I've listened to 'Independence Day' from XO in various contexts over the past 11 years, and it is a absolutely perfect song-- it's probably the closest thing I can get to musical visuals sans drugs, and it's impossible for me to get tired of it. I personally think his albums are a bit uneven, but his best songs are definitely on par with The Beatles in terms of being able to hear them over and over and never get tired of them. His best albums are XO and Figure 8, followed by Either/Or in third. With a few exceptions, I don't much care for his new stuff or his older stuff. My top 5 songs: 1. Independence Day 2. X/O (Waltz #2) 3. Sweet Adeline 4. Tomorrow Tomorrow 5. Can't Make A Sound
Heywood, I completely agree about Independence day and especially appreciate your comparison to the Beatles. Smith is so Beatles influenced, you can hear it in his songwriting, and as he was an avid listener it comes as no surprise. From lyrics and thematic elements to his mind blowing chord structures and intricate melodies, Elliott Smith's music will stand the test of time, and he will rightfully be regarded as one of the most inspiring tragic and relevant songwriters of all time. And to whoever found From a Basement on a Hill lackluster, you're listening to it wrong.