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THE REVIEW
I approached Ms. Amy Winehouse with curiosity. On one hand, someone had spoken highly of her. On the other hand, her excesses, in food, alcohol, and drugs, had caught my attention. I looked for confirmations in our immense DeDatabase. Nothing: no one has talked about this album yet. Strange. Both for the celebrity status the character has reached and because, after all, it was number one in England, and if only for a few weeks, the best breakthrough by an English singer on the Billboard chart. So here I am, someone has to do this dirty job.
I was, I'll say right away, at first puzzled, then fundamentally disappointed. The previous CD "Frank" surprised many, both for the undeniable vocal abilities of our artist and because, at just twenty years old, Winehouse showed a notable compositional maturity. Here the step backward seems evident to me. The London singer has abandoned the rhythm and blues, tinged with jazz, of her debut, to retrieve the sounds of '50s and '60s girl groups. The Ronettes, The Supremes, The Marvelettes, to be clear. The result, from this point of view, has undoubtedly been achieved, given that Phil Spector, the archetypal producer of this musical genre, has complimented her. But we, who would like pop to surprise us occasionally, who would like a bit of quirky writing, who would like some low-cost electrifying energy, what do we do with this little disc? It seems to me, very little. The songs are all predictable, devoid of any originality, heard at least a thousand times coming out of Arnold's jukebox: what is called a cliché.
If you're interested in the genre, buy any collection of the unbeatable Supremes with Diana Ross: you'll have at least triple the fun. If you're not interested, don't even approach it, you might want to throw the CD against a wall after a couple of listens. To be clear: it certainly can't be said that it's bad, the correct adjective seems to be insignificant. Perfect stuff for Radio Deejay at ten in the morning. And I say this with regret, both because Winehouse seems like a nice person to me and because she might have the talent. I'll give her another chance, but nothing more.
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Summary by Bot
The reviewer approached Amy Winehouse's Back to Black with curiosity but found it disappointing compared to her debut album Frank. The album leans heavily on vintage 50s-60s girl group sounds, which, while well executed, results in predictable and clichéd songs. It lacks the originality and energy expected from a breakthrough artist. The review concludes the album is not bad but ultimately insignificant and may appeal mostly to fans of that specific genre.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Amy Winehouse
English singer‑songwriter from London known for a deep contralto and a blend of soul, R&B and jazz. Broke through with Frank (2003) and the globally successful Back to Black (2006). Won five Grammy Awards in 2008, including Record and Song of the Year for Rehab. Died in 2011.04 Reviews
Other reviews
By Braindamaged
This girl born in ’83 relied on her talent and was right.
It is impossible to remain indifferent in front of a high-quality product like this, especially in an era where only the image matters.
By Deviljin
Artists like Amy Winehouse are a mirror of this society driven by appearances, and the success she obtained is normal, given the mentality of today’s youth.
I find her voice too excessive to the point of being ridiculous in some parts, and don’t tell me she has a unique tone and is innovative.
