I finally got around to listening to Amy Winehouse's new album “Back To Black”. But not just any old edition, I got the Deluxe edition. I have to admit I am very slow on the uptake when it comes to becoming a fan of her music. I heard the first single "Rehab" enough to know I'd probably enjoy the album, but I couldn't bring myself to shell out the $15 bucks for it. For one thing because of all the overplay I got tired of Rehab pretty quickly so it pretty much cooled me. Second, with all the shenanigans she has been getting herself into lately I began to see her as nothing but a bunch of hype and no substance.
In the tabloid culture we live in it seems like many actors and musicians spend more time worrying about being seen at the right parties or playing damage control and not enough time doing what really matters. Like working on their music or whatever it is they do. I thought this was going to be the case with Winehouse. Ooooh boy was I wrong! I am mad at myself for not getting it sooner. How could I have allowed myself to be so distracted by all the crap and not seen the legitimate talent she is? She isn't just some singer copying a more classic throw-back sound. Cover to cover this album is her. She really is a soul singer of the old guard that would make Aretha, Diana, and Tina proud.
Her music is the next step in the evolution of soul music adding a basic hip-hop drum track in the background giving it a level of modernity while it makes sure to never lose that classic feel. There were also several tracks on the album that managed to catch me off guard, which only made me appreciate her all the more. Her unusual choice to cover the classic ska tune “Monkey Man” was completely unexpected.
At first listen I couldn't believe she was doing it. To switch from to a completely different sound without making it feel like a piece of filler is a hard thing to accomplish. Not only does she manage to do it quite effortlessly, but she goes a step further by doing a completely stripped song of just her voice and guitar. Let me just say this girl can sing. It makes me hope that some day she will do an entire album of bare bones music to really show off what she can do. Sadly, with all the demons she is facing right now we do not know what will happen to her career. Or, for that matter, whether she will be able to be seen as more than a tabloid princess. Please Ms. Winehouse, get your demons under control! It'd be a shame to lose your talent too soon.
