Opb's State Of Wonder

Twenty years ago, Elliott Smith opened a door into a hypnotic new world. The album, “Either/Or”, released on Kill Rock Stars records, marks a turning point in Smith’s transition from Portland rock journeyman to international star. This time had enormous consequences for Smith personally and professionally. But it also gave us heart-stopping music that continues to inspire fans and musicians all over the world.We sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio audience to talk about “Either/Or” and Smith’s legacy.Smith’s ultra-reflective songwriting and well-honed recording style represent an apex of the DIY sound that made Portland’s name during its intensely fertile 1990’s. His music continues to inspire people like Frank Ocean, Ben Gibbard, Wayne Coyne, and many others. How is that an artist whose inner life was so tumultuous put together some of the most meticulously-crafted music to come out of Portland? And what memories does “Either/Or” preserve of a time before Portland’s turn in the national s