Elliott Smith - XO

Elliott Smith's XO is where bedroom confessions met orchestral ambition, and the collision produced one of the most quietly devastating records of the late 1990s.

Released in 1998, it was his major-label debut and his first album after the unexpected spotlight of an Oscar nomination for his work on Good Will Hunting. Rather than chase that moment, Smith widened his palette, working with producers Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf on arrangements full of piano, horns, strings and layered harmonies, while keeping the lyrics as unsparing as ever.

Opener "Sweet Adeline" blooms from a hushed acoustic murmur into a full-band rush, a perfect statement of intent. "Waltz #2 (XO)" sets bitter family memory against a gorgeous, swaying melody, "Baby Britain" bounces with Beatles-flavoured piano pop, and "Independence Day" glows with a fragile, hopeful shimmer he rarely allowed himself.

What makes XO so enduring is the tension between those sweet, intricate arrangements and the loneliness underneath them. Every flourish seems to deepen the ache rather than hide it.

On vinyl, the warmth of the instruments and the closeness of his double-tracked voice come through beautifully. It remains a cornerstone of his catalogue and a favourite for anyone who loves melancholy pop crafted with real care.