Only a few albums were needed for the Nebraska songwriter to reveal his sensitive voice, his exquisitely refined melodies and his intense lyrics, which offered up an elegant alternative to the dominating grunge of the ‘90s. In this dark no man's land, Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley were joined by Elliott Smith. The history of rock loves fallen angels and geniuses with tragic stories.

XO is in many ways the best album of Elliott Smith’s career, certainly it’s his most immediately gratifying… it just doesn’t happen to have any of his most iconic songs on it.Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs. There isn’t a track on XO that hits you with the same crippling force as The Biggest Lie, Say Yes, Needle In The Hay, or King’s Crossing. However in elevating his songwriting, he placed an obstacle between himself and his audience. It’s quite possibly the best collection of songs that Smith ever released – from beginning to end it’s an engaging record that’s undeniable in its craft and guile. This is the crux of what makes XO such a conundrum. It tempers his self loathing and trademark acidity with the kind of delicate, measured instrumentation that welcomes a more casual listening experience. The emphasis on strong melodies, repetition, and clever transitions make XO extremely easy to fall in love with.Ī song like Waltz #2 is the perfect starting point for anyone that hasn’t yet delved into Smith’s discography. The influence of The Beatles, George Harrison in particular, is there for all to hear. It was the moment that he proved what he had been saying all along he was a pop artist first and foremost. XO demonstrated that Smith could transcend the limitations others had subconsciously placed on him as a poster boy for lo-fi folk. What wasn’t focused on as much was just how damn good the songwriting was. Despite being his major label debut, it didn’t sell as well as its predecessor Either/Or, or receive the same level of media coverage.Īt the time of release, some took exception to the more polished production and the introduction of ‘adult contemporary’ elements, such as horn and string arrangements. XO, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult to pin down.

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