ARTIST: Steve Smith
TITLE: This Town
LABEL: G.A.S.
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 192kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 48m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-02-19
RIP DATE: 2008-02-11
Track List
----------
1. This Town 5:50
2. Hit Me Up 2:55
3. Restless 3:38
4. Universe 3:40
5. Morning Jane 4:35
6. Smile 3:59
7. Sleep Like a Lover 3:38
8. Comedown Queen 3:52
9. Better Off That Way 4:31
10. That Town 4:50
11. Late Nights and Street Fights 3:08
12. Days Go By (Steve Osbourne Mix) 3:35
Release Notes:
Who is Steve Smith? Many may not know the answer to that question unless they
have heard "Days Go By," from the now-defunct London group Dirty Vegas. Steve
Smith is a respected DJ and also the man who created the song that was heard
everywhere from dance clubs to Mitsubishi commercials (anyone remember the Dave
Chappelle skit?). What most people do not know is that Steve Smith did not
originally plan on writing that song as a dance track or for that matter forming
Dirty Vegas.
"Days Go By" was written by Steve Smith as an acoustic song for an ex-girlfriend
that had captured his heart. The song took a twist one day as he was sitting
with a DJ friend and their producer in 1999 and decided to play the song. The
result turned into a new band forming - and an up tempo version of the song that
soon would be heard all over the world.
While fronting Dirty Vegas, Steve Smith continued to write passionate acoustic
songs for himself thinking that one day he would release them. After years of
touring the world, and the release of a sophomore album that did not meet the
industries expectations, the band went their separate ways. Steve Smith soon
reunited with his ex-girlfriend. They would marry and make a giant move from
London to Boston, Massachusetts, a city he always admired. The move was part of
a calling Steve Smith had felt, a calling for him to start writing his own music
once again.
This Town was created due to the calling, coincidence, and dreams Steve Smith
experienced.
Starting off the CD is "This Town," with dialog from actor John Savage (most
notably from The Deer Hunter). John Savage's spoken word really hit me. I have
always enjoyed hearing what seasoned adults say about life. John Savage talks
about life the way it was told to him: "Sometimes it's hard to figure out how to
have life. Guess what? It's not up to us." The piano accompanying the acoustic
guitar makes this speech a little deeper and inspirational. Midway through the
song, Savage says, "Sometimes being a genius is just getting up in the
morning..." followed by a sigh. Steve Smith picks up where John Savage left off
and sings about the place called home.
"Restless" is a nice pop rock friendly track I could see being favored by fans
of 90's alternative bands. I myself was not too into it. "Universe" has an
afternoon barroom jam feel to it with lyrics about live and love. I got a kick
out of the lyric, "Frankenstein has found his bride." Hopeless romantics take
note of this song, as it will make your mate swoon.
Harmonica, and what sounds like banjo, makes the track "Morning Jane." This
instrumental track also changes the music style up a tad, adding a little more
electronic style to it. I really enjoyed listening to the jam. I feel it could
be in a movie one day.
Choice track "Smile," dedicated to Steve Smith's late father, came to him in a
dream. Joining Steve Smith on this homage is violinist Jay Ungar to make this a
truly beautiful track. Jay Unger happened to write a score that in turn was
Steve Smith's father's favorite piece. Steve Smith came upon Jay Ungar playing
at a local church and asked him to play on this track. This song is dream and
coincidence all in one. I am sure his father is smiling right now.
"That Town" is technically the close of the CD. The song sounds almost like a
remix of "This Town," but it is not noted anywhere on the CD insert. The song
has more of a techno-pop feel at the beginning a la Chemical Brothers and ends
with something you might dance out to at an Ibiza club.
As an added treat, there are two bonus songs on the CD, the first being "Late
Nights and Street Fights." This song was the main theme for Fox's now canceled
series Standoff. If you have not heard this song, you should check it out. I
like it a lot as it reminds me of some of the high energy rock bands out there
that are not plagued on the recurring radio waves.