When I was 17 I attended an art exhibition opening and had the fortune to meet the late George Melly. He would have been pushing 70 by then, but still I found myself sitting on his knee, flirting shamelessly with him, and even wearing his hat. Sadly the photos of this meeting are long lost, so I have nothing but memories that are now hazy after 14 years and an abiding affection for jazz, which I felt obliged to find out more about after meeting the legendary Melly. I've also long had a bit of a closet affection for soul-- proper soul not the rubbish that passes for it these days.

So I was expecting to like this album a lot. And I did! But as I'm not someone who often listens to this type of music, I was also expecting to find it hard to listen to from start to finish in one sitting as I would need to in order to write this review, and indeed that was the case too.

Amy Winehouse is sadly better known for her very public problems. Like Britney, she lives in a flock of paparazzi who are keen to sell the evidence of her spiralling drug problems and her tumultuous relationship with her husband Blake. All I can say about that is that famous artists have always taken drugs and had "interesting" personal lives, and there have always been casualties. I hope that Amy lives as long and creative a life as George Melly, who also had an "exciting" life and performed to the end; and I see no reason why she shouldn't, if she gets ten minutes peace to get her head together. Maybe she'll do a Syd Barrett and retire into eccentric, retired obscurity; but I hope not, as this album is a blinder and I want to hear more from Amy.

Amy Winehouse is young. She won't be 25 until September. I think people forget this. Her music betrays a depth of experience and emotion that you would expect to find from a much older woman. She's also tiny. When I see her I want to make her a big plate of dinner. How can such a voice come out of such a tiny frame?

This album was released in October 2006 and was 2007's top-selling album in the UK. It was produced by Mark Ronson. It is available off the iTunes for £7.99 or for various prices at any good retailer. It is also available in "Deluxe" editions with a second disc of video and bonus tracks.

Tracks

1. Rehab

The first single and opening track of the album is a blinder. Radio-friendly, catchy, sing-along-able and more importantly, she has a point. Rehab is just another celebrity hang-out, these days, after all; and you can't force people to change unless they are able to address the causes of their drug abuse. Being made to go to rehab is an effort doomed to failure. Like all drug users Amy will either face up to it herself or be destroyed by it. "'Cause there's nothing you can teach me that I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway." Donny Hathaway was an American soul musician who found fame in the 70s as an artist and producer. He committed suicide in 1979 after battling depression for most of his adult life.

2. You Know I'm No Good

This was the second single from the album. Not as bombastic as Rehab, it has a more emotive and reflective mood but carries on nicely from the opening track. "Who truly stuck the knife in first?" is surely a question anyone in an tumultuous relationship has asked themselves. It makes me feel nosey listening to this song and reading the lyrics; it is a glimpse inside the mind of Amy's intimate life.

3. Me & Mr. Jones

This song reminds me of stripper music. I like it. In it she appears to be berating a boyfriend for making her miss a Slick Rick gig. She manages to use the word "f*ckery" (as in, "what f**kery is this?") which I only be impressed by. I must confess I am confused though; isn't Slick Rick a rapper? And who is Mr. Jones? I require more information!

4. Just Friends

My first thought on hearing the start of this was, "how did Barry White get in here?" then Amy started singing and I knew all would be well. This song spoke volumes to me. "I wanna touch you, but that just hurts. When will we get the time to be just friends?". Another reflective number, this makes me angsty as it sounds too much like my life. Now THAT'S soul music.

5. Back To Black

We only said goodbye with words
I died 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 Amy is to only be remembered for one song, it 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 it clear that this is a thoroughly modern song.

8. Wake Up Alone

This is the song on the album that least impressed me and perhaps felt the most like a bit of a filler track. But it has to be said that an Amy Winehouse "filler" is still markedly superior to the entire catalogue of work of lesser artists who are just as famous. It is another pleasingly retro-sounding number with a thoroughly modern vibe.

9. Some Unholy War

This song is surely the song that must be going through her head as she supports Blake through his current criminal drama. "He can't lose with me in tow" may sadly prove to be incorrect. It's a perfectly fine tune. But it probably won't be going on the mp3 player.

10. He Can Only Hold Her

"He can only hold her for so long, the lights are on but no one's home." A song that slides easily over the ear and will suck you in.

11. Addicted

Amy finishes the album with what appears to be a song berating someone for smoking all her weed coz she really, really likes it. This is a sentiment I can sympathize with, but I'm not entirely sure it merits a song for itself. My initial reaction was "wtf???" as it was odd to finish the album on such an insubstantial but also humourless tune. I dunno, is it meant to be funny? She sounds really hacked off!

Conclusions and Waffle

This is a good to great album with moments of excellence. But I must confess that by the end of it, I was getting a bit bored. I think that says more about my attention span and the music I usually listen to, though, rather than the album itself.

There are some songs of Amy's that I will listen to over and over again, but there's definitely a few of these I really wouldn't be too bothered about if I never heard them again. On the other hand, some of these songs are songs that will stand the test of time and we will still be listening to in the future, regardless of Amy's personal fate.

The production is of a high technical standard throughout.

I think this album was over-hyped in many ways, which is a shame, because it is a perfectly fine second album. Few second albums are as good as the first, and this achievement is a great one. After all, you get your whole life to write your first album, and a year or two to write the second. Amy has crammed a lot into the years since her first album, and it shows.

I hope that her next album has a bit less of the heartbreak, and that she gets herself healthy and happy. I would love to hear how Amy Winehouse would write and sing about happiness, as she writes and sings about heartbreak in a way that reminds you of your own without getting bathetic or mawkish about it.

All in all, a good album, moments of genius, but also moments that seemed dull in comparison, though these were still very good. Amy reflects the current zeitgeist in both her personal life and her music. It does make you feel like a voyeur as we see so much of her and this album is very personal.