AMG Review of Dirty Vegas

John Bush
All Music Guide

Capitalizing on the nearly ubiquitous "Days Go By" (courtesy of a Mitsubishi auto advertisement), the Dirty Vegas trio released their self-titled debut in mid-2002. The album is largely made up of rocktronica, but just consider the band's crossover potential; it's conceivable this album could be accepted by fans of Paul Oakenfold, the Verve, and *NSYNC -- all at the same time. The beats are up-tempo, but the atmosphere is nocturnal; singer Steve Smith is detached but slightly confessional, poised midway from Richard Ashcroft to Justin Timberlake. The band opens up later on the album, with a few imaginative productions slanted either toward a very smooth version of classic acid house ("Throwing Shapes") or Urban Hymns-type ballads ("Candles").