Elliott Smith. - Review - sound recording review

Interview, May, 2000 by Dudley Saunders

Figure 8 (DreamWorks)

In his transition from a Gen X Paul Simon to a millennial Brian Wilson-Beatles hybrid, Elliott Smith has quietly emerged as the most adventurous songwriter of his generation. Trying for his own Sgt. Pepper's, Smith slips from folkie guitarwork to orchestral pop-rock so effortlessly that it takes a few delighted listens to realize how much his writing has changed. Too bad, then, that the erstwhile Oscar nominee's frail voice isn't always up to the challenge, frequently disappearing into the more elaborate arrangements. It's a flaw that may keep Figure 8 from becoming a full-on classic, but in this case, close still gets you a pretty tasty cigar.