Either/Or by Elliott Smith

Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing

When I was 19, I fell in love with a wonderful girl that I wound up marrying. That Either/Or was the soundtrack of our courtship is but one of many things that has forever endeared me to this perfect album. It will forever remind me of a time ...

Pros: Songwriting as tight as a Swiss watch, Smith's haunting singing and guitar playing.
Cons: Too short; some moments are a little too dour.

The tragic death of our best musicians comes with the same inescapable regularity as the seasons, my long bouts of crippling writer's block, ethnic cleansing and new Tom Cruise movies. While James Brown still remains miraculously alive, serving as ...

Pros: Some of the most intelligent music you'll hear.
Cons: Depressive and hard to handle to the untrained ear.

When two boys weren't getting enough acting roles and really weren't doing well in Hollywood, they decided to make it big for themselves. Thus, the creation of Good Will Hunting. Elliott Smith was on independent labels after ditching a ...

Pros: some cool melodies, some interesting lyrics, some moments of sheer beauty
Cons: steadfastly depressing, introspective nearly to the point of self-absorption

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The failure is mine-- of that I am sure.

Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith has his fans and admirers, and my dance partner for MattA75's "I’ll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours" Write Off, a certain repulsemonkey, clearly...

Pros: Dark, brilliant, beautiful.
Cons: I want more!

It seems every new Elliott Smith album I listen to becomes my favorite. First it was Elliott Smith, then XO. From A Basement On The Hill is up there too, and Figure 8 is also brilliant, but not quite on par with the other ...

Pros: More great guitar ballads from the guy you heard in Good Will Hunting.
Cons: Mellow.

I first heard Elliott Smith when I saw the movie "Good Will Hunting" and like any rational person I thought, "Who is this great musician I am listening to?!?!". Well, kiddies, the rest in history and after performing at the Oscars (nominated for best...

Pros: Intelligent, Soothing Vocals, Solid Songwriting
Cons: DEPRESSING.

The writing and direction were great in Good Will Hunting, but without the haunting vocals and songwriting of Elliot Smith it may not have been as good. Of course sitting there in the multi-plex watching Good Will Hunting for the first time i had no...

Pros: brilliant songwriting, melodies, simple yet moving music
Cons: dark, could be construed as depressing

I've listened to this album so many times it's almost ingrained in my head. All of Elliott Smith's songs are so hauntingly beautiful you just want to give him a big hug. His songs somehow manage to be sad but make me happy at the same time. Elliott plays...

Pros: Melody and stunningly beautiful lyrics in a neatly-wrapped package.
Cons: This is the only album I could ever say lacked flaws.

I bought Elliott Smith's "either/or" without ever having heard it, based solely on a friend's advice. Knowing only that it was mostly acoustic and that he was a "good writer," I imagined that it would be a warmed-over folk album...

Pros: it's all around perfect!
Cons: none

It's very difficult to describe good music. I have this album playing right now. Elliott Smith may not have a flashy image, or a pretty face for your admiration, but he's got one of the sweetest voices I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.

I...

Pros: just a guy and his guitar, plain and simple.
Cons: not for fans of shiny, polished, engineered music

I bought this album because I loved Elliott Smith's music on the GOOD WILL HUNTING soundtrack, and because I wasn't sure if the rest of his work was in the same vein, I decided to buy his album that had most of the GWH songs on it [Between the Bars, No...

Pros: Beautiful, heartfelt songs
Cons: Not good for parties

Elliott Smith catapulted into the American spotlight when he performed his hit song from the movie Goodwill Hunting, "Miss Misery" in front of millions at the 1998 Oscars. Despite his meteoric rise, Smith unfortunately remains bellow the radar...

Pros: wonderful song writing and lyrics straight from the depths of his soul
Cons: not everyone can appreciate the mellow sound of his ballads

Elliot Smith's voice on "either/or" is beautifully melodic and the lyrics spill out from the depths of his soul, as usual. A fan of Smith and his previous band Heatmiser for years, buying this album was not a very difficult decision for me,...

Pros: Not a bad track here
Cons: None

The first time I saw Elliott was in a little record store in LA called No Life records (sadly, the store no longer exists). The only reason I'd gone, was to see Pete Krebs, who was also performing. But I was quickly won over by Smith's poignant,...