The Electric Soft Parade's second album The American Adventure--the follow-up to the Mercury Prize-nominated Holes in the Wall--is an in-depth study into the widescreen possibilities of indie rock. The Brighton brothers' noses for a pop hook remain undiminished, branding the woozy slide guitar swagger of "Things I've Done Before" and brooding rumble "Lights Out" as instant anthems. ...
The death of the singer/songwriter (someone for whom an acoustic gig was an everyday event, not some MTV-style special occasion) has been inevitable for some time, so releases like Figure 8 should be cherished. With no obvious singles, no clear fashion statement and nothing but a handful of melodies, a paper-thin voice and a piano or guitar for protection, it's clear that Elliott Smith is ...