Reviews (page 7 of 12)
Never listened to an ES record before, and I was pleasantly surprised. Hints of Nilsson throughout. Better than average! 3.5/5
This one felt a bit repetitive, but I like the cover of Because
I need to listen to more of Elliott. Great songs. I really only know Needle In The Hay so was good to hear more.
I wanted to like this but I just found it a jarring. I think Elliot’s voice fits some songs but not others. Think this is a good album just not for me really.
This was alright, fairly interesting listening. I wasn't completely blown away but I enjoyed it all the same. Never heard of the guy
I like some of the songs
it was ok
Distinctly Elliott Smith, but a bit less successful, for me, than both Either/Or and XO. Unusually, felt like things picked up towards the end of the album - really enjoyed some of those last tracks. 3.5*
I cant remember anything about this
Nothing crazy. But it was good. 3.5/5
жесть чего начиталась на вики. у Эллиота интересные песни и кажется не очень интересный голос. надо будет ещё послушать
3/6
Album started off strong for me with “Son of Sam.” This album is up my alley. Not shrieky or too quiet with well crafted songs. It did blend a bit where I wasn’t noticing song changes.
Good, pleasant music. But it absolutely didn't click with me
5.5/10
A wispy cloud in a blue sky. Super high up. It doesn't really do much except sit there. It also provides a bit of perspective in all of that blue.
Since their demise over 50 years ago there has been a clear path to critical if not commercial success - get as close to the Beatles without actually copping what they do. Put your own spin things while closing adhering to their pop music lessons. ELO, Crowded House, Go-betweens, XTC, Jellyfish, Cheap Trick, R.E.M. Some did achieve pop success (ELO which were closer to Beatles 2.0) but most are critically celebrated or revered cult bands that had only a modicum of success - a song or two. But even within a a handful of hits most had long careers (sorry Jellyfish). I would put Elliot Smith in the same category save the long career part - but what he lacked in output during his lifetime he has made up for in legacy. The reason the Beatles blueprint works is that it sounds good. It's easy to listen to. Even when things get a little "weird" it's still in a pop context. And even though actual pop music is so far removed from his type of music and has been for decades - it's still understandable by kids of all ages. This is not a life changing album. It is probably missing a truly breakthrough song - something that can stand apart from legacy for years to come. But it is a good listen. Solid songwriting. And at moments - if you squint you feel the spirit of OGs. Maybe not "must" but if you've got nothing better to do - there are worse ways to spend an hour.
Solid
3.5/5 because i can’t give it that score in the stars. Some songs were good but some were just ok. Nothing really resonated with me.
Nice
(4/7) I knew a couple of these, not sure from where
very good for what it is
Some interesting songs a mix of live and studio pretty eclectic
Added some extra production and additional instrumentation here to his typical “sad guy with an acoustic guitar” persona. While it highlights his ability to craft a song, it loses a bit of the intimacy of his earlier music. He was obviously progressing as an artist, and we’re sadly left wondering where he would have gone from here. Solid album.
It was good. A nice find
Ikke hans beste, men noen gems.
Best of Album: - Son Of Sam
NOTA 6,5 MUSICAS FAVS: SON OF SAM, JUNK BOND TRADER, EVERYTHING MEANS NOTHING TO ME, L.A, STUPIDITY TRIES, COLORBARS, CAN'T MAKE A SOUND, BYE
The album is consistent and the melodies are enjoyable, but it's missing something for me to fully enjoy it.
Good Background music but with lots of vocals
I don't think I've heard much by Elliott Smith, and I didn't recognize anything from this album, so nice to get a new (to me) voice and sound. That said, I'll admit that as I listened to all the intimate and often acoustic tracks, the immortal words of Cracker came to mind: "what the world needs now is another folk singer like I need a hole in my head". Although I suppose that's not really in good taste, given that Smith died soon after this album ((self?) stabbed to death, not shot, but still). Among the many seemingly Beatles-/Beach-Boys-inspired songs, I think my favorites were "Junk bond trader", "In the lost and found (honky bach)/The roost" and his single "Happiness/The gondola man". A pleasant change of pace from recent selections overall, but I'm a bit disappointed to see that there's another album yet to come by Smith in this collection; this was enough for me--or perhaps the other will be ("Either Or"), as it seems more highly regarded?
he's a good songwriter but I could have used more variety in the sound. Still, I like this--definitely worth a few more plays
In the Lost and Found - Nice piano motif
This was okay, singer song-writer piano driven songs. Nothing memorable on a first listen.
Felt long. A general curation note for this list, feels like they should anchor on most impactful album for artists that didn't radically change sound between albums.
Decent listen I quite liked it not too depressing but still saddening somewhat
Ihan ok.
I find that I cannot listen too closely to Elliott Smith today. His story just makes me sad.
Deze ken ik niet maar Elliot Smith is wel een leuke artiest waar ik altijd meer van wil luisteren maar nooit echt doe. Opener Son of Sam is meteen catchy Junk bond trader: Stuk rockier dan ik hem ken (vooral van Angeles en Say yes enzo), maar lekker Everything meets nothing to me: Ineens een ballad tussendoor, vet Pretty Mary Kay: wat een downer Better be Quiet Now: Ook een downer maar deze is dan weer echt prachtig Can't make a sound: I have become a silent movie. Wat een openingszin Eerste indruk: beetje gefragmenteerd geluisterd. Het heeft hele mooie momenten, en ik denk dat Eliott Smith echt underrated invloedrijk is voor -alle doomer-zolderkamer-singer-songwriters van tegenwoordig (denk Billie Eilish avant la lettre). Maar er zitten ook mindere nummers tussen. En de stijl van korte relatief simpele nummers pakt me ook niet echt, hoewel ik de sound en thema's wel kan waarderen.
I had this on in the background as I was doing other tasks so not a dedicated listen. I found it pretty enjoyable. Worth going back to give it another focused listen at least.
Unexpectedly catchy; a touch of retro folk, reminding me alternately of Paul Simon and some of Paul McCartney's experiments with the Beatles. Good instrumental performances well-produced, with strong melodies. I rather liked it.
Pretty good
-here’s one i’ve been meaning to listen to for quite a while. i really liked Either/Or so i was excited -it’s really good but doesn’t quite measure up to that album imo… i think the power pop direction spoke to me less. still gorgeous and a perfect album for this depressing rainy week -Favorites: Son Of Sam, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud, Bye
Strong 3. Not enough to be 4 though. I think.
Very Elliott, he had the most lovely voice, nice album
Fascinating but also quite depressing. Unlikely to relisten.
I think (well, I know) I am late to this. I suspect if I discovered Elliot Smith back in the 90's I'd be a big fan to this day. So other than him sounding remarkably like songs I've heard in various movies/tv shows (and I'm sure it was him) I had never actually heard of him until now. Which makes it tricky. I listened twice. There are definitely some tunes that are stuck in my head. At the same time, this is a little over produced for my tastes - he's channelling The Beatles hard and sometimes that feels a bit forced. And, despite being a Beatles fan, this turns me off a little. There is a conflict between "vulnerable and raw" intent and "bright and polished" production. My rating system is "3 stars means it was good, but not something i'm likely to listen to again". This get's 3 but I will give it more of a go.
Mehhh, no me acuerdo d alguna memorable pero si lo disfruté
Sólido 3.5, ninguna canción destacó pero se mantuvo en buen nivel
This is not for me. Too cute and sugary. However it is well made. No reason to trash E.S. just because it's not my type of music. It sits in between what Beatles "Rubber Soul" started and what Sufjan Stevens "Illinoise" continued after E.S.
Such a sad album, made even more so by the lightness and buoyancy of some of the music.
I understand the appeal I just don't like it. That being said I don't think this is bad, it's just not for me.
This was fine but probably needs more listens to really get a hold of.
Solid. And sounds really way ahead of its time. Some great guitar licks. You can really hear all of the indie bands Elliott Smith has influenced when listening.
Listened a couple of times and grew on me, will go back again.
Quite enjoyed the music, not so sure about the lyrical content...
This rocks harder than I thought it would
Solid album. I like Elliot Smith but had not heard this one.
I started out enjoying it but it got really samey and boring, next!
Pleasantly surprised, not usually my thing
Son of Sam: sounds a little like Jake from ipa. Vocal harmonies and a little slapback are cool. Good chords on guitar with light distortion. Fuzzy solo. Cool piano and guitar interlude. Cool ambient fade out. Somebody that I used to know: guitar is doing cool things with a solo and a bit of percussion Everything reminds me of her: Cool guitar intro and solo mixed with chords throughout the song. Sad lyrics. Everything means nothing to me: not my favorite weird dissonant piano progression and reverb on the drums had a bad slapback effect on tone not great In the lost and found: I like the Wild West piano tone. Interesting ambient outro Overall: vocal tone doesn’t match instruments. I feel like there is something natural about the tone of the vocals and the instruments make it seem like the song will be more than what it is. Lyrics and notes of the vocals aren’t that interesting. Weird fluctuation between happiness and sadness. Seems like it’s trying to be more than it is and it’s a little misleading. First three songs were misleading made me think the album was gonna be more than what it was.
Huge fan of Smith’s XO, which ranks close to Nick Drake’s work in the heartbreaking sad pop-singer-songwriter canon. Figure Eight contains many of the qualities I loved about XO amidst a more majestic production. The insular quality of the earlier work that drew me in, is met with prominent string arrangements and electric guitar parts that contain sizable riffs. Considering Smith’s eventual suicide, these songs are filled with more life than XO’s sadness, which came out a few years earlier. Smith’s voice appeals to me. There seems to be some production effect to give it a wobbly, vibrating quality that adds an effect I enjoy. The bigger sound takes away from the direct connection of XO. I feel less of Smith’s situation, and how I might feel similar as the music swells. It is a tall order, but the orchestration does not push the songs to new heights like it did on the seminal works of Big Star and Love’s Forever Changes. Making that comparison as well as my first one to Nick Drake seems unfair to Smith who has made a strong record here. I will look forward to other Smith albums on this list.
At the time I didn't really get the enthusiasm for this overly long album. Now I don't really getthe enthusiasm for this overly long album. I seem to recall there is now a bit of a sad story to Elliott Smith but nevertheless I can't help but have a niggling feeling of the album being somehow a bit too knowing - it seems to make nods to it's forebears but doesn't excape from them, which to me leaves it as a good standard singer-songwriter album but nothing very special.
Not really to my taste, but it wasn't a bad album.
Fine. Pretty. Nothing memorable or bad. Coffee shop in a college town music
The mans got a sound, an ethos of sad etc. Executes it well. Whisper singing!
#112/1001 🇺🇸🎱 I've enjoyed Elliots earlier work but never spent much time with this one. Whilst this is more conventional musically, i think i prefer the more stripped back sound of Either Or. Its still a better record than i remember and a great listen. Loved the piano instrumental ending with the lid being shut at the end. Best tracks: Everything Reminds Me Of Her, LA, Can't Make A Sound.
New to me, and it was sad to read about his death at such a young age. I thought the songs were good; it's the sort of album I could get into properly, if I wasn't trying to listen to an album a day(!) I thought it had a very British sound overall (with a little REM and grunge melody thrown in), which is ironic, because I can guarantee it would have a lower average score, and a lot more of the "top" reviews would be scathing, along the lines of "another forgettable British guy, this list is so biased" had he actually been British... ahem!! Anyway, I found the songs interesting, and good, and I'm glad I've heard of him now.
I had never heard of Elliott Smith before listening to this album. I hear Beatles influences and a lot of world-weary lyrics—not necessarily despairing or self-pitying but more of a shoulder shrug. Son of Sam is decent, and it sounds better as a music video. Better Be Quiet Now captures a thought that many of us have had, that discretion is the better part of valor, even in the spoken word. I appreciate what he was trying to do, but nothing about this album is particularly memorable for me.
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
2026.04.28
I already heard stuff from him, its cute but i expected a bit more from this album
This record didn't make a huge impression. It wasn't bad, just not memorable.
Never heard of him but interesting album. Great production worth a listen a bit over long
I would’ve been so annoying about this if I’d heard it at 14.
It is a little too long, and not every song hits with equal force. This is not the ruthlessly compact brilliance of Either/Or. There are moments where the album feels more impressive than necessary, where the ornate surfaces slightly diffuse the emotional impact instead of sharpening it. A few tracks register more as beautifully made Elliott Smith songs than essential ones.
3.5/5 need to listen to more
It may not be as good as Smith's previous two albums, but this is still a pretty good record from the Indie King. Also, this was his last album before his untimely death in 2003. Here we can hear the songs getting more complex and Smith experimenting further with structure. I don't know where he would have gone artisitically after this, but the posthumous 2004 release From a Basement on the Hill seems to pair down some of those experiments. Was his hand being in color on the cover while the rest of him being black and white a mistake? Key tracks: Son of Sam In the Lost and Found (Honky Beach)/The Roost Happiness/The Gondola Man
Felt very personal, enjoyed the vibes but did start to feel a bit samey
Kinda boring
All right, I’ll try to be fair this time. I had a knee-jerk reaction when I first tried to listen to this album because I was absolutely not in the right mood. It also seemed to represent everything I hate about “singer-songwriters” – excessively polite music, an artist who gets mythologized for dying young, self-centered lyrics, a soft whiny voice, a quirky indie vibe... It made me hate it more than it deserves. All of this remains true in my opinion – but I’m forced to admit that Elliott Smith somehow manages to rise above it and make it work. The instrumental parts are quite solid, and the self-absorbed themes I usually dislike are successfully sublimated into something dreamy and nostalgic. Smith doesn’t shy away from experimenting, which gives his work personality. The songs are also different enough from each other so it doesn't get boring. Will I listen again ? Probably not - it's still really not my kind of music. But it’s a laudable effort nonetheless. 5/10
At first listen, this feels like a pretty generic album. I only really knew the opening track, which I like. But once you get past that smooth, slightly bland surface, there are some nice surprises, solid builds, a few genuinely heavy riffs that hit harder than expected. It holds up well enough that I’d actually come back to it. Still, there’s a bit of regret in really discovering this guy so late…almost a quarter of a century since he passed.
It’s alright but didn’t stand out to me
Un disco que si hablamos de gustos a mi en lo particular no me gusto tanto, me parecio medio pesado, pero si somos obejtivos es un muy buen album que parace como si los beatles hubieran hecho un disco en los 2000, se nota qeu elliott tiene una gran insipiracion por ellos
Ich mag das erste Lied Son of Sam sehr gerne. Aber die meistens anderen mochte ich nicht wirklich.
i am just settling into the idea of being 25 years old while finishing up an ma degree and then a phd in the fall. i am stressed and sad and this album made me more stressed and sad. i would call this a soundtrack album where i feel like it would either be the soundtrack of some 00s coming of age or young adult film or an immersive visual album where the visuals are cartoons. i wanna give it a 4 but i am sad so it gets a 3.
it was mid. not sure if i would listen to it again. forgettable songs. 3.3
When I lived in Los Angeles my yoga studio was across the street from the “Elliot Smith wall.” I was always kind of embarrassed because all the cool kids thought this album was cool, but I had actually never listened to it. Now I’ve listened to it, I can be a cool kid too. I think this just missed me, in a different era I probably would have been more in to this.
Mostly better than the song from the movie.
Solid album; sad it was his last.
never heard of the bloke, giving it a blast anyway. Quite pleasant singer-songwriter stuff with creative arrangements, worth a listen I guess
Two Elliott Smith albums in a row was rough on my mood. Figure 8 on first impression though was a lot less "down." Felt like a clear evolution in his musicianship. I want to revisit it and really listen to what he's saying, but overall I liked it. ~3.5 for me.
It was fine but I really don't like his voice.
if I had this in college, I would've been sadder.
01) Son of Sam - 7,0 02) Somebody That I Used to Know - 7,0 03) Junk Bond Trader - 6,5 04) Everything Reminds Me of Her - 7,0 05) Everything Means Nothing to Me - 7,0 06) L.A. - 7,0 07) In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost - 6,5 08) Stupidity Tries - 7,0 09) Easy Way Out - 6,5 10) Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? - 6,5 11) Color Bars - 7,0 12) Happiness/The Gondola Man - 7,0 13) Pretty Mary K - 6,5 14) I Better Be Quiet Now - 6,5 15) Can't Make a Sound - 6,5 16) Bye - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,72 (67/100) Current ranking: 565/879
2.7 Songwriting is better than most but not something I will purposely put on
está bien.
Tour de Yawn.
现在看来旋律很普通的一张轻柔专辑。平平无奇
Doux, me fait un peu penser aux beattles Melodie douce et sa voix passe bien au dessous, voix pas exceptionnelle mais douce a ecouter, il fait surement ses harmonies seul. Très acoustique, nom de l’album en reference a la figure de patinage. Il a fait le titre Miss misery de will hunting. Meurt pas longtemps apres cet album.
not my cup of tea but nice to have as a background
Maybe my favorite of Elliot Smith's catalog, although I'm also not the most well-versed. I don't know. His acoustic stuff really isn't compelling to me. Some of it is. I think that a lot of the critiques people leverage against Phoebe Bridgers can equally be leveraged against Elliot Smith. But People Would Kill Me For That. I DONT KNOW!!!! This is beautiful!! These arrangements are beautiful. "Everything Reminds Me of Her" is a pretty terrible refrain though, but wow his guitar playing on it is still really great. Okay so I thought this was my favorite and then songs I didn't like kept coming. "L.A." does very little for me. "In the Lost of Found?" Dude. STICK TO GUITAR!!!!!! PLEASE!!!! The Roost ending is cool, but dude. Come on. "Easy Way Out?" Really?? Elliot Smith only became a more and more obvious songwriter as his career went on, for better and for worse, and when the arrangements that back them are forgettable, like on "Happiness/The Gondola Man," it makes his obvious a little blinding. Again, the glittering outro is pretty but damn dude WORK THAT INTO YOUR ARRANGEMENT!!!!! This album had a Beatles cover on the deluxe version, you got it bro. STUPIDITY TRIES IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE SONG BY ELLIOT SMITH THOUGH This is like a 2.8
Haven't heard any of his work before. Pretty good, nice vocals.
How have I not heard of Elliott Smith
3/6
Here's the rating scale I'm using to rate these albums: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background This album is the very definition of a 3 rating. It's pleasant enough. I'd be perfectly fine hearing it in the background while sitting in a coffee shop. I'd probably struggle to realize when the album switched from this to any of a hundred other indie singer/songwriter/guitar strummers.
I'm sorry but I can't. I can't with this guy's voice. I can't with the tweeness. I can't with yet another white guy with an acoustic guitar. There are some genuinely really good songs on here and I feel like I should like this more than I do, but until someone manages to pitch drop this guy's voice I'm prevented from truly enjoying this. 2.5
It is okay. Feels like if i hadn’t been into Death Cab the last 20 years I would like this a lot more.
I didn't like this very much. Certainly a lot less than Either/Or. Too spacy or something.
pretty cool album here, liking the more upbeat songs rather then the sombre ones
I've listened to this before and liked it, though not as much as Either/Or
If I had a cafe that mainly served iced flat whites this is what I would play. I liked this
Elliott's music is so beautiful but it makes me sad, for all the obvious reasons. I liked XO and Either/Or more than this one but it is still great.
Singer-song-writer-stil uden at stikke ud.
Pas mal manque quand même un peu de peps
I like this, I know I should Like it even more, only not yet.
You go white boy
- I like the description by Pitchfork "muscular chamber pop" - I feel that on the more upbeat songs. - Some really pretty instrumental moments (I really noticed it on I Better Be Quiet Now) - I like the piano throughout. - The broody songs were just a bit too broody for me. - This album felt really long. - I'd say it's a 3.5, but I think I'll round down because I'm not that into about a handful of the songs (mainly the slower ones), and that's about a third of the album. I do like the other songs, but not enough to give it a 4, overall. - Having a song called "Bye" is pretty heartbreaking considering.
This is one my highest 3s. The earlier albums are 4s for sure.
Again, I'm nearing the end of this project so every comment I make sounds like a broken record at this point, but: did we really need two Elliott Smith albums on this project? In any case, this album felt a bit more mixed in genre than his other inclusion (Either/Or) did. It's all got that typical Elliott Smith vibe, but he balances the act quite a bit here between heavier sounds and more docile sounds. This album also does not feel as overtly sad as his other project entry. In the chamber pop aspect of this album, I also hear a lot more 60s pop inspiration, which he does a good job of breathing indie 2000s life into. I will say, the album seemed to lean more heavily into the slow chamber pop sound on the latter half, which made the pacing a bit weird. But all in all, I found this to be decent.
Not bad, will listen to more I think.
Yeah this one doesn’t really do much to me. A bit of a safe middle of the road album for me, with a safe middle of the road rating. 3/5
Sympa mais sans plus
Solid singer-songwriter record but most of the songs took me a while to get into and overall the album moved too slow for me. 5.5/10, Favorite Song: Everything Reminds Me of Her
Some solid tracks but a bit long innit
p863. 2000. 3 stars. Sounds like a missing McCartney album from the mid-70s, which ain't a bad thing. All that's missing are standout tracks. Point deducted for being bloody miserable.
Damp and moody, what I imagine living on the Pacific Northwest does to you. This album deeply suits the depressed, nihilistic, tearful guy who makes his personality drinking PBR and that’s okay . You’ll get her back one day (you definitely won’t) <3 RIP ES
3 because it's not my cup of tea. But it's a nice album overral, and perfect to leave it on background
Didn’t get the chance to listen to the full album but what I heard was a joy. I’ll re visit this one. For now it’s a 3
Boy, this guy is a Beatles fan. I mean, I didn’t hate it, but nothing moved me. I would love to hear him cover I’m So Tired. He has that vibe.
More upbeat than I expected. X/O is the only Elliott Smith I heard before and that’s pretty depressing. This is a solid 3. Nothing all that memorable about it, but a decent listen.
Surprised about this, actually rather good.
Sad boi emo rock, bit of a Dylan rip off, not bad though
It’s better then I expected it to be. Still not 100% my music but a very pleasant surprise.
Really good, if a little samey
Play that damn guitar white boy His lyrics are obviously depressing, not always my thing but he has a great voice. I think people are too harsh in their critiques tbh. I did have to take a break to listen to megan thee stallion bc it was depressing me too much.
Not super consistent, but certain songs were surprisingly good and interesting. I like the honky tonk shit.
Nice one, didn't know what to expect, honestly didn't give it a critical listen, but enjoyed the vibe.
I liked junk bond trader and can’t make a sound. Had to relisten tbh, the songs kind of blend if I’m multitasking. But still good.
Goes on a little too long for me for this kind of drawn-out, tender rock. Might be nice for a long drive home.
7.5/10 I really like Elliott Smith's songwriting style and the sad mood comes across well with the production, I just wish his singing was a bit more interesting.
Meh
Kannte ich gar nicht aber hat mich positiv überrascht. Sehr schöne wenn auch traurige Lieder. LA und Junk Bond Trader sind mir positiv aufgefallen aber das Album ist an sich sehr rund. würd ich nochmal hören.
Some great tracks here - Son of Sam, Junk Bond Trader, and a few others. But his subdued, whisper voice and the fact that quite a lot of these songs sort of meander along in a sort of mid-tempo daze made this not as enjoyable as I had hoped after the first two or three songs.
Great beginning but drags on. 7/10 Best songs Son of sam Somebody I used to know Everything reminds me of her
This is quite a well-formed record. I tried to get into it for a while, I think I lived in Portland at the time. I couldn't quiiite crack it, but listening back now I can hear that it is a well-rounded representation of ...indie I guess? They guy can clearly write a song and has plenty of musical ideas to go with his lyrical ones. I can't really separate my memories of portland from it, even though I was there years after his death. A little bit folky for me, maybe? 3 stars seems frugal but 4 seems too many.
Good feel music
Touching, but sometimes a little repetitive 3.5+
Figure 8 and Because are stuck in my head — can't stop coming back to them even if I can't explain why they are so good. They just hit different? Well, the rest... Solid Elliott Smith, beautifully made! I really liked this album. But something's missing, can't put my finger on it. Left me waiting for more? still processing tbh
everything means nothing to me temazo
Bit too soft for me but it's a decent album
There are two Elliott Smith albums that mean a lot to me. This isn’t one of them. His masterful songwriting and sonorous voice are in full effect here, but it lacks much deviation from his typical style besides being a bit more produced. I was honestly left with more of a desire to go back and listen to the two albums of his I really love than to revisit this one.
My first time listening to Elliott Smith despite his ubiquitous proximity to me for over 20 years through my friends who were into him. I was pleasantly surprised. Each track is so interesting, especially the vocal harmonies. The lyrics are interesting and penetrating. And the arrangements were nice and organic sounding. A solid album that I’ll be listening to again.
I gotta really be in the mood for Elliot Smith…& I kinda was! Although, I’ll never try to defend this as “good.” Why would I ever listen to “Everything Reminds Me of Her” when “Always Something There to Remind Me” exists & is a banger? Also, of the few things I got after my best friend died, was an Elliot Smith vinyl So I have some sentimental/emotional something, even if I don’t love the music.
Glad to have heard this for the two Everything songs alone, that was a lovely stretch of five minutes. Can't Make a Sound was also nice, but that's about all that I loved.
Really nice sound. Soothing vocals. Relistenable.
There are a lot of really great guitar hooks in this album. Smith was a really interesting singer/guitarist/pianist, all the parts are intricate and sound great. Gets kind of repetitive by the end though. That's what's holding this back from being pretty great for me, it stays in its lane too much. Standout tracks are "Somebody That I Used To Know" "L.A." - the only Elliott Smith song I'd heard previously - and "Stupidity Tries" Overall a solid 3/5 for me. Worth the listen, maybe spending some more time with it would elevate it and give you a chance to absorb the lyrics.
I hadn't heard of Elliot Smith before my ex played him a lot during our relationship. I like his voice, and a lot of his songs have that feeling of a very sad song set to somewhat happy sounding music. I also hear the Beatles influence and how Elliot Smith influenced Ben Folds a lot. There are a couple of stand out songs to me (Somebody That I Used To Know, Easy Way Out), and some that are annoying (Everything Means Nothing To Me). But I really struggle with a full album of such morose vibes. I know why his songs are full of depression, but I struggle with listening to a full album of it.
Great arrangements and songwriting. Beatles like. Way too long though.
Not previously familiar with this artist, but I liked it. It seemed familiar. Dark, brooding lyrics.
Appropriate listening for a rainy day. I enjoyed Smith's vocals, and the songs were reasonably pleasant. But not something that's stuck with me deeply.
Power pop Son of sam LA Happiness
Just a LOVELY little assortment of sorbets here! Gentle sentimentality that damn near lifts me to the heavens, blended with moments of exuberant play, and two scoops of inner anguish exercised through swanky grooves and electric guitars. Not the vibe I typically reach for, but I find something intriguing about it... maybe I'm just gassy.
not my genre
a bit pop to me but he's (was) good
Figure 8 wasn't a bad album by any means, but I feel that it just went on for too long. I enjoy the sound pretty well, although it is a bit depressing. I just don't think it deserved to so long, the 16 tracks just feels like a slog, especially with it not really being all that interesting/innovative to me. I did enjoy "Can't Make a Sound" and "Son of Sam" a bit, but I don't feel like I'll be putting it into rotation, once again, it's just too depressing. Favorite Song: "Can't Make a Sound"
Rose parade
Eeeeeh, didn't like it that much
Uncompelling. Fine music though.
Cute, but not my cup of tea. Either/Or packed a punch, this one doesn't. All in all I think I just don't like the acousting guitar/mellow vocals genre.
Enjoyed. 3.5 stars
nice sosngs...... but they too many
Fun boppy album, gets stronger as it goes on, first real experience with Elliot Smith, pretty good.
Judging this on the music and songs rather than the tragic back story. Not really coast why this particular album was chosen. Not really any standout songs. The production is good and he's obviously very talented... but even after 2 listens i wasn't feeling engaged by the songs. Previous albums were so much better
Well if i am going to honest i am not a fan of this album my resons. Evreysong sounds the same. Very slow for my likeing And.it made me feel sad and depriest after But i think that what Elliott is trying to acomplish with this. Good points Lyrics very well put togeather You can defintly feel the pain and sadness he is betraying Would give it a 3 out of 5 So a avrege score i would.say
And another one I already thoroughly enjoy. This isn't my favorite album of his, but I do enjoy it.
About 400 days since my last Elliott Smith album appeared on this list. The general perception and the dark mood haven't really changed, although the instrumentation has been extended and the music is much more complex. I'm not sure about the Beatles' influence (due to the Abbey Road Studios), as I was more reminded of Art Garfunkel and the like (but in some kind of depressive state).
Liked but not nuts about
Stygg stemme
I liked this better that Either Or, which came up 550 albums ago at 8 on the list. And got a 2. This was OK. Still not really folky enough for me and it seemed to be a bit rambling again. But not unpleasant.
Elliott Smith certainly has a very distinct sound, so props for that, and it's a mostly enjoyable sound. My biggest complaint is that the songs on this album pretty quickly start to bleed together, and also the way he sings and the way the album is mixed makes it really hard for me to make out the lyrics. Overall I liked this less than 'Either/Or'. "Stupidity Tries", "Easy Way Out" and "Happiness/The Gondola Man" were my favorite tracks.
Ganska positivt överraskad ändå! Har aldrig riktigt lyssnat på Elliott Smith, mest utifrån det jag hört om honom (lågmält och deppigt). Många av låtarna låter som en modern take på 60-talspop med Beatles och brit pop-vibbar, inte dumt alls, men det går lite upp och ner och ibland är det tråkigt.
Gillar det här ännu mer än Either/Or tror jag, men inte riktigt tillräckligt för en fyra. Junk Bond Trailer och L.A. (shoutout GH) är topparna!
Återigen lite upp och ner för mig, men landar i en ny 3a. Denna bitvis rätt stark och 4a-tangerande. Älskar ”L.A.”
Lite bättre än vad jag förväntade mig, kanske till och med bättre än den förra? Lyckades matcha mitt måndagsmorgons-humör ganska bra.
this could be a 4, maybe closer to a 3.5. really good just have to be in a certain mood for it
Pas mauvais, quelques bouts intéressants mais la voix me rebute et dans l'ensemble ça devient vite lassant.
on first listen 25 years ago: meh current: meh pleasant enough i guess. i really tried to like it, gave it a couple listens this morning but its like even when i hear a riff or run that makes me perk up for a second it just descends straight back into meh
The generic model for go-kart tracks.
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this album, but I wanted to like it more. My main criticism is that unless you’re really sitting down and intentionally listening, his vocals tend to get lost. they’re beautiful and airy, but they often feel more like a supporting layer than the focal point. Because of that, I honestly couldn’t tell you what most of the songs were about, lyrically speaking. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how many tracks were more upbeat and even feel-good from a sonic standpoint; I expected something far more consistently bleak. Overall, it’s a pretty record and a solid listen, just one that didn’t fully click for me. Favorite track: L.A.
not for me
Was decent. Didn’t do too much for me but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Waaaa whiny white boy
Probably his best album
it was pretty good. i liked the music but nothing really stood out to me.
A lite enjoyable alblum. I enjoyed
All in all a decent album, but to me, it’s just middle of the road
5.3/10
Brate ne mogu da slušam ove pesme, lik tuguje i skini previše. Jebiga, takva mu sorta. Svakako, poštujem šta čovek radi, mora da zaradi za parče hleba. Ocena za album (iako nisam slušao ceo već samo par hitova) dajem mu najskromniju trojku 3/5
not very fan of Eliott Smith
The guitar is kinda relaxing but album as a whole is mid
I know a bunch of music from his Either/Or album, cool to listen to his older stuff
it’s very tim burton-y
Maybe should have paid more attention it was good but working out which peppers looked the freshest took priority will have to listen again
Indie artist where I connect more with his songs the less Indie they are - ie: liked the songs with bigger production values ("Son of Sam") as the ballads tended to depression rather than reflection ("Easy Way Out") Not the strongest of voices but well controlled production to ensure he isnt drowned by instruments Hadn't heard of him before but geez his Wiki page is hard reading....
Sounds like the Beatles if they were a single, depressed dude.
Elliott Smith was such a capable and engaging musician/songwriter that this accessible album wasn't even his best. It was a more polished version of the sound and style established on his 1998 album. 'Everything means nothing to me' is a stand out track because of the nihilism of the lyrics, coupled with the journey of the music. But that said, most of this album is really listenable and great for being on the move, whether that's driving, cooking or decorating. If you're a fan of Neil Finn/ Crowded House and The Beatles, you'll find a lot to like about Elliott Smith
A tad angsty
Felt like a 3, it was good, and there were some really great songs, but overall I don’t think there was much that would have me returning to this album a year from now. I went into this album expecting to like it more than I did. I much prefer some of his other work.
I’ve never heard of Elliott Smith, but this was a solid album. Not standout, but a few good tracks that I would come back to.
Raw, honest, human, but man is it sad. Some excellent songs on here, particularly those with a bit more meat in the arrangement, but many are too sparse and I can't get on with Smith's voice for the most part. Good, but wouldn't hurry back to this
Son of sam, stupidity tries, everything reminds me of her, bye
3 stars
I'm not the biggest fan of Elliot Smith, his voice is a little annoying to me but I did like some of the rock songs on here like Can't Make a Sound
Not sure if it's my cup of tea, but it started off good. Idk how else to explain this experience.
solid!!
200/1001 :: Elliott Smith - Figure 8 Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 7 Listen before you die: Probably My least favorite Elliott album and yet it’s still worthy. Figure 8 starts off strong Son of Sam, Somebody I Used to Know and Bond Trader all bangers; I also love LA and Can’t Make Sound. But for me there’s some skips too (Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud). Cool thing about this album is the added instruments. I also think you really hear Elliott’s love of the Beatles on this album. Either way I miss Elliott. RIP.
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
Прикольно, не дослушала т.к. мне лень 16 песен
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.
nice
Não gostei. Parece o Manoel caneta azul se cantasse em inglês e com letras tristes.
Quite sweet, slightly whiny songs. Neither bad nor good
This is decent pop-rock, the Beatles influence is quite clear, not enough hooks to carry it the whole way through.
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
My rating 3.3
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.
Interesting melodies. Typical folk rock sound and vocals.
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.
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.
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.
Decent but his voice got a bit repetitive
not bad at all but not my fav
New artist for me, enjoyable.
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.
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
Liked it
Meh too mellow, but i used have spot for it..
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.
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.
Fin den
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Pretty cool variety of songs but it’s unlikely I will add any to my collection.
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+.
I liked it a lot as background noise. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t super locked in
Ehh, it’s okay. Not really my thing. Not sure why it’s on this list.
Heartfelt, doesn’t quite pop out though
It's alright. A little dull, but has its moments
Very talented songwriter, surprising chord sequences, but this album is not as memorable as Either/Or. Reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. 3.4
Pretty standard Elliott Smith affair... Great for if you have a hankering for some Elliott Smith and nothing else
Gear: SIMGOT SuperMix 4 Artwork: 😒👕🏁 Production: 🤏👂🤫 Music: ✨💔🪦 Rating: 🎱🎱🎱(🎱)/5
I didn't think there was anything memorable (good or bad) about this one.
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.
Sweet, pleasant.
Really surprised i wasnt into this back in the day. Very like ben folds five.
- piano and guitar used really well together actually - getting Billy Joel vibes? A bit?
meh.
This is the most OC soundtrack sound I have ever heard.
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!
Przyjemny, melancholijny. Chętnie kolejny odsłuch, ale nie będzie zapętlony
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.
I don't typically listen to this kind of musicbut this was alright. Overall good atmosphere and interesting lyrics.
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.
If Paul Simon and Sufjan Stevens had a baby.
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.
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
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
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.
3/5 7.38 if the vocals for eleanor rigby were made into a whole album.
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.
Washed over me without really making an impact but pleasant enough
Ok
Not my favorite album by him but a great listen. Everything Means Nothing to Me is an all-time great song.
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!
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.
Far too whiny
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 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.