Hey homie, just caught this one from you. Excellent review. I'm 42 and this album FLOORED me when it came out. I'm so happy to see it affected someone else like that too, 20 years later
I’ve been a huge ES fan for years. There are lots of song that I really love, but Pitseleh is very special to me. Probably my favourite song. I love listening to this track on winter snowy evenings/nights. It’s a sad song but yet it sounds so cozy and relaxing ❤
Great album and reaction, I can't wait for the Figure 8 video. It's even more ambitious in orchestration and production, really awesome and grand album.
if you like "fucked in the mix" then you're going to absolutely love from a basement on the hill, whew. love xo, but basement will always be my favorite
This is my favorite album of all time. If I ever get a tattoo it would be "XO". Some songs, like "Pitseleh", took some time to grow on me but now they're some of my favorites. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
YEAAAAAAAAAAh, such a good album. This and Figure 8 (which im sure you´ll enjoy) are peak Elliott IMO Glad to see you liked Keep up your awesome videos c:
As you were loving Waltz 2 I was lovIng waiting for your reaction to "the note" in the incredible bridge. I am an obsessive Elliott fan who became a fan of him two years before he died. It's interesting. You're like me. A lot of obsessed fans seem to love the acoustic albums, but I want the production of his last three albums (that includes the posthumous From a Basement). I want to hear him paint with all the colors available to him. I mean he's like a modern Brian Wilson/Elvis Costello (also 2 members of my top 5 along with Mr. Smith ) for me. XO was his first album on DreamWorks (you know Spielberg's movie/record company) so the budget was EXPONENTIALLY bigger than all the previous albums. He was also in a loud 90s alternative band called Heatmiser before his solo career took off. Their last album Mic City Sons is the one most like XO.
i believe while writing xo he had been struggling with his drug and alcohol addiction for some time and some of his loved ones staged an intervention for him, so there seems to be a lot of bitterness in this album. i was sure you would love it :) figure 8 (my favorite) gets more existential, i hope you can get around that one too!
It’s time for Basement!! Also, after that do all of his EPs-especially Division Day. Then move onto his unreleased tracks. It’s a treasure trove of beautiful songs.
And since you really liked Elliott’s a cappella on I Didn’t Understand, check out his cover of Beatles’ Because. Which he did right around the time of XO, and is also done as an a cappella song. It might be better than the original.
Also, little history behind Elliott at the time of XO, this was his first album after the Good Will Hunting success, you need to watch that movie if you haven’t btw. Elliott signed to dreamworks and became wealthy for the first time in his life. Love your reactions!
He also initially wanted miss misery to serve as the closer for the album but gave it to Good Will Hunting when he didn’t write another song for the movie in time, great song too.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put subtitles, they helped so much! As for cutting down editing like you mentioned in the description, I think if you think it could help you any way I'd say it's worth a try testing it out, just to see what happens. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on his last couple albums, I think they'll go in directions you'd enjoy!
Been an ES fan from Heatmiser on. I’m an avid guitarist and life long music fan, and I can really honestly say that NO one artist or band has been able to influence me more than him. I’m talking both guitar AND song composition. He was a generational talent. It just is..and you know it. 🙂
The beauty of his melodies keeps me from ever finding the songs depressing regardless of lyrical content. "So dark". You do realize he fucking stabbed himself in the chest, right?? Some fans believe his girlfriend, Jennifer China, murdered him, but I have no fucking clue.
fun fact about "everybody cares, everybody understands": it dates back to 1989, a song called "catholic" that elliott recorded with one of his old bands called "harum scarum" that he ended up reworking into everybody cares nearly a decade later
great reaction! I can’t for you to listen figure 8 and basement on a hill. Basement is my personal favorite. Skip the other albums, finish out Elliott’s discography, you’ll love it!
XO is my jam! His earlier albums don't hit the mark for me. There are gems for sure, don't get me wrong, but he elevated his sound on this album! Pitseleh, both Waltzes... Ugh. Simply gorgeous.
Hey homie, just caught this one from you. Excellent review. I'm 42 and this album FLOORED me when it came out. I'm so happy to see it affected someone else like that too, 20 years later
LOVE your reaction to this beautiful album! Sweet.
I remember listening to this like 4 years after it was released and thinking that I was late. Now, I just feel ancient.
waltz 1 is defo my fave from this album what a haunting masterpiece
I’ve been a huge ES fan for years. There are lots of song that I really love, but Pitseleh is very special to me. Probably my favourite song. I love listening to this track on winter snowy evenings/nights. It’s a sad song but yet it sounds so cozy and relaxing ❤
Pitseleh is really up there, man. Might be my fave too!
Great album and reaction, I can't wait for the Figure 8 video. It's even more ambitious in orchestration and production, really awesome and grand album.
Basement gonna be crazy too. Can’t wait for him to listen to strung out again
Pitseleh is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard along with I Didn't Understand. When you go through heartbreak they hit like a damn truck
Nothing can break me quite like "no one deserves it"
if you like "fucked in the mix" then you're going to absolutely love from a basement on the hill, whew. love xo, but basement will always be my favorite
This is my favorite album of all time. If I ever get a tattoo it would be "XO". Some songs, like "Pitseleh", took some time to grow on me but now they're some of my favorites. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
SO excited that you did this one!!! Since you’re into the richer production on this album, I just know ur gonna love figure 8
something that’s hard to catch at 17:28 is the really subtle key change in “oh well, ok”
CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH!! this is def my favorite elliott album :)
YEAAAAAAAAAAh, such a good album. This and Figure 8 (which im sure you´ll enjoy) are peak Elliott IMO
Glad to see you liked
Keep up your awesome videos c:
As you were loving Waltz 2 I was lovIng waiting for your reaction to "the note" in the incredible bridge. I am an obsessive Elliott fan who became a fan of him two years before he died.
It's interesting. You're like me. A lot of obsessed fans seem to love the acoustic albums, but I want the production of his last three albums (that includes the posthumous From a Basement). I want to hear him paint with all the colors available to him. I mean he's like a modern Brian Wilson/Elvis Costello (also 2 members of my top 5 along with Mr. Smith ) for me. XO was his first album on DreamWorks (you know Spielberg's movie/record company) so the budget was EXPONENTIALLY bigger than all the previous albums. He was also in a loud 90s alternative band called Heatmiser before his solo career took off. Their last album Mic City Sons is the one most like XO.
Love your videos can’t wait for more reactions in the future.
When the history of songwriters is written I think Elliott Smith will be put right up there with the very best, a genius songwriter!
Watch him playing tomorrow tomorrow live to really appreciate his guitar skills….he was amazing!
i believe while writing xo he had been struggling with his drug and alcohol addiction for some time and some of his loved ones staged an intervention for him, so there seems to be a lot of bitterness in this album. i was sure you would love it :)
figure 8 (my favorite) gets more existential, i hope you can get around that one too!
Dude I love your videos, thank you!
It’s time for Basement!! Also, after that do all of his EPs-especially Division Day. Then move onto his unreleased tracks. It’s a treasure trove of beautiful songs.
And since you really liked Elliott’s a cappella on I Didn’t Understand, check out his cover of Beatles’ Because. Which he did right around the time of XO, and is also done as an a cappella song. It might be better than the original.
Love Bottle Up & Explode
Also, little history behind Elliott at the time of XO, this was his first album after the Good Will Hunting success, you need to watch that movie if you haven’t btw. Elliott signed to dreamworks and became wealthy for the first time in his life. Love your reactions!
He also initially wanted miss misery to serve as the closer for the album but gave it to Good Will Hunting when he didn’t write another song for the movie in time, great song too.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put subtitles, they helped so much!
As for cutting down editing like you mentioned in the description, I think if you think it could help you any way I'd say it's worth a try testing it out, just to see what happens.
I'm excited to hear your thoughts on his last couple albums, I think they'll go in directions you'd enjoy!
Been an ES fan from Heatmiser on. I’m an avid guitarist and life long music fan, and I can really honestly say that NO one artist or band has been able to influence me more than him. I’m talking both guitar AND song composition. He was a generational talent. It just is..and you know it. 🙂
You’re gonna love figure 8
Gotta remember that Elliott also played all of the instruments in these recordings as well
great video:)
Check out his acoustic live version of baby Britain on RUclips as well! A lot of people like it more
I hope Pitseleh will be a grower for you!
The beauty of his melodies keeps me from ever finding the songs depressing regardless of lyrical content. "So dark". You do realize he fucking stabbed himself in the chest, right?? Some fans believe his girlfriend, Jennifer China, murdered him, but I have no fucking clue.
figure 8 next?
fun fact about "everybody cares, everybody understands": it dates back to 1989, a song called "catholic" that elliott recorded with one of his old bands called "harum scarum" that he ended up reworking into everybody cares nearly a decade later
also, the alt/unreleased version of everybody cares has a fucking clarinet solo during the outro instrumental
great reaction! I can’t for you to listen figure 8 and basement on a hill. Basement is my personal favorite. Skip the other albums, finish out Elliott’s discography, you’ll love it!
I wish miss misery was on this version
I have a feeling youre going to highly fuck with figure 8 based on the songs on here you liked
You should check out Alex G if you haven’t.
XO is my jam! His earlier albums don't hit the mark for me. There are gems for sure, don't get me wrong, but he elevated his sound on this album! Pitseleh, both Waltzes... Ugh. Simply gorgeous.
Not to be dramatic but Waltz #2 (XO) is one of the best songs ever made
Please react to Killing Joke - Night Time
Just wait until you get to Figure 8 and From A Basement On A Hill
I love this channel so much