elliott smith – either/or (1997)

Elliott Smith packed more melody into a double-tracked whisper than would be expected in a Glee cover of Mariah Carey. He can also say ‘fuck’ with more power than any outlandish, testosterone-steaming ‘rockstar’. Either/Or is like the shadow of a pop hit—Brian Wilson might have written it if he spent the 1960s leaning musically into the dark rather than the light. I realise these are big statements. This album is tricky to talk about. It is a favoured invocation for screenwriters looking to portray a young character as morose and naive. That may be nice and convenient, but Elliott Smith’s incorruptible richness defies the superficial. 

30/30

A favourite: ‘Pictures Of Me’