Roman Candle is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, released while he was still a member of his first band Heatmiser. Its unexpected success caused tensions within the band, which ultimately led to its dissolution.
Smith performed and recorded Roman Candle himself on his four-track tape recorder, giving the album its lo-fi, folky flare. When first submitting it to his label, Cavity Search, Smith did not expect anymore than a 7" single to be released and was thus surprised when the label asked to release the record in its entirety.
Upon release, the album received mixed reviews, with some dismissing it as a Simon & Garfunkel parody. In the years since its release, though, the record has received widespread critical acclaim.