Amy Winehouse Brings Back British Soul

Some of the best soul performers in American soul music are coming out out of England. A perfect example is Amy Winehouse. Her debut album, Frank, was never released in the US but still found a fan base after hitting #1 in England and being nominated for a Brit award. When she performed at Joe’s Pub in January, major players in the music world were in the audience, from Mos Def to Dr. John.

On the 13th, her new album Back To Black drops. The music shows off her wide range of influences, from Tony Bennett to Salt ‘n Pepa. Soul sets the tone for the album - Amy gives classic sounds a facelift. Great hooks mix with bouncy, smooth harmonies, but the sound is too modern to be a throwback. Ghostface Killah raps on a remix of “You Know I’m No Good” and her hit single “Rehab” laughs at celebrity screw-ups like Britney and Lindsay. The sleek guitar and fuzzy electric piano work capture her mood swings — mood swings that have made her a cover girl for English tabloids. From interviews where she calls herself a “violent drunk” to punching a fan at her record release party, she’s the talk of England. With Back To Black getting a US release and a big advertising push, we think she’ll be the talk of the US before long.

Catch Amy Winehouse on the David Letterman show on Monday, March 12th. Back To Black comes out on the 13th - she’ll also be performing at Bowery Ballroom that night.

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