The lyrics contain references to serial killer David Berkowitz, the Hindu deity Shiva, actor Bruno Schleinstein, the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, and the comic book character Sgt. Smith described the songs on the album as 'more fragmented and dreamlike'. So the object is not to stop or arrive anywhere it's just to make this thing as beautiful as they can. But there's something I liked about the image of a skater going in this endless twisted circle that doesn't have any real endpoint. I liked the idea of a self-contained, endless pursuit of perfection. Regarding the album's title, Smith said in a May 11, 2000, article in Boston Herald: Initially titled Place Pigalle, after the square in Paris, the title is thought to be taken from a song by Schoolhouse Rock! Smith covered this song, but it did not make the final track listing. Preceded by the singles ' Happiness' and ' Son of Sam', Figure 8 was Smith's second release on a major label.įigure 8 was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Sonora Studios in Los Angeles, Capitol Studios in Hollywood and Abbey Road Studios in London. It was recorded from 1998 to 2000 at numerous studios and released on April 18, 2000, through DreamWorks Records.

Figure 8 is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, and the final studio album released during his lifetime.

Elliott smith either or cover art