A year before his major-label debut, XO, was released, it seemed unlikely that Elliott Smith would even be on a major, let alone having his record be one of the more anticipated releases of 1998. He had certainly earned a great deal of critical respect with his low-key, acoustic indie records and was emerging as a respected songwriter, but he hadn't made much of an impression outside of journalists, record collectors, and indie rockers. An Oscar nomination can change things, however. "Miss Misery," one of Smith's elegantly elegiac songs for Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting, unexpectedly earned an Academy Award nomination, and he was immediately thrust into the spotlight. He was reluctant to embrace instant celebrity, yet he didn't refuse a contract with DreamWorks, and he didn't shy away from turning XO into a glorious fruition of his talents. Smith's songs remain intensely introspective, yet the lush, Beatlesque production provides a terrifically charming counterpoint. His sweetly dark melodies are vividly brought to life with the detailed arrangements, and they sell Smith's tormented songs -- it's easy to get caught up in the tunes and the sound of the record, then realize later what the songs are actually about. That's a sign of a good craftsman, and XO proves that not only can Elliott Smith craft a song, but he knows how to make an alluring pop record as well.
So I haven't mogged in quite awhile, and thought I'd get back on the wagon. It's been a busy semester, and I hope to keep up with this stuff better next year.The most important musical discovery I've made in the past few months was, without a doubt, Elliott Smith. I'm fully aware that he's old news, and of course I'd heard of him. I had a few songs of his, I'd nod and sure "Sure, he's good" if ...
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Yesterday, on the way to Venice, before hearing our Venice mix, we listened to XO by Elliott Smith. No one's a bigger Elliott fan than Michelle. She actually saw Smith live twice, that's right TWICE. And has, a now disintegrating, Figure 8 decal on our car from the last show she saw him perform in concert.I love having discussions about music with Michelle about music. Yesterday in the car whil...
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I had a Elliott Smithsong stuck floating in my head but I couldn't think of the name. I was trying to figure it out and even asked Michelle but the only thing I could remember was the chords to the melody. But without a guitar, I had on which I left in New Orleans way back when, it's difficult to describe a song by singing the notes to someone. So we sat in the car, in the dark playing all of E...
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ever wake up with a song in your head that you think may have been part of a dream?i think i have been listening to possibly too much elliott if i am sharing breakfast & coffee with him, while he plays guitar, in my bedroom.what musician would you choose to have breakfast in bed with?l.
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I came across "this biography of Elliott Smith":http://sweetaddy.org/?page_id=5 and thought it was quite interesting (although also disjointed and incomplete).
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While in Amoeba looking for any of the many albums on my to buy list, I heard some wanna be punk kid cynically say, "Oh look dude, Elloitt Smith, your favorite." What I really desired to say back was, "Well, are either of you guys hardcore enough to impale your own heart with a stake?" Of course I didn't so as not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere present at Amoeba, but sometimes a little ...
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So I haven't mogged in quite awhile, and thought I'd get back on the wagon. It's been a busy semester, and I hope to keep up with this stuff better next year.The most important musical discovery I've made in the past few months was, without a doubt, Elliott Smith. I'm fully aware that he's old news, and of course I'd heard of him. I had a few songs of his, I'd nod and sure "Sure, he's good" if ...
More >
I was kind of in a fog when Elliott Smith died, the impact is just hitting me now.I love this song.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Sweet Adeline |
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| 2 Tomorrow Tomorrow |
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| 3 Waltz #2 (XO) |
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| 4 Baby Britain |
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| 5 Pitseleh |
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| 6 Independence Day |
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| 7 Bled White |
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| 8 Waltz #1 |
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| 9 Amity |
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| 10 Oh Well, Okay |
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| 11 Bottle up and Explode! |
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| 12 A Question Mark |
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| 13 Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands |
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| 14 I Didn't Understand |
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Click to purchase…
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 "XO")
