Reviews (page 8 of 13)
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
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.
I really like elements of this but after a while it all started to sound the same to me and I ended up fast forwarding through a few songs. But again, I like the vocals so not bad. Just rather dull.
Perfectly bland, perfectly forgettable.
I was at the combination bookstore/record shop the other day when an Elliot Smith song came on over the stereo. The lady working the desk commented that she never really got into Elliot Smith because "I always knew someone who really liked him and it felt like they owned the experience of listening to him." I've felt similarly. Elliot Smith is one of those musicians who people are so attached to that getting into them feels like a statement. Early in college, I listened to each of his albums once or twice. Either/Or was the big one for me. That said, it's difficult for me to latch onto his music like others have. That's not out of distaste, rather a general sense that he is a musician who finds you at a time when you need/are searching for them. That time has either passed me by or has yet to arrive. Figure 8 is actually a weird pick for this assignment, I'd say it's probably his most obvious flirtation with rock stylings as opposed to his usual stripped down singer-songwriter thing so it's a poor indicator of Smith. These 1001 books came out around 2005 and this one seems like it's a cusper addition - like to get a better sense of Smith, you'd want to listen to Roman Candle lol. Anyway, it's still pretty good. Smith is a very good guitar player and the compositions on here are catchy. The opener track Son of Sam is a catchy rocker, good statement of intent stuff before being followed up with the more familiar and still great Somebody That I Used to Know. Stupidity Tries is the highlight of the album though, great stuff. Mixing on In the Lost and Found is horrid, not sure if this is just the streaming file on hand with Apple but it's real messy
7/10
I started listening to Elliott Smith the first time I watch Good Will Hunting. Ever since then, I kind of associated his music with that movie. This album kind of strays away from that but honestly, it still has the same vibe as Good Will Hunting. It is something a college coffee house would play in the background. Indie music that is soothing but could also be summed up as a little basic too. Honestly, there were hits but I wasn't really as into it as I thought I would. Favorite Tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, L.A. Rating: 3.5/5
A bit melancholy, a bit late 90's. vocal, single main instrument (usually guitar).
Pleasant
One of the closest things I’ve heard compared to Paul McCartney. Songs “L.A.” and “Junk Bond Trader stood out.
Muy chido, pero muy depre
Couple great tracks.
It was hard to find a reason to love the album. that’s not to say I hated it by any means, it was just sort of a generic rock/alt rock album
I struggled to connect with Either/Or when I listened to that record, but this one is a little easier to access. It’s still a very sad album and maybe I don’t want to connect with it *too much*, but I’ll figure it out. Musically this is a lot more interesting, and we're creeping ever closer to the establishment of Emo music (exciting!). The fuller sound here naturally begs all the “what if” questions about the music we might have gotten if ES lived longer. All the pieces are here, it just needed a some more development to be great. My biggest criticism of this album is that Elliot's voice sometimes limits these songs. It works great for the acoustic stuff, but when the arrangements get bigger, his voice doesn't seem to rise to meet them. I'm sure you can think of someone you know whose normal voice is barely above a whisper, and whose version of shouting would pass as a normal conversational volume for everyone else... Well, that's how Elliot sounds sometimes; like he can't open up his chest and stop singing through his nose. The resulting vocals can almost sound off key. "Son Of Sam" is a notable exception here, and serves as proof that he was actually capable of singing with his chest. "Pretty Mary Kay" & "Better Be Quiet Now" - these are so Beatles coded you could convince me they're covers.
First song is great, so far others I can vibe with, but not immediate stands out. On everything reminds me of her
Pretty good and chill emo background music, nothing super compelling for me.
It was fine. Enjoyed a few tracks like LA but it was mostly pretty forgettable.
2.7 didn’t offend, didn’t excite. And mostly easy to listen to…
I enjoyed it.
Decent album, some catchy tunes on it.
3.5/5
n achei nada extraordinário
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 83 Figure 8’ut the tortured melancholic soul of Elliot Smith 🎤🎵. His final release continues the lush, multi-layered production of Smith’s previous album, XO, moving further away from the lo-fi sound of his early work. It blends baroque pop, indie rock, and psychedelic influences, showcasing intricate multi-tracked vocals, melodic piano and guitar arrangements and lyrical themes, touching on isolation, internal conflict, and disillusionment. Despite its polished sound, the lyrical content remains deeply personal and introspective. 🎧 Classic Track: Son of Sam 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Stupidity Tries 🎧 Personal Favorite: Can’t Make A Sound 🚫 Skip Track: In The Lost and Found (HonkyBach) / The Roost With Figure 8, Elliott Smith crafted a sprawling, meticulously arranged record that expands his signature intimacy into a cinematic soundscape. Released in 2000, it was his last completed album before his untimely death—and it plays like a man standing at the intersection of mainstream success and personal collapse. There’s a loneliness to this album, but not a hopeless one. It feels like someone trying to make sense of their own unraveling, and using melody as a way to hold on. Knowing Smith’s fate, some tracks take on a posthumous eeriness (“Can’t Make a Sound”, “A Fond Farewell”), but Figure 8 never wallows in despair. It’s more reflective than nihilistic—a sound of someone searching for meaning in the middle of the noise. 🖼️ Album Artwork: The album cover features Smith in front of a swirling black, white, and red mural. The mural became iconic among fans and was located at Solutions Audio in Los Angeles. After his death, the site became an informal memorial covered in fan tributes. While a feat of artistic beauty from a songwriter struggling internally with the strength of his craft against nagging personal demons, the album is an exhaustive listen mentally and emotionally, as Smith envelops you with the weight of his soul. This trajectory mirrors emotional decline, or perhaps disintegration: the figure tracing a loop (an 8), never truly escaping. Though Smith was alive for three more years, Figure 8 feels like a resigned farewell to clarity and comfort, an artist spiraling inward while his sound reached outward.
A tricky one to break into. I want to get it, but I have a lot of prenceptions based on what I know about it. I was met with a sound that isn't really my sort of thing, and the feeling that although I could glean more from looking up the lyrics, I didn't really want to for fear of what I may find.
Знаю, що цей виконавець дуже вплинув на сучасне покоління сінгер-сонграйтерів і взагалі дуже поважний. Є у мене в лонглісті того, що треба послухати і ось сталась нагода Враження дуже змінювались від пісні до пісні: десь дуже класний з відчутним впливом бітлів інді-рок/павер-поп, а десь досить дженерік радіо-френдлі музика. Треба буде щось ще якось послухати від нього і зокрема прогнати ще разок цей альбом
Not bad; some interesting lyrics, and overall a good (sad) atmosphere, but I don’t love his wispy voice. It doesn’t have enough weight to it and makes the whole thing feel more frivolous than it deserves. Still, on the whole, I liked it. Favorite: Son of Sam 3.5
figured out that this is pretty okay
Nothing stood out to me, but I would listen again.
Joa nettes Album.
3.0 - Kann man sich gut anhören und hat dann sogar ein paar echt tolle Nummern drin. Insgesamt mir aber zu seicht. Highlights: Junk Bond Trainer, Can't Make A Sound
The soft boy vocals aren't really doing it for me. All the arrangements are nice though. And I can't really fault the songwriting. 3 Stars.
The cover made me think this album was going to be annoyingly twee, but it was actually decent. Not great, but fun enough
Less poppy Ben Folds. I don't dislike it but I wouldn't necessarily put it on or remember the name
Ok so I really thought at first he was related to Sam Smith
Tiny, small rock album with some nice tunes.
He's got a very chill vibe, fits right into that time period. I think the music is actually a bit more interesting and layered than it initially presents itself as. I think I enjoyed Easy Way Out more so than the more popular songs at the beginning of the album. It's worth noting that I've never listened to Elliot Smith before today. But my coworker saw that I was listening to him and asked if I was okay, lol. Apparently he has very cathartically sad music.
Chillig aber auch ein bisschen langweilig
Servicable, enjoyable music, but at least on first listen, not more than that. A song or two feel like a 4, but the rest aren't, so the album as a whole doesn't make it to 4 territory. Feels like a step back compared to previous albums - I feel that whatever made Elliottt Smith an interesting musician wasn't really captured here, and I wouldn't choose this album as a representative of him for new listeners.
bi son of sam gfallt mer dass s klavier und d gitarre amel di gliich melodie hend, das git en ungwöhnliche sound. au d mehrstimmigkeit ide singstimme findi schön und s lied het en agnehm unbeschwerte vibe. bim zweite song ischs mer zvill gitarre-schrumme und z wenig anders. und d singstimme sind iwie so nöch am ohr gmischt und dass d zwei stimme unisono singed tönt für mich dadurch iwie aggressiv. junk bond trader findi en kuule kontrast, chli härters schlagzüg und d glocke isch kuul, aber mit de zit in sich biz eintönig (bis uf d bridge, aber au die überzügt mi in sich nöd eso). everything reminds me of her findi langwiilig und sini stimm isch chli nölig, gfallt mer nöd. everything means nothing to me gfallt mer sehr guet! interessanti und unerwarteti melodie (ussert de refrain und di ganz letzt minute vom lied, dasch immer s gliiche;)). L.A. chli rockiger, geili harmonie im refrain. bi in the lost and found gfallt mer d mischig usem boogie-/rock’n’roll-klavier und em poppigere style vom rest vom song und vom gsang. und d lyrics findi auno kuul. und dass de song ganz am schluss en art kontrapunkt het. stupidity cries het en coole refrain. easy way out und wouldn’t mama be proud chli langwiilig. happiness the gondola man isch a mir verbii. pretty mary kay isch denn wieder kuul. aber meh halt au nöd mega. di vorletzte zwei songs sind hert langwiilig. s letzte denn wieder cool: nur klavier und interessanti harmonie, gfallt mer als schluss vom album. fazit: me mues findi scho gnau anelose zum kuuli sache ghöre und einigi songs sind au straight up langwiilig, aber es isch no kuul. abgrundets 3.5
Not bad. Pretty chill, sort of depressing little indie album.
You call this random, yet you give me Elliott Smith on a gloomy, rainy, Midwest day - that also happens to be the first day of autumn. It's decent. Nothing mind blowing, in my opinion. I'd spin it again but am in no rush to do so.
Meh. Started okay but got boring halfway.
There really needs to be a term for a solid piece of music that is well done and written and I can’t really find any faults with but I just don’t enjoy it as much as I think I should. I may revisit this another time but currently I can’t give it above a 3. RIP Elliott
I had a hard time sitting through it, I had to break it up. The first few songs sounded the same. I have only heard of Elliot Smith but never listened, I can hear some other bands styles throughout so I'm assuming he was an inspiration to quite a few people.
I listened to this in separate sections. The first few songs were not my cup of tea and not sonically what I was familiar with when it came to Elliot Smith’s work, which took me out of it. As the album progressed, there was a return to form. The soundscapes slowed and the lyrics became the true focus of the tracks. Phoebe Bridgers all but ripped this man’s whole essence as an artist, my god! It was nice to listen to listen to something backloaded for a change instead of hits first. Clearly CDs were the predominant method of listening by this point.
I spent the entirety of my first listen trying to figure out who the f he sounds like. Then Matt pointed out it’s half my playlist. He sounds like everyone. I think a lot of these albums suffer from how influential they were because they feel unfairly played out. The first time through all of the songs blended together and all felt like a really long version of the same song. He is known for his sad lyrics and these deliver though many songs have great quotable lyrics, they frequently fail to tell a fully story. I highly recommend another listen because this album grew on me slowly with subsequent listens.
“O god Elliot Smith?” - Me at album drop, will update later I have struggled with Elliot Smith as an artist for years and continue to do so. He’s just never “clicked” for me. He just feels insufferably whiny and annoying to me. I guess maybe his lyrics are good? But the delivery makes me think he would be absolutely brutal to sit next to on a bar stool. I do enjoy some of the instrumental arrangements on this record though. Everything Means Nothing to Me was about to get skipped over until the drums and strings and piano came into save it. It’s clear Elliot has an ear, has direction, has talent, but this album lacks any trace of magnetism or charisma. I find it impossible to connect with him while listening to him. Richard Edward’s come across as an absolute sad sack but his voice texture and sounds invite you into join you. I feel like Elliot is sitting at the edge of the couch with false modesty and needy validation, “here are some songs I wrote, they’re probably so dumb, but I guess I’ll play them, even though their. Well gosh.” Maybe I’m projecting. Maybe I’m a prick bro that expects swagger and any sort of confidence from an artist. I think I’ve got half an album more to go so we will see if this opinion changes. “Pretty Mary Kay” is the first song I’ve genuinely enjoyed any of the experience of. “Bye” is a great song to end on because I’m ready to say Bye to Elliot. I like his songs when Kevin Devine covers them at shows, other than that I’m ok. Listen #2 I think I like Son of Sam but that might be because it reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. Somebody that I used to know has some good guitar work. I’m glad he got some inspiration from Gotye. Junk Bond Trader sounds like a song Kevin Devine would write. Which serves as a reminder that this is one of my favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter. Fuck there’s some guitar work I really love here. These licks in Everythibg Reminds me of Her are really good…. God damn it I think I like L.A…. Stupidity Tries has this great little chord progression in the verse that is fuckin dope. The arpeggios and harmonized vocals are so simple but add a ton of depth to the sound. It’s this thing I love where it’s a bunch of fairly simple bits add up to a really big change. The Manchester Orchestra approach. Is this a thing where I’ve always hated his voice and literally everything else in the music is more important than the voice? Pretty Mary Kay is no longer my favorite track on this but I feel like im getting more “Beatles” out of this song. The harmonies here remind me of Paul and John interplay. Ok so when I first saw it I was at 0 stars. First listen made it to one star. This is now a pretty solid two stars to me. And I think it even has room to grow from here. It feels like a departure from the other acoustic boo hoo that I didn’t like as much but now I’m even questioning my opinion on that. Fuck is this a 3? Me liking this is as surprising as me hating Afterlife. Mr. Smith I owe you an apology, I was not familiar with your game.
A pleasant album full of some wonderful highs.
Respect it, and some songs I liked, but overall not for me
I don’t know whether it was just because it followed Simon & Garfunkel but I heard quite a lot of Paul Simon in this, with some pop-folk influence on many songs. I spent a long time avoiding this for no particular reason and had low expectations but was actually quite surprised and mostly enjoyed it. I think I’d need some more listened to unpack it fully but I may well do that!
Not bad, but too many songs that seem to share moods.
2.5
Listenable.
First time I've listened to ES that I'm aware of. It's cool. I think I could enjoy it more with repeated listens. For now I'm gonna give it the middle of the road 3/5. 3/5 #182
I like this album, but it's just OK. I get really bored with Elliot Smith because it almost all sounds the same.
I had never heard of Elliott Smith before and, having read his Wiki page in advance of this, was expecting an album that likely reflected his mood at the time. Which is exactly what I got but, surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the first half a lot. It was incredibly emotive and, normally, not at all my thing - but there was something about it. I didn’t enjoy the second half nearly as much as the first, so it loses a star but, overall, this was a moving collection of songs - some of which will stay with me for a while.
3,5
This album WAS a four star for me. Then the next song played. And then the next one. Then the next one. And then i realized i didn’t realize where one song ended and the next song began. Overall i like Elliot smith. I love his use of piano and his overall not quite rock, but cooler than indie vibes. Mostly just wish he wasn’t so one note…
Good, more upbeat than his image and story suggests
This is more my speed. Mellow indie rock. I recognize his voice from some movie soundtrack, but can't put my finger on it. Good, easy listening.
not sure i get it
I must admit, I wasn't at all familiar with Elliott Smith prior to this record being chosen for me, but that's the whole point of me doing this challenge: I want to open myself up to many different artists and get out of my comfort zone. Listening to 'Figure 8', the influence of The Beatles across this record is clear as day, right down to fact it was recorded in part at Abbey Road Studios. The production on the album is spot on, and it's a good album to chill out and relax to, although I can't say many songs really landed for me. It's basically just a Beatles homage that sounds pretty; a homage so eerily similar to what The Beatles [John Lennon in particular] had already perfected in the 60s. Smith also sounds very similar to Neil Finn [Crowded House, Split Enz], a fellow Beatle aficionado, although again, Finn just does a bit more for me. I then read about Smith's untimely death at the age of 34 in 2003, which put 'Figure 8' into greater context for me. 'Figure 8' was Smith's last record completed in his lifetime before his life spiraled into depression and drug addiction. So he's definitely in the same ballpark as artists like Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley; artists who have probably become more iconic in the wake of their demise [something to be said about artists suffering for their art], but unlike Cobain or Buckley, I just feel like there's something missing from Smith for me. I don't think this is a bad album by any means, but nothing really jumps out for me except the clear Beatles influence and great production and instrumentation. Might be a taste thing for me though, as I will admit the indie genre has never really done it for me. I can see why 'indie' fans would love this record though, and I did enjoy 'Son of Sam'. 'Figure 8' is basically your average 'Beatle-loving' indie rocker of a record, but I have to give Elliott Smith props for handling basically all of the instrumentation himself on this record: guitars, piano, bass, drums, organs, string arrangements. That's no easy feat, and I have plenty of respect for multi-instrumentalists. So overall, it's OK, but nothing more than that. 2.5/5
Beatles harmonies. Bar room piano. The loss of one of our greatest songwriters. Elliott Smith’s Figure 8 was the last studio album he’d release in his lifetime, and while it’s not my favorite of his (that’s XO), it’s undeniable in its importance. It’s sprawling, ambitious, and stacked with classics. Sure, you’ve got the obvious ones—“Son of Sam,” “Somebody That I Used to Know.” But dig deeper and you’ll find “Stupidity Ties,” which for Elliott is practically an epic, stretching out his melancholy into something widescreen. Figure 8 wasn’t the quiet confessional anymore. It was Smith seeing how far he could push himself. And that makes it just as haunting today as when it first landed. Wouldn't mama be proud?
Very Portland, very 90s, a very appropriate fall soundtrack actually. I liked this one more than I thought I would.
Not Smith’s peak, but a great listen nonetheless. Son of Sam, Somebody I…, Lost and Found, LA, and Happiness are some notable highs, although there is some fluff here and there. Trim to a shorter track listing like the prior albums, and I think it’s another classic.
I quite enjoyed Elliott's style and songs, but not in a "one of the great's" way. His music was relaxing but the songs didn't go that deeply, I've heard more original stuff by random people on tiktok
More upbeat than expected
Enjoyed the poppy vibes , the vocals are ok and the instruments are fun
Fine but nothing stood out
My ex friend who I am no longer on speaking terms with really likes Elliott Smith. I listened to Either/Or because of him. I much prefer this album. It's also a lot better than most of the stuff I've had on this website so far. I like 90s stuff way better than 50s, which I've been getting a lot of. I liked the volume, vibes, and some of the lyrics. It felt peaceful. I find it really funny he released it January 1st in 2000. Like imagine if the computer glitch happened and oh well there goes your whole LP. I bet he woulda been sweating bullets. I like the color pallet of the album (it could very much be a white stripes cover, thats why I like it). 6/10
Especially compared to Either Or this album was good! I expected another bad album. This one has a few solid tracks and a lot more musically behind it!
First artist on my 1001 albums journey that have lyrics that have deep meaning, the one that you cannot understand immediately.