Reviews (page 4 of 12)
Freakin’ love Elliot Smith but maybe not every track on the album
Yes!!! I’m glad this one came up because I love Either/Or - it is incredible- but the first time o listened to Figure8 I didn’t love it. It let me down, so overproduced. The songs aren’t as great as E/O at their peaks but at second listen this is a far better album than I remembered. I wish he was still around. He was a tremendous songwriter and it’s a shame we had so little of him to hear. I’d probably say 6.5 or 7 out of 10 but I’m feeling like a 4/5 feels more right than a 3.
I really liked this one! I’ve heard a bunch about Elliott Smith, but I hadn’t heard more than one or two songs. It was really cool to hear how he influenced some of my favorite artists that make music today. Very cool!
I feel like I’ll like this album more as I listen to it more. It’s super melancholy, which normally can end up being boring if I’m in a good mood. But an album like this, despite being so sad, doesn’t rely solely on the sad vibes to be good. It’s also just really strong instrumentally and lyrically. The lines “I’ve got a long way to go / Getting further away” from “Better Be Quiet Now” is the kind of longing in lyrics which can easily stir up emotions in me. It really sucks he died so young. I feel like he could’ve made some incredible albums after this one, and it’s really a tragedy his life was cut so short. Favorite songs: “Son of Sam,” “Somebody That I Used To Know,” “Better Be Quiet Now,” and “Can’t Make A Sound”
sufjan core
I've heard the name Elliott Smith a number of times, so there was a certain degree of expectation awaiting this album. On the whole, it mostly lived up to the supposed hype, there's a certain way with words and simple delivery that makes for a very good album; one that will liekly grow on me even more.
One of a handful of "sad music for sad boys" albums that's actually pretty damn good. Great balance of softer chamber pop and louder, more straightforward indie rock. 8.5/10.
Lovely
Son of sam - 5 Somebody that i used to know - 4 Junk bond trader - 4 Everything reminds me of her - 3 Everything means nothing to me - 3 L.a. - 4 In the lost and found (honky bach)/the roost - 3 Stupidity tries - 4 Easy way out - 3 Wouldn't mama be proud? - 3 Color bars - 4 Happiness/the gondola man - 4 Pretty mary k - 4 I better be quiet now - 4 Can't make a sound - 4 Bye - 4
Bra! Smith känns ju igen av sin röst och musik som är lite åt det melankoliska hållet. Jag tycker om det. Det är fint och avslappnande. Jag har faktiskt aldrig lyssnat på detta album förut, vilket jag kan tycka är konstigt för jag gillar Elliott Smiths musik.
There was a time when I was obsessed with this album and I listened to it so many times. Elliot Smith is leagues ahead of any other songwriter. Very good album.
Stunning, i loved it
Beautiful music. Reminds me of Belle & Sebastian. That's a compliment.
Liked: Son Of Sam, Junk Bond Trader, In The Lost And Found, Colorbars, Stupidity Tries, Better Be Quiet Now, Everything Means Nothing To Me, Can't Make A Sound Added: Everything Means Nothing To Me, Can't Make A Sound
8/10
Beautifully depressing
A complicated blend of of storytelling through the filter of depression, sadness, and addiction. Though it's his highest charting record, Figure 8 is not my favorite of his discography. That being said, it's still a brilliant stroke of melancholic genius.
one of my all time favs
Mostly liked it. I'd forgotten how much I liked Son of Sam.
4.0 Quite enjoyed that. I tried getting into Elliott Smith a while back after loving Christian Brothers but both that album and Either/Or felt too slow/depressing to properly enjoy. This, however, had more going on. Started off very strong and slightly peters out in the middle, but overall it's a solid album. Definitely will be listening to it more.
My first Elliott Smith album and I'll say that I enjoyed this more than I expected to. There are the sensibilities of late '90s alternative rock scattered throughout this work, but there is also a deep appreciation for the singer-songwriters that laid the foundation for Smith. I will say, this wasn't as depressing as some other people told me Smith's work was, I've certainly heard more mournful releases from the likes of Sufjan; yet there was this tinge of melancholy strung out throughout the runtime. I think my favorite part of this release was the chord progression of Everything Means Nothing to Me, and the way the words "everything means nothing to me" serve as a refrain, especially leading to the build up in the back half of the song.
Sad man music, but with catchy melodies! Winner!
Perhaps the greatest “sad boy” songwriter of all time. Of his big three albums, this is actually the one I’ve spent the least time with, though I need to rectify that. I’ve always been partial to “Xo” which isn’t on the list. "Figure 8" feels like a marriage of the palettes of "Xo" and "Either/Or," and may be more accessible than both. It also has an iconic album cover. I admire Elliott Smith as a melodist, lyricist, and guitarist. His music makes me happy and sad at the same time. It's hard to explain why.
Really good.
Very Beetles Esq
Last May I did a deep dive on Elliott Smith, considering him an artist I would probably love but had never really got into before. At that time I gave the album a 4, but I think its very close on the 3.5-4 border for me. I listened again fully without checking what songs I listed as my favourite before, and perhaps surprisingly they came out very similar. On my first listen I liked "Everything Reminds Me of Her", but didn't highlight "In the Lost & Found.." All the rest matched up. I have always thought this album cover is a very poor representation of the personalness of Elliott's music. Compared to the clearly gritty Either/Or cover this one presents like its going to be a generic 2000s pop album. Even though that is mostly just the artwork doing the art a disservice, I think there is some truth in it. The production here is clean, the vocal delivery is clear and confident - in contrast to the very intimate whispered delivery of Either/Or, which for me is a huge part about what makes it special. Some of my favourite songs on Figure 8, such as Junk Bond Trader, are essentially pop songs. However I find that I don't really love any of the songs on this album as I do "Behind the Bars", "Speed Trials", or even "Independence Day". The former two at least are unmistakably Elliott Smith, most of the tracks on Figure 8 don't feel that way to me. That being said, I don't think there's a bad song on here, so it does have a very high floor. I could understand if this was your favourite album. Fave Songs: Son of Sam, Junk Bond Trader, L.A., In The Lost & Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost, Stupidity Tries, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud 3.75/5
If you need me, I'll be reciting 'everything means nothing to me' on repeat like a sad boi who got put in time out for the rest of the day. Elliott Smith reminds me of many, many other early/mid-2000s hipster indie bands, however: 1. Did he do it first? Maybe. 2. Did he do it justice? YES. 3. Is it derivative? Of course, but I ain't mad about it. "Everything Reminds Me of Herrrrrrrrr" - the pleading vocals, it pulls at my heart strings in the best way. Vocal harmonies and plinky piano on "The Lost and Found" and a couple other tracks reminds me of The Beatles.
Liked this a lot. Had never heard his music before.
The songs on Figure 8 may be simple but they are not straightforward. It's a beautiful album, but also a sombering and haunting one.
I've had this Elliot Smith poster since I was a teen and certainly connect with the themes of his music, but never his music. Hadn't heard this one and I really enjoyed it. It's simple and to the point but just inventive enough for me to find interesting at each song.
Fantastic listen. Had never heard any of Elliot smiths projects before this. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Could we not please thanks
Never listened to Elliott Smith before. Now that I have will explore more of his albums. Sad to read that he passed at a young age.
Really excited for this one, I love Elliott Smith !! SUCH a cute album. Lovely guitar. I lowkey adore this wth. Such an incredibly long album though. First half of the album is way better than the second half. Fav song is ‘L.A.’.
Was kinda distracted listening to this album, but from what I heard, sounded quite good.
The melodies and lyrics written by Elliott Smith on this album always make me feel lots of different emotions, whether it's sadness or happiness, his beautiful voice and the many notes he played don't fail to make my mind drift away to a place where these songs are all I think of.
Chill
Enjoyable yet melancholic album.
I'm kinda shocked at how much I liked this album. I've never really gotten into Elliott Smith and had pretty much written him off. Couldn't name a song by him. Apparently I listened to one of his albums last year, but it must not have left an impression. I think I'll actually come back to this one. Lots of Beatles influence throughout this album which is cool. A pleasantly surprised 4 stars here.
Very nice.
4,4999999949
Great album, felt very nostalgic and a lot of the newer artists I listen to are heavily influenced by his sound. Need to listen to more of his stuff
I really money this album, it was a interesting surprise to really enjoy the intimacy of the songs, when the main focus is on the vocals an the guitars, it felt cozy and comfortable to listen to it. I’ve never heard of Elliott Smith, so really interesting listening session.
I find this album really nice, the instrumental is wonderful, but for me it's kinda dull though... I aded only one song, dont't find another song cathcy enough for my playlist
Never heard before!
Très sympa
Wow!! I REALLY enjoyed this! The songwriting was good. His voice was great! Each song was interesting and had a lot going on. The whole album was varied and kept my attention. It was very Beatles-esque. Good stuff for the 2000's!
I like this! It does make me wonder why this made the list. It has less gravitas than other must-listen records. Very aligned with emo vibes of the time. Beautiful acoustic guitar and singing.
Reminds me so much of 2015. Used to listen to Between the Bars a lot in college and never listen to his other stuff. Loved the vibe
I'm a bit biased😅 Elliot Smith is always a pleasant listen The only issue I have with this album and the artist in general is the odd vocal production. It sounds oddly subdued and echoey and not in a good way
This was really good. Beautiful. Less sad/depressing than I was expecting. I’m not going to put it on my running playlist or anything, but I enjoyed it and will likely listen again. L.A. was a standout for me.
easy to listen to
Didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. Not as sad and gloomy as the other Elliott Smith stuff I've heard, but it's got enough to be distinctly him in my opinion. Good music.
Sehr schönes Ding. "L.A." ist ein riesiger Hit, und sonst ist das Album voller melodieverliebter, emotionaler und zarter Songs. Immer wieder sehr beatlesk, das gefällt mir richtig gut. Bin auf den Rest seiner Diskografie gespannt, die Alben davor sollen ja deutlich roher sein.
Haunting Melodic Vibe shifting, reflective
Stupidity ties, everything means nothing to me, can't make a sound, son of sam and some other sogs on this album are stupendous
A terribly sad quintisentially 2000s indie rock album that I've somehow never really heard before. I think this genre is very hard to get right enough for me to enjoy, but I really "enjoyed" this experience if that's what you can call the relationship people have to listening to this kind of music. You can really feel the creeping mellowed apathy of depression that I'm sure many people who have chronic depression can very much relate to, and I wrote all this BEFORE reading up on his life and the backstory behind much of his music.
An absolute king of melody, and this is one of his best. I resisted Elliott Smith for a while, writing him off for his amateurish vocals. Now, I’ve had a change of heart to the tune of: who gives a fuck, what’s coming out of his mouth and heart is solid gold. I don’t care what he sounds like! He’s always read to me as one of those artists who simply couldn’t stop writing music even if they tried. Even at his lowest, one of the only things he could do was create. Real good stuff right here. -Ruby Like Ruby, and for similar reasons, it took me a long time to get in to Elliot Smith. But now he’s one of my favorites. I prefer his earlier, more stripped down and acoustic stuff to this, but it is great fun to hear him rock out and it adds a new dimension to his sound. Love the Americana influence too — parts remind me of Tom Petty. —Noah
The contrast of the lyrics content and sound is initially quite jarring but in a good way? Sweet guy. It is a slightly repetitive-sounding album but I can put that aside
somehow I've gone 42 years without hearing or absorbing this dudes existence. I feel kinda like his slightly melancholic take on life as I think I've missed out on something. This is why I listen to the albums on here - to find this slightly angrier Ben Folds (which I dig). I enjoyed Son of Sam, L.A and Wouldnt Mama Be Proud
Vibes: 2 Instruments: 4 Production: 4 Emotional Value: 2 Storytelling: 4 AC: 0 Stand Outs: Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing to Me Overall: 3.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't really like his voice, but I enjoy the instruments and the repeated ideas throughout the album. Nice.
Not my favorite Elliott Smith album, in part due to the more produced sound, but it does have some of my songs by him.
Liked it was good
Had never heard of this man, but I enjoyed listening to this album. Pleasant singer-songwriter stuff with enough rock elements mixed in to keep my attention from wandering. Some really heartfelt songs, given extra meaning once you dig into his biography. The last 4 or 5 tracks on the album kinda fell apart, but the first 2/3 is really good stuff. This is a picture perfect 3.5/5, but since the rating system is dumb, I’ll be generous and give it a 4/5.
I enjoy the songs. But he really hit me with the nostalgia bat. Right across the noggin. I'll find a way to keep the title song, for certain. 3.5/5
Really good album. Stands up to time. Defines an era, or at least helped to mar an era.
super album, nisam ga slušala dugo i ne planiram u skorije vreme 🫶
elliott smith my goat
Dude’s got melodies for days on end
Given his brief career, only one Elliott Smith album should occupy space on this list. And that album should be either "Either/Or" or "XO". I thought everybody already knew that.
Dope
I feel this could be a 3.5 but Cant Make a Sound melody is so gorgeous in its melancholy I feel compeled to rate it 4
Son Of Sam, Son Of The Shining Path 1001 Albums Generator 201 (1/8/2025) Great indie pop. Very different from the other Elliott Smith album I've listened to (Either/Or). I love how high energy, yet baroque at times, this album is. I would argue it may be a bit overlong, but it's quite good. 4/5. Favs: Son Of Sam Somebody That I Used To Know Everything Means Nothing To Me Least Fav: Bye
Decent album, nothing major. Enjoyed it but some songs did bore me a little
A fun and catchy pop rock album from someone who should've had a longer career. There's an undercurrent of sadness buried beneath the upbeat music and that really strikes a chord.
I kind of consider myself a connoisseur of sad music, and Elliott Smith was very good at sad music. Although, I will say that I'm more familiar with his starker, more stripped down stuff, but I do know a couple of songs here. And I will also say, that Elliott Smith had a unique talent for making music that absolutely sucks the air out of a room, and that isn't something I get on Figure 8 so much. But, in turn, we get something different and interesting from Elliott Smith. I actually think this is his most positive (and probably most accessible) album. On a superficial level, the arrangements here are a lot bigger than on any of his other albums, which puts a little breathing room between Smith's presence and the audience. But, I do also think that a lot of these songs are his most hopeful. A lot of these songs end with an open book, a place to go, or a declaration that Smith will carry on. Admittedly, the fact that he tragically died by his own hand puts this hope in a certain light, but it *is* there nonetheless. And while I don't think this is my favorite Elliott Smith album, I do think that it remains unique in his discography. On a musical level, he sounds very comfortable in a full band sound, which kind of makes sense, given his Heatmiser days. But there is something really unique about his presence here. His distinct voice sounds *incredibly* small in this mix, and it kind of contributes to the bittersweet atmosphere. I will say I like the majority of songs here, but I will only mention Everything Means Nothing To Me in particular. If only because the drop into percussion on this song is *supernaturally* powerful. I don't know exactly why, but I have a visceral physical reaction to it. My only complaint with this album is that I could see some of the weaker songs being cut, but that's really it. Elliott Smith delivers something beautiful and strangely hopeful, and if incredibly stark singer songwriter isn't your cup of tea, this is probably Elliott Smith's most accessible. I do prefer some of his other projects, but Figure 8 is a unique statement in his discography.
Completely inspired by the beatles, very nice calming album, few interesting guitar riffs - would listen again!
so good
In the lost and found I liked this one! The piano reminded me the Humoresque. I looped this one 3 times today during this album😏
Elliott Smith's second album released in 2000 is incredibly satisfying to listen to. Smith's incredibly fitting lyricism and vocals combine greatly with the experimentative and involved instrumentals. The album is very diverse and isn't one note. Some of the songs I feel failed to fully grab my attention while I can still appreciate the themes Smith is going for. These involve love, loss, home and other relatable themes which I think he quite nicely gets across. I think I do prefer his first album but this is a worthy follow up. 7.5/10
Such a great album I hadn't listened to in so long. Easy to see why this is an influence on so many singer/songwriters. Great production and sound throughout, I got sucked in to listening and forgot to write anything until it was over.
Ahead of its time, Beatles-esque avant-garde music. This is probably where PANIC! At the Disco got the idea for Pretty. Odd.
Beautiful
Solid album
Très bel album. Je valide!
I was intrigued with the first Elliott Smith record that I listened to on this list some time ago, so I'm kind of looking forward to this one. "Figure 8" seems to have a tad more pep than "Either/Or", but the melancholic backdrop is still present, as expected. The songwriting is sharp here too, as Elliott Smith muses over both somber and power pop-like tones. It's a shame that his story ended the way it did, as I think he had an more of an impact on the indie singer-songwriter scene at the turn of the century than most people realize.
I think it could have been trimmed by a few songs - the middle-end lags a bit for me - but overall, I think the more fleshed-out production aids Elliott quite well. I am not against lo-fi by any means, this one just immediately impacted me more than the earlier records I've listened to. Interested to see how I feel after spending more time with it. 4/5
Every time I’ve ever listened to Elliot Smith, I’ve never been that fussed. This time however, didn’t feel like a chore and I actually got along with it. It’s sweet
Really liked this and will listen again. Beatles, Brian Wilson and Paul Simon influences picked up on first listen.
Banger after banger.
elliott klasicky peckozni, velmi prijemny album na prvni poslech me nejvic zaujaly L.A, in the lost and found, stupidity tries, happiness, ... album cover legendarni (e.s. navzdy budu mit spojenyho se ••• •••-)
GOOD ALBUM 8.75/10!!!!
Great album, with some standout tracks, but it ultimately lives in the shadows of Smith’s lofi legacy.
This was surprisingly good, I found myself hopping along to a fair few songs in the end!
So pretty.
While I prefer the more barebones orchestration on Smith’s earlier work, this album definitely hits the spot. everything means nothing to me x ad infinitum
Sad boys unite
3.8 Not as good as some of his other albums but still a very nice soundtrack for sad days. Also a good soundtrack to convert happy days into sad days.
I liked it!
Not the greatest Elliott Smith but still pretty dang good
cool instrumentals
fire lwk
I don't know Elliott Smith's work much at all. I'm pretty sure I've never heard anything off this album before. And that's a shame because I really enjoyed it.
Somehow, some way, Elliott Smith always had the uncanny ability to output some of the most soul-touching music ever with apparent ease. In the span of less than a decade he put out five of the most well-written and beautiful albums in the history of music, posthumously granting us a sixth on his way out. Figure 8 is the last record released while Smith was alive, and despite being arguably his most accessible, that by no means makes it any less vast. Not many artists can put together a 16-track album with no lulls throughout, but Figure 8, much like the rest of Smith's discography, delivers a world that never loses any momentum. It's hard to single out any tracks on this record in particular, but the opening 1-2-3 punch of Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used to Know, Junk Bond Trader should be taught in music schools. I'm a bit more partial to his songwriting on other albums, though it is still very good here I feel like there's a noticeable lack of tenderness on some tracks that defined albums like his Self Titled. The more pop/rock oriented sound could have something to do with that, but I do consider this one of his weaker records writing-wise. If anything though, that should be a testament to just how amazingly talented Smith was, that an album as beautiful as Figure 8 could rank near the bottom of his career. What a legend.
Lifetime of memories associated with this album. It's hard to not love it and hate it at the same time. 4/5
Ik houd van deze guy!! Ik luister wel veel naar een van zn andere albums, die vind ik wel leuker
Weer lekker in het gehoor liggende indiemuziek van deze knakker. Wat kan je verder van zeggen, het kabbelt relaxt voorbij, er is niet een bepaald nummer dat extra pakt. Dat zou je de man wel gunnen, of beter gezegd, gegund hebben.
Als ik terug ga zoeken in onze lijst op de naam "Elliott", dan kan het twee kanten op. Missy Elliott, de vrouwelijke variant van het stereotype kinderachtige rapper, die ik rijkelijk heb beloond met 1 ster. Of Elliott Smith, waar we al een eerder album van mochten beluisteren, dat ik de maximale score heb gegeven. Vergeleken met dat eerdere album, is dit album meer aangekleed met een band. Dat doet me denken aan een artiest als Dashboard Confessional, die solo is begonnen en me daarmee pakte (Swiss Army Romance en The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most). Maar na een paar albums akoestisch wil je als artiest ook wel eens wat anders en dan komt er een band bij kijken. Het is niet per se minder qua kwaliteit, de liedjes zijn nog steeds klein, maar doordat ze groter gebracht worden is de oorspronkelijke betovering ietwat weg. En dat is hier ook het geval. Er zitten nog steeds een paar schitterende nummers tussen, maar het geheel haalt het niet bij het vorige album. Al kan ik hier nog steeds een prima 4 voor geven.
Good stuff. I like that it packs a bit of a punch.
so fricken awesome I love Elliots voice and I love the song everything means nothing to me
I remember when I heard "Son of Sam" at Topher's step-uncles beach bodega and when he put the top down on Parker's mom's third husband's Kawasaki I felt something that was like being angry except with eye water. Then there was that summer me, G-Sludge, and the Carnegie twins did Serengeti mayflower mushrooms at camp Iszuzu under the infinity of the cosmos. We explored each others bodies to the tones of "Junk Bond Trader." You know, as much as I loved skeet shooting next to Lake Ayahuasca with Scooter, Beef, and Rutger St. Rudiger, while we fought off the designer drug hangover, I really just pine for those days with Tone, Stone, Nic, Dic, Tric, and Hic where we danced the night away on the shores of the Small Muddy to "Easy Way Out." My Dad let me borrow one of his speedboats and you know how Dic gets on the open water. Blasting "Stupidity Tries" with the Sunshine Scat Pack on that Malibu Tuesday always takes me back to frosh week at Bugle Boy collegiate. Hey do you guys sell rohypnol? Whoops! Text to speech! That won't hold up in court. Boys will be boys. Tricky Guy A+
I love this guy ! Great record
Good album, liked it more than the other ES album I listened to I think. The kind of album I think I should revisit but probably won't.
Wow, I really enjoyed this one. Deep cuts, very personal songwriting and the right amount of camp for this level of sentimentality. Production was lovely, vocals were lovely, chord progressions lovely. Like most of my favorite albums, every moment feels highly curated and intentionally placed. Every second taken advantage of. Tragic knowing this was the last project he released. I think this is an artist I will dig deep into. 4.4/5.
OVERALL THOUGHTS 4.25/5 Interesting to see Smith evolve his sound with more ambitious production and instrumentation! It felt a little bit less cohesive then Either/Or but I was surprised at how well his songwriting style and voice fit into the mix of everything. Despite the higher production value there were also some neat moments of experimentation which helped ground this project in the Elliott Smith Cinematic Universe (ESCU) STRAY THOUGHTS - Immediately more heavy, Elliott's voice still stands out and feels unique - The higher production almost sounds strange for him, don't hate it tho - "The Spin of the Earth impaled a silhouette" I should get a tumblr acnt - Drums on 'Everything Means Nothing To Me' are crazy - I feel like 'high production' is almost a disservice here, some neat experimental stuff happening all over the place - I thought taking crazy musical detours was a more recent emo thing but songs like 'Everything Means...' and 'In The Lost And Found' prove otherwise FAV TRACKS: Son of Sam, Somebody I Used To Know, Everything Reminds Me Of Her, In The Lost And Found, Can't Make A Sound LEAST FAV:
This one was very mellow, nothing exciting.
Love this album!! Possibly my favorite Elliott Smith album :)
A very talented songwriter; beautiful music and great arrangements with heartfelt lyrics. His voice sounds like he has/was going through some things - you could really feel his emotion.
Great album.
I love Elliott Smith. A while back, my dating profile had my most-listened to artists on there, and Elliott Smith was included. Multiple women asked if I was doing ok in life lmao.
Moody, chill, emotional in just the right amounts
Good album. I already had some of the tracks of various playlists but had never gone through the whole thing. The only knock is that i's possibly a bit same-y.
Good god this is sad. Think I might be more of a fan of his other stuff but this is obviously still classic sad boy stuff. Saved a song: N RYM: Y (#469)
Good album. Good melodies and I like the genre. This album is better for me than the last Elliott Smith album to which I listened. His voice is better in the mix here. Has some Beatles-y things going on, especially in the second half. Notables include Junk Bond Trader, LA, In the Lost and Found, Stupidity Tries, Easy Way Out, Happiness/The Gondola Man, Pretty Mary Kay, Better Be Quiet Now, Can’t Make A Sound.
lotta 4s i gotta say
No one weaves chords and melodies together into a such a resonant whole as Elliott, and while this mat not have the ethereal, gut-punching beauty of Either/Or or the harmonically brilliant, melancholic pop of XO, this is still a wonderful collection of songs.
Wow. Really only knew of him as a tragic figure, didn't expect this to be so catchy. The songs are lively and bouncy, but still a haunting quality to them.
Ohh, so this is why my high school friends were obsessed with Elliott Smith! Really likable indie music. Sad and catchy. Wanted to keep it on repeat all day. 4.5 stars; I could see this becoming a 5 if I spent more time with it.
Great fully fleshed pop rock album. Recorded partly at Abbey Road and it bears a McCartney baroque pop influence. His ambitions meet his realizations, especially in the schmaltzy piano songs. Great albums by suicide victims is a weird, grim genre. If you can divide this from his tragic trajectory, this album is a timeless classic. Otherwise , it will leave you scouring for clues as to what went wrong.
This album has a slightly poppier sound than “Either/Or,” the spare and haunting Elliott Smith album with which I am most familiar. It’s also much more lavish in its arrangements and production. It’s still really good, though. He’s a great songwriter, “Can’t Make a Sound” is a stunner and the album on the whole plays a little like The Beatles for the Prozac era. (I swear I wrote that last line before I read this album was recorded at Abbey Road or that many have evoked that comparison, please clap)
“Can’t make a sound” is such a classic. RiP Elliott.
I liked this more than I was expecting! It's really pretty solid stuff. A lot of the 2000s indie stuff has been surprisingly enjoyable each time, it's cool!
An excellent example of singer-songwriter music, with Elliott conveying his pain and desperation effectively through various different sounds and styles. Really great stuff. RIP Elliott.
All I knew about Elliot Smith previously was that he was extremely depressed, dealt with addiction, made very depressing music, etc. so this surprised me! I really enjoyed the album overall.
Exceeded expectations
4.5 LA brings it to a 5
4/5
Only heard a few of this guys songs- never a full album. Had no idea he was such a Beatles guy. He knows them inside and out. He definitely knows his way around a chord progression, as well. This album seems to alternate between acoustics numbers and full band songs with a lot of dynamic range. I like it. I’ll have to give this one another go when I have more capacity. I dig it. FOUR STARS
Oddly, of the aforementioned trifecta, Elliott Smith is one of the others that was on repeat during my formative years so serendipitous that this should crop up so soon after. That said, this particular album never grabbed me in the way that XO, either/or or his self titled albums did, possibly due to the slightly more polished nature of this one which loses the rawness of earlier work which often sounded like it was just recorded on a four track in a bedroom. The songwriting and lyricism is almost as good, but I don’t get the same emotional connection to this particular album as I did to previous output.
Wow how have I never heard of this guy? Lennonesque. Nice listen. Will listen again and seek more.
Very simple, clean production, good variety across the tracks. I don't know if it's going to enter my regular rotation - I'm honestly just not a big fan of Elliott Smith's voice - but it sorta feels like a rosetta stone for all the later indie bands I do listen to. Definitely deserves a more thorough listen later on.
Another four that could have been a five on a different day. This was another minor blind spot for me - I knew the reputation, and I knew a lot of artists I like a lot cited him as an inspiration, but I probably wouldn't have gotten to this without some kind of outside impetus. I can see the throughline from here to things like AFI, Abandoned Pools, Silversun Pickups, Beabadoobee, the glut of indie sad boys, and a bunch of other artists in entirely different genres. There's probably not a bad track on the album but Everything Means Nothing To Me just kind of breezes away, and Lost And Found (Honky Bach) makes an argument I'm receptive to. added to collection
I have this on CD but it's been ages since I've listened to it. I remember enjoying this and it was good to revisit it.
Quite enjoyable, not as minimalist as Either/Or that I had previously listened to a couple of time. Still haven't taken the time to go into the lyricism more deeply.
At first, I thought it would be a bit generic... but then I started listening to it in my car, and I felt a mix of nostalgia and peace that really touched me in a way. Needless to say, I listened to the album more than once. Therefore, it surprised me in a very positive way.
Subdued and solemn, it’s an understated but beautiful album. My favorite tracks were just him and mostly the guitar but the other instrumentals were interesting too; piano, synths, even horns at one point. Great production and performances; I really enjoyed this one.
I’d call this middling indie but it made me feel things
Damn, that’s great actually. I don’t like mellow, melancholic folk music. Still, Elliott Smith has an ability to make that kind of music not only bearable but even enjoyable for me. I liked Either / Or (which is probably his most acclaimed record), but I can’t say it stood out to me as something particularly notable. But the more pop-y approach this album took made it noticeably more fun for me. It just had so many catchy songs with satisfying vocals with detailed, multi-layered production more reminiscent of indie rock than folk, which I really liked. I can’t say this album blew me away, but it was a very pleasant and engaging listen nonetheless.
c'est l'album pref du papa alors forcement une bonne note >>> can't make a sound super, 4/5
So listening to this I just thought it was okay, but then the last few songs hit me like a goddamn truck. A unique artist that a lot of other artists still miss to this day and his melancholic lyrics and laid back singing is the reason for that. Some songs may sound over produced, and no his voice isn't the best for a few songs, but it's when it's more laid back in production and the voice sounds well that really makes this album haunting, especially knowing it was his last album before he died.
Nice
Tough start to the week, but I still love Elliot. Either/Or is probably my favorite album of his but “can’t make a sound” is a good cut too.
I'm not typically a singer songwriter guy but Elliott Smith just hits different. This album is so good, so quietly sad but uplifting at the same time. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" is such a unique song and will not leave my head today.
Overall, pretty easy listening. Not something I’d be upset to hear on a random playlist or on the radio.
Amazing album neverr was much of a fan but now I can appreciate his work better. Some bryan adams, don mclean, simon and garfunkle and a lot of really good inlfuences on his music
Great album
I’ve listened to a lot of sad white boy albums so far. This one might be my favorite. I don’t know if I compared Elliott Smith to Nick Drake in any of my previous reviews, but they had 2 very similar stories. Both of them involve young, insanely talented men who tragically lost their battles with depression. If you’re not in a good mood, it’s going to make you feel even worse listening to either of them most of the time, but sometimes that may be exactly what you need, if that makes any sense. This album still has all the patented sadness of an Elliott Smith album, but the production, implementation, vocals, instrumentation, energy and just overall mood is a lot happier and better as a whole somehow. I don’t really know how else to explain it. I really don’t, this one just made me a lot happier, it was full of energy and life, rather than just a wall of sadness. You feel me?? The opener, “Son of Sam” and “L.A.” are my favorite songs on this album. They’re absolutely killer and end up giving me hope, instead of just making me sad. The entire album as a whole kind of does that. Occasionally, some tracks won’t hit the same, some of it is a bit forgettable, but I honestly think I enjoyed this more than his much more popular album, Either/Or. Rest in peace buddy. Thank you for the killer album today. A very easy and very high 4 stars out of 5.
Lovely sadness.
Pretty good and solid album.
it wasa good, not all songs sounds the same so its refeshing. chill one and anyone can enjoy it.
I approached this album with some trepidation. I have never listened to Smith before, other than having watched Good Will Hunting before (I loved it but barely remember it, much less the music in the movie). Reading a bit made me concerned this would be a Nick Drake kind of record, which for me is not a compliment. As the album started I was really into it right away. Son of Sam is a great opener, and I was feeling pretty optimistic. Midway through, I was already thinking my opening statement for this review was going to be that I am now nine straight days of 4's and 5's. Towards the end (16 songs is a lot), I was feeling a bit fatigued, and the Nick Drake comparisons were beginning to feel more apropos. I do love me a depressing album, so it closed on a (very melancholy) high note for me. I believe I will make it to nine days in a row. But I think I could've given this a 5 star review if it had been edited down a bit more.
Enjoyed this album much more than I thought I was going to
sad boi hours
Не мій улюблений альбом Елліотта Сміта, але якщо враховувати що це один з найкращих музикантів евер для мене, то навіть figure 8 я менше ніж 4 не можу поставити. Але й не поставлю 5, бо що ж тоді ставити xo або either/or?
First half is amazing and 2nd half is great too but not as great. Ez 4.5. RIP
I really like this and I think it’s a little bit better than either/or 4.5/5
Haunting
Ficorr, inizia super bene
(83/100)
Pleasantly surprised by how good this was
I quite enjoyed this one. Easy listen alt rock that I could probably spin a few times without getting tired of it. 4/5
Be careful and hear the right album cause i found firstly one with a lot of live versions so i had to find the right studio one. Favourite tracks: Junk Bond Trader,Everything Reminds of Her,Everything means Nothing to me,L.A, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?,ColorBars,Happiness/The Gondola Man,Can't make A Sound(especially towards the end), It's a 4/5 to me.
Damn. Michael really liked this one so I had high hopes. Was not disappointed! I guess this is like, the definition of emo sound. Very singer/songwriter of him. "Son of Sam," "Easy Way Out," "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud," and "Better Be Quiet Now" stood out to me. Just the right amount of moody and easy listening.
elliott smith is one of those guys who like every time i listen to them make music im like wow this guy is awesome and then i forget about his existence immediately after
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. Very solid 4 star album.
Really beautiful. I was exposed to Elliot Smith through watching Good Will Hunting.
What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t familiar with Elliott Smith, but I recognize the sound — gentle, layered, and sweet. It’s undeniably enjoyable to listen to, though maybe a bit too easy to drift past without leaving a strong mark. Four stars from me, only deducting because as lovely as it is, it’s also just a touch forgettable.
Очень мнлодичный альбом но записан в плохом качестве, вокал не сказать что выдающийся но определенно хороший.
such a lovely man with a lovely warm voice
Long ago, i had a crush who loved Elliott Smith so i got a few songs from Limewire and was bored. But clearly, i should've listened to a whole album because a lot of these songs are beautiful.
I already know and love this album. It has some of Elliot Smiths best songs on it and has the fuller sound that he'd started to explore on XO. Not a perfect album...think it tails off a bit in the second half but I still love it. 4/5 stars
liked this album a lot!! will definitely revist this one a few times i think! i've been meaning to listen to more elliott smith since i listened to either/or a while ago but never got around to it, and while i don't think this quite reaches the heights of either/or in my eyes this is still really good!! some tracks i really liked were son of sam, everything means nothing to me and can't make a sound!!
Mid-high 3 I think, some really nice tracks but it doesn't really go many places for me
I do really like this album and always have, but I do wonder if it appeals more as it’s such a sad story
Surprisingly pleasant.
Read the backstory, currently not in the best headspace myself, so wasn't sure about listening to this, but was surprised to hear really quite upbeat songs mixed with a blend of beautifully mixed off key melodies. Actually lifted my spirits a little. Thank you Elliot. May you rest in peace. X
A massive talent and a step up in his production of bigger songs. My only gripe is that this could have been a shorter, more condensed album. It feels watered down by the length. There were two or three songs that should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Nice melodies, quite emotional
Very Good.
When i was at university i remember searching elliott Smith’s Xo out in the local hmv, based on an article in Q magazine. I instantly fell in love with his music and I remember waiting for it to be released and rushing to buy. I love the dreamy soundscape that his music creates. The jangly guitars and pianos quite often working at odds with the lyrical content. The first six tracks are a perfect example of Smith’s work and makes for a strong start, which whilst the album doesn’t quite maintain that standard, it isn't far off.
pretty damn good
This was pretty good. Nice, indie, folkish album. Enjoyable
I think Elliot Smith absolutely deserves inclusion on this list. I wasn't as familiar with this album, but it continues the sound/style from XO (which I'm more familiar with), and overall is a great example of his style.
Very enjoyable listen. Amazing lyrics
Beautiful songs and a beautiful delivery. On a bad day I'd call this album boring, on a good days it just ticks all the boxes.
Great album when you need to be down. 4/ 5
Fantastic new find - never heard of Elliott Smith and loved it.
Im biased because I like Elliot smith a lot but this is straight forward let a cool album Solid 8/10 31/08/25
Interesting usage of a horn in punk music. Reminds me of I can't get no satisfaction.
30/08/2025 I've never listened to this guys music and I don't know if I'd go back to it, but it was harmless. Spotify listeners: 2.5 million
Not my favorite Elliott Smith album, but a pleasant listen overall. Maybe could've been trimmed down a little. Not that there's any bad songs, but it does start to feel a little bloated by the end
4 sterren
I might still be a bigger fan of 'Acoustic Ballad' Elliot when compared to his later-career, more lavishly produced indie-rock stuff. Not to say the stuff here wasn't great, because it was, but I still found my favorite songs here to be the slower and more ballad-leaning ones. 'Somebody That I Used To Know' has the hypnotic finger-picking intro of a song like 'Angeles', my favorite Smith song, and it also has one of the more winning choruses here. The piano ballad 'Everything Means Nothing To Me' is Elliot being incredibly predictive of my guy Sufjan, more so than usual. It's also one of the few songs where the more busy production suits the whole thing quite well, especially when those echoey strings flutter into the second half. Come to think of it, there are quite a few cool little one-off outros here, 'Happiness/The Gondola Man' and 'The Roost' especially. It's a small detail, but I love it when albums do that. Lyrically, it's really everything I'd expect out of Elliot; many of the songs detail a failed relationship, the failures of both Elliot as well as his partner, and the toll it took and continues to take on him. It comes off as bitter on the surface, especially with songs like 'Stupidity Tries' and 'Easy Way Out', but under the surface, this is clearly more than your average break-up album; there's a lot of emotional baggage to unpack here. I'd say rays of optimism still shine through the cracks on a song like 'Happiness/The Gondola Man', but even with this song, I sort of get the vibe that the protagonist is overcome with regret due to the failed relationship, be it with how it unraveled or how it ultimately ended. And the inability to move on due to such a dissatisfying end is also seen on another one of my favorite acoustic ballads here, 'Better Be Quiet Now'. It's certainly an Elliot Smith album, despite it not really falling under that cozy, acoustic, sad-man-with-his-guitar umbrella the guy's known for. It's still mostly that, but maybe a little less cozy, a bit more indie-rock, but just as sad all the same.
Great album, not Eliott’s best, but thats unfair when Either/Or is perfect
This one always felt a bit less special than his other albums, but maybe I just haven't given it a proper chance before. Theres a lot of songs that sounds more lively, more indie rock instrumentation but it actually suits him very well. The calmer, more gentle moments are also really beautiful and touching. Great album.
Sad boy music!! I listened to this album twice in a row. I like his music a lot overall and enjoyed this album as well. Some songs made it to my playlist right now and I did not know most of the songs beforehand.
I enjoyed listening to him. I feel like he has great taste that brings out a unique yet classic sound.
I was very much into roman candle and later either/or when they came out. I loved them but could only take so much - they hit a place that was uncomfortable. I did not stick around for Figure 8 but not for lack of liking his music and admiring his guitar skills. Mainly because, well, if i wanted to go to where elliott smith could take me, i rode what i was already familiar with. Anyway, great listen! I will be stingy with my 5 stars on here, but this is pretty close.
I was grateful for this album. I've never heard one of Smith's records all the way through. Only random songs here and there. I always liked what I heard, though. I understand this is one of his more rocking affairs. It brought to mind early Fiona Apple at times. I didn't have a problem with his hushed, "almost whiny" (according to somebody's review) delivery, either. I actually prefer this male singing style to cocky belting. I'm definitely going to play this again an will check out his other albums as well.
A very important album and artist for me. It can drag a little in spots but overall I think it’s a classic early 00’s Indie LP. 👍
I completely understand why Elliott Smith has had such an impact on so many music fans, he definitely has a haunting quality to his songs and music. This album actually rocks more than some of his records, and I think it’s pretty solid. That said, I am not a huge fan of this album or really most of his albums. I think my favorite is Either/Or but overall he never really does a whole lot for me.. his voice has also been kinda a deal breaker for me, too restrained and purposefully hushed, almost whiny at times
4.5 - not much to say other than a great album, but not quite to the level of his best.
What a great discovery, enjoyed it!
Super solid songs throughout, very easy to listen to. Has potential to be a 10 but gotta give it more listens
I definitely would have gone craaaazy for this album if I'd heard it for the first time in 2000, which is not to say I'm not loving it now, I just know my 9 year old self would have been foaming at the mouth for this sound Ultimately a very beautiful album and by the end of it Bye had me weeping at my desk
He's so sad
Best Song: L.A. Learning a little bit about his history, I was expecting this to be Pink Floyd's The Final Cut with a bit of Trent Reznor's Pretty Hate Machine, but it wasn't nearly as depressing as I expected. I had never heard of him before and enjoyed this. I am not 100% sure I would listen to it too often but there is a much better chance than a lot on this list. 4/5.
Elliott Smith has crossed my radar here and there over the years. I love that clip that pops up on social media from time to time where he's playing on "Clementine" on some goofy ass morning zoo radio show and everyone, even the puppets, is dead silent, rapt by his obvious talent. That said, his whole thing is not my whole thing, really. Thin-voiced sadboy acoustic stuff doesn't quite connect with me a lot of the time unless you're Nick Drake. Well, okay, and maybe Elliott Smith, too. He had a strange way of singing, and an unusual sense of melody, but both are pretty captivating, delicate, and beautiful. There are some cool chord progressions going on in there, too. Reminded me of the Beatles from time to time. Then there were some songs with cool ass guitar playing and some great instrumental bits altogether. I much preferred the stuff drums and a full band, and found some the slower acoustic stuff relatively forgettable, but I only gave those one listen. I'm open to more.
This is a beautifully pleasant listening, with so many sounds and sad songs, but all made with, again, a beautiful touch, so delicate and great. Not all the songs where great for me, some felt less interesting and good than others. But, overall, the album is greatly done, so I won't give it five stars, because I would be too generous, but four are fair enough for a solid record as this one, which is really delightful.
Bubbling with ideas. Hard to listen to Elliott Smith without knowing what is to come. All of his lyrics and his tunes have a sense of foreboding. That said this is an excellent album. Son of sam and everything reminds me of her are particular standouts. Can get a little samey in parts however.
Okay, I immediately felt something as soon as I heard Son of Sam. Vibing through the rest of the album right now. Giving me a trippy and nostalgic feel like 90s indie pop from a tortured soul. Solid 4 out of 5.
Its Elliott Smith man
I had never heard this album, nor had I really listened to Elliott Smith before. I put it on and did some housework. The guitar on the album was the first thing that jumped out to me. It had that jangle sound I quite liked. The lyrics also seemed thoughtful and his voice didn't grate on me the way some singers on this list have so far. 'Somebody That I used to Know' was a good example of this. And as the album went on, I found myself finding it pleasant. But, really, 'pleasant' is the only word I could find for it. When the album finished, nothing stuck with me. To be fair, perhaps I was focusing on the aforementioned housework... However, one album a day, I can't linger on relistens... Still, 4 stars. Perhaps I'll give it another listen in the future.
Great album. Not my favorite Elliott Smith but listening again after not hearing it in so long I definitely enjoy it a lot more than I remember
nice
Less personal than Either/Or, however his songwriting doesn't miss and the increased budget and production serve the album well. Started to drag in the second half but some of the later songs were still good, it just got a little bloated.
Really strong album across the board. Only real criticisms are lacking one or two real dynamite songs to push the album over the edge, and a certain bloatedness that becomes apparent towards the end. 2 or 3 songs could be dropped and we’d likely have a 5*. Great album nonetheless. Son of Sam (8/10) Somebody That I Used to Know (7/10) Junk Bond Trader (9/10) Everything Reminds Me of Her (8/10) Everything Means Nothing to Me (8/10) L.A. (9/10) In the Lost and Found (7/10) Stupidity Tries (8/10) Easy Way Out (8/10) Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud (8/10) Colorbars (8/10) Happiness/The Gondola Man (8/10) Pretty Mary Kay (7/10) Better Be Quiet Now (7/10) Can’t Make a Sound (9/10) Bye (8/10) 7.9/10
Good mix of gutair and piano Chill shower music
It feels a bit Beatles like, some of the tracks are really wonderful. His singing I find very warm and fragile.
It really isn't all hype; dude had a special talent. Tragic, emotional, raw, beautiful. If you're in the right mood, this is the right music.
This was pretty cool. I enjoyed my listen.
Melodic and somehow both breezy and sometimes plaintive.
Conoces a alguien, buena onda pero tiene algo que te molesta, te dices, filo si es una cosa super chiquitita, démosle; y nop. Me encantó la producción, las melodías a ratos me hicieron pensar que estaba escuchando algo bien influenciado en The Beatles, PERO tenía algo en su voz, o en la forma en la que procesaron su voz para el disco en algunas canciones que me hacía sentir como si estuvieran arañando una pizarra. "Everything means nothing to me" me recordó demasiado a otra cosa, pero no sé qué. Amé el uso de una melodía no tan convencional, pero no pude superar la voz. De no ser por eso sería un 5 de todas formas.
Definitely some nice tunes on here. A very soothing sound for such darkly themed songs.
I never heard of this artist but enjoyed listening to this album. He has a smooth easy listening voice on these songs which are engineered nicely. His 5th well produced album and definitely worth exploring his earlier catalog and posthumously released material.
pretty
Sad lyrics paired with surprisingly up beat music considering the lyrical content. This is a great Elliot Smith album. Loved to find that he was on the list.
Surprisingly liked this more than expected
I really, really enjoyed this album. My taste leans towards the more upbeat songs, but this is excellent overall.
Like it, nice mix of melodies and rhythms. Good vibe
Although it's not one of my favorite Elliott Smith albums, it still is a top record for anyone else. He's my favorite singer songwriter ever and this is a very strong showing. 8/10
He sad
I haven't heard wether by Elliott Smith or the album Figure 8 before. I liked the album a lot. I'd like to listen to it again. 4/5
The whole album is excellent, but Son of Sam is so damn good. Probably one of my favorite songs from the 2000s. The album as a whole gets a 4.5/5.
Hey, this is the Somebody That I Used to Know guy... Uhhhh, wait.. I'm really digging the music on this. Pleasant vocals and we'll crafted music. It's more on the lighter, pop side, so not necessarily the style I love, but I'm not mad at it. Kind of has a Scott Weiland voice at times, and a slight Sean Lennon vibe. I'll give this a 4.
Despite my college girlfriend being pretty into Elliot Smith, I never much listened to him. What I did hear kinda irked me due to constant overuse of this annoying chorus effect on his vocals. Nevertheless, I'm familiar with his work and impact just being a music fan who often drove by the Sound Solutions mural featured on the cover of this record regularly as a resident of LA. In a city that adopted him (and he it), he is broadly considered a music scene legend and regarded as a genius; evidenced in the aforementioned wall mural that has become a (semi) permanent tribute to him. I have at times wondered: would he still be so heralded had he not died so young? So this is probably the second or third time I've sit down to give this guy a listen all the way through a record, and not just hearing "Say Yes" in a coffee shop, or else some echo in a memory of my days at university hearing his Kill Rock Stars stuff on my girlfriend's stereo in the other room. When this record picks up the pace, it really has a somewhat understated propulsive energy to it. Nevertheless, this record also often sounds so haunted. I can hear the ripple effect this must have had on chamber pop work made by artists like Sufjan Stevens. It pushes and pulls with tremendous extremes, swinging from the sunny joy of "LA" to the anachronistic and jaunty "In The Lost And Found" and then veers right into Pet Sounds territory with "Stupidity Tries." "Better Be Quiet Now" might as well be the non-diagetic music cue from an early 00s indie rom-com no one has ever seen. Closing out with "Bye" could be what you hear in the Overlook Hotel while talking with ghosts. Standouts: "Junk Bond Trader", "Everything Means Nothing To Me", "Can't Make A Sound." These are all super solid pieces that made it onto an annual faves list I keep. I guess better late than never. A lot of folks talk about Smith's music being super sad. I'm not hearing it in this record. That might be because the sad music I like is probably utterly devastating compared to the subtlety inherent in these recordings. And, after giving this a dedicated listen, I must say I think all that heralding was very well-earned.
gets better as it goes on
Not bad, like the rockier songs.
Son of Sam is a fantastic opener Lost and Found is heartbreaking Everything else is exceptionally good and is only not 5 ⭐️ because X/O and Either/Or are even better
Seems like an artist Matt Freer would be really into. I dug it as well. Gonna have to listen to more of his stuff
I was excited to get an Elliot Smith album because I absolutely love the Good Will Hunting soundtrack and he’s featured pretty heavily on it. The sound was exactly what I expected, as were the lyrics and storytelling, and I absolutely enjoyed it. Excellent music for a rainy fall day or just when you’re in your feels a little bit. Might have to listen to Either/Or next. Also a very strong possibility I’ll be watching Good Will Hunting in the next couple days.
I have never heard of Elliot Smith before this listen. It was a really pleasant album. Super easy to listen to. If I would have discovered him earlier I'm sure I would be a bigger fan. As of now, this is between a 3 and a 4 for me.
The theme of sadness throughout this album was portrayed very well and not a single song sounded out of place. Therefore I enjoyed this album quite a lot because of its cohesive nature and interesting sounds.
A mopey classic.
Passively aware of Elliott Smith as his songs are featured in two of my favorite movies (Up in the Air and Good Will Hunting). This was my first album experience. The quality of the songwriting is remarkably consistent and unique to him. There’s a time and place for this, but it’s one I’ll revisit.
I like this guy.
Buenas vibras chill. Me ha molado
Solid Elliott Smith Album... Not my favorite but very good. Lots of Beatles influence.
Pretty decent. More alt folk than folky music wise but pretty good. Definitely see this in a rom com montage
I think there are better Smith albums but god damn. Still a banger.
I’m generally not a fan of this type of music, but I really really enjoyed this one
Beautiful and sad.
I liked this album, it was a little more upbeat than Either Or and had some interesting use of blending sounds. I also felt like it had a bit more edge which made it more interesting. 8/10
This is our second Elliot Smith record this month. I liked the last one. "Son of Sam" is a much more electric and big sounding song than any on his previous record. I like the piano backing. I've listened to the Gotye "Somebody I Used to Know" so much that my brain is filling parts of that song around Elliot's singing of the same phrase. Sorry Elliot, Gotye really stole this one. It's a nice song regardless. I like "Everything Means Nothing to Me". This was a different album to "Either/Or". I liked it a lot. It had a lot more instrumentation and was a lot livelier in a way that still felt true to his sound. It had a lot of intimate lyrics, but not in the overtly bleak way that "Either/Or" had. 8/10
Enjoyable, but not my style
this is an album I'd come back to
Dang! This has some jams. Never saw that one coming.
Loved it! Sound mixing was clean and songs carried a lot of weight. Really enjoyed it and will listen to again.
Solid album by Elliot Smith. Either/Or is my personal favorite, but every time I listen to anything he's done I just wish he was still here and we had more of his storytelling to enjoy. Favorites from this one are Son Of Sam, Everything Mean Nothing To Me, L.A., Stupidity Tries, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, and and Pretty Mary Kay.
love the smooth calm vocals with a alive guitar
Not my favorite from Elliott Smith, a bit too over produced. But it still has that intimate feel that he does really well.
Troubled souls often produce amazing art and that is the case here. This dude was a conduit for pain and he wears it on his sleeve on every track. Raw, emotive, ethereal. XO is my personal favourite, but I can get down with Figure 8. Smith encapsulated an interesting and honest singer/songwriter space that seems to have disappeared by the mid aughts. You have to wonder what a healthy Elliot Smith might have evolved into. Alas.
A very nice album from a very nice sounding artist.
Never heard him before and I liked him
Fairly chill, pleasant album
This is an album I would play on a long road trip. It’s an album you can groove to, set it in the background and reflect to, but I don’t think Elliott meant for us to dance it out. Fantastic songwriter.
Really unexpected. Kind of a spacey Simon & Garfunkel vibe. May be a touch over produced but incredibly pleasant to listen to.
Mycket behagligt!
Good, not my usual taste.
I looove Elliott Smith but can't say this is one of my fave albums of his
All the songs were good I guess and the production was great but nothing stood out to me on first listen. Light 4
really great melancholy album, great structure and instrumentals, good vocals, i’ll have to listen to more elliott smith
This took a little while to grow on me but then I really enjoyed it. Really like his voice and the contrasts between the quieter and louder moments. This is definitely one I’ll listen to again. Fav song: Easy Way Out - also really liked L.A., Wouldn’t Mamma be Proud and Better Be Quiet Now Least fav: Colorbars
Really enjoyable album. Good sound throughout and some great songs in there. I’ve always heard about Elliot smith (Lego movie) but never actually listened so at least this made me do that Specific rating- 4.2 Fav song- son of Sam Least fav- wouldn’t mama be proud
I just really enjoy the way that he sings. Beautiful. Rare case where I wish I hadn't checked out his wikipedia page, hard to not hear every song a little more tragically than before. Favourite: Can't Make a Sound or Son of Sam Least: Everything Means Nothing To Me
This is the second Elliott Smith album I've gotten from the generator and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first, Either/Or. I thought the songwriting was great on Either/Or, but I didn't really connect with the angst or melancholy in the lyrics. Those feelings are still here on this album, but I feel like the songwriting really took a step forward, especially as the simple, lo-fi production has evolved to a much more complete and complex sound. Favourite tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody I Used to Know, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Colorbars, Can't Make a Sound
Listened to this while browsing properties in Portugal and dreaming of leaving this shit-heap behind...not in the Elliott Smith sense, however. I enjoyed this album so much more than I thought I would. I had a roommate in college who loved Smith's music...but it always felt whiney to me at the time. Fast forward nearly 25 years, and this album now resonates much more strongly with me. I loved the instrumentation throughout...the production was excellent. Kinda more poppy than I was expecting!
Aika leppoisa levy, vaikka sanoitukset ovat ajoittain aika synkkiä. Toimii
Jesus that's a sad one. Its great hut damn it hurts. Dude loved his Beatles style double vocals and it hits just like back on Abbey road. Just nice piano and acoustic guitars. But ending your last album on a song tilted "bye" is heart wrenching. Listen to it and cry
Quite an eclectic mix of sounds. I found this to be an interesting and enjoyable listen
I actually liked this a lot more than I was expecting! At it's best when there's minimal distortion and melodies can come to the fore, but with some really nice big-sounding production too! Strong 3.5*
After the last Elliott Smith album, I thought this would be some more dry melancholy music, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it's a bit more damp, melancholy music
Yayayaya Elliot smith. Not as good as either or but a great albun! 7/10
Bright, buoyant and well balanced. He knew what he was doing and this is a pleasure to listen to. Highlights are both "Everything" songs and "LA." Last few cuts are heartbreaking in retrospect.
jako dobro!
C’est chouette ! Très mélancolique (cela dit moins que d’autres morceaux que j’ai écoutés de lui) mais j’aime bien. Du rock plutôt chill, ça s’enchaîne, c’est cohérent. Pas de bangers qui m’ont marquée mais ça s’écoute bien !
Ideal for a contemplative rainy morning. Great first listen.
Second Elliot Smith album on this list, and second time that I am saddened I didnt listen to him sooner. Top Track on this album: Can't Make a Sound.
Lovely surprise. Did not expect that amazing electric guitar sound throughout the record.
Like me some sad guitar boy. (34 known/74 new)