Reviews (page 8 of 12)
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.
la lecture automatique après l'album était très chouette.
71/100 pretty good, some of it gets a bit boring but a lot of it is really good
3/5
5.5/10 not my thing but can appreciate it for what it is I guess
It was good and I liked having it on but it didn't excite me all that much.
If you look up “Pretty Good” in the dictionary, this album comes up.
I didn’t hate this album it was easy to listen too but also I was listening while doing some work I don’t think I would sit down and intentionally listen to it .
A good album for a specific mood
I've never listened to this album (6). Too indiecore for my taste but well done, great melodies.
очень приятный, легкий несколько песен точно скачаю
His songwriting is very simple, direct but effective. Most of the songs sound the same but somehow I was not bored. I do think 16 songs were too much, he could have made a better shorter album, but I liked the album and it was easy to listen to it.
OK, not really interesting
I didn’t mind the album. It’s chill, it’s a vibe. I’m not sure if I’m a fan of the shifted, overdubbed vocals. But I appreciate the song writing
Was just ok
🫥
I knew the name but hadn’t really listened much. Now I’ve realized I really like “L.A.”.
Nice album by the late Elliott Smith where he takes his raw indie folk (a bit like Nick Drake) into the fuller production sound of a Beatles or Beach Boys, such was his like of that era. Good songwriter and this album definitely worth a listen as I hadn't heard it all before.
Poza Everything Means Nothing To Me nuda
More range and variety than I expected from someone known for general sad boy vibes. Moderately liked it, even if later i forget what it sounded like for the most part. A 3.5 for me- perfectly nice, did not make a major impact
Hit or miss on the songs off the album. The hits were Son of Sam and L.A. the misses which I didn’t take note of reminded me of some off Broadway musical score.
Hmm
A little too depressing…? Not my cup of tea but I don’t hate it
His most upbeat album???
My least favourite Elliott Smith album. But it's still an Elliott Smith album.
some nice songs i liked somebofy i used to know
For an album with 16 songs, I don’t really have a whole lot to say about it I liked it. I didn’t think it was anything amazing but there was definitely some good tracks scattered throughout (my favorite being Son of Sam) The first half was also better than the second half and maybe could’ve benefitted from reducing the tracklist by a couple of songs A solid album Favorites: None Honorable Mentions: Son of Sam, In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost
Kinda interesting… kinda sad and depressing. Overall, it’s a decent record
Liked it, but a bit dour in places unfortunately
The musical equivalent of Zack Braff. Very vanilla
It was just ok and incredibly forgettable. Highlights: Everything Means Nothing to Me
A decent album, and I enjoyed listening to it, but I wouldn’t reach for it again Fav songs: Son of Sam, Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
Acoustic Beatles. Not memorable.
Not bad. Not bad. I get it. But its not exactly essential listening.
Pretty good 7/10
His story is tragic but I’m struggling to listen to the whole album.
3.5
I liked this album. Some duds - everything means nothing to me & in the lost and found. Both of which I thought were quite unsettling. 3/5
Good stuff, not my bag but enjoyable. I like that he can play just about every instrument to execute his vision.
Depressing but not in a bad way. Enjoyable but not memorable
Meh. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't tickling my music itch. Must hear before I die? Probably not. 3 stars for the nice harmonies and what not. At least it wasn't some prog rock garbage full of noises and sounds.
Not bad
gut gespielt, manchmal etwas eintönig.
Hasta ahora solo había escuchado los primeros álbumes de Elliott Smith. Esperaba algo parecido, pero la verdad es que este álbum ha sido una sorpresa: tiene una instrumentación mucho más rica, con cuerdas, acordeón, y sobre todo, un piano muy protagonista. En general, las composiciones son más complejas y animadas, y en ocasiones se puede intuir la influencia de los Beatles, sobre todo hacia la segunda mitad del álbum. Pero, tratándose de un álbum de Elliott Smith, hay que enfocarse en las letras. Y en este aspecto sí que poco ha cambiado. Su trasfondo sigue siendo melancólico, de mucha inseguridad, casi depresivo, lo que choca frontalmente con esa instrumentación tan colorida. Un aspecto que me ha gustado mucho es cómo la composición de muchos temas cambia repentinamente hacia el final de la canción, lo que refuerza la temática de inestabilidad personal. Y a esto hay que sumarle que este fue su último álbum antes de (supuestamente) suicidarse. Poesía desesperada con unos muy buenos acompañamientos musicales que merece buena nota. Sin embargo, me quedo con el sonido más tradicional e íntimo de sus primeros álbumes.
He wears his influences and shows who he would influence very clearly in this record, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Didn't hate it but in no rush for a second listen.
I love the vibe and the instruments throughout. I totally want it to be a country album. It definitely belongs in the early 2000s indie time capsule.
Ok
I've never really listened to Elliot Smith. This is pretty good stuff.
Elliott Smith on paper is an artist I should totally love. But I don’t. Weird
I was surprised at how much I liked it.
Listenable, sad story though
This is my perfered genre and reminds me of college so it has that nostolga factor that probably makes me like it more than I might otherwise. I do like XO and EIther/Or more than this album though. Favorite Track: Son of Sam 4
I need to spend more time with E. Smith. I enjoy his melancholy sound and have followed him on Spotify to revisit and learn more by him.
Deep lyrics and cool songs that linger for some time, but it feels complete.
Unknown artist for me but very listenable. Good album.
Not really sure how I feel about it… the album was more rock than the last Elliott Smith album I felt. Lyrics are very depressing and he’s so soft spoken it’s hard to understand them at times. Probably won’t seek out again. The opening track Son of Sam was my favorite.
3/5
Overall a nice album but there were not a lot of standout songs. Really nice voice backed by what sounds like a lot of sadness. Worth the listen and will probably give it another go sometime.
I can understand that an artist that wrote Either/Or and XO would eventually run out of ideas, on this album he does. It’s the same whispery vocals and wrist cutting lyrics but it seems to be seems sort of bland and repetitive.
3.5
Better than the last Elliott Smith album on this list. I find that is pleasant enough in that early 00's indie way.
I keep hearing Paul McCartney and Ben Folds Five. I don't think I'm supposed to.
Elliott Smith one of the og alternative indie artists known for that whispery vocal style was easy enough to listen to and certainly had undeniable instrumental talent. He captured a very PDX 90’s melancholy mood, which is when and where I first heard him. But overall this album didn’t entirely connect for me - commercially, maybe it was more dialed in but I had enjoyed the more intimate content and style of some of earlier work. Still, a few tracks instantly transport me back to my 19 year old self riding through SW PDX in my friend’s orange VW bus, en route to the river, watching the landscape blur past the window. I can still see my reflection and those words etched on the side mirror: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”
Very of-its-time early 2000s. Reminiscent of Ben Folds but not as interesting, the Shins but not as quirky, Jack Johnson but not as rich. I don't actively dislike it, but it's not what I'd choose to listen to. "Son of Sam" is the best track. "Pretty Mary Kay" wouldn't sound out of place on a Beatles album.
Meh
Lovely album
better than anticipated. the slow songs wore me down but the more uptempo stuff was pretty groovy
Kept listening for that "standout track" that never came. Fine music but no wow for me.
Idfk malko e stranen albuma, napomnq mi mnogo na Jeff buckley, no nqkoi pesni bqha straight out of jhariah Kitara = hubav album
To be honest, not very memorable. And he’s not doing much vocally. But understanding that he suffered from depression and died at age 34 from suicide, it hits slightly differently. At least arrangement and production are very good.
High 3, low-ish 4. First listen is tough for me when I only know one album by him and have listened to it alot. So it feels familiar but off form what I think about his music as. Still I enjoyed it and I trust on a relisten I’ll like it more as the lyrics stick more and more.
I’ve noted before that I never really got Elliot Smith. This was especially true with the last album we had which was “Either or”. I found that kind of boring. This album was a whole lot better. I enjoyed the fuller arrangement and the soft rock vibes. I get the feeling that if I found this album as a teen I would’ve loved it. A few songs I know from that time, and I still think “Everything Reminds Me of Her” is a good track. “Son of Sam” was a new one and memorable too. I genuinely enjoyed most of this album. It might be a bit on the soft side, and the vocal style is not for everyone. It feels like a good album to put on when driving. Strong 3 for now, maybe potential for more after some more listens.
Sweet, melancholic listen. This is definitely an album that will turn a moody day into an even more moody day. The songs I can say spoke to me the most are Everything Means Nothing To Me and Stupidity Tries. Other than that, I understand what Elliott Smith was going for, but I can't say I was surprised or blown away. This album was also a bit too soft for me, so I was definitely kinda bored throughout. The whole experience was about what I expected it to be, and I have to rate it about 3.3/5, as it was not bad by any means, just not really my cup of tea.
Was nice listening and good background music
It reminds me of Nick Drake if he made his musical journey during the 90s. I didn't love this majory happy go lucky style to a very sensitive person. While some songs were good, it felt forced and out of place. 5/10
Really liked a couple of songs, a bit slower than I was expecting. OK over all.
Elliott Smith is always being recommended to me and I never really feel here nor there about him. This album was fine, don’t know if I’d go out of my way but if it came on I’d probably feel neutral.
Listenable in the background
Too long
Heard of him but never listened before. Good stuff.
I liked this album far more than I expected, it's a fun time, but still not epic proportions to me 3.5
Before today I was unfamiliar with Elliott Smith's music. Sure, I was vaguely familiar with the name, in the same way that one might be vaguely familiar with the name(s) Copernicus, or Magellan. That is to say, one might recognise the name and understand that the person bearing the name did something that was, to some degree, important or memorable. Paradoxically this album seems neither important or memorable. It is bland in a blandly bland sort of way. It was inoffensive and I didn't want to perforate my own eardrums at any point. The most memorable thing about Elliott Smith might be his "suicide" - allegedly stabbing himself in the chest. So THAT'S how I knew the name. 3 stars. I didn't hate it.
But I looove Either/Or
It's like pop rock and folk rock shook hands and spit out Elliot Smith. Not bad.
Never heard of him or his prior band. Enjoyed some of the songs. It was a little long but might be worth another listen sometime.
Folk and rock, cool combo. Chill vibes 3
It’s like opening a handwritten letter and finding it’s mostly blank pages. The intention’s there, the ink is nice, but it doesn’t leave much behind. The songs are polished and tender, but I kept waiting for a little punch or tug, and it never really came. It’s OK, but doesn’t cut deep. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Son Of Sam - Somebody That I Used To Know - Everything Reminds Me Of Her
Bland
dit vond ik beter dan ik verwachtte... wist dat hij een singer-songwriter was, maar kende niet echt songs van hem.. ook de iets meer ballade-achtige nummers konden mij wel ergens bekoren...
Meh
Cette liste est globalement une courbe de Gauss, et cet album est pile poil au sommet.
Went in with zero expectations, came out having enjoyed myself but now I think about it I can't remember a single song. Just vague memories of swoopy sounding verses and Beatles-esque singing.
= the Beatles This is different. Most of this list is bands from the 60s and into the 70s trying to be the Beatles, here's a guy in 2000 trying desperately to be the Beatles. Much like the Beatles, some of it is enjoyable
nice record but not really memorable, mostly generic. fav tracks: colorbars, everythng means nothing to me
Not sure what it is but something makes me resistant to Elliot Smith's music.. while I liked this album more than the last that came up, I still find it a little too melancholy and a bit of a buzzkill..
Tykkäsin! Taitavaa kitaransoitto, ja akustinen kitara oli tosi hienosti äänitetty.
Kiva ja monipuolinen levy! Kevyttä kuunneltavaa.
Previously rated: Either Or (2/5) ******************************* I didn't remember listening to this guy a year and a half ago, but looks like I did. At least I liked this album better. It had a couple of pretty decent songs (Son of Sam and L.A.) and a lot of samey Simon & Garfunkel sounding tunes.
Solid
fav: somebody that i used to know 3,5/5 ♾️
Good
Decent, but a little samey in places.
Álbum bem competente. TRI x HBB KAI.
Maybe it’s the shadow cast by his death or maybe it’s because the two Elliott Smith songs I know best are Waltz No 2 and Needle in the Hay (aka the one from the most intense scene in The Royal Tenenbaums) but I was expecting this to be bleak and instead it’s very Beatle-y. In some ways that was a relief but it’s also not that distinctive.
I'm familiar with the name, but not his music. It's pretty obvious he was extremely inspired by the Beatles for this stuff. I googled him to check if my suspicions were right, and they were. Also he was stabbed to death. That's terrible! I give it a 3/5
This is alright, I thought Elliott Smith was like a 90s Nick Drake and this was going to be the most miserable, wretched thing with the way people write about him. I wouldn't call it a happy album but it definitely isn't that either. Maybe his other stuff is like that I'm not keen on a lot of the creative choices. He has an objectively good voice but I'm not keen on the airy, breathy cadence he uses, feels like he's right in my ear and breathing down my neck The repeated vocal harmony on Everything Means Nothing to Me mostly spoils that song, I especially liked the drums but can't really get by the voice. I'm also not into the honky tonk piano on In The Lost And Found It's ok though. Could maybe grow on me Highlights: LA, Pretty Mary K
Pretty solid indie rock album. Immense respect for Elliot Smith playing pretty much every instrument on the album as well. Solid easy listening, more than a few fairly forgettable songs bloat the runtime a bit. Top tracks: Junk Bond Trailer, Everything Reminds Me Of Her, Happiness/The Gondola Man
Enjoyed
I liked this album. A few songs have a lot of nostalgia for me. I had the Son of Sam / Happiness single as my introduction (I know) to Elliot Smith and I feel like I loved it so much when I first got my hands on it. This album overall doesn't really hold up it's end of the bargain in light of that first taste, nor does it stand up to a lot of the great music he made before this album. It's a bit too far into the pop LA commercial rock area that it felt like he wanted to ease into. I don't know. Some of my favorite songs are on this album, but there's only ~3 of them and the rest don't get the job done. 3.25
I only have either/or so it was fun to listen to another Elliot Smith album 3/5 #musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge
Ecoutable
C est simpa.
I'm generally not big on singer-songwriters, especially ones tagged as folk, so while I've known for years who Elliott Smith was I never had an urge to check him out. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to find that I liked several songs on here. The first half is really good. The back half blurred together for me though to the point I was ready to be done with it before it ended. Which is a bummer given the strong start. Maybe I'll give it another spin to see if it grows on me.
Since I'm not 17, this doesn't hit me the way it probably would. Elliott is obviously a talented musician and he set the stage for a lot of other bands I find irritatingly twee (why does this shit keep coming up in these reviews? It's obnoxious that I keep complaining about it but it's always there). Elliott has a gift that his imitators lack where his earnestness and musicality are personal rather than formalisms, which is nice, but it doesn't change the fact that I hear it as Music For Sad Teens And College Students. Really should be a 4, but I'm feeling mean about listening to depressing stuff on a sunny day when I feel good and it gets a little same-y by the end.
I definitely hear Sufan Stevens, at least his early stuff here. I can see where he drew inspiration. The first two tracks were great, and I thought there were some here and there that landed, but a lot seemed a forgettable. The lyrics are definitely tinged given his death around this time. Overall, if someone time me you'd was their favorite album, I would guess their second and third favorite artist is Conner Oberst and Sufjan. Love the earnestness and I think of i listened again the other tracks would grow on me. On a scale of -5 to 5, solid 3.
There's some strong material on this, but there's also a lot of bloat/filler tracks. It's not as chilling as his earlier work. Would say this is a high 3 star. Like 3.75
I don't really know how to feel, some parts are gorgeous and others kinda discordant. It feels like a breakup album at times, and hearing his history and mystery around his death makes this really feel like a breakup with life itself, with lines saying something like "I'm not aftaid to die anymore". Especially since the last song is titled "Bye". Eerie, yet beautiful. Struggled a lot with the lyrics feeling like nonsense, and a lot of moments early on that felt out of line with the song as a whole, but I love the dreamy atmosphere in some of these moments.
3 - decent inoffensive
it reminded me of death cab for cutie but was a little pitchier. A lot of it blended together but I could see myself liking this album when i was younger
for me, starts out slow, builds nicely in the middle, then falls off again at the end. Still a good album, I just prefer the higher energy middle
This is fine, but really "one-note". Was tired of the song structures by the end of the album.
I enjoyed it. 3.5/5
Listened on 3/20/23 3/5 Favorite song: son of sam The vibes of this album were a bit of a bummer but I did really enjoy some of the songs and the early 00s drama
Pretty darn sad album. I can understand the guy’s talent with both musicality and lyric-writing, but nothing is quite catchy or ear wormy enough for me to want to listen to something this depressing. I guess my favorite would be Somebody that I Used To Know since it’s a bit like Simon and Garfunkel.
Overall thoughts: Well it’s a depressing album, but it’s also haunting in an intriguing way. If I was making an indie horror/slasher movie I’d for sure use this album. Adding to the feeling is the lore behind his death. Figure 8 is straight out of American Horror Story Freakshow. Favorite songs: Son of Sam and Junk Bonder Trader I’d like to preface by saying that I wouldn’t listen to these ever, but I want them in a movie. They’re creepy and I like it.
I love sad boy music so I loved this lyrically, and I really enjoyed the diversity of styles amongst the songs. My biggest qualm is Elliot Smith’s voice…it’s just so boring
This one was hard to rate. I like the guitar playing more than the singing, but the singing is not too bad either. I would give it a 3 based on the great guitar playing, but a 2 based on the mediocre vocals. The whole package was pretty nicely put together, so I guess I'll go with the higher number. Best song: Junk Bond Trader
Nice album.
It’s unique and there are some great songs but I don’t know if I’d listen to it often. I’m glad I did give it a proper listen though.
I don’t think this album is Elliott Smith at his very best, but there are still plenty of moments that showcase him doing Elliott Smith things well, so it’s hard to complain. I just find his voice/melodies/chord progressions/lyrics very satisfying to listen to. It would benefit from being a 10- or 11-tracker though - I feel we’d be closer to ‘classic’ territory if some fat was trimmed. 3.5
Not my favorite but I appreciate the increased instrumentation
I didn’t finish sry
Done
Pretty good album.
The man was a hell of a musician, I'll give him that much. LA and both Everything's are great tracks. I just wish there was any depth at all. I keep thinking about how I see more emotional range out of Pete Davidson than I have on any Smith album. Such a waste of talent.
3/5
2000. Actually pretty enjoyable album, had some interesting chord progressions and chill sound. I would listen to it again. Elliot Smith unfortunately passed away early.
Just okay
Cool vibe but I didn’t get most of the songs lyrics lol
#558. Perfectly acceptable guitar pop. Nothing more, nothing less. A bit Beatles-ey at points. 3/5: fine
It was a decent listen. I previously listened to some of Smith's early work. The first song was a banger, reminding me of the Beatles. "Figure 8" got boring after the first half. Luckily, it wasn't bad at all. 3 stars for "Figure 8"
Elliott Smith is stuck in an unfortunate place. It isn't that he is particularly flawed or lacking. It is more to do with a certain saturation of similar music that puts him in the pack and not really at the front. It is not the worst trial to listen to by any means! In fact for some there may be some special quality in there that makes him have a fan club. It is simply that for me, his music is in that pile of "yeah, he is all right." which puts him in that unenviable middle ground.
Ok
Started out really excited about this album but lost the excitement after the the first few songs.
fell asleep halfway through and didn't really care enough to go back
Figure 8 is Smith’s most layers, complicated album. But it falls short of his earlier work. It’s a bit too long 6.7/10
I know people really like Elliott Smith, but this wasn't anything over the top for me. 3.5 Stars.
“Son of Sam” is a great kickoff track.
3 estrelas
Me parece a mí o esto suena a todo lo que es el rockpop nacional hoy? What? Igual lindo inicio, aburrido final. Nota: 2.5
Leuk, beetje Jeff buckley vibes
It's okay for the background.
I thought I’d like this more because a lot of my favourite artists sight Elliot smith as influence. Reminds me of the father John misty storytelling type but the songs aren’t that catchy so they leave my mind as soon as I hear them. I liked the vibe though, maybe needs some relistens
The tunes are gorgeous but the lyrics are so heavy.
Better than I expected, I liked a lot of songs on this album but I don't see myself playing it again
Pleasant.
It was ok. Background music really. Perfectly ok, but nothing that stands out.
3.5
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
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
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 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
Pretty solid album - more complex than expected.
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.
Enjoyed this
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.
Elliott Smith just makes me sad. Sometimes that's good, though.
Fine I guess
Bit depressing
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
Great, if you want to fall asleep and have sad dreams
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…..
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
Beautiful voice and songs.
Nice enough I listen to it twice. Going to save it for lounging at the cottage
7/10.
ES with a more sophisticated sound than earlier records, it's good melancholic music, though I still prefer his earlier work.
Good background
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.
QUANTÈLLUNGOOOOOOO AOOOOOO
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
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
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.
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
Always a good listen.
Easy to listen to. Good musician and song writer. Nothing special.
72% Best: Junk Bond Trader; L.A.; Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud; Happiness Must-Hear? Nah
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
Insuficiente
Gentle, dreamy, melodic folk/alt rock with that 90s sound. Really easy listen, but not something I'd come back to regularly. Decent record.
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.
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.
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.
3+
It was alright
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.
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.
Overall pretty good with some songs I'd go back to. Not quite enough to give it a 4 though.
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.
This is another artist that people get religious about. I like it just fine, but I'm not fanatical about it.
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.
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.
This is not an artist I was familiar with and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the album.
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
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
Y’a des albums juste mid, je suis pas en train de dire que cet album en fait partie, mais 😏
7tje