It's likely that you're already familiar with the first release from the debut album by Dirty Vegas. Days Go By, an almost haunting pop house tune made popular by the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse car commercial. You know, the one where the riders let loose with strange dance extensions to the throbbing beat with the simple but memorable lyrics..."you / you're still a whisper on my lips / a feeling at my fingertips / pulling at my skin... / days go by and still I think of you / days when I couldn't live my life without you / without you..." There's a touch of electronica, acoustic rock, and soulful vocals that you can bop to and yet somehow it's also relaxing. Yes, it's perfect driving music.
But Dirty Vegas is no one hit wonder. This is one of the best albums of the year. Here is modern musical alchemy pushing the edge of two popular genres- acoustic rock and dance. The British trio is comprised of Steve Smith (vocals/percussion/guitar), Paul Harris (keyboards/production) and Ben Harris (guitars/production). It's tempting to say that Steve's soulful singing and talented songwriting are what make this album shine. But Paul and Ben are musicians in their own right, Paul one of the top DJ's in London for the last decade, and Ben was once a guitarist in a band then moved on to produce house records. They've been doing remixes as The Hydrogen Rockers for a few years, but for some reason decided to change names for their debut album.
This album is difficult to categorize. There are soothing acoustic tracks like Candles and All or Nothing that gently rock with Steve's sultry vocals and percussion, and amazing rhythm guitar & bass work by Ben and Paul. I was often reminded of music by Seal, David Gray, and Duncan Sheik. Then there are interesting rock/electronic hybrids like Days Go By and I Should Know where the guitars and vocals seamlessly give way to catchy dance beats. Ghosts, the second single from the album (and perhaps the best song here) also fits into this hybrid category, showcasing the best of Steve's endearing vocals, a groovy baseline, and a sweet, galloping electronic beat.
The album falls short of greatness on two instrumental tracks, Throwing Shapes and The Brazilian. Sounding like "B" sides of beat-heavy techno records, cutting these ten minutes would benefit the album. But two bad apples don't ruin the whole bunch, so don't let that stop you from grabbing this stylish gem that is as hip and sexy as the glossy, 80's retro art that comprises the album jacket by photo realist painter Richard Phillips.
The album closes with two great tracks that underline this trio's strengths. The Simple Things, Pt. Two again melds beats, a groovy baseline and great singing/songwriting. Take these words to heart, fellas, and drop those tech-heavy instrumental tracks. "It's the simple things that make you smile" Smith sings... and just as the song nearly finishes, he breaks into lines from Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall. It comes across with spontaneity, and whether this was improvisation in the recording studio or not, it somehow all works. The album then closes with an acoustic-only version of Days Go By. I've been listening to this album for more than two weeks now, and it continues to grow on me. Go ahead and get Dirty. This may very well be the best album of the year.