Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
First Solo Recordings: 1994

Members:
Elliott Smith -vocals, acoustic guitar
Sam Coomes -bass
Pete Thomas -drums
Joey Waronker -drums
Suzie Katayama -strings, orchestration
Matt Dunkley -strings, orchestration
Jon Brion -backing vocals

Bands in the family :
Heatmiser, Quasi, Sleater-Kinney, Spinanes

Notes:
Smith released his first solo record, Roman Candle, in 1994 while still in Heatmiser. His second, self-titled release on Kill Rock Stars earned him a reputation as a sort of modern Nick Drake. Either/Or (1996), his third record, was his last for Kill Rock Stars as he moved on to the Dreamworks label. Gus Van Sant's inclusion of several Smith tunes on the soundtrack for "Good Will Hunting" earned Smith an Oscar nomination and potentially, a much bigger audience.

Links:
Elliott Smith Mothership
Our Elliott Smith Photo Gallery
We Love Elliott Smith

To label the latest offering from Elliott Smith a "departure" borders on oversimplification. Figure 8, Smith's fifth album, is a dreamy, layered work that merely ups the rock ante of his perfectly balanced 1998 release, XO -- an exquisite union of wistful acoustic stylings and polished pop. This singer's trademark has always been his uncanny ability to evoke tremendous emotion with minimal instumentation. Thus, initially, it was somewhat disconcerting to discover Smith's sweet pining vocals immersed among this luscious cacophony of bass and percussion.

What eventually becomes apparent on repeat listens is that Smith can rock with the best of them. "Junk Bond Trader" and "L.A." are rollicking showcases replete with some of the catchiest guitar work in recent memory. The former is a standout track that exposes artifice: "The imitation picks you up like a habit." With the omnipresent Jon Brion providing backing vocals, "Happiness" and "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud" are virtual prototypes of the earlier masterpieces on XO.

If you're looking for vintage Elliott Smith, his sweet alto voice and sparse arrangements are amply represented. "Easy Way Out" displays classic Smith lyrics -- "there's no escape for you except in someone else" -- delicately delivered with quiet devastation. The curiously sequenced "Everything Reminds Me of Her" and "Everything Means Nothing to Me" are, practically, paradoxical companion pieces -- stylistically and lyrically.

Though we may long to wallow along with Smith, we cannot deny his growth. He's chosen a livelier showcase here, though the usual suspects -- depression, disillusionment, and women troubles -- are never far beneath the surface. When asked during an interview what his idea of a perfect day was, Smith responded, "Making up a song that's surprising to me is pretty much where it's at. That's probably my favorite thing to do." In light of that remark, Elliott Smith has been having some very good days.