Reviews (page 2 of 12)
Garbage. No one should listen to him. He was just a wanna be John Lennon. Like that one guy that was t banned in Africa was bob dylan for the don’t know any better.
nothing happens. not offensive, but surprised this features on 1001 albums to listen to before you die.
Sad crap
Were I feeling like I was super manic happy and needed something to bring me down to ground me, this might be an appropriate album. Dear God, this album needs to come with a prescription for Prozac. So melancholy, so down, so emo. No thanks. I don't listen to music to bring me down, the world does that enough for me. Great if you're an emo fan, horrible if you're not. No thanks, 1/5
Beyond boring
Did this guy pay to be on the list?
Slow uninspired
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.
Probablemente el mejor disco que escuché en mi vida.
this will be the 201 millionth time i've listened to this probably but this album means a lot to my life and I know it like the back of my hand masterpiece nothing compares miss you elliott
This was much better than I expected. Quite a few tracks here that will go on my main playlist. I was told this album was basically "depressed guy with guitar" (hello I know you're reading this) but I thought it was a but more than that. I was kind of expecting the only instrument to be guitar but I liked the wider mix which helped me enjoy this album. I was tossing up giving this a 4 or a 5 while listening, but on reflection I think it deserves a 5.
No notes. I could listen to this album on repeat. I will listen to this album on repeat.
Based on hearsay and the very little amount of Elliot Smith that I've actually heard, I expected this album would make me want to kill myself. I was pleasantly surprised. Great stuff. Very enjoyable. 5
This is his masterpiece, right? I mean--every song is great.
I am usually really indifferent to singer-songwriter music, but there is something about Elliot Smith that I really love. He just writes such pretty and bittersweet music. Low 5!
That man knew music
His best
Loved it
Wow
The first Elliott Smith album I got into. I kinda surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this when I first heard it -- I don't love a lot of singer-songwriter types, and most "indie pop" is a major turn off for me. But this is an album full of perfect songs, and ES majorly flexes his ability as an arranger. The dude is cut from a different cloth, he's like a KRS version of Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, or Kate Bush -- he has such a complete understanding of what makes a good pop record. I could listen to this for the rest of my life and probably will.
Such an interesting album. I had never heard of Elliott Smith so I went in completely blind and immediately got hit with a great track. "Son Of Sam" was a standout on the project with its amazing guitar and piano playing. While listening to this album, it seemed to contain a lot of Indie Rock, Folk/Singer-Songwriter sounds, and Chamber rock. "Everything Remind Me Of Her" expecially reminded me of Bob Dylan's folk songs. But the sound I heard the most throughout my listen was the Beatles, specifically their more psychedelic era from "Revolver" to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". It had that similar psychedelic sound, but combined it with indie rock or folk. Although the album contained many different sounds as mentioned before, the project was able to tie them all together through a common melancholy and gloomy vibe. Definitely a project I'll be listening to again.
one of my favorite albums of all time
man
I never knew I liked Elliott Smith until we got generated Either/Or(that one is a little better). This just confirms it because I thought this was excellent. The instrumentals are larger and denser here which really complements the softness of his voice and his songwriting. Just fantastic from front to back.
ESTOY EMOCIONADA lo que amo yo este disco no se describe con palabreas, aunque he de decir que la versión deluxe gana porque está because, la he echado de menos
I fucking love this album.
Not even the best Elliott Smith album and it still mogs everything on this list by a magnitude of 1000
Love it
Where has this been all my life?
Figure 8 is an odd Elliot Smith album to select for this project. Not because it isn’t a great album, it is, but because it is not reflective of what makes his work unique. Nevertheless, the album features Smith’s excellent songwriting, experimental chord progressions, and psychedelic inspired orchestrations. However, the polished production doesn’t give the listener any indication as to why Smith’s music is classified as folk-punk. All that said, this is still a fantastic record, and Elliot Smith is an artist that more people should know about. RIP
Loved it, great new find, thx!
Music = passion = love... That's all you need. Sometimes you add a little guitar to help you out, sometimes a piano plink or two, if yer feeling feisty you might add some bass and drums or some well-timed repetition... But in the end, none of that matters, only the passion and love really matters and Elliot Smith had an abundant amount of both in every once of his music. It flowed out of him so naturally. I try not to be too stingy with my 5/5 ratings, but this is one of those albums that deserves 100 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Really really nice and chill, wanted to give this a proper 3 listens through as I really liked the first album of his I listened to (Either or) so I had this on a few time since getting this album, and it’s been perfect just to have on as background music whilst we’ve been eating/playing board games, but also to listen to with the headphones on whilst I walk the dog. Will definitely be coming back to this 4.5
Really love this album. Not surprised he is on the list at all. Way more people should be familiar with his music.
Wow, what a great album. You can tell that every song is written with a special passion.
Man I wish this guy made a dozen more albums. This sounds fantastic. Great to hear him with the full instrumentation on this album.
Every song sounds the same and they all sound great! What a loss.
Holds up, and is still as heart wrenching as ever.
music is love
I've been meaning to give a listen to Elliott Smith's music for a few months as he comes up sometimes in conversions about other artists that I like. I'm always glad that this 1001 album journey pushes me to finally listen to a lot of music that I had on my mind but never got around to listening. I think my favourite was "Everything Means Nothing To Me", but the whole album was amazing, so it could change next time, when I revisit this. 5/5. Can't wait for more Elliott Smith.
i actually listened through this a couple months ago and listening to it again now i really really like it. no i fw this heavy im about to become insufferable
A fully realized statement that expands Elliott Smith’s sound without losing any of its emotional core. The arrangements are far more elaborate than his earlier work, drawing clear inspiration from classic pop and rock traditions, yet they never feel ornamental. Every layer serves the songwriting, which remains consistently strong throughout. There is a sense of completeness here, where melody, structure, and atmosphere all reinforce each other. It is detailed without being overwhelming, and intimate without being small.
bro this is my favorite album ever ever ever so good
elliott smith lover 44
I can’t escape my bias on this one. I love all of Elliott Smith’s work, so I’m thinking mostly about what I love on this album compared to everything else in his discography. I came to this album later in my life, having started out with the rawness of Either/Or and the New Moon compilation. It took some getting to used to hearing his songs backed with a hi-fi electrified band and studio tricks taken out of the Beatles playbook. We find Smith at his most existential (“Everything Means Nothing to Me”) alongside some of his most resplendent arrangements (hear those background vocals on “Can’t Make A Sound”!). In many ways, it’s a very painful listen. But the album also demonstrates Smith’s unbridled musical ambition and a motivation to create something beautiful.
Elliott smith is great. This album has it all.
270/1001 Elliott Smith - Figure 8 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ My favourite of Elliott Smith's records and his most accessible. The leaps he took with his sound from the previous record were huge, and it's a real pity we never got to hear where he would go next sonically.
Beautiful album
Elliot Smith is criminally underappreciated. By me. Hopefully, this will be the spur in the side I needed to listen to him more.
5/5 - Hadn't really listened to this one as a whole before, which was a mistake.
I have heard some Elliot Smith´s albums before but this one takes the whole damn cake.
Another perfect rainy day album.
Easiest 5 that ever 5’ed.
my goat
Man this guy really knows how to suck you into his world and tug on your heartstrings. Neat thing about this album is its half bangers and half his usual melancholic singer songwriter tracks. My standouts maybe Colorbars, Son of Sam and Can’t make a sound, but it’s all pretty strong.
He was brilliant and it’s a shame he left so soon
mid 5 we all know elliott as the sad drugs guys, but he was much more then that. he shows it on his album. this is his straight pop rock album. he always wanted to make albums like this and here he gets the closest. great songs with great production. he didnt want to make lofi albums. its his most like big star. so many classics on here. my current highlight is the instrumental on "stupidity tries" moving in to the chorus. chord pattern is as insane as youd expect. guitarists worldwide play millions of hours a day in standard tuning. elliott is one of so few who managed to pull extremely original things out of it on a regular basis. the only issue is that its a few songs too long. elliott wanted a double album apparently but the label wouldnt let him. he should of just gone with a standard length album
This album is honnestly really good. Certified bangers for the most part. Best Song: Junk Trader Bond/LA Favorite: LA/Happyness+Gondala man/Can't make a sound Least: Easiest way out/wouldn't mama be proud They feel like the same song and don't stand out the same way the other songs did Replayability: 9/10 Enjoyability:8/10
This is such a good album. Color Bars is hugely nostalgic for me (it was the first Elliott Smith song I discovered back in high school) but I enjoyed every track a lot.
Either Or was one of my first 5 star reviews nearly 200 albums ago, and I said at the time that I was looking forward to listening to more of his music. Figure 8 is a much bigger, more heavily produced album. Somehow I think I like it even more. You can hear Ben Folds and Sufjan Stevens in it, but also the legacy of Nick Drake and others. I'm pretty sure a lot of it was composed from the piano as opposed to guitar (you can often tell, just based on how chord structures are shaped) and I think it suits the vibe of this album very well. I can't believe Elliott Smith is an artist I'd never heard of 6 months ago, his music should be absolutely everywhere (even if it is quite melancholic at times). I can only imagine what other beauty this man could've crafted if he'd had longer on this earth.
Excellent music and his voice is whispy and fun. My kind of music.
had already listened to this before,Son of sam and everything reminds me of her are classics but the whole album is great LA and junk bond trader are major standouts too.This album just shows how ellito smith evlved as a musician with his control over multiple instruments
I've never heard anything by Elliott Smith before, but I've heard of him. Phoebe Bridgers is one of my favorites, and I think it's well known how much of an inspiration he was to her, so I'm super excited to check out this album! I don't think It'll end up in my top faves, but I hope I like it well enough So I put this on while doing other thing, still paying attention to the lyrics and everything, just not taking notes. This sounds kinda different than I expected it to. I actually really really like the sound more than I thought I would. I debating putting this at 5... for my normal music taste, it's not a 5. it'd be like a 7/10. For this challenge tho... it's like a 9/10. I can see myself coming back to this pretty often. There's just something about it. Fuck it, why not. 5, but really 4.5
There’s something about listening to Elliot Smith in the shoulder months of the year, early spring and late fall that add a sweet sadness to the day. Love this one, the full band, the coupling of guitar and piano, and smiths doubled vocals. So gooood
I really enjoyed listening to this album. It made me feel peaceful and yet excited to listen to what track comes next!
Hermoso
one of the prettiest albums on the list
Easily an Elliott Smith stan after this. Going to do a deep dive on his discography now. No notes for this album.
A more than worth follow up to Either/Or. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. It’s not quite the dazzlingly human experience of “Either/Or”, but it’s a pretty good album regardless. Part of it is the length; this album is 16 minutes longer, and I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s too long. I don’t think there’s a bad track here, but I do think there’s some tracks that feel unnecessary, adding a little bit of bloat to an album that’s already kinda hard to parse at times, and one that usually leans towards the downbeat & the dismal. I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a sad album, but it never gets that happy. That’s the other part of it; I just don’t think it’s quite as lyrically tight as “Either/Or” was, or at the very least, it feels like it only reveals its themes closer to the end of tracks, making it a little bit harder to connect emotionally to what Elliott’s going for here. All of that said, I still think it’s got that humanity to it, but it’s rooted in much more self-doubt. A lot of these tracks seem to touch on the black hole of fame; an inability to really reconcile with being known by so many, yet unknown by the people that he lets in the closest to his life. Whether it’s about his mother, an ex-girlfriend, closer friends, his music label, or just any of the other shit on his plate, this album feels like it’s most directly a plea to be seen by those people, made for the world to hear, yet only for THEM to listen. Unlike “Either/Or”, there’s not as many moments here that reaffirm that it’s OK to go through this stuff, but just sort of an acknowledgement that it’s happened, and just a hope that the right people will reach out to comfort him. It is human. It’s just not as palatably hopeful, nor is it a mirror to the public. It’s a mirror towards himself. That’s partially why this album just feels a little harder to digest, and why I started to sort of drift away from it around tracks 11-13. They’re not bad, but they’re steeped in metaphor that feels tougher to touch on. Thankfully, the final 2 real tracks of the album are both lovely, and really redeem this thing back up to a 5. “I Better Be Quiet Now” is probably my favorite one here. Hence, a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I don’t think I can really go track by track here in good faith, since I don’t think I quite got each track, but it’s worth trying to perceive them & come to some kind of reading about what they’re about. Elliott Smith’s imagery in its finest moments still shines here, and while the soundscapes are a bit more fleshed out than “Either/Or” in a way that takes away some of that intimacy, it still sounds pretty damn good throughout. I really liked the album, bloat & all. I’m glad it’s on the list. Rest in peace, Elliott.
Belle & Sebastian team up with Fountains of Wayne, George Harrison on guitar. Meany replays on this one!
Man, what an album. From the first seconds of Son of Sam, I was absolutely in for this album. I had heard that song before, but the timelessness of Smith's brand of rock is just so easy to listen to and get absorbed into his emotions. He's pretty much the poster boy for tortured artist and this album is basically perfect. Somebody That I Used To Know, Everything Means Nothing, Son of Sam, L.A., and Colorbars, are some of my favorites here, but this whole album is truly great.
Amazing. The guitar is so versatile and intimate as always, mixed in with piano and some other orchestral elements to great effect! Captivating storytelling, not sad sad but reflective and often angry. The best moments are the ones with energy and punch like Son of Sam but almost every song is unexpected and intricate.
How can such sad music make me so happy?
We liked this alot. Already very familiar with Smith's work and this has a lot of his really good stuff on it. We had this one on repeat and didn't get bored.
This is an exceptional, emotionally driven album that hits even harder given the context of Elliott Smith’s death just years later. The songwriting is really interesting and varied throughout the album, and the emotive impact of many of the songs add depth to an already enjoyable listen. I’m not hugely familiar with Smith’s full discography but as an entry point this album really did hit the spot. This is a strong 9/10, nudging a 10/10 record for me.
I showed this album to my best friend, she loved it. She'd play it on drives and even ordered me a copy of the album for my birthday. Now that we're no longer friends, I regret making this album such a big part of our friendship. On the other hand, sad man makes absolute heat and makes me burn inside. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Really, really powerful album. Always love Elliott Smith !! First 5/5 so far
Loved this album, it felt so raw and so sad, later found out he took his own life and this was his last album. Had to listen to it again with a new persepctive and it changed for me. Very very sad but beautiful none the less.
As a fan of Elliot Smith I never really gave this album too much of a listen before. It’s surprisingly upbeat considering it was the last album released while he was still alive. It’s not just more upbeat than his previous records, the entire tone feels very different. It’s a beautiful record and I almost feel embarrassed that I hadn’t listened to it closely before now. Elliot’s lyricism is truly top notch here, and his voice is haunting and familiar as ever. “Everything Reminds Me Of Her” hit me particularly hard. I can see myself listening to this record again and again in the future, and I’m glad this project was the catalyst for me to finally give it a fair shake.
Every note of this record was placed by its creator with such intention, sometimes it’s so staggering it’s almost too much to listen to. When the momentum of one line is reinforced by a shifted reflection, and then suddenly left to fend for itself, or shoved aside by an abrupt intrusion, I have to move with it. I am making the mistake of listening to this record when I absolutely do not have the time to give it, but I can’t help it. I’m taking a moment to remember myself. Love you Elliott!
I’ve had such a blindspot for Elliott Smith. First album I’ve actually listened to. It’s great.
10 out of 10.
Nice.
All time greats
Just read into elliott smith and damn how could i sleep on such talent. Beatiful soft voice in a changing mixture of different genre and styles. With certain people you instantly realize how they understand music on a different level. Mastering all different kinds of instruments and blending different perspectives on music. Not only that, but Elliot is someone you realize has so much to tell you, music is his vehicle. Someone to defdinetly insulge in deeper when given the time.
Wonderful album. Beautiful songs with great singing, fantastic instrumentation and lovely arrangements. Yes, the songs tend to be sad and tending to miserable, but they’re so good and sometimes you just need that feeling. 5 stars from me!
i’m definitely going to listen to the rest of elliott smiths stuff after this
Awesome
Definitely not my first time listening to an Elliott Smith song or album, but first album of his on this list for me is Figure 8. Which has been an album I've been wanting to listen to because of my love of the song "L.A.", and because hearing that some other songs on there are similar to that. Funnily enough it was one of my choices for an album listening couple hours before the generator GENERATED this one. The only other Elliott Smith album I'd heard before this, was Either/Or - which I thought was pretty alright, but this one appealed to me more than Either/Or. Not sure why this one appealed to me over Either/Or, but it's all good; perhaps because there are more songs that sound like "L.A.." Highlight Song/s: "Son of Sam", "Junk Bond Trader" and "L.A."
top 3 - son of sam, junk bond trader, everything means nothing to me I really like his voice! It was difficult to pick out a top 3… amazing album overall from start to finish. Definitely something I would listen to often.
очень красиво, мелодишно
Хороший спокійний і вайбовий альбом. Варто послухати його
I’ve learned via this challenge and some exploration outside of it that Elliot Smith is one of my favorite artists of the 90s and 2000s. I love his songwriting style the production is lush and gorgeous and the layered vocals have a beatlesy feel that I love. From the second “Son of Sam” starts this record is just as good as his other album on this list. “Stupidity Tries”, “Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud”, “Somebody That I Used To Know”, “Happiness/The Gondola Man”, and “Pretty Mary Kay” are amazing and those layered vocals are all heavenly. His guitar work across the whole record is excellent
one of my favorites
Difficult for me not to give any Elliott Smith album five stars. It might not be my favorite, but I love it nonetheless. A weaker back half that seems to have delta blues and ragtime influences
Oh, Elliot. LOML. Like a warm bowl of soup. A warm day in January. Yes.
Iconic sad times
interesting gives the vibe of delta dawn mixed with some like beachy rock elements.
incredible album by the best singer songwriter in the past thirty years. The compositions and instrumental skill are mesmerizing.
Always loved listening to this album. This is one of Elliott Smith’s most complete albums.
03
Away from lyrical content, Elliott's voice projects a warm and comforting feeling. Like a warm cup of tea, sometimes it is ok to wrap up in a warm blanket and ignore the outside world. Even so, it is quality sad bastard music.
🥇wouldn’t mama be proud 🥈junk bond trader 🥉better be quiet now HM: son of sam, somebody that i used to know, everything reminds me of her, L.A, in the lost and found (honky bach)/ the roost, stupidity tries, happiness/the gondola man, can’t make a sound absolutely bloody loved this album wow
This is what I imagine the Beatles sound like to people who enjoy them. Very cool vibes, chill, but also a little whiney in the best early 2000's way. I feel like he definitely had to have at least one song on the OC soundtrack. I'm a fan of this album the most so far, so I'm giving it the highest rating. Will listen again and have added to my library.
Never heard of him I like this pretty well though
One of my favorite albums of all time.
One of the best ever. “Colorbars”—>”Can’t Make a Sound” is pure emotional destruction
awesome possum, son of sam rocks
A sensitive orchestral album with fantastic arrangements and guitar pieces. Some points deducted for being a bit whiny but it doesn’t drop it out of a 5!
Elliott smith my beloved
That was pretty great. I’ve been meaning to listen to him for ages. His harmonies are very reminiscent of the Beatles and a lot of fun guitar melodies. The opening track was amazing. It was a pretty consistent level with the front half being slightly better. It’ll take me some listens to know the individual songs but feel comfortable enough giving the package as a whole five stars. The album cover as well I find gorgeous. I’m excited to hear the rest of his to see if this remains as my favorite. Rating: 4.7
Brilliant
This album is a BANGER.
More rap, please
Elliott forever! One of the greats.
It was really really good!! I added like 5 songs to my playlist on Spotify from it. I especially liked the songs Junk Bond Traveler and Wouldn’t Mama be Proud!
When I really got into Elliott Smith I gravitated towards the lo-fi acoustic stuff, so I didn’t really give XO or Figure 8 a fair go and dismissed them as not being the Elliott I liked. I’ve since overcome that stupid opinion and realised that this album contains some of his best songs. It’s bittersweet that this would be the last true album we would get from him while he was alive, because I’d have really loved to have seen where he’d take his sound next. One of the greatest to ever do it.
A wonderful album. Some of the best guitar playing and songwriting I’ve maybe ever heard from a lovely soul. Timeless and classic.
👌🔥
this man is the embodiment of that "lyrics dark music happy bus ride" picture. and the one side good one side bad weather picture. not just because it has music-lyric contradiction, but the whole style is that same artstyle. everything means nothing to me became instant favorite. piano-as-main-instrument's the best there's also a pinch of bill wurtz in it
This is so so so good. Every song is at least great, and a handful are even better. Can't Make a Sound, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing To Me, Happiness, I could literally say anything The backing vocals are so good. They adorn the lead vocals so well.
I think I prefer this over his stuff with just him and a guitar. I didn't know that this guy had this kind of music in him. I loved the piano songs thrown in there, and the bigger-sounding songs than what he normally makes, and the softer ones, and just this whole album. Even despite the fact that he has an entire backing band in this one, he still manages to make his music sound really intimate like his older stuff. Also, all of his songs have these really interesting chord progressions, I don't really know how to describe it well, but it really makes his already fairly unique sound really come out. Beautiful album.
It's a pure pleasure listen for me — Elliott Smith was my driving soundtrack for the summer-or-two of Persia Tea House visits. I was delighted to hear a contemporary artist that front-lined classic fingerstyle folk pickings. An update of the early Paul Simon sound, with just as much brokenhearted emo, updated for a more complex age. I remember the day I woke up, in Adam's basement, to my clock radio breaking the news that Elliott ended his life, allegedly with a steak knife to the heart. I had just gotten to know his music. I tried to listen to this outside the context of my own history. In that light, I might subtract a star for somewhat transparent emo vocals. A little too whiney, a little too obvious, perhaps. But I'm going to be consistent and vote with my feels — if 50 Cent got a 1, Elliott gets a 5.
Formative album for him…incredibly nostalgic for me. Always loved this one. Son of Sam is easily one of his best songs. And Colorbars. He sings “I don’t feel afraid to die” on In the Lost and Found….ugh. Such a gut punch knowing he would die not long after this album was released.
Still breaks my heart to listen to his records because he was so talented. What an immense loss.
Insanely good album. Listened to some of Elliott’s stuff here and there for years, but only until recently I listened to XO and now this album. Very glad I did. Figure 8’s really beautiful, and his self harmonies and the instrumentation work so well together. I think I prefer his louder and bigger songs over his quieter and slower songs, though they both contribute a lot to the album, and I can appreciate both.
I get so sad and upset when I listen to an album of such brilliance, with a talented writer, multi-instrumentalist and someone so pained that they stabbed themselves to death. Rest in peace ES. I'm so sorry everything was so shitty for you here x
This is a top 3 of all time for me. I seriously don't see this as depressing music. Sure there are a couple of straightup sad songs, but I find hope in the dreariness. Portland misses you, Elliott.
Already a favorite, fun to listen straight through
Great album. Doesn't quite hit the heights of Either/Or for me, but the songwriting remains top-notch and sonically this has some really interesting layers. Always impressed by his ability to make songs that are far more "rock" than his reputation. Songs like "L.A." while not heavy, are definitely crunchier than one expects to see on an Elliott Smith album. Lyrics great as well.
This is a biased 5 star but I love Elliott Smith. I'm more of a fan of the more sparse instrumentation of the albums that precede this one but I particularly enjoy 'Stupidity Tries' and 'Easy Way Out'.
meu favorito do elliott de longe saudades eternas patrão
eh lindo demais, não tem jeito eh um dos melhores dele mesmo. acho super coeso e gostoso de ouvir. como tô com febre hoje e fui obrigado a trabalhar, ouvir ele hoje foi uma delicinha. que deus o tenha.
Elliot Smith is one of my favorite artists so guess what score I'll give this album. 5/5
A huge soft spot
This album came out when I was 17, and I cannot be objective about it. I love it so much.
So much talent, beautiful melodies, simply one of the greatest....
9.4/10 SO GOOD !! i’ve always loved elliott smith ever since i watched good will hunting and i’ve been meaning to listen to more of his discography. this album truly feels ahead of its time. it’s so diverse and successful in multiple ways. he really gave it his all. thank you elliott.
Jeg er glad. Forventningerne var høje efter Eather / or. Det her album var et littere lyt. Knap så stemnings afhængig.
Det er mere produceret end Either/Or, men har stadig en distinkt Elliot Smith lyd. Jeg savner lidt Lo-Fi lyden og det feel den giver. Men alligevel formår Mr. Smith at trække mig langt ind i sit lydunivers af finurlige melodier.
Very nice and calm. I love Elliot Smith and I haven’t listened to one of his albums for a long time. Forgot how relaxing his voice was, and I love his story telling.
258/1089 - I had Elliot Smith two days ago! Was kinda hoping it'd be a bit more spread out but it is what it is. On to the review! Really like his style. I like that the strings are only used when necessary or in large sections (though I'd prefer it'd be Chamber Strings so more unique counterpoint textures can happen like in his piano pieces). Honestly this might be a Top 10 album for me, definitely top 25.
One of my favourite Smith records. And the last while he was alive. Tied with self titled as his best. Which is fitting as both essentially bookend his career, going from low-fi recordings to a fully realised sound like on here. Incredible melodies and guitar playing as always across some of his most beautiful and haunting songs. A singer-songwriter classic.
I loveeee Elliott Smith so much and this may be my fav of his. First two songs mess me up so bad!!
I discovered Elliott Smith through Good Will Hunting, and though his tracks are not always recognizable with hooks, riffs, and enjoining choruses, I am brought in. There is something about his music that draws me in. I was wavering between 4 & 5 mostly because of my lack of familiarity with this album. I rounded up because I tend to like him more and more upon each listen.
An indie poet that was often misunderstood in his prime while shining postmortem.
A classic and, IMO, one of his best. Five stars
Fav: Son Of Sam Least Fav: Colorbars Reminded me of The Bends era Radiohead, got this lad on my radar now
Love Elliott Smith, he has his time and place, not every day listening but sometimes you need to listen to someone singing from the heart and be prepared to feel cr@p afterwards
Love the honky Tonk piano throughout this album. It is paced well. Great jangling moments with some deep breaths in between.
Elliott Smith is wonderful.
This album was fantastic. An embarrassed to say I’d never heard of Elliott Smith. Will be on repeat ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had his album Either Or a while back and it got 1 star, an unbelievably boring album. This however was brilliant, enjoyed it right the way through. I’ll be keeping this saved for a while
I know it well
Day613 - such a talented singer songwriter that was unfortunately mostly overlooked. i’m glad he left some great music behind
Elliott Smith is a name I recognised but, to the best of my knowledge, I had not listened to before today. I really, really enjoyed a big chunk of this album. I particularly loved Son of Sam for multiple reasons but the ooh ooh backing vocals just really spoke to me. The vocals really reminded me of Badly Drawn Boy, who I love, so as the singer's voice is normally the first hurdle for me when listening to a new artist, we started off on a good foot. And then there way a ton of piano too. This nearly scraped the top mark, I liked it so much, but I'm going to settle for a still great: 4/5 EDIT: after a couple of months where I have regularly relistened to this album, I'm accepting that this always should have got a 5. So it's my first ever remark... 5/5
I can't be objective about an album I would definitely stick in my top 30 of all time. It's too long to achieve the perfection of Either/Or, but I think at its best, it might be the peak of his abilities as a songwriter. He's playing with a much bigger canvas here, and the lush production lets songs like Son of Sam and Wouldn't Mama Be Proud really soar. Unlike XO, I think they nailed the sound here, letting Elliott pay tribute to the Beatles but still keeping a bit more grit and emotion (I love XO but the production can be a bit soft). At 16 songs, I will concede that it's too long though - I love every song, but you could trim LA, Colorbars and Better Be Quiet Now without losing too much.
Son of Sam- 7/10 - pretty good Somebody I used to know-10/10: I cried Junk bond trader-6/10: normal Elliot bop Everything reminds me of her-9/10: I cried again Everything means nothing to me- 6/10: chill, sounds like the Beatles LA-9/10: guitar
Beautifully sombre album. Somehow even better than Either/Or in every element. Something I found on his other album was that the slower, softer songs were phenomenal but the "faster" songs dropped off a bit in quality, whereas on this one his faster ones were even better than the slower ones, even though I enjoyed pretty much every song on here. Favourites were Son Of Sam and Junk Bond Trader
this is really good actually! i'd definitely come back to this more than either/or imo, it has a lot more of the rock sensibilities that my brain itches for while still maintaining the amazing ballads hes known for. fav tracks: LA, Can't Make A Sound, Stupidity Tries
Fantastic album and experience.
Sold
Probablement ma plus belle découverte jusqu’à présent, j’ai adoré écouter l’intégralité de cet album et compte bien l’ajouter à ma playlist!
elliott forever
there is nothing i love more than sad music written by a man who knows how to yearn. now imagine my fucking surprise reading the wikipedia page.
Classic emo stuff, found this one after getting into Bright Eyes. Big Feels Really Diggin Happiness / The Gondola Man and Can't Make a Sound
Catchy. I can’t really parse the lyrics with my APD but this was favorited
Album No. 0007 on my list (too bad that it’s not No. 0008). Anyway, I was vaguely aware of Elliott Smith’s existence before, and that was all. So this was really a “fresh” listen to me. And I gotta say - it’s really great! This is the perfect indie pop rock album. Cool, fun and melancholy at the same time, artsy, witty, interesting. Some songs stood out for me in their greatness (Stupidity Tries, Easy Way Out, Colorbars), but there is not a single bad or even mediocre song on this album. It’s too bad that Elliott Smith has not been with us for over 20 years; I would have loved to discover more contemporary work of him. Anyway, this is an incredible album, and I’m glad I’ve discovered it through the 1001 album generator. This - plus more Elliott Smith - will certainly become part of my heavy rotation. What a great album- 5/5 stars! (My first 5 star rating here)
Love this album
Oh my gosh this is such a college memory. Still makes me have all the feels. So good.
An album I'm familiar with, though I haven't listened through since college probably. I forgot how fun and almost upbeat the album is, in contrast to what I normally think of in terms of Elliott Smith. Son of Sam is a perfect power pop song, and one of my favorite songs in general. Junk Bond Trader sounds like an old west showdown. The drums and strings kicking in in Everything Means Nothing to Me made my heart flutter. After listening through again, I think I like every song.
I don’t know why I’ve never heard this before. It’s wonderful.
i don’t know why it’s taken me so long to listen to a full elliott smith album but i absolutely loved this! it is a bit too long for my personal comfort but i enjoyed this a lot still. there’s a lot of bangers and a lot of wonderful acoustic tunes. such beautiful, effortless sounding melodies and vocal lines. love the way it all sounds too. brilliant. 4.5/5
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!
I’ve put off writing this for like a week while I get ready to come back to this challenge and couldn’t come up with any words for this album. I don’t know. It really speaks to me in a special way.
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.
One of the best ❤️
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.
I didn't know him and i will definitely listen more. Great melodies!
Really loved it. Can’t believe I’d never heard of him.
love this album possibly buy it!
Good combination of guitar and piano.
The generator gave me this in Seattle. Incredible and has to be 5 stars for that, but it isn't my favorite Elliott Smith record.
Utterly brilliant, I always feel a bit guilty listening to his music as it hits close to home and... knowing he didn't make it... great music
i have so much to say but i cannot put it into words right now
i've listened to this album before, though not in full, so i'll be rating it Son Of Sam - 5/5 Somebody That I Used To Know - 4/5 (short but sweet) Junk Bond Trader - 5/5 Everything Reminds Me Of Her - 4/5 Everything Means Nothing To Me - 5/5 L.A. - 5/5 In The Lost And Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost - 4/5 Stupidity Tries - 5/5 Easy Way Out - 4/5 Wouldn't Mama Be Proud - 5/5 Colorbars - 4/5 Happiness/The Gondola Man - 5/5 Pretty Mary Kay - 4/5 Better Be Quiet Now - 3/5 Can't Make A Sound - 5/5 Bye - no rating (short but sweet) Average score: 4.6/5 (rounding up) love me some elliott smith, he's been a huge influence of many of the artists i listen to for good reason. this album hits hard knowing this is the last album he released before taking his own life i'm a fan of all his albums really, but this one stands out uniquely from the rest. his production evolved somewhat from his more subtle acoustic sound in previous releases, though his vocals and instrumentals that he's known for are still present. some might argue this was "overproduced" but i disagree the songs about as melancholic as his other albums, which i imagine might be off-putting to some, but all the tracks sounded so pleasant to me in an instrumental sense that it's not nearly as depressing as some of his others. XO is probably still my fav of all his releases i've heard so far, but damn does this come close to dethroning that title rest peacefully, king
Really nice and melancholic.
This album took me some listens to finally click with me. But why? To put some context, I've been listening to Elliot's music before starting this list. But I only listened to the more soft side of his discography, and I'm talking about the Self titled and 'Either/Or'. By the time I was most into his music, I've tried listening to this record, but it didn't stick with me, because it is so different from what I expected, so I didn't even give it another try. Until now. When this list presented me this record I saw a chance to finally get into it. And boy, I'm glad I had this opportunity. As I stated, this is not an acoustic album. This album has very large instrumentation, which, in comparison with his previous music, makes this record feel more positive. But it sounds so so good, and his voice plays along with it so well. Besides, it may sound a little more charming, but his lyrics still feel and are sad. So, overall, this album still presents the same personality which characterized his previous albums, but more ambitious in terms of instruments. I'm not giving it a 5, but damn, it is so close. And to add a personal note, I don't think that any other Elliot Smith song has made feel more emotional than 'Can't Make a Sound' has made. *Edit: It is getting 5 stars. Super consistent and super emotinal throughout the whole album
Honestly I thought this would be a 4.5 at first and break the 5 streak but once again, another banger jn a row
Soothing and emotional
Powerfully humble
I fuckin love Elliott smith man
Quite different from either/or, but still fantastic the whole way through
Elliott Smith left this earth far too early so we'll have to appreciate what we were gifted.
One of my favorites
In Smith’s catalogue, I’m least familiar with this album. Still loved it. Another light snuffed out too soon.
Excellent album
😊
This album is so good. It has this melancholy yet hopeful feeling to it. The songwriting is really good and I love the variety in chord progressions and sounds on it. I don't immediately repeat too many albums from this list but this was one that I threw on a second time immediately after the first time.
I've always been an Elliott Smith fan. It's his sad, longing vocals with his unique guitar picking that draws me in. On the surface it feels very straightforward, where you think it might just be singer songwriter gibberish but its far more pop centric than it comes across. Especially when its produced like this record, it's like The Beatles but really sad and moody. Is this indie-anti-folk-pop? Whatever it is, I'm a fan. Its somewhat vibey, but also deep and longing. Its fun and also sad. Its a good mix of sounds and emotions.
Fortíssimo Elliott alegrando meu dia com boa música
i cant fathom rating elliott smith lower than 5 stars
I feel like I really don’t have to give a review. This album was amazing. I’m so happy I was able to listen to this. Up until this, I primarily listened to “Either/Or” or “From a Basement on the Hill”, but now I know I have to add another to that lineup. His music is indescribably raw and emotional, to an extent where his voice and guitar on each of his songs just make me somber(but in a good way?). He’s just a beautiful singer/songwriter who left this world way too soon. Thank you for all this and all of your art. I hope we get to review another one of your masterpieces soon!
Such an incredible artist and album here. He has such a distinct sound and a way of layering his voice in with the instruments. Such unique chord progressions that make simple songs so much more complex. Can listen to his music for hours.
Dette er jo faktisk jævlig bra...
I'd never heard of Elliott Smith before, and it turns out this is right up my alley. Finally the list comes out with an album that I both haven't heard before, as well as one I want to listen to again. Sure, it's sad singer/songwriter stuff that will likely end up feeling old after a few too many listens, but for a first listen, fucking fantastic. I can't wait to listen to the rest of the late Elliott Smith's works. 5/5
There's a vibe and rawness that permiates this album. Even when there's a positivity to the songs, you can feel the clouds building, crowding the sky and bringing you down on a sunny day. The whispers roar and what's inside you controls what's around you.
May be my 3rd or 4th favorite Elliott smith album and it’s still a 5.
Elliott Smith is genuinely some of the most devastating folk music I've ever heard. And this is definitely one of his best albums in my opinion.
9/10
happy tunes + sad lyrics + consistently fragile, hauntingly vulnerable singer = shotgun through the heart
Totally unexpected and pleased that an Elliott Smith album made it on this list. Great power pop (16 songs in 52 minutes) with excellent vocals and harmonies. Very clean production. I wanna say that these are cheery songs about depression, but listening closely, there's really not a whole heck of a lot of cheer here. And, for reasons unknown, I find the closing number, BYE, exceedingly sad. Despite the melancholy (or maybe because of it), I'm giving ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 67 🎧 LPs left to review: 934 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18
Elliott mi fa sentire meno solo
Elliot fær 5 stjörnur hjá mér. Snillingur sem fór alltof snemma.
I still like Either/Or and XO better than Figure 8, but I can't give Figure 8 less than 4.5 due to some of the amazing songs on it, even if I wish they were a bit "rougher" and more "raw" in production. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" and "Everything Reminds Me of Her" are two of the most beautiful songs I know.
So… ‘Figure 8’ is (give or take) a top 20 album for me, and is probably my favourite album of the 00’s. I think it’s pretty good. I obviously have too many thoughts on this, so I’ll try to keep things as brief as possible. To start with: considering this is the last album Elliott Smith completed in his lifetime, it’s a surprisingly happy listen. ‘Figure 8’ sees Smith at his most Beatlesque and fiercely melodic. As ever with Smith, the contrast between the almost childlike and pure vocals with his tough as nails songwriting, leads to an album full of addictive pop nuggets that have the ability to sound hopeful, dignified and melancholic. All the songs are amazing; from the all out rocker of ‘LA’, the orchestral swells of ‘Stupidity Tries’ and the just plain perfect ‘Can’t Make a Sound.’ Best of all is the opener, and my personal favourite Elliott Smith song; the cheerfully ramshackle ‘Son of a Sam’ which may well as be a previously unheard Zombies demo from the ‘Odessey and Oracle’ sessions. Like everything else on here, it’s just a lovely, life affirming and comforting song that is just a nice place to be. And yet… and yet… There’s always the unhelpful habit of viewing the career’s of tragic songwriters only through the prism of their inevitable tragedy and erasing all nuance from their work. Despite thinking this, and putting aside the context for what ‘Figure 8’ actually is; there’s clearly something disturbing bubbling under the surface here. The album is obviously littered with lyrics that (intentionally or not) seem horribly prophetic knowing what we know now would happen to Elliott (most uncomfortably in the naming of the final three songs on his final completed album, ‘I Better Be Quiet Now’, ‘Can't Make a Sound’ and ‘Bye’.) Even outside the lyrics, Smith is clearly trying to create a subtly unsettling atmosphere. Very few of the songs actually end in a normal, confident way. Instead, songs either just fizzle out or are immediately subverted. ‘Son of Sam’ ends on such an uncertain note that it’s as if Smith had suddenly lost faith in the entire concept of the song. Meanwhile, the lovely plinkety plonk of ‘In the Lost and Found’ end’s with the a mournful shoegazey instrumental whilst the genuinely anthemic and feel good ‘Happiness’ is instantly followed by the otherworldly creepy instrumental ‘The Gondola Man.’ With this being such a deliberately nostalgic, warm and almost dreamlike sounding album, these difficult endings are only designed to unnerve and undermine whatever fuzzy stupor the listener may be in. I always see this album as like Smith sitting in his childhood bedroom, trying to escape back to that time mentally, and yet not quite succeeding as everything’s now too corrupted and off. This all eventually results in the genuinely terrifying final song ‘Bye’; an eerie lo-fi piano instrumental that’s completely at odds with everything beforehand and sonically like blinding strip-lighting suddenly being switched on. The wistful daydream is over and in its place only stark reality. The albums final repeated words “Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?” still swirling round your head… Depending on what mood this album catches me on, it either sounds like a hug from a friend or the most heartbreakingly depressing thing in the world. In either capacity it remains such an intriguing, singular and potent listen, and I love it so much for that. 6/5
This list introduced me to Elliott Smith through “Either/Or” which, by the end, gained my appreciation. This album had me from the first song and was just… consistent, interesting, enjoyable, even if quite a bit of melancholy was masked behind the pleasant sound. I give this 5 stars. Not the 5 stars of the “Rubber Soul” sort, not a groundbreaking classic, but the pleasant surprise kind. The kind of album you joined this crazy roller coaster ride to learn about.
Favorites: Junk Bond Trader and Son of Sam
In which Smith expands his instrumentation to new heights and goes all in with his Beatle-esque melodies. This is a triumph and it's just too bad that we'll never get to hear where this could have gone from here.
Elliott Smith with the best instrumentations you could have give to his music. Heartfelt to the core. Total love at first sight for this album.
RIP KING
I'm a big Elliott Smith fan. I have an Elliott Smith Tattoo. I am not the person you want to review this. I am clearly at a bias. I think XO and Either/Or are better albums, but I like a lot of songs off of Figure 8. 4.5/5
This album is insanely good. Every song feels well thought out and intentionally composed, each instrument coming in at just the right time, with the perfect melodies and rythmic structures. The emotional push and pulls, the heavy ups and downs, are like a rollercoaster specifically designed by Elliott to me make you feel butterflies and bricks from your head to your dicks. (Or whatever else you have going on down there). A must listen for people who want to feel, or need to find something they're not quite ready to actually find yet. It is a hauntingly satisfying album, and I can't wait to hear more. RIP Elliott, thanks for leaving some of your soul behind. 4.9 out of 5
Important depression music
Elliott Smith’s Figure 8 is a stunning record that perfectly balances intricate musicianship with deeply personal lyricism. It’s an album that feels carefully crafted, yet brimming with raw emotion. From the rich instrumentation to Smith’s delicate, expressive vocals, nearly every element comes together beautifully. It’s not flawless, but its highs are so impactful that the minor shortcomings are easy to forgive. One of the standout aspects of this album is the vocals. Elliott Smith’s voice has a softness that’s incredibly intimate, drawing you in as though he’s singing directly to you. His delivery is layered with subtle emotion—wistful, melancholic, and occasionally hopeful. Tracks like “Everything Reminds Me of Her” and “Easy Way Out” highlight just how expressive his voice can be. The instrumentation is another major strength. Smith blends acoustic and electric guitars seamlessly, creating lush soundscapes that feel rich but never overbearing. The piano work throughout the album adds a sense of grandeur The production, handled by Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf, and Smith himself, is stellar. Every detail feels intentional, from the subtle strings in “Easy Way Out” to the swirling, Beatles-esque instrumentation on “Stupidity Tries.” The layering of instruments and vocals is complex but never overwhelming—it’s clear Smith knew exactly how to bring his vision to life. Elliott has a way of turning deeply personal experiences into universally relatable stories. Whether he’s singing about heartbreak, self-doubt, or fleeting moments of joy, his words feel painfully honest Figure 8 is a near-perfect album that shows Elliott Smith as a fantastic songwriter, vocalist, and musician. His voice is haunting and intimate, the instrumentation is lush and detailed, and the lyrics are emotionally raw yet poetic. While I miss some of the rougher edges of his earlier work, the polished production suits the grander vision of this album. This album feels like a conversation with a friend who’s baring their soul—it’s intimate, beautiful, and unforgettable. A solid 4.8/5 for me, and a record I’ll keep returning to for years to come.
Happy 56th Elliot. We Miss you, we Love you.
This album is fucking awesome. I've heard a few of the songs already from the Elliot Smith Spotify playlist but hearing everything together really is nice. It's a very cohesive album. The mixing is consistent through every song.. the songs are a little more upbeat than his other albums but to be honest I need to give them full listens like this. 4.5 out of 5 album. I'll rate it 5 on here if they don't have half stars
Probably my Elliott Smith album. Nothing against his darker vibes, but this one feels like it strikes the balance of his trademark honesty but bigger and more accessible. And I think part of me feels like he's in a better mood here, and I like thinking of him being happy and having fun. Such a talented dude. Singular talent. Ugh, I can't help thinking he would have been such a force for reality during the early 2000s where things seemed so skewed toward bullshit. Gonna listen to this all day. ❤️ thanks for everything you beautiful soul
One of my faves of all time
A complete surprise. I knew the name, but never heard the music, and here is a touching album of variety and depth just dropped in my lap.
Amazing.
Bumped this up to 4.5. Not as good for me as the previous two— but damn this guy was a master. What a loss.
9.8 ★★★★½
Peak.
I loved it. My bf showed me ellioth smith a while ago, but I enjoyed this album a bit more than the last one of his I got on here.
fucking love elliott smith, perfection.
another talented artist who left this world too soon; this album is incredibly solid, especially if you're looking for some indie rock that DOESN'T bore you. i was instantly hooked by some of the intricate and creative song structures; the more i listened to it the more i ended up loving it. clearly this is a guy who's really studied some of the greats from mid-century's past. it only makes it that more upsetting once you learn that smith passed in his mid 30s. it's beautifully haunting.
det bästa låtskrivandet nånsin?
I was a bit concerned hearing a full band backing on the first track, but it becomes quickly crystal clear that Elliott isn't just an excellent singer, lyricist and guitar player, but also knows his way around a full band better than most. Most songs have a great sense of dynamism on both a movement and a melody scale.
Incredible album. A pure gem
General impression: incredible songwriter. An album quite full of life for being someone’s final album before an early death. Detailed review: I’m ashamed that it’s taken me this long to listen to an Elliott Smith album. Especially because I just fell in love with it at first listen… This album is full of catchy and wonderfully written songs. I love Smith’s way with a chord progression. And despite being really well-produced, with all kinds of flourishes and depth and layers, this is an album that would probably be just as good if it was just demos. At least the production backs up the songs instead of getting in their way. “L.A.” is amazing and you can totally see Smith’s influence on people like Christopher Owens. This review isn’t really going anywhere, mainly because I’m just a little bowled over from loving the album. Deeper thoughts (context): I definitely want to listen to his whole discography now. Score: 5 Number of albums left to review: 957 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 26 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 18
I absolutely adore this beautiful record.
Probably Elliott Smith’s most accessible album - and by accessible I mean the one you can listen to without being super duper depressed after.
my name is donald trump and i approve this message
# Playlist track - Stupidity Tries # Notes - Was hearing to this in a very very busy week and ended up re-playing the album a bunch of time instead of moving over to the next one. - I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's sad, of course. Knowing it was Elliot's final album just makes it a bit sadder. Still, it feel heartfelt and sincere and it definitely is worth a listen.
Very beautiful album, definitely makes me want to dive into his other music.
incredibly versatile and emotional record, loved this one
Brilliant.
Elliott Smith is goated
Holy smokes, I've been feeling miserable lately so this hits real hard. Not my favorite by him, but that doesn't mean it isn't still fantastic. I've been real sad and gloomy, and this is the best and worst soundtrack one could ask for when it comes to living in a melancholic void.
Love it so much! Beautiful and sorrowful just like Elliott Smith with some heavier tones here and there. Really great album. My Top 3: 3. Junk Bond Trader 2. Happiness/The Gondola Man 1. L.A.
Good songs of my era!
really good
Acaso el mejor disco de los Beatles? Elliott Smith es la voz de los desalmados
Generational talent
Superb tunes
Very nice album! I like it!
The last album in his lifetime, here Smith struggles to recapture his apex of Either/Or, and it's clearly an evolution over a revolution. It feels different, it's almost upbeat, in it as intimate as before but the soul is still shining through.
An album I've heard several times. I adore Smith's voice and a great deal of his writing. For me he is at his best in faster paced songs such as the opening track "Son of Sam". The album drags in a few spots and feels like background music for a film with something more substantial to say in the moment. The arrangement of the album feels a bit hinky compared to either/or (for example). Pacing is a bit off. Figure 8 is an album that'll always be worth listening to...unless there is a livelier Smith album or compendium on hand.
I mean come on !!!
no longer my fav of his, but still the first half is perfect and the rest is amazing
Last year in English class, the kids had to do a presentation on their tragic hero. I never got the opportunity to do this, so I will treat this review as if it were my presentation. While other kids chose Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, my tragic hero is Elliott Smith. Doomed since birth, his anguished childhood carried on through his adulthood until his untimely death. Although he is gone, this humble man will never be forgotten for his contributions to the indie-rock music community. Many people find comfort in his melancholy tunes and deep lyrics. One of those people is me. I found Elliott Smith a couple of years back. Although I can't say his music has saved my life or anything along those lines, I can say that his music has impacted me. His songs and albums have been with me through the best of times and the worst of times. It was easy to tell from the start that Elliott was a very talented individual. He was a musical genius and Figure 8 only proves this point further. If you are not familiar with his previous albums, then it is important to note that Figure 8 was a significant point in his career. It is his most Beatles-esque and rock album to date. It has a mix of many instruments, including piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and so on. From the solid start with Son Of Sam and through the rest of the album, you go on an adventure through a range of emotions until you end with the bittersweet Bye. Considering that the last track of the last album Elliott got to see the release of was called Bye, it can't help but make you wonder if that was Elliott's way of saying goodbye to all of his wonderful fans. I hope he's resting in peace now in his reverse New York, a heaven he could only dream of, where everything smells good and everyone is nice. The world will never be the same without his poor soul and he will never be forgotten as long as his devoted fans are around. And to my tragic hero, see you later if I see you at all. Favorite songs: Somebody That I Used To Know, Happiness/The Gondola Man, Son Of Sam, and L.A.
I knew this would be at least 4 stars, but this listen moved me more than before. The beginning is awesome, but the ending with Can’t Make A Sound, The Gondola Man really got to me this time. Some of the acoustic songs aren’t my favorite later on, but those electric ones really hit!!
Perfect album 10/10
Elliot Smith es probablemente una de las figuras más trágicas de la escena alternativa estadounidense. Una genialidad sorprendente para la construcción de melodías y la escritura de letras sentimentales que relataban sus complicados estados de humor caracterizan la carrera de este "neotrovador" norteamericano. "Figure 8" es su disco más profesional, en el cual se nota que experimento con la libertad que entrega un estudio completo y todas las técnicas de grabación facilitada por un grupo de expertos. Al igual que sus trabajos lo-fi anteriores, este LP es perfecto y funciona como uno de los últimos bastiones del indie-folk de los '90s estadounidenses.
Still one of the best singer-songwriters and such a tragic tale
Heartbreaking, yet grandiose. A powerful finish for one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. His second best album probably? Hard to beat Either/Or, but this comes very close.
Twinkling piano, funky, distorted guitar, and earnest vocals (Especially on "Everything Means Nothing To Me.") Sounds like a windy day in November. "Figure 8" is neither as good nor consistent "Either/Or." Imo, the songs were a little same-y, but the album was enjoyable overall. I think "Pretty Mary K" might be my new favourite Elliott Smith song. I would've preferred the inclusion of "XO" too. It's a top-tier album. Elliott is an artsy man. I think I like him! (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)