Reviews (page 8 of 14)
More upbeat than Either/Or. Not as good though and a little longer. I still liked it a lot. This came out in 2000, so I wonder if he performed any of these songs at CMU.
I fuckin love Elliott smith man
7/10 - Elliot Smith is good. The songs sound fairly similar but Elliot Smith knows what he is doing. I did not notice an specific favorites on the first listen but I might revisit.
Quite different from either/or, but still fantastic the whole way through
Elliott Smith left this earth far too early so we'll have to appreciate what we were gifted.
solid guitar jams
I like the solo acoustic Elliot Smith albums. They are the right level of melancholy and brooding to make them interesting listens. This one seems like a collection of songs too big for Smith. Matt Damon’s favorite brooding artist to put in a sad movie montage.
Expected this to be very glum and slow but was really full of life
You know, considering what I inferred from the reviews and how this was Elliott Smith’s last album before taking his own life, I was expecting a sadder album. I mean, it definitely is a sad album in hindsight. Some of its down moments are more subtler than others. You got the obvious ones like Everything Reminds Me Of Her and Happiness. But there’s also L.A., one of the happier sounding songs that still can’t get away from the melancholy. Ending your song by repeating “Last night I was about to throw it all away” was a choice. It’s shows that no matter what Elliott did, he couldn’t escape his demons… until he did throw it all away. That’s some haunting shit. Hearing Elliott for the first time, he sounds like if the Beatles were depressing, and I mean that in a positive way. He has a way to go from power pop to the more slower songs. He really did have a beautiful voice. It’s sad that this was one of the last times we would hear it. In general, this was a really nice album. My only gripe is that some of the songs can be a tad annoying (Everything Means Nothing to Me), but it’s only a minor gripe. Favorite track: Everything Reminds Me Of Her Other hits: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, L.A., Stupidity Tries, Can’t Make A Sound, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
One of my favorites
This was alright, but totally unmemorable.
Good listen.
In Smith’s catalogue, I’m least familiar with this album. Still loved it. Another light snuffed out too soon.
Excellent album
I've previously mentioned my exasperation at the number of "Critically Acclaiming but Introverted albums of singer-songwriters which I just don't get" on this listing, and Figure 8 should really belong in that category. But, I liked this one. Yes, it's sometime a little close to whiney, but overall, it's a pleasant, nay.... enjoyable...album. Worth a listen.
It was ok. Background music really. Perfectly ok, but nothing that stands out.
This was ok. It was giving Beatles vibes. The lyrics were intriguing. Not sure why didn’t hit with me.
A second Elliot record! Figure 8 is great but Either/Or is better imo. I wonder if XO is on this list?
This guy sure had a difficult life and obviously was blessed with a ton of talent, but this is just way too precious and sanctimonious for me.
Didn’t get much from this, wasn’t good, wasn’t bad, just meh.
😊
Such a talent, a very good album.
Meh
this make me wanna spin my hat on a cane
Better than I thought it would be.
3.5
Can't point out any particularly bad thing about the album, but also nothing particularly good. 5/10
If early 2000s hipster alternative had a soundtrack, this would be on it. Back when it dropped, everyone I knew who swore by it was pretentious as hell, which probably made me resist it more than I should have. That said, I can’t deny it’s a well-crafted album with plenty of solid moments. It’s a good listen from start to finish, but for me, it never quite reaches that next level of greatness.
Some pleasant songs
This album is so good. It has this melancholy yet hopeful feeling to it. The songwriting is really good and I love the variety in chord progressions and sounds on it. I don't immediately repeat too many albums from this list but this was one that I threw on a second time immediately after the first time.
I've always been an Elliott Smith fan. It's his sad, longing vocals with his unique guitar picking that draws me in. On the surface it feels very straightforward, where you think it might just be singer songwriter gibberish but its far more pop centric than it comes across. Especially when its produced like this record, it's like The Beatles but really sad and moody. Is this indie-anti-folk-pop? Whatever it is, I'm a fan. Its somewhat vibey, but also deep and longing. Its fun and also sad. Its a good mix of sounds and emotions.
Interesting album. A little repetitive
Fortíssimo Elliott alegrando meu dia com boa música
Interesting album. I’ve listened to Elliott Smith before but this was the first album of his I listened to from start to finish. I definitely didn’t love this album - I thought that a lot of the songs sounded the same. But I think there’s something interesting, sad and slightly unsettling about Elliott Smith’s music. The last track was a cool ending to the album. Overall like 6/10
Boring and annoying
I got three songs into this and gave up. Second track had the air of Simon & Garfunkel, which is not a good thing.
I found this rather upbeat, despite the bitter lyrics. It dragged a little towards the end.
Elliot Smith tried to hard to sound like The Beatles meet Bob Dylan with Pavement opening on this album. To me, it was very mid.
3.5 stars
Never heard of him. Very listenable. Nice chilled mood music. And he's a great guitarist. I didn’t really listen to the words in any great depth so I can't comment on how depressing it was. And anyway listening to someone else whinging doesn’t really depress me. Though his IS a sad story. A druggy who committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest?… twice!?? Whilst his girlfriend was in the bathroom? She heard him scream so emerged and pulled the knife out???? Yeah right. Unlucky mate.
These songs felt familiar, like I’ve known them my whole life. That said, Smith’s voice didn’t lend itself to this more up-beat music compared to “Either/Or.” And it shows in the streaming numbers.
i cant fathom rating elliott smith lower than 5 stars
I really like Elliott Smith but I don't think this is his best record. It's good, but compared to XO and Either/Or which is my favorite of his records, I feel like this one is just not quite there. I'm hoping one or both of those albums is on this list because I think more people need to hear that music. For this record, it's good but not great. His voice is amazing and the production is good but there's just something about it that is lacking compared to his earlier records. I would imagine that this one is on the list because it was the last one released before his death, but I hope there is another that really shows how brilliant he was. 3.5/5
Very easy listening, sad boy music.
Pretty solid album - more complex than expected.
Bland, uninteresting, boring, nothing special, totally forgettable. If the guy had not killed himself, who knows if this album would have entered the 1001 Albums... list.
really good but it feels so long. why make an hour long album if all the songs are just gonna sound the same? i predicted what the next track was gonna sound like and BOOM was i right.
i’m not the biggest fan of singer songwriter as it’s often too monotone for my taste but this actually had a little bit of orchestral variety so that’s good, still not something i’d feel like listening to other than the opening track which was brilliant, the third one was brilliant too, well x
I was expecting this to be a lot sadder, but I was surprised by some of his catchier songs. LA, In the Lost And Found, and Wouldn't Mama Be Proud stand out to me. A lot of the others didn't really stick, though that ending is a little haunting.
Boring.
Enjoyed this
Con otros discos de ES he tenido malas experiencias, pero este disco me ha gustado.
Kinda ok that
background music for a department store but still good
3 out of 5. A bit too light and soft.
This shit is depressing. Beautiful, haunting, sad.
Lush and cinematic. Extremely complex songwriting delivered with a vulnerability and tenderness. Sounds like sunshine but with the dark clouds looming on the horizon
So depressing!
Elliott Smith just makes me sad. Sometimes that's good, though.
Fine I guess
It was fine. Sounds like a lot of indie music from the mid-late 2000s. Probably one where if you know the backstory you will appreciate it more.
New to me. Easy to listen to - good lyrics, nice toons. I'll keep going with Elliott!!
God it wasn’t XO, my mental health has been at an all-time low
Bit depressing
Meh.
Favorite track(s): Son of Sam, somebody that I used to know, everything means nothing to me Will I revisit?: middle priority Current rating: 7.5/10
More fucking lackluster indie garbage from the 00s. I just don't care.... I'm so tired of these fucking mid albums on this list.... There are so many of them. This album is so fucking lame. There's 52 fucking minutes I will never get back..... I'm starting to think that the morons who made this list have fucking brain damage... Favourite songs: Junk Bond Trader, Somebody That I Used to Know Least favourite songs: Everything Reminds Me of Her, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Pretty Mary Kay, Bye.... And others..... I just..... Don't care...... 1/5
I like it, it doesn't have my favourite/better known tracks by him, but it's very good recognisable within his style, if that makes any sense. I'm sure this will be a grower.
Great listen!!
I feel like I really don’t have to give a review. This album was amazing. I’m so happy I was able to listen to this. Up until this, I primarily listened to “Either/Or” or “From a Basement on the Hill”, but now I know I have to add another to that lineup. His music is indescribably raw and emotional, to an extent where his voice and guitar on each of his songs just make me somber(but in a good way?). He’s just a beautiful singer/songwriter who left this world way too soon. Thank you for all this and all of your art. I hope we get to review another one of your masterpieces soon!
Such an incredible artist and album here. He has such a distinct sound and a way of layering his voice in with the instruments. Such unique chord progressions that make simple songs so much more complex. Can listen to his music for hours.
1. "Son of Sam" 3,9 2. "Somebody That I Used to Know" 3,5 3. "Junk Bond Trader" 4,1 4. "Everything Reminds Me of Her" 3,6 5. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" 3,2 6. "L.A." 3,5 7. "In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)"/"The Roost" 3,5 8. "Stupidity Tries" 3,8 9. "Easy Way Out" 3,3 10. "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" 3,9 11. "Color Bars" 3,6 12. "Happiness"/"The Gondola Man" 3,9 13. "Pretty Mary K" 3,7 14. "I Better Be Quiet Now" 3,1 15. "Can't Make a Sound" 3,8 Average 3,63
Dette er jo faktisk jævlig bra...
Great, if you want to fall asleep and have sad dreams
I'd never heard of Elliott Smith before, and it turns out this is right up my alley. Finally the list comes out with an album that I both haven't heard before, as well as one I want to listen to again. Sure, it's sad singer/songwriter stuff that will likely end up feeling old after a few too many listens, but for a first listen, fucking fantastic. I can't wait to listen to the rest of the late Elliott Smith's works. 5/5
His stuff just bores me tbh. There is no depth to the music. With the best will in the world it does nothing for me
gently psychedelic power pop, strong Beatles vibe - very different to his doomy reputation
Þessi plata var stútfull afofboðslega hugljúfum lögum sem myndu fúnkera mjög vel sem bakgrunnstónlist því það er ekkert á plötunni sem stendur eitthvað sérstaklega upp úr. Ég mun líklegast gleyma henni fljótt en hún er ekki slæm
This one grew on me the more I listened and the further it went. Very melancholic and one dimensional in places but engaging as well. In the right mood I might listen to this again.
Some nice tunes on here, but a bit one-tone and fails to really get going.
One of those ‘aware of but never listened to’ artists. I like his voice, delivery, the melodies are strong, and the general cut of this albums jib, kinda poppy with a slight psyche vibe. It’s up my street, but other than the opening track the songs themselves don’t really grab me much. Tbh, if you like this vibe, go listen to Ultimate Painting (1st and 3rd albums) instead, much stronger. While I’m not coming back to this, it’s got me intrigued to listen to some more, what sounds like darker earlier stuff…..
There's a vibe and rawness that permiates this album. Even when there's a positivity to the songs, you can feel the clouds building, crowding the sky and bringing you down on a sunny day. The whispers roar and what's inside you controls what's around you.
Heard it before. Not my favourite Elliott album, I think I prefer him without a band. But it's a nice album anyway. 3/5
8/10. The story of Elliott Smith is quite tragic. The music that he left behind is worth remembering.
May be my 3rd or 4th favorite Elliott smith album and it’s still a 5.
Beautiful voice and songs.
TIL that Elliott Smith is dead. In fact he was already dead by the time I first heard of him when I asked the barista what the music was while waiting for the coffee some time around 2009 (it was Waltz #2) and I always meant to find out more but never got around to it once Vodafone gave me Spotify. I liked this, a little reminiscent of Nick Drake (also dead).
Nice enough I listen to it twice. Going to save it for lounging at the cottage
Elliott Smith is genuinely some of the most devastating folk music I've ever heard. And this is definitely one of his best albums in my opinion.
Mellow but with a driving beat that was very enjoyable to listen to. Highly recommend!
RIP Elliott Smith
7/10.
I can't stand Elliott Smith
It's nice, like stumbling upon a lost Beatles album
9/10
Who doesn't like Elliott Smith? Very moody, very acoustic, very high school
Really didn't enjoy this at all.
ES with a more sophisticated sound than earlier records, it's good melancholic music, though I still prefer his earlier work.
Was not worth my time
happy tunes + sad lyrics + consistently fragile, hauntingly vulnerable singer = shotgun through the heart
Good background
Horrible
Totally unexpected and pleased that an Elliott Smith album made it on this list. Great power pop (16 songs in 52 minutes) with excellent vocals and harmonies. Very clean production. I wanna say that these are cheery songs about depression, but listening closely, there's really not a whole heck of a lot of cheer here. And, for reasons unknown, I find the closing number, BYE, exceedingly sad. Despite the melancholy (or maybe because of it), I'm giving ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 67 🎧 LPs left to review: 934 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18
Not even my style of music, but the songwriting/vocal melodies are too good for this to be less than a four.
i was bored by most of the album but there were a few songs i genuinely liked. i tend to dislike this genre as a whole but this is certainly one of the better albums I've heard from it.
Nice songwriting.
This was the second Elliot Smith record I’ve received, and it is much better than Either/Or in every single way. It is filled with beautiful melodies, intricate orchestral arrangements, and great acoustic guitar parts. His voice is not my favorite, but it is a consistent album from start to finish.
Elliott mi fa sentire meno solo
QUANTÈLLUNGOOOOOOO AOOOOOO
Hrikalega solid plata
Elliot fær 5 stjörnur hjá mér. Snillingur sem fór alltof snemma.
Elliott Smith’s voice sent shivers down my spine in a bad way. This album is way too whiny. This was definitely a cry for help considering what happened to him.
meh
I still like Either/Or and XO better than Figure 8, but I can't give Figure 8 less than 4.5 due to some of the amazing songs on it, even if I wish they were a bit "rougher" and more "raw" in production. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" and "Everything Reminds Me of Her" are two of the most beautiful songs I know.
Good album. Listened to it in the background so didn’t give it the listen it likely deserves. Definitely seems like an album you gotta be in a certain mood for
Elliott Smith is someone I have heard lots about but have never listened to an album of. He's a lot of my favourite artist's favourite artist. This album didn't disappoint. Everything Means Nothing To Me was gorgeous
A simultaneously sad and uplifting album that can itch the exact right part of your brain when you're in the right mood. Perhaps a tad too long though.
Playing catch-up here so I'll keep it short and sweet. I've listened to this album multiple times now, and every time I've enjoyed it that little bit more. I had an issue with Smith's vocals, they lack a grittiness to it that I think I generally enjoy in male vocals. However, it grew on me and would agree in the right mood you can't help but be right there with him. Vocals aside, musically the rest of every single track is great and I will be revisiting these.
In a specific time and mood, it’s very beautiful. 3.5/5
So… ‘Figure 8’ is (give or take) a top 20 album for me, and is probably my favourite album of the 00’s. I think it’s pretty good. I obviously have too many thoughts on this, so I’ll try to keep things as brief as possible. To start with: considering this is the last album Elliott Smith completed in his lifetime, it’s a surprisingly happy listen. ‘Figure 8’ sees Smith at his most Beatlesque and fiercely melodic. As ever with Smith, the contrast between the almost childlike and pure vocals with his tough as nails songwriting, leads to an album full of addictive pop nuggets that have the ability to sound hopeful, dignified and melancholic. All the songs are amazing; from the all out rocker of ‘LA’, the orchestral swells of ‘Stupidity Tries’ and the just plain perfect ‘Can’t Make a Sound.’ Best of all is the opener, and my personal favourite Elliott Smith song; the cheerfully ramshackle ‘Son of a Sam’ which may well as be a previously unheard Zombies demo from the ‘Odessey and Oracle’ sessions. Like everything else on here, it’s just a lovely, life affirming and comforting song that is just a nice place to be. And yet… and yet… There’s always the unhelpful habit of viewing the career’s of tragic songwriters only through the prism of their inevitable tragedy and erasing all nuance from their work. Despite thinking this, and putting aside the context for what ‘Figure 8’ actually is; there’s clearly something disturbing bubbling under the surface here. The album is obviously littered with lyrics that (intentionally or not) seem horribly prophetic knowing what we know now would happen to Elliott (most uncomfortably in the naming of the final three songs on his final completed album, ‘I Better Be Quiet Now’, ‘Can't Make a Sound’ and ‘Bye’.) Even outside the lyrics, Smith is clearly trying to create a subtly unsettling atmosphere. Very few of the songs actually end in a normal, confident way. Instead, songs either just fizzle out or are immediately subverted. ‘Son of Sam’ ends on such an uncertain note that it’s as if Smith had suddenly lost faith in the entire concept of the song. Meanwhile, the lovely plinkety plonk of ‘In the Lost and Found’ end’s with the a mournful shoegazey instrumental whilst the genuinely anthemic and feel good ‘Happiness’ is instantly followed by the otherworldly creepy instrumental ‘The Gondola Man.’ With this being such a deliberately nostalgic, warm and almost dreamlike sounding album, these difficult endings are only designed to unnerve and undermine whatever fuzzy stupor the listener may be in. I always see this album as like Smith sitting in his childhood bedroom, trying to escape back to that time mentally, and yet not quite succeeding as everything’s now too corrupted and off. This all eventually results in the genuinely terrifying final song ‘Bye’; an eerie lo-fi piano instrumental that’s completely at odds with everything beforehand and sonically like blinding strip-lighting suddenly being switched on. The wistful daydream is over and in its place only stark reality. The albums final repeated words “Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?” still swirling round your head… Depending on what mood this album catches me on, it either sounds like a hug from a friend or the most heartbreakingly depressing thing in the world. In either capacity it remains such an intriguing, singular and potent listen, and I love it so much for that. 6/5
Beautifully constructed album. Instruments and vocals complement each other so perfectly. Lyrics wonderful.
Not my type of music but wasn’t horrible
3/5. I think Elliot Smith is a good artist but I always feel like I'm not getting it. He sings beautifully but because of these whispers, it is a little hard to stay connected to the lyrics. The instrumentation feels very full and is a good direction he took from previous albums, leaning more into the fuller sounds which do compliment his voice still. I don't think this one is for me but I wouldn't say it was bad, I can see the appeal, so it's middle score. Best Song: Son of Sam, Stupidity Tries, Easy Way Out
Wow. Now I’m depressed.
This list introduced me to Elliott Smith through “Either/Or” which, by the end, gained my appreciation. This album had me from the first song and was just… consistent, interesting, enjoyable, even if quite a bit of melancholy was masked behind the pleasant sound. I give this 5 stars. Not the 5 stars of the “Rubber Soul” sort, not a groundbreaking classic, but the pleasant surprise kind. The kind of album you joined this crazy roller coaster ride to learn about.
This soft rock album is pretty even in tone, and I can see it's strengths for the kind of people that like this stuff. It's a little whiny for me, too much high treble, and generally a perfect example of the kind of rock around in the late 90s/early 2000s. It's funny that this is the second album in this list I get, right after Lou Reed's Transformer. It seems like this is almost a spiritual successor to that album. That being said, it's probably less cheesy overall than Transformer, and maybe a better, more even-toned album. So overall, not for me, but I appreciate how some people may like this. It's well done for what it is. I could see myself sipping quiet tea listening to this at a coffee shop and not being totally annoyed.
Hey, one I’ve heard before! This is probably one of my least favorite Elliott Smith albums, but it’s not one I’ve actually listened to much, and maybe I should spend some more time with it? I think I just tend more toward his earlier stuff. Still, even with it being one of my least faves, I still liked every song. So that’s saying something! 4/5
Not for me. Another one where I get that to the right person, this is a masterpiece. No desire to shit on that. That person just isn't me.
Favorites: Junk Bond Trader and Son of Sam
In which Smith expands his instrumentation to new heights and goes all in with his Beatle-esque melodies. This is a triumph and it's just too bad that we'll never get to hear where this could have gone from here.
Oh boy was this good! I really need to dig deeper into his discography.
Elliott Smith with the best instrumentations you could have give to his music. Heartfelt to the core. Total love at first sight for this album.
RIP KING
This is clearly a very personal album, but not an easy listen. Knowing this was his final album, the lyrics are fairly self-explanatory. However, some of these tracks should have been left off the album because they weaken the overall package
Too long. But good
I'm a big Elliott Smith fan. I have an Elliott Smith Tattoo. I am not the person you want to review this. I am clearly at a bias. I think XO and Either/Or are better albums, but I like a lot of songs off of Figure 8. 4.5/5
Edited because my friend turned me around on Elliot smith
I thought this was pretty boring
The one Elliott Smith album I never really cared for, even when I was big into his music. There are a couple of good songs, and plenty of little moments that show off Smith's charisma and style, but the songs feel overworked and saccharine. Listen to Either/Or, listen to From a Basement on the Hill, listen to New Moon.
It's long winded, but I kinda like it. It was a great introduction to Elliott Smith.
This album is insanely good. Every song feels well thought out and intentionally composed, each instrument coming in at just the right time, with the perfect melodies and rythmic structures. The emotional push and pulls, the heavy ups and downs, are like a rollercoaster specifically designed by Elliott to me make you feel butterflies and bricks from your head to your dicks. (Or whatever else you have going on down there). A must listen for people who want to feel, or need to find something they're not quite ready to actually find yet. It is a hauntingly satisfying album, and I can't wait to hear more. RIP Elliott, thanks for leaving some of your soul behind. 4.9 out of 5
Important depression music
Elliott Smith’s Figure 8 is a stunning record that perfectly balances intricate musicianship with deeply personal lyricism. It’s an album that feels carefully crafted, yet brimming with raw emotion. From the rich instrumentation to Smith’s delicate, expressive vocals, nearly every element comes together beautifully. It’s not flawless, but its highs are so impactful that the minor shortcomings are easy to forgive. One of the standout aspects of this album is the vocals. Elliott Smith’s voice has a softness that’s incredibly intimate, drawing you in as though he’s singing directly to you. His delivery is layered with subtle emotion—wistful, melancholic, and occasionally hopeful. Tracks like “Everything Reminds Me of Her” and “Easy Way Out” highlight just how expressive his voice can be. The instrumentation is another major strength. Smith blends acoustic and electric guitars seamlessly, creating lush soundscapes that feel rich but never overbearing. The piano work throughout the album adds a sense of grandeur The production, handled by Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf, and Smith himself, is stellar. Every detail feels intentional, from the subtle strings in “Easy Way Out” to the swirling, Beatles-esque instrumentation on “Stupidity Tries.” The layering of instruments and vocals is complex but never overwhelming—it’s clear Smith knew exactly how to bring his vision to life. Elliott has a way of turning deeply personal experiences into universally relatable stories. Whether he’s singing about heartbreak, self-doubt, or fleeting moments of joy, his words feel painfully honest Figure 8 is a near-perfect album that shows Elliott Smith as a fantastic songwriter, vocalist, and musician. His voice is haunting and intimate, the instrumentation is lush and detailed, and the lyrics are emotionally raw yet poetic. While I miss some of the rougher edges of his earlier work, the polished production suits the grander vision of this album. This album feels like a conversation with a friend who’s baring their soul—it’s intimate, beautiful, and unforgettable. A solid 4.8/5 for me, and a record I’ll keep returning to for years to come.
Only my second Elliott Smith listen so far (the first being Either/Or which I love), and it's certainly not my favorite, but it was still highly enjoyable with plenty of highlights, particularly Stupidity Tries and Can't Make a Sound. Definitely gotta chew on it for a while longer, but it's at the very minimum an easy relisten and stands out for all the right reasons, only further proving Elliott's songwriting prowess. 7/10
As a child all the music I would listen to was either downloaded onto my 2TB HDD from wherever, or on youtube. I remember getting sick to death of winamp and struggling to figure out how to use foobar while trying to maintain my scrobbles. I switched to music bee as my main music playing platform. I vividly remember the excitement I got seeing all the album covers of what I had downloaded populate my screen. I had a ton of U2 albums downloaded that I just had. I don't know where they came from. I heard they were a popular / good band so I decided to give joshua tree a listen and got so bored listening to it i clicked shuffle on my entire library. It landed on Son of Sam. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I played dota way too much as a kid. I would come home and play for 8 hours a day then go to sleep. I justified it as "im doing this with my friends" cause they also wanted to play that much. I don't know how much of the game I really enjoyed playing. To me it was more of a thing to do while I listened to music. I was too scared to talk to my team in any way. I was afraid of voice chat because I sound very audibly gay and people say insane shit. I was scared to type because I thought i'd be wrong and get yelled at. I kinda entered a phase of just hearing music and mindlessly playing my support heroes. I can't say I regret those days truly because I did love all the time i spent with my friend and the music I discovered while playing. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- The day my friends were offline, I played Undertale for the first time and listened to multiple Elliott Smith albums. I fell in love with Undertale ( and was so down bad for the dad ) and the song Junk Bond Trader. That one day felt life changing but in a way I would not act on until the year 2024. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Not my favorite album by him by a longshot but I have such fond memories thinking of ways to visit the wall and listening to the songs after and in school.
Happy 56th Elliot. We Miss you, we Love you.
9/10 Who knew Elliott Smith on a budget would sound like Elliott Smith on a budget. Pretty fantastic overall even if I do enjoy the subtlety and lonely feeling of an album like Either/Or more, we still get some phenomenal songwriting on here with a lot of interesting and grander performances. Elliott’s influences are on a bit more visible display here, mainly bands like The Beatles with Elliott getting more instruments and bigger arrangements involved. Some stuff isn’t gonna stick as hard on a full 16 tracks but I can only see myself appreciating his growth the more I listen to his discography. https://imgur.com/a/K3ug1Nv
Ruger showed me him before. I don’t care for his voice and the way he sings but I like the instrumentals
What a nice album...last track bye is so beautiful...
Always a good listen.
Easy to listen to. Good musician and song writer. Nothing special.
Meh
This album is fucking awesome. I've heard a few of the songs already from the Elliot Smith Spotify playlist but hearing everything together really is nice. It's a very cohesive album. The mixing is consistent through every song.. the songs are a little more upbeat than his other albums but to be honest I need to give them full listens like this. 4.5 out of 5 album. I'll rate it 5 on here if they don't have half stars
This record possesses a number of purely talented and powerful songs, including the opener "Son of Sam" and "Can't Make A Sound". While sometimes it sounds protrected, the album seems to encompass both rocky songs and more subtle and tender pieces. Wouldn't re-listen it in full, but the better part of the album makes it a 3.7/10.
72% Best: Junk Bond Trader; L.A.; Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud; Happiness Must-Hear? Nah
Wow. This dude picked a lane and STUCK. WITH. IT. Do not listen to this while driving late at night. It’s pretty but so so monotonous.
Surprised I never listened to this before. Not sure I like the more produced Elliot sound, but still some decent songs.
I found the style of vocals a little bit annoying. I know it supposed to be emotional and soft, but to me it sounded kinda whiny. Not a bad album but not something I would listen to again
Great record. Elliot is an acquired taste for some, but his lyrics and voice are heavenly. LA is a fave track!
I really like the music in almost every song. But his thin voice mostly destroys it for me. It´s a pity.
Insuficiente
chill record
Gentle, dreamy, melodic folk/alt rock with that 90s sound. Really easy listen, but not something I'd come back to regularly. Decent record.
Boring,
Quite the surprise! I liked this a lot! Some tracks drag a little bit, but overall this is a really well done and varied record. Too bad he passed, because he had some great ideas. Standouts: Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing to Me, In The Lost and Found
Elliott Smith is such an amazing songwriter to me and this project was no different. His music can get monotonous at times and it am a make you zone out from his greatest trait, his words. That’s why I can’t give it a five. I know his production is minimal because he wants you to hear what he’s saying but it could’ve used just a tad bit more spice on it. All in all, I still enjoyed this effort!
Beautiful album. Love his music. Love his voice. Such a shame he left us too soon.
Probably my Elliott Smith album. Nothing against his darker vibes, but this one feels like it strikes the balance of his trademark honesty but bigger and more accessible. And I think part of me feels like he's in a better mood here, and I like thinking of him being happy and having fun. Such a talented dude. Singular talent. Ugh, I can't help thinking he would have been such a force for reality during the early 2000s where things seemed so skewed toward bullshit. Gonna listen to this all day. ❤️ thanks for everything you beautiful soul
Та же история, что и с Жанель Моне: любимый артист, а вот этот альбом никогда полностью не слушал. Нежные и очень красивые песни. Лучшая песня - Everything Means Nothing To Me.
Hi, I'm sorry but I just cannot get into Elliott Smith. I've heard a lot of people tell me he's very good and I'm very sorry to hear about his personal issues and his tragic passing but his music always seems so down to me that was hard for me to get into it. I listen to a couple of songs, but I'm sad to say that I just found the music very depressing even though he may be a very talented artist. R.I.P.
One of my faves of all time
Elliott Smith was a bit too sad boi for my taste when this album came out. I’d heard a few of his songs and thought meh. So Figure 8 began with exactly what I expected, a little nasally but fine. It picked up some as it went on. The music is better than his voice though.
My initial thought was positive through the first half of the album. As it hit the middle, it started to all bleed together. I think this needs a few more listens to appreciate both the music and lyrics. You can definitely hear the Beatles influence in his work. I liked the paring of Everything Reminds Me of Her with Everything Means Nothing to Me - clever. Can't Make a Sound is probably my favorite, and the instrumental Bye is a haunting and fitting end to this album.
Surprised and pleased. Ben Folds vibes. Not heard of him at all before this I don't think so appreciated the find. Sad to hear about passing at such a young age too
Having heard of him for so many years, he isn’t what I expected. He’s so much better.
Inspires no strong feelings in any direction. The definition of bland, but not unpleasant
Easy listening indie
Pretty average early 2000s indie/singer songwriter music.
What a mixed bag. Some absolutely great stuff on here but also a lot of dull uninteresting stuff. Album also kinda runs out of steam.
I feel like Elliott Smith's contemporaries did this kind of music in a better way. like Alexi Murdoch or Joshua Radin or Ernie Halter. Thats not to say its bad, by any means, but it doesnt really stand out to me. Slightly depressing, but enjoyable enough.
This album was pleasant but overall left very little impact on me
Never heard this album before. Nothing obviously wrong with this but it isn't really that special either.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Relaxing and a few memorable bits. Something to listen to again
The album had pretty arrangements. His voice lacked something to make the songs resonate. Tragic life.
Elliott is clearly an artist. There's some interesting, artistic exploration here. That said, by the end of the album, I started to get weary of it. I think he would have been good to see live, and I enjoyed the songs, but not in bulk. Glad this was on our list though.
Had never heard of him before. Not horrible, but nothing really memorable either.
Favorite Track: Better Be Quiet Now
Son of Sam 4.2 Somebody That I Used to Know 3.2 Junk Bond Trader 4 Everything Reminds Me of Her 3.7 Everything Means Nothing to Me 4 L.A. 4 In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost 4 Stupidity Tries 4.1 Easy Way Out 3 Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? 4.3 Color Bars 3 Happiness/The Gondola Man 3.2 Pretty Mary K 3.3 I Better Be Quiet Now 3 Can't Make a Sound 3.5 Bye 4 Score: 3.65625
3+
if you're in your feels i highly recommend this album. if i listened to this maybe a week ago, i would rate this a 5 with no hesitation.
It was alright
Proficient
For some reason the word that comes to mind to describe this album is "pretentious".
Jfc this was so boring. Couldn’t even make it through a second listen without wanting to lose my mind. 2/5 Highlights: Son of Sam
A complete surprise. I knew the name, but never heard the music, and here is a touching album of variety and depth just dropped in my lap.
Meh, - I know he’s a big indy darling and all that but this was totally background to me. It’s okay enough to have pop up in a mix but I wouldn’t be seeking it out on its own. Somebody I used to know is all over all indy Spotify mixes, so I’ve heard that already a zillion times more than I want.
Amazing.
I liked the bits that are a homage to Big Star and remained engaged enough by some of the lyrics to keep listening.
Woah this is like high production value Elliott Smith. I like his early stuff better but this is still nice.
I kind of understand why people who love Elliott Smith do now
What is it about slightly fae singer songwriters with a 60s vibe on this list? I really enjoyed this album from someone that I hadn’t previously heard of, then clicked through to Wikipedia to read more about them and found out that they had died tragically young in mysterious circumstances. Expect a lot of wistful songs about lost love and regrets here, and the second listen through was even more poignant in places. RIP Mr Smith.
Good indie rock, but the voice is the weakness here. It misses power, and it's a bit too dull. It's OK overall, but not really unforgettable.
It's okay.
7/10 this is a weird day for me to get this album. 12-13-2024
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Either Or and scored it a 4/5 so was looking forward to this. Unfortunately was disappointed - the pop production takes the edge/ emotion of the songs and as result sound rather bland and forgettable. Best song is the opener Son of Sam and that's a 3/5 at best which means album as a whole is a 2.
I kind of forgot about this artist. I need to revisit his work because I do like this album.
Overall pretty good with some songs I'd go back to. Not quite enough to give it a 4 though.
Don’t mind this at all. Decent music to chill out to - would be keen to hear more from him. Will definitely be coming back to this one.
The odd moment but just couldn’t get into this one. Found his voice too dreary
Bumped this up to 4.5. Not as good for me as the previous two— but damn this guy was a master. What a loss.
9.8 ★★★★½
My favourite Elliott Smith album. 4.5 stars
I don't think this is as good as Either/Or, but there's still a lot to like. My favorites are "Son of Sam", "Happiness", and "Somebody that I Used to Know". I agree with the sentiments that it's a bit long and it especially drags near the end. I think you can make the case that it would've been a better album if it just ended with "Happiness". 4 stars.
Nice, cool listen with Son Of Sam and L.A being the coolest cuts. Gets a bit samey and loses its lustre later on. Lop off about 4 or 5 songs and you have a much cooler, nicer album. I have the Goyte song stuck in my head because of Track 2.
Peak.
Nothing extraordinary
Is it The Beatles? Is it Simon and Garfunkel? No bad thing I suppose. Pleasant album.
I'm sure there are fans for this kind of music out there, but to me it sounds like he's trying to perform the least memorable songs he can produce.
This is another artist that people get religious about. I like it just fine, but I'm not fanatical about it.
I loved it. My bf showed me ellioth smith a while ago, but I enjoyed this album a bit more than the last one of his I got on here.
Un mix tra malinconico e indie. Alcuni arrangiamenti interessanti, ma voce troppo triste.
It felt pretty one-note. Not really a fan. Voice is nice though
Not bad. Sam Smith has that pop/folk sound that is gentle on the ears. While only a few songs really stood out to me. It was an easy listening experience.
No
i like it a bit less than xo and either/or but its still great. rich instrumentation does a lot
pleasant low-energy indie mood music, a bit more upbeat than his other album on the list
So boring, im sure this is great for some people, but for me I was done after the second song.
Pretty good, not my style. No low points and it’s a good listen.
I really don't like this.
Fine. Just not my thing
fucking love elliott smith, perfection.
Was not listening to the lyrics much, which I suspect is important for this artist. Other than 2/3 songs, most of the tracks sounded uninteresting and like typical 90's alt-pop (maybe even early emo)
Tragic figure. You can really tell he was influenced by the Beatles, particularly Lennon. Smith ultimately inspired later artists like Ben Folds and the Shins, two of my favorites. Great stuff here, but think it was included since it was his final work (and the iconic album cover). Either/Or is still my favorite of his albums. 4⭐️
First I had ever heard. Not bad but not my vibe.
Turned it off a few songs in. Piano and guitar are nice, but you’ve is too whiny for my liking. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none
There were some songs on here I really liked. But it seemed very chaotic disorganized. I read the history around the album and maybe that makes sense. But I don’t think it’s something that I would come back to again.
another talented artist who left this world too soon; this album is incredibly solid, especially if you're looking for some indie rock that DOESN'T bore you. i was instantly hooked by some of the intricate and creative song structures; the more i listened to it the more i ended up loving it. clearly this is a guy who's really studied some of the greats from mid-century's past. it only makes it that more upsetting once you learn that smith passed in his mid 30s. it's beautifully haunting.
fine,not for me, a bit boring
This is my favorite Elliott sound, and it deserves more exploration from me. Junk Bond Trader... moral and emotional bankruptcy.
Good. I prefer slightly more stripped down Elliott Smith.
Couldn't get through it. It seems too dated in that early 2000 whiny, mumbled voice
Loved it and now depressed.
det bästa låtskrivandet nånsin?
This is not an artist I was familiar with and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the album.
An ambitious feat with great performances, production and writing in spades. The four is purely personal taste — a bit too mellow and undramatic simple for my taste.
Good vibe but didn’t seem that special. Didn’t listen very carefully though
I've listened to X/O but never this one. He was a talented and troubled young man. A pop sheen over depressing lyrics. A good record
I was a bit concerned hearing a full band backing on the first track, but it becomes quickly crystal clear that Elliott isn't just an excellent singer, lyricist and guitar player, but also knows his way around a full band better than most. Most songs have a great sense of dynamism on both a movement and a melody scale.
A great overall sound. Real craft
É um album legal, acho que eu daria mais uma chance para ele. Tem uma sonoridade bem legal. Gostei de Son of Sam, Everything Means Nothing To Me e Colorbars
Autobahn-Musik that I used to know, hahahaha Ne, kann man sich anhören, aber nichts wofür ich Geld ausgeben würde
Forgettable lahmes Gedudel mit Flüsterstimme Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine
All songs sound the same. Boring
Y’a des albums juste mid, je suis pas en train de dire que cet album en fait partie, mais 😏
You'll never go wrong with some Elliott Smith - super solid songwriting, interesting melodies.
Solid songwriting, strong lyrics and great vocals. You’re never going wrong with Elliott Smith.
77/100. Great start to the album, however it fell off towards the end.
7tje
..
what a tender boy
Surprisingly good listen. Not an artist I am familiar with but good vocals, good use of instrumentation. Liked the piano and guitar mix throughout. Maybe a little repetitive listening to the whole album but on the whole quite pleasant.
Saved Prior: Somebody That I Used To Know, Everything Means Nothing To Me Off Rip: Son of Sam, Junk Bond Trader, Everything Reminds Me Of Her, Stupidity Tries, Easy Way Out, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Happiness/The Gondola Man Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: The "Bye" instrumental being the last thing he lived to release on an album is heartbreaking
If I was 20 in the late 90s, I probably would have loved this album. Now it is ok.
Solid harmonies
I really liked this
Incredible album. A pure gem
General impression: incredible songwriter. An album quite full of life for being someone’s final album before an early death. Detailed review: I’m ashamed that it’s taken me this long to listen to an Elliott Smith album. Especially because I just fell in love with it at first listen… This album is full of catchy and wonderfully written songs. I love Smith’s way with a chord progression. And despite being really well-produced, with all kinds of flourishes and depth and layers, this is an album that would probably be just as good if it was just demos. At least the production backs up the songs instead of getting in their way. “L.A.” is amazing and you can totally see Smith’s influence on people like Christopher Owens. This review isn’t really going anywhere, mainly because I’m just a little bowled over from loving the album. Deeper thoughts (context): I definitely want to listen to his whole discography now. Score: 5 Number of albums left to review: 957 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 26 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 18
Pretty good. Would like to listen more
This is the kind of utter shit listened to by 13-year-old girls after they've had an argument with their mum
Never heardbit before but definitely enjoyed it quite a bit
Good
At first this was a pretty unremarkable album to me and not much stood out. But in the latter half of the record, I noticed a lot more late-era Beatles sound, which was fun to listen to. There were a few instrumental tracks that could've probably been tossed in my opinion, but overall not a bad album. Notable Tracks: - Stupidity Tries - Wouldn't Mama Be Proud - Happiness 5/10
Really, really strong album. I think it'll get even better with re-listens. The music is dynamic and diverse. Very rewarding. His voice, while pleasant, just doesn't have a ton of range to make this all the way to 5 stars.
I liked this just fine. It was a little dull at times. I suspect that if I'd discovered this when I was younger that it would have been an important album in my life.
Feels like a Ben folds album LA is a standout track
Mid
Good tunes, respect the works, but his limited range singing kind of gets tiring to me.
I absolutely adore this beautiful record.
Not his best.
Even being from Portland I don't understand the fascination with Elliott Smith. I did love "Plainclothes Man" by his band Heatmiser. Outside of that, I have always found him to be vanilla, both in his singing and the song structure/hooks. Is it the message and song writing people like? Was it the time and that sound resonated with people? I can admit I've never listened to this entire album. But nothing jumps out at me as being essential listening. It's ok, I wouldn't leave the room if someone threw it on, but I also wouldn't get into a groove either. There are likely hundreds of albums that sound this bland from late 90's and early 2000's. The album borders on meandering and boring, I struggled to finish most songs, there won't be a second listen. The saving grace is most songs are under 4 mins long, but then there are 16 songs to drag the experience out. One star for trying, just not my thing I guess. Certainly not a Top 1001 album.
It was almost nauseating how color-in-the-lines this album was. Every buildup and swell felt very forced. He used the same formula for building drama in at least 7-8 songs (the strings coming in and him repeating his vocals). Reusing this formula is what made the second to last song lose it's impact. All elements considered he has a good voice and the album wasn't garbage, just a little too "safe" and white-bread to be expected on a list like this. 2.7/5 -> 3/5
Probably Elliott Smith’s most accessible album - and by accessible I mean the one you can listen to without being super duper depressed after.
Rating: 8.5/10 More rock inspired and still great.
It doesn't always work when a lo-fi bedroom artist transitions to deploy the full suite of studio tools, but this album really does, marking a big leap in Elliot Smith's music - the songwriting and vocals remain more or less the same - Nick Drakey influenced sad slow songs sung airly with slightly offbeat chord changes and rhtyhmic patterns - but the arrangements are a whole other level: either lush and orchestral chamber pop or harder rocking full band, it combines huge sounds with intimate vocal performances, replacing the lo-fi static fuzz that used to suffocate the singer with arrangements that either lift him up, or bury him in. Lots of good stuff on this, a creative amalgam of lots of 90s indie/alt rock production, I just can't get past not liking his voice at all.
Overall: 6/10 This is my first Elliott Smith album, and on a forst impression I can see what makes him such a special artist for a lot of people. His lyrics are interesting and the songs have catchy poppy melodies. However, on a personal level nothing really stood out to me as being exceptional. Maybe it's a case of needing to hear it in the right setting but for now I think it's a pretty good album that I wanted to love but didn't get much out of. I also think a couple of track could have been removed to make it a smoother listen, cause this is a looooong album. Fav Song: L.A. Least Fav Song: Everything Means Nothing to Me
Tragic figure. You can really tell he was influenced by the Beatles, particularly Lennon. Smith ultimately inspired later artists like Ben Folds and the Shins. Great stuff here.
Not bad. I liked his voice and the music is very 90's, early 00's.
Fine I guess. Not really for me. Kinda liked "Can't Make A Sound" but everything else just blended together.
O wow, na prvu me baš zaintrigiralo, vidjet ćemo dalje. Nikad nisam ni čula za njega! 🫣 Često mi se dogodi da me uvod u album istrese iz cipela i onda mi samo krene padati entuzijazam, mislim da je ovo još jedan takav slučaj. Da, evo, dosada. Izgubila sam volju 😅 jednostavno mi nema ništa da mi drži interes nekako. Sve je još nekako bilo okej do ove Everything Reminds Me Of Her koja me baš naživcirala. A ni iduća nije bolja. (Sad mi je možda jasnije zašto nisam čula za ovo, nekako me moj ukus za glazbu istrenirano vodi dalje od ovakvih glazbenika, jbg) Imam filing da na ovom albumu ako nije žalopojka, onda je neki dosta lejm rok koji mi nikad nije sjedao. Znam da nije dobro kad jedva čekam da završi album. Mah, 2/5, 3/10, čisto jer znam koliko može gore, bilo ih je bogu fala.
Jutros uz kavu je Mia ispričala njegovu priču koju je našla online pa sam malo pod utjecajem toga. Inače mislim da bi ovu glazbu dosta brzo odbacio. Ali, iako je soft ima mi nekakav ok prizvuk. Glazbeno nije loše, lijepu boju glasa ima, na neki čudan način me prva pjesma podsjetila na neki soft king gizzard. Ne znam zašto, valjda zbog tih, ajmo reći, netipičnih harmonija koje ima dok pjeva Zanimljiva kombinacija zapravo, na prvu zvuči jako meko i sanjivo, ali dosta je ovo psihodelično i old skul zapravo I ne mogu se sjetiti gdje sam već čuo njegovo ime, ali poznat mi je od nekuda. Da, polako, ali sigurno, me smorio lik. Da nije ovog projekta, nikad ne bih poslušao niti jednu njegovu pjesmu, a kamoli album. Pošto ima nekih ok elemenata bit će dvojka.
4.5/10 Dosta prosjecno sa nekim dobrim momentima. Ne znam da li su svi u pocetku 2000-ih ganjali tu minutazu ali ovdje mi ima previse stvari opcenito i koje zvuce preslicno. Ono sto mi se zapravo svidja je njegov vokal, pasao bi u dosta pop glazbe, mozda i rocka ali pogotovo indie-a. Nijednom me nije skroz nazivcirao, iako je to moglo biti skraceno na 25-30 minuta i neke stvari su se mogle uredno izbaciti (16 stvari btj, malo je smor). In The Lost And Found mi je dosta sjela, cak sam ju pustio par puta nakon preslusavanja cijelog albuma. Sve u svemu, album koji cu zaboraviti vec iduci tjedan, najvise zbog toliko slicnih laganica i bas niceg novog sto vec nisam dozivio ali hajd, nije mi zao sto sam ga cuo. Ok, next.
Did not care for this. 1.5
I like other Elliott Smith albums more than this one, but this one is fine.
It's alright. Nothing super spectacular, but also not terrible.
Not the sad strummer I was led to believe.
Hadn't listened to a lot of Elliott Smith. I can now understand why he's the emo Cobain. An enjoyable, if somewhat depressing, listen.
my name is donald trump and i approve this message
Not for me.
First note is that there were some really interesting musical compositions within this album. Some nice guitar and piano work, some nice strings. There were a couple tracks that stood out for me, like Happiness and Stupidity Tries, that I’ll likely revisit. For the most part, I didn’t enjoy his voice and found the majority of tracks to be skip worthy. May revisit at some point but kinda doubtful.
# Album Name: Figure 8 # Artist: Elliot Smith # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Never been a fan of ES. I found the album pretty bland, boring and it never gets going for me. Worst thing is theres 70 minutes of this stuff. Who honestly thinks its a wise decision to bang out 70 mins of average tunes. This is bang average americana. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No