so good

School's out and I've finally had a moment for one of my favorite pastimes: downloading new tunes. I'd seen Amy Winehouse's video for "I'm No Good" on Vh-1 soul and have been meaning to check her out for some time. I've finally downloaded (legally) her CD Back to Black and it's sooooo tight! I think I've found my summer CD (along with Jay-Z's Unplugged and Feist's The Reminder; last summer Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere dominated my players as I was all-but-defended and feeling "Crazy!!!").

Because she's white, British, and soulful (something that really shouldn't be considered a rarity anymore), Winehouse elicits comparisons to Joss Stone, whose voice is good, but in my opinion a little over-affected (you know, one too many riffs sounds like a singer is trying too hard). To be honest, I think Winehouse can sing Stone under the table. Both are around the same age, but unlike Stone, Winehouse sounds natural and effortless, sorta like old school soulful Brit Lisa Stansfield. Winehouse just has that Something. It usually takes awhile for a CD to grow on me (like with Van Hunt), but Back to Black is already "in rotation" and will be for some time.