So there I was driving listening to the radio when this lady with the deep voice was belting out a song. Now if you had asked me then I would have said I was listening to a woman easily in her 40's, with a love of cigarettes and born around Memphis - how wrong you can be!
But this song I could swear I knew it but something just wasn't the same! Then it clicked!!! This woman was singing The White Stripes song "Fell in love with a girl" - only changed to boy. And boy was it a corking inventive cover!!
From that moment I started a search to find out more about this Joss Stone that I had just heard! Imagine my shock when I discovered that she was a 16 year old Devon girl who had once appeared on a musical talent show (pre Pop Idol thankfully!).
So this search took me to "The Soul Sessions" and boy did I reap my rewards!!
Kicking off with the Chokin' Kind the girl sets out her intentions early! She has taken on old soul songs and has managed to breath life into them as well as visiting some more recent tunes and giving them new meaning.
She followed up with Super Duper Love & Fell In Love With A Boy - the 2 singles & if they don't have you shaking your ass then nothing will! The musicians stay very much in the background letting this amazing voice take centre stage!
Things calm down for a bit more of an emotional take on Victim Of A Foolish Heart and Dirty Man - Dirty Man especially bringing out a raw sound filled with a 4am in the morning emotional voice.
Some Kind Of Wonderful picks things up again with a more gospel tinged effort that will have you tapping your feet and fingers all the way through!
I've Fallen In Love With You slows things down and shows off Joss amazing vocal range and if you haven't fallen in love with her voice by now I will be surprised!
I Had A Dream is the start of a decline for the album as this songs lacks any real bite and Joss fails to take it anywhere. Next is a brave attempt at reworking the Humtpy Dumpty nusery rhyme with All The King's Horses she almost pulls it off but you can't help feeling a little bit silly.
The album closes with For The Love Of You Part 1 & 2 which goes on for 7 and a half minutes. Unfortunately a bit too long as rather than the triumphant finish this album finishes with a bit of a low.
All in all an amazing voice and some very original ideas. Will be interesting to see how she moves on when she starts writing her own songs from scratch.
Want something different from the usual music on offer? Then this could well be the album for you.
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Joss Stone is blessed with a strong voice and a will to sing old-school soul and The Soul ... more
Sessions is worthy of more than novelty status. Not every 16-year-old Caucasian, English girl can hang with the likes of Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") and Angie...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Debut album from 16 year old Devonshire singer being touted as "the future of blue-eyed ... more
soul". Postponing the recording of her official debut of mainstream pop, she tracked a four day jam session with some of the greats of Miami soul including Benny La...
Advantages: Lovely Collection of songs, a combination of relaxing and fun songs. Disadvantages: The weakest song is probably 'All the Kings Horses'...However the CD has generally strong tracks.
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