Figure 8 (album)

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Professional reviews
Figure 8

Studio album by Elliott Smith
Released	April 18, 2000
Recorded	Abbey Road Studios, London Capitol Studios, Hollywood Sonora Studios, LA Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood
Genre	Indie rock
Length	52:06
Label	DreamWorks Records
Producer(s)	Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf Elliott Smith
All Music Guide link Pitchfork 6.9/10 4/1/2000 Robert Christgau (neutral) link Rolling Stone 4/27/2000
Elliott Smith chronology
XO (1998)	Figure 8 (2000)	From a Basement on the Hill (2004)

Figure 8 is the name of the fifth album recorded by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. The album's title is taken from a song by School House Rock; Smith covered this song but it did not make the album.

The album, released on DreamWorks Records on April 18, 2000, was Smith's second release on a major label. It was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Sonora Studios in Los Angeles, Capitol Studios in Hollywood, and Abbey Road Studios in London ("Stupidity Tries", "In the Lost And Found (Honky Bach)" and "Pretty Mary K"). The album was also released on Double Vinyl 12" on Bong Load Records, though it is no longer in print in this format. It is also available as Digital Download.

1 Additional musicians
2 Track listing
3 Cover
4 Alternate Release
5 Outtakes, B-Sides, non-album tracks
6 Other songs from this era
7 External links

[edit] Additional musicians

Sam Coomes - bass on "Everything Means Nothing To Me," "In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)," "Stupidity Tries," and "Pretty Mary K"
Pete Thomas - drummer on "Junk Bond Trader," "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?," and "Can't Make A Sound"
Joey Waronker - drummer on "Stupidity Tries"
Jon Brion - backup vocals on "Happiness/The Gondola Man"

[edit] Track listing

(All songs written by Elliott Smith)

"Son of Sam" sample (help·info) – 3:04
"Somebody That I Used to Know" – 2:09
"Junk Bond Trader" – 3:49
"Everything Reminds Me of Her" – 2:37
"Everything Means Nothing to Me" – 2:24
"L.A." – 3:14
"In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost" – 4:32
"Stupidity Tries" – 4:23
"Easy Way Out" – 2:44
"Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" – 3:25
"Color Bars" – 2:19
"Happiness/The Gondola Man" – 5:04
"Pretty Mary K" – 2:36
"I Better Be Quiet Now" – 3:35
"Can't Make a Sound" – 4:18
"Bye" – 1:53

[edit] Cover

The wall Smith is standing in front of in Autumn DeWilde's photograph on the cover of his Figure 8 album actually exists, and since his death it has become a memorial to him. It is covered with graffiti and written messages containing lyrics and personal messages to Smith. It is located at 4334 W. Sunset Boulevard, which is a store by the name of "Audio-Video Solutions", just south of the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Fountain Avenue.

[edit] Alternate Release

The Japanese release of this album included Smith's cover of The Beatles' song "Because" and the album's title track, "Figure 8".

[edit] Outtakes, B-Sides, non-album tracks

"A Living Will" (Featured on the "Son of Sam" single)
"Figure 8" (School House Rock cover, featured on the "Son of Sam" single)
"I Can't Answer You Anymore" (Featured on the French 3 Titres Inedits promo)

"Brand New Game"
"No Life"
"Sorry My Mistake"
"Stained Glass Eyes"
"Tiny Time Machine" (Instrumental, worked on later as "Suicide Machine" for Smith's next album, From a Basement on the Hill)