Steve Smith

Steve Smith is British, but I think he's currently based out of Massachusetts. You might know him for being one of the song writer and singer of Dirty Vegas, a dance/DJ band that was briefly popular in 2003 when they had won a Grammy for "Days Go By" from their self-titled debut album.

Apparently Dirty Vegas broke up, Smith continued his music career with This Town, released February 2008. There are two Dirty Vegas songs on this album, the aforementioned song "Days Go By" (a more emphasis on the acoustic guitar and vocals, mixed by Steve Osbourne) and "Late Nights and Street Fights" (I don't think this song was ever released, but it was written and intended for Dirty Vegas). I actually thought "Late Nights and Street Fights" sounded fantastic, with its constant flow of lyrics and backed by a piano-pounding, foot-tapping music.

If you haven't figured it out, Smith decidedly to record a not-so-house/dance album, what Dirty Vegas was known for. Instead his album feels like it has its roots in American music. Songs like the instrumental "Morning Jane" is driven by the distinctively american sound of harmonica and banjos.

Not all the songs are like this, of course, there's still some pop mixes on songs like "Restless" and "Comedown Queen" (featuring backup vocals The Magnetic Fields' Claudia Gonson).

This Town is out now on G.A.S. Records, you can get it on Amazon and, of course, iTunes.

Links: stevesmithmusic.com myspace.com/stevesmithmusic1