By Maya Karpaty
Elliott Smith showcased some of his best work in his 1997 album “Either/Or.” His vivid lyrics and comforting production style leave listeners feeling understood on a deep level. His poetic outlook on life manifests throughout the album.
Smith grew up in Nebraska and took his music career to Oregon where he’s lived most of his life. His first album, “Roman Candle,” was released in 1994, but his music really gained popularity with his 1997 album “Either/Or.”
In “No Name No. 5,” Smith sings “got a broken heart and your name on my cast.” His heart is in recovery from an earlier lyric, “a sweet sweet smile, that’s fading fast.” Each bar of phrase ends with “and everybody’s gone at last,” demonstrating a universal worry of lost connection. While “No Name” features raw and powerful lyrics, “Angeles” focuses more on metaphorical ones.
In “Angeles,” Smith faces his growing popularity and expresses his mixed feelings about signing to a label. He writes, “Go on, lose the gamble that’s the history of the trade,” exemplifying the risks associated with the music industry. He goes on to say, “Sign up with evil, Angeles?” which I interpret as his struggles with signing to a label, a new phenomenon for the artist. Your mind almost wants to read “evil angel,” which is a stark contrast to the actual meaning of “Angeles.” The “evil” he references is the temptation of fame disguised with money and glamor. Smith is aware of the jaws of the music industry, and “signing up with Angeles” could mean signing his soul away.
The last song of the album, “Say Yes,” is one of Smith’s most optimistic songs. This song deals with the mixed emotions that come with self-growth and love. Smith sings, “I’m in love with the world, through the eyes of a girl who’s still around the morning after.” The shift in the tone of Smith’s lyrics reflects a shift in Smith’s outlook. His lyrics become more colorful and optimistic.
Smith sings, “It’s always been wait and see / A happy day and then you pay / You feel like shit the morning after,” followed by, “But now I feel changed around / and instead of falling down / I’m standing up the morning after.” These are some of Smiths most uplifting lyrics. You can sense the growth and change Smith feels within his life.
The album is rough and rugged around the edges thanks to its themes of depression, connection and the importance of life. He infuses metaphorical lyrics and straightforward ones to get his messages across. Listeners can hear the calm melancholy in the soft way he sings, records and strums, which makes the harsh themes of “Either/Or” soothing. The audience is not alone in what they’re feeling throughout the album. He portrays sadness but brings a comforting blanket that just hugs the listener. Elliott Smith never fails to write impressive lyrics when it comes to writing about the human condition.