Elliott Smith had ambitions to make records with a Beatlesque sound - but zero interest in Beatlesque fame - when he recorded Either/Or. 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. 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.

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. 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. Smith's music usually revolves around him and an acoustic guitar which means that while the 2017 versions are sharper there is not a quantum leap in quality.The melodies and harmonies on here are achingly lovely, the vocals so hushed and fragile they're almost whispered, and the lyrics unrelentingly, heartbreakingly sad. Every record is shipped in original factory-applied shrink wrap and has never been touched by human hands. Gathering it up into one source, however, confirms Smith's genius and once again proves that the "torment saint" was utterly unique and indispensable.

Twenty years on from its initial release, Elliott Smith’s much-beloved third album Either / Or receives an Expanded Edition reissue. Following the album's release, Smith would be struck to the forefront of popular culture after performing the song "Miss Misery", which appeared in the film Good Will Hunting, at the 1998 Academy Awards. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Secondary copies sent out will be opened and inspected before being re-shipped to guarantee a non defective replacement. 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.

Simple lyricism grounded in realism, contrasted by complex instrumentation and a playful approach to form and structure. 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. Hailed as a "future folk hero" by Alternative Press, Elliott Smith's Either / Or represents a stylistic and songwriting breakthrough, taking it to the "next level," creatively speaking. The result is this remaster of the original plus a bonus disc of unreleased live tracks, three unreleased songs and a number of curiosities. Smith's third album, Either/Or, was produced by himself, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf and released February 25, 1997.

Following on from Roman Candle, Smith's startling debut, Elliott Smith is another work of lone ambition.When I first heard his music, I had to get past his soft vocal style, which could be mistaken for "weak" or "wimpy", but in the end, it's perfect for letting the songs really shine on their own.