Elliott Smith Figure 8 By ButtProblem on Feb 18, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

Elliott Smith was a fairly unique artist. He has an ethereal quality to his voice that is not found regularly in many other singers. His music can be compared to artists like Sufjan Stevens, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Iron & Wine and, Bright Eyes. His music is very sad, but this album itself is much more orchestrated and follows more of a baroque pop sound. Figure 8 open up with a catchy piano and guitar riff in 'Son of Sam'. It characterizes the album on a whole - it's very layered compared to some of Smith's simpler songs, but the lyrics on a whole do still have his very sad tone. The music itself is fairly depressing but very emotional and powerful. Smith was an amazing songwriter and he was filled with so much. He died on October 21, 2003 of two stab wounds to the chest.