Elliott Smith (lyrics, albums, discography, title, career)

FaSho · 12-01-2008, 08:19 AM

I have Figure 8, XO either/Or and his S/T, and I find that lyrically XO is his best, but musically it's the S/T.

sleepy jack · 12-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Really? The only thing more minimalistic than his self-titled is Roman Candle. It's just chords and in the case of Needle in the Hay, St. Ides Heaven and others, really simple chords.

sweet_nothing · 12-01-2008, 04:20 PM

I'd say musically his best were his later albums but I think that came with better production.

simplephysics · 12-01-2008, 04:41 PM

Yea, the switch to dreamworks really helped. I think his s/t plays really well together between the content of his lyrics and the simple lo-fi feel to the music. Songs like St. Ides Heaven wouldn't feel appropriate if they were backed by a full band. I loved XO, and am a little biased toward Figure 8, but I still think it's brilliant album.

sweet_nothing · 12-01-2008, 04:58 PM

I rarley put on XO or Figure 8, I really think he was at his best with the lo fi simple stuff.

FaSho · 12-01-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet_nothing

I really think he was at his best with the lo fi simple stuff.

I agree. I said his S/T was musically better, because he just doesn't sound right to me when the instrumentation becomes more complicated.

sleepy jack · 12-01-2008, 06:59 PM

What doesn't sound right about it?

ProggyMan · 12-01-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaSho

I agree. I said his S/T was musically better, because he just doesn't sound right to me when the instrumentation becomes more complicated.

More complicated it may be, but I don't see how that doesn't 'sound right' or whatever. His greatest talents are melody and harmony and those are brought to the forefront on his later albums.

Barabajagal · 12-05-2008, 12:34 PM

"From A Basement On the Hill" was the first Elliott Smith album I ever bought and I was obsessed with it for a period, so I'm biased towards his later releases, like Basement & Figure 8. I own all of his studio work but I only listen to those two on a regular basis.

"Junk Bond Trader," "Coast to Coast," and "Kings Crossing" make great driving songs when it's snowing, to me.

pianokeys · 12-08-2008, 10:32 PM

The only album I have of Elliott Smith's is XO and I quite like it. Is it worth me checking out anything else?

12-05-2008, 12:34 PM	#439 (permalink)
Barabajagal Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 88	"From A Basement On the Hill" was the first Elliott Smith album I ever bought and I was obsessed with it for a period, so I'm biased towards his later releases, like Basement & Figure 8. I own all of his studio work but I only listen to those two on a regular basis. "Junk Bond Trader," "Coast to Coast," and "Kings Crossing" make great driving songs when it's snowing, to me.

12-08-2008, 10:32 PM	#440 (permalink)
pianokeys you wouldn't like me Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 114	The only album I have of Elliott Smith's is XO and I quite like it. Is it worth me checking out anything else?