Music Review: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Back to Black is Amy Winehouse’s second album, and the soul singer gives it her all. Although her first album came out in 2003, many people will be hearing her for the first time around, and will love her as much as I do.

The funky reggae sounds of "Rehab" is addictive, but even more addictive is this girl’s strong, big voice and her ability to change her style of music in each song and still belt them out.

It’s not hard to see why this girl won the Brit awards for best solo album recently. The track "Me and Mr Jones" seems to take back a step in time to the sixties, and sounds like an all-girl band’s, such the Supremes, hit song. It is very catchy and her vocal range shows the influence of the likes of Diana Ross as well as "Just Friends."

The title track, "Back To Black," is another that sounds like a Supremes' song musically, and as soon as I heard it, I expected Diana Ross to start singing, “baby, baby…” as it is so reminiscent of "Baby Love."

Actually, probably more than half the album bares itself as a tribute to artists from the sixties, who have influenced Winehouse, and it could easily be considered a tribute to   Phil Spector’s style of music that helped many bands from that period become famous.

The whole album is a highlight and a music lover’s delight in not just the vocals but the chimes, sax, bass drums, piano and harmonies. The talented singer also had a hand in writing her songs and the style of her writing is fresh and refreshingly honest.

Definitely a fine introduction to jazz for those who have not had the pleasure before, and Winehouse shows that she can hold her own against the likes of Joss Stone.

Outstanding songs: "Rehab," "Back To Black," "Me And Mr. Jones."

I can’t wait to hear more from this refreshing new artist, who blows Norah Jones out of the water, and might even look at picking up her first album.

I give her 4/5

Record Label: Republic
Year: 2007
Track listing:

1. Rehab
2. You Know I'm No Good
3. Me & Mr. Jones
4. Just Friends
5. Back To Black
6. Love Is A Losing Game
7. Tears Dry On Their Own
8. Wake Up Alone
9. Some Unholy War
10. He Can Only Hold Her
11. Addicted

Article Author: Janine Macdonald

Janine is a freelance music Journalist, who has written for several different magazines, and websites including faster louder, and xwiredonline.

Visit Janine Macdonald's author page — Janine Macdonald's Blog