I try to keep this disto’s choice of titles within the realms of volume eleven, but this is one of those folky, lo-fi albums that everybody needs to own and cherish, regardless of your religion. This led to the Oscar nomination for best song with "Miss Misery" which is not included on this album but saw Smith undertake one of the most real if culturally out of place performances in the ceremonies history. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. Either/Or' ultimately provides a very enjoyable, and laid-back listening experience, but when you start to listen closely to the lyrics, you'll soon see how dark and disturbing the majority of these songs were.

There are five live tracks, each one recorded at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia WA in 1997, and these demonstrate what a capable, and increasingly confident live performer he had become. The highly acclaimed Either/Or, the third album from Elliott Smith and his last written and recorded in Portland, OR, broke through to a larger international audience. Gathering it up into one source, however, confirms Smith's genius and once again proves that the "torment saint" was utterly unique and indispensable. The 20th anniversary edition of Elliott Smith's beloved third album Either / Or, newly remastered for this release.

Of the new content, the five live tracks recorded at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia, Washington in 1997 are of pristine quality with the harrowing "Some Song" especially powerful. Blessed with the voice of a wispy angel, Elliott Smith created sad little pop songs, which, like the work of Nick Drake (to whom he's been compared) threaten to disappear into the night air. The second disc features five live multi-track recordings from the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia, WA in 1997, as well as three previously unreleased studio recordings and one b-side gem. To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Elliott Smith’s best-selling and greatly beloved album, Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars proudly presents Either/Or: Expanded Edition. The previously unreleased 'I Figured You Out', is a great pop-rock track, and comes after 'I Don't Think I'm Ever Gonna Figure It Out', a catchy little tune which was originally issued as a B side, and really demonstrates the man's talents at picking away at a guitar.

When I first heard his music, I had to get past his soft vocal style, which could be mistaken for "weak" or "wimpy", but in the end, it's perfect for letting the songs really shine on their own. The gently insinuating despair of Smith's work communicates volumes about the heartbreak and alienation that is the bane of 20th century boys with too much time on their hands. Although that's a word which has been overused so much, especially in recent times that it has become almost cringe-worthy, don't cringe when you hear it said of Elliott, because he really does merit such a title.His songs of loss and loneliness have the broken-poet aura of Smog or Mark Eitzel, but he offsets the gloom with a hatful of damnably catchy melodies and progressions, turning suffering into pop and making it signify. Others worth a mention in dispatches include the bittersweet "Rose Parade" with the immortal opening lines "You asked me to come down and watch the parade/To march down the street like the Duracell bunny/With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade/Throwing out candy that looks like money". The mastering on vinyl makes this incredible record justice, impeccable crafted songs, arrangements and performance expanding way beyond its low budget studio sessions. Twenty years on from its initial release, Elliott Smith’s much-beloved third album Either / Or receives an Expanded Edition reissue.