Frank

Despite all the negative media attention Amy Winehouse has, she is a relevant and important voice in music. She has got talent to spare and her debut is in many ways even better than her sophomore album Back to Black. I love both albums, but there is something about Frank that has me hitting the play button more often than with her follow-up.

Although Amy Winehouse has been on the music scene since the release of her debut album "Frank", in 2003, it is only since the release of her latest album, last year's "Back To Black", that she has made any real impact.
"Frank" may have earned her a Mercury Music Award nomination and an Ivor Novello award, but she had very little chart success with the album or singles.
On "Frank" she sounds as if she has performed a thousand times in smoky jazz clubs.
So it comes as some surprise to learn that she is just 24 and was raised in north London.
Sitting somewhere between Nina Simone and Erykah Badu, Winehouse's sound is at once innocent and sleazy.
She claims that she can only write about what she has already learned, but she makes some starkly candid and humorous social observations on the brazen single, "Stronger Than Me".
Standout track "Take the Box" is a stunningly soulful tale of returning an ex-lover's possessions and "You Send Me Flying" does just that, thanks to a colossal vocal talent.
"October Song", meanwhile, forges uplifting jazz out of the death of a pet canary.
There are contradictions - but it's hard not to hear the honesty and soul that resonates throughout this album.

Amy Winehouse is featured on many British compilation CD's and so I decided to finally pick up the CD and I am so glad that I did!! Amy Winehouse delivers the perfect blend of jazz and r&b. Her unique vocals are definitely refreshing. It is a well produced CD and I would highly recommend it. Think Billie Holiday mixed with the soul of Mary J!!

I got the sampler of this album one of the reviews was something like 'she sounds like a 40s jazz singer' ... I like 40s/50s jazz so I was pysched to hear this ... it was a let down. This is NOT jazz, some songs may have a jazz feel but she is much more soul/R&B than jazz ... her voice sounds a bit like Erykah Badu, not what I expected. She's not BAD ... just not what I was looking for.

Aged 52, I bought this CD mainly to hear what today's young people's taste is like.
Having listened to 'Frank' several times, I am not disappointed. This CD provides a perfect reflection of today's mentality: a very strong individualism, with consequently a low sense of community. And, an Amy Winehouse not afraid of expressing her annoyance with some males around her.
Musically I think 'Frank' quite adequate. But its strong point remains its hitting of today's mood to the very core.