Waltz #2 (XO)

Serving as his major-label debut single, this track expanded Elliott Smith's famously hushed acoustic sound with lush, chamber-pop orchestration. Written in a traditional waltz time signature, the deeply autobiographical lyrics tackle themes of familial estrangement, specifically referencing the singer's complex relationship with his mother and stepfather. It stands as a masterful example of blending profound lyrical melancholy with a beautifully accessible pop melody.