Elliott Smith - Roman Candle (1994), 8/10

Recorded and released while Elliott was still a member of Heatmiser, this album is essentially a mixtape recorded in his girlfriend's basement. The label had to convince him to release it as an album! To be fair to the label, while the songwriting shows unparalleled talent, the original cut is rough, so the remaster is worth transitioning to for modern listeners. While the record lacks the polish of his later recordings, the raw emotional power is unmatched by his other work. There is a supremely intimate quality to his performances of course, but also in his approach to songwriting and composition that make these songs distinguished among his very best. After buying into the story and the aesthetic of the record, it is unmatched in effect not only within such a talented songwriter’s discography, but more broadly as an unparalleled set of folk-rock songs. Still, the album does have an individual appeal that cannot truly be described without simply pressing play. These songs will likely most appeal to outsiders, jilted lovers and emotionally stunted "sad bastards". Some critics evaluate the album as separate and disjointed, but this project is so intimately connected to its creator that the album feels palpably depressive in a fashion to substantially further its effectiveness; its simple appeal as a collection of songs serving as touching for aching souls is undeniable. Elliott’s writing skill is as clear as his proficiency as a guitarist, particularly considering the atypical rhythm and harmony choices on songs like “Condor Ave”, furthering the record’s stance as outsider appealing. For those who cannot buy into his later work, it serves as a complete foil to his aesthetic and production choices on XO and Figure 8; Roman Candle is wonderfully raw and primal. The divisive nature of such a lo-fi, personal and vulnerable recording is understandable, as you may likely either unabashedly love the album or be wholly disinterested by its statements. Many souls are in the former camp and will forever find a warm comfort in its individual and charmingly vulnerable beauty.