Elliott Smith - Figure 8

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His apex or his latex?

― Tony H. Lefto, Monday, 16 January 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

Neither.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:16 (twenty years ago)

I love it, personally, but I'm not a die-hard fan. I don't go for his more introspective, folksy leanings, and I appreciate the more robust production on this disc. It has its twee moments, but I like the rock.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:32 (twenty years ago)

£3 in Fopp...

'Either/Or' is his apex by the way.

― Leeroy, Monday, 16 January 2006 16:22 (twenty years ago)

probably my least favorite of his albums but only because I think it rocks out too much. this doesn' tmeant I don't listen to it a lot though.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 16 January 2006 17:37 (twenty years ago)

Latex? Wha?

― telephone thing, Monday, 16 January 2006 19:23 (twenty years ago)

For the longest time this was my favourite album by him as I started listening to him a few months before it came out, and it still holds a special place in my heart.

Thoguh "From a Basement on the Hill" has become my favourite due to the wait for it and the emotional impact his death brings with it.

― Erock LAzron, Monday, 16 January 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

"Happiness" specifically perhaps his apex?

― Tony H. Lefto, Monday, 16 January 2006 21:07 (twenty years ago)

I haven't heard this record in years, but when it came out I was so completely bummed out by it. I didn't really like it much at all. The honky tonk (yes, probably an exaggeration) piano was so unbearable.

― Daron Gardner (Daron Gardner), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 14:33 (twenty years ago)

i agree that either/or is the apex....after reading his biography I was not surprised to find that Figure 8 was the time period that he really got into serious drugs (heroin/crack)...its the only album where it felt at times like he was going through the motions..."happiness" is fantastic, but it was also written during XO

― Space Is the Place (Space Is the Place), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 14:44 (twenty years ago)

The so-called honky-tonk piano at the beginning of "Junk Bond Trader" tends to cause severe Elton John flashbacks but it's a terrific song. I don't know the rest of the album or feel much motivated to listen to it, though; a little of that is enough for me.

― xero (xero), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 17:53 (twenty years ago)

To be honest, the only song on "figure 8" that irks me is the latter part of "Everything Means Nothing to Me", where he repeats the song name ovver and over again. That has always pissed me off.

There are sooooo many good songs on it though. "Son of Sam", "I Better Be Quit Now", "Easy Way Out", "Can't Make a Sound", "Somebody That I Used to Know", "Stupidity Tries" and the gorgeous closer "Bye" (among others).

It may be too much (or too little) for some E.S. fans, but it's a fascinating examination of Elliott with time and a budget. I truly believe sometimes that his music was like a one man Beatles, especially his more produced stuff. Not the songs per se, but the atmosphere.

Well, maybe Lennon anyway

― Erock LAzron, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 18:26 (twenty years ago)

"stupidity tries" is awesome

― roethlisberger, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 18:59 (twenty years ago)

Don't like it. Spend the entire album waiting for Pete Thomas's energizing arrival on "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" Maybe he even plays on some tracks before that, but I never noticed.

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 19:21 (twenty years ago)

this remains my favorite album of his. not mopey skag-folk, not enshrouded in suicidal-lore. just obsessed with george harrison's guitar tone and the swell of studio arrangements.

― imbidimts, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 19:58 (twenty years ago)

You should definitely check out some of the leaked demos from his final sessions then. There's a few instrumentals ("See You in Heaven", "Instrumental", another) that are just amazing, and very much like aspects of "figure 8".

Supposedly "From a Basement..." was supposed to be a double CD with the second disc consisting of instrumentals. I would personally have found that mindblowing, but unfortunately it was not to be.

― Erock LAzron, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 04:49 (twenty years ago)

I was really excited to listen to this again a few months back, because I hadn't listened to it in a few years and "Everything means nothing to me" popped into my head out of nowhere.

Alas, when I opened the case, the CD was missing. Roommates from the past are laughing.

― Zach S, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 05:32 (twenty years ago)

you are now legally entitled to download the album to burn it and put it in your case. If anyone says anything, tell em' Erock sent ya.

Don't really tell them that.

― Erock LAzron, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 18:36 (twenty years ago)

"You should definitely check out some of the leaked demos from his final sessions then."

to the YSImobile!

― imbidimts, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 19:39 (twenty years ago)

bought it. . .

sold it. . .

― Tokyo Ghost Stories (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Thursday, 19 January 2006 03:10 (twenty years ago)

"Erock sent me" is a new legal slogan of the future.
I hope this link still works in the future.

― Zach S, Thursday, 19 January 2006 08:15 (twenty years ago)

eight months pass...

i adore 'junk bond trader', 'la', 'stupidity tries', 'wouldn't mama be proud' and perhaps especially 'pretty mark k'

that's 5 undisputable winners on one album. and there's nothing bad on it. perhaps only 2 or 3 below-par tracks at worst.

nevertheless, my least favourite elliott record. everyone should have a copy though :)

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 5 October 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

'easy way out' and 'son of sam' = tres fly also

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 5 October 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

"first true love folded at the slightest touch"

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 5 October 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

this remains my favorite album of his. not mopey skag-folk, not enshrouded in suicidal-lore. just obsessed with george harrison's guitar tone and the swell of studio arrangements.

OTM. This is my fave album of his and really the only one I've gone back to repeatedly.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 5 October 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

As regards Son of Sam, one could do a whole thread about epic ES album openers.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Friday, 6 October 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

Great album.

I don't think it's his best, but I listen to it as much as anything he's done.

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Friday, 6 October 2006 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

It's a very good record that would be improved considerably if "Happiness" was the last song.

― Doctor Jaggernathy (noodle vague), Friday, 6 October 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)

I'd agree, if "Bye" wasn't the most haunting / brilliant ending song on an E.S. album

― Erock Lazron (Erock Zombie), Friday, 6 October 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

totally not his best record. still fucking great however. his least best, i mantain. but the least best elliott smith record is still gold, funnily enough

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Friday, 6 October 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

about half the songs on this album represent his best and most fully developed songwriting, especially "i better be quiet now" (on the shortlist for my favourite ES track) and "happiness." too bad he had to go way overboard on the arrangements and damn near ruin the thing.

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Saturday, 7 October 2006 00:19 (nineteen years ago)

six years pass...

love this album

the slow motion moves me

― mookieproof, Thursday, 15 November 2012 07:08 (thirteen years ago)

one year passes...

how has anyone not mentioned this beautifully heartbreaking song yet? one of his best, this is an amazing performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmX0LRShtIc

― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Sunday, 7 September 2014 04:15 (eleven years ago)

one year passes...

"Easy Way Out" and "I Better Be Quiet Now" are recent discoveries for me. I like that there are still ES songs that can sneak up on me after hearing them in passing on record or on a live bootleg and not even noticing them. Happened with "King's Crossing" a couple of months ago, what an incredible song, specifically this performance. Just the death march vibe of the whole thing, and it's a uniquely competent and compelling performance considering this was coming off two years of disaster gigs, and only four months before he died:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6etUAIbRU

― flappy bird, Friday, 15 July 2016 05:29 (nine years ago)

two years pass...

Aaron Embry, touring member on the Figure 8 tour, on his favorite ES song ("Strung Out Again"). Really cool story: http://www.myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com/

― flappy bird, Friday, 23 November 2018 17:52 (seven years ago)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpqnZuIAn5iRENu4P7zlNRNef47HdieOgSUbQs0/

― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Saturday, 24 November 2018 01:42 (seven years ago)

RONG DUDE

― Gottseidank, es ist Blecch Freitag (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 24 November 2018 01:46 (seven years ago)

cool flaps, thanks. just listened to Mary Lou Lord too, who unsurprisingly chose I Figured You Out, and yeah I never got the Eagles comparison! That has been my favorite ES song off and on over the years.

― rip van wanko, Sunday, 25 November 2018 03:27 (seven years ago)

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