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Review Summary: Catchy, emotional, and well-written, XO is a masterpiece. There comes times in everyone’s life when it’s necessary for some change. This change could be nearly anything, and for nearly any reason. For example, an office worker becoming increasingly frustrated and bored with her work might choose to take a vacation for a change of scenery. Or perhaps a teenager who failed his grade 10 midterms might decide to change his study habits for the better while there’s still time to get his marks up. Or maybe a musician with an already dedicated fan base might decide to make a shift from his trademark sound in order to change things around and try something new. As you might have guessed (or already knew) acclaimed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith’s fourth studio album “XO” fits into this category.
After an Oscar nomination for the song Miss Misery (Which he contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Good Will Hunting) and the success of his previous album “Either/Or”, Elliott signed to Dreamworks Records, which, as a bigger label than his previous (Kill Rock Stars), gave him access to better recording and production facilities. Gone are the simply arranged songs and lo-fi production of his earlier albums. In it’s place are songs filled to the brim with instruments, string arrangements, and Elliott’s trademark vocal melodies, in which he often overdubs his vocals to create harmonies. In further contrast to his earlier works, most of the songs on XO make use of a full band, really demonstrating Elliott’s skill at arranging songs. A good example of the new sound on “XO” is the opener Sweet Adeline. At first, the song seems similar to Elliott’s earlier material, featuring just him and his acoustic, but around half way through the song literally explodes with a catchy piano line and drum beat over Elliott’s lovely vocal melodies. As proven in Sweet Adeline, piano plays a huge role in the album, particularly in the “ballad” Baby Britain. Elliott let’s his guitar take the backseat for this song, and shows that he can be just as good sitting behind the piano as he is with the guitar.
However, despite all of these changes, a few songs on “XO” are somewhat reminiscent of Elliott’s older material. Tomorrow Tomorrow and Pitseleh proves that Elliott hasn’t forgotten the stripped down nature of records such as “Roman Candle”. Tomorrow Tomorrow is a beautiful song featuring just Elliott and his acoustic, with some crazy overdubbed finger picking and the usual amazing harmonies. This song has a very dreamlike quality to it and really shows off Elliott’s finger picking skill. Pitseleh is similar to Tomorrow Tomorrow, except the guitar is more relaxed and it has a short and relaxing piano solo to keep it interesting.
A few songs on “XO” take both styles and mix them together. Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands begins simply with just an acoustic, but later on a catchy and baroque sounding piano line emerges, bringing the final two minutes of the song into a catchy instrumental section. The song ends on a note that wouldn’t quite sound out of place on one of The Beatles later records, with a string line that gets continuously higher and higher and higher until it sounds like it’s going to explode. Waltz #2 (Xo) also demonstrates the fusion of the two styles present on the album, the core of the song being a simple guitar progression that would fit easily on “Either/Or”, with the arrangements and production unique to this album. While that song isn’t actually a waltz, Waltz #1 is, relying on the interplay between a basic piano line and guitar riff over a simple drum beat and Elliott’s emotion filled vocals. The album ends perfectly with I Didn’t Understand, featuring only Elliott’s voice overdubbed a few times. The song is incredible, it is easy to hear the anguish in the vocals, and it proves that you don’t need a guitar or a piano to make a beautiful song.
I realize that I haven’t mentioned every song here, but I think that my point is made. This album is amazing, and is (in my opinion) Elliott’s best. Every song here is of the highest quality, even the ones I didn’t mention. If you’re looking for an album with catchy and emotional song writing, fantastic vocals, and really nice arrangements, look no further. XO is a masterpiece that I think anyone could enjoy. It just goes to show that change can be good sometimes.
| other reviews of this album |
FlawedPerfection EMERITUS (5)
A brilliant work of art, Elliott Smith takes his music to a new level with enhanced studio productio...
NathanBeesley (5)
The songs on XO are gateways to new worlds: It is through their inherent poetry and the fragile whis...
DropTune (5)
A story for another time, XO takes no time in giving its listener one of the most important musical ...
cagedbutterfly (5)
Elliott blends rock with folk and crafts a masterpiece of an album...
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Album Rating: 3.5
good review - I just happen to like his earlier, more sparse material more.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah great review! Not really a 5 for me as well. I think his self titled should have that honour, but a brilliant songwriter nonetheless!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This album is amazing. Apparently the drums on Independence Day is just a drum machine but you wouldn't notice! Pitseleh would be my favourite song.
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yeah his earlier stuff is better imo but this is banging too. good review
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
amazing album
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Great review.. (coming from a huge Elliott fan)
You claimed that this change that happened to his music following the contract with DreamWorks was a good thing, but I'm not sure if I should agree. In my opinion the production of XO and Figure 8 are slightly too good in a way. When I listen to some of the songs I just get this image of him being in a studio which I don't really like. While listened to the Kill Rock Stars stuff I feel he's really done it on his own, and let it sound like it would at his living room. For example, Oh Well, Okay sounds a lot better when he's played it live with just an acoustic guitar, as well as L.A. (from Figure 8). I also kind of feel that the vocals are at times mixed too high here, as well as the overdubbing (which was even used on Roman Candle, but less conspicuously)..
As for the music/songwriting, yes it is amazing, but I do feel it had taken a little step backwards from Either/Or. Didn't Understand was at first written as a piano song btw, but it was a great decision to create the melody by overdubbed vocal harmonies as you said. That is something that in my opinion only Elliott has been able to do so well. And yes, this album was the first one of his that included a really happy song or two (def. Baby Britain), although Say Yes was really optimistic as a closer of Either/Or. But I think the best here too are the depressing ones (Pitseleh, The Waltz's and I Didn't Understand).. And it's good that he used piano for the first time here, as he was very talented with it too. But really in all terms XO was the opposite of Roman Candle, only thing they have in common is his voice and the fact that they are both amazing.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Gazzmatazz- Yeah I'm pretty sure that's a loop of some kind, though I'm not sure if it was sampled or if it was from a machine, but I do agree that it's hard to notice. And I love Pitseleh too.
ClearTheLane- I do see where you're coming from, and don't get me wrong, I do love Elliott's old stuff (especially Roman Candle), but I really think that the Dreamworks deal was a great oppurtunity for Elliott to expand on his sound and really bring out his wide array of influences. I really like how he was able to turn his sound upside down here, and I love music that feels more arranged and composed as opposed to just "written". That aside though, I do like lots of more "sparse" music as well (obviously including Elliott's earlier material). As for not liking the production on XO as much as Roman Candle and Either/Or, likewise I see where you come from. I feel that the lo-fi production and simple arrangements fit those albums perfectly, but I think that it's good that Elliott was given the oppurtunity to try something new in this regard. I know that these are kind of tied together, but I love the change in sound, and no way would this album sound as good with the production of say, Either/Or.
Anyways, thanks for the feedback.This Message Edited On 02.02.09This Message Edited On 02.02.09
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
There's always going to be that argument between which was better, pre-Dreamworks Elliott or studio mastermind Elliott, but honestly, I can't pick out any one Elliott album and say it is the worst or the best overall (although the self-titled comes close to being awesome). Figure 8 was the first Elliott album I ever listened to and it's probably my personal favorite even though many fans would say it's his weakest. Point is, Elliott was the man, whether it be recording on a 4-track or piecing together some sweet studio wizardry. Good review.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
As for not liking the production on XO as much as Roman Candle and Either/Or, likewise I see where you come from. Erhmm.. I think that the four-track production of Roman Candle is on the other end maybe a bit too low and simple to be honest. I think that his best songs are on his self-titled (such as Christian Brothers, The Biggest Lie, Coming Up Roses, Southern Belle, St. Ides Heaven or the awesome harmonica-based Alphabet Town).. It would be so interesting to see how those songs would have sounded with the production like XO's.
Think you should see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQdhlCrjWY
It was not released in any of his albums, but it's similar to the songs in the self-titled/debut, and it's so damn good (imo)This Message Edited On 02.02.09
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Elliott was the man, whether it be recording on a 4-track or piecing together some sweet studio wizardry. Agreed, in fact, the best songwriter ever noticed by the world. The best. Ever.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Great song dude, thanks for sharing that. And I agree, Elliott was amazing both before and after Dreamworks, there's just something about this album that makes it my personal favourite.
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This album has nothing but 5's for reviews. But it's cool, this deserves it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Absolutely brilliant album, and nice review to.
To the one who mentioned "Baby Britain" as a happy song, I can't help but point out that the song appears to be about a girl drowning herself in alcohol over lost love. Cheerful! However, the melody is a bit more upbeat, if perhaps that is what you meant, in which case I shall simply say I love that song.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
she shows no emotion at all, stares into space like a dead china doll has got t be one of my all time favorite lyrics.
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I think this album is best for first time elliott listeners. But after this album introduces you to his writing or if you just dig him immediately, his earlier soft stuff is stunning. he's probly my favorite songwriter of all time with either/or being my favorite of his.
Also, Baby Britain provides a lot of favorite lyrics for me
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
im so glad that my memories' remote,
cause im doing just fine, hour to hour, note to note
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
i didnt understand reminds me of sun king by the beatles
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
this was an instant classic for me
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Awesome review man. You've got my vote. As for the album, Wow.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
oh man, oh man
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