Elliott Smith
Either/Or [Expanded Edition]
(Kill Rock Stars)
In the twenty years that have passed since Either/Or was released, more has been written about this album – before and after Smith’s death – than one could read, and I highly doubt that any of it was not praise. A storyteller with an unimaginable talent for parlaying alienation into timeless song craft, Smith’s unparalleled guitar picking and forthrightness in his work has continued to maintain his status as one of, if not the best, songwriter of this generation.
Here, Either/Or is included in its entirety and remastered. As Smith’s 3rd LP and the one that gave him his first taste of fame, the songs here were fuller than his previous work, and all instruments were played by Smith. The bonus material includes several live versions (“Angeles” and “Pictures Of Me” sound incredible), alternate versions (a decorated rendering of “Bottle Up and Explode!”), and even the unreleased studio version of “I Figured You Out”, which Smith recorded as a demo for Mary Lou Lord in 1995.
I often think of Smith’s death as to what I imagine fans of The Beatles felt on December 8, 1980; you’ll never forget where you were, how deep your heart sank and how unjust the situation seemed. There’s been no shortage of Elliott Smith music released posthumously, but this is among the best and is necessary for both the completist and casual Smith admirer.
