Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Island (Universal Records)
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 10/10+
Amy Winehouse + Back To Black = Modern Masterpiece!,
The sassy 23 year old Londoner delivers the goods with swagger and panache.2003’s single Stronger Than Me and album Frank werent exactlygreat sellers, despite being hits with the critics, winning her an Ivor Novelloaward in the process.
This time its a totally different situation, because shes appealed to fansand critics alike. Winehouse has a new-found confidence, having slimmed downfour dress sizes with more aggressive make-up; shes turning into the UKsmost promising talent in years.
Week commencing 6 Nov, the album stands at no.3 in the charts, propelled byhit single Rehab, (w/c 6 Nov no.7, download no 8, RnB no.2) Back ToBlack is a masterstroke of contemporary Jazz-crossover material, alldelivered with supreme style. Her razor-sharp singing is a major highlight(as shown on Later With Jools Holland, Friday 3rd November), however, this album is all about truly brilliant songs, all written by Winehouseherself, with some collaborations.
Using Lily Allen and Robbie Williams studio wizard Mark Ronson, Winehouse isgoing into a totally different stratosphere with this one, leaving KatieMelua and Norah Jones in her wake. Amy said, “I didnt want to play thatjazz thing up too much again. I was bored of complicated chord structuresand needed something more direct.” That said, Jazz is very much aprime element, though this time, more subtle.
Shes been checking out girlie groups from the ’50s and ’60s, and the likesof Aretha Franklin, found on reggaefied Just Friends.
Jam-packed with superb songs and impressive production, shes breaking newground, though the past plays a big part. Delving, in places, into TamlaMotown and The Specials musical ideas (You Know Im No Good), shesproved to be a top class songwriter. Jools Holland commented on her incredibleprogression over the past couple of years.
Rehab is an out and out classic, with many shades of Motown withmodern twists. Me And Mr Jones is textbook ’60s swing, which othersingers like Christina Aguilera are adopting. Theres no question where thetitle track came from right out of the Motown school of classic pop youcould just see the Funk Brothers doing their inimitable thing on this brilliant.
The stunning Soul ballad Loving Is A Losing Game could again bea Motown classic, taking Diana Ross head on, possibly her finest moment, asis the sprightly Tears Dry On Their Own: a (slight) remix could well bethe next single and another hit for sure. The triumvirate run-in has balladsusing RnB beats, and yes, even more Motown stylings on the addictivelypunchy Addicted.
For one so young, Back To Black is truly remarkable, invigorating, andgenuinely sensational. Shes not only a diva, but a phenomenal talent, withher best years to come.
Verdict perfection.
Weblinks:amywinehouse.co.uk /myspace.com/amywinehouse
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Rehab
2. You Know Im No Good
3. Me & Mr. Jones
4. Just Friends
5. Back To Black
6. Love Is A Losing Game
7. Tears Dry On Their Own
8. Wake Up Alone
9. Some Unholy War
10. He Can Only Hold Her
11. Addicted
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.