Either / Or (Turntable Lab Excl)

1997 was a turning point for Elliott Smith. His music appeared in the film Good Will Hunting, suddenly putting him in the spotlight with an unexpected Oscar nomination. His Oscar performance was tense but memorable. That same year, he released Either/Or, an album that marked a shift in his sound—adding more instrumentation while still keeping his raw, emotional core. It bridges the stark, lo-fi feel of his early work with the more polished production of later albums like XO and Figure 8. The lyrics remain dark and introspective, but the melodies hint at pop, creating a powerful contrast. The songs reflect a struggle between despair and hope, loneliness and love—mirroring Smith’s personal battles with addiction and his capacity for deep emotion.