Review Summary: Figure 8 is a catchy emotional roller-coaster and is arguably Elliott's best effort.
I am sitting on my computer thinking of 1,000 different topics to write for my final exam, With Elliott Smith blasting through my headphones. I was listening to the Figure 8 album probably for the third time. So I just sat there while time was passing me by. Meditating on the music. Feeling each and every chord that was being plucked. Losing myself in Elliott's soft toilet paper vocal delivery. I realized I was wasting my time frying my brain over a stupid research paper. So I decided to just take the F and write about something more meaningful and decided to review this album.
Out of all of Elliott Smiths albums. I always find myself going back to Figure 8. Not only because it is a beautiful album, but I was trying to wrap my head around the theme of it. Figure 8 is Elliott's most mysterious album. You'll have a song with a happy melodic feel to it like "easy way out" but with lyrics like: "You'll take advantage till you feel your being used". It is obvious that Elliott was trying to express his feelings in a different way instead of the usual: Sad melody = sad music. I have seen a very similar technique with RadioHead's song "No Surprises". Sad lyrics but happy melody. Of course Elliott uses irony in his lyrics as he does with a lot of his other songs: "the invisible man who keeps on changing clothes".
Elliott Smith's growth as a musician really shines in Figure 8. "Happiness" takes you into another dimension. A dimension in which you aren't quiet sure what consist of it but you want to stay there, forever. The circus like guitar riff gives the song life as Elliott's vocal and lyrics coats the song. The song ends with a strange but really nice outro. It's a different melody from the song but you can tell that it's is still part of "Happiness".
It seems that Smith has not forgotten about his days with Heatmiser with songs like "LA" and "Stupidity tries". These two songs are the reason why I call this album an "emotional roller-coaster" because of the hard rock sound they emulate. "LA" comes after "Everything reminds me of her" A sad depressing song apparently about him missing his mate. Then here comes "LA" a fun hard rock song with awesome guitar licks. Elliott knew what he was doing with the track-listing. If he made you feel sad for one song, he'll make it up by giving you a happy song next.
"I better be quiet now" is another mystery. If whether the song is a sad one or not is unknown but it is one of the best on the album. Smith's ironic word-play and catchy melody shines here as well as many other tracks on this album: "I got a long way to go, getting further away". The lyrics are heavy and deep and the song is filled with emotion. And it's so damn catchy. In the song, Elliott speaks of a dream that he had which basically sums up the theme of the song. In the dream his "dead enemies" were screaming in his face and he was forced to be quiet and not make a sound. The result of his forced silence is "Can't make a sound" a great album closer and convenitly placed after a song that almost revolves around a similar theme
Smith was a very talented musician. He was also proficient on the piano and it really shows in "the lost and found". The piano playing kind of takes me back in time to an old 50's bar with people swing dancing. Figure 8 is drenched in variety and is undoubtedly Elliott Smith's best album. It is like taking a field trip into Elliott's mind. It has tons of more replay value than his other more praised albums(either/or, Elliott smith's self titled). Figure 8 is a master-piece, there's not a single bad song on here. Listen to Figure 8 whenever you want to escape reality. And enter the mysterious yet artistic mind of Elliott Smith.
Favorite Tracks:
Somebody that I use to know*
LA
Easy way out**
Happiness**
Stupidity Tries
I better be quiet now*
Can't make a sound
