It is hard to start a review about a man that means so much to me. Elliott Smith is quite an artist, and as many may agree, his death was a shock and hard to handle. There are very few people today, comparable to the genius that is Elliott Smith, and his final CD, Figure 8 is a true mark. Many may find him excessively depressive, which is a hard fact to argue with, but that is what makes him so beautifully painful.
Figure 8 was the pinnacle of Smith's work, but it is hard to undermine what has come before this CD. Having a label, Dreamworks, for Figure 8 gave Smith more money to bring a new life to his new songs. He had arrangements unheard of in his indie-label records. With each listen to the album, you can hear the Beatles-esque influence and the Beach Boys flare the songs have.
Unlike the prior CDs, the new arrangements make the songs seem much more upbeat and lighter. Though they sound much more graceful and optimistic, the lyrics remain dark and deep, if not darker.
Some of my most favorite songs come off of this album, but I make no mistake in forgetting the other songs that have preceded this album. With Figure 8, I am beginning my goal to review each of his CDs, in memory of Elliott Smith and his amazing talent.
Kicking the album off is Son of Sam which is one of my favorite songs. It is a driving song and rhythmically powerful. The piano mixed in with the organ is just electrifying and adds an intense layer to this already intricate song. It has the sense of a western which is just so intriguing, a smart move to get the listener to stay interested. In some ways, he's comparing himself to Son of Sam, saying he's a couple killer, but it's not as though he's proud of it.
I'm not uncomfortable, feeling weird
Long revered options disappear
But I know what to do
Somebody I Used to Know is a nice way to bring the energy down with simple picking on the acoustic and Smith's compelling voice and lyrics. Letting the guitar be the main aspect of the song is a brilliant move because it is so singsongy (in a good way) on its own. The overall theme is great, referring to someone breaking up with him, claiming to be better than him. He's trying to deal with forgetting while she is realizing how big of a mistake it was to let him go.
I know you don't think you did me wrong,
And I can't stay this mad for long,
Keeping ahold of what you just let go
Coming in head on with another great song, Junk Bond Trader just solidifies the greatness of the CD that much more. It's a compelling track with a feeling of urgency and traffic. Lyrically, melodically, and musically, it's brilliant. The overall effect of the song is incredible, and makes you want to hear the song over and over again.
Rich man in a poor man's clothes
The permanent installment of the daily dose
Everything Reminds Me of Her is a downer song, reminiscent of the Elliott Smith everyone knows. It has a sense of futility and yet a longing for hope and there is only more reinforcement of that with the lyrics. His vocals are much more repressed and that much more angelic.
The spin of the earth impaled a silhouette of the sun on the steeple
And I got to hear the same sermon all the time now from you people
Remaining in the theme of "everything," Everything Means Nothing to Me follows. It is a seemingly simple song with only a piano until it builds up, but simple it is not. Lyrically repeating everything means nothing to me is brilliant because it has an incredible effect of a fountain. The piano just dribbles and resembles water It's a great song, and though short, it is most definitely a captivating and intricate song.
I picked up the song and found my picture
L.A. is a great song, being driven mostly by the electric guitar that basically steals the song. It's a song that tells of how uplifting L.A. can be. Strange, I don't know if I'd say that, being that I live in L.A. In many ways, it's seems sarcastic, though it's not easily decoded. It's a great song and the chorus is just incredibly grabbing.
I can't go home, it's not on my way
In the Lost and Found or otherwise known as honky bach is definitely that. It is a great song that has the most incredible modern ragtime feeling to it. It has a very interesting love story to that just makes the song such a story telling song. It is musical-esque, but it's great to have such a contrast. It shows Smith's talents budding and growing even more. There is no easier way to describe it than simply great.
Climbing up a slippery slope
Im in love, love I hope
Stupidity Tries was one of the first songs that helped me realize the greatness that is Elliott Smith. First of all, with a title like that, it's very compelling, and I couldn't help smiling when I read it. It is melodically catchy, and you can definitely hear the Beach Boys influence. As it grows with more emotion, it just becomes such a fun song and very captivating.
Everything here is free
Everything but you and me
There is no Easy Way Out of this one. Oh, I crack me up. This is a somber song, and it starts that way with the guitar and light arrangement in the background. This is a great song about not facing up to what is real, and just making excuses that is a known fact to be untrue. It remains simple, but I can't help but notice the slight George Harrison influence in the song, and I greatly admire it.
An invisible man who's always changing clothes
Wouldn't Mama Be Proud is just a great song over all. Climbing into his falsetto, Smith basically creates an amazing and nearly seamless chorus that is oddly compelling. Though every song is great, this song stands out from he rest for the fact that the theme is new and refreshing, and the music is just brilliant.
If i call to keep it together
Like you say i can do
To transmit a moment
From me to you
Driven with the piano, Color Bars becomes a stunning song. The piano dances with Elliott's voice amazingly, creating the grace I referred to earlier. Elliott Smith has a reoccurring theme of songs dealing with soldiers and battles, and this follows in this theme. Again, he one ups himself by creating an unbelievable scene with words that are poetic, beautiful, and mind-blowing.
Sergeant rock broke the key off in the lock
To where I come from
Happiness/The Gondola Man is a great song, and strangely, it does have a strange sence of gondolas and/or Venice. Anyway, the organ is in the background of a simple band arrangement. The chorus is great, it breaks down to a compelling beat, though simple and slow. Happiness is something Smith doesn't seem to have, but this is a song about the hope to have happiness. It's a great song and it definitely builds the strength of the album. It is so great when, at the end of the song, it drops off to just the guitar and vocals, which really grabs you.
All I want now
Is happiness
For you and me
Pretty Mary K is another song referring a soldier's pain and love for a girl. There is a wounded man in the infirmary and he is destined to die, and he is longing for what could have been with "pretty Mary K." Vocals in the background of Smith's lamentation is so appropriate and compelling. The breakdown of the song builds the angst, frustration, and hurt that just broods in this song. It is brilliant.
Walk 'round the door
Talked to St. James
Though I'm already done
Ask everyone
Have you seen her
Pretty Mary K
Now Smith goes on a trip of not making too much noise. I Better Be Quiet Now is a slow starting song that has a reflective tone that is really grabbing. The song tells of awkwardness in breaking up and not saying things he means to say, and accidentally saying things he didn't. The emotion is detailed perfectly and accentuated by the simple and underplayed acoustic guitar. He smartly brings the tone of the album down only leaving room to surprise you.
If I didn't know the difference
Livin' alone would probably be okay
Wouldn't be lonely
I've got a long way to go
And getting further away
Starting off slow and brooding, Can't Make a Sound instantly grabs your attention. It definitely has the feeling of a silent movie, not that the opening lyrics have anything to do with that. It is a depressive song with incredible similarities to George Harrison, and futility is definitely a defining factor of the song. It builds to such a strong and compelling song leaving you want to rock out and perhaps cry.
Bored in a role,
But he can't stop.
Standing up to sit back down
And lose the one thing found
Appropriately names, Bye is the last track on the album. It is the capper to the album, and Smith leaves you with an eerie piano instrumental. It's interesting that the title of the last song on his last album is named, Bye. Coincidentally strange, I hope.
Although the album is a great album, deserving of numerous listens, it needs just that. It's hard for new listeners to distinguish all of his songs. They are very similar, dark, mostly acoustic, and suicidal. The songs are definitely great, but it needs listens in order to differentiate and truly appreciate each song for what it is.
Figure 8 is a great album, and for a first time listener of Elliott Smith, I'd consider this the first album to purchase. It helps prepare the new listener for the darkness that went on before. This was the album that helped me understand the Elliott prior.
Track Listing:
1. Son of Sam
2. Somebody that I Used to Know
3. Junk Bond Trader
4. Everything Reminds Me of Her
5. Everything Means Nothing to Me
6. L.A.
7. In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost
8. Stupidity Tries
9. Easy Way Out
10. Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?
11. Color Bars
12. Happiness/The Gondola Man
13. Pretty Mary K.
14. I Better Be Quiet Now
15. Can't Make a Sound
16. Bye
Give the album a chance and give Smith a chance. It's amazing to think he is dead when his music is so alive and breathing. Thank you for taking the time and reading the review. I will be posting the next album shortly.
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