Xo

Amazon.com On XO, Elliott Smith leaves the indie doldrums behind and takes wing to new, lush surroundings. By adding full instrumentation to his acoustic reveries, Smith has ascended to a new level of songwriting that shores up his gentle voice and country-tinged guitar playing with extra layers of vocal arrangements and charming piano vamps. Strains of classic rock filter into the Beatlesque "Baby Britain" and the Beach Boys-inspired "I Didn't Understand," but Smith succeeds in adapting them to his style rather than the other way around. A foot soldier in DreamWorks' war on standard-issue rock & roll, Smith joins new label mates Rufus Wainwright and Morphine as sophisticated interpreters of the new male psyche. XO is a stunning shadow print of a soul adrift in the music industry, a dark place indeed. --Lois Maffeo Product Description Elliott Smith honed his craft performing in the Portland music scene both as a solo artist and with the rock unit Heatmiser (his solo career spawned 3 albums, and Smith's Heatmiser days yielded 3 more albums). Currently, the singer/songwriter is best known for his Oscar nomination for his contribution of "Miss Misery" to director/friend Gus Van Sant's Academy Award-winning film Good Will Hunting. Highlights on XO include "Tomorrow Tomorrow" and "Waltz." Review XO ... features [Elliott Smith's] most adventurous music ever, opening up his acoustic flow with piano, horns, vocal overdubs, even a string section. -- Rolling Stone XO is Smith's major-label debut, and instead of opting to become the new Richard Marx for the occasion--something that might have suited him--he's chosen idiosyncratic new Domino signings Quasi as his backing band. Compared with the sparseness of his debut "Roman Candle," even that's a commercial extravagance--piano, brass and flute plumping up these skinny songs like a shot of steroids. -- New Musical Express Even though he's a master melodist, he's too modest to shove his tunes in your face; they just hang around like stray dogs shown kindness for the first time. -- Spin For better and sometimes for worse, Smith ... gives voice to his generation's romantic cynicism and diminished expectations. -- Entertainment Weekly Modestly dramatic musical shifts ... push XO leaps and bounds beyond his previous work.... Smith's orchestral maneuvers compose a flowery pop symphony. From the choral-like harmonies ... to the richly textured ambience of Baby Britain... Smith recalls the best of the late-era Beatles, Badfinger and the Zombies. -- No Depression With his unusual gift for melody amid a melody-poor generation of rockers, Mr. Smith may be the most fully formed singer-songwriter to come along since Elvis Costello.... -- The New York Times [Elliott Smith's] beautifully orchestrated pop radiates a humming energy, countering a breathy, anemic voice that perfectly conveys ... intimate and morose sentiments.... -- USA Today
ASIN: B00000AEF9
VSKU: DBV.B00000AEF9.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Smith, Elliott
Binding: Audio cd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!