Figure 8
Elliott Smith
2000
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!Elliot is the secret mycelium that links a group of friends from high school-college-hamlin and carries the weight of rarely verbalized pain and melancholy that naturally accompanies our lives but doesn't pair well with PBR and conditioned masculinity. Over the years I've often protested playing Elliot, not because I dislike his music (I love it), but because it's such a vibe shifter. At least for me it is. Sometimes it takes a Herculean level of mental and physical exercise (+substances) to catch a positive current, and Elliot can sweep that away in 3 minutes. Powerful guy. He was there (self titled) in Matt's Lakeway house one night playing beer pong in the garage. Bizarre contrast. He was there (Either/Or) in Nic's mom's apartment in Toulouse taking a nap with 6 other dudes in the afternoon. Perfect fit. He was there (Figure 8) in Nic's Volvo on the mushroom hangover drive back from the Tacoma-GH walk. That's when somethnig really connected. I got home to my new place with Rico (who I didn't really know yet), closed my bedroom door, drew the curtains, and put Can't Make a Sound on repeat for hours. Rico was very concerned, but said nothing. Understanding guy. Favorite Elliot album. Melodies so sweet they almost sweep away the sour. Tricky guy. A+
Been listening to this for 10 years. I actually like it more than XO. Some of the most beautiful and haunting songwriting I've ever heard.
It’s so classic. Drove to Los Angeles this summer just to take a selfie in front of the mural that made up the album cover.
Perfect score. So sad that this was his last album before he took his own life. You could hear the massive step forward Figure 8 was in his career. Still makes me sad to this day his loss and the loss to the world of music.
Elliott Smith was a big influence on my favorite artist (Ben Folds), so naturally I hear a lot of similarities between the two of them, but listening to this album I can hear the influence he might have had on even more indie artists that followed him (The Shins, Deathcab, Bon Iver, Fountains of Wayne). I read he was a big fan of the Beatles, which totally comes through in his sound (“Pretty Mary Kay” especially, for me)...at times this album even felt like a darker, more contemporary Simon & Garfunkel (though I didn’t find anything to suggest he emulated them specifically). Overall I really enjoyed listening to this album. Hard to choose a favorite song, but right now I’m really felling “Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud” & “Can’t Make a Sound.”
Such beautiful music. A soundtrack to a very sad story. Elliott Smith is one of those artists, like so many on this list, who exist in the periphery: you've heard of them, meant to pull off the highway and go explore them, but you never get around to saying yes to the exit and then meander down an unknown road. This is a terrible album to listen to on a gray day. This is a perfect album to listen to on a grey day.
This is one of my favorite Elliott Smith albums. It’s like Dylan going electric. The two previous albums were pared down singer songwriter masterpieces. This album he adds more orchestration, pianos, electric instruments and drums making for a dynamic and fun album, but maintaining his melancholy. Son of Sam, Stupidity Tries and Happiness are three of my all time songs. Doesn’t get much better than this, but I’d put From a Basement on a Hill just above it when it comes to the larger sound albums. Not a surprise grade from the Elliott Smith Superman, 5.
All of the yes. That voice. Not my favourite E.S. album (Either/Or), but still really really good. At the same time, listening to this, I’m realizing there’s something really cold and distant about it, not as intimate as his other stuff, and the fact that it’s the last album released while he was alive while his mental health was deteriorating brings that home, and I think makes it a bit haunting in a way. Favourite track: “Can’t Make a Sound”
Elliott Smith was a favorite among my friends in college. I like it. There are albums by him that hit harder than this one but still good.
Elliott Smith snorts coke off his mum's tits. Pass it on. My dear friend Sir Whippy Pippington passed away listening to this record. RIP.
Sounds like British 2000s rock. Just bland and boring and hard to listen to. Totally forgettable. 1/10.
I don't find Elliott Smith lyrically interesting for reasons I won't get into here. That leaves his music. Since Smith went into a self-confessional folkie direction, his lyrics are mostly what he's about, so that's two strikes against him. Fortunately, on Figure 8, Smith opens up his sound somewhat past his quivering voice and spindly guitar picking, which definitely helps matters. But still, Smith's tunes sound like they all came from the same factory. It's been said that his music is Beatlesque, but that's an insult to the Beatles. Their music sounds joyous and effortless, but you can hear Elliott Smith painfully grinding away on tune after tune, and at almost an hour, that's way too much of a bad thing.
Rubbish. The guy is clearly a good musician but his whispery, airy fairy voice really grates. Plu,s the misery in ALL the lyrics just makes this a shit listen. You've gotta wonder if he be anywhere near this list if he hadn't topped himself.
Probably the most generic thing I've heard in my life. My Chemical Romance but what if it was written by Michael from The Office
Love it. Especially the moody atmosphere, the dampened undertones, and the feeling of playing the album on a late weekday night. Smith’s voices comes out pretty clearly and demands my attention.
My 2nd favourite Elliott Smith record after XO and just slightly ahead of Either/Or. Brilliant.
Je suis sur le cul. Tellement bon et je ne connaissais pas . Wow je recoute l’album et la discography. 5
Este lo conocí en la carrera, solía trabajar con el en esas noches interminables de Maya o After Effects, me gusta mucho
Vabbè, so pronto. Grazie al signore non è From The Basement On The Hill che fortunatamente non c'è nella lista, ho controllato. In conclusione: Non faccio pezzo per pezzo perché li conosco troppo bene e non avrebbe molto senso. Questo album non lo ascoltavo da un po', non è il mio album preferito di Elliott Smith (che rimane FTBOTH), ma cazzo se è un bell'album. Il suo modo disperato, vulnerabile ma giocoso di comporre è una cosa che secondo me ha fatto storia e ha lasciato il segno in un sacco di cantautori successivi. L'onesta dei pezzi è indiscussa e come dice lui stesso in Memory Lane "If it's your decision to be open about yourself, be careful or else...". Non so se li accomuno per la fine tragica precoce o per la predisposizione acustica ma Elliott Smith per me è un po' il Nick Drake dei sui tempi, ha avuto un impatto altrettanto forte sulla musica (che nel caso di Nick Drake è stato postumo). Nonostante questo album sia decisamente (e fortunatamente) meno dark di FTBOTH comunque certi pezzi mi hanno dato comunque una bella botta, tipo Everything Means Nothing To Me che mi arriva sempre come una coltellata (no pun intended). Vabbè bando alle ciance: per me, nonostante il glamour che lo circonda per la sua vita disastrata e che lo fa piacere agli hipsteroni un po' morbosi, Elliott Smith rimane un patrimonio dell'umanità. Se a lui non dò 5 non c'è speranza per nessuno.
Solid the whole way through. I can’t believe I haven’t listened to this in so many years
Elliott Smith with a backing band has a very Beatles-esque sound. The song writing is great, the musicianship and instrumentation is great, and the production is perfect. Instant classic
I am definitely biased with everything related to Elliott Smith. This album, though not my favorite in his discography, is fantastic. The production sounds different than the Either Or's -more distortion, faster songs- but it still feels personal, vivid, a piece of his self from him to us. I love it. It grows in me with every listen.
guitar-y pretty vocals easy alternative sad boy but not too sad, crowd pleaser in the lab
One of the best albums I've heard in a little while, as I go on with this challenge. It was so damn good. Everything about it was so good. My favourite song has to be L.A
Parfait (ou presque) Prefs: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, Junk Bond Trailer, Everything Means Nothing To Me, L.A., In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost, Stupidity Tries, Easy Way Out, Color Bars, Happiness/The Gondola Man, I Better Be Quiet Now, Can't Make a Sound Moins pref: Everything Reminds Me of Her
I like Elliot Smith and that's a nice album. Not too many stand out songs, and probably not my favorite album of his, but still very nice
Glad I gave this another listen. While the compositions veer from minor to major, there’s still a cohesiveness to this LP which I think stems from Elliott’s vocals. The lyrics are vague but delivered with enough emotion to carry each song from one to the next. I’m not usually a downtempo acoustic guy, but even the slower compositions here grabbed me.
Lovely calm indie folk, a little more groovy and movey than fleet foxes . Could easily be soundtrack
Why do his sad songs sound so happy? He's got a pretty unique style. It's got a little more folksy oomph than typical emo from that era. It's more stripped down and heartfelt than the Brand News that hide behind their eye shadow and ripping guitars.
I like Elliott Smith's voice, so unique and mysterious. I like the slow songs as well as the harder jams, I appreciate that he can navigate both. I thought this was a solid album with good songwriting and stayed interesting throughout.
I remember listening to Elliott Smith around the same time I got into The Mountain Goats, with his album, "XO" which was phenomenal. Then I listened to this album years later, and, while not as good as his previous, this album was beautiful in it's execution and feel. "Easy Way Out" and "Everything Means Nothing To Me", and "Better Be Quiet Now" are easily the best songs on the album. Elliott Smith was a brilliant person, and was definitely taken too soon, I'm just glad that I picked up that first album when I did....
Good indie rock for the sad crowd. The songwriting gets a bit repetitive at times, but the production is excellent and the sound is so engrossing that it's well worth a listen.
Pretty nice layering, great for a relaxed background album. Vocals are unique, but for some people, probably push the album to the limit. Slot in a few great tracks, and this is a keeper
Elliott Smith was murdered. Figure8 is probably my personal third favourite Elliott Smith record, but also probably his best work.
Muy agradable al principio, luego me dio la vribrita de banda dosmilera "alternativa", tipo Zoé, y se me paso el encanto jajaja (o sea ya sé que esto fue antes, pero igual). Creo que las que más me gustaron fueron L.A., Mama woundt be proud y algunas de las que están acompañadas por el piano. Mood: Canciones que aparecerían en la intro de Charmed.
Reminds me of high school. Didn't listen to a lot of Elliott Smith, but I can hear the similarities in the bands I did listen too; they obviously had been influenced by him. I think I like his personal sound better now than back in 2000. A good album, and an easy listen, for a dreary day.
This was quite good! I didn't really like either/or first time I heard it, but I appreciated the depth the electric added here. Nice song writing, all quite heartfelt, certainly will return
Better than expected, was a nice surprise. Would never play this myself, but I really enjoyed it
Goede achtergrondmuziek, vanaf je echt luistert naar de muziek, blijkt het ook een heel erg aangename vibe te hebben, 3,5 neigend naar de 4
Elliot Smith en su zenit vital y artístico. Paradójicamente, suena en su final más luminoso que nunca.
heard this a million times on xfm in 2000 - never in this context - like it more thn i thought i would
Me gustó aunque suena a The Beatles, solo que menos happy, más sad (?). Podría ser soundtrack de una indie movie
I could see myself listening to this again and enjoying it. It's a little bit moody at times.
Poppig, a gewisse Power Nettes einher Songwriter Ding, manchmal Anklänge von Dylan und bowie
I liked it! Again, more than I thought I would. Definitely some bangers on this album. Overall great songwriting.
Ah Elliott Smith, leged died too soon. Stupidity tries, mooie outro. STERK album, 4.5. half puntje verloren omdat ik "Either/OR" al ken en dat vind ik net een sterker album. Dit is er wel eentje dat ge eens geluisterd moet hebben en dat ik nog wel zou durven opzetten.
Figure 8 lo conoscevo già, ma non l'avevo mai approfondito. Però questo ascolto me l'ha fatto riscoprire. Quindi il mio giudizio è positivo. Elliott Smith rimane un autore particolare e sensibile, il suo più che un genere musicale è uno stato d'animo, e onestamente ho come i sensi di colpa a dargli un voto. Unico neo: lui ha questa caratteristica di scrivere minimo 15 pezzi per album e penso che per valutarli bene sarebbe utile avere più tempo per ascoltarli, leggere e capire i testi. In questo caso, 16 tracce, anche dopo averle ascoltate un paio di volte non le ricordo tutte. Alcune però mi hanno colpito, in particolare "Everything means nothing to me" perché durante la mia esperienza di infermiere in terapia intensiva durante la pandemia mi sono sentito spesso così.
The best musician Portland has ever had. Been listening to him for nearly 20 years now, and I will always listen to him. Heartbroken at his loss.
I enjoyed this a lot though it was really sad at parts. It gave me a the Beatles vibe, and I really liked the tasteful hard rock elements sprinkled throughout. One of my favorite songs was stupidity tries.
September 6, 2021 Never heard of him before but this is solid! I like the mixture of softer and more aggressive tracks. Nice production. Some standout tracks ("Wouldn't Mama Be Proud", "I Better Be Quiet Now")
Gorgeous songs, artful arrangements. Moody, sometimes haunting lyrics sung sweetly. It's heavy listening to Smith because we know how this story ends. But the album stands on its own as a beautifully crafted work. Fave Songs: Somebody that I Used to Know, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Son of Sam, Can't Make a Sound
This is good. Reminds me of Badly Drawn Boy or even Bright Eyes. This is a sound that I think other singers definitely emulated. These songs are beautiful, catchy, and thoughtful. I never knew Elliott Smith and I am saddened by his tragic ending. I will certainly seek out more by this artist and it's a shame he's not here to perform live anymore.
Was surprised at the progressive and 90's rock influences in this album. Not what I expected based on what I had heard from ES before
Good album. Added to saved. Some song are too slow and, not to say whiny, but something like that. Overall enjoyable though. Good for listening while reading
Normally before I write the overall review here, I make my decision and then check the global reviews section. The top upvoted review is probably the best example of a relationship with the music of Elliot Smith. I liked this one a lot, solid piece of music.
Ping BabyChmafma, fantastiskt album! Delvis överraskande poppigt, som i öppningslåten Son Of Sam. Texterna och de teman som avhandlas är mörka. Död kärlek, depression, meningslöshet, och en generell apati mot livet. Trots det finns det i melodierna ett sorts blandat vemod, det är inte helmörk gothrock, det finns ändå indie-singer-songwriter-ljus i låtarna. Kanske är det just det som gör låtarna ännu mer drabbande, Elliott Smith är mästerlig på att skapa melodier som balanserar mellan hopplöshet och hoppfullhet, mellan liv och död. När hans eget extrema personliga mörker tas i beaktande skapas något oändligt vackert. Ett exempel på hur hemsökt Smiths psyke var av droger och depression är historien om hur en av albumets bästa låtar, Everything Means Nothing to Me, kom till. Tydligen ska Elliott ha varit trött på pressen från skivbolaget, hur folk pratade med honom om framtiden och hans destruktivitet. Då ska han under en psykos med kniv ha karvat in ordet "now" i armen, för att sedan sätta sig vid pianot och skriva ovan nämnda låt, med blodet droppandes längs armarna. Bästa låt: Väljer två. 1: Everything Means Nothing to Me, p.g.a. anledningarna ovan, samt hur trummorna exploderar in i låten halvvägs, medan Elliott mässar om livets meningslöshet. 2: Everything Reminds Me Of Her, som innehåller allt jag förväntade mig av en Elliott Smith-låt, en enkel, drabbande, och avskalad melodi om hjärtesorg.
I was really digging this for the first half of the record, but it really starts to drag after a while. Regardless, there are some really good songs on here that I will keep in rotation. I would rate this between 3 and 4, but rounding up to 4 because I would easily listen to it again.
Better than I expected, very tuneful - will listen again. More hints at the Beatles than I expected
Not heard anything by this artist so this album was as surprise. An excellent set of songs from an anguished soul.
Another great album from this guy. I like the pained lyrics and honesty in his voice. This LP is more produced than Either/Or and sounds downright upbeat at one point. After the first few songs I was thinking 5 but I don't think it ends as strong as it begins.
Brilliant lyricists who are arrogant or crass are irritating but are accepted because it often comes with the territory and we just have to take the good with the bad. Every so often we are graced with an artist like Elliott Smith who was a powerful lyricist and was also humble. When he is upset at someone he was in a relationship with he doesn't say "You ain't nothing but a hound dog". Rather, he uses the cultivated and more powerful insult: "You're just somebody that I used to know."
Hadn't heard of Elliott Smith before this - hearing this album has made me want to look up more of his work.
I came in to this expecting it to just be acoustic, whispered suicidal song but was pleasantly surprise by the energy and variety of the first few tracks. It did end up settling down to a rather somber tone in the second half but certainly gave more than I was expecting.
This is fucking good. Great, great album, but I don't really have anything to connect it to, somehow. Almost every song is crazy beautiful, but I feel like i can't give it a 5. Like it's 100% a fivestarrateable- album, I just don't feel love towards it. :/
I really enjoyed this on a first listen. Some lovely tunes and a great voice. I'll come back to this one.
People love this guy. I didn't get into it when I should have probably. I always think it sounds so good. This record is great but I don't care. Even though, on paper, it's a record I should love. Why? Because somebody said once that he's basically a one-man Beatles. It doesn't sound like that to me. It's excellent, but don't put that on him. It's like Oasis claiming to be like the Beatles. No they aren't! They're great, but it doesn't sound like the Beatles. And, if I go in expecting that, I'll be disappointed. Or, maybe it just becomes a distraction. Clearly it is, I'm talking more about the Beatles in this review than Elliott Smith's seminal record Figure 8! Anyway, this record. The instrumentation and arrangements are a 5/5. His voice is a 3/5 because it's too woozy and lacks the Charisma I want it to have. 4/5 ain't bad.
Subdued. I got "Either/Or" previously, and found myself enjoying this one a bit more. I like it when the full band comes onto a track. At certain points, a little bland. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Son of Sam", "L.A.", "Happiness", "Can't Make A Sound"
Surprisingly rollicking Lovely piano "Everything means nothing to me" "Morning had to come, I'd be walking in the sun, living in the day, but last night I was about to throw it all away" It's such a hard day's night And I've become a dog
Excellent Elliott Smith album, with very pleasant-sounding songs - I listened to it a lot at the time, as it is very easy to put the album on repeat. I am still a bit surprised to see the album in the list though, as it is basically a repeat of his previous albums - same style, same high-quality songs, same way of singing etc., which is certainly fine, but given that the 5-star album Either/Or is in the list as well, it is like having the same album in the list twice. ****
4.3 + This might be my favorite Elliot Smith record and it's funny to me how underrated it is critically. Clearly Smith's pigeonholed into this persona of a depressive heroine addict living at the margins, à la "Needle in the Hay." And to be sure, he helped cultivate that image. But beyond the "honesty" and "intimacy" of his music, he was consistently a terrific songwriter, capable of penning pretty pop songs with catchy hooks. This record may not have the grime of "Either/Or" but the evolution towards a poppier sound makes this record just as worthwhile. Songs like "Everything Reminds Me of Her" and "Somebody That I Used to Know" are among my favorites of his.
This is a really good album, not quite as good as Either/or, but there are some really good songs. 4 🌟
- very nice, beatlesque harmonies, i really like the piano - i guess it is depressing but, hey, thats what songs are for - yeah, he died, makes the music a little more bitterweet
Throughout enjoyable album. Really like their voice and style, very calming, though a couple of songs were the tempo increases and the music gets heavier but works really well. "Son of Sam" and "Happiness/ The Gondola Man" my favourite tracks.
I swear this guys meant to be super, super depressing: The album starts with son of sam, it’s a good song. Much more energetic than I thought the instrumentation especially is class. My only problem is those backing vocals. Next is somebody that I used to know it’s okay just a little acoustic song and I really don’t like his vocals on here. Junk bond trader, is quite cool it still carries on the annoying vocals but it’s instrumentally the best. Everything reminds me of her is a nice acoustic song good stuff but not a favourite. Everything means nothing to me is a haunting piano song and is the only one so far which compliments his whiny autotune vocals. L.A. Is one of the most energetic ones so far yeah I really like it for what it is should’ve been a single. In the lost and found ( honky Bach) is okay really just a nice piano song haunting like everything reminds me of her but with a a cool bridge in the middle. The roost is just a small instrumental strain after I don’t get the point but it’s alright. Next is stupidity tries, it’s good vaguely Beatles-y but not ripping off. This has a great exploding fist of a chorus. Maybe a top track. Easy way out is really good another slower creepier songs but not a favourite. Wouldn’t mama be proud is good it started as my least favourite initially but it’s grown a bit not my favourite but still really enjoyable. Colorbars is okay it feels a bit un-needed in a super long album but I still quite like it. Then is happiness it’s really good, great intro great piano work nice subtle guitar works and near amazing lyrics, yeah so nice song maybe a favourite!Then the gondola man another unnecessary instrumental like the roost.eh! Pretty Mary kay is a great slow but still punchy song, works so amazingly on this project! I better be quiet now is such a sweet slow song not my favourite but still really nice and good lyrics. Can’t make a sound has to be my favourite slower song great everything and a great slow builder nearly the perfect closer. Bye is just some sad little instrumental makes sense as a little coda for the album. I would’ve shortened it to 13 tracks but it’s still really good!
Beautiful and sad. Exactly the album you need in your twenties as you take punches from life, sort through hangovers, and wonder about all the possibilities. Figure 8 is for when you need to stretch through newly healed skin after the scab has fallen off.
Good listen, soft but powerful vocals, lush production. Enjoyed the first track especially. Will definitely be revisiting.
The fifth and final (in his lifetime) studio album for Elliot Smith. The "Figure 8" title was taken from the Schoolhouse Rock TV show and is a reference to the endless pursuit of perfection. Smith's music can be described as power pop with very well constructed and arranged songs. On this album, the lead instruments switch between acoustic guitar, electric guitar and piano. Strings are sometimes used to accompany. Despite his struggles with depression and addiction, the lyrics and music are mostly happy with the content ranging from autobiographical (fame, relationships, depression, drug issues), relationships in general and possibly stories. He does leave a lot open for interpretation and multiple meanings. I've always liked Elliot Smith and there is a lot to like here. But the flipside, there are 16 songs and this is a lot of Elliot Smith. The album starts with "Son of Sam" and its rolling piano, nice guitar solo and, I think, a song about self-discovery, both good and bad. Elliot Smth had moved to LA and one of my favorite songs is "L.A." with its straight-forward rock/pop and a great guitar chorus. It appears to be a happy song. "Stupidity Ties" has a nice arrangement and atmosphere and has an interesting premise: if make yourself stupid you forget about the impossible. Overall, this is a very good album, maybe lengthy though. I do think his previous two albums, "XO" and "Either/Or" are better.
The cover of "Because" (Deluxe Edition) is the perfect synthesis of past and present. Pseuds' Corner observation over.
Was really enjoying this album and kept thinking why don't I know this...I think it was because when I heard the name I thought he was a teen angst type singer songwriter... man, that was my bad preconception that kept me from listening to a really good album...
This was the most Jon Briton album that Jon never produced. I had skipped a lot of Elliott’s music back in the day, thinking it was another weepy folk guy. This proves me wrong. Great record.
Solid moody folk. Not my favorite from Smith, but it's definitely up there in terms of quality. I think this is my rainy day music, where I'm curling up with a good book and a huge cup of tea, and my cat is next to me.
Not sure how I missed Aretha but I will have to check that one out. Sounds like a winner. Anyway, I have a theory, based on no evidence whatsoever, that if you were shipwrecked on an island with Elliott Smith and a single acoustic guitar you could’ve told him, “Hey man, we’ve been on this island for a few days now and I’m hungry, exhausted, and starting to wonder if we’ll ever get home. Could you spare me the sad songs and, I don’t know, write a dirty, funny one about a mermaid or something?” And then a few hours later you’d hear the dirtiest, funniest, and best song about a mermaid ever. I really like this one. I wish it was a bit shorter, but that feels like a shitty thing to complain about of someone who’s dead. Which still sucks to this day.
New to Elliott Smith and now I wish I wasn't. This is great pop-oriented indie strongly reminiscent of the first Big Star album. I love that, so it's natural I like this too! A smidge more concision wouldn't go amiss, but there is some really strong, interesting songwriting here and some really cool textures in the sound.
This is another group of songs - kind of like The Stranger - where every song grabs me somehow. I like that he's stretching a bit on this one - the songs sound a little more open, they sound like they're in a room full of people instead of just you and Smith in his basement. Which I also like, but... This isn't my favorite Elliott Smith, but it's pretty damn strong.
1. The palm muted guitar technique here sounds really nice, as well as the short break with the distorted guitar. The instrumentation is cool overall, and the piano feels right in place. Strong first track. 2. Really like the somber tone of the song with the fast pace as well. Sounds downcast without being too downcast, which I like. 3. Awesome start to the song, sounds amazing. The bassline is cool too. The overall rhythm and riffs in the song are really neat. 4. Really nice, relaxed and laid back song. 5. Really weird, but also sinister. Reminds me of Technology is a Dead Bird and Machine by Mars Argo, which have a similar somber feeling. The delayed drums are funky but interesting. 6. Really cool beat, the distorted guitar and rhythm is cool. The chorus is really cool, and the guitar work is amazing. 7. Piano is really cool. Eerie at the end of the song. 8. The guitar work is really cool, and the short bursts of the distorted guitar accenting the track sounds awesome. The bassline is really cool. 9. Really chill acoustic song, I liked it a lot. 10. Amazing momentum in the song, I love the acoustic guitar part in this. The weird synths throughout the song add so much. It inspires me to use more unconventional patches in music. 11. The piano is exceptionally strong in the song, and I like how the guitar accents its part. 12. I like the subtle rhodes in the background, and the muted guitar is so cool. Really impressive track. 13. The harmonized voices are cool, and the really messed up guitar is pretty cool. LOVE the synths. 14. Solid song. 15. Intro is kind of samey, especially when compared to the last track. The bass and lead guitar really spice it up though. 2:35 POPS OFF. 16. Really sinister, but not bad.
Elliot Smith reminds me a lot of Bright Eyes, but I find him to be the nicer, gentler version. Nothing on the album did a whole lot for me, but nothing was bad. Very chill.
I probably should have been listening to this more carefully. One of these singer songwriters that's been on the periphery of my radar for a long time but never got to. It sounded pretty but I wasn't really tuned into the lyrics. Something to revisit.
I really enjoyed his singing and the instrumentals don't overshadow his voice(as with some bands where the singer has a softer singing style). The music is a bit softer and slower("easy way out") than I usually like but this one was good. I really enjoyed the more country-esque songs ("junk bond trader" and "L.A") and the more folky ones were good too("colorbars")
Oh you mean John Lennon Jr.? You mean the soundtrack to any movie wanting to worth their weight? He’s not bad. Pretty pleasant. Would listen again.
It was an average album overall. A lot of 60s inspired sounds that I enjoy, but other than his unique voice, not much of an impression left. Not sure how he inspired so many musicians.
Un disco con el que no pude conectar, por decir algo. O sea, no me desagradó para nada, tiene sus buenos momentos, pero lo escuché varias veces y como que nada "me hizo clic". Yo creo que tiene sus dosis acertadas de varias cosas, como romance o humor: además de las letras, un gran tino poner juntas "Everything Reminds Me Of Her" y "Everything Means Nothing To Me". Creo que todas las canciones podrían salir en películas de esas que gustan etiquetar como indie. En fin, creo que "L.A." y "Stupidity Tries" fueron las que más me gustaron, además de la ya mencionada "Everything Means...". En fin, DEP E. Smith. 7/10
Not bad honestly. Not my favorite genre but I definitely enjoyed the production. Singing was meh but bearable for 52 min. Might listen again, kinda forgettable.
Somebody That I Used To Know features some killer acoustic guitar work. I liked L.A. meh its just not for me.
Wonder if my parents listened to Louis Prima... The chorus “I Got Nobody” very similar to David Lee Roth
2e nummer van de plaats is niet echt zuiver gezongen. Voor de rest best goede muziek voor op de achtergrond.
I think of Ben Folds without the interesting rhythms and lyrics. Pretty okay singer-songwriter, and not TOO quiet, but will take a few listens to grow on me. Was gonna say 2, but as I have listened a couple of times today on accident, it is growing on me. I think I'm giving it a 3 for potential.
Nowhere near as dreary as I was fearing with a few nice upbeat tracks. Not necessarily my kind of thing but it was decent enough for a one-off listen. Best track: Stupidity Tries
Sounds like the end of American beauty / good will hunting or any other late 90's existential movie.
I listened 3 times and had to really focus. This music fades into the background really easily. With its repetition, it gets you into a folkindie trance. My favorite songs are Everything means nothing to me, Stupidity tries, and can't make a sound. I do think the album is too long and that many songs are forgettable. A middle of the road album for middle of the road times.
I had no idea who this guy was. Now I wonder why that is because this is a pretty good album. It all ran together toward the end but there are some strong tracks throughout. Bummer that he died young.
YEAAA saved it, i like it . especially l.a and the one with the really long hunky dory name that comes afterwards
Arrangiamento e produzione non mi hanno impressionato anche se nel complesso il disco l’ho sentito facilmente.
I liked it, new to me. Upbeat music with some darker subjects in the lyrics. I will def look into more from him. 3.5
I would give it a 4, but the last few songs lean way too heavily on The Beatles. I'm also guessing this is what chamber pop is, which has never really been that interesting for me. The instrumentation and vocals are nice, but it's overall not very interesting. Highlights: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10.
3.6 oké feels, different feels but feels. positief verrast! misschien nog eens luisteren met lyrics zodat ik weet of hij echt een verhaal vertelt.
I really enjoyed the music in the background. The piano especially was fantastic, but all the instruments held my attention. However, the lyrics and voice did not do so well. He can only sing 3 notes, and the lyrics had a tendency to be grating. Had there been a different singer, this album would have been near perfect. Favorite track: Son of Sam
While somewhat interesting to listen to, it was also a bit dark for my music tastes. I’ll need to revisit it a couple more times. 3
Poor old Elliot. Here he has moved away from the quiet acoustic numbers he had been previously known for to a full band approach. He still has a quiet voice that sounds like he's scared to be singing. Best Tracks: Son of Sam; Somebody That I Used to Know; In The Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost
Enjoyed this more than I thought I might. Tracks are a little samey but pleasant listening
i never really cared for his music one way or another - i'd never heard anything by him before he died, and while i'm definitely sorry he's gone, his music just doesn't do much for me. maybe one day that'll change, but for now, this just wasn't that interesting to me.
Svært at vurdere og kræver nok en lytning mere. Umiddelbart godt, men måske lidt kedeligt. Vellydende 3-4 stjerner
Nicht schlecht aber auch nicht wirklich einprägsam. Habe mich sehr leicht ablenken lassen
Some songs are nice, but I have the feeling that I heard many similar albums. Nevertheless - quite nice
Not quite as strong as some of Smith's other work but still Elliot Smith so it's good shit. Eases a bit away from the sadness.
Apparently, he was influential in the US. Maybe it's worth listening to more of his work, but taking this one as a standalone, it doesn't go about a 3 for me. Inoffensive meh.
I liked this at first and then the more I listened to it the less I liked it. The vocal is irritating to listen to and the lyrics are boring. Best track is "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" and worst track is "Pretty Mary Kay." I also really disliked "Everything Reminds Me of Her" and "Everything Means Nothing to Me" back to back in the track list. Good instrumentation but uninteresting vocals/lyrics for the most part, 2.5/5 but I'll round up because I will revisit 1-2 songs from this album.
Great opening track (Son of Sam). I found most of the other tracks to have much the same sound, a bit too in-one-ear-out-the-other. Fine for background music.
I was expecting something very different based on the album cover. Instead of some doofus punk rock like Blink-182 I got more of a pre-emo sensitive crooner vibe, like James Blunt or Jason Mraz. It’s not for me. It’s fine, but it sounded like the same song 16 times.
Not the biggest fan of this. Sounds kind of whiney. It's not necessarily bad, it's just not for me.
I'm glad I listened to this album even though I was worried it might make me more depressed. It was pretty music and I wasn't too focused on the lyrics. Favorite songs were Son of Sam and Junk Bond Trader.
Not heard this before and I only had time to listen to about half of it. This is an album that needs more than one play. I can't really give an accurate rating.
This is great - my first real listen to Elliott Smith and I really like it. If you're coming to him late, as I have, then you'll recognise all the influences and all the artists influenced; so avoid the "he sounds like..." critique.
I like this album and I'm happy that I got acquainted with his other songs. I would check out his discography as well.
I love me a bit of Elliott Smith but find this album's inclusion a bit odd, it's easily his weakest effort.
I've wanted to get into Elliott Smith's music for a while, and I doubt this is the best place to start, as even Apple Music prefaces this one as a departure from his more traditional, singer-songwriter style. There are a few stripped back tracks on here (which I honestly enjoyed more), but a lot is more produced and rock-y band-y. Still pretty good though, due to the strength of his writing, but I'll look forward to a more quintessential album to sink my teeth into, like Either/Or. Favorite tracks: Somebody That I Used to Know, Better Be Quiet Now, Junk Bond Trader. Album art: Seems like a White Stripes knockoff. It's weird that Elliott looks so cool on the Either/Or cover but looks really dorky here. Maybe there's a metaphor here since this album is him not really in his comfort zone. 3.5/5
This was a really enjoyable, calming album. Had some more upbeat songs, but reminded me a lot of other pop/alternative albums of that time.
music to nod your head to as you sweep through the clothing racks of your favorite thrift store
I wish I hadn’t have read his Wikipedia page and found out he killed himself (or was stabbed to death?) in his early thirties. It made a melancholy album even sadder to listen to. But it’s good. Kinda Beatles-esque in a way. It’s cool that he plus all the instruments. I respect that.
I enjoy the sound of Elliot Smith but definitely have to be in the mood to listen to him for more than a couple of songs.
Usually a big fan of the smith but found this particular album… one I’ve never heard… fairly dull. Hate to sound like a cliche but I prefer his earlier work!
Some good singer/songwriter stuff, like a newer and less quirky Elvis Costello in some ways.
Nice songs, really nicely recorded. I'm not quite sure why Elliott Smith has two albums on the must hear list. It's OK... just OK.
Some Britpop singer-songwriter vibes here, was surprised to hear how he died sooon after this album. How did you like it Adam?
Melodic and enjoyable. The Wally cover for the second track sure took some artistic licence. The Beatles references kept building like a figure 8.
Was not a fan of the last Elliott Smith album that came up, just super bummer music. With that, I was pleasantly surprised when Son of Sam started up with some upbeat guitar. Still an emo album but there's more energy in the instrumentals and he's projecting his voice more too so wasn't as bad as the last go around.
Memorable in the sense that I remember thinking this was perfectly fine, but I also don't remember what it sounds like very much at all. 3.5
He's still pretty mopey but this was a lot more rocky than the last one we listened to. I find some of his lyrics too straight up sad boy but I guess he was a very sad boy. Preferred it to the previous one.
I really like some of these songs! This particular brand of American accent is a little irritating to me though. I am listening while bashing out a bunch of reports though so maybe that's the issue. I'm into some songs but know I would have appreciated them more when I was about 17 and then would have loved it because the sound is super nostalgic to me.
This is my second Elliott Smith album. I gave the first one a 2/5. I am enjoying this one a little bit more. Easy to listen to and have on in the background. Overall I like it better than the other album I had.
A haunting portrait of mental illness for the new century. I adore the additional tracks on the deluxe version of this album.
The double-tracked singing still really bugs me. There are a couple of songs where it isn't as anemic, but mostly it makes me involuntarily clench my teeth. He's clearly a very talented musician and songwriter, but I wish some producer would have pulled him aside at some point and insisted he partner up with a good singer. There are a few songs that could have been enjoyable. What a shame. Best track: Son of Sam
Not great. I can see ita influence on 2000s music and the lineage through Oasis and the Beatles. However, overall not an easy listen and a little too overdone.
Ik ken hem door de soundtrack van Good will hunting waar hij een paar droevige nummers heeft om van te huilen. Dit album gaat, maar ook niet meer dan dat, had korter gemogen (zoals zovele albums). Duurt echt te lang voor wat het is.
Conflicted. I kind of like it, but it's a bit too 'sweet' to me. Debating between 2 and 3 stars, but ultimately I don't really see myself seeking out this album again, so 2 stars.
Didn’t feel like it was anything special. None of the sounds really stood out musically. The sound didn’t differ much throughout and it was hard to find a track that brought me in. 3.9/10
Taas meni vähän kategoriaan ”muniin puhaltelu”. Ei kuitenkaan millään tavalla tuskastuttanut ja yks tai kaks biisiä oli ihan mukaansatempaaviakin
Levy tuli droppaa mun tunnelmaa. Ehkä tällekin voisi olla aika ja paikka, mutta nyt ei toiminut. Muutama tosin toimi sellaisenaankin.
2nd listen. Not getting it. Every song kind of sounds the same. They aren't bad, but they are forgettable. 2/5
I thought I would like this more since I'm a fan of the sad boy indie emo sound from groups like Sparklehorse, Sufjan Stevens, Grandaddy, Red house painters etc, but this didn't do much for me unfortunately. I tried really hard to like it but after the second time listening to it I found it to be inoffensive but still very meh.
I feel like I really need the book to understand why some of the albums are included. There was nothing wrong with this album, but there also wasn't anything that I found particularly compelling. Vocals are okay. Melodies are okay. Instrumentation is okay. Everything is two scoops of "just okay." Rating an awfully bland 2.5 stars.
this is probably sacrilege but i only like about 2 of elliott smiths songs and they weren't on this album. it's all a bit too depressing for me plus i kind of get his thing but i can't help but feel an overwhelming feeling that his posthumous success is only because its posthumous. i have the same feelings about john lennons solo work and although i rate nirvana highly they are bigger than they should be. Goldie lookin chain wrote a critique about posthumous success in their seminal classic Self Suicide where they note the correlation between being dead and people deciding your music is better because you're pushing up daisies. https://youtu.be/Cdflid4OA2A
I have never heard of Elliott Smith prior to this, and I never really sat and listened to this style of music. Some of the songs stuck out to me, but I found myself unable to find a distinction between change and unique sound until I confirmed Spotify moved to the next song.
First time listening to Elliot Smith, was not a bad experience, but one I wouldn't be super thrilled to listen to again. Standout songs: Junk Bond Trader, In The Lost & Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost
Elliott is a creepy name. It's a name for guys who don't cut their toenails, or those self-proclaimed "nerds" who watch lots of anime but aren't literate enough to read fantasy novels. But I promise to give this a chance, even though my spidey sense tells me this is gonna be "influenced by Bob Dylan". Ok, it is. And it's Beatles-y as well, just to make me squirm even more. An hour of this whiny garbage almost made me want to kill myself - funnily enough, that's just what Elliott did! ha ha! 2/5.
Making the same mistake, ad nauseam. An entirely blank greeting card. Ennui. So very sad. Seemingly, so very little wisdom gained, or shared, from the experience. There’s the blues- that’s one thing, a wholly other thing. I would title this genre, the grays. Sorrow as an end to itself. Elliott Smith died at 34 of self-inflicted stab wounds following a row with his girlfriend, compounded by substance abuse. This recording feels very wrong, and I don’t ever want to hear it again.
OH god as I said Elliott Smith is a massive soggy wet wipe and I can't stand it. I think its the singing style. Just find it whiney and annoying, mostly his singing style. The songs lyrics make me cringe. Soz nope.
Meh...