Figure 8

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+

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Completely forgettable

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.

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.

Perfect heartbreaking pop melodies.

Classic album. RIP.

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.

great album, son of sam is a top tier opener

The art for this album is everywhere in my life. Not sure why but it is. If there were an Album Art-le game, I’d nail this one off the bat. I love Elliott Smith but this isn’t my favorite of his albums. Some of the songs downright irritate me. It’s very stream of consciousness and when a band/artist goes in that direction, that’s usually when they lose me. (Case in point: Radiohead) One major exception is the Lost and Found—that little piano ditty gets stuck in my head and I LOVE it. So playful. I love the motif of pairing the guitar and piano melody in so many of his songs. And Color Bars is a good one too. Simple. Not trying too hard. I found science in the album. Everything Reminds Me of Her. Everything Means Nothing to Me. Therefore, she means nothing to me. The lyric in LA, “Last night I was about to throw it all away,” just makes me so sad. Cuz one night he did throw it all away. And I don’t judge him for it—depression and drug addiction are a lethal combination. But what a fucking tragic loss.

Cry some more Elliot

My 2nd favourite Elliott Smith record after XO and just slightly ahead of Either/Or. Brilliant.

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.

This is kind of a weird album, in the sense that I don't really see why it's significant in terms of it's role in music history or the era/movement that it was part of, but I still just enjoy it. There's something about the sound of his voice that I really enjoy. The production is very solid all the way through. There's also something that feels very personal about his writing 4/5

Not as depressing a I was expecting it to be.

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.

PERO QUE MIERDA ES ESTO

Funny enough, it was the grand and bombastic moments where I feel Elliot truly shined here; the quieter moments were good too, but they didn't hit quite as hard as they did on Either/Or. Great album though.

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.

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.

,,, I don't know.. missing something here... sounds like every other indie guy moping about something....

Feels like an annoying guy at a party who breaks out a guitar when no one wants to listen. 1.4

Tragic figure. You can really tell he was influenced by the Beatles, particularly Lennon. Smith ultimately inspired later artists like Ben Folds and the Shins. Great stuff here.

This album is full of really nice rock songs with many songs having piano. I have enjoyed every song on this album, although Everything Means Nothing To Me has repetitive lyrics.

I have a friend who's very into Smith and I can see why now. The singer songwriter vibes of the album make it very relatable and cozy. The piano and vocals in Everything Means Nothing to Me are beautiful. Fave track(s): Son of Sam, L.A., Stupidity Tries, Can't Make A Sound

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”

Real top shelf shit

He didn’t kill himself.

V Good. Emo but not in a way that is annoying.

Not my favorite Smith album, but still phenomenal

Was sad to learn, Figure 8 was the last studio album Elliot Smith released when he was alive. All his solo albums are worth a listen, as he's a fabulous songwriter and performer and with each release he got better. So it figures that, Figure 8 is Smith's most celebrated album and easily his most accessible. Though, this didn't top any Billboard charts or sell millions of copies, but it was his highest charting record, so at least it had an audience he rightfully deserved. Highly recommended!

I’ve heard individual songs from Elliott Smith that I really enjoyed, but never listened to an entire record. Ngl, I was pretty disappointed. This album, as the kids would say, is mid. Far from the worst thing on this list, but not great. “Son Of Sam” and “Easy Way Out” are my favorite songs from it, but nothing really stood out. I’d give this a 2.5 if I could, but I’m rounding up to 3 because a 2 seems a little too harsh, but it was close.

The author of this list seems to have a real soft spot for records that ended up being an artist’s final record before their tragic death. 40 records in to this exercise and I’ve been given a few already. While often an important document of the waning days of an artist, albums like this are not always the best representation of the artist’s output and often gain mythological status solely for being the last thing they put out before they died. Figure 8 feels like it was included because it was Elliot Smith’s final record before taking his own life and not necessarily because it’s one of the Elliot Smith records you should hear before you die. I think ”XO” from 1998 would be a better inclusion, in that case. Don’t get me wrong, Figure 8 is a good record. The songs are all well crafted, with expansive instrumentation and nicely layered vocal harmonies. Compared to XO, Figure 8 has a bit more of edge compared to its predecessor with more distorted guitar, and a darker, more blunt lyrical theme. XO, ultimately, is a more enjoyable record. Its songwriting is more concise and memorable. Figure 8 kind has a sprawling feel - a lot of ground travelled, but you still end up in the same place: unknown, yet entirely familiar. Fittingly, it reminds me of traveling in the city it was recorded, Los Angeles: There dozens of neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles, all with their own traits, yet very much the same. Figure 8 takes its time in navigating its sprawl, in the same way that traveling Los Angeles by car can be so time consuming. I’m not sure I landed that analogy properly. Going back to my original point, this isn’t the Elliot Smith record I’d recommend to a newcomer, Either/Or and XO make better starting points. I would save Figure 8 for last. Sometimes the last record an artist put out is the last one you should hear.

Can't point out any particularly bad thing about the album, but also nothing particularly good. 5/10

I thought this was pretty boring

It was ok. Background music really. Perfectly ok, but nothing that stands out.

Wow. Now I’m depressed.

Sad stuff but always love his songwriting, and influenced so much of what I like today. Goes beyond singer songwriter stuff, interesting chord progressions and layered instrumentation. The early part of the album starts off so strong and feels like it stretches a bit at times in the middle, but overall really like the pacing.

Sad music for sad people. You know what though, I actually enjoyed listening to this, it's certainly a mood killer but it's quite powerful and his voice suits the tone and subjects well. Original a 4 bur ended up listening to twice in a day so now a 5

I didn't know about Elliott Smith until after his death. But have since become a huge fan. I know this record back to front. When it came up, I tore through it like I always do. Elliott is so out of step with everything but his music is somehow just familiar.

Absolute delightful album and one of my favourite all time artists. I often think about the music of Elliot’s that we never got to hear . Incredible musician and writer ❤️

abi uc aydir bu album benim her seyim. everything reminds me of her ve everything means nothing to me BU IKI SARKI UC AYDIR DINLEDIGIM EN GERCEJ SARKILAR of aglicam cok seviyorum

I had never listened to Elliott Smith but I can say this is really great. The album has a unique sound, feel, and quality... and that is surprising in a genre that has been explored as much as indie/alt. I really love the idea of the figure 8 representing the artistry here. It's an endless loop, a journey towards perfection without ever reaching it or knowing when to stop. In the same sense, you end up in the same place you started but your better for having traveled that road. I was between a 4 and 5 but I listened to the album again and it's gotta be a 5. I've already added a few tracks to my playlist and I'll listen to this in it's entirety again.

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.

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.

Great album.

easy, 5 one of my faves

Love Elliott always

It has some amazing playing and instrumentals, but I can only take so many whispery vocals. Elliot Smith continues to be pretty good. 8

One of the few albums that cracks the 70 minute mark that doesn't feel like it drags. I enjoyed this one. It's not for everyone, but I can really feel Elliot Smith's influences in other indie artists. It's a really mellow and easy listening album. I really enjoyed L.A. and Can't Make a Sound. The album really utilises volume to drive home points. There's parts of the album where the instrumentals take centre stage and really overpower Elliot's quiet voice, and those are parts of the album I really enjoy. Overall, probably a light 4.

3.5

Kinda dreamy, soft, whimsical, pleasant... I could go on. I would have liked to see where this guy went next. A real shame what happened to him.

Better than I expected. As I listen to more albums I am running out of ways to say, "nothing bad, but nothing great."

This was alright, but totally unmemorable.

Didn’t get much from this, wasn’t good, wasn’t bad, just meh.

i've watched liveleak videos that were less depressing than this album 👍

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.

Elliot Smith tried to hard to sound like The Beatles meet Bob Dylan with Pavement opening on this album. To me, it was very mid.

Not my type of music but wasn’t horrible

Very poor, extremely wussy effort. He puts as much effort into songwriting as I do into these reviews. Part-way through there are a couple of maybe "diss tracks" that are so weak they make you want to kick sand in his face yourself. Get it together dude, you're shit but who cares?

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.

Sounds like the Olivia tremor control guy without interesting music behind him.

When I listen to folk, I don’t just hear notes or words — I hear echoes of eras. Voices of stones that witnessed battles, rivers that carried shipwrecks, winds that carved myths into untouched forests. To me, folk is an invitation to tread on soil where time hasn’t dissolved: stories immortalized not for being perfect, but for bearing the weight of the concrete — dried blood on swords, petrified tears in statues, whispers of names erased from history. Yet Elliott Smith hands me a sterile void. Lack of testosterone-rock.

More fucking lackluster indie garbage from the 00s. I just don't care.... I'm so tired of these fucking mid albums on this list.... There are so many of them. This album is so fucking lame. There's 52 fucking minutes I will never get back..... I'm starting to think that the morons who made this list have fucking brain damage... Favourite songs: Junk Bond Trader, Somebody That I Used to Know Least favourite songs: Everything Reminds Me of Her, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Pretty Mary Kay, Bye.... And others..... I just..... Don't care...... 1/5

Did not care for this album. Junk Bond Trader was the only song that caught my attention. The band is talented but the music is not my style.

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.

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

Cheer up emo kid....

...

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.

Sounds like British 2000s rock. Just bland and boring and hard to listen to. Totally forgettable. 1/10.

Boring. Vapid.

Didn’t know what to expect from Elliot smith but was pleasantly surprised by this it’s a bit badly drawn boy in a minimalist band I will listen to this again.

I listened to this again but it's one of my favourite albums anyway. Beautiful melancholy.

Really fun album, loved the vocals, the playing and everything, definitely gonna revisit. Easy 5

What an amazing album. After researching more about Elliott the final prophetic song "Bye" made me tear up. Had to stop my work day just to focus on what was gracing my ears. Genuinely adored this bitter sweet labor of love. A sober and forlorn outlook on his life dominates this track list that reminds me of the equally as tragic Ian Curtis. Not a anytime listen due to its morose tone but definitely a beauty I will circle back to. Fly high king 🕊

Iha törky hyvä levy, kuuntelin jo kolmesti. Menee listoille. Tosi… taitavaa musiikkii.

Delicate, haunting songs from a unique and beautiful soul. I keep coming back to this guy, and this album, ever since it came out and I first heard Happiness (the gondola man) on a compilation from a french music magazine. I did not notice it much at first, but that is what haunting is. A little melody, a feeling that never really goes away one it shows up. That's it. He came, sang his songs, showed us his heart so we could see ours and he never left, though his body is gone. Elliott Smith is a human gem.

A Son Of Sam 5 Somebody That I Used To Know 4 Junk Bond Trader 4 Everything Reminds Me Of Her 5 Everything Means Nothing To Me 5 LA 4 In The Lost And Found (Honky Bach) 5 Stupidity Tries 5 Easy Way Out 4 Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? 4 Color Bars 4 Happiness 4 Pretty Mary K 5 I Better Be Quiet Now 4 Can't Make A Sound 5 Bye 3 I cannot begin to explain how long I've waited for this one. Ever since day 1 of this thing. I even restricted myself from re-listening to it for a while. It finally came. We got Either/Or and The Bends around the same time, so maybe Genny is starting to hear my prayers.

5/5 Elliott is probably my favourite artist of all time and my favourite song writer for certain. He has been an integral part of my life since my introduction to him from my Dad. Figure 8 is a beautiful record through and through, with more piano led songs and baroque moments whilst still showcasing his incredible guitar work. It is much grander in production than any of his other, more DIY sounding, records which gives it a Beatles-esque feel. For Elliott to evolve so much over his discography and still have a flawless set of albums shows how good he truly was. Rest easy Elliott, XO Top 3 Songs: Happiness/The Gondola Man Everything Reminds Me Of Her Better Be Quiet Now

I've been a fan of many individual songs for some time ("Son of Sam" is probably my favorite Elliott Smith song). I really enjoyed the consistent "jangly" feeling this album has for me while still maintaining that intense melancholy I've always loved. It's the most intense (but not necessarily heavy) collection of his music I've heard so far. Favorite Track: Son of Sam 4.5/5, will re-listen.

Classic

Cet album est dans un univers esthétique sonore très différent du travail précédent d'Elliot Smith, proche des Beatles, avec des arrangements riches : cordes, piano et keys, tones de guit 60s, même des brass genre cor français/trompette, aussi dans les arrangements de back vocal bien que souvent il y ait seulement une deuxieme voix qui dait des ouh ouh ou qui harmonise la melodie, ça colore beaucoup. Même les pièces plus "singer-songwriter" sont pimpées, ex Easy way Out avec du violoncelle. Toune pref = Wouldn't mama be proud, surtout les arpèges de guit à la fin avec le tremolo + 12 cordes. Dernière pièce = Bye, piano seulement. Fun facts : enregistré partiellement au studio Abbey road. Sinon reste du rec enregistré à LA. Le cover de l'album = Smith devant une murale à Sunset Boulevard, dans le quartier d'enfance de la photographe qui a pris la photo. Quote de Smith :

Känns verkligen 50/50 om detta träffar rätt eller inte men tycker detta är fenomenalt härligt o bra. Får Sufjan-vibes, vilket aldrig är fel!

One of the rare albums on this list where (i) I basically had zero knowledge of the artist (even though I feel like I should have given my age and (ii) I felt like this warranted a 5 star rating. I LOVED this album. I get it might not be everyone's cup of tea (and some might find it whiny). But not me. I thought it was a beautiful album. What I didn't love was reading up a bit more on Elliott Smith and his decision to end his life. Heartbreaking...

This time im really gonna do it

The perfect album.

I'd let Elliot Smith give me Backshots

top songs: son of sam, junk bond trader, wouldn't mama be proud, stupidity tries, can't make a sound, pretty mary kay, everything means nothing, L.A, happiness, don't why i put off checking out his music cause this is sickkk

Always a good listen.

Not my favorite Elliott Smith album—that title belongs to XO—but an extremely close second. Listening to this album is what made me fall in love with his music in the first place. Miss you Elliott <3

it's sad how his more "upbeat-ish" sounding album is his last, but also very on point when you think about. was the perfect album to listen on a cloudy gray day.

This was such a great album, and it’s heartbreaking that it was Elliott Smith’s last completed work before his death. I really wish we could’ve heard more from him. This album is a bit more polished than his earlier ones, with some tracks hitting a slightly heavier tone than his past material, but overall, it’s his classic chamber indie folk sound, full of those jangly guitars.

The guitar playing, the melodies, songwriting ability, woeful singing. I prefer Either/Or but this record isn’t far behind at all.

beautiful, i love you elliott smith

Such a beautiful, lush album with perfect pop hooks and an undercurrent of sinister menace. As we found out later, Elliott was a man struggling with his own mental and emotional health, and these songs give us a peek into those demons. His music has been a solace at many points over the last 25+ years, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.

Instant classic record for 2005 me.