Review #33: Back to Black, Amy Winehouse
#33: Back to Black, Amy Winehouse
Amazing!!! Two exciting female albums in a row. What a time to be alive. It is a REAL shame that I didn’t listen to these when I was on the road. I would have been able to scream at the top of my lungs.
I remember “Rehab” being all over the radio, but Amy Winehouse just flew right over my head. This is what I’m talking about when I say that I “miss” some things — where was I when this was released? Probably listening to Red Jumpsuit Apparatus on the school bus.
Anyway, my roommate tells me that the documentary about her is really great. Her life was sad, but her music rules.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Rehab” — I could sing all these lyrics in my sleep. This song is a whole ethical paradox to me — it’s the catchiest song ever and I want to jam to it, but it’s all about refusing treatment for addiction, and…yeah, it’s by Amy Winehouse. Oh well, a masterpiece is a masterpiece.
“You Know I’m No Good” — Her PIPES.
“Me & Mr. Jones” — I love how she’s got these super retro backup singers and is also dropping F-bombs.
“Back to Black” — Her voice is so lovely it breaks my heart. No way she smoked as many cigarettes as I know she did.
“Tears Dry On Their Own” — Gotta love a good horn section.
“Wake Up Alone” — For some reason she sounds the most like Adele to me here.
“Addicted” — I expected this song to make me sad (you know, because of the drugs) but it actually made me laugh.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Love Is A Losing Game” — Too slow. She’s got a beautiful voice in this one too, but I am committed to the truth.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
I guess this one feels right where it is!
This is Winehouse’s only album on the list but I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t mention her two best songs: “F*** Me Pumps,” on her 2003 album Frank and “Valerie,” her & Mark Ronson’s cover of a song from a band called The Zutons. (Spoiler alert, Amy’s cover is better than the original.)
