{"product_id":"199957557207","title":"Elliott Smith - Figure 8 [Limited Colored Vinyl] - Import LP Recurd","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElliott Smith\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJudgingonlybyhisearlier,bare-bonesindie-labelalbums,itseemedhighlyunlikelythatElliottSmithwouldturnintotheambitiousarrangerandstudiocraftsmanofhislushlytexturedDreamworksdebut,XO.Abigpartofthatshift,ofcourse,wasthefactthatSmithhadmajor-labelfinancesandequipmenttoworkwithforthefirsttime;thisallowedhimtofusehismelancholy,slightlypunkyfolkwiththerichsonicsofpopartistsliketheBeatlesandBeachBoys.Smithcontinuesinthatdirectionforthefollow-up,Figure8,anevenmoresonicallydetailedeffortladenwithorchestrationsandinventiveproductiontouches.Withacoupleofexceptions,thesoundofSmith'smelancholyhaslargelyshiftedfromedgytosighinglygraceful,althoughhislyricsareasdarkasever.Evenifthesubjectmatterstaysinfamiliarterritory,though,thebackingtracksareanothermatter--agorgeous,sweepingkaleidoscopeoflayeredinstrumentsandsonictextures.Smithflesheshissongsoutwithassuranceandimagination,andthatnewfoundsenseofmasteryisultimatelytherecord'srealemphasis;there'sseeminglyasubtlenewwrinkletothesoundofeverytrack,andyetit'salleasilyrecognizableastrademarkSmith.Evenifitisaveryimpressivestatementoverall,Figure8isn'tquitethemasterpieceitwantstobe--there'ssomethingaboutthepacingthatjustmakestherecordfeellong(atover52minutes,itisthelongestalbuminSmith'scatalog),anditcansometimesfloatawayfromthelistener'sconsciousness.Perhapsit'sthatSmith'ssongwritingdoessliponoccasionhere,whichmeansthatthoseweakertrackssinkundertheweightofarrangementstheyaren'tequippedtosupport.Still,mostofthesongsdorevealtheirstrengthswithrepeatedplays,andit'sworththepriceofafewnondescriptitemstoreaptherewardsofthevastmajority.FanswhomisstheintimacyofhisKillRockStarsrecordswon'tfindmuchtorejoiceabouthere,butoverall,Figure8comestantalizinglyclosetoestablishingElliottSmithastheconsummatepopcraftsmanhe'sbiddingtobecome.~SteveHuey\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Universal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52697073025313,"sku":"199957557207","price":9981.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/199957557207.jpg?v=1778893276","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/199957557207","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}