[Mercury]

I love both of them. They were totally distinct and unique musicians, the reason they often times are compared is they are 2 of the masters of of great songwriting and also of gloomy melancholia-drenched songs. They both were masterful lyricists and songwriters. They both had fabulous ears for melody and harmony. They both released a relatively small amount of music before their untimely suicides. They were both truly towering talents.

Anyway, I find myself listening to these 2 at similar times in my life and I find myself comparing them more than I'd like.

Who's your favorite? Who was greater in what ways and why? How do you compare them? Do you? And which albums of theirs are your favorite?

Just curious...

Oh and I'll put up a poll just for fun.

Ryan
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Mercurydylan89
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[Jasonconfused]

I've never listened to Elliot Smith , but from the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left is my favorite.
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[RockyRaccoon]

For me, it's Nick Drake, it's "Pink Moon" and it's not particularly close.

That being said, I do love Elliot Smith, and my favorite album of his is his self-titled one, but there's just something about Nick Drake that I just love so much.
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Progressive Rock

Early Psychedelic Rock

Live Albums

[MrFrogger]

Nick Drake, no contest.

[revolver94]

I haven't heard all of these, but my I'm a very big fan Either/Or.
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My top songs of the 2010s
and
Spotify link

Last.fm

[Mercury]

I used to think Nick Drake was far and away the better, but now not so much. Honestly, I think it's hard to compare because they were great in different ways. Nick Drake was a genius guitarist and songwriter with a cool, haunting voice. Elliott smith had an ear for subtle melodic changes and harmony that I've honestly not hard from anyone else. I just think Smith was way way ahead of his peers in the songwriting and melody aspect of things. And his voice is also very soft and expressive. My vote goes to Elliott Smith. It's hard to beat his first 4 album out put. Especially "Either/Or" and ESPECIALLY especially "XO".

For me it's

1. XO
2. Tie between Pink Moon and Either/Or
3. Bryter Layter
4. Elliot Smith
5. Roman Candle
6. Figure 8
7. Five Leaves Left (I don't know why I never really liked this album all that much)
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-Ryan

ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

My Fave Metal - you won't believe #5!!!

[Silver]

Pink Moon is in my top ten, and Elliott Smith's self titled is in my top 50, so it's understandable when I say it's not close but I love them both very dearly.

[benpaco]

They're very different and very similar at the same time. It's fairly like Bon Iver and The Smiths to me. They're very different sounds and somewhat even different genres, but they both have a feel that finds people at the same places in their lives.

That said, I love both of them. I prefer Elliott Smith personally, though both of them are great.
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. . . 2016 . . . 2015 . . .

"While I'm alive, I'll make tiny changes to Earth" - Frightened Rabbit

[HazeyTwilight]

I love Nick Drake, I haven't listened to all of Elliott Smith's albums, but Either/Or is a great album. Nick Drake, Pink Moon, probably the obvious choice but that's what I think.

RIP Nick Drake
RIP Elliott Smith
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[Norman Bates]

1. Pink Moon
2. Five Leaves Left
3. Bryter Layter

All 100/100 records.

Then...

4. Either/Or
5. Figure 8

Both excellent

6. XO

Very good, maybe excellent, a re-listen is needed tbh

7. From A Basement On A Hill
8. Roman Candle

Good not great.


So yeah, Nick Drake. Although Smith has extremely moving moments, and 2, probably 3, excellent records, he doesn't match how Drake makes me feel. He's also less diverse, and some of his albums, while still good, do not show such high standard consistency as Drake. This is not, by all means, a way for me to downsize Smith: he was a great songwriter and I like him a lot.