Another artist who died tragically young, which is becoming such a strong trend here that is it getting creepy. I don't know why I haven't explored Smith earlier. I'd obviously heard him referenced by others, on various "Top *00" lists. I liked what I'd heard. Thanks to this project I finally did and I will definitely be exploring more further. Unfortunately, Smith died too young so his discography is somewhat limited, but I intend to consume all of it. While consensus on any top list is impossible, discoveries like this are what makes exploring this list a rewarding project.
Favorites: Speed Trials, Between the Bars, Say Yes One of my favorite albums of all time. Elliott Smith’s vulnerable vocals paired with his excellent songwriting and understated instrumentals make this one of if not the best singer-songwriter records of the 20th century. Possibly of all time if I really think about it.
Beautiful voice and just sounds so good. This album has aged gracefully over the years. I'm here for it.
Perfect! Soothing and calm for when you want those type of vibes. Spun it twice
awesome music
i accidentally made my review on lukas account by accident soz but anyways awesome music
sweet sugar swinging so softly sings super soft sexy songs
luv elliot smith
This album still cuts deep. Such a great talent.
Holy shit. Eliott Smith started the whole [sad] indie singer/songwriter thing - he has influenced probably all of my favorite [modern] artists. This album is it. The one. So good.
I didn’t want to be obvious but I don’t see any flaws with this record.
I remember listening to this album about 1 year ago after discovering Elliott's self-titled record, and I though that it was just decent. And to think that now I love it. Elliott's voice and style of playing the guitar are so intimate, soothing and fragile. Some great examples would be the songs 'Speed Trials', 'Between the Bars' or 'Angeles'. But he also has incredible powerful performances, specially in 'Pictures of me' or 'Ballad of Big Nothing'. When you are in the right mood, this album hits so hard. That's why it grew on me so much, because the second time I've ever listened to this album, I was in the right humor for it. Now, thankfully, the timing of this list was in my favor, as I've been feeling a bit down lately. If I didn't have the proper state of mind, this album would never made into my personal collection. Immaculate.
Sadly, I never heard of Elliott Smith before listening to this record. I can assure you that Elliott Smith is now added to my playlists. Excellent album and I’m happy to listen to it again.
Perfect album, not a skip on the entire thing. Maybe it just hit me at the perfect time in my youth.
Such a great album and artist. Can listen start to finish on repeat. Great to have a true 5 stars once again.
greatest album of all time
Great
hit me hard as hell on a rough day. beautiful amazing
drink up baby 😢 stay up all night 😭
A beautiful, painful album. I love it.
Man, I listened to this album all the time in high school. This was great when you were a sad teenager feeling things so acutely and you wanted to throw more sad stuff on it for some reason. This album had the saddest song I’d ever heard (Between the Bars) and eventually I just couldn’t listen to it anymore. It was too fucking sad. It was a beautiful sunny Memorial Day weekend when I pulled this album and I was nervous it would ruin my day, but I listened to while getting ready and it is still just as beautiful as it was to me decades ago. What a great album, I’m glad to see it here.
Величайший сэдбой в истории сингер-сонграйтерства с его лучшим альбомом. Ключевой альбом в становлении моего внутреннего сэдбоя и формировании вообще любви к этому инди-фолк звуку. Эти песни были со мной в моменты, когда хотелось уебаться головой в стену, но также и когда я будто бы был на вершине мира - странным образом мой комфорт альбом. Выбрать лучшую песню очень трудно. Здесь есть очевидная величайшая песня всех времен и народов, но сегодня я чувствую Лучшая песня - Angeles.
I've never heard of them. Back in 1997 when this was released I was stuck in a relationship, but had two wonderful children. Around that time me and my partner started fucking again, like rabbits, fuck knows what was going on, maybe they were on a guilt trip or something, but we ended up having a third child in 98. Before this I wasn't sure what to do, 'either' I was going to leave, 'or' I was going to fuck my way out. So the question was: either/or? I never knew other people also had this on their minds, let alone call an album by the name. Anyways, I looked for the track of the same name for clues as to my destiny in the lyrics, but there is none, so thats it, I had to listen to the whole album. I left the mad fucking ahole five years later when I could take it no longer. Maybe around the time Elliot took their life, sad face. There is always sad shit behind the stories of people that decide that they either stay, or go. Sometimes tragically, where people run out of options. RIP Elliott Smith, and all those gone too soon. I found the lyrics on the last track, say yes. Back when this was released, I was an alcoholic, and would always say yes to another drink, but always felt like shit the morning after. The situation was fucked up. I loved the way Elliott cleared his throat at the beginning of this track, a human. I listened to this album three times. Thank you for your contribution to this sorry arsed planet that humans are trying their hardest to fuck up. There is still delight to be had. Best songs; Punch & Judy, 2:45am, Say Yes. Fucking awesome album. •••••
I was a big fan of American Beauty when it came out. A big part of that was the soundtrack, especially the final song, a cover of the Beatles’ “Because” by some guy named Elliott Smith. I bought Either Or along with a few other albums one day, listened to it once and said “oh… well… they can’t all be great, I wonder if the used CD guy will take this” A few days later I gave it another try and it clicked. I became a huge fan overnight and even saw Smith the last time he came to Philly. So… yeah. I dig this one.
Kärt återseende , en av hans bästa album
Very touching, and sad.
This album brings back memories of living in LA and discovering so many great artists on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" show. And also trekking around Santa Monica and Venice every weekend to various Used CD stores to find the most unique and hip new music. I tend to be drawn to sad, deeply intense and heartfelt Indie rock and folk music, and Elliot Smith is one of the best.
I think I've been hearing his influence my whole life without really knowing it. Great album.
I hated the mixing in the vocals on the first track. Other than that this was a good time. I loved say yes and pictures of me. Good album
Elliott Smith feels like the Wes Anderson of musicians. His work is beautiful, but is always tinged with sadness, longing, and nostalgia. He uses a lot of modal mixture to straddle that line between hope and despair. It's a masterfully crafted album and made me cry more than once. Favorite tracks: Alameda, Cupid's Trick
Happy to have a repeat of Elliott Smith. Another brilliant album I listened to on repeat.
It's not quite 'Figure 8' for me, but it's still absolutely perfect!
This is relevant context for many of my reviews, and I’ll probably mention it more than once. But basically, a combination of genuinely difficult life circumstances, arrogance, and naivete resulted in me being completely out of the loop of pop culture for years, starting around ’97 and ending finally around ’04. I’ve filled in some of the gaps since then, but this was my late teens/early twenties, when my cohort were laying down Important Memories, and I totally missed out on that stuff. So I still haven’t seen Good Will Hunting, and until now I never got around to listening to any Elliot Smith. But wow, I definitely missed out on this one. Honestly, I’m glad I only heard it now because I doubt I’d have appreciated it, but I’ve already listened to this a few times in the past couple days and I see it staying in rotation for a while.
I don't gravitate towards these type of records any longer, but I think that the skill and artistry is undeniable.
Tragic. Beautiful.
Haunting fairytale with an open ending. Between the bars, 2:45, angeles
The intro to Between the Bars gives me goosebumps. Such a beautiful song. I’ve been anticipating this album for some time. When I’ve dipped my toes previously the water has been so warm. If I could nitpick the album there are some tracks that feel like they would be better tracks with larger instrumentation behind them. That might be true of the section from Pictures of Me to Rose Parade. Still, great album, great voice, RIP Fave Tracks: Speed Trials, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me, No Name No. 5, Cupid’s Trick, Say Yes 4.5/5
Lovely album!
Fav: Alameda, Ballad of Nothing, Pictures of Me, Cupids Trick, 2:45 AM, Say Yes
top 5 melhores álbuns pra fazer mariana-bh quando se tem 18 anos e muita bosta na cabeça esse é atemporal
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WHENEVER YOU WANT TO lindo lindo lindo. esse aí me acompanhou bastante meados de 2016. que deus o tenha
Elliott's one of those artists who gets a little bit better each time I listen to him. Very easy to dismiss as slacker rock, but there's something heartbreakingly beautiful and melancholic about it as well, like he's super smart and obviously knew his intentions.
Omg mina notes försvann
This was an influential album for me during my teenage years along with the rest of Smith's discography.
i already love this album so much. zero skips for me (maybe cupid's trick tho) the lyrics and melodies are just too good. rip. fun facts: 1. he doesn't like cupid's trick. 2. miss misery by elliott is a good will hunting song and was nominated best original song at the oscars :D kinda strange. fav tracks: speed trials ballad of big nothing between the bars angeles 2:45 am say yes
Angles is one of my top 10 songs of all time, Either/Or is one of my top 10 albums of all time
Really good.
WARNING: THIS ALBUM MIGHT MAKE YOU CRY I might just be deep in my feelings right now but this really hit just right where I needed it. I've spent years trying to get into Elliott Smith and it finally clicked. So many Portland references littered throughout the lyrics which is appreciated if you have ever lived there. Alameda, The Big Ballad Of Nothing, and Say Yes are my favorite tracks off of the album but every song is solid.
Elliott Smith is perfect at making music that's sad, bordering on depressing, but without being pretentious. The genuine raw emotion in this album is like nothing I've ever heard and yet still feels so real and relatable.
I mean of course this wasn't the first listen of this album. This is one of , if not the best singer songwriter album of all time. Every song is so simple and so beatiful and as usual in Elliott's discography very depressing music. Not only the album has amazing songs as I said but in addition it has between the bars. Like that song is just up there in the all timers category. First 9.5-10/10 in this 1001 albums challenge.
Ja, geweldig album he. Ideaal voor 's avonds naar huis te rijden ofzo. Of op elk ander moment ook. 4.7
already know and love; literally perfect
An easy 5 from me. Smith has a way of drawing me in and holding me in his perspective. The songs barely hold together in the best way and the lyrics are HEAVY.
This is maybe the easiest five I’ve given so far. This is completely my taster in music. The man’s voice is so nice, and everything wraps together into a beautifully mentally ill package. I can absolutely see how Phoebe Bridger’s had pulled from his music for inspiration. I’m also realizing how much of the music I listen to probably has allusions to these songs that I’ve just never noticed. This entire album will quickly be integrated into my regular listening I’m sure.
I first listened to this album late last year because I was told it was one of the greats. And I remember listening to it and wondered how was this one of the greats. I felt as though I wasted my time with it. Needless to say, I did not love the album. In fact, honestly, I’m still not sure if I even love it. I’m still not sure if I even get it. Further, I honestly don’t even have half a clue what Elliot Smith is saying in his lyrics through this album. The music itself is not even that interesting or exciting. His voice is certainly nothing to write home about either. Nothing he does is really that innovative or creative. These common criticisms of the album I have shared and still share with many. And yet, beyond all of that, as I have listened to this album countless times since my first listen, I have noticed there is a resonating feeling deep behind the fleshy hollow gorges of my soul whenever I listen to this album that somehow, perhaps through the aether of the universe, connects me with the music contained herein. Truly, it is a beautiful, sacred, and hallowing experience listening to this album. It’s a quiet and careful experience, however, one that if you divert your focus away from it for even a second you risk missing out on the whole thing. It’s a simulacrum if Elliott’s own mental state, he invites us into the delicate space of his mind that is at such odds with itself (“either/or”) that even the slightest distraction will make it impossible to hear the quiet voices that are behind the brain static we coat ourselves with. The pure and raw emotional depth of this record is unparalleled by nearly any other music I have heard. His soul aches, and the voices, when you hear them, yearn. Power lies in subtlety.
One of those albums i cant say much more about. I absolutely love this album. Its a really cozy album but behind the indie folky instrumentation is some really fantastic songwriting which adds to elliot's stellar acoustic guitar playing 10/10 Favourite: 2:45 AM Least Favourite: None
Impressively expressive and unique without sacrificing melody
Woooooooo
Two things stand out to me listening to this album now: First, you can tell it was recorded to tape in someone's basement in the 90s— probably the golden age of basement recording. (It wouldn't be long before computers and digital recording would change a lot of things.) Second, it's an historically great album with an understated and unique kind of beauty.
fav
Dazzling.
Sadgasm but yeah this is it
I am quite familiar with Elliot Smith, for me his songs always feel melancholic like there is a certain sadness to his works. Upon looking up this album which btw the only song I knew in this particular album was Say Yes and I believe this might just have been the time where I sat down and listened to the entirety of this album. It is no doubt intimate but not in a romantic way, a haunting experience since I do struggle with existentialism, self-destruction, and self-doubt as well as the failure to achieve inner peace. I certainly feel biased rating this as this feels rather personal.
Superb. Will be spinning this record again
Elliot Smith is one I wish I discovered earlier. Beautiful and sad. Truly masterful work.
the permanent soundtrack to my degree, many moons ago
Not too much to say other than Elliott was a masterful songwriter who's albums speak to me on levels I simply can't put into works. This is simply a perfect album, literally no skips. Fav tracks: "speed trails" "ballad of big nothing" "rose parade"
Amazing album, just so good
I was always a self-titled truther for a long time & hadn't listened to this album in a bit. Rolling it on its' 38th anniversary feels like fate and I finally understand. Listened multiple times yesterday, highly enjoyable. May be music for sad people but dammit if between the bars isn't one of the best songs ever written
This album defined who I wanted to be when I was in high school. That's how I wanted to sing; how I wanted to play guitar; how I wanted to walk down the street.
Amazing singer songwriter with some of my all time favorite songs (Between the Bars). I could listen to this album on repeat (and did, in fact, listen to it back to back several times yesterday). I'm glad this project reminded me that Elliott Smith is amazing because I had forgotten his work.
Another great album. He really manages to conjure that sadness with his beautiful voice and playing. 5 stars
One of the great albums from the 1990s.
Classic. Best Elliott
Wow, two of my favorite albums in a row. This album is as close to perfect as an album can get for me. The double tracked vocals over Elliott's complex yet effortless guitar riffs and the expert production of the album makes it seem like he's whispering his poetry directly into your head. The flow between upbeat and uplifting songs and heartbreaking downtempo songs is unrivaled. The fact that he wrote the lyrics and orchestrated the music, sang vocals, and played guitar, drums, piano and bass on this album blows my mind. I wouldn't even say this is his best album, but it's still a 5/5
Soft sad boy music. I'm supposed to know Elliott Smith because he's a progenitor of everything I love in music. But I'd never at listened to him until now. This is very good. Ballad of Big Nothing is great. My own tastes usually prefer a grittier voice, but this is really solid stuff. Damn this whole thing is great. might pull me into softboi indie jams again
Beautifully made album. Every song just hits like a truck. Elliott Smith had the perfect voice for his kind of music, I don't think anybody else sounds quite like him. Guitar work is superb as well, I heard it was in weird tunings that not even Elliott Smith knows what they are
This album keeps getting better with each re-listen. Elliotts best work in my opinion. A masterpiece from start to finish. So well made. Everything from the production to the singing to the instrumentation and songwriting complement each other perfectly. Not a song, lyric, or note out of place on the entire record. It really easily and simply transports you right into his world so effortlessly. So few albums do that as effectively. It’s got great range. Songs from all walks of life that still feel connected. It feels like it was crafted with great care and caution. One of my favorites of all time. Really good shit here. 5/5
A true, deep, powerful classic album.
One of the greatest albums of all time. Surprised by how familiar I have been with the album this generator has given me so far, though I certainly don't know more than ~30% of the albums on the list. What's there to say? An album that artists (mostly unsuccessfully) try to recreate over and over because it's so damn good. Angeles has one of the 10 greatest guitar parts of all time. The guitar solo on Say Yes is fucking insane. 2:45 AM and Between the Bar are brutal. Every song here is endlessly catchy and has stuck in my head since I first heard this at 13 years old.
Now this is some fine shit
Soooooo good
I had a tough time writing something that wasn’t verbose, or sound phoney… Anyway, to me this is songwriting brilliance. Maybe I’m just a victim of gravitating to emotionally vulnerable music.
Wow loved this one
This is already one of my favourite albums ever made. I absolutely love Elliot Smith, and I consider Either/Or to be his greatest work. This album consists of nothing but brutal honesty, Elliot consistently shares his deepest emotions, fears, and traumas. A lot of songwriting on this record focuses on the topic of abuse he suffered in his younger years, and the way he bares his heart open to the world is very striking. Musically I think this is just a beautiful record, it’s raw and genuine and real, it never feels forced or overproduced. This is one of those albums that you feel more than you hear. It’s so incredibly powerful that I’m afraid my words here cannot do it justice. It’s literally impossible to pick a favourite song on this record, because each song is just as incredible as the last. I’ve probably listened to this record a thousand times in my life, and I’m sure that I’ll continue to play it regularly for the rest of my life. Rest in Peace, Elliot. 5*
Really enjoyed this, reminded me of a laid-back Guster. Super chill, perfect length to not overstay its welcome and easy for subsequent listens.
Sad boy pretty tunes
Now that's what I call music. Just wonderful album. Next to no weak tracks and the good ones are so good it hurts.
Sounds like a Twilight movies soundtrack in the best way possible
I thinkh Elliott Smith is genius, I think this album is heartbreaking and fascinating in all aspects. I've been loving this album for a long time but only today I realised how MUCH I fucking love this album. I wish I could erase my memory and listen to it for the first time again. In my toughest moments I can find comfort and support and sympathy and solidarity in this only album. And that is because I feel like through this album Elliott Smith takes a share of every listener's suffer and pain.
It's a damn classic, no question. Some of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear in your life. He just had a knack for writing magical tragic songs, taken from us far too soon. Not a weak point in his entire discography.
Yippe!! Getting this album on blue Monday made my life so much better. Easiest 5 stars ever. Love you elliott
Perfect 👌
I feel like this album grows on you, it has a great indie lofi rock sound and he has a great quiet voice that is also loud. Speed trials is a great song and a highlight on the album. My favorite track was Punch and Judy, the instrumental perfectly complemented his voice. Initial rating: 9/10 or 4.5/5
Perfection from an artist we lost far too soon. Elliott‘s music could be deceptively simple sounding but the lyrics and music contain depths and layers that were carefully crafted. I love what we were given from him and mourn what could have been.
No private session need for Spotify, I have listened to this one a lot, usually my first album of the day. So many good mellow, but rocking, songs on this album. All the songs are good, but "Between Bars" standouts out in a collection of great ones, painfully easy to relate to given some of my relationships and issues with booze. Elliot is a great guitar player and song writer, who left us too soon, luckily for us he left with a few awesome albums, including this one.
love it. great all around.
Amazing album. No notes.
9/10
Definitely my favourite E. Smith
I knew I was going to love this album right away
Later than the other Glad I could bother The loudest quiet song In my head they belong Last year's soundtrack Emotions it doesn't lack Pure iridescent pain unwavering beautiful gain
Elliot Smith was a special talent and a tortured soul. I've listened to this album a hundred times, but I still manage to find something new every time.
4.5 rounded up highlights: speed trials, ballad of big nothing, rose parade, cupid’s trick, 2:45am (feb 17 2025)
Que dire sur cet album et surtout cet artiste qui m’accompagne depuis déjà longtemps et dont la mort m’a marqué et me suit toujours. Voix extrêmement touchante, sa douleur est aussi la nôtre. La production, son jeu de guitare, le chant doublé. Et ses textes : “I’m in love with the world through the eyes of a girl who’s still around the morning after”, “Drink up one more time, and I’ll make you mine, I’ll keep you apart, deep in my heart”. Donc “Between the bars”, “Angeles”, “Say Yes” vivront à vie gratuitement dans ma tête. Le reste est suffisamment bon pour que ce soit un 5, parce que “Alameda”, “The ballad of big nothing” c'est beau aussi.
I love this album
Very enjoyable, slow tempo - 5 stars 🌟!
Glad I was in a good mood or this would’ve absolutely made me cry. Fantastic listen.
I had never heard of this before but what an awesome discovery. There's an intimate quality to the songs that just draws you in.
I've been listening to this album regularly since the year it came out and it still makes me cry
Beautifully bleak
Nog niet zo lang geleden heb ik toevallig Good Will Hunting zitten kijken, in het kader van de imdb top250. En daar viel me de filmmuziek al positief op. Het zette op een sfeervolle manier iets neer, en ik herkende iets van een nummer dat op K!NK ook wel eens voorbij komt. Dat bleek dus Elliott Smith te zijn. Dus toen heb ik een aantal nummers al beluisterd van dit album. Zijn specifieke stem geeft de nummers een geheel eigen geluid en geeft het ongelooflijk veel sfeer mee. Ik vind dat echt ontzettend knap. Hij doet het misschien niet eens expres, dit is gewoon zijn manier van zingen en liedjes schrijven. Maar het grijpt me, ik vind het adembenemend mooi. De relaxte drums ter begeleiding, het fijne galmpje van de elektrische gitaar, de lijzige stem. Schitterend. Het is muziek om je eigen leven bij te overpeinzen, schrijf ik terwijl ik gewoon aan het werk ben. Maar ik merk dat ik daar af en toe mee stop, verder helemaal niks meer doe, simpelweg om alleen maar te luisteren naar een nummer en zelfs naar de tekst. Als muziek dat met je kan doen, dan verdient het gewoon een 5.
Great album from one of the most incredible singer songwriters. I never got fully on board with his first two albums, which are quite lo-fi, but Either/Or marked his music becoming a bit more polished and commercial, and it wasn't long before he was Oscar nominated. Although it didn't sell well when it came out, Either/Or has some of his most beautiful songs in Speed Trials, Between the Bars and Say Yes, and I don't think any of the other tracks are weak. I can see why his voice is a little polarising, but to me this starts one of the great three album runs in music history with XO and Figure 8.
Awesome! I don’t know how I missed this guy.
5/5 база
Liked it!
Als je een heel album van Elliott luistert, in al z'n spookachtige, mysterieuze en kwetsbare glorie, dan besef je goed wat een legacy deze man heeft nagelaten. Zoveel indie folk van vandaag de dag is duidelijk - net als ik - betoverd door zijn werk, waar namen als Sufjan Stevens, Conor Oberst en Phoebe Bridgers proberen die magie ook maar een beetje te reflecteren in hun werk. Maar ook popdiva's als Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams en Billie Eilish trekken duidelijk les uit de fragiele kunst van Smith. Ik denk dat zijn invloed nu, ondanks zijn relatieve obscuriteit destijds, niet onderschat kan worden. De tragiek druipt er natuurlijk vanaf, maar z'n nummers hebben bijna allemaal iets lichts en hemels. Een soort tevredenheid met het sadboy leven. Hij weet verdriet in ieder geval op een wonderschone en bijna glorieuze manier te delen. Ondanks dat de nummers muzikaal niet heel veel om het lijf lijken te hebben, en op het eerste oog weinig variatie bieden, zijn het de 'haunting melodies' en zijn breekbare stem die elke song weer tot een op zich zelf staand emotioneel wrak maken. En kleine accenten, de uplifting gitaar als in 'Say Yes' of de rauwe uitspattingen van 'Cupid's Trick', brengen net genoeg verrassing om je bij de les te houden. Maar alsnog, wegdromen is onvermijdelijk bij dit meesterwerk, en het is een prachtige ode aan de mooie doch kwetsbare mens en zijn 'inner demons'. 9/10 Highlights: Alameda Between The Bars Angeles Cupid's Trick Say Yes
Mysterieus kunstwerk. Super krachtig in al zijn fragiliteit. Either Or lijkt een voortzetting van andere folk-loner Nick Drake (vooral door het gitaarspel) maar Either Or is gelaagder en sferischer dan de bekende Nick Drake. Het mysterieuze en onheilspellende karakter in combinatie met de prachtige folk-songs is de inspiratie gebleken voor een prachtige lijst artiesten. Niet een plaat om vrolijk van te voren, wel super passend bij een groezelige grijze novemberdag. 8,5/10 Highlights Between the Bars Angeles Say Yes
I don’t think I’d heard of Elliott Smith before. This music feels so warming and pleasant. His whispery voice brings a feeling of cosiness to me, and the music itself is a pleasant soft pop rock that’s very easy to listen to. It reminded me a little of boygenius, albeit Elliott was around long before them. Just a side note, don’t read about how Elliott died. It’s a bit heartbreaking.
Fantastic through and through. Addicting almost.
Love elliot
Langt bedre end forventet. Tilbageholdt, lowfi, nærmest skrallet ned til det minimale. Det ramte lige hvor det skulle!
Er det her det bedste 90er album jeg aldrig fik hørt i 90erne? Det er meget tidstypisk. Nærmest stereotypt 90er indie. Men hold nu op det holder stadig. Det er følsomt og samtidig rammer trommerne helt perfekt
I like this one better than Figure 8. Some heavy tracks here.
1st song-this song so good i really like it its sound so normal and i reallly i like it so much 2nd song- i like it to this a bomb but its very very cool to hear this finally this a normal one 3rd song-its really cool
I love Elliot Smith. Weirdly, listened to this album a day or two before it appeared on this list because I had the song “Ballad of Big Nothing” stuck in my head. His albums start very simple and lo fi - just him and his guitar - and get more complex in instrumentation and better produced until the final album which feels like theirs too much in it to me. This is the beginning of the sweet spot. The next two albums rise through XO to Figure 8, my favourite. So I could give this a 4 to mark it out from those which are 5s. But I love this one too having listened to it some more. Wonderful.
beautiful and gut wrenching
10/18/24. Really enjoyed this album and appreciated each song. Elliott Smith really defined his style and does it very effectively. Can revisit this one again and again, especially for a calming vibe!
dont have anything funny to say for this review, just fuckin rip elliott man
His vocals are a great interwoven layer on top of his silky guitar-work and create this web of intricate story-telling music. A type of music I do not particularly find myself listening to, but I will definitely listen to more from Elliot Smith.
The lyrics are 🔥
Great album.Love Elliot Smith, but i would've thought Figure 8 will be on this list.
My second of his for this project, I was glad to know he has more than one on here. Either/Or might be his best, but it's a tough call.
This is really very beautiful.
Jaw on the floor this truly might be one of my favorite albums of all time. i can’t believe ive never listened before this is SO me. it’s raw it’s emotional it’s beautiful. I’m completely obsessed. 1.) say yes 2.) angeles 3.) alameda but this ranking is SO tight. one of the first that i actually had a lot of trouble selecting the tops based on merit and not that i had nothing to say about them
Lempparit: Angeles ja 2:45 a.m.
Precis min smak
Gorgeous. I dunno why I've never listened to Elliott Smith.
Elliott Smith just speaks to my soul, man. In his own, wise words: I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow.
Elliott Smith is the end of me. Favourite Songs: Between the Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, 2:45 AM, Say Yes. Least Favourite Songs: Speed Trials.
What an album! Of Elliott Smith’s work, this is definitely his most iconic piece. The quiet melancholy of this album is beautiful and gut wrenching. The production on the record gives this incredible close feeling as if you’re in the room as he performs. You can hear the influence Elliot Smith had on the late aughts bedroom indie artists. The first time I listened to Either/Or was on a trip I took to Russia in the late 2000s. It offered a cathartic release to the worry, loneliness, and stress of traveling with a group of people I hardly knew to a less glamorous city of the country. So while it has a heavy tinge of nostalgia the album stands well on it’s on as a classic. Standout track: Between the Bars
I love Elliott Smith
I enjoy exploring humans in all their nuances and in all their ranges of emotional expression. I think the singer songwriter genre is a perfect vehicle for exploring the human condition, including melancholy. Thought it was a nice study, an interesting human, and quality songwriting.
4.5
Perfect. 5 stars
always heard the big songs and loved figure 8, but never sat down and listened to this one. this is perfect
What a revelation of someone I never knew, and a terrible loss at such a young age.
This has been in regular rotation for so long. In my top 20 or 30 albums.
Love this very much. Melancholic Beautiful voice Beautiful songwriting
I've heard OF Elliott Smith, the hushed admiration of his -hashtag: Sad- music and the influence he had, mixed with how he had a troubled and then short life, but I had never heard an album of this. It's rating day now, and I've been listening to the songs a couple of times since yesterday. Yeah, this is good. Very, very. It didn't quite click with me initially, somehow, but repeated plays revealed a lot of beauty and depth. Great album, absolutely one to go into my rotation and I suspect, it will grow on me even more.
Oh Wow.
es la primera vez en la ivda que me siento comprendido.
**In-Depth Review of *Either/Or* by Elliott Smith** Released in 1997, *Either/Or* is widely regarded as Elliott Smith's breakthrough album. A hauntingly beautiful collection of songs, it solidified his place as a key figure in the 1990s indie rock scene. The album blends raw, introspective lyrics with understated yet powerful melodies, creating a body of work that is intimate yet universally resonant. Let’s dive into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics: Emotional and Honest Elliott Smith’s lyrical prowess is perhaps the most significant element of *Either/Or*. His words delve deep into the human psyche, capturing moments of vulnerability, isolation, and inner turmoil. Much of the album revolves around emotional pain, substance abuse, and self-doubt, with lyrics that avoid clichés and instead confront dark realities with poetic subtlety. For example, the opening track “Speed Trials” talks about the anxiety and pressure of existence, with the refrain, “You’re such a pinball, yeah, you know it’s true.” Smith’s lyrics here are both cryptic and direct, suggesting the feeling of being knocked around by life without agency. In “Between the Bars,” he crafts a beautiful yet heartbreaking narrative of addiction and dependence, presenting a lullaby-like plea: “Drink up, baby, look at the stars / I’ll kiss you again, between the bars.” It blurs the line between comfort and destruction, portraying addiction as both a form of intimacy and a trap. Smith’s wordplay is often conversational, which creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Tracks like “Say Yes” tackle themes of redemption and hope, albeit tentatively. The lyric, “I’m in love with the world through the eyes of a girl / who’s still around the morning after,” embodies a rare moment of optimism in Smith’s work. Still, even these brighter moments are tinged with the awareness of fragility. While his lyrics are undoubtedly his strength, at times the ambiguity in his poetry can make it difficult to fully grasp his exact meanings. Some listeners may find themselves lost in his metaphor-heavy writing, but for many, this sense of mystery only adds to the emotional depth of the songs. ### Music: Subtle and Elegant Musically, *Either/Or* is a study in restraint. Smith’s use of acoustic guitar is central to the album, with simple yet intricate fingerpicking that complements his fragile voice. His playing is often soft and delicate, creating an intimate and warm soundscape that draws the listener in, while still leaving space for emotional intensity. Songs like “Angeles” exemplify his skillful fingerpicking and layering techniques, combining minimalist guitar melodies with soft vocal harmonies. The song's tension comes from the repetitive, driving rhythm that builds gradually, giving the track a sense of movement despite its stripped-down instrumentation. The guitar work on the album is subtle yet brilliant. Smith’s use of open tunings and fingerpicked chord progressions adds complexity to what might otherwise be simple songs. On “Ballad of Big Nothing,” he brings in electric guitar to complement his acoustic lines, creating a fuller sound. This track, with its straightforward structure and melodic catchiness, stands out as one of the album's more accessible tunes, contrasting with the quieter moments like “2:45 AM,” where his voice and guitar are at their most fragile. The album’s sparse instrumentation works well, but it may leave some listeners wanting more variety. Smith’s style is distinctive but largely sticks to the same formula throughout the album. For some, this focus on minimalism may grow monotonous, while others will find it to be a consistent aesthetic choice that serves the themes and emotional core of the record. ### Production: Lo-Fi and Intimate One of the defining characteristics of *Either/Or* is its lo-fi production. Smith produced the album himself, and it carries the unpolished sound that became a signature of his early work. The recording feels as though it was done in a small room, giving the album an organic and intimate atmosphere. This production style enhances the raw emotional quality of the songs, making them feel like personal confessions whispered directly to the listener. The lo-fi production also complements Smith’s voice, which is soft and often double-tracked to create a haunting effect. On “Between the Bars,” this technique makes his vocals feel both close and distant, as if he's speaking to the listener from a dream. The overall production on the album feels unpolished but deliberate, emphasizing imperfections that enhance the vulnerability of the performances. However, while the lo-fi quality adds a level of charm and intimacy, it can also feel limiting at times. Some tracks suffer from muddiness in the mix, particularly when multiple layers of instruments and vocals are added. The album’s lo-fi approach may be polarizing for some listeners; those accustomed to more polished production might find the sound unrefined, while others will appreciate its authenticity and closeness. ### Themes: Isolation, Addiction, and Hope Thematically, *Either/Or* is preoccupied with feelings of isolation, despair, and addiction, reflecting Smith’s own struggles with substance abuse and depression. His lyrics often paint a bleak picture of life’s struggles, but there are moments of hope sprinkled throughout the album. These themes resonate deeply with listeners who have experienced similar feelings of disillusionment or emotional turmoil. “Between the Bars” tackles addiction with a tenderness that makes the subject matter more relatable and poignant. Rather than condemning or glorifying substance abuse, Smith portrays it as a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotional pain. The recurring theme of escape—from reality, from oneself, or from others—runs throughout the album. In “Angeles,” Smith sings about the temptations of success and selling out, suggesting that even achieving your dreams can lead to isolation and emptiness. Yet, there are also moments of redemption and human connection. “Say Yes” is a rare glimpse of hope, a love song that suggests that maybe things can improve, even if only momentarily. The dichotomy of darkness and light is present throughout *Either/Or*, as the title itself suggests. It’s an album about contrasts: hope and despair, love and loneliness, staying and leaving. For listeners, these themes can either resonate deeply or feel a bit too bleak. The album’s pervasive sense of melancholy won’t appeal to everyone, especially those looking for more uplifting content. However, for fans of emotionally raw and introspective music, *Either/Or* is a masterpiece of conveying the complexity of human emotion. ### Influence and Legacy *Either/Or* is widely considered one of the most influential indie rock albums of the 1990s. Smith’s blend of folk, rock, and lo-fi production had a lasting impact on the singer-songwriter genre, influencing artists such as Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens, and Phoebe Bridgers. His ability to fuse deeply personal lyrics with simple yet intricate instrumentation became a blueprint for many indie musicians in the years that followed. The album also marked a turning point for Smith’s career. It caught the attention of filmmaker Gus Van Sant, who used several of the album’s songs in his 1997 film *Good Will Hunting*. This exposure brought Smith to a wider audience and led to his eventual nomination for an Academy Award for the song “Miss Misery” (featured on the film’s soundtrack). Beyond its commercial impact, *Either/Or* has endured as a cult classic, beloved by fans for its emotional honesty and intimate sound. Its influence can still be felt in modern indie music, particularly among artists who prioritize introspective lyrics and minimalist production. ### Pros of *Either/Or* 1. **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics are raw, honest, and introspective, offering a deep connection to the listener. 2. **Cohesive Sound**: The lo-fi production and minimalist instrumentation create a consistent, intimate atmosphere throughout the album. 3. **Lyrical Complexity**: Smith’s use of metaphor, ambiguity, and conversational tones makes the lyrics both poetic and relatable. 4. **Influence on Indie Music**: The album's legacy is far-reaching, influencing countless singer-songwriters and indie musicians. 5. **Balance of Light and Dark**: Despite the heavy themes, moments of hope and love are present, making the emotional experience multifaceted. ### Cons of *Either/Or* 1. **Limited Sonic Variety**: The album sticks to a relatively narrow musical palette, which may leave some listeners wanting more diversity in sound and arrangement. 2. **Lo-Fi Production**: While intimate, the lo-fi production can sometimes feel muddy or unpolished, which might detract from the listening experience for those who prefer more polished sounds. 3. **Ambiguity in Lyrics**: Smith’s lyrics, while poetic, can sometimes be too cryptic, making it difficult for listeners to fully grasp the intended meaning. 4. **Overall Mood**: The pervasive melancholy of the album may not appeal to everyone, particularly listeners seeking more upbeat or optimistic content. ### Conclusion *Either/Or* is an album that stands the test of time, largely due to Elliott Smith’s unparalleled ability to convey complex emotions through minimalist music and deeply personal lyrics. Its lo-fi production and understated arrangements add to the album’s intimate feel, making the listener feel like they’re sharing a quiet, vulnerable moment with Smith. The emotional weight of the songs, combined with their thematic focus on isolation, addiction, and fleeting hope, creates a haunting yet beautiful experience. While the album’s minimalism and lo-fi approach might not appeal to everyone, it’s precisely these elements that make *Either/Or* so distinct and influential. It’s an album that requires patience and a willingness to engage with its emotional depth, but for those who connect with it, *Either/Or* is a powerful and timeless work. Its influence on the indie scene cannot be overstated, and its legacy continues to shape the sound of modern singer-songwriters today.
This album is incredible. Everything from his voice to the lyrics to the guitars. I absolutely adore how the percussion sounds here. I had never actually listened to anything by him before, but I now know I was sorely missing out. The vocals have a lightness to them that make the more intense moments really stand out.
A total gem from a unique artist who is greatly missed.
The more I think about this one, the more I like it. Captures melancholy very well, which makes sense given everything I know about Elliott Smith. Probably a perfect “rainy day album”.
Perfect album.
This was such a great listen. Maybe Elliot Smith is the pinnacle singer/song writer? He has such great ideas. Especially with his guitar riffs. Each time he plays something and I feel it's going somewhere, it does the opposite. Kept me guessing. Which I think is an important skill for great song writing. Lyrics are hit and miss but the overall presentation was great. He sings with a subtle sadness, perhaps meek or timid voice. It all just works. Excited for more of him.
This is just a hauntingly gorgeous collection of songs. Elliott Smith was probably the biggest influence on the sad indie genre that would emerge in the 2000s and beyond. No one really did it better, but we can think Elliot Smith, for inspiring a whole generation of bands. “Elliott, man, you played a fine guitar And some dirty basketball The songs you wrote Got me through a lot Just want to tell you that” Late by Ben Folds
Beautiful and delicate
Low key and lovely
This project has shown me that singer/songwriters from other generations just don’t hit for me like they do from mine. Fucking Joni Mitchell does absolutely nothing for me but Elliot Smith certainly does. Is it just that’s better by a wide margin? Probably Either/Or is an album that is so sad, not just because of the music on it, but also because of what could have been. 9.1/10
Random thoughts on an album I’ve listened to so many times it’s etched in my brain: -Angeles, Cupids Trick, 2:45 am, and Say Yes is a murderer’s row to close an album. -Angeles is guitar goals. I think Elliott remains an underrated player. -In college and law school I had a job teaching test prep classes. One class was an hour’s commute to MSU and I distinctly recall being obsessed with 2:45 am and Built to Spill’s “I would hurt a fly” during that time period, so I would play those two songs repeatedly for the month or two I was commuting to teach that class a couple times a week. -“the trumpet’s obviously been drinking, because he’s fucking up even the simplest lines” is such a good line, so specific and so biting, but it still feels like it says more about the narrator’s worldview -I have a least favorite song (no name no. 5), but picking a favorite is nearly impossible. At various times it has been between the bars, rose parade, Angeles, 2:45 am, and say yes.
Very philosophical lyrics and quite good instrumental. Unfortunately is somewhat difficult to understand It as a Second language Brazilian
很有启发性的专辑，第一首speed trials深得我心
Nice flowing album
This was really nice. Ended up listening to it twice. I get the feeling that Andy Shauf listens to Elliott Smith.
As a certified sadboi, I am mandated to pay tribute to one of the kings. This album is flawless and beautiful.
I find it hard to rate favourites from an album I love from an artist I love.
if this guy doesn't list nirvana as an influence, he's a liar. It's really heavy and emotionally heartbreaking stuff but the alternation between the heavy shoegaze-y sound with the subdued almost whispered singer songwriter stuff is beautiful.
Have it. Love it. Miss it.
Can't believe I've never listened to Elliott Smith before. This album was incredible and is making me look into his entire catalogue.
Wonderful (new to me) album - all the feels
I really liked it. I listened more to the album XO when I was younger.
Either the best or second best Elliot Smith album
An amazing listen front to back. The only other artist I can think of who can pull off these whispery, but impactful vocals is Billie Eilish, but given the different genres of these artists, the effect of the vocals is different for each artist. Elliott's guitar playing is really dynamic between songs, he's just as skillful in the softer songs like "Between the Bars" and "Angeles" as he is in the more active songs like "Rose Parade" and "Pictures of Me". I think it goes without saying that his lyrical ability is very impressive; for me, this is an uncommon occurrence of me really tuning into and listening to the lyrics in music. I thoroughly enjoy this whole album, and the middle section in particular ("Between the Bar" to "Angeles") to be absolute top-notch songwriting.
I can’t help but love our resident sad boy. He’s just so poetic and angsty, speaking to my teenage heart.
own
I'm a big Elliot Smith fan, so I was quite delighted to have an excuse to throw this record back on the turntable. This is easily his most popular album, coming out shortly after his big break on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack's Miss Misery, which was nominated for an Oscar. This was his final release on the Kill Rock Stars label before signing with Dreamworks. I feel like it's also had a resurgence recently due to Between the Bars being featured on the show Rick and Morty. It is probably his most consistent album, with every song being pretty spectacular. Rose Parade is probably my favorite song on the album due to sentimental attachment. The fact that this album came up for me on the day of the Grand Floral Parade here in Portland couldn't be more fitting, and is a super odd coincidence.
I’m a sucker for a moody acoustic guitar.
the first track was so diappointing i was like. is this what all the hype's been about?? and then it hit me.
Love his voice and sad music, really puts you in a mood but still insanely catchy.
Amazing album
Tem uma atmosfera de tristeza e contemplação com a cara dos anos 90. O tipo de música que adoraria ter conhecido antes.
Good album. The last 4 I’ve listened to have had a similar sound. I hope that once I click the vote button the next album allows me to bob my head to the beat rather than falling asleep.
Favourite tracks were Speed Trials, Alameda, Ballad of Big Nothing, Pictures of Me, and 2:45am. Really solid album this - well put together and varied. Been a couple of years since the first one on the list, and I enjoyed that one too. Lots of time for a melancholy singer-songwriter.
Elliott Smith is probably the artist I've discovered on this list that I've gone back and listened to the most..... I think I've heard most of this already due to this. I think the figure 8 album we had is technically better than this, but this is still very good. Different though, this is far more melancholy and emo. Would've been very appealing to me as a teenager. It kinda reminds me of dashboard confessional, like somehow it would really appeal to girls.... At times it strays too far into the woe is me angst stuff, but when it's good it's really good. Highlights: Alameda Between the bars Angeles Say yes 4.5....... I would give figure 8 a 5 if I could go back
Subdued, gentle, sad... beautiful
Indie, and country rock, remind me of Beetles. There is no big surprise in the album; it will not blow your mind, yet it is perfect to be the BGM of a chilling Saturday night. It is a nice album, that I am willing to listen to again.
:')
Figure 8 is still my favorite, but still one of my favorite artists
Possibly peak Elliott. Absolutely love this album, such a gem.
Amazing album. This is the first time I'm giving a 5 to an album I previously didn't know at all. I think I might have heard the name "Elliott Smith" before, but I never heard any of the tracks, not even "Between The Bars" (which has 186M plays on Spotify). This is one of my favorite "finds" so far in this 1001 project.
Found a new artist to get into. I can't describe why this clicks for me but the whisper vocals and psych era of Beatles do it for me.
Just a fantastically sad singer-songwriter record. Packed front-to-back with songs that on their face, are simple and memorable but are secretly more harmonically astute, more lyrically sly, and as many guitarists have discovered - way more difficult to play than they sound. My personal favorite Elliott Smith record and his most essential entry - at the apex of his self-recorded mastery.
Einfach es perfekte Singer/Songwriter album
Amazing album with fragile singer-songwriter songs with beautiful melodies and somewhat depressing lyrics,
Seeing this cover pop up reminded me of when I saw it for the first time in 1997. I was doing DJ slots at odd hours on our college radio station and there was a big bin of new CDs we were supposed to choose from for some required proportion of our shows. One of the jobs of the volunteers was to review these albums and put brief notes on the cover so the DJs would have an idea of what to check out. This one said basically don’t be fooled, I’m a sensitive singer songwriter. I can’t remember what songs I played at the time but I do remember thinking that was spot on and I happily played this record every show until it dropped out of the new music bin. The next memory I have of this is listening to it more and more after graduation, driving around LA. I played it for my younger brother and said to him I love this guy, he’s kind of folky but his music really rocks. As I played it for him I kept saying OK I think this next one is a loud one. I just had the impression that these were dynamic songs with some kind of strong life force. This was before these songs became famous for being used in movie scenes to telegraph melancholy. Although they’re sometimes dark, I didn’t think of them as being just that. They’re expertly constructed, layered, and dynamic, musically and lyrically. There is anger here, frustration, alienation and loss, but also joy and hope. I’ve listened to this album hundreds of times. Sometimes I play it as background music because I know it so well, it doesn’t even engage my brain enough to distract from whatever I’m trying to do. I can literally sing along while reading something else. Other times I play it to get into the headspace of driving around LA, feeling the unique atmosphere of the city. Sometimes I listen close in headphones and try to pick out something different—one of the layers of guitars or vocals, an odd shift in timing, an unexpected chord change. It’s always rewarding. I guess what I’m saying is, this is not a one-note artist or record. Try listening to this record when you’re happy. Last time I heard it was riding the train down the pacific coast to San Diego. It was equally amazing as a soundtrack to bleak downtowns and glorious beaches.
The master of indie folk weaves acoustic melodies with lyrical craft that pains and amazes.
A favorite for the last 20+ years. It still sucks that he's gone.
A beautiful album that might have been *too* good in retrospect. The start of the Elliott Smith downfall can be traced here, bigger acclaim and bigger visibility leading to a bigger record deal and bigger expectations that leads to bigger problems. But let's just accept it for what it is, a beautiful album.
I don't know if there has been a better song writer than Elliott Smith.
This is what I'm talking about. It was refreshing to listen to this album again so soon after 'Figure 8.' (Well, a little over a week.) It's still Beatles-influenced, but also actually sounds like Elliott Smith. It's a beautiful record: the arrangements, the writing, the performances. I feel fully immersed in it when I'm listening, like being underwater. I've heard this acclaimed as Smith's best work, and I can't really argue the contrary. Highlights: Speed Trials, Alameda, Ballad Of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, Angeles, Cupids Trick, Say Yes
beautiful words and hushed whispers and guitar melodies
Man, this album brings me BACK to my freshman and sophomore years of college. This is when I was first introduced to Elliott Smith and his music, and I remember being captivated by his incredibly distinct voice. Especially when listening through headphones. It's like ASMR for me on his softer songs where the main instrument is his voice. Smith's ability to master layering harmonies using his own vocals--often vulnerable or seething, sometimes switching effortlessly between both in the same song--is very much on display throughout Either/Or. "Ballad of Big Nothing?" "Between the Bars?" "Pictures of Me?" All bangers (and no, songs don't have to be loud to be 'bangers,' although "Cupids Trick" has louder moments comparatively). "Rose Parade's" awesomely descriptive lyrical content makes you feel like you're watching it streetside alongside Smith himself--he remains one of my favorite lyricists, and this track reminds me of that. The story behind how his songs made it onto the Good Will Hunting soundtrack is also quite interesting, and the fact that this (I think, still?) remains Smith's best-selling album while never charting is a testament to how his brand of earnest indie folk-rock resonated with a lot of people, including me. Given all of this, I'm giving Either/Or a full 5 stars. I hadn't actually listened to Elliott Smith much over the last few years, and hearing this album again is a great reminder for me that this 1,001 albums project is worth the long journey. Either/Or is a brilliant album and representation of an artist we lost far too soon. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *The album's style has been described as "a bridge between the lo-fi darkness of Roman Candle and Elliott Smith and the studio sheen of XO and Figure 8." *The album inspired (film director) Gus Van Sant to invite Smith to contribute to the soundtrack of his film Good Will Hunting. Three Either/Or tracks were incorporated into the soundtrack, as well as a new song, "Miss Misery." *Smith would briefly be cast into the international spotlight early the following year when he performed his song, the 1997 standalone single "Miss Misery", at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony, following the song's appearance in the major motion picture Good Will Hunting and its subsequent Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Following this appearance, Smith was signed to major label DreamWorks and started work on his fourth studio album, XO. Interesting Factoids from SongFacts.com: *Smith describes [the song "Say Yes"] as being "insanely optimistic." It was written when he had just broken up with his girlfriend, Joanna Bolme, and realized how much he wanted her back. Elliott said that it took him five minutes to write the lyrics and the music. Standout Tracks: Speed Trials, Ballad of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Angeles, Say Yes
A new discovery that's going to make it firmly into more regular listening
RIP
This has been a favorite for many years
I want to start this review by bringing up a weird pattern I've had with albums lately. You see, 9 days ago, I got my second Jimi Hendrix album, which I gave a 5. After 1 album from a new artist, I then got my second Bob Dylan album, which was also a 5. This was followed by 2 new artists and then my second Queen album, also a 5. Finally (at least for now), I got 3 new artists, and my second Elliott Smith album. You notice the "1, 2, 3" going on there? That's just funny. But does the 5/5 part continue? Yeah, of course it does. I really have no complaints about Either/Or. Everything I said about Figure 8 applies here. The sound is still great, which is impressive considering it all comes from one guy. The singing compliments the tone of the album very well. The songwriting and storytelling is still top-notch. It's a very cohesive experience that feels very personal. There's variety in everything. This is just an amazing album. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you see it), I'm not sure I'm in the right headspace for the album right now, but I can tell just how good it is anyways. What can I say? This is a masterpiece. 5/5.
Either/Or by Elliott Smith is an album that effortlessly transports me back to the halcyon days of university, evoking a sense of nostalgia and comfort like no other. Each track serves as a sonic companion to late-night study sessions and introspective moments, making it the perfect soundtrack for those formative years. The warmth of Smith's voice and the gentle instrumentation create a soothing atmosphere, wrapping around me like a familiar blanket. Yet, amidst the comforting melodies, there's a rawness, a roughness around the edges that adds depth and authenticity to the album. It's this delicate balance between tenderness and vulnerability that makes Either/Or so captivating. Tracks like Between the Bars and Say Yes showcase Smith's lyrical prowess, delving into themes of love, longing, and existential introspection. The album's simplicity is its strength, allowing the sincerity of Smith's songwriting to shine through. Listening to Either/Or feels like revisiting an old friend, each song a cherished memory from days gone by. Overall, it's an album that not only reminds me of happy times at university but also offers solace and companionship whenever I need it most. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 10 STAND OUT TRACK - Ballad of Big Nothing
Wow! Don’t know I have never heard this. Absolutely loved it!
Music in Good Will Hunting uh ...yeah - 9/10