Amy Winehouse made her US debut at New York's famed Joe's Pub in January, where she received a standing ovation from a crowd that included Jay-Z, Mos Def, Dr. John, Citizen Cope, Alice Smith and Mark Ronson. With her confessional, humorous lyrics and a sound reminiscent of famed soul girl groups, the 23-year old took over her native England, while drawing lauded comparisons ranging from Billie Holiday to Lauryn Hill. Her jazz-infected debut release, Frank, was nominated for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and went platinum in the UK. But that is just half the story as Amy Winehouse pours her heart out over a cocktail drenched soundtrack on her breakthrough album, Back To Black.The soulstress, who took home a 2007 Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist, continues to distill her experiences on this sophomore release, a record heavily influenced by 50s and 60s rock & roll, soul, rhythm and blues and girl-groups from that era. Produced by Salaam Remi and man-of-the-moment Mark Ronson (who is known for his work with Lily Allen, Robbie Williams and Christina Aguilera, among others) the songs are built around classic three-minute pop songs without over-the-top production. Her single Rehab opens with the words "try to make me go to rehab/I say no, no, no," before morphing into a fresh new cut with classic Motown motifs: sweet horns, a driving beat with hand claps, and an infectious melody. Other highlights include the first single You Know I'm No Good, a stunning personal epiphany that she wrote after being messed around and stamped all over (featured on the album with a rap by Ghostface Killah) and the amusing Me & Mr Jones, where she criticizes a boyfriend for making her "miss the Slick Rick gig." With her increasingly creative body art, aggressive eye make-up and great swoop of black hair that cascades across her face and down her back, Amy Winehouse has deftly charted her progress from girlhood to womanhood on Back To Black.
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