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Named after a local rodeo rider, Darden Smith grew up in Austin, TX. In the 1980s, the rootsy singer/songwriter began building quite a following, and his independent 1986 debut was snapped up by Epic. Three of its cuts were re-recorded for 1988's Native Soil; the single "Little Maggie" placed on the country charts. Trouble No More -- a collaboration with British songwriter Boo Hewerdine of the Bible -- followed in 1990. Three years later, Smith distanced himself even further from his country roots with the pop-oriented Little Victories. While he was a critical favorite, drawing comparisons to such mature songwriters as John Hiatt, Epic still dropped him from its roster. 1996's Deep Fantastic Blue appeared on the indie Plump; it was an accomplished collection of folk-tinged pop. The favorites set Extra Extra followed in 2000, and the introspective, jazz-tinged Sunflower appeared in summer 2002. It was a far cry from the dusty roots of Smith's early work, yet cut from the same intuitive ...