Joss Stone has released a new album. Her self-indulgence and spiral towards Alicia Keys/Lauryn Hill-esque kook-dom puts me off, but one good thing to come of reading a review of a recent live performance (sorry, no link) is that I’ve discovered Amy Winehouse. And she’s pretty good y’all. This page has a couple of her songs — and they’re both good! (There’s a remix here) as well, but I haven’t heard it yet.
I haven’t listened to Joss Stone for a couple of years, but this is sort of what I was expecting when she first came out and was heralded as unbelievably precocious. There’s no denying Stone has a voice, but her lyrics seemed childish (not surprising, given she was something like 17 when her first album came out) and not particularly fresh: there was some teenage angst, some teenage rebellion, some screw-you-I-don’t-need-you type stuff and yawn, who cares? Winehouse, on the other hand, is a little more poised and seems a little more real (she’s a bit of a mess in her personal life, apparently, and I guess that helps). Her voice has more of an edge (which I LOVE — if you haven’t listened to Res, make some time) and her music’s bustling and unpredictable.
Yay, new music!
woah - how is that voice coming out of that standardly-pretty-sexy person??? wierd!!
Have I never sent you nina simone? No comparison at all, but since you’re digging more varied experiences now, you’d enjoy it. I tell you, you need to give leonard cohen a chance! :) words, words, poetry.
I also like corinne bailey rae, though she’s quite sweet & the laziness seems contrived in certain songs. But I like a few of her songs a lot.
thanks for the links.
I’ve got Nina Simone…I need more, but yeah. And she’s awesome. Have you seen ‘Before Sunset’?
Leonard Cohen…he just doesn’t have any oomph to his music. I’ve got ‘Tower of Song’ and I’ve listened to a few others…maybe you should tell me which songs are your favourites and I’ll give them another go.
ok, favourite Cohen songs: “Everybody Knows”; “Suzanne” (used in famour Lars von Trier film the name of which I’m forgetting - with Bjork and it’s not Dancer in the Dark); I actually like Tower of Song. Also “I’m your man”.
have not seen ‘before sunset’ - what is it?
Also, “Take this waltz” and “Dance me to the end of love”
makes me think of macy gray…smilar timbre
Ooh, good observation…yeah, she and Macy Gray have the same raspy voice thing going on.