Elliott Smith - XO

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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Sanderson Assistant Engineer Bruce Eskovitz Bass, Sax (Baritone), Flute Doug Boehm Assistant Engineer Elliott Smith Horn Arrangements, Mixing, Producer, Main Performer, String Arrangements, Engineer Eric Matthies Photography Farhad Behroozi Strings Henry Ferber Strings James Atkinson French Horn Jerrod Goodman Strings Joey Waronker Drums Jon Brion Chamberlin Larry Crane Engineer, Producer, Mixing Luke Wood A&R Monique Rozendaal Production Coordination Pamela Dealmeida Strings Peter Hatch Strings Richard Barron Assistant Engineer Rob Schnapf Guitar, Engineer, Producer, Mixing Roy Poper Trumpet Shelly Berg String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements Stephen Marcussen Mastering Tom Halm Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements Tom Rothrock Mixing, Engineer, Drum Loop, Producer