Audiogasmic Review: Amy Winehouse - "Back To Black"

The second album release by Amy Winehouse, "Back To Black" (released March 13. 2007 on Republic Records) is, in short, an amazing soul album. Much of the album is a throwback to a lot of fantastic 60's girl-rock with a great modern spin on the genre. Pulling influences from such powerhouses as The Supremes and the Shangri-Las, Winehouse's album promised to be great, and did not disappoint.

The music on this album, while being very 60's influenced in melody and sound, is definitely appropriate for the modern age. While it still fits in with the modern R&B sound, Winehouse's new release stands out in a lot of ways, namely its grown-up dealing with subject matter. Her lyrics and tone bring forth a distinctly mature feeling of working through so many parts of life. For instance, the opening track on the album, "Rehab" is a stompy, church gospel inspired song about Winehouse's father attempting to get her off of alcohol:

 

They're tryin' to make me to go to rehab
I said no, no, no!
Yes I been black, but when I come back
You won't know, know, know!

I ain't got the time,
And if my Daddy thinks I'm fine,
He's tried to make me go to rehab,
I won't go, go, go!

I've always been a big fan of 60's girl groups like the one's I mentioned earlier, and to have a modern artist taking the same genre and making it new while at the same time staying faithful to the original sound is a real treat to any fan. Just take one look at the quirky, teenage-looking British singer and then hear the full soul foice that comes out of her and you'll be hooked.

Audiogasm Intensity: OOOOo "Damn! That was actually kinda fun!