Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Wasn't memorable, hadn't heard it before
A good soundtrack for a Wes Anderson suicide scene. Top tracks: "Ballad of Big Nothing," "Cupid's Trick"
--Speed Trials...I'm neutral on this one --Alameda...I like it but the production is doing a lot of the heavy lifting --Ballad of Big Nothing...nice but nothing special --Between the Bars...here we go. beautiful and haunting --Pictures of Me...more of a band feel. it's fine --No Name No. 5...I like this one. the layering of his voice can be cool, but I like it more when Smith's voice track is isolated --Rose Parade...pleasant to listen to. a little repetitive --Punch and Judy...again, nice but nothing special --Angeles...the more "solo" sounding the song is the more I enjoy it. this guy probably owned open mic nights before getting semi-famous --Cupid Trick...another "band" song. not bad not special. --2:45 a.m....interesting. it tells a story and I want to know more --Say Yes...nice closer
Has a lofi, somewhat industrial sound. Makes me think of a lot of music from the late 90’s/early 00’s like Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, Jeff Buckley, etc. Think of the movie Garden State ha. Solid album. Vocals are sometimes hard to hear. Notable tracks include Speed Trials, Between the Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, Cupid’s Trick, Say Yes.
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.
I expected this album to come up when Nick Lowe was a selection a few weeks ago. The thought/question I have for myself about Elliott Smith and other musical artists with similar tragic backstories is whether they’re listenable because of enjoyment for the music or whether we’re trying to learn something from their art. The answer is probably both — listening and learning — which is probably why Smith has a lasting following. I think his music is just okay, though, but I’m intrigued to mine it for clues that might help me figure out my own shit.
A beautifully fragile record. Either/Or unfolds like a late-night confessional — hushed, melodic, and disarmingly honest. Even though this isn’t my usual lane, I found myself really drawn in by the songwriting and atmosphere. The little instrumental touches — especially the subtle organ moments — add warmth beneath the melancholy. It’s understated in all the right ways, and easy to see why it’s so revered. Listening takeaway: Sometimes restraint says more than grandeur.
Soft 90s rock. Smooth listen
Angsty and depressing.
This left no impact. Very mediocre.
love this sad dude and his songs
Idk who this is and I don’t like it
Elliott Smith still isn't my thing...
I liked this more than the other ES album, but still not my bag.
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!
I don’t think I get Elliot Smith. Like I get this is supposed to be a sad album. But it doesn’t really move me in any way. It’s just kinda boring. And his singing doesn’t inspire any emotion in me.
It's Elliott Smith.
Very melancholy, most of these are quite very simple, but I think any more instruments/production might have spoiled the feeling of some of the songs. Still quite a mix though, as the cupid's trick song is a great full rock song, in comparison to some of the quieter acoustic ones, which are also amazing. I think he's definitely the Nick Drake of the 90s, both musically and they both have really sad life stories. The songwriting is seemingly very honest, and I feel like that personal aspect makes it much more sad and real. Quite a lot of them are quite simple, but that's maybe what makes them good. Favourite songs: all but speed trials and pictures of me. Overall around 8/10 (also probably really close to 9)
Coffee shop music. Faux-deep but ultimately insubstantial. Not bad to listen to, but very much background music.
I’ve heard of Elliot Smith but Jenner actually heard his music. I was not overly impressed.
3/5 неплохо, можно 3,5/5, но нельзя так. Побольше разнообразия, чем в прошлом Будь я дырявым педиком - поставил бы 5
чилоово ставлю тройбан
Depressive, led to Good wil hunting soundtrack Speed trials Ballad of big nothing Rose parade
Really nice album, enjoy Elliott's music greatly
This album came and went with no reaction from me except mild irriation at the singer's breathy voice. Music for 14-year olds.
Dark and emotional
I've heard a lot of great things about this album and Elliott Smith. It was cool, but maybe expectations from all the hype didn't quite match.
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 really dont love the way his vocals are recorded on a lot of this album, like he’s singing through an old landline telephone. Moody, depressing. But a vibe.
Excellent writing. Truly some gut wreching lines. It feels very intiment from the stripped back production and guitar. Clean and concise song selection, no real low points.
Sehr fade
Grew up with a lot of people idolizing Elliott Smith & never really explored his music. This was a good listen
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.
At least it was short.
Alright but like what are we saying here? Big ballad of nothing is honestly one of the best song titles in all of music and in my eyes, is applicable to the album as a whole, a ballad of nothing.
Feels like the grandfather of whiny death cab for cutie style indie/alt stuff. Enjoyable, but I wouldn't revisit this over DCFC or Modest Mouse or anybody in that sphere.
Enjoyable! Very consistent vibe throughout the whole album.
94/1001 Elliott Smith - Either Or Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ For whatever reason, having loved XO and Figure 8 previously, I've actually gotten around to listening to this one. I love how sparse and intimate most of the tracks here sound. As you'd expect, the lyrics are interesting, sad and emotionally charged. Great stuff.
Portland singer songwriter. Cool sound. 3/5
nostalgic, very 90s, My So-Called Life, Flannel, sadness, familiar but not known, Gen X coded
Nah
For me, Elliott Smith and several songs off this album will always be synonymous with the movie Good Will Hunting.
my smile faded when i saw this album was next
Obviously a classic. Really solid guitar playing and lyricism, it's definitely a landmark in the genre. I was pretty surprised by how heavily tracks like Cupid's Trick and Pictures Of Me lean into a more garage rock sound, but it was a nice change of pace. There's also tracks like Speed Trials and Ballad Of Big Nothing have some really cool insturmentals and are definitely standouts performance wise. Great album, definitely deserves the praise it gets.
69/1089 really chill, moody indie vibe that really feels like the precursor to Life Is Strange’s music choices which i love. I quite like this album and will probably return to it, but it’s missing a little *something* that i can’t pinpoint so… low 4 stars or 71/100 faves: Angeles, Between the Bars
Run o' the mill singer songer writer revival album that stood out of 1997 in the PNW & Seattle grunge haze. Largely forgettable for 2025. Akin to but not withstanding to Neil Young, Nick Drake, and some Americana songwriters of the late 60's to mid 70's. I'd much rather engage with those standards than this. Aorry Elliot, you're probably a good hang.
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
Did not know this album. It must need more than one listen to appreciate at all. It just seems like whining.
First time hearing Elliot Smith. Nice melancholic album. Kinda like Tame Impala but way earlier. Definitely recommended.
Songs to kill yourself by. When it comes to tortured artists I prefer Nick Drake, but you can't deny the power of his music.
There are some voices that I'll never get tired of, and Elliott Smith's is one of them.
New-to-me artist. I can see this annoying me if I were in the right (wrong) mood, but tonight I am really, really loving it. Pictures of Me, Angeles, and Rose Parade added to Liked Songs.
Gran cantautor. Merece la pena escucharle.
Good sounds with a few solid cuts but overall was forgettable, surely appreciate the whole structure of sound building but the cake doesn't taste that great.
Great album. Calm and reflective and interesting.
Folk indie. Reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel, in places like Beatles. Some post-grunge inflections (guitar tones in places)? Cupids Trick definitely grunge! Don't know why this is needed when S+G already existed. Don't mind the music, but the vocals are a bit annoying Good musicianship. Seems like a timeless style (in that it doesnt feel dated) Best track - No Name No. 5, Rose Parade 3 stars
The quieter style of the album compared to a lot of the others on the list meant it took me a while to get into it, but listening again I really liked it. One for a quiet day, sitting and feeling your feelings. Fav song: 2:45AM Least fav: Cupid’s Trick
Got a very defined vibe. Bit sad for me but still thought it was a good album. Specific rating - 4.5 Fav song- speed trials Least fav- pictures of me
A few songs where I found his voice a bit too whiny but I really enjoyed it most of the time. Some gorgeous sad lyricism on this album- it doesn't surprise me at all that Phoebe Bridgers cited him as an influence. Three songs from this album are in Good Will Hunting, wonder if that means Elliott Smith knew about graph theory. Favourite song: Rose Parade Least: Cupid's Trick
Liked this far more than expected.
It's too 90s for me to be honest - the overproduction is a sign of it's time and it just makes me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. That said this wasn't terrible I guess.
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.
Bit bland. Couple of OK songs.
Heard it before. Oh what a fantastic album. Very powerful despite the very lofi instrumentation 5/5
I can only handle the sad voice for so long, but I’m amazed by the songwriting and song compositions. I know he influenced a great deal of artists across many genres and I think that makes sense.
not my jam
Ah Elliot, king of the sad boys, the ending point of the quest to find sadder and sadder music through adolescence. By far his best work in my opinion and the album that made him commercially successful soundtracking the film Goodwill Hunting. I think the album interestingly sounds really like a soundtrack all the way through and can resonate with someone having a hard day all the way through to someone deep in the depths of depression. I sometimes think this album and Elliot’s music as a whole can be over looked as an attempt to be as outlandishly miserable as possible. Whilst Elliot quite bluntly ideates suicide throughout the record lyrically, I think that sometimes stands in front of the fact he is quite clearly a melodic genius combining his use of folk guitar picking and wispy vocals in a sound that is if nothing else unmistakeable. A genius album in my eyes personal highlights being the obvious tracks in ‘Between the Bars’ and ‘Angeles’ 4 for me.
When I think of Elliott Smith (god forbid I do on a random wednesday) I will always think of either/or first, and how you’re immediately thrust into the aura of the record within the first track - a hallmark of any good album in my opinion. To me this is more of a 36 minute piece of music rather than a collection of hits, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, rather highlighting the ease of flow when listening. It’s a simultaneously easy and tough listen at the same time, with the emotion of the lyrics meeting more upbeat melodies throughout the album. Almost feels quite Smiths inspired in that way, although to blindly throw it into that genre would be lazy given it’s a heavily stripped back, more raw, deeper cut embodiment of that idea. Do I feel I know or understand the meanings behind all the songs? No, I don’t to be honest, and I also don't feel you have to to gauge the feeling of it. It’s more just a guy writing about the day to day struggles going on within their story rather than being something that everyone can resonate with. The relatability comes in sense of feeling that the tone of the songs give you. I think that along with the quality of music is what makes this a record that is re-listenable all the way through, and for me that means it deserves the place it has within music. for me.
My knowledge and exposure to Elliott Smith is quite limited and I have to confess this is the first time I've actually sat down and listened to him. I've just known him as this deeply sad person who has a cult following by equally sad people. So to actually hear the eery voice of this semi god to some is quite surreal I guess. The first song that stood out to me was 'Between The Bars' where I think the lyrics are just so glaringly obvious about his troubles and I think it's the first time I experienced the impact of his vulnerability. His lyrics are full of regret but also they are realistic and not verly dramatic which I think is what makes them ok to like and to feel like you can maybe slightly relate without feeling like you're being too melodramatic. My favourite track on the album is 'Cupid's Trick', not really for the lyrics but for more for the musical composition. It is definitely on the harder side to the rest of the album but I do think it still holds the eery sound of Smith and so is not moving away from what he's about. Lyrically, to me it is just talking about heroin and how he doesn't want to give it up 'it's his lie' and he wants it to stay that way. 2:45 next was a stark contrast and I enjoyed that for the first time in the album you're hearing his voice on it's own, not layered, even though that does come later. It makes me think why for this track did he decide that and I guess to me it's stripping away everything else as it is just him and his guitar for the beginning which I really enjoyed, especially from the full sound of the track before. Overall, I did really enjoy this album even though I'm not sure enjoy is the right word but there you go. I think I was ready to be a bit meh to Elliott Smith and think that his fans are obsessed for a reason I don't really understand but I think I actually get it, and I will be listening to him again.
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!
Really good. Chill af.
Eh.
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.
Really surprising. I've never heard of this musician before. The tracks on the album don't blow me away, but I like them. I'd be happy to listen to them again. 4/5
Good solid where it all started Reminds me MJ, Lenderman, and Magnolia
Songs were same-y, words weren't particularly clear when singing
Another new artist for me. I liked this album, even though it was pretty mellow. I'd have to sit and really listen to the lyrics to see how much I really liked it.
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.
Sad bois music be sad for bois. Wauw, dit is een depresso album als ik er ooit een hoor zeg... Pictures of me klinkt wat vrolijker, dare I say; gezelliger? Meteen ook mn favoriete nummer. Ik ben geen groot fan van het ontzettend zielige singer songwriter stuk dat daarvoor kwam. Maar misschien dat de 2e helft van het album zich wat herpakt en ik toch zit te huilen op kantoor zo! Tsja, nee dit is gewoon heel erg Simon & Garfunkel en dat vind ik gewoon helemaal niets. Hier ook, het is gewoon instrumentaal zo spannend als karton. Voornamelijk gitaar, heeeeel soms een drummer er bij. Als die drummer er bij is vind ik het ook meteen een stuk interessanter. Elliott is als zanger nou ook niet geweldig. Het heeft een heel hoog zeikgehalte voor me. Nope, dit is het niet voor mij. Ik keek bij Spotify en er stond 'Playlists that features this artist' en bovenaan stond Sad Girl Starter Pack. En ik denk dat niets dit album beter kan omschrijven dan dat. FAVO:Pictures of me
Beautiful. Really enjoyed it.
Vraiment un bon album!
no melanin in sight.
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
It's fine. Sounds like a lot of other artists who presumably came after (I get like Sufjan Stevens or Bon Iver vibes a bit, but not as good). Meh. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
Sorry, eigentlich mag ich Songwriter! Aber das ist mir zu zurückhaltend.
A little single-noted, but good for what it is. Something like Death Cab.
A very good album. The music is definitely engaging and the perfect solution to dealing with the grind, but it's not my kind of music.
Very chill vibe
Good album for when you’re sad.
Another artist I had never heard of prior to this challenge delivering another rock solid album – should I even be surprised at this point? This is also the second album of my lifetime that I've had to rate for this and the first chronologically, with the LP releasing just five days after I was born. This might be the understatement of the year, but Either/Or is a very melancholic listen. Reading about Smith's death while working my way through the album only added to that sense of unrelenting sadness it carries. I'd say almost everything here is a worthwhile listen – the songs are highly effective. At the same time, it's hard to say I "enjoy" this album the same way as the others I've rated highly because it's not something I'm willingly going to put on (beyond the initial listen through) at this stage of my life. I don't desire to be brought down in the way Either/Or provides and (by the grace of God) I'm not having frequent enough depressive episodes for this album to be good mood music for me, even if only on occasion. That said, I'm going to break my own rules a bit. By almost every measure, Either/Or is a three star album for me – one that I appreciate musically, enjoy a few songs on and wouldn't mind listening to if it happened to come on, but that I'm unlikely to intentionally revisit. However, I'm going to give this album four stars because it's got the indisputable quality of a higher-tier album (even if it sounds VERY 90s) and is one that I ought to keep in my back pocket in case I'm ever in the right mood for it. R.I.P. Elliott Smith, gone way too soon. Highlights: Alameda, Ballad of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Say Yes
Nothing interests me
Meh. It’s sad when someone dies way too early, no doubt, but I do think the industry tends to lionize people like this as a result for no other good reason. Perhaps people really were influenced by Smith, or maybe they just use his name or cover his songs because they are trying to be cool. Regardless, if you listen to this album, there’s not a whole lot on here that is great. The guitar work on this was decent. Not a whole lot else here. Singing was lackluster. He used overlays to get a richer sound, probably because his voice wasn’t that good to begin with. Angeles was a decent song. The rest was just meh.
Not bad
So disinterested
3/10. Pffffffffffffffffffffffff.
The album that comes on when you know it’s time to leave the after party. It’s nice and everything, but I’m assuming the people that listen to this need to narrate it
4.8
This guy is ok, but gets a bit boring. He sometimes reminds me of Paul Simon.
Quite melancholic lyrics that help me understand why so many young people felt accompanied in their solitude, failed love and daily alienation, also through the depiction of unsettling scenarios and a sense of hopelessness toward the world. I admire his ability to perfectly accompany this with the music, with his acoustic guitar tuned lower than standard, effectively transmitting that dive into the depth of the simplest thoughts. It's such a (relatively) simple and natural work that felt very clear to me, without any contrived tricks. Favorite song: No Name No. 5.
Very nice listen
Elliott Smith's "Either/Or" was my first full listen to his work. The album is well produced, with each song meticulously arranged and performed. It moves seamlessly between intimate, acoustic-driven tracks and moments of indie-style electric guitar. The music often feels understated, almost a quiet observation of the world rather than a loud statement. "Cupid's Trick" was the album's most powerful track for me. Its intensity stood out from the others. Other highlights included "Pictures of Me," "No Name No. 5," "Rose Parade," and "Punch and Judy." The song "Rose Parade" reminded me of The Dandy Warhols, a band I much admire. Overall, "Either/Or" is a very enjoyable listen. It's a strong album that earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Would I listen to the album again? Yes. Would I buy the album? No. 1- "Speed Trials" - 3/5 2- "Alameda" - 3/5 3- "Ballad of Big Nothing" - 3/5 4- "Between the Bars" - 3/5 5- "Pictures of Me" - 4/5 6- "No Name No. 5" - 3/5 7- "Rose Parade" - 4/5 8- "Punch and Judy" - 4/5 9- "Angeles" - 3/5 10- "Cupid's Trick" - 5/5 11- "2:45 AM" - 3/5 12- "Say Yes" - 4/5 Total - 42 Average - 3.50 92/1001
Relaxt, wel een beetje emo Maar daar hou ik wel van Hij heeft wel een beetje een jankstem Ik ben niet echt weggeblazen
It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s the point. The songs feel fragile and intimate, like you’re overhearing something private
Sopping wet emo wankery. Nah cheers.
Fine
Uh... I guess it captures that angsty, dark depression vibe of the 90s well enough, but who wants to relive that?
This is way too emo for my liking. But if you are looking to dwell in your sorrows I’m sure this will do it for you.
Could be repetitive at times, but I like his songwriting
I don't generally like acoustic singer-songwriter music as it tends to be a bit dull and soporific but you can't level that criticism at Elliott Smith. He's more interesting musically and lyrically than most and has a unique quality and sound that sets him apart.
So Incredible!!!
Enjoyable. Milestone for a lot of friends of mine. Just not for me.
I'm on a bit of a hot streak. I really enjoyed this album. Elliots voice is soft and melancholic which I liked. Speed Trials stood out to me.
Tortured soul
This is #day389 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to my second Elliott Smith record on the list, the first being his last, on my #day45, which, funnily enough, I also got in September. I might have been in a different mood back then, as I rated that one a 4 (I might reconsider my rating after listening to this one, though). Either/Or, while labeled as an important/influential album, doesn't quite sit right with me. It all blends into the same kind of overly "delicate melancholy" for me. I like my melancholy different. In this time of year, I usually have Lake Of Tears' Forever Autumn on my mind. Other times, I'll go and blast some Carissa's Wierd. Yeah, I'm being me. Let it be a 3 out of 5 for now. Looking forward to #day390.
Great album among many of Elliot Smith. What a loss.
Most songs are good, some are great. Well crafted and executed, a pleasure to listen to.
Good songwriting and nice songs. No real outliers for me.
I found this album quite boring, especially being listed as a "rock" album. No tracks really stood out until 'Cupids Trick'. That was the only song that was memorable for me and even that song wasn't something I would recommend to a friend to check out. Overall, quite a disappointing album considering the high reviews for this one.
90s bias here, but love this album
Quite simply superb.
rigtig god
Havde hørt før men det havde aldrig rigtig klikket før! Det gjorde det *virkelig* den her gang. All timer, kun gode sange.
Really nice songs and the whole sound gives an intimate feeling
Very lovely also quite sad
I must admit, that I don't understand this album. It is on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. But what makes it so great? That's a real mystery to me. Twelve very similar songs sung by a guy with a guitar. Somehow melancholic and definitely not bad, I would also say "nice". But one of the 500 greatest albums of all time?
Listened to this while driving to Sacramento which surely persuades my mood. All I kept thinking was 1990s Sufjan Stevens. I don’t much care for Sufjan. 2/5
4.0
Great album
Just a really sweet record. Probably his best and again makes me wish I had more of a lyrically bent brain.
Despite its cult status and influence on indie-folk music, Either/Or falls flat for those seeking variety or sonic innovation. Elliott Smith’s hushed vocals and lo-fi acoustic arrangements blur together across tracks, making it difficult to distinguish one melancholic musing from another. The album’s emotional vulnerability may appeal to some, but for listeners not already tuned into Smith’s introspective wavelength, the experience can feel monotonous and overly self-indulgent. With little dynamic range and a consistently downbeat tone, Either/Or risks becoming background music — and not in a good way. In short, this album might be a touchstone for a niche audience, but for others, it’s a dreary, one-note affair.
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
Not my speed or style. ★★
I am constantly reminded of my youth when listening to this album.
masterpiece
Brilliant singer, brilliant lyricist. So sad that he left us too early.
Eh
I knew this album. I think it was the first one i knew on the list. I had a few friends that really liked him. He is very unique but it was just good
How boring.
Breathy vocals singing about something? I couldn't even listen to the music enough to figure out what it was about because I was trying to distract myself from the burning desire to remove my eyes from their sockets with a butterknife. This album is clearly meant to be sad, but it isn't meant to make me feel dread. Someone please help me. I know my mental state over the past 3 years hasn't been what I want it to be, but this guy needs some help. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who can cure this.
Only a little bit boring. I could listen to a few songs regularly, but a whole album of this isn't ideal. Not much to any of these songs and that works. I liked "Alameda" and "Between The Bars" the best. Fine album all around.
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.
This record was very hit or miss for me. I enjoyed the melodies on some of the tracks I liked, but I couldn't get into any of the others. Favourite Track(s): Ballad Of Big Nothing, Punch and Judy, Say Yes Least Favourite Track(s): Speed Trials, Alameda, No Name No. 5
Love it, this is him at his best. Beautiful craft to these songs.
Half a listen, not really feeling it too much.
ouvi gostei meio beatles mas é um cabra só
SICK
3/10 - boring whiny indie rock
Voice is amazing, combined with the instrumentation it’s magic… but boy does it make for a slow 37 minutes.
It’s good but it needed to pick up the pace.
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard an Elliott Smith song, at least not one that I recognized as his. I did remember that he died tragically, either by his own hand or at the hands of his girlfriend. I really wasn’t in the singer/songwriter mood yesterday, but by track 3, Ballad of Big Nothing, I was in. Smith’s album is full of great harmonies & beautiful, though at times, dark lyrics. The music took me right back to the 1990s, for better or worse. Apparently, this album was a bit of a change from Smith’s previous 2 albums, with Either Or having more of a pop feel to it. Whatever Smith did, it worked. It’s a brilliant album. My fave tracks are Pictures of Me, No Name No. 5 and Cupid's Trick.
Day 11 Undoubtedly some nice songs here but it all kind of blended into one for me, not sure how likely I am to come back to this album. 4/10 Highlights were Pictures of Me Rose Parade 2.45am
I get that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but when they use it to make me listen to an album like this I want to revoke theirs.
Beautiful beautiful raw album Slight Beatles undertones in a few songs
Same mellow vibe throughout. Made me sleepy. Would be good to play as background music while reading.
Boring.
n the immortal words of DJ Hennessy Youngman: "Awwwwwwww! Sad white guy!" Bonus star for a funny bit in the YouTube clip for the song "Pictures of Me" where they cut from a picture of the sad white guy to a blank screen when he says "So sick of pictures of me." I chuckled.
This is someone I will never understand. To me, he's struggling to sing on top of dull tracks. I always like to keep an open mind but I really don't get this guy.
Elliot Smith is just really good, not much else to say.
Wow!
7/10
Chill but didn't kick in much
No le presté mucha atención y no me acuerdo. No me dejó poso
This was great
3/5
2.5
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
Late 90s Indie Rock. Part of Good Will soundtrack. Soft and sad. Angsty.
"Angeles" & "Pictures of Me" stood out most to me on this very mellow collection of tunes. I can imagine having been really into him if I had found him in college, but I wasn't able to give it a close enough listen to really connect with anything. That said, I let it play off and on all day because it really creates its own world, which is a unique achievement.
I should like this. Should. Talented musician. Good lyrics. But I just don’t. But three stars for being a very talented artist.
In "Meet Me in the Bathroom," the oral history of early 00s rock music in New York, Tim Goldsworthy describes American indie music in the mid and late 90s as having completely lost its sexiness, and accuses it of being "sorry-I-have-a-penis" kind of indie rock. Is Elliott Smith the epitome of that or the antithesis? Delicate, vulnerable, almost decaying at its seams, and yet so fully embodied and beautiful that nearly every sexy artist of indie rock in the late 00s name-checks it as a main influence (Apple music's profile featuers Billie Eilish, Julien Baker, slowthai, Mac Miller, Arlo Parks, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. Sheesh.) He's somehow the Prince of indie rock. I've heard him described as a master of chord progressions, and that strikes me as his superpower. All that intimacy has room to breathe because his guitar is such an extension of himself. There's a lot of Beatles here; "Cupid's Trick" feels like it could have landed somewhere on the White Album and "Say Yes" might as well be a cover song. But the layer of intimacy is what makes sets this apart as singular. I've listened to these simple songs hundreds of times and they've never failed to cast a spell. It's timeless and essential. If it hasn't worked its magic on you yet, stick with it, please. I have two and only two complaints: One, where "Pictures of Me" sits in the tracklist is very jarring and breaks the hypnosis. I may be unknowingly treading on sacred ground, but I wish it would have been left out. Two, "Say Yes" ends in a very unsatisfying place. It demands another song after. You can loop back to the beginning or go on to XO, but that's when I just want to sit in quiet and process Either/Or, I feel unsettled. If this is a 4½ star album, are those two complaints enough to round down instead of up? Tonight I'm feeling generous and want to add another 5 stars to its average. I'll justify it by listening to "Angeles" again.
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
Интересное ретро звучание в Speed Trials. Немного напоминает музыку 60-х, The Beach Boys, немного психодел. Слышно ламповое домашнее звучание. Alameda. Классная гитара в припеве. Снова психоделическая прогрессия. Between the bars. Очень приятная лирика. Пока нравится подход. Короткие 2-3-минутные треки. Pictures of you. Шикарный бас. Снова напоминает The beach boys.
I would need to be in the right mood for this to hit perfectly, but I enjoyed it for what it was. Definitely some clever songwriting. Reminded me of Sebadoh in some places...and Bon Iver in others.
Siinähän tuo lauleskelee. Aika mitäänsanomatonta
Kai tämä taa sellaista tasaista ⭐️⭐️⭐️ on.
Tähän piti laittaa että ihan kivaa maailua.
Meh
boring
Perfectly serviceable softspoken (enough) sounds of indie / alternative.
One of the biggest influences on my teen angst years
Every song on this album is pretty good. This album has taught me there is a limit to what someone can do with just a guitar and a whispery voice. At a certain point, there just aren't enough interesting things going on. There's nothing wrong with it, there's also nothing great.
Another great Elliott Smith album. Production isn't as good as his later work but songs are great
my mom says this is blow ur brains out music but to me it’s nod my neck off vibes !
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.
Pas mal, calme, apaisant, entraînant 7/10
Elliott Smith's "Either Or" is a good album, and it's even more interesting when you consider his personal history. Dancing through the early tracks to the solo acoustic performance soon transitions to power chords as Smith ascends to his heralded future as a rock star. Overall, I found some of the songs to be big standouts like "Between the Bars" and "Say Yes," but found that the space in between was less gripping for me. The style was wispy and dreamlike, and certainly ahead of its time. Elliott probably could've been even bigger if he hadn't left this world early, and that is something I am truly sad about.
The first two thirds of this album all sound the same
Really loved the range of emotions on this album, One song will be sad and depressing then the next is happy and uplifting, it’s such a rollercoaster. The music is pretty simple but still very unique in its own right.
Not my kind of jam, has an amazing voice though. Angeles is ok but nothing else really.
to sad
Onpas yllättävän kirkassilmäinen levy verrattuna paheelliseen kanteen. Kiva kontrasti. Ja tuleehan siellä pari kirosanaa. Saisi kyllä minusta päättää, olisiko rouheampi vai söpömpi.
Canta muy suavecito pero me agrada la guitarrita, agregué algunas
Just not good
Beautiful guitar work and lyrics as expected. Some standout tracks but the style gets rather monotonous.
3.1
Either/Or is the perfect title for an album that has no edge to it.
A lot of droning, but musically it could've been worse. I could see how it snapped Tiny Rick out of his optimism.
Kind of boring. Just in one ear and out the other. I may need to give it a second shot as I know he has such high critical acclaim, but at least on first listen, meh.
Okey
Weirdly ethereal stuff. Not to my taste, but I can see the attraction. Felt quite samey. A little bit simon and garfunkel
Kjedelig
This one didn't do it for me. I liked his final album which had a more electric sound, this was too acoustic-guitar-singer-songwriter vibes which I don't typically listen to.
First I had heard of Elliott smith or any of the music. It was ok! Went for a vibe and achieved it.
Another impressive (if depressive) album by Elliott Smith. As I said in my other review of his music, he seems to be channeling the spirit of Nick Drake into a modern context. As far as I can tell, "Either Or" seems to be Smith's breakthrough album, having had several tracks added to the "Good Will Hunting" soundtrack and clearly a much wider audience because of it. I really have nothing bad to say about this album, though I preferred "Figure 8". I'm thoroughly convinced that I shoud be spending more time listening to Elliott Smith in the future.
Love this album.
4 stars In some ways I always really connect with Elliott Smith’s music and in other ways I always feel a little put off by the lofi quality of his earlier stuff. Either/Or is a transition, with a lot of the lofi qualities still present but a bigger sound thanks to the presence of more drums and electric instruments in some songs. The emotion and songwriting is all there. But his music feels simultaneously relatable in the sadness and darkness that makes you want to curl up in a ball and also pushed away as an outsider to Elliott’s own experience. It’s these qualities that have nothing to do with how good the album is that has kept this from feeling like a 5 star album for me, and it’s never been something I have in rotation, despite liking it quite a bit.
Kinda fun mopey stuff, but for me, it's just background listening. A nice vibe to put on once in a while, maybe, while doing other stuff.
It's alright. Not my favorite genre, but I appreciate it for what it is!
Very relaxing album I enjoyed listening to this
I gotta give it a second listen but I really enjoyed this album and should listen to more Elliot Smith
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. :)
The second one to come along in our queue that I've owned in physical form. It's great stuff, but I think he could have used one more uptempo song to give a break from the prevailing mood.
Never heard of this snd it did nothing for me. Maybe there was something profound in the mumbled lyrics that I missed?
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.
It is good
A really great combo of grunge and folk.
Really nice, accoustic, grunge adjacent liked it a lot.
Long term fan. Is it his best album? Maybe - it’s all good, very good. Strong 4 / 5
Like Nick Drake, because of the tragic end of life story, people also overestimate how sad Elliott Smith’s music is. It’s melancholic, sure, but it is hardly miserable. There’s a fine balance between introspection and a sunnier side to his music that makes it a compelling listen. He has such a unique and distinctive voice. In the 28 years since Either Or it has been often copied but never been bettered. It is not experimental, it doesn’t push boundaries, but it nails a specific grungy, singer songwriter approach that no other artist has quite managed to perfect. Combining delicate, intimate folk rock with angsty, sometimes bitter vocals is another tricky balance but he arrives at something universally enjoyable. It doesn’t come across as just “music for teens”, though it would be very good for that also.
High 4 could rise with more listens.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯, think i’d rather listen to sufjan if i want soft vocals and guitar
Расслабляет :) Красиво и легко
A 90s indie album that deals with themes of angst and existential despair, this album is emotional and you can feel it in the music. I surprisingly liked Ballad of Big Nothing- I love the guitar riffs throughout the song to give it the 90s angsty vibes. Whilst not my favourite kind of music, I actually don’t mind this albumand can appreciate the emotionally charged songs. Maybe a song to cry in the bath to over a candle and glass of wine (is this niche?).
After the first song and a half,I was ready to turn it off but someone found a drumkit and it became less irksome. After listening all the way through, I'd say it was a sometimes very pleasant experience and sometimes it felt like, 'is that weird enough guys?' . I'd rather not have to listen to anything by E.Smith again but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I did.
Really liked it.
His girlfriend totally did it
Awesome
Boring as hell. That's really all there is to say here.
Honestly not a fan, I can see the appeal, but not for me
Chill and relax
Nick Drake 2.0 I respect this, more so than the previous album, but it’s still not for me. Still listening to Black Sabbath. I concur that if I get divorced I’ll be crying playing this on repeat. One point for the 90’s. Deserves better but m hiding this is the 3’s.
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).
Wow, compared to the last Elliott Smith album, this is far more the style I think hes trying to create - some soft pop rock with super melancholic themes Maybe thats due to the double album vs 37 mins fatigue, but I like to think its how raw these recordings sound. Its true bedroom alt rock. I really enjoyed the deep cuts. Rose Parade has a really nice feel without it being complicated or all that unique
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.
beautiful sadness
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
So true bc I Either think a song on here is a genius indie pop composition Or an overly emo missed opportunity.
love this album. Easy 5/5.
p817. 1997. 4 stars. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. Sharp lyrics, and some lovely guitar playing. All that's missing are standout tunes. On the replay list.
The album becomes more enjoyable as it goes on. The middle part (tracks 5-9) are the best part Highlights: - Pictures of me - Angeles - Rose Parade
sad I missed this album in 1997. really enjoyed it, even if I wanted him to change his delivery.
very nice very
A nice groove.
4.5 stars. Really liked this singer-songwriter indie rock. Nice singing voice, and popp-y enough at times to not be overly depressing.
Meh
Not my favourite Elliot Smith album. His guitar playing is still so good
found me at the right time i guess, very much into accoustic guitar atm and wow this man knew how to play the guitar. read up on his wikipedia and apparently playing around w guitar chords was one of his fav things about making music and well, you can tell! so many beautiful progressions!
Pretty good album, chilled and melodic for sure just as Spotify describes E.S. Straight away the album gave me Eels vibes, if they had gone for a more unplugged, acoustic, sound. Fave songs: Ballad of Big Nothing; Pictures of Me; Angeles; Cupid's Tricks; and 2:45 A.M.
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
God I love this sad bastard. I can only imagine what he was grappling with throughout his lifetime. This album is so intimate and raw and beautiful and I love it so much
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.
самобытно вроде, но и уныло - средняк короче
Reminded me a little of 90s alt bands like Sloan and Moist
One of the best
Light and soothing is the best way to describe this album. This is the second Elliott Smith album I pulled on this list. But not so much that I'll ever listen to it again. The dude looks like an emo--is this emo?? The more these songs play the more it seems plausible, though not having ever listened to emo, thankfully, I don't completely know. Close enough to what I think is emo that I don't want any more of it. 2/5
Good album. The soft, quiet singing over acoustic guitars sounds a lot like Simon and Garfunkel. I might need more time with this album.
i love this album i’ve always loved this album his voice is so unique and mmhmm and the guitar shivers my timbers and yum. i hadn’t fully appreciated rose parade before. no skips.
The second best thing to come out on the day I was born
4.5 stars
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.
Didn't realise there was an elliott smith record in the list, but I'm very pleased that there is. A tortured soul who channeled his despair. Makes me sad, but sometimes that's welcome.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
Started out strong for me, slowly lost steam. Not a bad album by any means, just felt a little repetitive.
Love Elliott Smith but in small doses
It's sad.. real sad
This is the type of stuff Dad would say it was a classic even though he has NEVER listened to this
Broody but I like it
I feel that I’m not at all qualified to review this album. The first and only I’ve ever heard of Elliot Smith was from a guy I know who’s been obsessed with him. And so I was certainly intrigued when his name popped up yesterday. Anyways, I have to talk about the writing for a second—this is that Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain shit that you know is poetic godsend but can’t muster the hundreds of hours deciphering what everything means. I can tell Smith put a lot of effort into his writing, and I apologize if/when I don’t understand. I’m just not smart enough. But for what I do know, the figurative telling of addiction on Between the Bars, trauma on No Name No. 5, loneliness on Rose Parade, etc. are all lended in a mature manner that proves Smith was too wise beyond his years. And if only he had more of them. But yeah, Smiths writing is for the poets and scholars, definitely not me. I can talk about the actual music, though. You truly get a bit of everything from this genre that Smith pioneered. The first few tracks and their solemn, acoustic feel placed me next to a campfire with the fire burning bright and the friends sharing stories. I began thinking about Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus and all those other singer songwriters with a similar vibe, and then it hit me; they were all created by Smith. Not literally of course, but Elliot Smith was able to popularize this new way of music that would be replicated for decades to come. So while it doesn’t sound so original now, any artists inspired by him could tell you he was game changer. He invented this sort of simple instrumentally yet dense lyrically style of music that so many adore. Of course he had his influences. You can definitely hear the Beatles in Alameda (the harmonies that kick in later in the song are beautiful), the acoustic sound of a Kurt Cobain outtake in Speed Trials, the Radiohead (Bends) on Cupids Trick. You can tell Smith is taking the best acoustic, slow vibes he can find from all these amazing artists of the time to create something both inspired and inspiring. I really enjoy Pictures of Me, a nice track in the middle to spice things up a bit throughout the slow, melancholy. It seems more playful and mood-shifting, yet with the same deep lyricism interweaved within. All together, I do wish to learn more about Elliot Smith and his wonderful passion for poeticizing the mundane. Maybe one day when I’m deep in my sorrows from a heartbreak, I can truly enjoy this record. But alas, today is not that day. Solid 9/10.
Perfect sad bastard music. I was delighted by some of the interesting chord progressions. I can't give it 5 stars because I need to be in a certain mood that I'm not often feeling to listen all the way through, but it is truly beautiful.
pretty good. my kind of mellow 4/5
I’m a cis woman and I think I have more testosterone than this album does. The songs are all pretty, and a few are even very pretty, but I accidentally listened to it 1.5 times because my attention kept drifting away.
I really enjoyed this all around. I don't think I did just as much as I thought I would but it's still a 4* might grow on future listens
It was ok, but it didn't blow me away. But it was an ok listen.
Nah
I can appreciate that Elliott Smith, and likely this album, were hugely influential for a generation of disaffected "art kids" and countless early-00's emo bands. This album feels like a collection of that one slow acoustic song that every rock band has towards the back of their album. Like a Cap'n Crunch's OOPS! All Berries(R) of acoustic proto-emo, minus the sugar. If someone gave me a burned copy of this in highschool, I'm sure it would have resonated and frequently been in the 3Disk CD player next to my homework desk. Instead, the longest running rotation I can remember was: Jimmy Eat World's Clarity, Beulah's The Coast Is Never Clear, and Pete Yorn's Music For The Morning After... All considerably less depressing than this, which was probably for the best. Unlike I was in highschool, I'm not in a place in my life where I can fully embrace ES anymore. I don't think I'd revisit this album but I don't regret listening to it and I hope Elliott rests in peace.
There's a lot to love about this album, but unfortunately, this is just not my thing. Overall, I like the vocals and instrumentation, but this somber, melancholic music doesn't interest or excite me in any way. I can appreciate it, sure, but I listen to music for fun and this is not that fun to me. Too slow, too grounded, and too minimalist. Good album, but I would've rated it higher if that kind of music interested me. 7/10
Album muy muy guay. Super original y relajante. Es como ASMR con una acústica en drop de fondo. Poco variado tho pero me suda toda la polla. 8.3/10—>4/10
Este album ya lo escuché cuando descubrí la app, antes d q las personas d el grupo este la descubriesen (de nada) y recuerdo q me había encantado, es muy relajante y me recuerda un poco a Álex g pero si afinase
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
Really on the fence but I think this one has to be a 3, just feels lacking on songwriting diversity, which tends to be the issue with so many acoustic alternative albums. He’s got a nice voice, and the songs individually are a decent to good quality, but the album just lacks the dynamics and diversity to keep it interesting all the way through. Speed Trials (7/10) Alameda (8/10) Ballad of Big Nothing (7/10) Between the Bars (8/10) Pictures of Me (8/10) No Name No. 5 (7/10) Rose Parade (8/10) Punch and Judy (6/10) Angeles (7/10) Cupid’s Trick (7/10) 2:45 AM (6/10) Say Yes (7/10) 7.2/10
Nice enough
Beautifully composed
Wimpy and witless.
beautiful
Can’t really remember the album but think it was pretty good
I had never heard of Elliot Smith. I read up on his story, and found it quite sad. This album was pretty decent, albeit quiet plain. I added 3 songs to my library though.
Typically not a fan of hushed singer songwriters, this record breaks the mold. The lyrics are brutal, chord progression fantastic, mood depressing, production a perfect reflection of reality. Elliot is a legend in this space and influenced many musician friends I grew up with and almost anyone in the indie rock or grunge genre. It’s not an everyday listen but if you’re feeling sad, plug in.
Gothic. Moody. Gilmore Girls. Charmed. Addressing. When the socket's not a shock enough - wow. Running repeated. The path - reminds me of Lorde's The Path. Melancholic. Again, we are addressing another person - You walk down Alameda. Shuffling your deck of trick cards - witty. Solitude. A constant state of suspense. Is Smith talking about himself in the second person? - For one or two minutes she liked you. Nirvana influence? Inspiration for 2000s rock bands? If you're alone it must be / you that wants to be apart - INTERESTING. Said you can do what you / want to whenever you want to - Rebellion. The parade - foreshadowing the Rose Parade? The use of the second person is prevalent. Two parties. Escapism. People you've been before / that you don't want around anymore - Identity. Drink up baby - Alcoholism, Addiction? between the bars? Is there something coming in between them? Sibilance - sinister? the coin-op TV, frozen in fear. Nothing wrong - Big nothing. Everybody's dying / just to get the disease. Guitar break - words cannot do the pain justice? So sick and tired of all / these pictures of me - Identity crisis? Got bitten fingernails / and a head full of the past - excellent. Brooding. Drifting. A sweet, sweet smile - reminds of the candy in another song. 'cause everybody's gone at last - because of the disease? Several instances of negation. Got a broken heart and / your name on my cast. Raw, vulnerable, small, hopeless. Giving Weezer. Duracell bunny simile. Cavalcade? Throwing out candy metaphor again. What is the Rose parade? Loads of repetition. References to drinking and smoking. When they clean the street / I'll be the only shit that's left behind - negative self-image. They vs. I. I think I'm gonna make / the same mistake twice. We had a song about Alameda. Now, Smith is addressing Angeles: the city or a person? Gamble, trade, cards. And sign up with evil, Angeles? And be forever with my poison arms - disease, infectious. Has he found someone on his wavelength? Or is it the city? I'm absent and numb from shock / reference to shock. Sugar lie / Lick me up, it's my lie - as the music picks up. There are several references to candy. Candy is alluring, yet it is not good for one's health, addictive. Sugar, lick me up, it's my lie. I'm going out sleepwalking / Where mute memories start talking - subconscious. A naive, unsatisfiable baby - no saving, victimisation. With hidden cracks - reminiscent of the boardwalk earlier. But I'm gonna split us back in two - inability to connect. Memory. Looking for somebody's arms to / Wave away past harms - to heal his poison arms? Fade to black - hopelessness? Storytelling. Breakup. Ballad? A happy day and then you pay - Karma.
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.
bit slow for my taste
I was expecting much more from this as I have heard of him and know that he is a singer songwriter, my favorite genre. However it felt like no one track stood out to me, ultimately was not that interesting to my ears.
A few songs already in my regular rotation, really enjoyed listening to the album all together.
Intimate, and surprisingly melodic. Can't believe this was my first time hearing it.
He’s got a pretty distinct sound that seems to be emulated throughout the indie artists following him 10 years later. Sad story he's got, though.
83/100. Either/Or by Elliott Smith is a beautifully produced album. It’s one of the most emotional, haunting, and bittersweet records out there. Somehow, it feels both deeply depressing and strangely uplifting at the same time.