Reviews (page 5 of 12)
Pretty good. Not amazing all the way through, but still a solid album. His voice is definitely an acquired taste, though, I think. This is an album I first heard songs from nearly 20 years ago and I still enjoy it from time to time even though it isn't a genre I listen to very often.
Как-будто более экстравертный альбом, чем слышанный ранее. Проникся исполнителем и ещё как.
Probably the most accessible Elliot Smith album because its much more rock-orientated than his other more folk-orientated albums. Definitely works for me. Favorite track: Son of Sam
Complete
It was an interesting listen. I enjoyed it. He has an interesting voice and I liked the variety
Pre-listening thoughts: see Elliott smith is another artist like Radiohead who has influenced a ton of songwriters but whose fanbase is also insufferable. So I’m worried about what’s to come but also I know in my gut it’s probably gonna be okay Post/during listening thoughts: okay wait this is fire! I like how it alternates between slower tracks and more uptempo tracks. It keeps me interested and doesn’t make any one half of it a slog. Sometimes his voice is a little droney for me, like when Thom Yorke is droney at least I feel some energy there, but it really just feels depressing here. Which is probably the point but whatever. Really great lyricism. I can understand his influence. 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: I guess just to understand Elliott smith? And like remove personal bias around him? Fav tracks: Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing to Me, L.A., Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud, Pretty Mary Kay Least fav tracks: Bye
Whispy vocals, cool rhythms. Very indie sound. Not the kind of music I normally gravitate towards, but overall a pretty enjoyable album.
Lovely, rich, and textured sounds. Sometimes dark lyrics. Sad fate for this tortured man.
I only knew Son of Sam before listening to this,. You definitely get the feeling Elliott wasn't cut out for handling the success he achieved, and this makes his final album a poignant listen.
Giving 70s vibey
i wish that i could give this album a 4.5 star rating, because i LOVED IT. it honestly caught me off guard because i was prepared for an achingly sad album like his other two albums (either/or and also his self titled “elliott smith”) however, i enjoyed the more upbeat vibe that this collection of songs brought. it was fantastic and had a good balance of dynamic emotions over the album. fav song: stupidity tries
I never got deep into Elliot Smith, which is surprising because i Like sad music, but something never quite clicked. I did not mind this album at all and maybe i need to revisit his albums some more. Definitely some songs that stood out and I really enjoyed. As normal, the songs i really liked appeared to be the least listened from the album. I was expecting it to be a lot more dreary and it was actually upbeat in some parts. Solid 4.5 stars. I will listen more
I can't place if I absolutely love this mans music or if it's just okay. If another album appears by Elliott ill have more interesting thoughts than this.
Smith was a great songwriter with a great voice. I enjoyed this, but I bet it would've been better listening to this in a quiet room late at night! Liked Songs Added: Easy Way Out
Schön zu hörende Musik mit Texten, die man mitlesen sollte um die Inhalte gut zu erfassen. 4/5
Clearly a talented guy and I’m a sucker for melancholy
Much has been said about Elliott Smith. Much of it sad. While an inordinate amount of his music is about heroin, I'll choose to focus on how talented he was. I mean from a skill standpoint he was a one-man band, recording pretty much all his own instruments. Maybe a jack of all trades, but most people are bad at only one instrument so who's to judge. He was, however, a master songwriter. For my money one of the greatest, if not the greatest singer-songwriter. It's astounding how his genius slaps you in the face in every project. From his humble beginnings with Roman Candle to a major label-backed Figure 8. At best he is a serviceable singer, but I don't care all too much. Elliot provides an authenticity that would only be mudded by technical ability. A wispy honesty unique to him. With critical acclaim and money backing his wildest ambitions, Elliott does not hold back. Continuing his layered instrumentation from XO, Figure 8 delivers the same level of songwriting while providing a more dreamlike experience. It's not my favorite, but in my mind, it's still undeniable. Whenever Either/or gets spit out by the generator, the glaze will continue. I mean can you blame me? He changed my life. 8.8/10 Favorite Songs: Everything Reminds Me of Her/L.A.
9/10 Elliott, my guy. Having been introduced to him properly earlier this year, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about him and his artistry. This is one of 3 9+ albums from me. He’s a generational writer and I love when artists prove concept then just go get after it with big money from a studio. Great work here. Favorite Song: Son of Sam
Didn't listen to the full album but enjoyed what I heard.
A beautifully orchestrated descent into introspection and fragile hope.
New to me. Good music.
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Can't Make A Sound, Son Of Sam, Stupidity Tries, Somebody That I Used to Know, Easy Way Out Least Favorite Tracks: Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Pretty Mary Kay, Better Be Quiet Now
Bolder and brighter than the first record, sharper and shinier, too. This is fully illustrative of what might have been, and where he might have gone with his prodigious talent – perhaps more deeply in an indie rock vein, perhaps in a more chamber/baroque pop direction. The "Everything" songs are engaging and affecting – plus one knows what he means. "LA" is another highlight. The distinct voice suggest deep need and vulnerability, but also hope and humor. Given what happened, the last cut is haunting, utterly.
Really genuine and emotional. I could easily see this getting you at the right moment in your life and being foundational.
I remember when this came out. My sister had it, so I checked it out. It didn't hook me then. Amazing song craft. Top tier. Some Paul Simon vibes. Everything Reminds Me of Her was the stand out track. I get why this is loved, but maybe I missed the boat on it. Still doesn't hook me. A time and a place for sure.
Sound is boring but i like the lyrics
Banger ass album
Elliott Smith sure could craft some sweet and tender songs. His come with a lyrical message that portends much darker moods than the twinkling pianos and chiming guitars might have you think.
Não manjo muito de Elliott Smith, só tinha ouvido Either/Or algumas vezes (E gostei bastante), então fui ouvir esse album com a mente aberta e de forma despretensiosa, mas com uma expectativa bem especifica. Essa expectativa foi totalmente quebrada quando percebi a diferença no estilo de produção desse disco comparado ao que eu conhecia. Os momentos mais intimos e sensiveis ainda existem aqui, mas eles são só uma parte do que esse album oferece. Musicas como L.A., Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing To Me, entre outras, me surpreenderam muito pois eu não conhecia esse lado do Elliott. Bom demais. Preciso ouvir o resto dos discos dele qualquer hora dessas. Em alguns momentos desse album eu juro que ele invocou o John Lennon do nada. Vejo muita semelhança tanto no estilo vocal quanto lirico deles. Só achei que o album poderia ser um pouco mais curto. Fora isso, dificil apontar algum defeito. 4.5/5
Musikalisch sehr gut
Still so heartbreaking, excellent songwriting, haunting but rich
off the bat not nearly as mopey as I'd feared. Obviously Ambulance LTD were big fans
i like this! very 2000s sad boy songs
I enjoyed this album. Never heard of the artist. A bit of a one trick pony.
Pretty great attempt at somber songwriting. Not nearly what I expected but also so very good. Somber melodies with an angellic vocal presence with great musicianship and song writing motiffs. I won't reach for this album after today, but it gave me lots of nostalgia for early 2000's rainy monday in New York City. The anthesis of indie and alternative. Good tunes for good people.
Another surprise. Very melodic and entertaining album.
(see fig. 8)
What an album! Such a wide variety of songs, ranging from soft and vulnerable tracks to very catchy Indie rock tracks. He has such a good voice, fitting both styles perfectly. Reminded me a lot of Sufjan Stevens at times, I'm sure Elliott is one his biggest inspirations. This along with the Kate Bush album is my favourite so far.
Eerlijk, best goed
Great, very Beatles with a modern twist
Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud is an all-timer, nice to revisit such a good album.
Very nice album. Classic sad Elliott Smith
New to me and really good. I would listen to more.
Sad but beautiful
More upbeat than Either/Or. Not as good though and a little longer. I still liked it a lot. This came out in 2000, so I wonder if he performed any of these songs at CMU.
7/10 - Elliot Smith is good. The songs sound fairly similar but Elliot Smith knows what he is doing. I did not notice an specific favorites on the first listen but I might revisit.
solid guitar jams
Expected this to be very glum and slow but was really full of life
You know, considering what I inferred from the reviews and how this was Elliott Smith’s last album before taking his own life, I was expecting a sadder album. I mean, it definitely is a sad album in hindsight. Some of its down moments are more subtler than others. You got the obvious ones like Everything Reminds Me Of Her and Happiness. But there’s also L.A., one of the happier sounding songs that still can’t get away from the melancholy. Ending your song by repeating “Last night I was about to throw it all away” was a choice. It’s shows that no matter what Elliott did, he couldn’t escape his demons… until he did throw it all away. That’s some haunting shit. Hearing Elliott for the first time, he sounds like if the Beatles were depressing, and I mean that in a positive way. He has a way to go from power pop to the more slower songs. He really did have a beautiful voice. It’s sad that this was one of the last times we would hear it. In general, this was a really nice album. My only gripe is that some of the songs can be a tad annoying (Everything Means Nothing to Me), but it’s only a minor gripe. Favorite track: Everything Reminds Me Of Her Other hits: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, L.A., Stupidity Tries, Can’t Make A Sound, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
Good listen.
I've previously mentioned my exasperation at the number of "Critically Acclaiming but Introverted albums of singer-songwriters which I just don't get" on this listing, and Figure 8 should really belong in that category. But, I liked this one. Yes, it's sometime a little close to whiney, but overall, it's a pleasant, nay.... enjoyable...album. Worth a listen.
A second Elliot record! Figure 8 is great but Either/Or is better imo. I wonder if XO is on this list?
Such a talent, a very good album.
this make me wanna spin my hat on a cane
Better than I thought it would be.
3.5 stars
Never heard of him. Very listenable. Nice chilled mood music. And he's a great guitarist. I didn’t really listen to the words in any great depth so I can't comment on how depressing it was. And anyway listening to someone else whinging doesn’t really depress me. Though his IS a sad story. A druggy who committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest?… twice!?? Whilst his girlfriend was in the bathroom? She heard him scream so emerged and pulled the knife out???? Yeah right. Unlucky mate.
Very easy listening, sad boy music.
really good but it feels so long. why make an hour long album if all the songs are just gonna sound the same? i predicted what the next track was gonna sound like and BOOM was i right.
Con otros discos de ES he tenido malas experiencias, pero este disco me ha gustado.
Lush and cinematic. Extremely complex songwriting delivered with a vulnerability and tenderness. Sounds like sunshine but with the dark clouds looming on the horizon
New to me. Easy to listen to - good lyrics, nice toons. I'll keep going with Elliott!!
God it wasn’t XO, my mental health has been at an all-time low
I like it, it doesn't have my favourite/better known tracks by him, but it's very good recognisable within his style, if that makes any sense. I'm sure this will be a grower.
Great listen!!
1. "Son of Sam" 3,9 2. "Somebody That I Used to Know" 3,5 3. "Junk Bond Trader" 4,1 4. "Everything Reminds Me of Her" 3,6 5. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" 3,2 6. "L.A." 3,5 7. "In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)"/"The Roost" 3,5 8. "Stupidity Tries" 3,8 9. "Easy Way Out" 3,3 10. "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" 3,9 11. "Color Bars" 3,6 12. "Happiness"/"The Gondola Man" 3,9 13. "Pretty Mary K" 3,7 14. "I Better Be Quiet Now" 3,1 15. "Can't Make a Sound" 3,8 Average 3,63
gently psychedelic power pop, strong Beatles vibe - very different to his doomy reputation
8/10. The story of Elliott Smith is quite tragic. The music that he left behind is worth remembering.
TIL that Elliott Smith is dead. In fact he was already dead by the time I first heard of him when I asked the barista what the music was while waiting for the coffee some time around 2009 (it was Waltz #2) and I always meant to find out more but never got around to it once Vodafone gave me Spotify. I liked this, a little reminiscent of Nick Drake (also dead).
Mellow but with a driving beat that was very enjoyable to listen to. Highly recommend!
RIP Elliott Smith
It's nice, like stumbling upon a lost Beatles album
Who doesn't like Elliott Smith? Very moody, very acoustic, very high school
Not even my style of music, but the songwriting/vocal melodies are too good for this to be less than a four.
Nice songwriting.
This was the second Elliot Smith record I’ve received, and it is much better than Either/Or in every single way. It is filled with beautiful melodies, intricate orchestral arrangements, and great acoustic guitar parts. His voice is not my favorite, but it is a consistent album from start to finish.
Hrikalega solid plata
Elliott Smith is someone I have heard lots about but have never listened to an album of. He's a lot of my favourite artist's favourite artist. This album didn't disappoint. Everything Means Nothing To Me was gorgeous
A simultaneously sad and uplifting album that can itch the exact right part of your brain when you're in the right mood. Perhaps a tad too long though.
Playing catch-up here so I'll keep it short and sweet. I've listened to this album multiple times now, and every time I've enjoyed it that little bit more. I had an issue with Smith's vocals, they lack a grittiness to it that I think I generally enjoy in male vocals. However, it grew on me and would agree in the right mood you can't help but be right there with him. Vocals aside, musically the rest of every single track is great and I will be revisiting these.
In a specific time and mood, it’s very beautiful. 3.5/5
Beautifully constructed album. Instruments and vocals complement each other so perfectly. Lyrics wonderful.
Hey, one I’ve heard before! This is probably one of my least favorite Elliott Smith albums, but it’s not one I’ve actually listened to much, and maybe I should spend some more time with it? I think I just tend more toward his earlier stuff. Still, even with it being one of my least faves, I still liked every song. So that’s saying something! 4/5
Oh boy was this good! I really need to dig deeper into his discography.
Too long. But good
Edited because my friend turned me around on Elliot smith
It's long winded, but I kinda like it. It was a great introduction to Elliott Smith.
Only my second Elliott Smith listen so far (the first being Either/Or which I love), and it's certainly not my favorite, but it was still highly enjoyable with plenty of highlights, particularly Stupidity Tries and Can't Make a Sound. Definitely gotta chew on it for a while longer, but it's at the very minimum an easy relisten and stands out for all the right reasons, only further proving Elliott's songwriting prowess. 7/10
As a child all the music I would listen to was either downloaded onto my 2TB HDD from wherever, or on youtube. I remember getting sick to death of winamp and struggling to figure out how to use foobar while trying to maintain my scrobbles. I switched to music bee as my main music playing platform. I vividly remember the excitement I got seeing all the album covers of what I had downloaded populate my screen. I had a ton of U2 albums downloaded that I just had. I don't know where they came from. I heard they were a popular / good band so I decided to give joshua tree a listen and got so bored listening to it i clicked shuffle on my entire library. It landed on Son of Sam. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I played dota way too much as a kid. I would come home and play for 8 hours a day then go to sleep. I justified it as "im doing this with my friends" cause they also wanted to play that much. I don't know how much of the game I really enjoyed playing. To me it was more of a thing to do while I listened to music. I was too scared to talk to my team in any way. I was afraid of voice chat because I sound very audibly gay and people say insane shit. I was scared to type because I thought i'd be wrong and get yelled at. I kinda entered a phase of just hearing music and mindlessly playing my support heroes. I can't say I regret those days truly because I did love all the time i spent with my friend and the music I discovered while playing. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- The day my friends were offline, I played Undertale for the first time and listened to multiple Elliott Smith albums. I fell in love with Undertale ( and was so down bad for the dad ) and the song Junk Bond Trader. That one day felt life changing but in a way I would not act on until the year 2024. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Not my favorite album by him by a longshot but I have such fond memories thinking of ways to visit the wall and listening to the songs after and in school.
9/10 Who knew Elliott Smith on a budget would sound like Elliott Smith on a budget. Pretty fantastic overall even if I do enjoy the subtlety and lonely feeling of an album like Either/Or more, we still get some phenomenal songwriting on here with a lot of interesting and grander performances. Elliott’s influences are on a bit more visible display here, mainly bands like The Beatles with Elliott getting more instruments and bigger arrangements involved. Some stuff isn’t gonna stick as hard on a full 16 tracks but I can only see myself appreciating his growth the more I listen to his discography. https://imgur.com/a/K3ug1Nv
What a nice album...last track bye is so beautiful...
This record possesses a number of purely talented and powerful songs, including the opener "Son of Sam" and "Can't Make A Sound". While sometimes it sounds protrected, the album seems to encompass both rocky songs and more subtle and tender pieces. Wouldn't re-listen it in full, but the better part of the album makes it a 3.7/10.
Great record. Elliot is an acquired taste for some, but his lyrics and voice are heavenly. LA is a fave track!
chill record
Quite the surprise! I liked this a lot! Some tracks drag a little bit, but overall this is a really well done and varied record. Too bad he passed, because he had some great ideas. Standouts: Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing to Me, In The Lost and Found
Elliott Smith is such an amazing songwriter to me and this project was no different. His music can get monotonous at times and it am a make you zone out from his greatest trait, his words. That’s why I can’t give it a five. I know his production is minimal because he wants you to hear what he’s saying but it could’ve used just a tad bit more spice on it. All in all, I still enjoyed this effort!
Beautiful album. Love his music. Love his voice. Such a shame he left us too soon.
Та же история, что и с Жанель Моне: любимый артист, а вот этот альбом никогда полностью не слушал. Нежные и очень красивые песни. Лучшая песня - Everything Means Nothing To Me.
My initial thought was positive through the first half of the album. As it hit the middle, it started to all bleed together. I think this needs a few more listens to appreciate both the music and lyrics. You can definitely hear the Beatles influence in his work. I liked the paring of Everything Reminds Me of Her with Everything Means Nothing to Me - clever. Can't Make a Sound is probably my favorite, and the instrumental Bye is a haunting and fitting end to this album.
Surprised and pleased. Ben Folds vibes. Not heard of him at all before this I don't think so appreciated the find. Sad to hear about passing at such a young age too
Having heard of him for so many years, he isn’t what I expected. He’s so much better.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Relaxing and a few memorable bits. Something to listen to again
Favorite Track: Better Be Quiet Now
Son of Sam 4.2 Somebody That I Used to Know 3.2 Junk Bond Trader 4 Everything Reminds Me of Her 3.7 Everything Means Nothing to Me 4 L.A. 4 In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost 4 Stupidity Tries 4.1 Easy Way Out 3 Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? 4.3 Color Bars 3 Happiness/The Gondola Man 3.2 Pretty Mary K 3.3 I Better Be Quiet Now 3 Can't Make a Sound 3.5 Bye 4 Score: 3.65625
if you're in your feels i highly recommend this album. if i listened to this maybe a week ago, i would rate this a 5 with no hesitation.
7/10 this is a weird day for me to get this album. 12-13-2024
I kind of forgot about this artist. I need to revisit his work because I do like this album.
Don’t mind this at all. Decent music to chill out to - would be keen to hear more from him. Will definitely be coming back to this one.
My favourite Elliott Smith album. 4.5 stars
I don't think this is as good as Either/Or, but there's still a lot to like. My favorites are "Son of Sam", "Happiness", and "Somebody that I Used to Know". I agree with the sentiments that it's a bit long and it especially drags near the end. I think you can make the case that it would've been a better album if it just ended with "Happiness". 4 stars.
i like it a bit less than xo and either/or but its still great. rich instrumentation does a lot
pleasant low-energy indie mood music, a bit more upbeat than his other album on the list
Pretty good, not my style. No low points and it’s a good listen.
Tragic figure. You can really tell he was influenced by the Beatles, particularly Lennon. Smith ultimately inspired later artists like Ben Folds and the Shins, two of my favorites. Great stuff here, but think it was included since it was his final work (and the iconic album cover). Either/Or is still my favorite of his albums. 4⭐️
This is my favorite Elliott sound, and it deserves more exploration from me. Junk Bond Trader... moral and emotional bankruptcy.
Good. I prefer slightly more stripped down Elliott Smith.
Loved it and now depressed.
An ambitious feat with great performances, production and writing in spades. The four is purely personal taste — a bit too mellow and undramatic simple for my taste.
You'll never go wrong with some Elliott Smith - super solid songwriting, interesting melodies.
Solid songwriting, strong lyrics and great vocals. You’re never going wrong with Elliott Smith.
77/100. Great start to the album, however it fell off towards the end.
I really liked this
Pretty good. Would like to listen more
Never heardbit before but definitely enjoyed it quite a bit
Good
Really, really strong album. I think it'll get even better with re-listens. The music is dynamic and diverse. Very rewarding. His voice, while pleasant, just doesn't have a ton of range to make this all the way to 5 stars.
I liked this just fine. It was a little dull at times. I suspect that if I'd discovered this when I was younger that it would have been an important album in my life.
Feels like a Ben folds album LA is a standout track
Rating: 8.5/10 More rock inspired and still great.
Not the sad strummer I was led to believe.
Hadn't listened to a lot of Elliott Smith. I can now understand why he's the emo Cobain. An enjoyable, if somewhat depressing, listen.
Easy rock music, well put together and produced. I liked this more than his other album. Stand-out: Everything Means Nothing To Me
Ah the “upbeat” Elliot Smith album. The “Bye” at the end of the album is bittersweet.
Gran disco. De vuelta padezco la falta de media estrella.
Like the Smiths but not embarrassing to say you enjoy it. The album is very consistent in tone and quality, I don’t care that much for the vocals but the instrumentation is simple and works very well. My only exposure to Elliott Smith before this was Good Will Hunting. Was going to give this a 3 but decided that since I listened to it multiple times and it didn’t have any skips at all that it deserves a 4. Highlights for me are Son of Sam, LA, Colorbars, Happiness, Pretty Mary Kay.
Really lovely piece of work. Hadn't heard of him or his tragic story before.
More diverse than Either/Or, classic rock-sounding tracks, I feel like I heard some jazzy chords/progressions in a couple of tracks too which is nice (might be tripping).
Love the vibe. Stupidity Tries might be my favorite, great song to just melt into your seat to. Some of it kind of blends together, but i'll assume that's a result of not being more intimately familiar with the album. 7.5/10ish
This is what Portland (OR) sounds like to me as a person who has never been there. It has a skater-y vibe to it, a passing-beneath-dark-bridges-and-glimpsing-rosé-clouds-right-behind-them feeling. Could not describe this album otherwise. May the earth be light to you, Elliott.
Softer Elliott Smith
With Figure 8, Elliott Smith departs from his traditional, acoustic, singer-songwriter persona. Right away, you can tell that this album is a departure from his previous work. Songs like Son of Sam have an obvious producer's touch that refine his work more than some of his previous projects. While I don't think this is a masterpiece, I do respect it and liked most of the songs. Best Songs: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used to Know, In The Lost And Found Worst Songs: Everything Means Nothing to Me
Near perfect album for me. I like the front half 2x as much as the back-half, where the sound started to blend a little bit. The chords feel honest. This album evokes a real honesty and vulnerability. Lots of Beatle elements and even dark-side of the moon in some later tracks. Favorite tracks: In the Lost and Found, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Can't Make A Sound
Cool
Pretty music, good lyrics Favorites: "Son Of Sam", "Junk Bond Trader", "Everything Means Nothing To Me", "L.A."
Ha, I was thinking about dismissing some boring 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 these days, and instead cheekily write a few more words about Smith's "Either/Or" that I had just three days ago and how much it has grown on me. Like I had anticipated it would. But now this. Okay! Let's see how it goes. [a few hours later] It went so-so :( There's something really gorgeous about Smith's writing; the way the songs do all these little or greater twists and turns in their harmonic progressions and embellishments and how a saccharine tune might suddenly get paired with the most sleazy drums to become something else and how, most importantly, none of that feels laboured or forced. This is all here, again (see "Everything Means Nothing To Me"). But as I understand, this was a release on a larger label and it, well, feels like, sounds like, more money was thrown at it this time. And not for the better. As if that had created an urge to show for it and make a larger, louder, more expansive, extrovert album. ... is how I'd explain why Figure 8 comes across a bit random with too much of everything and too little to grab me. And sometimes a bit laboured after all. It's fine, but unlike Either/Or, this one won't stay with me.
This is #day45 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... that's some great music for a sunny September afternoon. I don't know what else to say, except that everything was beautiful and nothing hurt. Or, maybe I'm just being too lackadaisical to pick words. The music says everything, and I don't want to interfere. This is another solid 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day46, but also not very much because yesterday was so good that I don't want today ever to end.
Figure 8 - Elliott Smith (2000) A despedida de Elliott Smith. Figure 8 é um disco que mescla o indie rock, o pop, e algumas coisas de folk e psicodélico, que em muito é mantido pela qualidade vocal acima do comum, e também foi o último registro fonográfico do cantor Elliott Smith antes de sua morte em 2003. Algumas músicas são mais agitadas e outras mais introspectivas, assim o disco tem uma dinâmica que quebra a monotonia, fazendo com que a audição seja prazerosa, e vale destacar novamente os vocais agradabilíssimos do cantor Elliott Smith, que sem dúvida são o ponto alto do disco. P.S. as canções lembram bastante Beatles. Melhores músicas: Son of Sam, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing To Me, L.A., Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Better Be Quiet Now, Can't Make A Sound Piores músicas: N/A 4/5
I like his sound, it's like a late 90s Paul Simon or something, I can't quite pin it. Soft but not whiney. Read up on him, so sad to lose him early. What a way to go
first song is my favorite, overall good
Finally an Elliott Smith album, I was really looking forward to this one. Really liked the album and every instrument feels like it has a purpose here.
This is not my favorite album of his, but it's still a beautiful piece of work. Somebody That I Used To Know, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing To Me, Easy Way Out, and Pretty Mary Kay are the highlights for me.
Liked this a lot sounded very beatley
I think Elliot is really REALLY talented, but I don't seem to find a way to wrap my head around it. I just prefer to like him from a distance.
my personal controversial favourite album of his
3.5
Soothing album, didn’t dislike any tracks but none of them jumped out at me for being so amazing I want to listen all the time.. so for that gotta go 4/5. I will probably explore more of Elliot Smith’s catalog
Died young, 😔
Easy Way Out, Wouldn’t Mama Ve Proud, Color Bars are too slow
That was not bad at all
This and Elliot's following posthumous albums were the only two I hadn't yet heard. I'm a huge fan of his self titled album and have heard it countless times. Something about how stripped back and simple the sound is fits Elliot's voice so well. As such, my familiarity with his work following the self titled record is not nearly as strong. On it's introduction to me, Figure 8 falls in a similar place as Either/Or and XO. All three are excellent albums with the vivid lyricism that Elliot is known for. F8 contains more of that stripped back sound I prefer than the previous two, which is a pleasant surprise. The closing track being titled "Bye" and being a simple instrumental piece is a sad, but fitting sendoff to one of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time. RIP Elliot Smith.
Albumi #37, 03.09.2024 Elliott Smith ei jostain syystä ollut kovin tuttu artisti. Ihmettelen miksi? Figure 8 oli Smithin viides studioalbumi, joka ilmestyi vuonna 2000. Hyvä levy. Erityismaininta avausraidalle "Son Of Sam".
Elliot Smith is good, just wish I was listening to this in High School.
Even though I didn't listen to Elliot Smith when he was alive this album immediately made me nostalgic for the 90s (although I know it came out in 2000). A genius that I look forward to hearing more form.
Really don't know why I never got more into Elliot Smith. I think I was a little too young to really connect when he was 'big' and then with his death he fell off my radar except for the theater kids in HS. This is less americana than Ryan Adams, but hits that same tortured poet feel with a touch of emo. Incredible pop hooks here and a wonderful collection of songs, albeit rather a downer.
It was ok
Contemporain, surprenant, une voix qui me touche, j’ai beaucoup aimé
Good little sad boy music
Good album overall - had only listened to a few songs off it before this project - fit the vibe quite well for the day and discovered a few new gems
Elliott Smith rocks harder than I expected.
For me, on the lower end of the Elliot Smith totem pole
His swan song into the unknown.
Yeah this is some pretty good shit. His voice wears on me after awhile. It’s best with the big rock instrumentation rather than just the quiet acoustic tracks.
Dreamy
This one was better than the other one
Okaish chamber Pop.
A great album with great songwriting
Liked it
Beautiful album by an artist with a tragic ending. Makes me feel a sense of longing to go back to the late 2000s/early 2010s when I was young and the world still felt new and anything was possible.
Absolutely gone too soon, but the demons that would take him are ever present on this album.
I enjoyed this one a lot more that 'Either Or'. Better sounds, better vibes.
fave track: stupidity tries
Dreamy melodies, simple, American. Music to help you get to sleep.
This is one a I have in regular rotation. I love the flow and mood of this record. Kinda chill but not at all boring.
Really like it
This is just an amazing album, and Elliott Smith was such a talented artist
Just like his other album I’ve gotten, it really is great music. Still not my style but I did get attached to Lost and Found so it’s a good day.
Probably the Elliott Smith album I least engaged with back in the day. With 20 years in the rearview mirror I really enjoyed it in retrospect and think it might be one of his best works. Great production and solid variety throughout, even a rocker or two.
This tickles my brain in the right way. It's a good example of how to do indie.
I enjoyed this album. I thought there was variety and the various instruments were great. He has a great voice.
i enjoyed the listen. the album has 16 songs at 52 minutes, but i really felt that it passed by pretty quick. the bulk of the songs were easy to digest and i can find myself listening to majority of the songs again. i thought it was going to have a different kind of sound at first becuase of the indie pop tag, but this leaned more towards kinda folk songwriting. i dont mind that and i think elliotts songwritings really good. 4 personal favs: la, stupidity tries, happiness
Wow okay I liked Either/Or but I think this is quite a bit better. I think that there's a bit more variety here so it doesn't get stale as quickly. The songs that have more instrumentals are actually my favs really. I do think it's a bit bloated though, but still very much enjoyed it. Fav songs: - Son of Sam - Somebody That I Used to Know - Everything Means Nothing to Me - L.A. - Stupidity Tries - Better Be Quiet Now
Some melodies are almost too teen, then quickly shift to dreamy riffs.
Best een lekker album om een keer te luisteren. Een zondagochtendalbum. Elliott en de muzikanten doen hun best, het Dire Straits orgeltje wordt zelfs van zolder gehaald dus ik ben tevreden. Ik twijfel heel erg of ik dit 3 of 4 sterren waard vind, zeker omdat ik ons Elliott al een keer met 4 sterren heb beloond. Anders dan de volgorde in m'n history doet vermoeden kom ik net van Scritti Politti af, wat ongetwijfeld in het voordeel van dit album werkt. Uiteindelijk is het net als Emma Wortelboer: een beetje vreemd maar wel lekker. Dus ik ga gewoon voor 4 sterren.
I enjoyed this one a bit more than his “Either Or” album that came up for me recently. It has a really nice indie rock sound that somewhat resembles the work of Simon and Garfunkel.
A beautiful album
This album and XO caught a lot of shit when they came out for being too upbeat and overproduced. Looking back, 20-odd years later, it seems hard to justify such a complaint. Both albums are great. Of course at the time we didn't know that there wouldn't be any more records released in his lifetime, which makes each album so much more precious.
He's the kind of songwriter that lures you in with gentle melodies and smooth voice, then gets under your skin with the intensity of his emotions. You're singing along and realize you're singing "Everything means nothing to me"! Plus, as a Schoolhouse Rock generation kid, the rendition of "Figure 8" is amazing and perfectly haunting as the original tune is.
No conocía este lp. No es el mejor de Elliott pero sí mantiene un gran nivel.
Favorite track: Junk Bond Trader other picks: Son of Sam, Happiness, Everything means nothing to me
His voice is pretty unique, and I could see how that could be a problem for some people, but he's a magician with his lyrics and instrumentation. Each song is fairly unique, but all of them have this underlying haunting-ness to them.
Love the bonus tracks!
Peak "making a sad mistake for your high school crush" music
Elliott Smush is a great songwriter. He delivers meaningful lyrics with a voice that sounds just right, and often manages to convey sadness, pain, or lost through poppy hooks. The msuic fits the lyrics well, and though not showy he’s a very competent guitarist - particularly with his thoughtful and fluent fills on an acoustic between chords. While I’m enjoying this album, I don’t find it as moving or emotionally resonant as earlier efforts like his self-titled.
Honestly, 4.5. I really loved it
Good sad?
A very 2000s album. Good but dated
musical. interesting. good vibes
I had previously heard of Elliott Smith but was not sure if I knew any of his music. I enjoyed listening to this. I also feel like I need to listen to it again to appreciate it properly so will be planning to do so.
i like this so so so much more than either/or
Supremely nostalgic feeling, and exactly what I know and love. In some ways, it's a tough listen, knowing that this would be ES's final album before he took his own life. The sadder songs (i.e. most of them) get an additional resonance, and something like Everything Means Nothing To Me is extremely tough going in that sense, despite being beautiful. Incidentally, how much does that sound like All Of Me Wants All of You by Sufjan? Those two artists are totally of a kind I guess. Anyway, great stuff, and only missing out on the five by a hair's breadth.
Multiple listens and it keeps getting better.
♥️8️⃣🖤
Good album. Standout songs: Everything means nothing to me LA Wouldn't Mama be proud
je trouve qu'il a fait des musiques plus marquantes, il a cherché à se diversifier, mais j'ai l'impression qu'il manque quelque chose. il faut regarder la qualité de la voix, et c'est malheureusement pas sa meilleure performance je trouve. L'évolution des accords reste super intéressante comme d'habitude c'est Elliott Smith. Peut être que je suis pas juste parce que je connais ses autres projets mais je me suis retrouvé plus ému sur d'autres de ses albums La dernière musique de son dernier album s'appelle Bye ?? Mais il reste un ovni pour son époque et c'est définitivement un grand album musique préférée : Everythings means to me / Wouldn't Mama Be Proud musique que j'apprecies le moins : Stupidity Tries / Colorbars
Elliott Smith returns with Figure 8 and it just proves that he really was a musical genius during his career. This album kinda gave a bit of a Simon And Garfunkel vibe with the vocals and the music sounding somewhat similar to the stuff they would make. I also really like how it and Either Or feel pretty different from each other with this one being more pop oriented and Either Or being more acoustic in nature. I still do like Either Or's style a bit more but this style also works really well. This is a great album from a great musician that we unfortunately lost way too soon. Best Song: Somebody That I Used To Know Worst Song: Junk Bond Trader
👍
Not the best Elliott Smith album, but still good.
You can definitely hear the Beatles influence. I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I somehow missed it when it came out.
Thoughts before listening: I like Elliott Smith quite a bit. I believe this is his more indie rock album whereas the older stuff was more folky with light instrumentation. I don't believe I ever owned this album, but I'm glad to hear it today. Review: This is pretty good. I am enjoying the full rock band arrangements not always found in Elliott Smith's songs. Elliott's voice always seems so fragile like its about to break at any moment but he always pulls off very nice melodies. Very good songwriter and it's a shame he died so young. Troubled soul who wrote some absolutely beautiful music while he was here. The more I listen to this the more I really like it. 4 stars.
It's very weird to write something about this album, not only because I had already listened to it, but because I don't have my mind made up about this album. On one hand, three negative points: - it's certainly not the best Elliot Smith album - I don't remember any standout songs - I don't listen so hard that I understand the lyrics. This album deserves a deeper dive than a one-time listen. On the other hand, it's just good. It flows. It soothes you like a warm bath. The voice of Elliott is just amazing and this is a perfect winter album.
Really enjoyed this. Need more listens.
Solid album. I’ll have to give it another listen.
Wow can’t believe I haven’t heard of him before, really cool alternative music that didn’t sound repetitive or messy. 3.5
I could tell right away I was going to love this album. Smith's style reminds me quite a bit of Ben Folds' music, but a bit more mellow and with production that almost feels like the Beatles. I think every song uses vocal doubling, and it works really well. I do wish the vocals were in general a lot more assertive; they tend to be drowned out by the instruments. It's tragic and horrifying what happened to him, but I'm glad to have been introduced to his music.
This is my jam. I'm familiar with Elliott Smith but never listened to this album. I'll definitely be revisiting this album. It wasn't as much of a downer and was a little more rocking than I expected.
Live these songs
Solid album. Not his best though.
I really enjoyed this. Fairly new to his music.
Liked the music AND the lyrics
Had no idea what or who this was but really enjoyed it. Not sure why. Was it the color of the sky that day or just the soft sounds after a long night? Regardless 4/5
FEELINGS. FEEELINGSSS. FEELINGS
Never would the 20yo me have predictable the 43yo me would Raye Sepultura and Elliot Smith 4starts in the same week but here we are. Really hear the influence on 2010s style dream pop
Growing up, my brother had this album but it was one of the few I never borrowed (read: stole)... Probably because I was never super into the emo scene. I expected this to be much more morose than it was. To me it kind of sounded like a mix between Simon and Garfunkel and The Shins. I didn't mind this at all. I'm not sure I'd listen to it again but now I'm looking forward to the other Elliott Smith album on the list.
Another great album, got me back onto Elliot smith
A little same-y throughout, but quality same-y is still quality. Nice gentle music.
In the land of hair-splitting is album is like 3.75 stars and Either/Or is like 4.25 stars. But they both get 4 stars here.
This was the first time getting two albums from an artist in really close proximity and it was hard to judge this one without considering how great Either/Or seemed - especially in the wake of a bunch of mediocre to bad albums. But this is still really great, even though it goes in a different direction than Either/Or.
Some melancholic songs and some happy songs. With a lot piano and gitarre.
Elliott Smith is baby. I get why Phoebe loves him. Idk how to review music actually truly so 🤷🏻♀️
Sick ass album. Need to go back and get in to the lyrics.
Ausdrucksstarke Songs, interpretiert mit Gitarre und Klavier. Die teils tiefgründigen Texte wurden melodisch gut und abwechslungsreich arrangiert. Am besten wissen „Son of Sam“ und „Better Be Quiet Now“ zu gefallen.
this is a very good album. i can't explain it but it just hit differently than so many others on this list. it starts off super strong for the first several tracks and is still good after that, though the songs kinda ran together for me after that. i think i listened to this like 2 1/2 times through and thought it was really solid and moving. favorites: son of sam, somebody that i used to know, junk bond trader, everything reminds me of her, everything means nothing to me, easy way out
Great listen. I can see influences of Radiohead and the Beatles in this. Personally, I’m bigger fan of the soft acoustic stuff on this one. The riffs are cool but feel like Elliot’s voice shines on the softer stuff. I feel like I’d listen to this album again if I was older when released but for now I’ll probably add a song to a playlist.
Every Elliott Smith album we got is a gift. Not the best. But it's nice to hear Elliott going back to a more stripped-down approach after XO. I still favor his early albums. But, again, a gift. Also nice to here a bit more brightness in Elliott's songs. Must have rubbed off on him during his LA-living.
Always liked this one - my only critique/preference about Elliott Smith is that often the songs seem to blend and run into one another (I think it's his voice which rarely ventured past that gentle timbre), but not nearly as much on this album - there's more musical variety in terms of tempo and mood than on some of his earlier work. My favourite aspect to his music is how he packed a ton of musical ideas into short songs; i.e. they always seem longer than they are which is *usually* a recipe for boredom but not here - there's rarely any standard or repeated arrangements; a lot of melodic left-turns. "Color Bars" has always been my favourite cut on this one (honourable mention to "L.A." - a keeper. 8/10 4 stars
LAst night I was about to throw it all away
Очень красивая немного грустная музыка. По сложности звучания он выше, чем Either/or. Словил себя на мысли, что перепевка песни "Because" ссо сборника хитов Beatles "Love" взята с этого альбома Эллиотта. Жаль, что этого добряка зарезали.
Enjoyed this record more than his Either/Or album. Seemed to have more going on musically and I found his voice to have more pep to it. Maybe that's it, that it was just a bit more upbeat and less melancholic than the previous. Can see myself revisiting.
Love a little Elliot Smith. Murder, or suicide? Wish he was still around.
3.75
Weak 4
Liked this, but the thinness of Smith's voice can almost cause you to strain to listen at times. Still, strong instrumentals and even some surprisingly heavy electric guitar bits. Favorite tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used to Know
Very nice album. i WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THIS ARTIST BUT HEARD A BIT ABOUT HIM. tHIS ALBUM HAS INTERESTING LYRICS AND IS WELL PRODUCED.
Wow, this one took me by surprise. I don’t know much about the Beatles but this feels a lot like them. Overall sad vibe. I think this is one of those to listen on a plane with zero distractions. A lot going on here - first listen I love it.
Elliot smith goes Beatles!?
Elliott is one of those artists who you often see referred to as a life-saver, as in his music helped people out so much that it helped them make sense of their pain and alienation, etc etc, and perhaps put them on a healthier life path. I don't get that. Elliott is an excellent songwriter, however, with so much pathos and honesty packed into every track, so I guess I can see how some people have looked to him as their savior. It's weird, though.
Delicate and fragile, and a huge influence on pretty much every singer-songwriter since. What happened to him is such a sad story, but he left behind some beautiful songs.
This is very good album, but it's just not as good as his previous albums. I feel the move to a more complex power pop Teenage Fanclub/Big Star sound just doesn't work as well. Also Elliott sounds more disconnected and less emotionally involved in the performance of this album, even though the lyrics are the same. This is a 4.5 for me, but I'm going to round down today.
Loved can’t make a sound. Great voice. Some songs are Melancholic but found it restful music .
Really enjoyed this. Constantly threatened to get a bit boring and samey before whisking me off to a whole new place. Packed with lovely building tracks. 4.2
All the albums of Elliott Smith are testimony of a love story that I was a member of at a late stage of my life. Not my style of music in the slightest but because of the memories I shared with a young friend, all his albums rank highly with me. 4 stars.
It was like less dissonant Radiohead. A lot of feeling, emotion and pain behind some very beautiful melodies. Listening to the whole thing made me sad but it was musically enjoyable.
I never listened to Elliott Smith before this project. I kinda like his songwriting. Favorites are Somebody That I Used to Know, Everything Reminds Me of Her, Easy Way Out, Better Be Quiet Now. All of which tend to be the ones with just vocals and acoustic guitar. He didn't need that Bye track at the end but that's fine. Did he record it in a cave?
The album got better as it progressed
This was lovely. Favorite tracks were Son of Sam, In the Lost and Found, and Happiness/The Gondola Man.
Probably my favorite solo artist ever. His third-best album (XO, Either/Or). Even before listening today, I can tell you “Happiness” is one of the most beautiful songs, period, and when the drums drop on “everything means nothing to me” is incredible. The first five songs are all bangers (but the other two albums are all bangers). This was the final studio album released while he was alive as heroin and depression consumed him.
Наудивление понравилось, зашло, наверное под настроение пришлось. Не ожидал.
An ES album I wasn’t previously familiar with. Sad that it was his last but more cheer than Either/Or which is my go to for ES.
XO>E/O> F8. Four stars within the context of ES‘s discography.
This album was easy to listen to. Lyrics were good, melodies were pleasing. Good one.
Classic album.
Such a tragic album. Really hard to listen to, given the context of what he was feeling. Still so beautiful, though.
Good! Like stufjan Steven’s more alt cousin
I liked this. Seems like a lot of good content that I probably missed. Music in the early 2000’s is an interesting space, specifically the small time where the nineties were barely over but pre-9/11. I will listen to this again probably and think it’s worth four stars.
Sad bastard music
after a while some of these start to blend in to tgt or become forgettable imo but i still rlly like most of these and i also rlly liked the closing track i love instrumentals i love i love i love thats such a good end to the album but the music was rlly good as well just a few forgettable songs but i think for a debut this is rlly rlly good and i am an elliott smith meatrider so blehhh :p
Didn't really know his stuff. Very chilled feel that feels good doing it's thing in the background. The songs have depth though. I can see myself coming back to this and getting more out of it with each play.
I definitely revisit Elliott’s older stuff fairly often, so was expecting to feel like this one doesn’t hold up to those albums. But this album is great, with a more filled out sound to it and the great musicianship featured on everything he did.
Veldig behagelig, om litt same-y.
I am partial to Elliott Smith having listened to him a lot in the 90s. This has some different sounds for him that took me a couple of listens to take in. I still like his earlier work better but enjoyed this album. Easy Way Out and Better Be Quiet Now were reminiscent of what I think of as his classic sound. 3.5 rounds to a 4 on this one.
I really liked the effects that they put on his vocals. The vibe was a little depressing but I was enjoying it.
I'd never heard of this artist before. I liked most of the songs. The album started strong... then went off a bit...but really enjoyed overall. 4/5
Favourite song - Junk bond trader
Excellent album, previously unknown to me.
He held his breath . . .
Listening to Elliot Smith is an experience of what he was and what he might have been. “Figure 8” itself was a step forward in terms of adding fuller Rock band arrangements on top of his haunted vocals and the bones of his acoustic guitar. The album opener, “Son of Sam,” is a thesis statement and a guiding light: identifying with a notorious serial killer all while offering the listener a catchy, sunny Pop/Rock song is the most Elliott Smith move possible. His introspective acoustic laments survived the grungy ‘90s, made their mark on a new millennium, and then Smith was gone. “And I gotta hear the same sermon/All the time now from you people,” suggests just how world-weary this guy was. But anyone who produces music like this is more than his tragic footnote, that’s for sure. Maybe that’s what Smith meant by the album title—a figure 8 takes you on a journey, returning home again, but never quite seeing the starting point the same way again.
Hmmm.... never heard of him before. Really like it, though. A little like Matthew Sweet, but less rock-y.
I find Elliott Smith's style a bit difficult to get into. At first blush it all sounds very samey, and his voice is soft, frequently disaffected, and competes with the music. Still, it's clear there is some interesting songcraft here... interesting lyrics and some muted energy. After a few times through the album, some tracks grew on me, and ones like Son of Sam, Junk Bond Trader and Wouldn't Mama Be Proud start to become more interesting. There's enough to make me more interested in more listening and exploring his other albums.
Just great.
Actually pretty cool. Liked the sound.
Really good. A nice surprise. Strong start. Some great songs and a few alright ones. But will definitely come back to this one
Quite enjoyed this one, was quite soothing!
Ah, Elliott. The reedy double-tracked vocals are unmistakably him. The production somehow sounds both simple and lush. When the drums and synthy-strings hit in “Everything means Nothing”- it gets me. It’s a lovely album by my account. 4.0
Really good. I've heard of Elliott Smith but wasn't familiar with his music. I might have loved this back in the day. Sounds like a Paul Thomas Anderson soundtrack with occassional Wes Anderson vibes. 3.9
First time listening to this album. Only ever heard a song or two from the artist. It’s pretty good. Peaceful pop. Not annoying. Never too loud or whiny. Better than many of his contemporaries.
Great album with a sad tone. Elliott Smith makes amazing music when it comes to making the listener feel his emotions
Quality
Sad boi hours fr
Good album, nice melodic guitar riffs and harmonic moves. Interesting vocals. Good quality studio material. Pleasant impression.
Mopey folkie embraces his inner Beatles.