Login for Favorites
EDIT INFOElliott Smith - Either/Or
Tweet
Album Details
- Artist: Elliott Smith
- Album: Either/Or
- Label: Kill Rock Stars
- Year of Release: 1997
- ME Rating: Indie Classic
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-05-11
RecommendI do have to admit that I was indeed into Elliott Smith before most people. I definitely wasn't the first but this is the stepping stone I used to get into the brilliant and self-torturous songwriter. I was working in a music store doing some receiving when I came across this new release. It looked interesting so I ended up setting it aside for a listen on a break. It was love at first listen and really how could anyone really deny the charm of Elliott Smith. There is something so likable about the man's songs that it appeals to indie kids as well as the more roots oriented fan. Throw on "Ballad of Big Nothing" in a crowd and I guarantee that you will get questions like "Who is this". If that doesn't do the trick, try "Pictures of Me". The song builds up into a quiet cacophony, never really getting aggressive per se but still it's probably one of the most rocking tunes on Either/Or. Smith counters that song with "No Name No. 5", one of the bleakest songs he has ever penned. My favorite Smith song is "Rose Parade". It manages to contain a feeling of starkness but also incorporate much happiness. Then there is so much depression that pokes through on "Angeles" and "Cupid's Trick". I think the coolest part about Elliott's home recordings is the layering of his own voice. All this done in his bedroom. Dreamworks should have never taken him out of his bedroom. I've talked with many an Elliott Smith fan and it seems like Either/Or is the definitive Smith album. Find out why.
User Reviews and Comments
Log In or Register to Rate Albums
User Rating:
Write your own review
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate AlbumsReview:
on 2012-02-07 CharlesMartel Said:
It would be churlish to say that Elliott Smith's reputation has been cemented by the fact that he is no longer with us. It is indeed a cliche and a terrible thing to say, but very often musicians get more in death than they did in life, particularly if they go out in a tragic manner. I am not going to rattle off a list of names because we can all do that, but I have long wondered what would have happened to Elliott Smith's reputation had he not stabbed himself. I have my doubts that he would be lionised as much as he is.
Smith is always going to be compared with the likes of Dylan, Drake and Jeff Buckley. Such comparisons are perhaps unfair, but as all with singer-songwriters it is perhaps inevitable that they should get lumped together. "Either/Or" is an album which showcases Smith at his best, before he went crazy. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be competent . No more and no less. The guitar playing is nothing special: the vocals are adequate but there is no innovation and nothing new it what is being done here, just same old same old.
Now if you like this sort of music, I can imagine you will love this. There is nothing here not to like, but like is all the enthusiasm I can muster for it, and even then I tire of it after a while. The delivery is less than the content, especially as Smith sings at little above a whisper for a lot of the time. Now I know that technique is often used to convey the sadder emotions and feelings, but I do not like straining my ears all the time when listening to an album to see if I can catch the words.
In my view, contrary to a widely established opinion, this is not Elliott Smith's best album. "XO " is better, but only marginally so. "Either/Or" is one of those albums which frustrate me. I have this nagging feeling that, if I listen to it some more, I will finally understand what is so great about it. The trouble is that I am always searching around for new music to listen to and rarely have the time or energy to give something sufficient plays until I finally get it. I tried that once with "OK Computer" and finally came to the conclusion, after listening to it a score or so times that if I tried to continue to listen to it until I got it I would probably pour molten wax into my ears before I got there. Maybe one day I will try again, but for now, "Either/Or" is another album which doesn't move me the ways it seems to move other people.
Rating: 5/10
