{"product_id":"either-or-expanded-version","title":"Either \/ Or Expanded Version","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe solitary pain of \u003cb\u003eElliott Smith\u003c\/b\u003e has connected with millions world wide and nowhere is it as raw or as sublime as it is on his third album, \u003ci\u003eEither\/Or\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eElliott Smith\u003c\/b\u003e 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 \u003cb\u003eElliot Smith’s\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis pop classicism shines gloriously on the seething \u003ci\u003ePictures of Me \u003c\/i\u003ewhich 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), \u003ci\u003eSay Yes\u003c\/i\u003e, a rare moment of (modulated) light and \u003ci\u003eBetween The Bars\u003c\/i\u003e, a song about alcoholism that plays like a beguiling spell. All are indebted to the \u003cb\u003eLennon\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eMcCartney’s\u003c\/b\u003e melodic turns, of which \u003cb\u003eSmith\u003c\/b\u003e took his inspiration from for the album. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmith returns to his grunge roots on \u003ci\u003eCupid’s Trick\u003c\/i\u003e and on the self-flagellating \u003ci\u003eAlmeda\u003c\/i\u003e, he deals out harsh truths to himself (“Nobody broke your heart\/You broke your own because you can’t finish what you start”).\u003ci\u003e 2:45 AM\u003c\/i\u003e is quintessential bleary eyed Smith, full of anger, addiction and vulnerability.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1998 three songs from \u003ci\u003eEither\/Or \u003c\/i\u003efeatured on the Oscar winning drama, \u003ci\u003eGood Will Hunting\u003c\/i\u003e. This spelt the beginning and the end for \u003cb\u003eSmith\u003c\/b\u003e. 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis approachability and honesty is what gave \u003cb\u003eSmith\u003c\/b\u003e his cult status and \u003ci\u003eEither\/Or \u003c\/i\u003eis him at his most poignant and undiluted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kill Rock Stars","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2","offer_id":50443976999243,"sku":"1008998","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2f1e3dc7-987f-4242-b9fc-895cacbea954_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727022629","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/either-or-expanded-version","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}