Reviews (page 5 of 14)
I knew nothing about this artist ahead of time. I subsequently started learning about him as I listened. That said, this review attempts to be objective and not take circumstances into consideration. I'm not familiar with his other albums either so this is taken as a single encapsulation. Track 1: Vaguely Beatles-esque, crunchier. Track 2: Jangly acoustic mellow rock, somehow cheerful despite the subject matter Track 3: Nice arrangement, reminds me of some of the indie rock listen to. Track 4: Mellow, introspective, the split stereo/dual vocal thing, I've heard a lot, maybe too much from this era. Track 5: Again, vaguely reminiscent of the Beatles Track 6: Dude definitely had a cohesive sound on this album. Not sure it is growing on me, maybe? Track 7: This reminds me of someone and I can't put my finger on it. I cannot shake the Beatles feel though. Track 8: I can see why this guy was presumably influential (at least insofar as the album is on this list). But at this point the album is starting to lose me. Track 9: We're back to moody singer-songwriter again. Again, the album is well-produced. Track 10: Maybe spoke too soon. This does feel different from the rest of the album. Kinda dig it. Track 11: He's a lyricist. Not sure it's speaking to me. Maybe after repeated listens? Track 12: Ok kinda feeling this one. IDK if it's because the sound is growing on me, or I just like the groove. Track 13: Everything on this album is starting to run into itself for me at this point. I'm kinda feeling like "more of the same". Track 14: I think I'd have to be in the right mood for this album. It would work better then, maybe. I can appreciate the lyricism. Wish it made me "feel" more. Track 15: I am starting to actually wish there was more variance in this album. "Can't make a sound?" He definitely *has* a sound :). Wish there was.... more. Track 16: A closer for sure, and different from the rest of the album. So in the end -- perhaps I was not in the right mood for this album; I can see how it is apparently adored, and why it would be influential for some. Maybe multiple listens would make it stick more for me. Not sure I'd want to do that though. There's undeniably a lot of talent there, just kinda not my cup of tea. It just doesn't connect with me. I read later that this was recorded in part at Abbey Road Studios. Can definitely hear the ghost of The Beatles in the songs...
fun way to start the day! I was vibing
37. ok
I’ve learned via this challenge and some exploration outside of it that Elliot Smith is one of my favorite artists of the 90s and 2000s. I love his songwriting style the production is lush and gorgeous and the layered vocals have a beatlesy feel that I love. From the second “Son of Sam” starts this record is just as good as his other album on this list. “Stupidity Tries”, “Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud”, “Somebody That I Used To Know”, “Happiness/The Gondola Man”, and “Pretty Mary Kay” are amazing and those layered vocals are all heavenly. His guitar work across the whole record is excellent
one of my favorites
Really good album. Stands up to time. Defines an era, or at least helped to mar an era.
Прикольно, не дослушала т.к. мне лень 16 песен
super album, nisam ga slušala dugo i ne planiram u skorije vreme 🫶
A few lovely songs but the album didn’t grip me.
elliott smith my goat
I read Smith was known for his "whispery, spider-web thin" vocals. What I heard was nasal and breathy, and just couldn't get past how much they annoyed me. The music was alright, but the vocals. . . just couldn't enjoy it.
This guy again !?!
Dude’s got melodies for days on end
hear you, sad boy. A little too down for me overall, but I really did enjoy the depth in the lyrics. If you like melancholy vibes with poetic lyrics and also feeling a bit grey even on a sunny day, this one’s for you. My standouts: LA, somebody that I used to Know & Easy Way Out.
A few songs are a bit slow and sad but ig the point of the album is his problems there’s lots of indie albums like this so it’s not very original.
below average
Bit basic didn’t ever grab me with a melody or lyrics , felt tired
every elliott smith song sounds the same
Feels like I’m watching Gossip Girl
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.
nice
Difficult for me not to give any Elliott Smith album five stars. It might not be my favorite, but I love it nonetheless. A weaker back half that seems to have delta blues and ragtime influences
Não gostei. Parece o Manoel caneta azul se cantasse em inglês e com letras tristes.
just boring idk
Dope
Quite sweet, slightly whiny songs. Neither bad nor good
So I'm notionally aware of this artist - I've read that artists I like follow him. I'm also a sucker for sad/depressing topic songs likely owing to growing up with the Smiths and the Cure. In both regards, I might expect being a huge fan of this album and yet... This album just doesn't click for me. Maybe I'm not in the mood; like I wasn't able to pay close attention to the lyrics? I gave it 2 solid listens. The soft/breathy style of singing bugs. I didn't favorite a single one. So much hope...just not there today. 2/5
not my tempo
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
This is decent pop-rock, the Beatles influence is quite clear, not enough hooks to carry it the whole way through.
Decent album, nothing major. Enjoyed it but some songs did bore me a little
6/10
very singer songwriter-y. not exactly my cup of tea, but i fuck with the overall vision. i would probably use a couple of these songs in my upcoming coming of age indie film
Oh, Elliot. LOML. Like a warm bowl of soup. A warm day in January. Yes.
Elliott Smith and this album are new to me. I love the fact that the music on this album is pretty diverse. It's not the standard "singer/songwriter" stuff. I found myself tapping my toes while I was listening to a lot of it. I liked the album. Did I hear a song on it that I thought was amazing? No. Is it a memorable album for me? No. But I enjoyed listening to it. Just sort of average for me.
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.
My rating 3.3
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.
Un album cu un sound foarte clasic britanic ,e un fel de amestec dintre oasis si the beatles. As asculta albumu intr o zi inorata,adica imi da un fel de vibe de urat afara ,nu prea ai chef de nimic just chill and a cup of tea. Cu siguranta o surpriza placuta.
Iconic sad times
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😏
Interesting melodies. Typical folk rock sound and vocals.
interesting gives the vibe of delta dawn mixed with some like beachy rock elements.
incredible album by the best singer songwriter in the past thirty years. The compositions and instrumental skill are mesmerizing.
Don't mind the style of music. Am not familiar with his music.
Good piano, as for the vocals love it or hate it. Personally I liked it but it doesn't have replay value.
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
Always loved listening to this album. This is one of Elliott Smith’s most complete albums.
I had truly not given Elliott Smith as much attention as I should have before diving into this album. Starting off with “Son of Sam” and then going immediately to “Somebody that I Used to Know” offers a kind of whiplash that seems to reoccur throughout the rest of the album (he says as he begins track 11 of 23). “Son of Sam” and “Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud” have been my favorite tracks thus far.
Long but relaxing. Except there is one song with a very eerie piano that had me on edge.
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.
Eh
Beautiful
I wanted to love this because on paper Elliott Smith's music is just the kind of work I dig - sad, self-conscious and intelligent. But to be honest this was a mostly middling affair. I didn't like how he tried to be rockier with drums and orchestra. I prefer his earlier works which are quiter yet more intimate.
Well…
Solid album
There are a couple of Elliott Smith songs that I hear now and then and really like, but sadly none of them are on this record. I can tell that this is good for the genre, but I feel like it's more calm and ballad-y than I usually like. If we could give half points I'd say 3.5, but I think based on this one listen that I'll give it a 3.
Très bel album. Je valide!
Unbelievably boring, getting a bit bored of listening to the same music by different artists. Meh.
Decent but his voice got a bit repetitive
Not my cup of tea. Singer Songwriter ish med Beatles vibes
03
not bad at all but not my fav
Away from lyrical content, Elliott's voice projects a warm and comforting feeling. Like a warm cup of tea, sometimes it is ok to wrap up in a warm blanket and ignore the outside world. Even so, it is quality sad bastard music.
🥇wouldn’t mama be proud 🥈junk bond trader 🥉better be quiet now HM: son of sam, somebody that i used to know, everything reminds me of her, L.A, in the lost and found (honky bach)/ the roost, stupidity tries, happiness/the gondola man, can’t make a sound absolutely bloody loved this album wow
New artist for me, enjoyable.
This is what I imagine the Beatles sound like to people who enjoy them. Very cool vibes, chill, but also a little whiney in the best early 2000's way. I feel like he definitely had to have at least one song on the OC soundtrack. I'm a fan of this album the most so far, so I'm giving it the highest rating. Will listen again and have added to my library.
I do like this album, just didn’t hit at the right time for me. For me, this is for late winter. The songwriting and milieu are both somber, but the faint glimmers of hope come from his innocent sounding voice.
Decent not my favorite but still enjoyed it
I have tried repeatedly to listen to this and his other records and I just can’t finish them. It’s good, it’s fine I’m just not here for it. It doesn’t mesh with me really at all, I’m not mad at it, I just can’t care. Not emo enough to draw me in there but not anything else enough for me to stay interested. Glad it’s there for people that like it.
This was the final release from the artist. The music on the album is good, while the songs are generally melancholy. The lyrics are a bit abstract for my taste, but no major complaints here. I suppose this would go in the indie rock category.
Weird that there is a song called 'Somebody I Used to Know' that isn't the Gotye one! This is OK. Kind of a whinier, more modern Nick Drake. I think it's better than his other album, which really didn't impress me. This also didn't impress me, but at least it didn't make me think "ew, really?". I find it very weird that the genre is supposedly chamber pop, a genre I love. If you ask me, this is indie emo. Sorry Elliott. The end of 'The Gondola Man' sounds a bit like Norwegian Wood. That part is fine. And I like that the song titles tumble into each other. I like that the last song is called 'Bye', but it'd be better if the first song were called 'Hi' or some such. Hardly a figure 8 under these conditions.
Good vibes
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
More whiny and disjointed than "Either/Or". I plan to explore more of his work, but so far I gotta put him in the overrated category.
Lowk mid. It’s an okay album tiene decent melodies pero not my vibe.
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
Liked it
Meh too mellow, but i used have spot for it..
Really liked this and will listen again. Beatles, Brian Wilson and Paul Simon influences picked up on first listen.
OK as background music but not particularly memorable.
Today is Christmas Eve and I feel like it's not enough time to get into this.. i have heard about this artist a lot, but this is finally first time I'm about to listen to him seriously, so might even take 2 days. So I have listened to it once by now and yes, it is quite beautiful music, but to be honest I still don't see why this guy was revered so much, hopefully that's not just because of how his life has ended. Already rated as of now 3.5 on RYM, but I just can't see giving 4 stars here, at least not for now. Perhaps this is one to REVISIT in the future?
I don't get why he was/is so hyped. Songs sound mostly the same and 16 songs on an album are quite too much. Maybe he just got his emotional bonus, musically it's OK but doesn't stand out.
Banger after banger.
I like Elliott Smith and was present for this the first time without being a fan. He was a core part of the twee, winsome indie troubadors who were popular around this time. I have no recollection of this album so i came to it with fresh ears. The positives are there in high light voice, decent melody and nice lyrics. However, i came away feeling s bit bored and it was too light. An injection of something with weight and substance and ambition would have really lifted this up significantly.
OK
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.
okayyyy alternative / rock from the (early) 2000s is basically already a plus point • very calm but a bit boring / underwhelming I must say • I’m not a big fan of his voice • the instrumentals are overall very nice, it’s really just his voice that kind of ruins the song to some extent for me 💔
This was surprisingly good, I found myself hopping along to a fair few songs in the end!
Fin den
So pretty.
Lame. Like a bad rip off attempt at Simon and Garfunkel. 0 memorable or replay able tracks
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
Jeg hadde skrevet tre avsnitt da jeg tok en ctrl + R med feil browser aktiv. Jeg visste om risikoen da jeg skrev rett inn i tekstfeltet i browseren og liker å leve farlig helt til jeg brenner meg. Kort oppsummert: Elliott Smith skriver fortsatt gode låter, men skiva lider (ofte) av at det ikke lenger bare er mann & gitar med et lavt trommespor i bakgrunnen. Det er likevel imponerende hvor mye det fortsatt høres ut som Smith, da vokalprestasjonen og gitarspillinga i stor grad er det samme som før; det bare er så mye extra her som distraherer mer enn det tilføyer. Jeg har avbrutt gjennomlyttinga tre ganger for å høre på tidligere Smith-album, og prøver å avstå fristelsen fra en fjerde. Det er om ikke annet et testament til mannens talent, men tyder jo på at det han gjør her ikke er like effektivt som det han gjorde i et mer begrenset format.
Det høres ut som Elliott Smith eide en Sgt. Pepper-jakke og likte å ha den på mens han var ulike steder i huset. Kanskje legge til seg en liten Liverpool-dialekt også? Jeg syns Beatles er et av verdens beste band, men om man låner for mye av dem blir det rett og slett dritkjedelig. Jeg tror Smith var patient zero for sukkersøte, kjedelige, Beatles-inspirerte singer/songwriter (til dømes Thom Hell her på bjerget). Det er en del finurlige detaljer i musikken som funker bra. Små riff her og der, og det funker litt, men jeg sliter med den hviskete stemmen Smith har gjennom plata. Jeg tror den låta som funker best er «In the Lost and Found» og det er vel en køddelåt. Jeg har skjønt at denne plata er noe annerledes enn de andre, så jeg lover å sjekke ut dem også for å være fair.
Er mye fint her, og jeg er ikke enig i at det er for mye Beatles. Beatles er bra, så mer av det er bra. Men det er litt for platt/friksjonsløst. Og skiva er for lang.
Euch this dreary prick again
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.
Never heard of him I like this pretty well though
It's not a terrible album, but his vocal style is dated. Every song has layered vocals, and it gets tiring. Musically it's fine, but it's very indie. I probably won't seek it out any further.
I think the pieces are very pretty here, and some of the songs I definitely enjoyed, but this is just not really my thing. Son of Sam was a highlight, though, and the acoustic pieces fit well in the right mood. I would give this a 3.5, but I would be surprised if I return to this, so ill give it 3 stars.
I liked it!
One of my favorite albums of all time.
Not the greatest Elliott Smith but still pretty dang good
some good songs and some annoying songs
Definitivamente no es mi taza de té, las canciones estaban bien, ninguna destacó especialmente para mí, probablemente porque el álbum no me habló directamente. Eso sí, me gustó la calidad y ambiente acústico de varias canciones, Better Be Quiet Now es el mejor ejemplo de esto. Creo que estaría chido aprender a tocarla en guitarra.
One of the best ever. “Colorbars”—>”Can’t Make a Sound” is pure emotional destruction
cool instrumentals
3 1/2 Stars: It'd been ages since I listened to this album, so I really appreciated revisiting it after all these years. The production is so tight on this album, all the vocals, all the instrumentation -- it just all sounds so clear. Lyrically it's a little wild, but lots of whimsy and poetic. A great talent that will be missed.
awesome possum, son of sam rocks
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.
A sensitive orchestral album with fantastic arrangements and guitar pieces. Some points deducted for being a bit whiny but it doesn’t drop it out of a 5!
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.
I don’t know why Elliot Smith is so hard to get into.
Pretty cool variety of songs but it’s unlikely I will add any to my collection.
Elliott smith my beloved
Generic folk rock that I doubt will leave an impression beyond today.
Lifetime of memories associated with this album. It's hard to not love it and hate it at the same time. 4/5
That was pretty great. I’ve been meaning to listen to him for ages. His harmonies are very reminiscent of the Beatles and a lot of fun guitar melodies. The opening track was amazing. It was a pretty consistent level with the front half being slightly better. It’ll take me some listens to know the individual songs but feel comfortable enough giving the package as a whole five stars. The album cover as well I find gorgeous. I’m excited to hear the rest of his to see if this remains as my favorite. Rating: 4.7
Brilliant
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.
Dit album kabbelt makkelijk voorbij. Er is weinig op aan aan te merken. Ik zie dat ik een ander album Elliott het label 'lege pop' heb gegeven. Dit is juist wat voller. Problem solved. Dus dan zou het iets hoger horen moeten scoren. Maar blijkbaar was dat niet het echte punt. Want ik veer nog steeds niet op uit mijn stoel. Ook dit album scoort een 3+.
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.
Meh... Not really my cup of tea tbf. I can understand why some people enjoy it, but I don't really dig the singing. The first song was kinda nice, but from the second song on, it didn't really impress. Just not memorable enough imo
I suppose a 1001 album list is bound to have some...dubious selection?
Good stuff. I like that it packs a bit of a punch.
I liked it a lot as background noise. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t super locked in
This album is a BANGER.
Ehh, it’s okay. Not really my thing. Not sure why it’s on this list.
Albumi on yhtä ankea kuin sen kansitaide, ei jatkoon millään muotoa
Favorite: can’t make a sound I like the album musically and lyrically. Never been a fan of Elliot smith’s vocals and I stand by it with this album. Second half of the album is better. Something melancholic in the background.
so fricken awesome I love Elliots voice and I love the song everything means nothing to me
Heartfelt, doesn’t quite pop out though
[Figure 8] is an album near and dear to my heart; I will genuinely get sad if someone I respect doesn’t enjoy it. Elliott Smith is very much a part of my obsession with melancholic songwriters who died before their time, David Berman being the prime example of the pinnacle of this obsession, but I digress. This album is more upbeat than Smith‘s previous albums, starting with the morbid but kind of cheery(?) [Son of Sam], which chronicles the escapades of the crazed murderer who supposedly was ordered by his dog to kill all those couples in New York in the 70s. There is something very similar to Sufjan Stevens‘ track [John Wayne Gacy, Jr], but his track is disturbing, intimate even, hence why I would describe Smith‘s track as „cheery(?)“. SIDENOTE: apparently Elliott has stated that this is not about the serial killer, but come on, he was obviously inspired by him at least. I quote: „couple killer running out of time“, „Son of Sam“ sung 152 times and so on. You won‘t find anything gut wrenching like [Needle In The Hay] (which was used to great effect in one of the saddest scenes I‘ve ever seen in my life in Wes Anderson‘s [The Royal Tenenbaums]), but there are still some absolutely heartbreaking songs on here, with the metaphor filled and dissociating track [Can‘t Make a Sound] being my pick for the saddest song on the album. You can very much feel the tiredness in his voice. But if anything, you can find some absolutely mean songs on the record as well. [Somebody That I Used to Know]‘s meanness nearly rivals that of the pure hatred that is shown by Bob Dylan on [Like a Rolling Stone], which is very high praise, but of course Dylan wins in this meanness competition, Smith‘s track is only 2 minutes long and Dylan made a diss track with a length of 6 minutes. All in all, this is my favorite Elliott Smith record, and even though I was too young to experience the firsthand loss of him I very much do think about him and miss him. If I ever want to press the feel-sad button for my masochistic needs, then I just need to go to my altar of dead melancholic songwriters, listen to some Elliott Smith and reread his Wikipedia page for the 50th time. I hope I get a Morrissey album tomorrow so I can absolutely trash him and cheer myself up, this was not a fun pick for today :(
More rap, please
It's alright. A little dull, but has its moments
A bit too hippie dippy for 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+
Not for me. By well done for being on this list Elliott
Too whiny. Became annoying.
Very talented songwriter, surprising chord sequences, but this album is not as memorable as Either/Or. Reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. 3.4
I love this guy ! Great record
Pretty standard Elliott Smith affair... Great for if you have a hankering for some Elliott Smith and nothing else
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.
Gear: SIMGOT SuperMix 4 Artwork: 😒👕🏁 Production: 🤏👂🤫 Music: ✨💔🪦 Rating: 🎱🎱🎱(🎱)/5
I didn't think there was anything memorable (good or bad) about this one.
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:
I really want to like this record, as I feel in general with Elliott Smith. There is a ton of cool stuff going on musically, interesting chord changes and instrumentation. It just doesn’t quite resonate with me emotionally (yet), but I’m definitely intrigued to explore him further, I’ve really only listened to Either/Or.
This one was very mellow, nothing exciting.
Elliott forever! One of the greats.
Sweet, pleasant.
Love this album!! Possibly my favorite Elliott Smith album :)
Really surprised i wasnt into this back in the day. Very like ben folds five.
I apparently love folk, but couldn't figure out why I didn't like this album. So I looked it up. It might be because the artist is considered "indie folk". Most likely it's the indie I don't like? Does indie equate with whiny voice? Wow, people really like this guy. Just not for me I guess. Liked the song Can't Make a Sound
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.
It was really really good!! I added like 5 songs to my playlist on Spotify from it. I especially liked the songs Junk Bond Traveler and Wouldn’t Mama be Proud!
- piano and guitar used really well together actually - getting Billy Joel vibes? A bit?
When I really got into Elliott Smith I gravitated towards the lo-fi acoustic stuff, so I didn’t really give XO or Figure 8 a fair go and dismissed them as not being the Elliott I liked. I’ve since overcome that stupid opinion and realised that this album contains some of his best songs. It’s bittersweet that this would be the last true album we would get from him while he was alive, because I’d have really loved to have seen where he’d take his sound next. One of the greatest to ever do it.
meh.
I really wanted to like this, but I just can't get into it. I think sometimes music just has to hit you on the right day to get across and stick with you. I like Good Will Hunting, I like this guy's voice, I like the instruments for the most part, it's just not something I think I'd return to. I know he has his diehard fans and how he died was tragic. I recognize the talent, it's just not something I want to listen to again.
A wonderful album. Some of the best guitar playing and songwriting I’ve maybe ever heard from a lovely soul. Timeless and classic.
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.
👌🔥
Sad boy indie
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.
This is the most OC soundtrack sound I have ever heard.
this man is the embodiment of that "lyrics dark music happy bus ride" picture. and the one side good one side bad weather picture. not just because it has music-lyric contradiction, but the whole style is that same artstyle. everything means nothing to me became instant favorite. piano-as-main-instrument's the best there's also a pinch of bill wurtz in it
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.
Soms okee, soms erg zeikerig. 1.75
Enjoyed - decent enough - nice tunes
3.5 I wasn’t an Elliott Smith kid growing up so while these albums are nice and I certainly see the talent, they don’t hit me as hard as I’m sure they do for many others. I enjoy listening to them, though!
This is so so so good. Every song is at least great, and a handful are even better. Can't Make a Sound, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Means Nothing To Me, Happiness, I could literally say anything The backing vocals are so good. They adorn the lead vocals so well.
Possibly harsh but found it inconsistent and grating at times .
I think I prefer this over his stuff with just him and a guitar. I didn't know that this guy had this kind of music in him. I loved the piano songs thrown in there, and the bigger-sounding songs than what he normally makes, and the softer ones, and just this whole album. Even despite the fact that he has an entire backing band in this one, he still manages to make his music sound really intimate like his older stuff. Also, all of his songs have these really interesting chord progressions, I don't really know how to describe it well, but it really makes his already fairly unique sound really come out. Beautiful album.
lotta 4s i gotta say
Przyjemny, melancholijny. Chętnie kolejny odsłuch, ale nie będzie zapętlony
It’s pretty enough but really could only be good background music for me.
When the same elements react a very specific way his songs are magic, but when they don't it just feels like a bad imitation of Elliot Smith. There's more of the later on this album. Don't know how that works, every one of his songs have the same basic format.
It's a pure pleasure listen for me — Elliott Smith was my driving soundtrack for the summer-or-two of Persia Tea House visits. I was delighted to hear a contemporary artist that front-lined classic fingerstyle folk pickings. An update of the early Paul Simon sound, with just as much brokenhearted emo, updated for a more complex age. I remember the day I woke up, in Adam's basement, to my clock radio breaking the news that Elliott ended his life, allegedly with a steak knife to the heart. I had just gotten to know his music. I tried to listen to this outside the context of my own history. In that light, I might subtract a star for somewhat transparent emo vocals. A little too whiney, a little too obvious, perhaps. But I'm going to be consistent and vote with my feels — if 50 Cent got a 1, Elliott gets a 5.
No better than ok. Forgettable.
This entire album is nothing but the "AWWWWWWWW SAD WHITE GUY" drop from CVS Bangers. This is just the guy with an acoustic guitar at a party singing his original compositions nobody actually wants to hear. Not for me. I must be a different kind of sad white guy.
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.
Formative album for him…incredibly nostalgic for me. Always loved this one. Son of Sam is easily one of his best songs. And Colorbars. He sings “I don’t feel afraid to die” on In the Lost and Found….ugh. Such a gut punch knowing he would die not long after this album was released.
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.
What am I supposed to... get out of this? It's just boring acoustics where some whiny white guy complains about things in an accent I can't understand. It's mumblerock more than indie.
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)
Still breaks my heart to listen to his records because he was so talented. What an immense loss.
Insanely good album. Listened to some of Elliott’s stuff here and there for years, but only until recently I listened to XO and now this album. Very glad I did. Figure 8’s really beautiful, and his self harmonies and the instrumentation work so well together. I think I prefer his louder and bigger songs over his quieter and slower songs, though they both contribute a lot to the album, and I can appreciate both.
Booooring, longest 50 minutes of my life. 1/10 Favourite track: N/A
I don't typically listen to this kind of musicbut this was alright. Overall good atmosphere and interesting lyrics.
“Can’t make a sound” is such a classic. RiP Elliott.
I get so sad and upset when I listen to an album of such brilliance, with a talented writer, multi-instrumentalist and someone so pained that they stabbed themselves to death. Rest in peace ES. I'm so sorry everything was so shitty for you here x
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.
What a tragic background behind this one. There's a deep melancholy present throughout the album, though that surprisingly doesn't make it a depressing listen at all. A lot of it's actually quite beautiful. I just wish I vibed more with his vocal style, which is why I can't *quite* justify a 4 here -- but my god, the closing track left me speechless. An incredibly haunting way to end the album. Standouts: Junk Bond Trader • Stupidity Tries • Better Be Quiet Now • Bye
A very good album with a super strong start that faded off in the second half/back half of the first imo. I loved the first two or three tracks but I felt like the later ones lost the instrumentation and arrangement that made them so interesting. It was never bad, but I got my curiosity piqued by something that then went away.
Exceeded expectations
4.5 LA brings it to a 5
4/5
Just too chill and boring. Nothing really caught my attention.
If Paul Simon and Sufjan Stevens had a baby.
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
I liked a few of these songs but it didn’t really connect with me strongly lyrically, musically or structurally. It may be one to go back to as I think it would have more impact with familiarity.
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.
This is a top 3 of all time for me. I seriously don't see this as depressing music. Sure there are a couple of straightup sad songs, but I find hope in the dreariness. Portland misses you, Elliott.
I think it's so interesting that this is getting recommended to me rn as I'm currently obsessed with Elliott Smith despite being previously unimpressed by his work. Happy coincidence :) However, I definitely prefer his other albums. Solid 3, fav track: can't make a sound
Wow how have I never heard of this guy? Lennonesque. Nice listen. Will listen again and seek more.
Eh
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
Elliott Smith has been so influential that listening to his albums now, they just come off as conventional folky indie. Knowing that, I feel like I should give some extra credit for being the originator, but honestly I've heard enough music that sounds just like this and don't really need more in my life.
Good album 3/10. Favorite track: L.A and junk bond trader Not a fan of his voice, but the instrumentals and melodies were good
Like it and a few songs. Probably would be 3.5 if I could do half stars. Don’t know that I’d give it a relisten though
Cool soft album, enjoyable listen. 6.8/10
Not for me. 1/5
I enjoyed this, not really knowing what to expect. It’s mostly acoustic, but has a bit of an edge in places, and the lyrics are pretty good as well. It’s like modern singer songwriter stuff. It reminds me of part Bob Dylan, part Cat Stevens, part Gordon Lightfoot, etc…. You can hear those influences. It strikes me as being deeper than the typical 2000’s acoustic chick oriented drivel of longing and lust.
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.
3/5 7.38 if the vocals for eleanor rigby were made into a whole album.
Meh.
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.
I remember listening to his "Either Or" album just recently and reviewing it. This is similar, but has some differences. I get Beatles vibes with some Badly Drawn Boy. It's not bad, but not really my thing.
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.
Washed over me without really making an impact but pleasant enough
Ok
sleepy
Not my favorite album by him but a great listen. Everything Means Nothing to Me is an all-time great song.
2/10
Uneventful
I think I just don’t really like his voice / style. Some songs are great, but I cannot enjoy a whole album of his samesie way of singing. Overrated.
It was…fine. Meh. Sounded like every other singer songwriter (?) from that moment in time.
Interesting vocals, not my cup of tea. Generally quite sad so not something I would listen to often. Good instrumentally but again quite slow and sad. Junk Bond Trader favourite track, Bye incredibly eerie ending to album which I loved.
Very early 2000s coded. Kinda hit me like a movie soundtrack. Perhaps like That Thing You Do. Give it up for the Oneders (pronounced the Wonders) in a good way!
Immediate thought: Elliott Smith again ... how depressed was the team that made up this book? After listening though, it wasn't as bad as the other album. Still melancholy but not to the point of hopelessness.
Already a favorite, fun to listen straight through
Something was there and I was waiting for it to take off into something I would really enjoy. However, walked away feeling a bit underwhelmed and disappointed by the album as a whole.
Listened to this a few times and it just washed over me. I own XO but never grew to love it, the most I've enjoyed his music is on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, where it just fit ideally.
I’d call this middling indie but it made me feel things
Not very interested 2
Far too whiny
Great album. Doesn't quite hit the heights of Either/Or for me, but the songwriting remains top-notch and sonically this has some really interesting layers. Always impressed by his ability to make songs that are far more "rock" than his reputation. Songs like "L.A." while not heavy, are definitely crunchier than one expects to see on an Elliott Smith album. Lyrics great as well.
I adore Elliott Smith! His music brings melancholic and angst feelings like no one else (compliment). I am transported to my spirit animal, in teenage American suburbia. However this is definitely his worst album.
Sad and gentle soy boy singer-songwriter sings sad soy boy songs gently. No surprises, no high or lowlights.
This is a biased 5 star but I love Elliott Smith. I'm more of a fan of the more sparse instrumentation of the albums that precede this one but I particularly enjoy 'Stupidity Tries' and 'Easy Way Out'.
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.
This is my second album of his generated. The first, Either / Or did nothing for me, washing over me like a sea of ennui. This album I felt was a lot better, some of the songs stood out and I heard some interesting additions to the songs. At the end though it gets its score because I am unlikely to listen to it again.
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
I really like elements of this but after a while it all started to sound the same to me and I ended up fast forwarding through a few songs. But again, I like the vocals so not bad. Just rather dull.
Perfectly bland, perfectly forgettable.
Never really been an Elliott Smith fan. This sounds like an okay Beatles album to me.
I was at the combination bookstore/record shop the other day when an Elliot Smith song came on over the stereo. The lady working the desk commented that she never really got into Elliot Smith because "I always knew someone who really liked him and it felt like they owned the experience of listening to him." I've felt similarly. Elliot Smith is one of those musicians who people are so attached to that getting into them feels like a statement. Early in college, I listened to each of his albums once or twice. Either/Or was the big one for me. That said, it's difficult for me to latch onto his music like others have. That's not out of distaste, rather a general sense that he is a musician who finds you at a time when you need/are searching for them. That time has either passed me by or has yet to arrive. Figure 8 is actually a weird pick for this assignment, I'd say it's probably his most obvious flirtation with rock stylings as opposed to his usual stripped down singer-songwriter thing so it's a poor indicator of Smith. These 1001 books came out around 2005 and this one seems like it's a cusper addition - like to get a better sense of Smith, you'd want to listen to Roman Candle lol. Anyway, it's still pretty good. Smith is a very good guitar player and the compositions on here are catchy. The opener track Son of Sam is a catchy rocker, good statement of intent stuff before being followed up with the more familiar and still great Somebody That I Used to Know. Stupidity Tries is the highlight of the album though, great stuff. Mixing on In the Lost and Found is horrid, not sure if this is just the streaming file on hand with Apple but it's real messy
7/10
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 started listening to Elliott Smith the first time I watch Good Will Hunting. Ever since then, I kind of associated his music with that movie. This album kind of strays away from that but honestly, it still has the same vibe as Good Will Hunting. It is something a college coffee house would play in the background. Indie music that is soothing but could also be summed up as a little basic too. Honestly, there were hits but I wasn't really as into it as I thought I would. Favorite Tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, L.A. Rating: 3.5/5
A bit melancholy, a bit late 90's. vocal, single main instrument (usually guitar).
Pleasant
I say this as someone who has lived in and around Portland, Oregon for my entire life, Elliot Smith is the most overrated musician associated with Oregon. Having 2 Elliot Smith albums on this list but not the Cherry Poppin' Daddies FEROCIOUSLY STONED from Oregon is a crime. So tired of Elliot's heroin driven indie bullshit. Both of the Elliot Smith albums are not worthy of all time status on this list.
One of the closest things I’ve heard compared to Paul McCartney. Songs “L.A.” and “Junk Bond Trader stood out.
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.
Muy chido, pero muy depre
Some of the most paint by numbers singer songwriter stuff I’ve ever heard.
meu favorito do elliott de longe saudades eternas patrão
eh lindo demais, não tem jeito eh um dos melhores dele mesmo. acho super coeso e gostoso de ouvir. como tô com febre hoje e fui obrigado a trabalhar, ouvir ele hoje foi uma delicinha. que deus o tenha.
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.
Elliot Smith is one of my favorite artists so guess what score I'll give this album. 5/5
Couple great tracks.
It was hard to find a reason to love the album. that’s not to say I hated it by any means, it was just sort of a generic rock/alt rock album
I struggled to connect with Either/Or when I listened to that record, but this one is a little easier to access. It’s still a very sad album and maybe I don’t want to connect with it *too much*, but I’ll figure it out. Musically this is a lot more interesting, and we're creeping ever closer to the establishment of Emo music (exciting!). The fuller sound here naturally begs all the “what if” questions about the music we might have gotten if ES lived longer. All the pieces are here, it just needed a some more development to be great. My biggest criticism of this album is that Elliot's voice sometimes limits these songs. It works great for the acoustic stuff, but when the arrangements get bigger, his voice doesn't seem to rise to meet them. I'm sure you can think of someone you know whose normal voice is barely above a whisper, and whose version of shouting would pass as a normal conversational volume for everyone else... Well, that's how Elliot sounds sometimes; like he can't open up his chest and stop singing through his nose. The resulting vocals can almost sound off key. "Son Of Sam" is a notable exception here, and serves as proof that he was actually capable of singing with his chest. "Pretty Mary Kay" & "Better Be Quiet Now" - these are so Beatles coded you could convince me they're covers.
A huge soft spot
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.
First song is great, so far others I can vibe with, but not immediate stands out. On everything reminds me of her
Pretty good and chill emo background music, nothing super compelling for me.
It was fine. Enjoyed a few tracks like LA but it was mostly pretty forgettable.
2.7 didn’t offend, didn’t excite. And mostly easy to listen to…
I enjoyed it.