Miss Misery was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1998 Academy Awards, and was performed at the televised ceremony in an abridged version by Smith, backed by the house orchestra, briefly propelling him into the international spotlight. This existential title is reflective of Smith's interest in philosophy, which he studied at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.ĭirector Gus Van Sant was highly impressed with the album, incorporating three of its songs Between the Bars, Angeles and Say Yes along with a new song, Miss Misery, into the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. The album's title derives from the Søren Kierkegaard book of the same name, in which "either/or" refers to the contrast between aesthetic/subjective experience and ethical/objective being.
It has been described as "a bridge between the lo-fi darkness of Roman Candle and Elliott Smith and the studio sheen of XO and Figure 8".
Book-ended by its two singles, Speed Trials and Ballad of Big Nothing, "Either/Or" did not chart in the US, but was acclaimed by critics. It was released on Februthrough Kill Rock Stars record label, following Heatmiser's dissolution. "Either/Or" was recorded in several locations, mostly in Portland, Oregon – while Smith was still a member of Heatmiser – and was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. "This Is an Indisputable 10-Star Album with No Peer and No Real Room for Improvement.", 4 stars out of 5 - "EITHER/OR took the small arranging step needed to turn Smith's beautifully, harmonically sly but still then mostly self-accompanied tunes into indisputable pop.", ".an awkward sort of prettiness that fits him well.a U-turn from the aggressive, basement minimalism of his last solo record.proving himself to be an artist of uncommon dexterity and grace.", 7 (out of 10) - ".ranges from low-fi sparseness to rock with a melodicism Smith's band Heatmiser has yet to match.Though the harrowing heroin tales of Smith's last album are gone, his frequent alcoholidays suggest a less outwardly tortured Mark Eitzel.", Ranked #24 in Mojo's "100 Modern Classics" - "Characteristically double-tracked vocals whispered into the listener's head, revealing the confessions of a man struggling to escape an undisclosed past.", Ranked #20 in the Village Voice's 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll., "As is true of all great songwriters who write from a personal place, to love Elliott Smith’s music is to relate to him.It’s even truer now that he’s gone.", "This is the sound of Smith conjuring something far bigger than himself and coming into his own as a songwriter, arranger, and performer.", Ranked #73 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s.", ".Very Frequently on Either/Or Elliott Smith.Leaves You in Awe at His Quiet Power.", 4 Stars Out of 5-"Dark Surrealism with a Wispy, Half-There Voice and an Always Surprising Chorus."Either/Or" is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.
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