Figure 8 - Elliott Smith

It’s quite nice to be the first person to review an Elliott Smith CD and what a fine CD it is to review too. I was amazed to see that he hadn’t been categorised, but hopefully I can spread the word about just how good this singer / songwriter is. “Figure 8”, released in early 2000 is his fifth solo album and in my opinion, his finest yet.

It’s not as if his last album “XO” was average, it was ...
...been added too on “Figure 8”. While earlier releases such as “Roman Candle” and “Either / Or” were much more basic in their arrangement and production, “Figure 8” has much more instrumental input and the songs are all the better for this.

It begins with a song about a mass murderer, the notorious “Son Of Sam” and this up-tempo number is a much more positive beginning than ... more

It’s quite nice to be the first person to review an Elliott Smith CD and what a fine CD it is to review too. I was amazed to see that he hadn’t been categorised, but hopefully I can spread the word about just how good this singer / songwriter is. “Figure 8”, released in early 2000 is his fifth solo album and in my opinion, his finest yet.

It’s not as if his last album “XO” was average, it was brilliant, but the more beefed-up sound of that record has been added too on “Figure 8”. While earlier releases such as “Roman Candle” and “Either / Or” were much more basic in their arrangement and production, “Figure 8” has much more instrumental input and the songs are all the better for this.

It begins with a song about a mass murderer, the notorious “Son Of Sam” and this up-tempo number is a much more positive beginning than on Smith’s previous work, despite its content. The lyrics, as with the entire album are allusive, but yet insightful. “I’m not uncomfortable / Feeling weird” he tells us on this track. “Somebody I Used To Know” brings back the Elliott Smith of old, just him and his guitar and it’s a charming song.

The more pumped-up Elliott Smith sounds similar to Dylan with the addition of The Band. It sounds happier, despite the often very dark lyrics. Who’d have thought you’d be able to dance to Elliott Smith? But songs like “Junk Bond Trader” and Happiness” allow you to do just that. On the latter, even the permanently pessimistic looking Elliott offers lyrical hope. “What I used to be / Will pass away / And then you'll see / That all I want now / Is happiness / For you and me”.

That’s not to say that this renewed vigour offers complete contentment. On “I Better Be Quiet Now” he confesses that “I got a long way to go / I’m getting further away”. There is a similar story in the refrain “Everything means nothing to me” in the song of the same name. So Elliott still looks as frustrated as his posture suggests.

There is nothing particularly new about what Elliott Smith does, but there is no substitute for excellent song writing. It may have equals in other forms of music, but a songwriter like Smith at his best cannot be surpassed. “Can’t Make A Sound” and “Stupidity Tries” are a match for anything Dylan has done in my humble opinion. Even the likes of David Pirner and Evan Dando could learn a few lessons. The music and wordplay are superb and while Smith does not have a strong voice, its distinctiveness and charm is enough to overcome this.

Elliott Smith has not only been ignored by Ciao users until now, the record-buying public continue to be largely ignorant of his talent too. An Oscar nomination for the music to the film “Good Will Hunting” hasn’t even boosted his profile too much. “Figure 8” is the best he has done to date, but I would suggest anyone new to his work should delve a little further into his back catalogue first. He may not even have reached his peak yet (frighteningly!).

As usual, it has been a pleasure to write for Ciao. I hope this persuades you part with a little cash pretty soon. Thanks. 

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