Reviews (page 7 of 14)
sad lad indie banger
Very, very good!
downloaded 4,6,7,8,11,12
soothes the nerves
Meh
Not for me Clive
This album really surprised me. Really strong songwriting and pleasant guitar work throughout.
Mid, bit too cutesy
Música muy tranquila y depresiva. Muy agradable para escuchar de fondo, nos ha gustado mucho. 3,7. Canción fav. Paula: Ballad of Big Nothing Canción fav. Claudia: Speed Trials
How boring!
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
I liked everything on here, no real complaints, just not something that I think I’ll return to. I feel like I missed the boat on this one, or just wasn’t a depressed teen when I first listened to it.
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
I really enjoyed this. Like many our age, I first heard Elliott Smith in the Good Will Hunting soundtrack and I liked those songs but never dug deeper into his stuff. I really like the songwriting here, it gets stuck in my head and his melodies really do something for me. Overarching emotion on this record is melancholy. Highlights were Ballad of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, and Say Yes. Made me want to play acoustic guitar in a coffeeshop. A couple songs at the end didn't grab me as strongly, but I will be returning to this record for sure. Seems like a great late-fall, early-winter record. Strong 4/5.
Meh. 2/5
Soft rock album that seems a bit timeless. Not my bag but it wasn’t bad.
Boring
Its fine. Its not a bad listen but nothing really striked me. I liked Between the Bars because it kinda sounded like Rocky Racoon that went really nice.
Wistfully melancholic 90s indie folk-pop. Has a nice unpolished sound save for the echoey vocals. It all just has a certain type of indy romcom soundtrack vibe that doesn't appeal to me.
I like this, mellow and very alternative. my jam.
I’m not a die hard Elliott Smith fan, but this just feels like an artist who came into his own so immediately that it’s a shame he left so soon. 4.5
Nice songwriting. Just didn’t grab me.
Definitely sad boy music, but there's nothing wrong with that. This is a well-crafted album, and despite the sadness, it felt more hopeful than other albums of its ilk. That said, sadness just isn't what I'm looking for in music the vast majority of the time, so I can't quite say this album is for me. However, it's good at what it does, and I can't do anything but respect that.
Great listen. I can see why he’s the artist’s artist
A gamechanger for me.
I did not expect this album to be as pleasing as it was. Very nice. Liked the harmonies. I thought the drums hit really hard for some reason.
This one is pretty good. It's definitely melancholy music. There's a few very good tracks but it's maybe just a bit too slow and quiet. Favorite track: probably "Say Yes"
It’s like a more depressed, more mediocre Beatles. It’s still good because it sounds like them, but I would never listen to this over something like Abbey Road or Revolver
Virkelig godt album, især hvis man ikke lige er så meget til larm. Stille musik - men ikke kedelig 8/10
Boring and blah
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.
Album was very good I very much enjoyed it 👍 Elliot Smith is my male role model
Perfection ruined my life 10/10
I have mixed feelings about Elliott Smith. In a vacuum, I'm honestly not really a fan of his voice; I don't really find it enjoyable to listen to. But I'll be damned if it's not perfect for his haunting sad vibes. And that style is really what makes the album. Meaning, if anyone else is singing here, I don't think album is as good, or as highly regarded as it actually is. He brings something that just can't really be replaced. And I think that really informs my opinion on this album as a whole. There's nothing else particularly special about it. But it is very, very good at what it does, which is put you in this melancholic mood while making you feel like you're sitting alone with your thoughts, Elliott, and his guitar. It's ultimately an album that I wish I liked more but have a hard time thinking of a way that it could be better. Favorite Song(s): Between the Bars, Say Yes
Man, what a heavy legacy behind such a feather-light voice. The songs feel homespun. It’s not really my jam, but I’m glad I heard it. Like meeting someone you know won’t stick around, but still leaves a mark. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Between The Bars - Angeles - Say Yes
yeah good album
This album feels like spending hot summer days in somebody else's basement, plucking at guitars and dreaming about imaginary women.
It started off feeling like unpolished demos but there were a couple good songs in there
———————————— My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.
Elliott we miss you and your genius
The epitome of coffee shop music.
Yes love it love it!
2:45 AM / Angeles
Going into this, I had never listened to Elliott Smith before, so I wasn't familiar with any of his albums or songs. Either/Or turned out to be an excellent introduction — a brilliant, emotionally resonant album that showcases Smith's talent beautifully. His songwriting is quietly devastating, filled with poetic, introspective lyrics and hauntingly beautiful melodies. The production is raw and intimate, giving the album a timeless, deeply personal feel. It’s easy to understand why Either/Or is considered one of the defining singer-songwriter records of the 1990s, and after this listen, I’m eager to explore more of his back catalogue. Favourite Track: “Alameda” stood out as the highlight for me, though it was a close call. “Speed Trials,” “Ballad of Big Nothing,” “Pictures of Me,” and “Angeles” are all equally compelling. Least Favourite: While the album is strong overall, there are a few moments that felt less inspired. Tracks like “Rose Parade” and “No Name No. 5” come across as more generic and lack the emotional punch of the stronger songs. These dips keep the album just shy of a perfect score. Album Artwork: The cover is cool and understated, complementing the mood and tone of the music well.
Elliott Smith has always been a bit of a blindspot for me. I first heard about him long after he'd passed away, and almost immediately saw the reverence - and sense of loss - his fans hold for him. It made the prospect of listening to him daunting. What if it didn't land for me, what if he didn't live up to those lofty expectations? Listening to Either/Or I'm pleased to find that Smith's music holds up incredibly well even without that personal connection. The song writing and musicianship is self evident and I was surprised by how catchy this was in places. I can certainly see why so many people have developed such a deep connection with Smith's music.
It's fine. Kind of just a chill moody vibe. Nice to study to but it wasn't very dynamic and only a couple songs stood out.
Listened before. Decent
I feel that a lot of what I think about this album is more of the same for the previous Elliott Smith album I got (Figure Eight), so I keep this brief. I think Elliott makes some nice songs. He has a melancholy style that is too depressing and the tracks are catchy as they are emotional. It’s kinda sad I’ve never even heard of him before this project. Lord knows where he would have went as time went on. Favorite track: Pictures of Me Other hits: Ballad of Big Nothing, Between the Bars, Punch and Judy, Say Yes, 2:45 AM, No Name No. 5
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
20/06/2025 It was okay, not really my cup of tea.
Holy Crap this was BORING . I’m struggling to write much about it as I found it so unbelievably uninteresting. If I was to rank my bottom five so far this would certainly be in it.
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.
Creo que lo escuché en su día y no me gustó. A la gente parece que le gusta escuchar canciones como a medio hacer y mal grabadas. Este tío canta como si no quisiera despertar al vecino. ¿Por qué cojones se dobla la voz en todas las canciones en vez de cantar con ganas? Ballad of big nothing está bien, pero podría haberlo grabado con in micrófono real y no con el de juguete. En serio, no entiendo esto tampoco. Esto es música para frikis pajilleros que le tienen miedo al sonido de la batería o del bajo.
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.
This was significantly better than the other Elliott Smith album. Not sure I'd come back to this one, but I wouldn't be as bummed out about this one.
Not too bad, I’d give this one a 3.5 if I could
Never heard anything by Elliott Smith before. Cool sounds and from what I got great lyrics. This is one I want to revisit and digest better down the road.
Just not my jam. A little too slow and quiet for my tastes.
Didn't get a full listen on this one. Seems a bit slow and moody for me, but maybe in the right situation it could hit right. I'll have to revisit this later.
Punch and Judy was in the depths of my Spotify and I'm glad it's been resurrected. Elliott Smith has a special place in my heart.
It needed a little more Punch and a little less Judy. I do see the vision though, one of the few artists where I can actually hear and appreciate his mix of influences, a bit of a softer Elvis Costello with some Dylan in there. Overall intrigued by the guy, looking forward to his next album.
A- Speed Trials 4 Alameda 5 Ballad of Big Nothing 4 Between the Bars 5 Pictures of Me 4 No Name No. 5 5 Rose Parade 3 Punch and Judy 4 Angeles 3 Cupids Trick 4 2:45 Am 3 Say Yes 4 A great album. Good intro to Elliott Smith. He builds off this incredibly well with XO and Figure 8
Beautiful voice and just sounds so good. This album has aged gracefully over the years. I'm here for it.
7:10
It just felt kind of sleepy
I was familiar with a few of the songs here. I like Smith's great, minimal, songwriting. Liked Songs Added: Ballad Of Big Nothing Between The Bars 2:45 a.m.
pass
Perfect! Soothing and calm for when you want those type of vibes. Spun it twice
Quite honestly a snoozefest
Either or? How about neither
a bit slow & quiet, good for some chilled out listening
I had heard of Elliott Smith before but I hadn't really listened to his music before and I'm so glad I listened to this album. It has a calm and nostalgic vibe and that's exactly the kind of music I love listening to. It kinda reminds me of Alex G un some ways. And I'm definitely going to listen to this album more. The only thing I didn't like that much is that all of the songs in this album sound too similar, but I guess that is relaxing in a way.
I am SO SORRY maybe I'm in a weird music day but except for like two songs I couldn't get into this one at all.... I know, I know, a crime. I'm sorry. Just throw me in jail already
Sad but classy.
If it's good enough for Good Will Hunting, then it's good enough for me.
awesome music
I may cry to this album one day Come back to me in 2 years and it may be a 5
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
Pretty good album
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.
Music for sad middle schoolers
Indie rock Chill Calm rock
I liked the rock-tinged songs best. However, the whispers voice gets grating after a while. If only 3.5 stars existed.
Who/Why?
Musique d'ado
More sad white boy music that makes me feel things that I really don’t want to feel when listening to music most of the time. This is a great album that I just really don’t think I would ever be in the mood to want to hear very often. Sad vibes, especially considering what happened to Elliott Smith in general. It makes listening to this even more depressing. While I can appreciate this album for what it is, and realize how great it is, it’s just too sad for me to truly love. However, “Cupid’s Trick” absolutely rocks, and I also really liked “Pictures of Me” and “Rose Parade” the most. The album is technically great, just not my sad cup of tea. 4/5 as a whole, 3/5 for personal enjoyment.
I didn’t want to be obvious but I don’t see any flaws with this record.
This felt like the music that would play in a movie when the main character is coming to terms with a new sad reality, carrying on with day to day life after a breakup or a death. Lyrics were interesting and well written. Overall it was good but felt a little too slow for me to really get into. 7/10
I almost gave this a 5. It doesn't quite reach the level of greatness I have reserved for 5s in the past, but I absolutely loved this album. Great for a Monday morning...
"Ballad of Big Nothing" sounds a LOT like a Phoebe Bridgers. I'm guessing she really likes Elliot. This is a great song. "Between the Bars" is a familiar song. It's all quite depressing, but it is really nice to listen to. It's obvious that Elliot was a strong influence on a lot of sad girls and sad boys in the 2010s and 2020s. I really enjoyed this album. Phoebe Bridgers is apparently quite open about Elliot being her favorite artist of all time, so it makes sense that they sound so similar. 8/10
Only know Elliott Smith via Needle in the Hay - which is a great track. I like his breathy vocal delivery and the general vibe of the music - its quite introspective sad music that I would have loved as a teen mooning around in my bedroom. Does not quite work for me currently as don't really have the time for mooning and need music generally to either give me an adrenaline hit or chill me out and fade into the background.
Either/Or Similar to Figure 8, had I listened to this when I was between 16 and 21 I think I would have loved the morose sensitivity of it all, but it doesn’t quite hit the same in my mid 40s, despite it being a well crafted and obviously sincere album. He is good at what he does, although he does have a particular vocal, melodic and harmonic style, a kind of drone, which I do actually like, but it does start to feel very samey over the course of the album, even one one that’s only 37 minutes. Although I did quite enjoy the overall soporific feel, I did struggle to really pick any songs out, probably due to that sense of sameness. I can, however, see that in the right mood it might land better, and although I would listen again if I’m in the mood for some gloomy acoustic introspection, but there are other albums or artists I’d likely go to ahead of this. Think that makes a 3. 🥹🥹🥹 Playlist submission: Ballad of Big Nothing
I haven't listened to this simpering milquetoast since 'Figure of 8' some 18 months ago. As far as self-pitying balladeers go, he had a good knack for writing a tune, even at this point in his discography. This album is even more lo-fi than Figure of 8 - recorded on a 4-track, it sounds very much of the bedroom, just not in a sexy way. As a result, there are times when it has an amateur demo feel. To his credit, he keeps the album concise, and it proves to be a nice run of acoustic wallowing. It's a shame he went the way he did. But who hasn't thought of running themself through with a kitchen knife after an argument with the better half?
just sounds boring idk
kind of bland but some chill songs with catchy beats
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.
Great.
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.
I wish this record had been around when I was 17. I don’t need it at this stage in my life in the way I would have done then. Smith is the taproot of the bedroom recorded, hyper authentic singer/songwriter wave still in progress. That said it’s more straightforward pop than his previous output. Ultimately this album works best played alone in your room after a very bad day. In any other context it’s honestly pretty lightweight. Bottom line: it’s either for you or it’s not and if it’s not it probably won’t impact much. If it is it will land like a thunderbolt. There isn’t much in between.
Sweet, ethereal and melancholy. I really like this album. It reminded me of Beck, a lot. Another that will join the rotation.
now that i've listened and really enjoyed it to this i can officially call myself annoying without looking like a poser
It was fine. Didn't like the drums, found them distracting. I get why it is a good album. Listened to the self titled after and this is certainly more fully realized.
Very unique vocal sound, and seems to change it up a bit from song to song. A bit of early indie/folk singer-songwriter style popular in the 2000s like Ben Folds. Very calming music, great for a rainy day. A bit on the "emo" side from a vibe-standpoint. Well done album, but no real "hits" on here. Great to have on in the background and vibe to.
Beautiful album that I hadn't heard before. I knew Elliot Smith had a wonderful voice but wondered if a full album of his breathy vocals and mellow guitar arrangements would be too much, but this was a great find with a consistent, interesting sound.
I’ve never understood the draw of Elliott Smith. His music is fine but he has a cult status that eludes me. I have nothing against his music, it’s not bad, I guess it’s just not for me.
I hate this Genre, sound like someone wishpering, not singing
Perfect album, not a skip on the entire thing. Maybe it just hit me at the perfect time in my youth.
Very enjoyable
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
7.5/10, the sound of the album was quite nice and calm with the contradiction of the aggressive and sad vocals. Not my kind of indie music but still great other all Standouts: Ballad of Big Nothing, Rose Parade, Cupid's Trick, Say Yes
Great
Fine. Just a little dull
It’s like the Escher Demos - stripped down to the basics. A melody and a beat and a lyrical idea. I hope to discover what more there is of him.
hit me hard as hell on a rough day. beautiful amazing
I found this to be instantly forgettable. No one track stood out for me.
Yeah....not good
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.
This is the second album in the past week that I've really tried to like and just cannot get into. The music is dull, his voice is grating and lyrically he is not the genius he's painted to be.
New artist for me, quite enjoyable
Beautiful album. Not my fave from Elliott, though.
Eh. Didn't hate it didn't love it.
It’s a classic of its time. Bit moody and depressing in tone but there’s a complexity to the songs (form and structure) and he’s pretty accomplished on the ol’ guitar. Having gone back to this album (as part of this group) Between the Bars is still my fave (with Angeles a close second) which is a bit boring / predictable of me…
A nice bit of Indie / Singersongwriter angst. Right up my street
Not really a fan of this, but didn't actively hate it.
Album is okay. A little too slow and kind of depressing for me, but it’s clear he is talented. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again
I kind of hate elliott smith
kind of a 90s indie pop inflected beatles sound. this is not a compliment
This was even better than I thought. Every song I heard his influence on someone.
Nicee
I actually really enjoyed this album. I had already heard some Elliott Smith before, and I knew that his music is similar to music I enjoy, but I’d never listened to a full album of his. And I’ve gotta say, I really liked it! This was a good album, with a bunch of nice, sadder songs. The music, and the instrumentals; amazing. Good work Elliott Smith, you put together a nice record.
WAY BETTER than i anticipated... Never gave this album a chance, now i love it. Tragic story...
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.
Not my jam
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. •••••
Did Elliott Smith's mom make the 1001 albums list? I actually like this album, but I'm marking it down because of Elliott Smith oversaturation.
How refreshing! An album by an artist I was unaware of that is really very good. I have played it 3 times already today and I will have to check out his other stuff. Shame he died so young and so tragically. This is the best album to come up in quite some time.
Honestly cant remember a thing about it the next day. Just that it is inoffensive 90s rock.
I think this is what I wanted that Jeff Buckley album to sound like. Melancholy indie without being whiny, which is impressive. A lovely voice also.
***An ok album
Not for me. Easy to listen to but I didn't feel the deeper message.
Boring a bit, but not bad
American rock, seemed a bit more experimental. Didn't have anything that stuck out good or bad. 2.6
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.
Can't quite put my finger on this one. I can hear some elements of Foo Fighters more mellow tracks and maybe some Ash. Anyway, it's not half bad. I can think of some times I could listen to this purposefully, but it is a bit samey.
I find this dull and boring. Played while I was working, I kept forgetting I was supposed to pay attention to the music. Other than maybe "Pictures of me", all the songs lack any emotion, or if you pressed me, I would say the emotion is fatigue and tiredness. Don't understand why this is on the list of 1001 albums to list before I die. I guess this is 999 or 1000 because by the end of it i was pretty much bored to death
I had his album a long time ago but only recognize the hits. I like most songs, it reminds me of a time when I listened to Eels, Radiohead etc. Nostalgia.
Kärt återseende , en av hans bästa album
Very touching, and sad.
enjoyed it a lot more than i did on my first listen
This is good. Really well-crafted songs that ache with loneliness. Sounds like The Shins and was probably influential on that whole turn-of-the-century sound. Very mellow & a bit depressing. It’s a 3, but might be a four on another listen.
Really of its time. Doesn't work for me outside of some American pie soundtrack. Really feels like a time capsule, like how all movies in the 90s didn't have stakes because it was always about a guy who hates his job or a young man who doesn't know what to do with his life. Points for consistency, and the no doubt countless other artists who started thinking 'hey I could do that'
Elliot Smith might be the original sad indie dude. Inspiring countless generations of singer songwriters to tap into their emotional side. When I saw this album pop up I was a little hesitant to dig in- it was a bright sunny day and I didn't feel like going down the sad road. I found time later in the day and have to say it was much more well rounded than I anticipated. Could be the American Nick Drake of the 1990's. Yes it is tad sad, but sad isn't bad.
Great songwriting and I can see why this was so influential for a lot of people. I also dig the lo-fi and fairly simple production. However, while I did enjoy the album overall, it's just not really for me. I probably would have been a pretty big fan had I heard this earlier in my life.
It's quite creative. I had this combination of appreciation and malaise from listening to it. He seems quite talented as a song writer but I didn't really enjoy or connect with the songs.
I listened to this a few days ago and it was entirely unremarkable. Cannot bring myself to relisten for a deeper dive.
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.
Not for me
Great songs, great voice, great guitar. An earlier Elliot Smith offering, all the elements are in place, a wonderful gift, strong songs, one for the collection though I think figure 8 a stronger album.
Meh, I know he’s a big indie darling but I find him to be such a huge downer. Yes I know that sounds totally awful considering the circumstances, but he’s just way too sad for me.
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
Dreary
The first time I ever listened to Either/Or, it was the summer of 2005. I was walking through downtown Vancouver with my head down, feeling a bit depressed on account of the music. Suddenly, just beside me, a car leaned on its horn. I looked up to see that a car had been pulling out of a parking space just as a cyclist was coming up the street, and the car had nearly sideswiped the cyclist. The cyclist was a tall guy with a Chicago Blackhawks jersey tied around his waist, and he turned his head and waved to acknowledge the car. I saw the man's face — it was John Cusack.
Great set of well composed songs by a great artist, will keep it on repeat, to absorb everything it has.
I can see why this is considered his magnum opus, and it's clearly his most popular album therefore. This thing is great. I had my issues with Figure 8, I haven't listened to XO (yet), and Roman Candle has a big list of highs and lows. This thing is just consistently great. Every song felt unique in it's own way, and the constant change in tone really did well for me. Pictures of Me definitely the absolute highlight. 5.
A mostly more consistent album than Figure 8. Similar that former album though I felt like the middle was a bit of a lull compared to the strength of its opening tracks as well as landing on its feet with some great ones to close on too. His music (especially in its quieter parts) reminds me more of a jam session/stream of consciousness performed from ones dorm room. An oddly warm feeling for someone who obviously went through a lot of coldness in his life
Two listens failed to leave any sort of impression on me. While I did not dislike it, it was just there. When I think of it, I really have no recollection of a single track from our last Elliott Smith album so I suppose the mental association I’m forming with him as an artist is “forgettable”
I'm not listening to this shit again. I've listened to this album front to back a few times on atleast 6 separate occasions. I'm genuinely getting up to 18 listens of this thing. Once in the recommendation of a friend I generally regard as having great taste, once on a music Essentials list and the other 4 in my own time trying to "get it", this thing is everywhere in music circles. Posters in record shops, highly rated and frequently discussed on forums. Mentioned often by those whose opinions I value. Glazed by fuckwits who enjoy wanky sad shit like radiohead. This album is mid and I'm tired of everyone pretending it's not. Go listen to Giles Corey instead or figure 8. That's way better. 6/10
I am going to refrain from making any Good Will Hunting references as I blew my load on the last Elliott Smith album that we got and now I regret it. Much like the last Elliott Smith album I listened to for this project, I enjoyed it on a first listen but it didn't leave a great impression on me besides Ballad Of Big Nothing which is a phenomenal track. This album really benefits from multiple listens and reading about Smith's upbringing and issues helped me get into the mood for this. Had I only listened to this once I would probably only have given it a strong 3. This also inspired me to "rewatch" Good Will Hunting (I watched youtube clips and shorts of the movie for an hour when I could have actually just watched the whole fuckin' thing). There are no misses here, the middle of the album only feels a little slow in the middle because of the consistently high quality of mope-i-ness on display here. This could have been a lot sadder and melancholic (as I was anticipating) but it is varied enough in its sound and mood that it kept me engaged the whole time and warranted multiple listens, more than just the two I normally give albums out of obligation. If you're a bit despondent, this shit is peak. Highlights: Alameda, Ballad Of Big Nothing, Between The Bars, Pictures Of Me, Angeles, 2:45 AM
Either I'm a singer Or I'm a songwriter
Not a fan, even coming from Portland, I don't understand the draw. Perhaps it's his lyrics that people are drawn to, but I find his music boring and not compelling enough to keep my attention. I don't want to sound judgy, but is this for people who like moody and somewhat depressing songs? The vocals are average, the mix is murky, the hooks are few and far between. But apparently I'm in the minority, this album has a TON of plays and a few tracks have really impressive listen numbers ("Between The Bars" at 231M and "Say Yes" & "Angeles" at around 100M). I respect that other people get joy from this album and his music, to each his own. I love stuff that other people don't enjoy. It's a mix of songs that are all listenable, but I don't make the connection to. 2 stars from me.
Achingly beautiful
Average
Vulnerable. Feels like some minimal Jeff Buckley, if that makes sense. A surprising, pleasant find.
Nice. But of this modern acoustic folk style, I prefer Iron and Wine, Damian Rice, or a host of others. It's fine and pleasant, but not great. 3/5
Love some good melancholy, but unfortunately, that's all this album had to offer. And it wasn't emotionally capturing enough to feel like iconic melancholy, the type you'd want to listen to the entire album for or yearn for. Decent chill music I guess though.
I enjoyed this but probably couldn’t tell you much about it today.
A poignant album given what happened to Elliott Smith and the melancholic nature of it feels sincere. Another one of those albums where downbeat songs can still hook you in if done right. A nice listen and another of those artists and albums I’d never have known about without this list.
Similar to his other album on here, there is clearly something there but it just fails to come through. I think it is his vocals that seem very tepid and fail to ignite the songs. Put some oomph into it lad!
Listened to whilst driving to work which I’ll admit isn’t ideal, but needs must. In fact I think I left my indicator on for about 6 miles along the A50 as it was clicking along in time with the record. Nice enough, if a little insipid. Bit like the Lemonheads. Stand out songs include Pictures of me and Cupids Trick. Say Yes is spookily like the Sugababes’ ‘about you now’ - weird.
Intimate, catchy, vulnerable, chilled, stripped back; are some words I have randomly used to rather generically describe this album as I can’t think of anything better to say. There are of course many other words in the world which others may use at their will (and in hindsight I would have). Anyway, that’s actually just a really cool album (and better than ‘Figure 8’ we had previously in here). Will be revisiting this one for sure, feels like a possible 5* grower.
9/10
Not my style
No ray of sunshine, this one. It's as melancholy as sad bastard music gets, but it's well done.
The Beatles influence is apparent here in melodies and sensibilities in song structure. I’m impressed by what smith can pull off with so little. It feels intimate and yet big and bursting through the minimalist seams. Fav tracks were big nothing, pictures of me, and say yes.
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
Took a few listens, but I really enjoyed this album. I wish there were a bit more variety, but the acoustic textures were nice.
I've never actually listened to this album, and only a few songs here and there. I know this is foundational indie for a lot of folks, but it feels pretty dated today. I love Angeles and the covers it has spawned.
Sadboiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Sounds fine, but I'm not in the blue period atm
just didnt hit like the other one did
Makes me feel melancholy. Notable tracks: Between the Bars, Cupuds Trick. ⭐⭐⭐
Cult classic but overall it's just fine
I should have liked this, but it just felt bland and uninspiring. Album rating: ⭐⭐1/2
Kedelig singer/songwriter, soft rock, melankolsk
Me siento en medio de ex hare krishnas, incómodo en medio de esos hippies perdidos en el tiempo. No, gracias
Very melancholic. I liked it but it’s for very specific listening environments.
Very melodic and singing reminder me of the Beatles.
A little too monotonous for me. Nice to listen to, but unlikely for me to return to it.
Quite liked the overall vibe but it didn't grab all of my attention. Would need to listen again and pay attention to the lyrics to comment further
Not my cup of tea. Gave it a few listens and found the mumbling vocals too grating. A bit meh!
Why, American?
indie rock ASMR. i can appreciate that the intimate atmosphere is that makes Elliott Smith's music what it is, but i could never really get into the vocal production where it feels like he's whispering into both of my ears at the same time. the songs are pretty great though.
Amazing album. Sad and dark and fragile and beautiful
Could listen to this whispery man all day. Glad to have another album from him
Happy to have a repeat of Elliott Smith. Another brilliant album I listened to on repeat.
It's a high 3. I think it's good, it's just not hitting with the current weather and mood. If I was to listen again in the autumn on a rainy day it might make it to a 5.
It's not quite 'Figure 8' for me, but it's still absolutely perfect!
Enjoyable music. I don't know anything more about Elliott Smith than I read on Wikipedia. Perhaps had I been more onboard at the time it would have meant more to me. I can certainly hear the influence on artists that came later. A good, but not great album to me. 3/5
Very good! Pretty beatles-esque. Listened to it twice.
Very soft, I’d go back to it again. Seems deep and has a lot to offer
No matter how much you turn this album up it is still a whisper from a kid just trying to feel things. I suspect he was kind of adored to death after that Oscars performance, so this sweet document from right before is all the more precious.
I'd have liked to listen to my CD copy of Either/Or, but the drawer won't open on my player. Which has led me to wonder whether I should either part with my sizable collection of CDs, which I rarely listen to anymore, fix my CD player or buy a replacement on eBay. Anyway, this is a wonderful album of quietude, incense, candlelight and dark nights. Its mood and outlook — and indeed, Smith's tragic life story — feel decidedly Gen X. Smith was a real talent, gone too soon.
The first song I loved on this album was Angeles, then it was Alameda (I did most of my growing up a few blocks downhill from that street), then I loved Say Yes, then Rose Parade, then No Name No. 5. I think it’s easier to like a story when it’s about a place you call home, and I was a teen in Portland in the 1990s, that was home. Smith’s quick chord changes keep the album lively, his sparing use of drums increase the dynamic range, and if you listen close you can hear when he switches between dual- and single-tracked vocals, like some understated accent mark. There’s an intimacy here and a conviction, each song feels like it’s from the (jaded, sarcastic) heart. It's his first album with a cover photo of himself on it, complete with a song lamenting the fact, "Pictures of me." The lyrics are filled with care for the words inside. This was my first Elliott Smith album, I bought it at the Music Millennium on East Burnside in 1997. I grew up in PDX, but I didn’t know about Elliott Smith and I should be ashamed that I first heard any song from the album in Good Will Hunting, saw it in a theater across the river in Vancouver Washington. I was home over winter break my junior year of college, saw it with my Aunt Diane, and when Angeles played in the credits I knew I had to get whatever album was attached to that song. My partner Meredith, who also grew up in Portland (well, West Linn), was cooler than I was in high school and actually saw Heatmiser live and witnessed Smith’s solo rise. Early on knowing each other we were emailing about Smith, either/or, and Alameda in particular, she wrote me this: WALKED down ALaMEda SHUFF-el-ing your DECK of TRICK cards OVer EVeree ONE like some PRECious ONly SON This works because of the way that we expect him to say (to me) walked down Alameda shuffling your feet but NO! It's a deck of TRICK cards (extra syllable in shuff-el-ling AND with trick so syncopation against the musical beat) which, then, is actually a beautiful shuffle-step in the line. THAT's why he's a genius, really. Because it's a trick, and it's a shuffle, and then it's over every (beautiful internal rhyme).
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.
It is the bane of the music fan to grow up with melancholy music that appeals to teens (the Smiths and the cure in my youth, doubtless something else for millennials) and then hear something that personifies actual pain and woe that you hear as an adult. Robert smith and Morrissey were born in 1959, Elliott Smith in 1969. Elliott is my peer, bob and morrissey are actually fucking Boomers. Even if he hadn't died young and tragically, Elliott Smith made Sad Bastard music that doesn't embarrass me to listen to as an adult. So many excellent songs on this album. I love the gen x references that are now anachronisms like "food stamp dollar" and "coin-op tv". A sadly beautiful record.
If Major Depressive Disorder were a music genre. This would be it. And, well, maybe that is Elliot's genre. A lot of great art comes from really troubled minds. A moody, meandering overcast vibe of an album with brief moments of cloud breaks of power pop. I struggle to make it through an entire Elliot Smith album the say way I struggle to make it through a Leonard Cohen album. It's great art. Just very heavy art. It weighs you down. Perhaps the sign of a great artist.
I think the mixing is a bit rough but the songwriting was gooood 3.5?
I don't gravitate towards these type of records any longer, but I think that the skill and artistry is undeniable.
Tragic. Beautiful.
Not as self indulgent as some of his other albums, more vulnerable and raw
Haunting fairytale with an open ending. Between the bars, 2:45, angeles
4.3 - I've always stayed away from elliott smith, but enjoyed the bits I've heard. I did enjoy this album, but it feels very contained in his style and so doesnt vary much. What he does well is great, but this album doesn't get to the depressing heights of say Damien Rice
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
soft vocals and acoustics, reminds me of early dashboard confessionals. I would call Elliott Smith the 90s pioneer of emo.
Good album. Will Recommend
Lovely album!
Kaunis ja herkkä levy. Oli itse asiassa mulla jo aiemmin, ennen ryhmän perustamista tänne, mutta mielipide on muuttunut myötämielisemmäksi. 4/5
Pleasantly downbeat soft guitar.
Miles better than the first Elliott Smith album I reviewed (Figure 8), but still really not my thing. Sounds like it's recorded in buddy's bedroom, and it's just so mopey. Cheer up! Favorite songs: Ballad of Big Nothing, Cupids Trick, Pictures of Me, Angeles, Alameda Least favorite songs: Between the Bars, No Name No. 5 3/5
I listened it twice but its not my type. Pictures of me is ok. Rose Parade is ok. Punch and Judy - ok. Other - not remembered songs. Sad and depressions.
why is this on the list.. did nothing for me - perhaps a nice little melody here or there for a minute, nothing more - didn't enjoy this one
Boooooooring Snoozefest. Every song sounds the same. Uninteresting in every aspect: musically, lyrically, vocally. Low energy, plodding, breathy. Scratching my head why this is must listen material..
I can't believe I've never listened to Elliott Smith! I can see how he inspired so many others. I'm into the soft-spoken voice and '90s vibe.
A man outside of time. There's some Beatles (without being Beatlesque), Big Star(ish), folky but definitely not folk. Well produced lo-fi. Not sure he deserved the top of the mountain critical praise he received before (and after) his premature passing. but the man could write a song and multitrack the vocals to bring it on home. For better or worse - their is a generation of boys with acoustics guitars and feelings that were set free by this album.
Love Elliot Smith, but I still find this album a tough listen. Much of the music sounds...quiet. No matter how loud you turn it up, it seems like it's being whispered at you. Which is charming for a song or two, but becomes a drag across 37 minutes. There are a few big exceptions, notably Ballad of Big Nothing. Of the whispery tracks, Angeles stands out for me.
Sweet - but a bit samey. Two and a half stars.
I think this is proto-emo
Apple Music sums it up well: bleak but beautiful.
Fav: Alameda, Ballad of Nothing, Pictures of Me, Cupids Trick, 2:45 AM, Say Yes
Just a bit too slow and soft, lacking a strong voice to hold my attention
I kinda liked this.
This one really grew on me. Favorite track Rise Parade
Смит напомнил мне некоторых моих знакомых. Музыка очень интересная.
Awesome vibe
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
#560. Slightly better than the other Elliott Smith album on here, but still nothing particularly amazing. 3/5: fine
Reflective with a pretty interesting mix of sounds. Slow-paced with an almost Josh Radin/Cary Brothers vibe.
This was the first artist I've never listened to before on this list. It's not my normal type of music, but it's not bad, and I feel like I enjoyed the last few tracks more than the others, so maybe I gradually got into the mood for it or maybe I just prefer the later tracks.
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
Top ten study album of all time????
8/10 I think this is the first ES I’ve heard. It was good. I see how this would be highly influential - heartfelt, simple songs that resonate. Musically quite basic indie folk singer songwriter stuff, so can’t hit the full 5 for me Loved the drums, really excellent Best: Pictures of Me
I really don’t know what to say about this album. It is mellow, evocative, and interesting. The guitar and quietly delivered vocals are perfect to set the stage for the emotion that plays out. The style is not really my cup of tea but I can appreciate the sound and rawness of the lyrics. I like songs that create narratives I can relate to and the Portland Oregon references of street names and festivals put me into the song. Favorite songs are Punch & Judy, Alameda, Say Yes, and No Name No. 5
Meh. Just meh. I enjoyed the music, but couldn't get past the vocal delivery. Not an awful album, just didn't get me. Wouldn't listen to again.
This definitely has the sound of a 90s soundtrack. I am a fan of a lot 90s cinema, but apparently not a lot of the soundtracks stuck with me over the years as much as the movies do, in this case, Good Will Hunting. Does that make these bands easily forgettable? Overall this is a good album but it had its ups and downs for me. I felt it had a weak opener, but then finished with a good track, almost like a closing credits song. Favorite tracks, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me and Angeles which felt like the most familiar track.
Un clásico maldito. Muerte prematura, suicidio (este declarado muerte en circunstancias extrañas), existencia (auto)torturada, adicciones, huida del estrellato (logrado a su pesar)... la historia no por conocida deja de tener éxito: Nick Drake es su perfecto ejemplo (con éxito solo póstumo). A Elliot le conocimos a partir de su inclusión en algunas de las mejores películas de los 90 (Mi Idaho Privado, con River Phoenix y sobre todo con El Indomable Will Hunting). Cuanto peor le iba en la vida, más éxito tenía, hasta que se acabó todo y comenzó la leyenda. Más o menos como Jeff Buckley (o Tim) pero con mayor producción (aunque Grace es superior en calidad e influencia), o Kurt Covain. Sorprende que por esas fechas las chicas fueron las que más cuerdas estaban: Bjork, PJ Harvey o Laurynn Hill. Este es su disco más reconocido, como XO o Figure 8, y contiene temas exquisitos como Rose Parade, Alameda, o las conocidas Between the bars, Angeles y Say Yes. En una época en la que los Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy y demás se dedicaban a quemar las emisoras es lógico que el bueno de Elliot no encajara ni quisiera saber nada del asunto. Al menos Sufjan Stevens sigue vivo-
High pitched mumble hipster pop is a genre of its own. Either/or is the dark Jack Johnson singing about Curious George having addiction issues that lead to depression and a desire for death whilst wearing brown shoes and high water pants.
Utterly forgettable, but not unpleasant
suprisingly heartfelt and dark record. The stripped down quality and overall rawness of the album gave it a less is more appeal: the emphasis on what matters was great. Overall very suprised by this one, I liked it a lot. Favorite track: Ballad of big nothing. Overall score: 8.1/10
Peaks and troughs
This was not nearly as depressing as I thought it would be, so I guess that's a good thing. 3
Siper
Fine enough, nice but a bit forgettable imo. It was pleasant to listen to but the songs were a bit dull to me. I don't really get the hype for this album, suppose its because I don't really tend to focus in lyrics.
15/1001 Nothing stands out for me on this album. The music isn’t anything special. Elliot’s is below average voice, not bad but further from a good voice. The lyrics are ok. The slow melodies and tempo make it hard to sit through without any real shining star. The album kind of blurs into one 45 minute song (upon further review, the album was only 36 minutes, shows how tight it was on me lol). I was 14 when this album came out and have never heard of it, or Elliot Smith, until today. A 14 y/o in 1997 hardly knew a wide range of music, but as popular as some of these reviews make it seem, I was surprised that I didn’t know anything about Elliot. After listening, I knew why. This album is just an amalgamation of all the unimaginative parts of 90s rock (a genre I feel overall is very innovative, creative, and imaginative, and one of my favorites). But this sounded so bland overall. Elliot was clearly a fan of The Replacements and The Smiths in the 80s and takes a lot of inspiration from them, but he fails to capture their ability to create melodies and to carry a tone, even with an average voice. At least on Cupids Trick, Elliot woke up and showed a bit of passion. The song is the best on the album and yet wouldn’t even get a seat at the 200 best rock songs of the decade’s table. But a dim light of talent in a sea of uninspired mediocrity. The beauty of music, there’s so much and it is all subjective. Even when I can’t get down with a song, artists, album, genre; I usually appreciate the talent, effort, and passion that could captivate someone from another walk of life. This album was hard to find what that was, I guess just more for people who like gloomy, sad music. But there’s so much more that fits that bill and is good. To each their own! Not listening to this one again though.
this music will forever be "good will hunting" for me. It's very average for me all around. Lyrics, vocals, instrumentals. I'm sure on a sad day I'll revisit
What is this. 1997 and this is the best they could do? Who likes this soppy stuff. Weak. Bring back ice cubes balls. Least that was funny.
I thought the music was pleasant but uninteresting and the vocals were breathy and monotonous. Apart from "between the bars" the whole album slipped by without me noticing any particular song.
better than expected
Sad and haunting. But you know, in a good way.
This was an influential album for me during my teenage years along with the rest of Smith's discography.
I am not sure what to make of this album. There’s some good songs in there like Say Yes and Between the Bats. I know it’s a famous album among the music community but I can’t find the magic. Yet.
Sad? check Pretty? Subjective Girl? No. Boy? Yes. Expectations? High Brief? Smile, Crossing? Your face Ok ill stop I wanna hear all of this in the car. i dont think the speaker gave it justice. Although i like the songs. Maybe a depressing that i add them to the liked songs. especially that i want to make a new list of the songs that i wanna hear again and probably removing the old songs that i used to listen to. The lyrics have their own weight. Almost teared up listening to Alameda I actually added Say yes to the liked songs.
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
Some great songs. 3.5
Lovely but failed to grab. I don't think I'm done with Elliott Smith as at certain points it is perfect to listen to but I've never reached for it.
Very comfy, and the voice is so smooth. I read the guy died at 34, so maybe that contributed to the popularity upswing as well.
It’s an ok album. I can tolerate it it if it’s in. Prolly won’t be the one to turn it on tho.
Angles is one of my top 10 songs of all time, Either/Or is one of my top 10 albums of all time
Melancholy but beautiful. Folk mixed with 90s indie. I dig it. Sad story
Great dongs
He did his thing. I need to listen to this in a more relaxed setting, it’s not really a gym album.
It was fine
Nice
I found this album repetitive. The only track that stood out for me was Bottle Up and Explode!
🚶🏻
3.5 Stars - deserves additional listens
Overall a very sad album, especially Between the Bars, No Name No. 5, 2:45 AM, and Say Yes. I didn't know he had ties to Portland until listening to Rose Parade, so that was a cool connection to make, even if the song isn't really about the parade (it's about self-congratulatory events like the Oscars).
Not my cup of tea
Elliott Smith has a pretty voice and gentle, melancholic songs. This album is a pretty short and breezy listen, though, a bit one-note. I think if you enjoy that particular note, it's very good at it. I can't help but feel that if I were in a state of sadness or depression, this album would resonate with me much more, as it makes for good "sad music." Well done, but not my thing!
Really good.
Was ok, a little bit down, prefer the upbeat tempo.
Great listen, songs full of sorrow…enough to depress anyone