Name: Either / Or Expanded Version
Brand: Elliott Smith

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-KRS-620

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Gatefold jacket that includes an insert of the original liner notes, 

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-04-19

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Rough Trade NYC

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0602557408744

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Total Cap

9999

Black LPx2

Artist

Elliott Smith

Genre GB

Singer Songwriter

Label GB

Kill Rock Stars

Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter known for his introspective and emotionally charged music. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Smith began his musical career as a member of the indie rock band Heatmiser before pursuing a solo career. His delicate vocals and intricate guitar work captivated audiences, earning him critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. With albums like "Either/Or" and "XO," Smith showcased his talent for crafting poignant lyrics that explored themes of love, loss, and addiction. Tragically, Smith's life was cut short in 2003 at the age of 34, but his legacy lives on through his timeless music.
Throughout his career, Elliott Smith garnered praise for his ability to convey raw emotion through his songs. His intimate performances drew listeners in with their vulnerability and honesty. Whether he was singing about heartbreak or inner turmoil, Smith's music resonated with fans who found solace in his poetic lyrics.
In addition to being a talented musician, Elliott Smith was also recognized for his contributions to film soundtracks. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song in 1998 for "Miss Misery," which appeared on the soundtrack of the film "Good Will Hunting." This recognition further solidified Smith's status as a respected artist within the industry.

Kill Rock Stars is an indie label co-founded by Tinúviel and Slim Moon in Olympia, Washington. Originally intended as an outlet for Slim Moon's spoken word records, the label quickly expanded into the vibrant music scene of the region. With a focus on promoting female artists, Kill Rock Stars gained recognition as one of the few U.S. indie labels with an all-female full-time staff after Slim Moon's departure in 2006.

Over the years, Kill Rock Stars has been home to legendary Riot Grrl/Indie/Punk Rock acts such as The Gossip, Unwound, Bikini Kill, Witchypoo, and Sleater-Kinney. Their catalog includes a diverse range of releases that have made a significant impact on alternative music.

Note: When adding or updating releases on Kill Rock Stars, please ensure that CD and Vinyl versions have the same Catalog number if they are part of the same release sequence. If you encounter a duplicate warning when submitting changes, simply tick the box and mention it in the Submission Notes without altering the Catalog number format.

The solitary pain of Elliott Smith has connected with millions world wide and nowhere is it as raw or as sublime as it is on his third album, Either/Or.

Elliott Smith honed his very own style of acoustic-punk, stylistically stripping back the meandering complexities of folk traditions. The chords are simple, melodies tempered and the songs never make it past the 4 minute mark. The simplicity allows the listener unfettered access into Elliot Smith’s emotional state, eschewing extraneous studio production that would only act as a distraction to its human side. There are few artists that allow you deep into their soul like Smith, that lay bare their regrets and fears so candidly.

His pop classicism shines gloriously on the seething Pictures of Me which spits at those who misrepresent him in the media and see his mental health as a marketing strategy (“So sick and tired of these pictures of me/Everybody’s dying just to get the disease), Say Yes, a rare moment of (modulated) light and Between The Bars, a song about alcoholism that plays like a beguiling spell. All are indebted to the Lennon and McCartney’s melodic turns, of which Smith took his inspiration from for the album.

Smith returns to his grunge roots on Cupid’s Trick and on the self-flagellating Almeda, he deals out harsh truths to himself (“Nobody broke your heart/You broke your own because you can’t finish what you start”). 2:45 AM is quintessential bleary eyed Smith, full of anger, addiction and vulnerability.

In 1998 three songs from Either/Or featured on the Oscar winning drama, Good Will Hunting. This spelt the beginning and the end for Smith. An Oscar nomination, two major label albums and global recognition would follow, but his addiction and depression spiralled and 5 years later he was dead, with two self inflicted stab wounds to his chest.

His approachability and honesty is what gave Smith his cult status and Either/Or is him at his most poignant and undiluted.

Either / Or Expanded Version

Music GB