23 Stressed Out Twenty One Pilots Full Track.

22 Weh Dem Feel Like Vybz Kartel Full Track.

19 Partita for Eight Voices Caroline Shaw Full Track.

18 Untitled Pharrell & J Balvin Full Track.

15 Hymn for the Weekend Coldplay Full Track.

12 The Blacker the Berry Kendrick Lamar Full Track.

7 Hurtin’ (On the Bottle) Margo Price Full Track.

4 Get Away Syd Tha Kyd & The Internet Full Track.

2 Say No to This The ‘Hamilton’ Cast Full Track.

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. 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.

Elliott smith either or lyrics genius