After receiving loads of critical acclaim in the U.K., Amy Winehouse is finally letting Americans in on her unique soulful sound with Back to Black. Upon first listen, Winehouse’s noticeable aspect is that her voice has a ’50s/’60s jazz/old soul sound to it. Though her voice brings back memories of great ladies from back in the day, her production sounds fresh and current, enabling her to pull off a rare blend of new and old musical styles.
Renowned hip hop producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson create the perfect instrumentals for Winehouse’s tragic bliss. Her lyrics delve deep into despair and frustration and although there are not a lot of positive vibes, Back to Black does not make for a depressing album and instead feels real and honest.
Themes of heartbreak and doubt evoke sincerity. Some of her standout tracks include “Rehab,” “You Know I’m No Good,” and “Back To Black.” She flies solo on this album except for the bonus track with Ghostface Killah.
– Mike LaCroix
Amy Winehouse (Universal)