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AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Mojo
NME	8/10
Pitchfork Media	10/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Select	4/5
Spin	7/10
Uncut

Either/Or is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Recorded in several locations mostly in Portland, Oregon while Smith was still in Heatmiser and produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997 through record label Kill Rock Stars following the demise of Heatmiser. Book-ended by the two singles "Speed Trials" and "Ballad of Big Nothing", Either/Or did not chart in the US but was acclaimed by critics.

Director Gus Van Sant was highly impressed with the album and incorporated three of its songs, along with new Elliott Smith material, into the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, propelling Smith into the international spotlight.

Either/Or was recorded at several locations: Joanna Bolme's house, Smith's own house, Undercover, Inc., Laundry Rules Recording, and "Heatmiser House", all in Portland, Oregon as well as The Shop in Arcata, California. The album was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf.

Smith wrote and recorded a song entitled "Either/Or" during the sessions for this album, but it was not included on the final release. The song "Either/Or" was later included on the Elliott Smith record New Moon, a posthumous compilation of previously unreleased material.

The album's title derives from the Søren Kierkegaard book of the same name, reflecting Smith's interest in philosophy, which he studied at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.

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