In 2020, the album was ranked at 216 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

Smith shared lead vocal duties with Neil. 'Miss Misery' was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1998 Academy Awards, and was performed at the televised ceremony in an abridged version by Smith, backed by the house orchestra, briefly propelling him into the international spotlight. More than 20 years after its original release, on February 25, 1997, Either/Or stands as a devastatingly beautiful record and is widely regarded as Elliot Smith’s best work. Elliott Smith was still a member of Portland’s Heatmiser at the time he recorded either/or, though that group would be broken up when it was released. Book-ended by its two singles, 'Speed Trials' and 'Ballad of Big Nothing', Either/Or did not chart in the US, but was acclaimed by critics.ĭirector Gus Van Sant was highly impressed with the album, incorporating three of its songs 'Between the Bars', 'Angeles' and 'Say Yes' along with a new song, 'Miss Misery', into the Good Will Hunting soundtrack.

Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997, on the Kill Rock Stars record label, following Heatmiser's dissolution. Either/Or was recorded in several locations, mostly in Portland, Oregon – while Smith was still a member of Heatmiser – and was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. 2021 reissue on 180 gram vinyl.Įither/Or is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.

Elliott smith either or recording