... These high-profile falls from grace have been well documented since she became one of the largest musical exports the UK has had for years with the release of 2006s 'Back to Black' album. Still only young at 24 years of age, many people may struggle to understand why such a talented individual ... Read review
otherwise, to come out for years. Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair; Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time a...
otherwise, to come out for years.Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair;Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time arou...
A review by nathaninnit on Back To Black - Amy Winehouse February 28th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Average
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Average
Value for Money
Very Poor
Advantages:
Rehab, Back to Black and Tears'
Disadvantages:
Her originality runs out quickly
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
Troubled musical icon, Amy Winehouse, has been on the mend and then back on the drugs the next day just as much as the rest of the stars around her. These high-profile falls from grace have been well documented since she became one of the largest musical exports the UK has had for years with the release of 2006s 'Back to Black' album. Still only young at 24 years of age, many people may struggle to understand why such a talented individual spends so much time in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons, however Winehouse has always been one to stand out from the crowd. Whether this be for her distinctive vocals, patented beehive hairstyle, or drunkenly trying to cover up her poor state of mind with stage presence. The success of 'Back to Black' worldwide gave the star five Grammy awards, making her the first British artist to reach such an achievement. Amy Winehouse also found a well-rounded appeal with different audiences, including an anecodote of Jay-Z, the wealthiest rapper in the world, wandering through an airport singing her familiar lyrics.
1. REHAB (3:31)
"They're trying to make me go to rehab" Probably the song that put Amy on the map, the lyrics for the song were inspired after her old management team encouraged her to seek help for her alcohol problem, and this apparently gave her an idea for a hit record. Of course this lead track to the album can now be used to sum up many stars position, especially around that stint last year where they all seemed to be in and out of various clinics; Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan.. 'Rehab' only peaked at #7 in the UK chart, whilst peaking at #9 in the 'States Billboard 100. Everything about the track oozes Amy's dark state of mind, and you will not mistake this for any other song.
2. YOU KNOW I'M NO GOOD (4:17)
I cheated myself, like I knew I would
For a follow-up release to her first single off the album, Winehouse seemed to stumble just the one track on. I can't say I actually remember the release of this track, and that shows by its chart place of #18 in the UK. After her Grammy success, this track has been re-released in America currently peaking at #77, which is a place higher than its original release. I can't say I am overly fond of this song, and if I was in some sort of depressed state I'm sure this track would make me all the more bitter. Once again there is a mix of jazz with hip hop beats, that somehow allows this song to qualify as R&B. Not feeling it.
3. ME AND MR JONES (2.33)
What kind of f*ckery is this?Not some sort of female cover to the classic, 'Me and Mrs Jones,' but rather this track tries to continue the albums jazzy introduction with a less conventional take on the romance of a track with the names Jones in either the name or artists place. Thank god she kept this short.
4. JUST FRIENDS (3:13)
When will get, the time to be...
The introduction to this track seemed to be slightly different to all of the songs previous, so it was somewhat relieving to feel that this maybe something new. There is some strange beat almost every second that gives you the vision of a clown squeeking a horn, so if you're not a fan of Amy's voice already this track may send you through the roof. 'Just Friends' does continue with the whole relationship message of the album, that has been constant throughout up until this point. You'll get bored of this.
5. BACK TO BLACK (4:03)
He left no time to regret, kept his dick wet One of my favourite tracks from the album, this was the third released single. Whilst you could argue that this is just as depressing as all the tracks prior, if not previous, there is something that is almost uplifting about the beat to the song. Despite Winehouse working with very reputable British producer, Mark Ronson, on the track - not to mention an artistically shot video with imagery comparing her doomed love affair to that of a funeral - the track only managed to chart at #25 in the UK. This has not been released as a single to the American audience, however has peaked at #2 in the Israel singles chart.
6. LOVE IS A LOSING GAME (2:35)
More than I could stand, love is a losing hand
The fifth and final single release from the album, Winehouse had no problem in milking this album for all it had, meaning it only charted at #46 well over a year after the albums original release. This was further doomed to be unsuccessful due to the stars personal issues, as she failed to turn up for a £70,000 video shoot, meaning the video was then made out of clips. A very slow moving song, reminiscent of something an elderly couple may dance to.
7. TEARS DRY ON THEIR OWN (3:06)
He takes the day but I'm grownWhat could be more of a sad vision than the idea of tears, but surprisingly three tracks from the end, the idea of the drying of tears has created the most happy go lucky song yet. The track appears to have returned to the stars routes of being distinctive for all the right reasons, and is truly a single-along soulful song. As the fourth single release from the album, it peaked at #16 in the UK charts and a reputatable #40 in the US Billboard Hot Adult R&B.
8. WAKE UP ALONE (3:42)
Got so sick of crying
That sound, it could only be the makings of another slow, sad, track. As you would expect the track is about waking up alone and her struggle to pick herself up on her lonesome, stopping herself from crying. Listening to this all the way through, I had to hold back my tears. Awful.
9. SOME UNHOLY WAR (2:22)
He can't lose with me in towInterestingly as we're coming to the end of the album the tracks appear to be getting shorter, and bringing a nice tidy end to the album hopefully. Sadly there is nothing new to this track and it has a beat that sounds like many we have heard before. Boring.
10. HE CAN ONLY HOLD HER (2.46)
Cause whats inside never dies
The most free spirited beat I have heard since 'Tears', a chance to save the album from being very hit and miss doesn't look very likely when you have under three minutes to create a hit record in. The message of the track sounds to be of strong relationships.
AMY CRACKHOUSE?
You see the question, has all the attention she has received been warranted on the basis of her erratic behavior outside of the music business, or does she truly receive recognition for her talents? She sure does have a voice on her, but I don't think the whole jazz album idea was down my route, and apart from a few highly publicised tracks on the album its a complete miss for me. More recently Leona Lewis had her album panned for all sounding the same, and I don't see how this Brit didn't get the same treatment. In closing, it will be interesting to see what Amy Winehouse does with any third album she maybe considering, and if it can match the #1 and #2 spots it has peaked at in the UK and US charts, not to mention the close to 8 million copies she has sold due to her continued newspaper presence.
Advantages: Cross-appeal Disadvantages: Does she HAVE to profit from my love of music?
...chick. Visually she's harping back to the past with her signature beehive and dark eyes, musically too she's there with that raspy sound and 50s vocal jazz style but she's better than that. She brings her sound right up to date mixing in blunt hip-hop and R&B and romanticizing that which should be cursed.
Even if you couldn't name any of Ms Winehouse's music off the top of your head if you've had any exposure to the radio and the press over the ... ...her music and her name. Undoubtedly a great musician in her own right much of her celebrity has come not from her talent but from the fact that she's such a troubled icon. In and out of drug rehabilitation, missing concerts or turning up on stage drunk and drugged she's climbed to the top of the media's celeb list for all of the wrong reasons. It is for this reason that I was deeply unhappy to part with good cash for an album, the proceeds of which ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A new staple of British music Disadvantages: Quite repetitive and can wear on you
...A HUNDRED TIMES, YOU GO BACK TO HER, AND I GO BACK TO..." - AMY WINEHOUSE
Whilst you would not expect Winehouse to milk a fairly short and sweet album the way she did, for a second track her management team strumbled drunkenly into 'You Know I'm No Good' in the UK. The single received the type of lukewarm respection I would expect, at #18 in the UK charts, and after a later release in the US it peaked at #77. 'Back to Black' would be a third ... ...NOPE
STARS - THREE
*05, Back to Black (4.03), "He left no time to regret, kept his dick wet"
SOUNDS - GOOD
SINGS - GREAT
SINGALONG - YES
STARS - FIVE
*06, Love is a Losing Game (2.35), "More than I could stand, love is a losing hand"
SOUNDS - GOOD
SINGS - GREAT
SINGALONG - POSSIBLE
STARS - FOUR
*07, Tears Dry On Their Own (3.06), "He takes the day but I'm grown"
SOUNDS - BRILLIANT
SINGS - GOOD
SINGALONG - YES
STARS - FIVE
*08, Wake ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Emotive, original, technically excellent Disadvantages: Makes you feel a bit like a voyeur
...a hundred times
You go back to her-
And I go back to... black.
One for anyone who has ever had their heart well and truly broken. If it doesn't remind you of the pain, you have no soul! Although grim in lyric, it musically has a strangely upbeat feel that also reminds you that you got over it. Eventually. For me, it's like a tuneful reminder to stop picking at the scars of the past, without lessening the reality of the pain at the time. If ... ...should be this one.
6. Love Is A Losing Game
Another heartbreak song, although mellower than the previous song. Perhaps a less memorable track than some of the others on the album, it's still going to go onto my mp3 player. Do the same if you want to find yourself being poked into introspection while you commute. :-)
7. Tears Dry On Their Own
This song has a lovely 60s feel, although the use of the word "f**k" and the lyrics in general make ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great listen, new jazzy sounds Disadvantages: A couple of tracks that could be passed over.
...will not GO, GO,GO!!!
Back to black can be purchased from most Cd shops. Amazon has it for £6.98 (£8.98 for the deluxe edition), can be found on Ebay for £5.99 on buy it now (£9.99 for the deluxe) and £6.99 in HMV (£8.99 for the deluxe) so excellent value.
Thank you for reading! ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Mostly good tunes with brilliant vocal performances! Disadvantages: Some lyrics seem to loose their way!
...enjoy. On finding the album Back To Black I hit the jackpot, a new album for me to enjoy, one that was recorded after 1978, at last I was in with the in crowd again.
THE TRACKS ON THE ALBUM ALONG WITH MY OPINION
Rehab - this is the first track on the album and admittedly my least favourite, its one of those catchy tracks that the youngsters will enjoy but it has no real depth or thought provoking lyrics and for me lets this great album down a bit. ... ...decent though. 5/10
Back To Black - This track for me is excellent, limited instruments a great drum beat and Amy`s excellent vocals. I have tracked down an almost acoustic version of this track with just Amy and the drummer and it is fantastic but even with the added instruments in this version this track illuminates the album without doubt. 10/10
Love Is a Loosing Game - this track took me back a bit, a kind of late sixties feel to it. Again ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Twice as much excellent music Disadvantages: price - depending on where you buy
...I originally heard the title track BacktoBlack and was haunted by the lyrics. However I wasn't sure her album would be worth buying. Then I heard some of the other great songs on the first disc such as 'rehab' and 'tears dry on their own'. Amy's music has an old-time feel to it, of jazz and soul in some Southern bar. I love the sounds of the Sax and the sadness of the songs although I always end up humming away in a cheerful mood after hearing it. There are some very catchy melodies. I came across the Deluxe edition by accident when I was searching for the best price. I found that for little more than the cost of the standard 'BacktoBlack' album (depending on where you buy - check out Amazon's marketplace or download it) I could get another CD. For me the hit of the second album is the upbeat and very successful 'Valerie'. I find...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Tears Dry On Their Own, Love Is A Losing Game, Back To Back Disadvantages: Newer version of Valerie should have been included
...continuously that she is fine and needs no help with drinking problems. From the start, we understand that this album is full of lyrics that mean a lot toAmy, even more understandable by the day as more and more of Amy's life admittances are plastered over newspapers and the weekly Heat magazines.
Other fantastic songs on CD1 are BackToBlack, a song of which I can tell you from personal experience will fail to leave your head for days or even weeks, Love Is A Losing Game, a beautiful ballad that can even actually make you feel sorry for her distancing with Blake right now, Tears Dry On Their Own, the fastest song of the album which is highly catchy and one great to dance to, and finally Me & Mr Jones, an album track which is meant for Amy's voice, a truly amazing and relaxing song to listen to.
The track listing for CD1 is:
01. Rehab...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: The newly added songs are fantastic! Disadvantages: I had already bought Back To Black the first time round
.......a bit dissapointed because I hate it when an album gets re-released when you have already bought it the first time round but the added songs really do make this album a must have for the second time round! "Your Wondering Now" & "Cupid" are sensational songs that everyone should have the pleasure of owning.
BacktoBlack is one of the best soul albums, British or otherwise, to come out in years. Her brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with 60's girl group styling combined with jazz rightly prompted to the New York Daily News to crown Winehouse's BacktoBlack a: " marvelous debut that would do Etta James proud." BacktoBlack smolders with a fusion of old school doo-wop/soul inflected uprisings creating instant classics like Rehab, BacktoBlack, Me and Mrs. Jones, Waking Up Alone, and the albums closer, Addicted. Love her...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (p.76) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Winehouse is a nervy, witty songstress whom indie rockers, pop fans and hip-hoppers can dig."
Album Notes: It doesn't take much listening to Amy Winehouse's 1960s pop period piece to realize that this is a tribute with an edge--nice girls back then didn't sing about boozing and rehab. Since her 2003 debut album, FRANK, Winehouse has been a frequent presence on the gossip pages of the U.K. tabloids, and her songwriting here candidly reflects her experiences with drinking, sex, and drugs. BACK TO BLACK's production is an artful blend of sophisticated '60s R&B and 21st-century stylistic poaching, with "Tears Dry on Their Own" incorporating elements of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and Winehouse sounding like Billie Holiday fronting a reggae band on the old-fashioned cheating song "Just Friends." Densely packed with musical history and often conjuring a dark, Portishead-esque atmosphere, BACK TO BLACK is a sumptuous-sounding collection freighted with blunt confessionals of a lush life.
Titles on disc 1
1.: Rehab
2.: You Know I'm No Good
3.: Me And 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
12.: Love Is A Losing Game
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