Elliott Smith

Either/Or

First released1997

Either/Or was recorded primarily at Burnside Studios in Portland, Oregon in 1996 and early 1997, with additional recording at Smith's home studio. The album was produced by Elliott Smith himself along with Rob Schnapf and Steven Smith, with Schnapf serving as engineer on many of the tracks. Smith employed a lo-fi aesthetic despite having access to better equipment, deliberately using four-track recording, tape hiss, and minimal overdubs to create an intimate, raw sound that contrasted with the polished production of major label releases at the time. The sparse instrumentation and close vocal delivery reflected Smith's growing songwriting maturity while maintaining the DIY sensibility that characterized his earlier work. The album's production approach proved influential in establishing a template for indie rock production in the late 1990s, emphasizing emotional authenticity over technical perfection.