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Title: Elliott Smith - XO
Year/Genre/Sub-Genre/City: 1998, Indie Rock, Chamber Pop and Singer-Songwriter, Portland, Oregon 8/26
Matrix #: N/A
Condition: VG+ (LM) | Members: Elliott S (69' - 03') | Producer: Elliott Smith, Rob Schnapf, Tom Rothrock
Cultural Facts:

1. Career Shift: XO was Smith’s first album for DreamWorks, giving him access to larger studios and allowing him to expand his formerly sparse recordings with piano, strings, layered vocals, and fuller band arrangements.

2. Family Story: “Waltz #2 (XO)” drew heavily from Smith’s complicated family life, particularly his relationship with his mother and stepfather, turning an uncomfortable family gathering into one of his most personal songs.

3. Studio Lore: Smith remained deeply involved in the recording himself, playing much of the guitar, bass, piano, drums, and other instruments while building densely layered arrangements that showed how far his sound had moved beyond the four-track intimacy of Roman Candle.