Back to Black

I really love Amy Winehouse's voice. The CD is always in my car. Great purchase, wonderful sound.

I bought this cd a few months back, and I think I have only listened to it one time all the way through. Honestly, this cd sounds like something an older aunt would listen to. I really don't get the hype about Amy Winehouse at all. Sorry but if I wanted to hear 60's music I would go buy some Motown classics.

I bought this for my 22 yr old daughter, but honestly, this 51 yrd old grandma fell for Amy watching the Grammy's. What a talented, original artist.

Amy's voice is rich, expressive, and the songs are really well produced. I haven't been this impressed in a while, I love every single track on this album.

The endless "news" coverage of Amy Winehouse's personal problems somehow made me interested in checking out her music. When B-list pseudo-journalists prop themselves up by making fun of Amy's struggles, they occasionally throw in an actual snippet of the music, revealing that Amy deserves credit as a truly excellent singer. Sure she sounds a lot like classic soul divas such as Billie Holiday or Etta James. But she's much more than a mere imitator, showing the raw talent that adds attitude and understanding to her inherent technical abilities. That attitude and understanding can be heard in this album's biggest winners, like "You Know I'm No Good," "Back to Black," and the great Ashford & Simpson update "Tears Dry on Their Own."

But while Amy is not the imitator some claim her to be, the musical backdrop of this album is definitely derivative, rarely straying from basic 60s Motown sounds (though at least the music here isn't the limp semi-R&B that's all most pop producers can come up with these days). This album is also quite undeveloped, with only half an hour of original material, propped up unsuccessfully with a horrendous second version of "You Know I'm No Good" that calls itself a "remix" but only turns up the bass and adds an unwelcome rap from the annoying Ghostface Killah (we can probably blame the record company for the anemic track listing). Regardless, Amy's talents as a singer and lyricist shine through, but unfortunately she appears to be gifted with that type of genius that comes with a streak of self-destruction. She might have a true masterpiece in her future - if she can pull herself together. [~doomsdayer520~]