Reviews (page 12 of 14)
Highlights: Son Of Sam Leave Em's: Happiness/The Gondola Man, Better Be Quiet Now, L.A. Overall Thoughts: Very uninspiring body of work that had me returning to see how many more songs I had left. Similar to some previous albums it wasn't bad, there just wasn't a single song that I could see myself seeking out and coming back to. Elliott's voice does not sound special to me and the content of the songs and instrumentation do not knock my socks off either. I have a very difficult time resonating and rallying to these soft pop albums with a lack of variety... give me something with some emotion and passion! Score Breakdown: 2.673 & 2 -> 2.337
Some great songs, some terrible songs. I really liked the soft rock ones and really disliked the slow indie ones. Saved multiple songs, so I’m giving it a 3, but it’s a soft 3.
Thought this was good I enjoyed listening but more of a chill album
Haunting sadness, as expected. A more mature album compared to the previous. XO is still my favourite
Surprisingly good and really enjoyed. Love the minor Melodie’s throughout and realised on of my fav songs is on the album 8/10
Starting out, I get some vague Beatles + Spoon vibes. I guess the piano + guitar will do that (re: spoon), but the vocals give me a Lennon-like feel. This is a solid "indie" album. At points, it feels similar to Alex G. A little long for my taste, but its enjoyable enough.
Depressing but in a good way. RIP Elliott
Either/Or still better but this definitely a lot of depressing songs to make me comtimplating KMS’ing. Easy 4
There are some good songs at the beginning and end. Can't Make a Sound and Son of Sam to name names. Overall some pretty unique sounds and instruments on this album which I appreciate, but overall was a pretty average sounding album.
Mad chill
This dude sounds like Sean Lennon. Nothing too crazy though got a bit bored.
This was a pretty good singer-songwriter/pop album with some indie elements as well. It definitely grew on me as I was listening through, especially the vocals. The songs are a mixture of acoustic that are often shorter, and more fleshed out songs that often build to a climax. It felt a little long as well. I just think there’s something missing here; it definitely wasn’t world-beating and some of the songs, especially the acoustic ones, were a little weak.
I’m glad I had a chance to experience it. But…I wouldn’t do it again or tell anyone about it.
2.5
The beginning of the album is definitely better than the rest of the album. It starts out as regular 2000s indie/alternative music and then kinda devolves into a "sad boy" version of that. This sounds like something that would be in some show or movie about teenagers going through a rough time, or on a sad section of Scrubs. It's not really terrible, but I wouldn't want to listen to most of the songs on this album again if I had a choice. A low 3/5
Melanco, pensé que me iba a deprimir más. Lindo, pero todo bastante parecido. Estilo muy final de los 90s. No había escuchado este disco, y siento que Sean Lennon le robó bastante para hacer Friendly Fire, pero me gusta más el de Sean.
Siento que es de esos músicos que fueron mucho más importantes en Estados Unidos que en el resto del mundo. Un poco me gustó, pero debería escuchar un par de veces más para tener una opinión definitiva. Me hizo acordar bastante a Jeff Buckley. Le doy 3 estrellas porque ni me volvió loco en la primera escucha ni me pareció malo, pero si pudiera serían 3 y media porque al menos me dejó la curiosidad por seguir escuchándolo
? Not my music
This was surprisingly good
A strange album, a great songwriter and singer
Nothing wrong with this album, but not my genre and found most of the tracks dull and twee
Reminds me a lot of Ben Folds. Good stuff, but not quite my style.
Good
Fuck I love this album
it may be interesting, but not for me.
Love this album. Conveys such a strong vibe while also maintaining range. All the tracks slap. I always enjoy Mr. Smith and have nothing bad to say about this album. It’s a shame he’s not more popular. 4/5
Someone gave Elliott a budget! I was afraid higher production values would detract from Smith's tender, heartfelt songwriting, but it works. Miss you dude.
All time great
Just OK
4.25
First album in the 1001 that entered "dislike" zone. Seriously. My highlight: the lyricism was occasionally wonderful. My letdowns: just the instrumentation, the slow pace of it all, the bleak mood that doesn't carry much at all. Super downer album for no great reason. And I came in thinking I'd love it. Sorry.
Fine album. Gotta be in the right mood.
Not my thing.
some of these have very similar vibes to miracle musical , but less harsh and edgy The lyrics are almost more captivating than the melodies can hear some of the Beatles influence on this! This album really was a leap forward in his music, RIP solid 4.5
Temporarily staying down the street from the mural on the cover. I lived in the area (where he also lived) when he died, and being back again and having this album come up is bringing back a lot of memories. These songs are so good. He wrote such great melodies. The lyrics aren’t the happiest, and there are some very mellow songs, but there are also some bouncing upbeat music that gives the subject matter some much-needed energy and brightness and prevents it from being overbearingly sad.
Never really got into Elliott Smith (though I’m not too sure why as everything about his music usually appeals to me) Anyway this was a bit of an eye opener, much more diverse than expected and solid all the way through
2,5
ok
Damn.
прекрасно и невероятно красиво альбом забрал меня
алкоальбом: хорошее вино, но ты пьешь 3 бутылку
Ну, прикольный сонграйтер. Ну, грустные песенки пишет, тоскливые... Я вот вспомнил видос СКИЛЛЗа, что русская музыка - самая грустная на свете: возможно, этот парень смог всё-таки вызвать вот это меланхоличное чувство и у него тоже есть какая-то своя 8ая нота. В остальном же - ну норм текстоцентричный альбом, чего-то сверхнеобычного в нём нет. Жалко парня, плохо кончил...
альбом имени ночного автобуса номер 4
- Very strong singer-songwriter stuff - Incredibly enjoyable listen with some great lyrics - A solid 4.5 round down - Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Can't Make A Sound, Son Of Sam
- I really enjoyed this album - Easy to listen to, love the song structures - Definitely hear some Beatles influences
I find it hard to pick favourite tracks of an album I've listened to many times for many years. I guess this album carries more weight being his last. Anyway, all that to say, this is a great album :)
This isn't an Elliott Smith album I'm all that familiar with - it sounds great, and I definitely want to listen to it more, but it doesn't quite hit 5 stars for me on these play throughs - maybe more familiarity would bump that up. Fave track - "Everything Means Nothing To Me" is gorgeous. "Easy Way Out" is an ear worm, too!
Pretty good but not quite enough to make me go buy it.
i didn't like it.
No bueno
This album turned me into a Gen Xer
Cult classic
Monipuolinen levy. Elliott Smith on vähän vaikea artisti, koska tykkään paljon tämän tyyppisistä musiikista mutta jostain syystä Elliott ei ole niin iskenyt. Tämä levy vaikutti samalta mutta parani loppua päin. Olisin antanut 4 tähteä joka tapauksessa mutta lopulta tämä oikeasti ansaitsee sen
10/10
There's some really nice song-writing in here. A lot of the album kind of floated by, but there are some good standout tracks. I particularly liked 'Junk Bond Trader' and 'Stupidity Tries'. I really like the instrumentation and his vocals.
Average..
Not recommended for listening at your desk first thing on a Tuesday morning. I mean, it is, this is a great album but holy jesus will your day be kinda melancholic for the rest of it.
My favorite Elliott Smith album. The electric guitar seems normal when listening to the album alone. But when listening to his catalogue, it seems aggressive and mad.
Great swansong by one of the best wordsmiths that ever graced the earth. Elliott Smith's last album while alive is a very good one. Beautiful and very interesting songs. 8,5 out of 10
Just found his voice very irritating tbh. Stand outs are Wouldn't Mama be Proud, Can't make a Sound and reading up on him, seemed like an interesting fella with an intriguing death
This was strange, not bad, but strange
More of the same from Elliot Smith, though slightly more interesting than “Either or”.
This was excellent, I am fast becoming an Elliott Smith fan
I got this two days after its 23rd anniversary! Elliott Smith is one of my favorite musicians. Aside from him just being a masterful songwriter himself, he is the main inspiration for many of my top artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Phoebe Bridgers. This however I think is my least favorite of his albums, I would have placed XO on the list over it, but I'm glad Either/Or made the cut. I don't dislike it it's just not the 5 that his other albums are. Elliott's impact on me and the rest of my favorite artists makes this an automatic 4 star album for me.
Really interesting
Downbeat.
This album evokes no emotional response from me.
A freaking masterpiece! Elliot’s voice holds so much emotion. 10/10 perfect alt-rock somber, melancholic melodies. Favorite Songs: Somebody That I Used to Know, Junk Bond Trader, In the Lost & Found, Easy Way Out, Stupidity Tries, and Colorbars.
The final record released before his sudden (and still mysterious) death, Figure 8 sees Elliott Smith in a surprisingly jovial mood. Dreamy fragmented songs take listeners to a place between the celestial and terrestrial.
Not a fan whatsoever.
Definitely can hear the Beatles and Dylan influences. Not much dynamics in the vocals (like Dylan), but the lyrics are good.
The first few songs had me a tad worried, but I think it picked up a bit after that. It was a pleasant listen. I don't know how it compares to Either/Or for me, since I listened to that one quite a while ago, but both albums are good. My favourite song was Everything Means Nothing To Me.
This was a pretty good listen. Very unique style.
Figure 8 is good; it starts really well for the first three tracks, tails off a bit but comes back pretty well. Not spectacular but it's a 16 track album that lasts nearly an hour but doesn't feel like it. Well constructed, can give or take his voice but it's effective at its best, solid 3.
I really liked XO (if you can like something that miserable!), but somehow hadn't listened to this before. He's a great songwriter - his voice isn't as good as his writing, but it's by no means bad either. really well put together music, maybe could have done with a bit more variation in the album but it's still really good. 4/5.
First exposure to Elliot Smith. Intriguing mix of XTC meets Gabriel Kahane, a la The Shins. The dynamic contrast of the whispery vocals over ear-catching changes (V/V usage, b3rdMajor, and parallel minors) pulls you in. The sameness of it all though was too much for me. I'll study Smith but not listen much.
It’s nice enough but damn depressing
Fine. Inoffensive unremarkable background music.
Kinda forgetable. In fact, I've already forgotten it....
I love Elliott Smith, but I was kind of dreading this one and had to get it out of the way before it could make me melancholy for the rest of the day. He had a true gift for changing the mood of everything else happening with a few simple lines.
Excellent
I’m a sucker for wistful indie singer songwriter stuff like this and this album really hit that sweet spot. I really liked son of Sam and lost and found but all of the tracks were pretty much good. Reminded me of badly drawn boy
- Heard this before many times - Elliott Smith is one of my favourite artists of all time and even though I think this is probably his 3rd best, it's still 5* - Hard to narrow down what my favourite songs on this actually are - Fav songs: Son of Sam, Happiness/The Gondola Man, Everything Means Nothing to Me
Died fast
Just kind of forgetable indie folk tbh
Really beautiful
Sounds like the kinda guy who would stab himself in the chest
I always feel like he was the heir to Nick Drake, and Smith’s work should appeal to most fans of Nick. Such a great album.
Definitely didn't hit me like the first album of his I heard from this list.
Slow and thoughtful. To say this the music bores me is not to say others shouldn’t find it enjoyable. However, I equate it most closely to Conor Oberst, and then closely beside a more composed Jose Gonzalez, or iron and wine. All of which are talented and deserving. They just never sat with me. Not a voluntary rotation for me.
Kinda boring
Getting a lot of the last studio album of an artist who died tragically early lately. I had never given Figure 8 a proper listen til today. The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel and Elvis Costello/Marshall Crenshaw influences are really apparent here. Loved the strings throughout, which I dont know that Ive noticed on earlier albums? I feel like the Shins took Smith's sound and ran with it. Man knows how to make chord changes stir distinctive and different emotions, the melancholy indie darling. Perfect record for a road trip. Can't think of anything that takes away from it. 5
I’ve never gotten into Elliot Smith, but I’ve also never really tried to (maybe because liking Elliot Smith would be too painfully on brand). His talent as a songwriter is undeniable, and you can hear his influence on artists like Alex G. There aren’t any bad songs on this album but it was still underwhelming. The first 2 tracks were my favorite and after that it was fine to listen to but nothing great. I expect to feel more emotions listening to such an emotional album.
It is hard to separate Elliot Smith's work from his tragic (and short) life. The downbeat tone is a bit too much for me. While there are some songs that are not delivered in his signature whispery vocals, there are not enough of them to balance the overall album. If I was to add an Elliot Smith release to this list (I would not), it would be XO.
Very Beatle-esque and very good. I also hear bands like Oasis and Fountains of Wayne in here, though those are Beatles influenced too. Stupidity Tries sounds so much like John Lennon wow. I wish his voice was a little stronger but it does have the sincerity that I always appreciate. Favorite songs: Junk Bond Trader, Everything Reminds Me of Her, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
Great album. Approachable, but with caution.
7/16, 44%
Easy listen, but feels like it drags...
First time hearing this album all the way through, much more polished than his previous work but still an impressive showcase of his artistry.
I find myself liking this album and Elliot's style. Not sure if it's mixed up with his story but I hope it would stand up on it's own. Quirky acoustic guitar, clear crisp whispery lyrics it's nice to get into.
I found this album quite timeless, it has not aged. However, has not made me want to look up the back catalogue so…
Kyssäisin itteni jos tekisin näin surkiaa mussiikkia.. Ihan hyvin soi albumi tho..
I like Elliott Smith but I never seem to get to a place where I LOVE him. He's very talented, both as a lyricist and a guitar player. I do love his play style and on this record, he really showcases what he's capable of.
Ovo mu je vjerojatno najviše bitlsovski album 😄
Not for me. Some nostalgia to the turn of the century for this, but ES’s well-polished mutterings never touched me.
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?
OK, not great. Some good songs.
Te amo, Elliott. Héroe de todos los hombres tristes, conquistador de la voz y la palabra. Humano, antes que nada, y por tanto tembloroso. Tus canciones son sobre todo incertidumbre; así como también, el triunfo del espíritu. Frágil evidencia, como tu vida y la nuestra, de que luego de atravesar la injusticia y el dolor, nos espera aquello que deseamos.
Había escuchado Either/Or hace bastante por un amigo que le gusta mucho y me lo recomendó, y no me había parecido tan bueno, pero sentía que me podría gustar otra cosa que haga Elliott Smith. Y es absolutamente el caso de este disco, me parece muy superior a Either/Or, especialmente me parecen geniales y variadas las melodías de las canciones, y me gusta el protagonismo que toma el piano. god 8/10
I liked a few songs, but most of the album didn't really stand out. I get that appeal and will probably try some of his earlier work.
Nice listenning to this album. I didn't know this artist.
Generic 2000’s pop/folk/rock
I've not listened to Elliott before, interesting how much Bob Evans sounds like him. This is pretty good, some nice melodies but it is all pretty much the same, very one dimensional approach to singing and arrangements. So not in anyway offensive but musically a bit of a glass of water.
I liked this one a little better than the other Elliot Smith album. Lovely palette of sounds in the arrangements/production, though I still wish he'd sing out more often. Might have been 3.5 stars if I'd had more than once through with it, but realistically I'm unlikely to pull it out for another listen - so not 4.
I think the thing with Elliott Smith is that you had to be there. He was probably great at some intimate gig, playing for a small crowd who were sure he was the next big thing. But in the ranks of American singer-songwriters, I find it hard to rate him that highly. Mind you, the album we previously rated, Either/Or, was a much better record than this. I really didn’t find a standout track here.
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.
Do not like his voice
It wasn’t bad. It just didn’t do much for me.
I wasn't expecting to like this better than Either Or. Not as consistent or emotionally dramatic, but so much more colorful and diverse, with strong art pop, psychedelia, and classical influences on his usual indie folk and power pop style. I can hear John Cale and the Beatles in both his vocals and instrumentation in many tracks. Tons of amazing memorable tracks. I fell in love with nearly every song in the first half. Mellows down from there but still enjoyed every song.
Classic
Kazkaip visiskai neutralus. Pamirstu, kad klausausi. Nesinori perjungti, bet demesio neatkreipia, pasizymeti konors nesinori. Fonine muzika. Visai artima tokiai, kokios klausauai. Gal todel ir neissiskiria. Neprisiminciau nieko apie si albuma.
Every generation has its own Nick Drake
Vraiment un album qui s'écoute tout seul, je l'ai écouté deux fois avant de le coter car la première fois je n'étais pas assez attentif. Définitivement mieux aimé que Either Or. La voix est super apaisante, c'est léger, mais sans non plus être ennuyant. Manque un peu de mordant à mon goût mais un album très aggréable en général. 8/10
Call me easily impressed by the concrete. Smith's arrangements root the songs on this final project while their cores float uneasy in dreamland. Melancholy's expected with this artist, I guess, but even then the album hits and hits with only a little tapering. Peak Elliott Smith? The familiar seem to differ on that point, but from here the answer seems, unfortunately, to be yes.
yada yada
Cuando descubría a Elliott Smith hacía muy poco tiempo que había desaparecido. Fue con la app de música Pandora (que ya no está disponible en España desde hace mucho tiempo) que funcionaba muy bien y supongo que lo seguirá haciendo. La cuestión es que este cantautor tenía ya unos cuantos discos publicados y descubrir esa voz que se duplica y solo quieres escuchar más. Tiene otro par de discos de 5 estrellas. "Son of Sam", "Somebody that I used to know", "Everything reminds me of her", "L.A.", "Easy way out" o "Color bars". Imprescindible y gran pérdida.
Much more musically interesting than I was expecting
Nice, very good
Not listened yet
Phenomenal album
“Elliott Smith could make Abbey Road but The Beatles could never make Figure 8” Perfectly packaged emotion and tight songwriting. Powerful stuff, very moving! Faves: Better Be Quiet Now, Can’t Make A Sound, Stupidity Tries, Bye, Son Of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, Easy Way Out
wonderful
Pretty basic retro rock.
A strong singer-songwriter album of Beatlesesque pop. I tended to enjoy the songs with a full band sound the most. Highlights: “Son of Sam,” “Junk Bond Trader,” “Stupidity Tries,” “Bye” (beautiful little instrumental to end the album)
This album really blew me away. I was force-fed a lot of Elliot Smith by some friends on my recent trip to Seattle and somehow we didn't get to this album- despite one friend having a tattoo dedicated to it. A lot of his music that I've heard has been some pretty "down" stuff but I think that his voice is just so naturally soft that it's really a case of there being more more than meets the eye (ear) and you have to really listen to get it. When I first hear his songs I hear that voice and it immediately colors my view on the overall sound. This record however already starts pretty heavy only a minute and a half into the first track, and surprisingly (to me) it fits his voice wonderfully! I also love the little blues notes that are thrown around in the piano in this first track- it very quickly dispels my idea of "soft, downer" music. This is one of a very few records I've heard so far for the first time from this list that I want to put at a 5/5. I have held onto those 5 stars as a definition of an album that I find truly incredible. I think I'm going to land on a 4/5 for this one but it's a high 4/5. This is also the first album I've put on from this list and when it was finished I started it over again.
meh
Very “emo” lyrics, with beautiful music and Elliott’s haunting vocals. Loved this. Saved tracks: Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing To Me, In The Lost And Found (Honky Bach) / The Roost, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
Listening to *Figure 8* again, I can't quite shake the feeling that this is the least striking album Elliott Smith has ever released. Thank goodness, Dimery has also included *Either / Or* in his list. Here, at least, no one can accuse him to have missed or forgotten the best album by an artist. But when it comes to the question of Smith's *second best* album, the self-titled debut and *X.O.* have far better credentials than his last record, to be honest. Hence why the inclusion of that *other* record in here puzzles me a little... Of course, we're still talking about Ellioot Smith here. The man still had that special touch for sensitive and effective songwriting in quite a few parts of this LP. In fact, the main issue one can have with *Figure 8* is its arrangements and instrumentation. They go a little too far from the minimalistic production of Smith's earlier output, which was a perfect home for his fragile and graceful songs. Here, useless layering is instead stifling the natural charm those new tunes could have had had they been recorded differently. Less is more, especially with Elliott. This is how his precious craft shines the best. And boy did it shine brightly for a short while... No one can blame Smith for wanting his sound to evolve, though. In a better world than ours, *Figure 8* would thus be a transitional record helping Smith achieve greatness later on--this could have occured on a subsequent LP displaying a new sound that would ideally balance sophistication and more straightforward intents. Sadly, we'll never listen to this album now... Rest in peace, Elliott. Music history would have been a tiny bit more interesting than it is if you had stuck around just a little longer. But thanks for all those gems you still managed to leave us in such a short time. A lot of folks still cherish them, you know. As the cherish your memory... Number of albums left to review: 669 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 161 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 78 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 92
Much better than the other Elliott Smith album on here, but way too long.
Here I was thinking that me getting the first Elliott Smith album over at this website was more than a bit of a stretch, when I got this one as well. Neither is anything to die for.
Werd steeds saaier
Goed, maar niet boeiend. Kan dat eigenlijk samenvallen? Blijkbaar wel!
Ik vind Elliott Smith geweldig, maar vind het eerdere werk beter.
Prettig album. Normaal zou ik het denk ik 3 sterren hebben gegeven maar na al die ondermaatse prut van de afgelopen week was dit een verademing. Dus ik doe er nog een ster bij.
Ik vond dit nergens spannend. Omdat het een tragisch figuur is en ik daar een zwak voor heb, een extra ster.
Heart and soul and yet I'm so unfamiliar with him. I feel like he's one album away from greatness, I hope I find it in his other albums I'm off to explore as apparently he's dead. Always the way.
Tragic and beautiful. An unfortunate cliche.
This is like a boomers favorite millennial record. Its not bad at all, just sounds like a thing I’m not trying to find. But he does it well.
Pretty average album, bumped it up to 3 for nostalgic reasons truth be told
Me gustó, pero no podría decir mucho más
It’s ok. Not really a fan
Very good to listen to, but to me it lacks originality and better lyrics.
Another artist I did not previously know, this is a great album - cultured indie rock.
i had never heard of elliot smith going into this which i thought was odd since this album came out in 2000. while listening i thought about how he gives off the vibe as an artist that died young and i was right. very good album though. some classic singer/songwriter type songs but then some that are almost pink floyd esque which was super cool!!
Another album with Beatles-eque vibe/sound. Not fan of the singer's voice mannerisms. First two-three songs are memorable, after then everything blends together. Can't recall anything else after listening to the whole album. This could be cut short maybe even in half. Lots of songs feel like filler. Feels more like a stream of consciousness than a cohesive album. Best song: Song of Sam (great opener) Worst song: Bye (could be completely omitted)
Très sympa Très calme A écouter bourré
Lush arrangements and harmonies - influences very much worn on it’s sleeve.
Moody indie fare
nice easy listening, bit of an annoying voice but hey I listened to it all.
How did I miss this album? I love Elliott smith. This one's a bit of a mix it seems. 3 stars
Marvelous singer / songwriter! Good album
4 We don't have music like this anymore
forgettable
Subtle but forward in a way his previous work just wasn’t. Smith uses far more sound and madness to cut through his messages. Lacking the acoustic twee of other efforts but still so poignant and in the exact right place the listener wants to be. That being the place Smith means them to be.
Un disco tranquilo, sin dudas entra en mi top 30 de mejores discos
I remember being in HS and hearing that Elliott Smith was THE MAN in college rock radio. I always assumed he was a weepy singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar so I was pleasantly surprised by a few tracks on Figure 8. Junk Bond Trader has a harpsichord intro and a soulful sway to it. ES sounds a lot like Ben Gibbard from Death Cab. There are a few whiners on here, though.
This and yesterday’s album (Country Life) seems like the generator is blessing me, but inadvertently irritates me in the process. These two albums are definitely my favorite albums I’ve gotten so far, but I really am not sure how I feel about them yet. I’m giving both of them 4s because I just can’t be sure that they’re 5s yet. Unlike yesterday’s album, I already knew and liked a song from this (“Stupidity Tries”), and was not at all surprised by how much I liked it. I prefer the other one, but I still really enjoyed it.
Nope
Just meh and forgettable? Not my vibe. Was listening whilst doing reading notes and no songs jumped out at me like this is a banger. Was alright to listen to tho! Didn’t hate it just beige but in an okay way.
Very Badly Drawn Boy
In the right mood I love Elliott Smith. Today was such a day. Pity he did himself in because he was a brilliant artist. (Although I can understand that for others this will be total shit).
Actually really enjoyed this... goes on a bit much but think it's an album that would grow with multiple listens
Generous 3. Pretty disappointing
Pleasant enough album but nothing stand out.
I don't understand the significance of this album or why it's on the 1001 album list. It was a chore to go through. This was the second Elliott Smith album I've listened to and I hope there aren't any more.
Elliott Smith is great. Beautiful voice, inventive songwriting, deep lyricism. The second half on the album drops a little bit, but it's still a serious bit of work
Like XO, this album has a "Beatlesesque" production quality. Fantastic collection of pop songs, though it could benefit from a little more editing (it seems to drag towards the end - maybe it's too long). Would have loved to see where Smith was going on future albums, but it wasn't to be. Overall a great capo to a career cut far too short.
Top talent, too songs.
I was reluctant to dive into Elliott Smith on December 26th, in Omaha, NE, where he was born. Somehow this turned into a pleasant surprise. There's a pleasant Beatles meets Big Star feel about the songs. It doesn't have the depressing post-Christmas feel I was expecting. Thank fucking Christ.
Worth another listen for sure.
It was ok. Not much going on that excited me.
One of my favorite albums of all time!
elliott smith spelled his name wrong in suspiciously different handwriting than his own for his suicide note. piano makes you sad. suicide, relationships, drugs. good album.
Stunning
Figure 8 is a powerful and compelling album that showcases the talents of one of the best singer-songwriters of all time. Smith's ability to convey deep emotion through his music and lyrics is truly impressive. Known for his intense and emotional lyrics, Smith's songs often explore themes of love, loss, and heartbreak. Figure 8, in particular, showcases his talents as a songwriter and musician, with complex and thought-provoking lyrics that have resonated with many fans over the years.
Não conhecia esse artista. Gostei da sonoridade
I have never heard much of Elliott Smith. That was a really nice listen. Will have to give it more time.
Interesting and compelling for those that like this stuff.
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.
Rock inglês pra passar o tempo
Feels like an annoying guy at a party who breaks out a guitar when no one wants to listen. 1.4
Eh. This does nothing. And I don't mean that as in, "this album does nothing for me." I mean it as in, "this rock just sits there doing nothing." The songs go nowhere and the music is utterly devoid of energy. I'm giving Elliott a benefit-of-the-doubt star because I can see glimmers of talent poking up through this cardboard cut-out imitation of an album.
Tu me fends le coeur
aujourd'hui est le jour je me rattrape
He definitely sounds like a Portland, Oregon dude lol. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. His songwriting is very interesting, lots of cool chords progressions. Although I sometimes found his voice a bit annoying Torn between 3 and 4
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
Nice electric singer-songwriter, but nothing too notable
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 ❤️
Not my favourite ES album
Fint album, jeg har vel bare hørt hans to første, og de har jeg hørt hundre ganger. Dette var bra, men ikke hans beste
Chill mellow early aughts.
Nice but too melancholic to my taste.
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
Ovo je jedini Elliottov album koji nisam slušao. Odbacio je na ovom albumu u potpunosti taj lo-fi zvuk po kojem je bio i poznat - a pošto nisam očekivao da će mi dan što dalje ide biti sve depresivniji (za čudo božije), album je dobro došao. hvala Elliotte, mi smo svi u kurcu, točka.
Found the previous Elliot Smith album a week ago a bit humdrum, so not really looking forward to this, but if it’s meant to be his best work then I’ll go in open minded. Much better! Still low key quiet singing, but the songs are much more in the vein of Brendon Benson, but not as catchy.
A good album with great moments but loses momentum in the back third.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Son of Sam, Everything means nothing to me
Snäll pop men inte särskilt bra.
HL: “Junk Bond Trader”, “Everything Means Nothing…”, “In the Lost & Found”, “Son of Sam” There aren’t just shades of John/Paul/George, but possibly a bit of Syd Barrett & “The Piper” too. As with other artists whose tragedy precedes their music, I went into this expecting a far bleaker album than what I got: what a relief. November 23, 2022
Was OK quote enjoyed elements of this overall didn't ser me on fire baby.
Nothing special, didn't really interest me to be honest
Haven't we heard this already?
I'd listened to this album when it first came out, but it didn't really gel with me, recalled it being depressing, but re-listening now, while probably still a bit depressing, was much better than I recalled.
It's good. I don't really have too much more to elaborate on. Its a shame tlthat the world lost him at such a young age.
richest 1
This was fine but not especially compelling to me
CD
The Beatles? Nah, this guy has never heard of them. I truly thought this guy was british until I looked him up on wikipedia. I would also recommend listening to the deluxe edition, it has a nice cover of "Because" and the Schoolhouse Rock "Figure 8". A couple of the songs I liked were "Son of Sam," "Colorbars," "Can't Make A Sound." But ultimately it just sounded like he was trying too hard to be the Beatles.
I think right before Elliott Smith's death in the 2000's my dad was discovering and listening to him, which is weird because it feels like that is when I (in my 20's) should've been discovering Elliott Smith. I did get introduced to Brendan Benson and Pete Yorn then (similar in certain ways), both of whom I liked, so not sure why I didn't get into Elliott Smith. I wonder if his Either/Or album is better, but I liked the stripped down acoustic (or piano) sound in this one. Good lyrics and good songwriting; almost like a modern Paul Simon. Highlights were Somebody that I Used to Know, Junk Bond Trader, LA, Easy Way Out, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Can't Make a Sound.
I’ve always liked Elliott Smith but never got too deep into his music. I found this album really interesting - more upbeat and varied than the depressing, purely acoustic music I was expecting. Would definitely listen again. 4 stars.
😍
Meh
Really don't like this sound of music. Singing voice is jarring and doesn't match the acoustic feel in my opinion.
Dull
I was a little disappointed in this. I like Elliott Smith a lot but this unfortunately didn't grab me like XO and Either/Or have.
Elliot Smith was talented and his music is nice but so many songs sound the same. I wish there was more variety in his music.
Beautiful melodies telling me terrible things
Nice enough
8/10
So sad...
It was ok, inoffensive guitar driven sad-boy songs with some nice production and interesting melodies popping in and out. Not for me though. I award this two tissues to be used for wiping tears, snot, or the residue of a lonely wank.
Its a great album. But its sooooooo emo. But its great. 4/5
Perfect album. Great production after many plain ES albums. If you really wanna hate yourself just listen to this.
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.
Much fuller and complete than his more acclaimed earlier albums. Still my favourite of his
Quiet album with some light rock themes, good listen although a bit sad at times.
Elliott wrote some gorgeous songs and there's no doubt that he left us too soon but a whole album of that overdubbed voice and melancholy tempo is a bit of a downer.
Fine though nothing ground breaking
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.
The overall appeal here is that this piece comes across as bittersweet and delightfully gentle in places. Very good late night music.
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
I really enjoyed this album quite a bit. Usually solo performers in this genre tend to bore me, but the singing and instrumentals really created beautiful, interesting music. Favorite track: Stupidity Tries
Great album from a fabulous artist. Fav track: Everything Reminds Me of Her
Better than the other Elliott Smith that came up on this list. Still not really setting my world on fire, but certainly one I can return to when I'm in a Phoebe Bridges mood.
meh
not bad, but not my favorite
Very 2000s coffee shop vibes
Elliott Smith is the best! I'm and XO fan but this is also great.
Music was nice, lots of Beatlesy major/minor switching, wasn't too keen on the guy's voice though.
Melancholy and hip. Great stuff, even gave it a second listen.
Quite mellow and chilled out. Thought it was good, gave it a couple of listens. Stupidity Tries was a highlight.
This has elements of a lot of stuff I like but I'm not quite sure about it.... Bit Beatlesy sounding in parts. But then reminds me of the shins or the postal service in parts too. Strange Interesting story this guy had. I might check out his other albums
This was a really interesting album, the production value seems really low but it works really well.
i'll probably never get tired of this record
😞
beautiful, haunting, good sad music
eh. can see where a lot of artist got inspiration from at least.
Not my jam
I have not heard a lot of Elliot Smith’s work but what little I’ve heard, I’ve liked. This album is no exception. It’s really well done.
cool kinda sad though very nice
great instrumentals, luved it
i like him, he's good
Really light slow album. Enjoyable overall
Elliott Smith is a fantastic artist. Figure 8 is probably his weakest (or may be 2nd weakest) album. Hopefully there are a few others on this list. 4/5
liked it, never really listened to any of his music, but will going forward
Best Song: Everything Means Nothing To Me. The repetitive chorus, as the instrumentals swell in the background, creates a really nice effect. The choice to place this song immediately after "Everything Reminds Me Of Her" also feels like an impactful, meta-song choice that I dig. Worst Song: Bye. Elliot Smith and his vocals are the point of admission. Overall: As always, Elliot Smith's quiet, vulnerable delivery and poignant lyrics are excellent. The album is heavier (more electric) than I would maybe prefer to pair with Smith's voice, but there's still no denying the quiet presence Smith instills.
Pop tranquilo y elegante. Fácil de escuchar. Un tanto pesimista, pero agradable de escuchar
Classic.
Enjoyed the listen, would give it another listen to see if I really like it
All together an ok album. Nothing really stuck out besides a couple of absurd chord progressions and changes. Vocals were not too fitting to the artistic style.
7,8 Pretty good album It keeps your attention all the way through
Some really nice melodies on this. Not always attention-grabbing, but good if you want something more understated
Good listen. Didn't really grab me but I could listen again.
Beautiful melodies and emotional and touching lyrics. The whole album felt like it was getting sadder and sadder with each track.
Bem bom o som
Good rock album; although Smith tries too much to sound like the Beatles on many of these songs, without reaching their level. But overall very nice. 3/5
Awesome album, really enjoyable. I only recognized L.A., but sonically it flows well and there wasn't a bad song in it. Great vignette of early 2000's indie music.
Son of Sam has a fun bounce to it, it has been much more enjoyable than Nirvana and The Smiths. Somebody That I Used To Know was ok, vocals weren’t my favourite of all time but still not bad. Junk Bond Trader was alright, fairly calm, I quite liked the piano intro. Everything Reminds Me Of Her was again fairly calming, nothing bad about it, just nothing gripping. Everything Means Nothing To Me was too short and repetitive for me to care about, it wasn’t bad, I just feel nothing towards it. L.A. was fine, again nothing I loved about it, it was just ok. In The Lost And Found is again okay, not my favourite, I like the almost ragtime feel to it thought. Stupidity Tries was alright, I liked the guitar on the track. Easy Way Out was again ok, a lot of the songs on this album are quite similar vocally, so there’s not much else to comment on. Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud was the same singer-songwriter style as the rest of the album. Colorbars was fairly calm, I liked the piano again. Happiness/TGM is the longest song on the album, and it does somewhat feel like that since it’s quite samesy as the whole album, although the drums were quite enjoyable on this track. Pretty Mary Kay lost me to be honest, but this point in the album, I’m just bored so I’m kinda wanting it to be over by this point. Better Be Quiet Now is just boring me even more, I don’t want to be negative but at this point, the effect has ran out. Can’t Make A Sound is the same boring stuff to me. Bye is a short, calm instrumental to close the album off and I don’t have any gripes with it. Overall, the album was ok, I can see why someone would enjoy it, just not to my taste personally. 2/5
Calmo, até que fica sem graça.
Voelt alsof ik alle nummers al ken en bij me horen.
Didn't finish the album. Not really my thing and the vocals irritated me somehow.
Excellent, I loved it.
Upbeat for Smith, or at least energetic tunes.
Embole.
Indie rock, 2000. This is absolutely one of the most brilliant indie records of the early 2000s because of its great productions and very interesting songs. Smooth album, cleverly composed, quite an experience.
Maybe it's just not my type, but the whole album sounded a bit bland. Nothing really caught my attention. I would've given it 1 star, but Happiness/The Gondola man deserved more.
Generally nice and easy music, but sadly also kinda bland. I don't dislike it, but it also doesn't excite me in any way.
It's a pretty good album, but it's not entirely my thing.
I gave this one a 2 before, but I'm milder now.
yep
Perfect album. I still miss Elliott Smith
Malinconia. Testi cupi ma che con un sottofondo di speranza. Profondi. Belle chitarre, begli incastri con gli altri strumenti. Molto orchestrale, tutto fila. Molto Beatles.
Beautiful Arrangements and Meaningful Lyrics, 5/5 Highlight- "Everything Means Nothing To Me"
I don't always like every track from Elliot Smith, but Figure 8 was an easy listen. There was a bit of happiness sneaking through Smith's melancholy. The tracks worked well together, but individual tracks had their stand-out moments. I put 6 of the 16 tracks in my personal play list, but there is a chance that more could become favorites if I listened to the whole album again.
Not bad
Really liked this one. Good piano, great blues song in there too.
Pretty good. I was never a fan of Miss Misery when it got super popular, but this album surprised me. Looks like I need to chase down some more Elliott Smith.
Not bad but also pretty forgettable 2.75/5
I think the writing is really good but the vocals aren't on point all the time. L.A. was a great song.
Elliott is many people's sad boy of choice, and I won't begrudge them that, he was a terrific songwriter, even if my heart belonged to others. This is a good album, but it doesn't contain too many of my favorite tracks of his. I think I prefer his more stripped-down tracks to the orchestral sound he played with here. Still, some of the tracks here really cut. B