Amy Winehouse - Back to Black Vinyl LP (Universal B0008994-01)
Amy Winehouse's second album, Back to Black, is one of the finest soul albums to come out in this decade. Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair; Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time around, Winehouse takes inspiration from some of the classic 1960s girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, a sound particularly suited to her textured vocal delivery, while adding a contemporary songwriting sensibility. With the help of producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, "Rehab" becomes a gospel-tinged stomp, while the title track (and album highlight) is a heartbreaking musical tribute to Phil Spector, with an echoey bass drum, rhythmic piano, chimes, saxophone, and close harmonies.
Best of all, though, is the fact that Back to Black is unabashedly grown-up in both style and content. Winehouse's lyrics deal with relationships from an adult perspective, and are honest, direct and, often, complicated. On "You Know I'm No Good," she's unapologetic about her unfaithfulness. But she can also be witty, as on "Me & Mrs Jones," when she berates a boyfriend.
