Favourite Elliott Smith Album

Valmont

I was introduced to XO during the summer of 2008 and even though I usually avoid singer/songwriters (I never recovered from that time I listened to O), I just 'got' this album straight away. Either/Or gets a listen every few weeks and has done for the last year but I bought Figure 8 last month and haven't stopped listening to it. I really think his sound matured to perfection with this album (based on the three I've heard anyway) and was really bolstered by the excellent production quality. I haven't heard his other albums (yet) as I want to try and prolong my enjoyment and use up the three I currently have.

What is your favourite Elliot Smith album? Why?

lordgoat

Figure 8.

Always figure 8.

Why? It's the one that fits best.

johnny_ultimate

Figure 8 or XO. The other ones are good, but the early acoustic ones don't have the same energy and variety as the later ones IMO.

Bubs101

Either/or, it's not even close. has his best songs and the most soul

pearcider

Either/Or for me too. On another level altogether. It's both his most basic and most emotionally intense album imo and a truly satisfying listen. But only if you're in the mood so to speak. Figure 8 and XO really not far behind though and are considerably more upbeat and easy to listen to. :rolleyes:

Creamy Goodness

i don't think i can actually choose. they are all simply wonderful in their own ways.

westdublin

Can't do it they all have something about them that i love

westdublin

Im waiting on two books to be delivered one is the XO book and the other is the guitar tab book .........should be some good reading

westdublin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDMeEtUCq54

A nice video to go alone with the weather we are having.........:)

Placid_Casual

I'm only really familiar with XO and Figure 8, and XO would shade it for me, of those two. I will definitely have to check out Either/Or though, based on the comments on this thread.

bowsie casey

Either/Or ... probably because it was my introduction to his music.

loveissucide

Either/Or hands down

eclectichoney

Either/or

God this thread reminds me of what a loss it is to the world. Gonna dig me out some of his stuff for a spin now as it's been a while.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

XO for me, nearly every song is a winner, "Waltz#2" is probably what tips it in the balance. "I Didn't Understand" has amazing lyrics, so simple yet so strong. I could listen to "Tomorrow Tomorrow" all day long as well. I love his use of melody and vocal harmonies (mainly with himself). His cover of The Beatles songs are well worth checking out too.

He's my favourite singer songwriter ever, discounting Bob Dylan as I don't think of him as a "singer songwriter" (more like a miracle). It actually infuriates me when people prefer someone like Damian Rice to him, he was in a different league altogether.

Got into Elliott when I bought "From A Basement On A Hill" on a reccomendation from a friend. It was only after a few listens and a google that I found out he was dead, wish I was around to see him live...:(

txomin

Love the lo-fi sound of Roman Candle. It's almost perfect, except for the instrumental track at the end, which just doesn't sit properly with the rest of the album.

BurnsCarpenter

Very tough to call but went for XO.
XO > Roman Candle > Either/Or > Figure 8 > Elliott Smith.
The posthumous one in last obviously.

fikay

Thanks for the thread, it's got me listening to the mans stuff again.
I'm surprised that Either/Or is running away with the poll. It's always been the album I've enjoyed the most but from my mates I assumed his later stuff, particularly Figure 8, was more popular.
I remember working in a shop in Galway years ago, listening to Either/Or when a random punter commented on the injustice of a world where a talent like Mr. Smith dies in the manner the did while acts like Westl*fe rule the world. Spot on really.

TheBandit

Its very hard to call but i'd go for "elliot smith"

Basq

All are amazing!

But with a gun to my head: 'XO'

sweetie

either/or for me.

one of my best nights out ever was seeing him in the tbmc and spending about two hours chatting with him and my other mate afterwards. He was such a genuinely nice person and is such a loss.

ElaElaElano

Tough one this, he's far and away my favourite artist and I listen to the whole back catalogue at least twice a week, but if I had to choose:

1. Either/Or
2. Elliott Smith
3. Figure 8

The first two in my opinion are among the best records of all time and even though Figure 8 lost the simplicity of his earlier stuff it's still a great listen.

L.T.D

Figure 8

lil*lady

I love Figure of 8 and XO, but from a Basement to a Hill reminds me of a happy (oddly enough, Elliot Smith and happy...hmm) summer-time a few years ago where wee old innocent me was working full-time in a record shop, so twill have to be that one...thems were the days.

Jobin

XO, but Twilight and Angeles are two of my favourite songs

h3000

Either/Or for me anyway.

cashback

I've only got Figure 8 but I love it. Hmmm, which one to get next.

Photi

From A Basement On The Hill.

Mainly because of Coast To Coast, one of the greatest songs ever written.

homerun_homer

I voted XO though it was a tough call.

Years ago I had been meaning to get into Elliott Smith and buy his cds when one day a package arrived in the post for me. It was 3 cds courtesy of No Disco. I had voted for 3 favourite videos of the year one year and they sent me a copy of XO.

I got to see him on my 19th birthday in the Redbox (now Tripod) in Dublin. It was great to see him and be able to say I saw him live given his tragic end. He's one of the best songwriters of his generation.

__plec__

Very tough question.I think all his albums in their own way are amazing.Although in saying that i still dont get that feeling from XO,even though there are some amazing songs on it.

At the moment id have to push for 'From a Basement on the Hill' to be my fav album,due to the amount of amazing songs on it.Number one being 'The Last Hour'.Just listen to that solo,and the fact he plays it while keeping the rythem as well.A man of serious genius.Rumour has it that he wrote it back in '95,but it didnt make an earlier album as he forgot abbout it,haha.Legend

[URL="/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW8wPxW0e2c&feature=related"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW8wPxW0e2c&feature=related[/URL]

smackbunnybaby

Either/Or for me.

Also, congratulations to anyone in the thread who spelled his name right.

Elliott Smith - 2 ls, 2 ts.

Amy Elliott

Either Or but followed very closely by Figure 8

westdublin

"Also, congratulations to anyone in the thread who spelled his name right.

Elliott Smith - 2 ls, 2 ts. " That would be Steven Paul Smith :):):D

lordgoat

westdublin wrote: »

"Also, congratulations to anyone in the thread who spelled his name right.

Elliott Smith - 2 ls, 2 ts. " That would be Steven Paul Smith :):):D

No, his name is Elliott. It's the name he chose regardless of what was once on a birth cert.

Valmont

Henceforth, I shall spell it Eliot Smith. Pedants!

arsenallegend

Figure 8 for me
brillant agreements, beatle sounding songs and really touching acoustic numbers. you can't ask for more then that.

Sinfonia

Elliott Smith or XO, but can't choose between them

Miguel_Sanchez

homerun_homer wrote: »

I got to see him on my 19th birthday in the Redbox (now Tripod) in Dublin. It was great to see him and be able to say I saw him live given his tragic end. He's one of the best songwriters of his generation.

I was at that one. Saw him one other time in TBMC in 1999 supported by Quasi. He was absolutely brilliant in TBMC, not sure if I enjoyed the Redbox gig as much.

As for his albums for me it's a tie between XO and Either/Or. Can't decide.