Either Or

+ mengisch cooli sounds /instrumentisatz - monoton fürd längi vom album - für mich zwenig action (cupids trick nice)

Always liked Elliot Smith without really being able to narrow down why. His sound feels stripped and reflective, as if a soundtrack to inner monologues.

I’ve listened to this album at least 3 times in my life and it’s never truly been as good as people make it out to be. I wish I understood what other people saw

Didn't hit the spot. 2.5/5

Good album

Beautifully bleak

uii was passiert bei Alameda harmonisch, sehr geil! Das Album hat einen angenehmen chilligen vibe und ist trotzdem nicht ganz uninteressant. Es haut mich nicht komplett vom Hocker, aber ich mag es und habe es zu meiner Mediathek hinzugefügt;)

Enjoyed this a lot. There's such a vibrant spectrum of feelings going on in this album, and I absolutely adore Smith's voice on all of this. It's at once intimate and small, while huge and cacophonous. A few new favourites on this, and I can only imagine coming to love this more over time. Best Track: Ballad of Big Nothing Worst Track: Alameda

Rein gehört und vergessen zu Ende zu hören.

Sad and beautiful. 4.5 stars.

Millenial emo music that all sounds the same. Tough getting this album the day after Kendrick dropped GNX. 3/5

Nice

I love the drums on this album. I think about the drums on Speed Trials all the time. I think about the shuffle in the drums and guitar part on Alameda all the time. Rose Parade makes me think of events in little towns where most everyone knows each other and I like that a lot. It rocks when the bass part comes in on the very whiny 2:45AM. I don't like Between the Bars (guitar part sounds nice though) or Say Yes and always skip them. When I was a teen I found a ton of Elliott Smith demos, live recordings, and guitar tabs on the internet from Either/Or as I was learning to play. Being able to grab a different version to try to figure out a part was very cool. Thank you Elliott Smith for doing a bunch of cool guitar stuff that was captivating for a teen. Thank you obsessive fans for an excellent learning experience. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

It takes a special kind of talent to be a sad folk 90s acoustic guitar guy and make multiple records that stand out and hold up.

Ik kende deze gast alleen van zijn 'Waltz 2 (XO)' die onlangs herondekte. Hier nog meer prettig kalme indiepop. Klinkt alsof hij dit lekker op z'n zolderkamertje bij elkaar heeft gemummeld, met een paar vrienden erbij. Fijn, ik mis de echte uitschieter, maar ook deze laat zich zonder problemen meermalen draaien.

En weer speelt de vraag of we smaak of kwaliteit raten. Ook dit album zet ik zelf niet graag een tweede keer op. Maar het zit wel prima in elkaar. Deze keer laat ik mijn smaak zwaarder meespelen. Ik ben het album op een gegeven moment echt wel zat. Het is me teveel van hetzelfde, er zitten teveel lege pop-klanken in. Rond ik deze maar naar beneden af. Zie je ook gelijk het verschil met het vorige album. Alles is relatief.

Nog niet zo lang geleden heb ik toevallig Good Will Hunting zitten kijken, in het kader van de imdb top250. En daar viel me de filmmuziek al positief op. Het zette op een sfeervolle manier iets neer, en ik herkende iets van een nummer dat op K!NK ook wel eens voorbij komt. Dat bleek dus Elliott Smith te zijn. Dus toen heb ik een aantal nummers al beluisterd van dit album. Zijn specifieke stem geeft de nummers een geheel eigen geluid en geeft het ongelooflijk veel sfeer mee. Ik vind dat echt ontzettend knap. Hij doet het misschien niet eens expres, dit is gewoon zijn manier van zingen en liedjes schrijven. Maar het grijpt me, ik vind het adembenemend mooi. De relaxte drums ter begeleiding, het fijne galmpje van de elektrische gitaar, de lijzige stem. Schitterend. Het is muziek om je eigen leven bij te overpeinzen, schrijf ik terwijl ik gewoon aan het werk ben. Maar ik merk dat ik daar af en toe mee stop, verder helemaal niks meer doe, simpelweg om alleen maar te luisteren naar een nummer en zelfs naar de tekst. Als muziek dat met je kan doen, dan verdient het gewoon een 5.

Idk just not in the mood for the melancholy today

Great album from one of the most incredible singer songwriters. I never got fully on board with his first two albums, which are quite lo-fi, but Either/Or marked his music becoming a bit more polished and commercial, and it wasn't long before he was Oscar nominated. Although it didn't sell well when it came out, Either/Or has some of his most beautiful songs in Speed Trials, Between the Bars and Say Yes, and I don't think any of the other tracks are weak. I can see why his voice is a little polarising, but to me this starts one of the great three album runs in music history with XO and Figure 8.

Some great songs from the good will hunting soundtrack

I rather liked this album with its melancholy sound and vibe. He had a soothing voice.

His voice was pretty and I would say some old school vibes with it

I don't get the hype. I mean Apple Music had an essay written about how influential and life changing this album was and it did absolutely nothing for me. His voice is mid and he just whispers the whole album. Did not like. The lyrics were fine I guess none of them stuck with me so that doesn't help its case. Was really expecting something more from this highly touted artist/album.

90's coffee shop vibes. kinda bland.

Awesome! I don’t know how I missed this guy.

I dont know if it was the rainy atmosphere or just being so close to Thanksgiving (aka fall city) but I loved this album. It was nice and slow Elliot Smith had a smooth and chill voice. Overall I really dug it.

This is Sufjan Stevens if he was more boring and straight. I even gave a few of these another listen to make sure I had really heard it but, yeah a tad too whiny and monotone for me.

I was not vibing with Elliott Smith and his Either/Or. His voice is whiney and frankly unappealing, which made the whole album a slog to get through. I struggled to find any high points, but I guess at least Smith created actual music.

Leave it to someone from the Pacific Northwest to churn out an edgy lofi indie album during a time in the late 1990s when much more high energy alternative rock was being released. Honestly, this was emo before emo existed. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the entire album has a very steady flow about it -- it feels like a rainy day, or even like the dead of night. It feels very emotional, particularly lonely and contemplative. Elliott's songwriting is consistent across the entire album too: incredibly poetic and poignant. This isn't exactly the kind of music I would typically seek out, but it felt, oddly enough, like a warm blanket. Yes, it's sad, but it also somehow feels like it wants to commiserate and be sad WITH you, not AT you. So yeah, this may not have had as much of an impact on me as it has other people, but I still got a feel for its specialness.

Not my cup of tea.

Sad boy music not my style.

yeah, ive already done this one. i need to loop back to R.E.M. and depeche mode this weekend. this is a great record, i just always have a hard time listening to elliott smith cause of how easily his music conjures my internal depressive qualities. if there’s any of his albums that draw parallels to nick drake’s music, it’s certainly this one. highlights include alameda, between the bars, pictures of me, rose parade, say yes

Good instrumentals and that's it. It's bland and forgettable. After listening it's hard to distinguish at least one song from the album.

Not interesting at all

Boring, good music but boring to me

Good stuff, have always enjoyed Elliott Smith, so it was nice revisiting an album I have not listened to in forever. Well written songs, feel simple & somber.

Right. I’ve heard that everyone is supposed to revere Elliott Smith and that he’s a musical genius, but this all just sounds like a bunch of emo shit to me. He has an interesting voice and some nicely elegiac arrangements, but I mean, Jesus, would it…wait…what’s that grandma…”if you can’t say something nice, just say they have nice teeth?”…Elliott Smith has nice teeth.

I’ve tried so many times to get into this album over the past 20 years and it just hasn’t clicked. I know the songwriting is supposed to be great but the production puts me off. One day but not today.

A bit boring

Ahead of its time

5/5 база

It was fine but it sounds like so many other singer songwriters, I'm not sure what was supposed to be so special about it.

Didn't mind it, right mood to listen but a bit dull

Not uninteresting. Kind of unusual for that period.

Liked it!

Really enjoyed this. Somewhat mellow and very early 2000s, but it's also quite comforting to listen to. Reminded me a lot of Dinosaur Jr and Death Cab.

Opening track offered promise, but by track three it all became repetitive lyrically and musically. The final track was great. 2.2/5

Vibey

I realized that I like a few of Elliott's songs but not all of them, was really surprised and feeling sort of like a heretic.

Ugh. Elliott Smith. Unbelievable that he died of being stabbed twice in the chest. Like it feels bad to be so impressed at the overall effect of this information, considering the emotional tone of his work. I'm from Portland, OR, and folks often picture the weather as perpetually rainy, overcast, bleak, a hot spot for seasonal affective disorder. Whether it's all ironic or just perfectly poetic, the gestalt is powerful. Heavy. Beautifully sad.

Als je een heel album van Elliott luistert, in al z'n spookachtige, mysterieuze en kwetsbare glorie, dan besef je goed wat een legacy deze man heeft nagelaten. Zoveel indie folk van vandaag de dag is duidelijk - net als ik - betoverd door zijn werk, waar namen als Sufjan Stevens, Conor Oberst en Phoebe Bridgers proberen die magie ook maar een beetje te reflecteren in hun werk. Maar ook popdiva's als Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams en Billie Eilish trekken duidelijk les uit de fragiele kunst van Smith. Ik denk dat zijn invloed nu, ondanks zijn relatieve obscuriteit destijds, niet onderschat kan worden. De tragiek druipt er natuurlijk vanaf, maar z'n nummers hebben bijna allemaal iets lichts en hemels. Een soort tevredenheid met het sadboy leven. Hij weet verdriet in ieder geval op een wonderschone en bijna glorieuze manier te delen. Ondanks dat de nummers muzikaal niet heel veel om het lijf lijken te hebben, en op het eerste oog weinig variatie bieden, zijn het de 'haunting melodies' en zijn breekbare stem die elke song weer tot een op zich zelf staand emotioneel wrak maken. En kleine accenten, de uplifting gitaar als in 'Say Yes' of de rauwe uitspattingen van 'Cupid's Trick', brengen net genoeg verrassing om je bij de les te houden. Maar alsnog, wegdromen is onvermijdelijk bij dit meesterwerk, en het is een prachtige ode aan de mooie doch kwetsbare mens en zijn 'inner demons'. 9/10 Highlights: Alameda Between The Bars Angeles Cupid's Trick Say Yes

Mysterieus kunstwerk. Super krachtig in al zijn fragiliteit. Either Or lijkt een voortzetting van andere folk-loner Nick Drake (vooral door het gitaarspel) maar Either Or is gelaagder en sferischer dan de bekende Nick Drake. Het mysterieuze en onheilspellende karakter in combinatie met de prachtige folk-songs is de inspiratie gebleken voor een prachtige lijst artiesten. Niet een plaat om vrolijk van te voren, wel super passend bij een groezelige grijze novemberdag. 8,5/10 Highlights Between the Bars Angeles Say Yes

holy fucking lmao this is straight up nuclear fucking garbage. is this some joke im just not in on? why the fuck would anyone listen to this? i guess if you are missing out on some out-of-tune whiny pathetic fucking vocals and basic-ass guitar strumming this is your cup of tea but then i, presonally, just wouldnt respect you as a music-enjoyer this is so fucking lame lmfao i just fucking cant. most talentless shit ive had a displeasure to listen to. thank fuck i only checked out 6-7 songs instead of the entire album but god its so fucking bad i cant even find the words to describe it that are not "fucking" and "bad" NNN this is pathetic shit, id give it a 0 if i could

Neither nor

soothing, calm and linear

Not really for me. Feels very "of it's time" lo fi, indi rock. Not really my thing. But if you where in the mood for it, this album is good.

What am I missing, who the hell actually likes this crap

I don’t think I’d heard of Elliott Smith before. This music feels so warming and pleasant. His whispery voice brings a feeling of cosiness to me, and the music itself is a pleasant soft pop rock that’s very easy to listen to. It reminded me a little of boygenius, albeit Elliott was around long before them. Just a side note, don’t read about how Elliott died. It’s a bit heartbreaking.

aggressively fine. even with the bonus star for BETWEEN THE BARS it still runs a 3.

Fantastic through and through. Addicting almost.

Love elliot

Langt bedre end forventet. Tilbageholdt, lowfi, nærmest skrallet ned til det minimale. Det ramte lige hvor det skulle!

Er det her det bedste 90er album jeg aldrig fik hørt i 90erne? Det er meget tidstypisk. Nærmest stereotypt 90er indie. Men hold nu op det holder stadig. Det er følsomt og samtidig rammer trommerne helt perfekt

I liked this more than I expected, but not as much as I wanted. I think it will need another listen to actually appreciate it. It might be much more interesting, or it may turn out to be utterly boring.

Really loved it, such a chill album with some really beautiful songwriting. Will definitely revisit this. My faves were “Say Yes”, “Between the Bars” and “Pictures of Me”.

I really enjoyed this! Chill, introspective. I want to listen to this in Colorado, on a warm summer evening, while watching the mountains. Great songs: Between the Bars

I like this one better than Figure 8. Some heavy tracks here.

Do you like Indie folk music? If you do then this album is for you. I don't really know what the guy is saying. The lyrics are decent but I don't understand what he saying he gotta talk louder. His voice is decent it just he don't talk loud and I can't really hear him. I would recommend this album just because it sounds good but you can't really hear the guys voice.

This album was good. The music was good, with the lyrics going well. The lyrics had meaning that makes the song better. Overall I would recommend this album

its alright not bad not the worst i give it 3 out 5 because dont really like sad songs. i like the beat the voice and thats it really.

have you ever heard the a song and wanted to hear it again thats how I felt about this album in between the bars is good because I like the voice of the singer because it sounds peaceful and the instruments just add to it making the music feel more peaceful I think this album is good and i would recommend listening to it

i think a bottle kissing you between the bars indirectly means being imprisoned by your alcoholism - with lips in a metaphoric way representing prison bars. pretty sad song, but i don't hate it or like it. i like the slow vibe, but i wouldn't listen to this

Do you like singers with soft voices? Then this is the album for you! This singer has an amazing voice, but I don't really like how soft he sings but I would still listen to him. I think that the instruments are amazing too, and it has a good beat. So that is why I recommend you listen to this album.

1st song-this song so good i really like it its sound so normal and i reallly i like it so much 2nd song- i like it to this a bomb but its very very cool to hear this finally this a normal one 3rd song-its really cool

I don't know about you, but I like this album! Elliott Smith has a good range and I like the slow, yet upbeat music he writes. I like the guitar in the background. I love the acoustics in the song. I hope you get this album and enjoy it as much as I do! I highly recommend this album!

the songs seem soft. the lyrics are quiet and so are the instrumentals but it does work out great. I recommend this album to most people 6.9/10

Solid chill music

I love Elliot Smith. Weirdly, listened to this album a day or two before it appeared on this list because I had the song “Ballad of Big Nothing” stuck in my head. His albums start very simple and lo fi - just him and his guitar - and get more complex in instrumentation and better produced until the final album which feels like theirs too much in it to me. This is the beginning of the sweet spot. The next two albums rise through XO to Figure 8, my favourite. So I could give this a 4 to mark it out from those which are 5s. But I love this one too having listened to it some more. Wonderful.

3- Stars (7/15)

beautiful and gut wrenching

Music kinda catchy - but some missed explicit

Probably the best thing I can say is that it’s inoffensive

Soothing.

Perhaps the pinnacle of words-writing over song-writing.

Low key and never really hits any highs

Thankfully it’s only 37 minutes then I was able to move on…

10/18/24. Really enjoyed this album and appreciated each song. Elliott Smith really defined his style and does it very effectively. Can revisit this one again and again, especially for a calming vibe!

dont have anything funny to say for this review, just fuckin rip elliott man

A little to monotone for me

4.5/5

His vocals are a great interwoven layer on top of his silky guitar-work and create this web of intricate story-telling music. A type of music I do not particularly find myself listening to, but I will definitely listen to more from Elliot Smith.

The lyrics are 🔥

This is an ok album that transports emotions but the singing style and the instrumentation isn't as interesting on album length. Yet another entry on this list of an album that is good in principle but nothing I need to listen to before I die.

Incredibly well put together album

Great album.Love Elliot Smith, but i would've thought Figure 8 will be on this list.

Pas terrible.

Beautiful bittersweet acoustic songs that I find a bit too sad.

My second of his for this project, I was glad to know he has more than one on here. Either/Or might be his best, but it's a tough call.

This is really very beautiful.

Jaw on the floor this truly might be one of my favorite albums of all time. i can’t believe ive never listened before this is SO me. it’s raw it’s emotional it’s beautiful. I’m completely obsessed. 1.) say yes 2.) angeles 3.) alameda but this ranking is SO tight. one of the first that i actually had a lot of trouble selecting the tops based on merit and not that i had nothing to say about them

Lempparit: Angeles ja 2:45 a.m.

Precis min smak

Really enjoyed this one.

Another incredible entry from one of the most incredible singer songwriters

Emo never seen good will hunting

Great, took me back

First album I wasn't able to get through.

Gorgeous. I dunno why I've never listened to Elliott Smith.

Same as the other one, sad and sleepy. 3/5

Nice to have in the background. Many songs felt like they could be in a 2000s teen rom com

Surprised I have not heard of this artist before. Found his voice and the beautifully sad feel of the tracks to be quite soothing. Will definitely be checking out other albums and listening to this one again.

Elliott Smith just speaks to my soul, man. In his own, wise words: I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow.

I had a hard time getting through this and was glad it was only 37 minutes long... I normally like the particular style this would fall under, but this particular album really grated on my nerves for some reason.

Moody 90s indie. I enjoyed it. Teenage me would have loved it.

I really did not like this album. I thought I was going to be an Elliott Smith fan once I finally sat down and listened to him, but this album manages to be boring and pretty yikes at the same time. The music is dull — the same simple, uninteresting guitar parts song after song, and the lyrics are cringy. It's giving me the same vibes I get from Ryan Adams — an uninspired, whiny, ripped-from-the-diary type of album from a downtrodden, "sensitive" "nice guy" who can't understand why the world sucks and nothing works out for him ... when it's probably because he's kind of a dick to everyone. 2/5

Lovely, soothing voice. I’m between a 3 and a 4, but honestly a lot of the songs didn’t do much for me. Favorites: “Between The Bars”, “Pictures Of Me”, “Angeles”, “Cupid’s Trick”

Elliott Smith is the end of me. Favourite Songs: Between the Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, 2:45 AM, Say Yes. Least Favourite Songs: Speed Trials.

After a couple of listens, I've started to understand the sentiment encompassing the album. It's depressingly poetic but still gorgeous. The sonics on this were great combined with gloomy vocals from Elliott. A masterful inspective piece of art. Top 3 Fav: Alameda, Between the Bars, and Say Yes Top 3 Worst: no bad songs 4/5

It’s fine. Probably would be higher if I listened more closely to the lyrics. Otherwise it’s generic singer songwriter navel gazing music.

4.0

I'm kinda sad today. In that Buffy the Vampire Slayer elicited some tears from my middle-aged eyes. I've had my share of depressive episodes. But I'm not sure if there could ever be a time where anyone could be sad enough for this to become good. If it was therapy for Mr Smith, that's good, I guess, the poor fella. If it's therapy for someone else, I guess that's good too. But this is never going to darken my earballs again.

What an album! Of Elliott Smith’s work, this is definitely his most iconic piece. The quiet melancholy of this album is beautiful and gut wrenching. The production on the record gives this incredible close feeling as if you’re in the room as he performs. You can hear the influence Elliot Smith had on the late aughts bedroom indie artists. The first time I listened to Either/Or was on a trip I took to Russia in the late 2000s. It offered a cathartic release to the worry, loneliness, and stress of traveling with a group of people I hardly knew to a less glamorous city of the country. So while it has a heavy tinge of nostalgia the album stands well on it’s on as a classic. Standout track: Between the Bars

Not quite in a low enough state to really immerse myself in Elliott Smith rn.

I will definitely come back to this. It should probably be a 5, but I couldn’t relisten yesterday to confirm.

“If I’m gonna be sad, y’all gonna be sad.”

I enjoyed a few songs, but ultimately grew very tired of his singing style. The melodies and background music to his songs were enjoyable and for the most songs I didn’t know where one ended and the next started. I think his voice style of whisper singing just isn’t for me.

Muy bueno

Its indie I wouldn't turn this on. Isn't my type of music

Harmless

I love Elliott Smith

Found only 1 song… rap

If I wanted to hear a scuzzy pillhead whine about how sad they are for thirty-seven minutes, I’d go fuck your mother and then refuse to pay her.

Eh. This was a very hard listen. Why did this need to exist? Why is it important?

mood

Really soothing and nice

All shite. But knowing you all and your shite taste, you probably gave this shite 4 or 5s. Well, doesn't matter.

this is definitely end of the night sadness album

I enjoy exploring humans in all their nuances and in all their ranges of emotional expression. I think the singer songwriter genre is a perfect vehicle for exploring the human condition, including melancholy. Thought it was a nice study, an interesting human, and quality songwriting.

Oh that was nice! I think I heard Alameda before, I liked that song. Good vibes and chill

Good one but a bit mellow. Nice sound though

Very mellow easy listening.

Very enjoyable folk music with haunting vocals and everything played by Elliott himself. Already one of the better folk-related albums I’ve heard. Highlights: “Speed Trials”, “Alameda”, “Ballad of Big Nothing”, “No Name No. 5”, “Rose Parade” & “Cupid’s Trick”. 4 stars.

3.5

4.5

Elliott Smith - Either/OR (9.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

I should have liked this even better than I do, but a solid album, even if I struggle to really remember the songs afterwards. 4 stars

Perfect. 5 stars

Nice, easy, soothing, classic 90s listen. Everything feels quite pared down and intimate and Elliott’s whimpery, eggy vocals tend to blend in softly and superbly with the extra-delicate folk. There are light strains of Beatlesesque and S+G melodies and harmonies and also some spikes of spikey angsty angst rock to mix it up. So a by and large mellow record with a razors edge at times. Between The Bars easy standout quality wise early on and then a strong sequence of tracks towards the end. Either a mid 4 or a high 4.

always heard the big songs and loved figure 8, but never sat down and listened to this one. this is perfect

Still hits as hard as when I cried to it in high school what can I say a certified hood classic

Nice and chill, probably a 3.5

What a revelation of someone I never knew, and a terrible loss at such a young age.

Esse deve ser sobrinho de quem fez a lista. Álbum chato da porra

High fours, probably his high water mark. Gone way too soon.

I’d not heard Ellitott Smith before and while I still don’t get the hype, it’s not bad and definitely merits another listen or four

No thanks

Great album, I’ve never listened to anything by Elliott smith before and I regret it. I really liked the ballad of big nothing and cupids trick

I have never heard of this artist before today. And I wonder why I needed to listen to this album before I shove off this mortal realm.

This has been in regular rotation for so long. In my top 20 or 30 albums.

This album is very easy background listening. The lyrics fade out if you aren't paying attention, and the guitar fills that space. There's a few songs that really speak to me, and the lyrics can get dark at time, but I really enjoy this album. Worth getting the CD to play in the background of the house. Favs: Speed Trial, Between The Bars, Rose Parade. Maybe: Pictures of Me

Boring

Love this very much. Melancholic Beautiful voice Beautiful songwriting

Lovely singer-songwriter album with smart lyrics. “Rose Parade” was a standout track for me. And when Elliott Smith injects more rock into his music — like on “Cupid’s Trick” — the result is pretty potent. I’d love to hear more rock-leaning stuff from him. I could see myself really liking this album with more listens.

I grew up not really listening to Elliott Smith and only really hearing of him from friends sometimes. I started to listen to him 2 summers ago though in 2022, after visiting Seattle and being told that I HAVE to listen. Glad they did, as I feel like his music really resonates with me. His voice is a little too soft and vulnerable for me to immediately like and that's probably why I never got into him when I was younger. I grew up loving big booming rock voices like Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland, but now that I'm older I actually love these more soft & breathy vocal styles. The production is right up my alley. It's got this rough-around-the-edges vibe, and is just clean and compressed enough that you can hear every instrument and voice, but they also aren't processed like some super pop factory track. It's a beautiful album.

I liked this. Very mellow, indie folk.

Dreary

I've heard OF Elliott Smith, the hushed admiration of his -hashtag: Sad- music and the influence he had, mixed with how he had a troubled and then short life, but I had never heard an album of this. It's rating day now, and I've been listening to the songs a couple of times since yesterday. Yeah, this is good. Very, very. It didn't quite click with me initially, somehow, but repeated plays revealed a lot of beauty and depth. Great album, absolutely one to go into my rotation and I suspect, it will grow on me even more.

Oh Wow.

es la primera vez en la ivda que me siento comprendido.

**In-Depth Review of *Either/Or* by Elliott Smith** Released in 1997, *Either/Or* is widely regarded as Elliott Smith's breakthrough album. A hauntingly beautiful collection of songs, it solidified his place as a key figure in the 1990s indie rock scene. The album blends raw, introspective lyrics with understated yet powerful melodies, creating a body of work that is intimate yet universally resonant. Let’s dive into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics: Emotional and Honest Elliott Smith’s lyrical prowess is perhaps the most significant element of *Either/Or*. His words delve deep into the human psyche, capturing moments of vulnerability, isolation, and inner turmoil. Much of the album revolves around emotional pain, substance abuse, and self-doubt, with lyrics that avoid clichés and instead confront dark realities with poetic subtlety. For example, the opening track “Speed Trials” talks about the anxiety and pressure of existence, with the refrain, “You’re such a pinball, yeah, you know it’s true.” Smith’s lyrics here are both cryptic and direct, suggesting the feeling of being knocked around by life without agency. In “Between the Bars,” he crafts a beautiful yet heartbreaking narrative of addiction and dependence, presenting a lullaby-like plea: “Drink up, baby, look at the stars / I’ll kiss you again, between the bars.” It blurs the line between comfort and destruction, portraying addiction as both a form of intimacy and a trap. Smith’s wordplay is often conversational, which creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Tracks like “Say Yes” tackle themes of redemption and hope, albeit tentatively. The lyric, “I’m in love with the world through the eyes of a girl / who’s still around the morning after,” embodies a rare moment of optimism in Smith’s work. Still, even these brighter moments are tinged with the awareness of fragility. While his lyrics are undoubtedly his strength, at times the ambiguity in his poetry can make it difficult to fully grasp his exact meanings. Some listeners may find themselves lost in his metaphor-heavy writing, but for many, this sense of mystery only adds to the emotional depth of the songs. ### Music: Subtle and Elegant Musically, *Either/Or* is a study in restraint. Smith’s use of acoustic guitar is central to the album, with simple yet intricate fingerpicking that complements his fragile voice. His playing is often soft and delicate, creating an intimate and warm soundscape that draws the listener in, while still leaving space for emotional intensity. Songs like “Angeles” exemplify his skillful fingerpicking and layering techniques, combining minimalist guitar melodies with soft vocal harmonies. The song's tension comes from the repetitive, driving rhythm that builds gradually, giving the track a sense of movement despite its stripped-down instrumentation. The guitar work on the album is subtle yet brilliant. Smith’s use of open tunings and fingerpicked chord progressions adds complexity to what might otherwise be simple songs. On “Ballad of Big Nothing,” he brings in electric guitar to complement his acoustic lines, creating a fuller sound. This track, with its straightforward structure and melodic catchiness, stands out as one of the album's more accessible tunes, contrasting with the quieter moments like “2:45 AM,” where his voice and guitar are at their most fragile. The album’s sparse instrumentation works well, but it may leave some listeners wanting more variety. Smith’s style is distinctive but largely sticks to the same formula throughout the album. For some, this focus on minimalism may grow monotonous, while others will find it to be a consistent aesthetic choice that serves the themes and emotional core of the record. ### Production: Lo-Fi and Intimate One of the defining characteristics of *Either/Or* is its lo-fi production. Smith produced the album himself, and it carries the unpolished sound that became a signature of his early work. The recording feels as though it was done in a small room, giving the album an organic and intimate atmosphere. This production style enhances the raw emotional quality of the songs, making them feel like personal confessions whispered directly to the listener. The lo-fi production also complements Smith’s voice, which is soft and often double-tracked to create a haunting effect. On “Between the Bars,” this technique makes his vocals feel both close and distant, as if he's speaking to the listener from a dream. The overall production on the album feels unpolished but deliberate, emphasizing imperfections that enhance the vulnerability of the performances. However, while the lo-fi quality adds a level of charm and intimacy, it can also feel limiting at times. Some tracks suffer from muddiness in the mix, particularly when multiple layers of instruments and vocals are added. The album’s lo-fi approach may be polarizing for some listeners; those accustomed to more polished production might find the sound unrefined, while others will appreciate its authenticity and closeness. ### Themes: Isolation, Addiction, and Hope Thematically, *Either/Or* is preoccupied with feelings of isolation, despair, and addiction, reflecting Smith’s own struggles with substance abuse and depression. His lyrics often paint a bleak picture of life’s struggles, but there are moments of hope sprinkled throughout the album. These themes resonate deeply with listeners who have experienced similar feelings of disillusionment or emotional turmoil. “Between the Bars” tackles addiction with a tenderness that makes the subject matter more relatable and poignant. Rather than condemning or glorifying substance abuse, Smith portrays it as a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotional pain. The recurring theme of escape—from reality, from oneself, or from others—runs throughout the album. In “Angeles,” Smith sings about the temptations of success and selling out, suggesting that even achieving your dreams can lead to isolation and emptiness. Yet, there are also moments of redemption and human connection. “Say Yes” is a rare glimpse of hope, a love song that suggests that maybe things can improve, even if only momentarily. The dichotomy of darkness and light is present throughout *Either/Or*, as the title itself suggests. It’s an album about contrasts: hope and despair, love and loneliness, staying and leaving. For listeners, these themes can either resonate deeply or feel a bit too bleak. The album’s pervasive sense of melancholy won’t appeal to everyone, especially those looking for more uplifting content. However, for fans of emotionally raw and introspective music, *Either/Or* is a masterpiece of conveying the complexity of human emotion. ### Influence and Legacy *Either/Or* is widely considered one of the most influential indie rock albums of the 1990s. Smith’s blend of folk, rock, and lo-fi production had a lasting impact on the singer-songwriter genre, influencing artists such as Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens, and Phoebe Bridgers. His ability to fuse deeply personal lyrics with simple yet intricate instrumentation became a blueprint for many indie musicians in the years that followed. The album also marked a turning point for Smith’s career. It caught the attention of filmmaker Gus Van Sant, who used several of the album’s songs in his 1997 film *Good Will Hunting*. This exposure brought Smith to a wider audience and led to his eventual nomination for an Academy Award for the song “Miss Misery” (featured on the film’s soundtrack). Beyond its commercial impact, *Either/Or* has endured as a cult classic, beloved by fans for its emotional honesty and intimate sound. Its influence can still be felt in modern indie music, particularly among artists who prioritize introspective lyrics and minimalist production. ### Pros of *Either/Or* 1. **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics are raw, honest, and introspective, offering a deep connection to the listener. 2. **Cohesive Sound**: The lo-fi production and minimalist instrumentation create a consistent, intimate atmosphere throughout the album. 3. **Lyrical Complexity**: Smith’s use of metaphor, ambiguity, and conversational tones makes the lyrics both poetic and relatable. 4. **Influence on Indie Music**: The album's legacy is far-reaching, influencing countless singer-songwriters and indie musicians. 5. **Balance of Light and Dark**: Despite the heavy themes, moments of hope and love are present, making the emotional experience multifaceted. ### Cons of *Either/Or* 1. **Limited Sonic Variety**: The album sticks to a relatively narrow musical palette, which may leave some listeners wanting more diversity in sound and arrangement. 2. **Lo-Fi Production**: While intimate, the lo-fi production can sometimes feel muddy or unpolished, which might detract from the listening experience for those who prefer more polished sounds. 3. **Ambiguity in Lyrics**: Smith’s lyrics, while poetic, can sometimes be too cryptic, making it difficult for listeners to fully grasp the intended meaning. 4. **Overall Mood**: The pervasive melancholy of the album may not appeal to everyone, particularly listeners seeking more upbeat or optimistic content. ### Conclusion *Either/Or* is an album that stands the test of time, largely due to Elliott Smith’s unparalleled ability to convey complex emotions through minimalist music and deeply personal lyrics. Its lo-fi production and understated arrangements add to the album’s intimate feel, making the listener feel like they’re sharing a quiet, vulnerable moment with Smith. The emotional weight of the songs, combined with their thematic focus on isolation, addiction, and fleeting hope, creates a haunting yet beautiful experience. While the album’s minimalism and lo-fi approach might not appeal to everyone, it’s precisely these elements that make *Either/Or* so distinct and influential. It’s an album that requires patience and a willingness to engage with its emotional depth, but for those who connect with it, *Either/Or* is a powerful and timeless work. Its influence on the indie scene cannot be overstated, and its legacy continues to shape the sound of modern singer-songwriters today.

Really love Angeles and always have so slightly biased. I thought the album was a really nice listen with some good lyricism. Besides some of the guitar patterns not a lot stood out to me musically, but overall enjoyed the album despite not being anything special. Probably like 3.5/5, but I’ll round up for Angeles

3.5

This is the exact style of album I would have on repeat while I was in high school, in a complementary way. The softness of the overall sound blends incredibly with the acoustic instrementals, and it has a great mix of low and high energy tracks to keep you entertained. I love how personal and sincere this is. Favorites were Between the Bars, Rose Parade, Pictures of Me, and Say Yes

This album is incredible. Everything from his voice to the lyrics to the guitars. I absolutely adore how the percussion sounds here. I had never actually listened to anything by him before, but I now know I was sorely missing out. The vocals have a lightness to them that make the more intense moments really stand out.

melanchonic, chill, would be good to listen in the rain

This feels like the album that I should rake through the mud for not being daring enough or lacking any distinctive features that could distinguish it from others of a similar genre However I found myself constantly being drawn to the slow pace of the guitar and vocals, making it seem effortlessly impressive and immediately enjoyable Would definitely listen again

The Superbowl for depressed people who spend lots of time on the internet. It’s alright, there’s instances of good storytelling, a clear ability to inject his personality into the songs. I think this is sadly a case of the albums aura being heightened by the context of its artist. Soft 3

Nah this isn't for me

Sounds like other Elliot Smith albums.

This is good. I don’t know if I would listen again.

I like the instrumentation and the lyrics were interesting.

An interesting album - completely indifferent to some tracks yet some really leapt out. Standouts include Ballad of Big Nothing, Rose Parade and Cupid's Trick. Worth mentioning that I can definitely hear his influence in others - reminds me of Flyte in places and Jeffrey Lewis in others. Will check out his other albums. 6/10.

Whisper rock. Only liked a few tracks.

Speed Trials - Acoustic indie; nothing very complicated; chord progressions simple. First lyrics are nice imagery "He's pleased to meet you underneath the horse / In the cathedral with the glass stained black" -2/5. Just not very interesting Alameda -I have a soft spot for places where I've lived/lived close to. Feels very, I guess, "indie guitar," but better than the previous song. 2.5/5 Ballad of Big Nothing -I can see how this influenced a lot of its successors in indie rock. It's like. It's fine. I think if I listened to it a lot more, it might grow on me more, but my initial impression is a 3/5 Between the Bars - "Drink up baby, stay up all night / With the things you could do / You won't but you might / The potential you'll be that you'll never see" Ouch. Called out. Musically, it's just a very simple acoustic guitar ballad. 2.5/5, I think. If I caught it in a different mood, I might rate it higher, but for now 2.5/5 stands Pictures of Me -Just feels rather repetitive. Same chord over and over again. 1/5 No Name No. 5 -1/5 I'm sorry. I find it repetitive and boring in terms of chord progression and complexity. I know this probably says more about me than it does about him, because he's an indie darling, but that's how I feel. A GQ interview with Steve Holmes says "Yeah. If you actually try to sit down and figure [his songs] out, they're way more complicated than you realize. Which is why he's great. He used a lot of interesting progressions and chords. It's not, like, Oasis or something. His chords were more complex, and his finger-picking style was unique. He like finger-picked and strummed at the same time, which I've never seen anyone else do quite the same way." I guess it just doesn't hit my ear the right way. Rose Parade -1.5/5. Better than the others, but I'm getting kind of tired of this album. Punch and Judy -Melancholy. I kind of like the motif; I can see how it might be interesting in another song, but again. While this might be technically interesting, and he has a nicely soft voice here, it's just not great. 2.5-3/5. Angeles -Starts off by fingerpicking. I know this song from before (Los Angeles playlist) and liked it enough to keep it on the playlist. 2.5-3/5. So far the highest rated song, and I know it's in part because I've got a soft spot for Los Angeles. Cupid's Trick -The lyrics say "Sugar lick me up, it's my lie," but I thought the original lyrics were "Shootin' me up, it's my life," which feels a little more fitting, I guess, from what I know about the guy. Apparently there's no real consensus on the lyrics (according to Reddit) because he never wanted to share the actual lyrics...well anyway. There's more texture to this one. I actually don't mind it. 3/5 2:45 AM -1/5 just boring. Sorry. Say Yes -Wasn't sold on this, but I genuinely did like the harmonies. 2/5 Overall rating: 2/5, based on my averaging

1st time listening 7/10

pretty chill but i also might have fallen asleep

It's pleasant but didn't grab my attention

Sounds very airy, could be the drum sound with the cymbals. Nice not as down as I thought it was going to be

Speed Trials 3.3 Alameda 3.6 Ballad of Big Nothing 3.5 Between the Bars 3.3 Pictures of Me 3.4 No Name No. 5 3.2 Rose Parade 3.4 Punch and Judy 3.2 Angeles 3 Cupid's Trick 3.3 2:45 AM 3.2 Say Yes 3.1 Score: 3.291666667

A total gem from a unique artist who is greatly missed.

Radiohead friends

The more I think about this one, the more I like it. Captures melancholy very well, which makes sense given everything I know about Elliott Smith. Probably a perfect “rainy day album”.

Perfect album.

Very nice singer-songwriter stuff here. Solid lyrics, great background listen.

aw man i LOVE sad music 8/10

7/10

This one escaped me until today, and a fine album it is too. Carefully crafted, personal songs from the tragic Mr Smith, who promised much, but flew too near to the sun. His songs have a melodic simplicity, purity and honesty that recall the folk-pop classics of the 60's and 70's

Gus van Sant had a good taste to use songs for his movie Good will hunting.

This was such a great listen. Maybe Elliot Smith is the pinnacle singer/song writer? He has such great ideas. Especially with his guitar riffs. Each time he plays something and I feel it's going somewhere, it does the opposite. Kept me guessing. Which I think is an important skill for great song writing. Lyrics are hit and miss but the overall presentation was great. He sings with a subtle sadness, perhaps meek or timid voice. It all just works. Excited for more of him.

First time listening to Elliott Smith, and I’m impressed but I think that it’s the sort of thing I’d have appreciated more if I’d listened to it at a more formative age. Also, and this is besides the point, I had to listen to it twice because I was listening to it on an Alexa, and my Dad found a way of connecting to it and blasting I’m In The Mood For Dancing instead

The songs get better as the production improves.

Not the biggest fan of the whisper singing but the album started out great, the songs near the end all kinda blended together. A little too melancholic unless you’re in the mood

Not much of a fan of the softer end of his range. Somewhat enjoyed the album overall though.

Incredibly solid. One of the best singer songwriters of his time. Melodies are a bit samey, but still a fantastic record

I like this one a lot more than 'Figure 8'. The music is mostly melancholy and the lyrics sad, but there are also songs which are very catchy and, if you discard the lyrics, don't sound sad at all. I remembered several melodies very well after the first listen (I listened twice)—this guy could very well be a hitmaker if he wanted, with the way he writes hooks. Nick Drake is still my go-to when it comes to this type of slower, stripped-down, melancholy music, but this guy is quickly becoming the close second. And I've only listened to two of his albums so far! 4 stars

I think I like the idea of Elliott Smith more than the reality. When he gets it right it's perfect (Behind The Bars, Say Yes and especially Angeles) but the whole record doesn't really hit those heights for me.

Couldn't take all of the sad yesterday. It was an okay album.

Casual listening was nice background music for work

All I could hear is Good Will Hunting..

This is just a hauntingly gorgeous collection of songs. Elliott Smith was probably the biggest influence on the sad indie genre that would emerge in the 2000s and beyond. No one really did it better, but we can think Elliot Smith, for inspiring a whole generation of bands. “Elliott, man, you played a fine guitar And some dirty basketball The songs you wrote Got me through a lot Just want to tell you that” Late by Ben Folds

Fine for background music but kinda forgettable.

very nice

Decent 8 Been spinning this record a lot this week and this was somehow my generated album for today. Funny coincidence. Anyways, Say Yes is such a good track and closer that it makes me wanna play the album again, just wanting for more.

Not a fan. Not a single song that I was thinking "yeah, let's hear that again" Reading his bio on Wiki, I can but only get the impression that he's heralded as a great influence because it gives us a reason to put a spotlight on mental-health... Removing those artists who either took their own lives intentionally, or accidentally, there are plenty of great artists out there who don't feel the need to shoot up, drink up, or stab themselves in the stomach because they don't agree with the girlfriend hiding in the bathroom and taking a shower... 1*

Beautiful and delicate

I have this, probably because I loved "Good Will Hunting" when it came out. In an inversion of this list’s usual preference, this record has decent tunes undermined by a monotonous vibes. Hey Simon, our ninth album on this odyssey was one of Smith's! To celebrate this, I shall misquote your half of our review: "Get it together dude, you're dead but who cares?"

Sounds really basic and uninspired - never understood why this guy got any attention. So many superior examples of this type of music are out there, your local bar singer-songwriter can probably do it better. Quite brief, at least

An artist I’ve never really explored properly although a friend bought me XO on vinyl a few years ago in an attempt to get me into him. This was good but not great, I’d need to listen again to see if anything hits me on second play, I feel like I want to like it

Started well but not quite the undiscovered gem I was hoping for. Undiscovered by me, that is, I hadn't heard of him. Some nice Beatles, Blur, Radiohead stuff going on with a bit of his native USA folk. Sorry that he died so young. But it didn't stand out to me.

Kinda boring but I liked some songs.

Good 90's emo/alternative album, but I expected much more given how popular this album is.

Strong beginning, then it becomes boring (a bit worse beatles)

Soft and boring. I'm not sure if I don't like Elliot Smith, or if I don't like lo-fi/indie folk. Either way, not a great album.

I can understand why people like this and why it’s still a well-loved album. I think had I tried listening to this 20 years ago, I would’ve liked it, but as it stands now, I’m not really into this singer songwriter thing very much anymore.

I can't relate to Elliott Smith's struggles with addiction, but this kind of music goes straight to my soul. Beautiful, poignant lyrics with wistful melodies. Love it. Highlights: Between the bars, Ballad of big nothing, Alameda, Pictures of me, Cupid's trick (which stands out for its much rockier sound than the rest, which are indie folk).

Haven’t listened to this album in 20+ years. Good to hear it again. He was a talented songwriter, with his own recognizable style and techniques.

Maybe it's my age, but this is a fucking masterpiece.

I liked this one a lot more than the other album by Elliott Smith (Figure 8) I listened to a wee while ago. Rating: 4

This is acoustic emo at its best, IMO so far.

It's alright. It gets a bit repetitive at times.

Didn't get the hype to be honest

Meh. 90s whine-rock.

Great relisten, always get enamored by his story every couple years

This felt a little like a Ballad of Big Nothing.

Boring

Better than the last Elliot Smith album I got on here, but just not for me.

-I love his voice and the guitar combination… was a great album to listen to while wistfully lying in bed in the dark and making myself increasingly sad and angry -Favorites are Speed Trials, Alameda, Between The Bars, and Angeles

I had to go back and check this record out because I missed Elliott Smith when he was active and I've always been intrigued. Listening to this it almost sounds like a parody of Elliott Smith to me. I guess I permanently missed the train on this one

Ok depression I really liked this, very beautiful Favs: Say yes, between the bars, pictures of me, Angeles

Music like this is nice but it’s too melancholy for me - 2.5 However - <3 between the bars <3 love at first listen. 4/5 Also, say yes is really lovely.

Low key and lovely

Just as depressing as I thought I remembered. It’s great songwriting but unfortunately tainted with memories of a time when too many were taken by fucking heroin and too many more flirted with disaster. Great, but hard to hear again after so long.

Alameda. (SIGH)

This project has shown me that singer/songwriters from other generations just don’t hit for me like they do from mine. Fucking Joni Mitchell does absolutely nothing for me but Elliot Smith certainly does. Is it just that’s better by a wide margin? Probably Either/Or is an album that is so sad, not just because of the music on it, but also because of what could have been. 9.1/10

Not bad.

I can see why this made the saddest albums list (but I really liked it!). Say Yes was my favorite track.

This was decent, but cant fathom listening to him again.

Random thoughts on an album I’ve listened to so many times it’s etched in my brain: -Angeles, Cupids Trick, 2:45 am, and Say Yes is a murderer’s row to close an album. -Angeles is guitar goals. I think Elliott remains an underrated player. -In college and law school I had a job teaching test prep classes. One class was an hour’s commute to MSU and I distinctly recall being obsessed with 2:45 am and Built to Spill’s “I would hurt a fly” during that time period, so I would play those two songs repeatedly for the month or two I was commuting to teach that class a couple times a week. -“the trumpet’s obviously been drinking, because he’s fucking up even the simplest lines” is such a good line, so specific and so biting, but it still feels like it says more about the narrator’s worldview -I have a least favorite song (no name no. 5), but picking a favorite is nearly impossible. At various times it has been between the bars, rose parade, Angeles, 2:45 am, and say yes.

Emotional, and the lofi production makes it personal on a level. However it feels a bit samey at moments, and sometimes a bit whiney.

The sound is pretty interesting, it's kind of a mixture of folk rock and '90s indie/alternative. But the lyrics on most songs are either really vague (I don't want to do poetry analysis when I'm just listening to a song) or really sad, or both. Not like sad and romantic or aesthetic, but just everyday depressing topics. Why would people listen to music like this? Music is supposed to be a way to either escape or process your feelings, or at least romanticize them. Just making the lyrics extra metaphorical doesn't count.

Please Elliott, you're bumming me out man

Decent tunes

Great Elliott Smith

Very philosophical lyrics and quite good instrumental. Unfortunately is somewhat difficult to understand It as a Second language Brazilian

A little bit bland, but has a couple of interesting tunes. 6/10

Portland boy!

Rated July 29th 2024 Nothing much to say. I just really like it.

In the last four albums I've gotten two Elliott Smith albums and a Cure album...I think this website is trying to get me to kill myself. This album is more like what I think of when I think of Elliott Smith, much more melancholy sound. Some of his song's have a throwback sound, like a 60s pop thing. This is like better REM. 2:45 a.m. is great, I've never heard it before. Then Say Yes, the album gets better as it goes on and closes really strong, maybe more pop as it went on?

Was just OK. Maybe it's more of a grower. It didnt grab me on the first listen. I'll come back to it in the future for a 2nd listen but for now this would be a 2.5/3 for me.

, ”You can do what you want to whenever you want to You can do what you want to, there’s no one to stop you”

很有启发性的专辑，第一首speed trials深得我心

Nice flowing album

3.5

July 26, 2024 HL: “Between the Bars”, “Pictures of Me”, “Speed Trials”, “Say Yes” One of those albums I feel like I should enjoy more than I do. Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers was a favourite a few years ago, and it’s clearly inspired by Elliott Smith. That isn’t to say he doesn’t strike a chord from time to time, particularly in songs from his later albums (“Waltz No. 2”) but Either/Or’s honest, conversational lyrics come with songs that aren’t as remarkable to me.

This one hit me really well when I threw it on late at night. Sometimes this whisper-sing style isn't for me bit Smith is a master. The variation in style and masterful lyrics and playing make this a great artifact of the time and culture. I'll be back for more, missed out on him in life but, at certain times, this is the music I want to hear.

This was perfectly fine, but it didn't really grab me. 3.2

I know that Elliott Smith is a corner stone in the mopey xennial scene, but It just didn't grab me.

Sad boy sadness. There is a lot of depth to this album, strong composition of instruments with sparse riffs and thoughtful beats. The lyrics are of course melancholic and controlled, but not restrained. Some of these songs really strike a chord and speak to the emotions. Overall, this is a very strong, emotional piece that inspired some introspective acts to follow

Just ok

This fella can whisper like no other. I find it hard to pick out any standouts, but I do feel that I'm gonna be revisiting this one a little further down the line.

I first heard of Elliott Smith through the movie Good Will Hunting which featured a few of his songs including songs from this album. I went out and bought this record and enjoyed it some of his best work is on this album with Between the Bars, Ballad of Big Nothing, Angeles, Speed Trials and Say Yes all excellent and Pictures of Me my personal favourite. A great album that would reinvigorate the singer songwriter genre and inspire a lot of people to pick up guitars and song introspective lyrics, maybe too many.

It's kind of daunting to tackle such a seminal Indie Folk release - an album by a troubled artist that continues to resonate with so many. Elliott Smith stood as one of the (whisper) indie folk giants before his passing, ultimately influencing many artists to come (The likes of Sufjan's newer albums draw many parallels from Elliott's minimalistic style I feel). While it is undoubtedly melancholic, there is something so sour about the melodies and instrumentation here - they're not quite as comforting (to me) as I feel like they may be intended to be. They're very grainy, and not very vivid nor tactile but they still work damn near perfectly in creating this cold atmosphere Smith sets out to capture. Elliott's writing is really why I stick around here as he grapples with many issues. Many songs are inspired by a recently ended relationship as seen in the song 'Say Yes' but also the self-blaming of a song like 'Alameda'. The melancholic and dissonant masterpiece for me here is 'Ballad of Big Nothing' - a song about meaningless freedom sung over the most upbeat instrumentation here. The level of self-loathing sarcasm Elliott presents in this song is also subtly reflected throughout the majority of the tracklist here, like on the song 'Rose Parade' While I may not adore this thing as much as many people do after only a couple of listens, given the sheer amount of artists who have copied this style of writing and performing since 1997, 'Either/Or' works perfectly in standing its ground so many years later - still feeling wholly unique. It's an album so full of life, yet so empty at the same time.

I knew more about the lore of his death than his music going into this. First listen, I was distracted by the production. Whisper vocals, insanely loud snare and overpowering guitar tone. Luckily I was stuck on a flight without wifi and had this downloaded so I listened to it 3 times. Each listen, I appreciated it a little bit more.

Whispering, soft, sad, prolonged. Interesting little moments but generally pretty samey introspective songstering. Can see why he has a cult following with 12 year old girls and slightly wet moody male teenagers. Nevertheless, good in places.

Pretty nice, will grow on.me

I mean come on

Yawn.

This was really nice. Ended up listening to it twice. I get the feeling that Andy Shauf listens to Elliott Smith.

changed my myspace profile song to "say yes" when Jen and I started dating.

As a certified sadboi, I am mandated to pay tribute to one of the kings. This album is flawless and beautiful.

Boring soft-rock.

Delicate and beautiful and sad and sweet and tragic.

I recall hearing about Elliot Smith and I see why this artist was recommended. It's a little more down tempo and chill than I normally go and that's fun. Smith's vocals really gel with the music, unlike some other albums on the list. What amazes me the most is how comfortable I feel listening to the album with zero prior knowledge. Some albums or artists require interpretation and research and context, and this is just good music. I'm sure that this music would benefit from interpretation and alla that, but it's very pleasant at a surface level. The music blended together after a while, and not in a good way like Sufjan. The whole album is a lot, but I think I'd listen to any individual track on a whim.

I think this is going to be like the Nick Drake album we got a while ago, by which I mean that it will get better the longer it gets to marinate.

While the harmonies are pretty and the whole thing just drips in melancholy lovey dovey talk, it is simply not a place that my head can get to. Maybe when i was in high school or in some darker times in college, but not today. Still, I get the appeal.

Quiet and mumbly soft rock. Nope.

I find it hard to rate favourites from an album I love from an artist I love.

Great stuff - mellow and melancholy. I think I prefer his self titled slightly more, but this is still top notch. Fave tracks - "Between the Bars", "No Name No. 5" and "2:45 AM" all stood out this time around.

There isn't anything I dislike strongly in this album, but I just couldn't get over how whiny it is. I understand it is supposed to be a sad album, and that Elliott Smith truly struggled in life. I don't mean to undermine that - I might just not have been in the mood for this kind of music. It felt very forgettable and I wasn't able to focus on any song in particular.

So so. Probably wouldn’t press skip.

Angeles

I very much enjoyed this. For some reason it had passed me by first time around at it shouldn't have as it's right in my wheel house. Quiet and tuneful and introspective is a well trodden path but this does it well.

This album didn’t hit me as well as Figure 8. Seemed a bit more mellow and depressed. I know that’s his thing, but only one song really grabbed me after two listens. Still want to dive a little deeper. 2.75

Stimme angenehm. Für Hintergrundmusik ok. Es fehlt die Einzigartigkeit. 2,5

I know most of his work is on the softer side usually, but on this album the loudest songs are my fave. Pictures of Me and Cupids Trick. But Say Yes is also great.

Not really into sad boy music but this isn’t the worst

Extraordinario la cara de delincuente que tiene este hombre y como la musica que hace no se correlaciona ni un poco con su aspecto fisico. Say yes mi tema fav. Album muy chill y lindo para escuchar en el contexto en el que lo hice (estudiando) como con Different class, le daria un 3.5 pero no esta la opcion, tampoco creo que merezca un 4.

1996 happened when I was there but had largely retreated from life—for unfulfilling connection & romance. So I missed later Soundgarden & Elliot Smith. I’m not overwhelmed by Elliot Smith. Introspective with a whispery voice. May listen again, dunno. The only one’s the really rested on me was the Tom Waits. What does that say about me?

Top 1001 album of all time? I'm from the Pacific Northwest, from near Portland, and Elliot Smith has always been overrated. This album wasn't even one of the top albums of the 1990s, much less of all time. That is one of the longest 36 minutes I can recall. Every song sounds pretty much the same. Very little differentiation. The lyrics are, well, let's put it this way, we get it, you saw My Own Private Idaho once. If he had not died in such a spectacular way, I doubt anyone would have given him this much thought. He would just be another indie rock Harry Nilsson wannabe, another Hound of the Buskerville.

For the most part, I found it a touch monotonous. There, I said it 😥