Amy Winehouse Back to Black   Label: Republic Release Date: 03/13/07

I think almost every full blooded American male had a relationship with that one girl everyone said to stay away from. She was the textbook definition of dysfunctional. She had tremendous low self esteem. She abused some substance whether it was alcohol or drugs. She always got you in trouble. She had a long history of boyfriends to the point where it was stupid to even think about being jealous. No matter how many beatdowns you received for being with her or how many times your mother threatened to kick you out of the house the next time you bring her around, you still stuck around. None of us can front. She provided some good lovin’. Let’s be real. When the chips were down she was always there for you with a straight razor ready to bring hell to whomever or whatever. That girl is Amy Winehouse, another soulful Brit import.

Like most Brit imports, we just can’t get enough of her. Back to Black is her second outing. She again teams up with the man who saved the career of the Fugees from the brink of obscurity in the mid 90’s, Salaam Remi. Who would think that someone crazier than Whitney Houston (imagine that) could capture our hearts. Amy Winehouse really takes us back. Her music sounds new yet comes off as vintage. It is one of those rare albums that you play from track one all the way to the bonus track.

The first single off the album, “Rehab,” is based on the fact that her original management company asked her to enter a drug rehabilitation center. She refused and got new management. Despite its history, the song is addictive and stays on the stereo rotation. Winehouse describes her issues with relationships in “You know I’m no Good” and “Love is a Losing Game.” The tracks that really touch one’s heart are “Tears dry on their Own” and “Wake up Alone.” The bonus track is a remix of “You Know I’m no Good” which features Ghostface Killah in his most misogynistic 12 bar appearance to date.

I have to admit as much as I enjoy the album, there is a time and place for it. It’s not something I see my daughter singing along to. While it is disturbing to encounter teenage girls singing these tunes (I encounter at least two a week), one can’t really blame them. Amy Winehouse is that girl. I wonder what ever happened to her?

Amy Winehosue - Myspace

This entry was posted on Friday, March 30th, 2007 at 6:08 pm and is filed under CD/LP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.