Customer Reviews
A creative genius... - By: , 14 Dec 2005 
It is rare to find an artist with such talent as Elliott Smith. ‘Figure 8’ is a masterpiecein everyway. In my opinion, ‘Figure 8’ was the peak of Elliott’s career. He carefully constructs a record that reflects both a combination of ‘Either/Or’, & ‘Xo’, which creates a creative masterpiece so much so that it is hard to find faults within it. The lyrics throughout the album constantly reflect Elliott’s emotions towards life that creates a real sense of intimacy within the record. As a great fan of Elliott smith, I had never felt that connection truly establish until I heard ‘Figure 8’. The one thing that elevates this album from the rest of Elliott’s work is the collage of folk-rock-ballard that fits beautify within the whole album. If the piano to ‘In the lost & found (Honkey Bach)’ & the uplifting beat to ‘Color Bars’ does not get you head bobbing, you seriously need to consider your tastein music. This album is Elliott’s finest, & it’s a damn shame that such talent ended as it did.
Don't Buy 'Cos Of His Tragic Death...But Because It's Great - By: , 28 Oct 2003 Following his recent suicide, there is bound to be an upsurge of interestin Elliot Smith's music. Some might see this as hyporcritical; I myself simply see it as the simple fact that sometimes it takes news like this to raise awareness that somebody even existed.
That taken into consideration...I have been a fan of Elliot Smith since around 1998 and, although I've not listened to him so much recently (due to it being three years since he had released an album & the fact I had recently bought several other albums) he has remained one of my favourite songwriters & I had been eagerly looking forward to his sixth album.
When I heard he had died, the first thing I did was stick this (his last & my favourite CD) on & was reminded how wonderful it is.
Despite his reputatation as a sad acoustic troubadour, this album displays a range of talents from the piano-led "In the Lost & Found" to the snarling rocker "Junk Bond Trader" while final song (bar a closing instrumental) "Can't Make A Sound" has shades of Mercury Rev or Flaming Lipsin use of effects & production.
Obviously Nick Drake & the Beatles remain reference points but it must be pointed out that Smith was no copyist & I truly feel his best moments could not have been written by anyone else. "Everything means nothing to me" & "Happiness"in particular shine here although, perhaps even more so due to what has happened, it is the quiet melanchony "I'd Better Be Quiet Now" that sticksin the mind & may be used as an urgent comforter on lonely winter nights. The line "If I didn't know the difference, living alone would probably be ok, it wouldn't be lonely..." is to my mind one of the most heartbreaking lyrics ever committed to disc.
For a newcomer to Smith (and whilst some fans feel understandbly differently, I hope Elliot Smith gains a lot of new fans - he always deserved to) this album, along with XO, probably provide the most valuable introductions to his brilliant music.
To return my starting point, I don't agree with buying albums of people just because they've died. Especially when there are lots of reasons to try this superb album.
Heartbreaking - By: , 26 Oct 2003 This is one of my favourite albums of all time & it is almost unbearably sad to think of how deprived we have been of all the great music he would have madein the future. The lyrics are just so real....Please buy this album & all his others & it makes you realise how shallow most of the music created today is....
Smith's Masterpiece - By: P. J. Tomkins, 24 Oct 2003 Elliott Smith's death this week hit me really hard; I've not experienced the loss of any of my heroes before. I had been checking his official site for months, awaiting news of the follow up to Figure 8, one of my favourite albums of all time (and certainly my favourite of Smith's, just edging out XO & Either/Or). So to be greeted with news of his demise was a massive shock.
For me, Figure 8 edges out his other full-production piece, XO, by virtue of not having a bad song amongst its 16 (even the quick instrumental that brings the CD to a close is strangely haunting, & aptly titled "Bye"). Either/Or - the last of his *acoustic* records, lacks the interest of Figure 8, although the songs are, as ever, fragile & poignant.
Figure 8 is one of those albums that when you first hear it, you like the sound, but nothing stands out; however, it grows with repeated listens, & where albums that instantly gratify tend to become irritating, works like this sound eternally fresh. The album is replete with sumptuous melodies, but they are not obvious ones. The pace is mostly gentle, but the songs don't blend monotonously into one & other; however, they do sit wonderfully side-by-side, & it sounds like an album from a man with one vision, rather than a collection of ill-suited sketches.
If I had to pick out one song, it would be Can't Make A Sound, which starts with a whisper but builds to the album's climax proper (before the addition of Bye). It seems apt that a man who took his own lifein dramatic circumstances should have ended his final album (workin progress on his sixth album pending) with I'd better Be Quiet Now, Can't Make A Sound, & Bye...
I am incredibly saddened at Smith's demise, and, from a selfish point of view, angry that I will deprived of further releases by a genius of a songwriter (unless, of course, the workin progress was at a sufficient stage for us to hear). But if his death brings him to the attention to the world, & his work gets heard by a larger audience, then that is one crumb of comfort.
R.I.P Elliott - By: W. saundrs, 23 Oct 2003 This album (along with all his others) deserves a cherished placein your collection. Restin peace Elliott.
