Either/Or

Product Information

Recorded in several locations mostly in Portland, Oregon while Smith was still in Heatmiser and produced by Smith, Tom Roth rock and Rob Schnapf, Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997 through record label Kill Rock Stars following the demise of Heatmiser. There are five live tracks, each one recorded at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia WA in 1997, and these demonstrate what a capable, and increasingly confident live performer he had become. 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. 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.

Every record is shipped in original factory-applied shrink wrap and has never been touched by human hands. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. All image and audio content is used by permission of the copyright holders or their agents, and/or according to fair dealing as per the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Others worth a mention in dispatches include the bittersweet "Rose Parade" with the immortal opening lines "You asked me to come down and watch the parade/To march down the street like the Duracell bunny/With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade/Throwing out candy that looks like money".The gently insinuating despair of Smith's work communicates volumes about the heartbreak and alienation that is the bane of 20th century boys with too much time on their hands. I'm just now thinking of pursuing his discography on vinyl, but wondered about the easily found remasters from a few years back. To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Elliott Smith’s best-selling and greatly beloved album, Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars proudly presents Either/Or: Expanded Edition. In questa edizione un secondo cd con uno sciamanico live, più due tracce alternative alle originali, con un libricino molto ben fatto, con testi e foto, piacevole da sfogliare. 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.

The title derives from the Soren Kierkegaard book of the same name, reflecting Smith's interest in philosophy, which he studied at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. 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. This album is packed with great songs, several of my favorites being "Ballad of Big Nothing", "Pictures of Me", and "No Name No. My vinyl label is a canary, dry yellow with a glossy lyric sheet inside, displaying the credits as well.Either/Or' ultimately provides a very enjoyable, and laid-back listening experience, but when you start to listen closely to the lyrics, you'll soon see how dark and disturbing the majority of these songs were. Gathering it up into one source, however, confirms Smith's genius and once again proves that the "torment saint" was utterly unique and indispensable. The final chapter of his first period as a solo artist, Either/Or remains a cornerstone of folk/pop melancholia with aftershocks felt to this day. The mastering on vinyl makes this incredible record justice, impeccable crafted songs, arrangements and performance expanding way beyond its low budget studio sessions. This led to the Oscar nomination for best song with "Miss Misery" which is not included on this album but saw Smith undertake one of the most real if culturally out of place performances in the ceremonies history.

Although Elliott's music was always largely on the (wonderfully) depressing scale, 'Either/Or', though only occasionally, actually has it's more upbeat pop moments, but every track, upbeat or otherwise, is a little work of art. Indeed, some will complain that the ramshackle charm and the little mistakes in the originals have been ironed out.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.