Either / Or

Product Information

It's the ideal bridge between the skeletal sparseness of his early work and the lush studio orchestration of his later stuff, which is a touch over-produced for me.

The 20th anniversary edition of Elliott Smith's beloved third album Either / Or, newly remastered for this release. With distinct production, instrumentation, and vocals, the recordings found on Alternate Versions offer a new perspective on one of Smith’s most highly acclaimed albums, and separate them from the original cuts found on Either/Or. If I was pushed to single out just four of them personal highlights on this album, then I guess I would have to opt for Sixties-tingled 'Alameda' with it's terrific rhythm, 'Angeles', a particularly catchy tune which I believe to be about the hypocrisy surrounding the music business, the stirring 'Between the Bars', made famous in the same year of this record when it was used in the closing credits of the hit film 'Good Will Hunting', and the heart-warming, frankly adorable 'Say Yes', which fades things out beautifully. Although that's a word which has been overused so much, especially in recent times that it has become almost cringe-worthy, don't cringe when you hear it said of Elliott, because he really does merit such a title. My vinyl label is a canary, dry yellow with a glossy lyric sheet inside, displaying the credits as well.

Smith's third album, Either/Or, was produced by himself, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf and released February 25, 1997. Secondary copies sent out will be opened and inspected before being re-shipped to guarantee a non defective replacement. On Either / Or, Smith observes a production ethic that retains a lo-fi looseness without sacrificing any sonic clarity.

The one "new" song present is the wonderful pop/rock of “I Figured You Out,” a track that Smith gave to his friend Mary Lou Lord to record because it “sounds like the f*****n’ Eagles. Twenty years on from its initial release, Elliott Smith’s much-beloved third album Either / Or receives an Expanded Edition reissue. It appears that 20 years has past since the late Steven Elliott Smith recorded his greatest album "Either/Or".The double LP is packaged in a gatefold jacket that includes an insert of the original liner notes, a postcard of the original master tapes, and several never-before seen photos. The mastering on vinyl makes this incredible record justice, impeccable crafted songs, arrangements and performance expanding way beyond its low budget studio sessions. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. This album features the original tracks carefully remastered from the original source material under the supervision of Larry Crane, owner of Jackpot!

The late Elliott Smith has now achieved a real cult following, and is largely regarded as some kind of musical 'genius'. The album is nonetheless a classic containing three songs that were used in the film "Good Will Hunting". On a happier note, last year, to celebrate the album's 20th anniversary, we were given this expanded edition, which benefits from new sound remastering, and nine bonus tracks, all but one of which had never been released before. His third studio album, released in 1997 is a very strong contender for the title his greatest, and certainly in my own top 40 releases of all-time. The last LP he released with independent label Kill Rock Stars, the record saw an expansion in Smith’s sound, while retaining the raw, often desolate emotional heft with which he’d become synonymous.

Often cited as his finest work, virtually every track is a classic in its own right, with the likes of Between the Bars, Angeles and Say Yes proving particular fan favourites. The previously unreleased 'I Figured You Out', is a great pop-rock track, and comes after 'I Don't Think I'm Ever Gonna Figure It Out', a catchy little tune which was originally issued as a B side, and really demonstrates the man's talents at picking away at a guitar. Elliott Smith had ambitions to make records with a Beatlesque sound - but zero interest in Beatlesque fame - when he recorded Either/Or. Of the new content, the five live tracks recorded at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia, Washington in 1997 are of pristine quality with the harrowing "Some Song" especially powerful. Every record is shipped in original factory-applied shrink wrap and has never been touched by human hands.

If you enjoy great, intelligent songwriting, you can't go wrong with any of Elliott Smith's releases, but this one captures him at the beginning of his established peak and relative popularity.The highly acclaimed Either/Or, the third album from Elliott Smith and his last written and recorded in Portland, OR, broke through to a larger international audience. Following on from Roman Candle, Smith's startling debut, Elliott Smith is another work of lone ambition.