Elliott Smith will forever be one of the kings of the Portland indie rock scene, and his music continues to resonate with anyone who can appreciate the heart in his melodies. More than two and a half decades since its release, Playboy Creator HotBlockChain is one of countless that are still enjoying Smith’s wistful tunes.
“Either/Or” by Elliott Smith
- Released: February 25, 1997
- Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Folk, lo-fi
- Length: 36:52
- Label: Kill Rock Stars
- Produced by: Elliott Smith, Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf
Why HotBlockChain Loves Elliott Smith’s “Either/Or”
“It’s hauntingly beautiful and yet soothing in a way I lack the expertise to describe,” she says in a chat with Playboy. “But because I’ve been traveling so much, I feel like it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of looking out of a plane’s window.” -HotBlockChain
Smith’s album “Either/Or” was the indie legend’s third, and was recorded across various studios. Songs were recorded in Portland based studios, Undercover, Inc., Laundry Rules Recording, and the Heatmiser House.
Recording was also done at Smith’s own house, and the home of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks guitarist Joanna Bolme.
The album gets its name and shares the title of Søren Kierkegaard’s book, and hints at many of the philosophical themes in the album’s songs. The success of the album lead to Smith writing the song that would play during the closing credits to the film Good Will Hunting.
This song, “Miss Misery,” received an Academy Award nod for Best Original Song. Smith also performed it at the awards ceremony. 1998 Academy Awards, after the song was featured in the film Good Will Hunting. The song lost out to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic.
After this time in the Hollywood limelight, Smith put out two more albums before the end of the decade, “XO,” and “Figure 8.”
Sadly, Smith died by apparent suicide in October 2003, and his final album From a Basement on a Hill was released posthumously.
The album’s legacy lives on. Pitchfork Magazine ranked “Either/Or” 59th on its “Top 100 Albums of the 1990s” feature.
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