Amy Winehouse

[bobsticks]

Hey AA,

You need to walk...no run out and get this album immediately. Sharon Jones is everything that Amy Winehouse secretly wants and not-so-secretly needs to be...

[bobsticks]

Seriously Stephen you'll love this album. Maybe you'll get lucky and get it for Christmas...

You know who else would love this? Dean Martin, that's who! Deano would love it not only because it's chock full of succulent, tasty tunes but because it would be yet another point of reference upon which we could share a commonality...a "guilty pleasure" as it were...

...o' course, some elitist jackass will come along and say that Amy is too talented to compare to mere mortals. That her talent is such that, despite her variety of demons and shortcomings, she should be held in such an esteem as to obviate the need for any discussion. And, frankly, shouldn't artists all be judged on their own merits, exclusive of anyone else?

It'll be one of those hipster elitist, Allen Iverson jersey wearin' fanboys.

Someone in the Al Gore mode.

[audio amateur]

I'm sure many of you have heard of her and her latest album, 'Back to Black'. I don't usually listen to this type of music (jazzy pop I guess we can call it), but I'm completely obsessed with this album, and I also enjoy the previous 'Frank'.
Based on this, I could do with some recommendations of artists/albums with a similar style, if possible with female lead vocals.
Thanks

[dean_martin]

Hey AA,

You need to walk...no run out and get this album immediately. Sharon Jones is everything that Amy Winehouse secretly wants and not-so-secretly needs to be...

Cool! I was wondering about this artist. A couple of her albums are in the "under the radar" section at acousticsounds.com. I might give her a listen.

BTW - AW's "Me & Mr. Jones" is hilarious. It's one of those guilty pleasures my wife and I listen to on road trips.

[Swish]

Hey AA,

You need to walk...no run out and get this album immediately. Sharon Jones is everything that Amy Winehouse secretly wants and not-so-secretly needs to be...

She's a total mess otherwise, and I really fear she won't be on this earth all that long if she continues on her path of self-destruction. I just ordered the Sharon Jones cd, but I'm not going to be comparing it to Ms. Winehouse. I'll just be listening and forming my opinion about her exclusive of anyone else.

[audio amateur]

what on earth happened to the layout of this thread!? LOL! It's probably the time difference. It's already tomorrow for us guys

Hey AA,

You need to walk...no run out and get this album immediately. Sharon Jones is everything that Amy Winehouse secretly wants and not-so-secretly needs to be...

I'll be looking for that one. Perhaps something that will await under the tree?
Cheers

[Auricauricle]

Oh, Sticky Boy, you be pickin' fer a fight, aincha? I kin feel de itch!

[02audionoob]

Sharon Jones was on Austin City Limits, recently. I have it on my computer via TV tuner card. It's a keeper. While about to break into a dance, she mentioned not having legs like Tina Turner. Hmm...No one would've noticed, huh?

[Mr Peabody]

Although, my exposure to Amy has been limited, I couldn't bare to hear any more, let me say, "I don't get it". She is like the sound of a cat fight with musical accompaniment.

[jonnyhambone]

I actually like the last A. Winehouse disk a lot...but can't deny that Sharon Jones is the real deal. The Dap Kings are the band behind Amy Winehouse on Back To Black, so it's a pretty fair compare. Yes, the same band - one white, young, undies-in-a-bundle lead singer and one black, older, got-her -groove on/and earned singer. Great tunes, as stated. Enjoy!

[MindGoneHaywire]

I like cat fights with musical accompaniment when they sound like Amy Winehouse.

I had heard some of Sharon Jones' stuff a couple of years ago, including a 45 or two on Dap-Tone. I love what she was going for but it seemed like she had everything except the songs. When I heard the Amy Winehouse album, it was the complete package. I should go back & give that older stuff another listen. I think the record was Dap-Dippin'. I'll have to pull it out.

There were a few things this year that were in one way or another evocative of that sort of soul/R&B kinda thing that I thought were good, though none as good as the Amy Winehouse album, even if it's all sorta different. The Duffy album was real good, the Solange Knowles album was real good, way better than anything I've ever heard from Beyonce. But then Beyonce sorta sounds like the type of cat fight with musical accompaniment I don't like, to me. Actually, it's just pop music, and the Solange album is just straight up Motown cop, but a good effort. And there was also the Nikka Costa album, which sounds like the weakest of the three I mention, but still has some nice moments.

I think Back To Black is actually much better than Frank & I would love to see her 1) make another record & 2) manage to stay alive, and I'm not sure in which order I'd prefer that....just kidding. Seriously, it's tough to imagine her ever coming close to the last record on any kind of level, ever again. Beginning with the fragile nature of creative partnerships and the point that it was said to be Mark Ronson who brought out the best in her in the studio. Then there's the Dap-Kings. She's got the songs & the voice...and the issues. If you're either party in this equation, it can't be easy to just go & try to make another record as though she hasn't spent the past two years quickly killing herself with drugs & reckless behavior. Can she hold it together long enough to persuade these folks, or some semblance of a substitute, to want to work with this psycho diva with a drug problem? I have to believe that if she could, that she would've been back to work some time ago.

I don't know that this obviously addicted woman is the only one deserving of blame here--enablers? Parents? Management? It's sad. But any way you look at it, it's a heck of an album. If this new Sharon Jones album somehow manages to hit (and of course the Dap-Kings elevate her profile), then they may be unavailable to Amy Winehouse for some time.

[noddin0ff]

NPR had a nice audio review of Sharon Jones a while back. The curious could check out these links

song of the day
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=15588139


Fresh Air interview
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=16690407

[audio amateur]

Although, my exposure to Amy has been limited, I couldn't bare to hear any more, let me say, "I don't get it". She is like the sound of a cat fight with musical accompaniment.

You should seriously re-think your thoughts on it, go have another listen
She does have a particular way of singing, but you should give it a try. To me, each and every song on that album (no to mention de the Deluxe edition), is amazing. I'm not sure where you get the cat fight thing, I'm guessing it's figurative
Enjoy

[audio amateur]

Seriously Stephen you'll love this album. Maybe you'll get lucky and get it for Christmas...
Someone in the Al Gore mode.

Sure will
Any more recommendations?

[Worf101]

When you use a crackerjack backing band, (they both use the same band if I'm NOT mistaken) but rip off half the melodies from OTHER older songs, no wonder you've a more popular album. I own albums from both artists and enjoy both. Amy's easier to listen to because of the hooks and alike, but If I had to choose one to go see, and spend money on? Sharon Jones in a heartbeat.

After watching Ms. Winehouse stumble drunkenly around the stage at Glastonbury I think I'll give her a pass. I watched my father do the same routine for free as a kid. I'll not pay to see someone do it.

Da Worfster

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I'm sure many of you have heard of her and her latest album, 'Back to Black'. I don't usually listen to this type of music (jazzy pop I guess we can call it), but I'm completely obsessed with this album, and I also enjoy the previous 'Frank'.
Based on this, I could do with some recommendations of artists/albums with a similar style, if possible with female lead vocals.
Thanks

I listened to this one quite a bit earlier this year...

It didn't have as much staying power as I'd hope, but might be worth a listen.....http://www.babycharles.co.uk/audio/

[Stone]

I like both the Sharon Jones and Baby Charles albums. Good (but not excellent, IMO) stuff.

[Auricauricle]

From my, compared to y'all, limited listenin' experience (this will change, my Puppies), both of these artists are truly gifted. For sentimental reasons I can see why SJ gets more than a nod and a wink. Her phrasing, intonation and power are spot on. I like her well rounded phraseology and warmth that never seemed to get that dark or murky. With the Dap-Kings as her back up on numbers like 100 Days 100 Nights, it's no wonder folks were smitten. On the other hand, for those who are more au courant and hip, Amy Winehouse does a very fine job whippin' out soulful and saucy ballads that belie her tawdry and cheap image. Winehouse's slight nasality, as in Don't Want Rehab is a device that obscures some of her vast energy that seems to be in check and held in great reserve. So far, her back-ups seem equally competent, and appreciate her courteous sharing of her musical gift. I think, (as far as I've seen seen so far), Winehouse is a bit more gutsy and raunchy, reminiscent of some of the early Philadelphia inspired sound. Compare that to the equally capable Ms. Jones, whose open, airy sound is evocative of Detroit's upbeat Motown, whose hits were gilded with nothing less than 24-carat bliss....

[Rich-n-Texas]

Cripes! An Amy Winehouse love-fest. Good grief.

Her and Scott Wieland should get married...

[Auricauricle]

Gotta admit, Tex. She has nice tats!

[Doc Sage]

Hey AA,

You need to walk...no run out and get this album immediately. Sharon Jones is everything that Amy Winehouse secretly wants and not-so-secretly needs to be...

I saw Sharon Jones live two years ago. Live on stage, she is a female vision of James Brown. The complete crowd was up and dancing all night long.

Now I got a DVD of Ms. Winehouse, "Live in London", and nowhere do I see anyone dancing like I did with Ms. Jones. Sorry, my vote goes to Sharon Jones.

Doc Sage

[emesbee]

I saw Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Womadelaide when they came to Australia back in March. It was a good performance.

I feel sad for Amy Winehouse, though. I know its self-inflicted, but its awful to see her destroying herself like that.

There is no comparison, in my opinion.

[MindGoneHaywire]

When you use a crackerjack backing band, (they both use the same band if I'm NOT mistaken) but rip off half the melodies from OTHER older songs, no wonder you've a more popular album. I own albums from both artists and enjoy both. Amy's easier to listen to because of the hooks and alike, but If I had to choose one to go see, and spend money on? Sharon Jones in a heartbeat.

After watching Ms. Winehouse stumble drunkenly around the stage at Glastonbury I think I'll give her a pass. I watched my father do the same routine for free as a kid. I'll not pay to see someone do it.

Da Worfster

I wouldn't pay to see her either, Worf, and I'm not quoting this to pick on you, just trying to generally address the thread.

I listened to the first SJ & the D-K's rec last night, the one from 2002. It's at least as derivative as the Amy Winehouse rec. Sounds like a bunch of recycled riffs & ideas mostly from James Brown, with a couple of others thrown into the mix as well (Wilson Pickett here & there, one or two that recall some of the less poppy moments on non-Motown soul), but the best thing I think can be said about it is that if you didn't know it wasn't recorded in the late 60s or early 70s, most people would be easily fooled. I would. I hadn't heard this since I got it but I don't feel any differently that I'd rather listen to the originals. They're just more interesting.

And the Winehouse rec is more interesting to my ears. Sure, Sharon Jones would by far be a more fun gig, it would seem, no contest. But I admitted not having heard the new Sharon Jones rec, so it could well be much better than this, and could be much better, who knows? I trust the opinions of folks here. But how many people have heard the debut, which is all I have to go on at present? I took a look on AMG & they assign four stars to each of the three albums, for what it's worth.

All of the recs I listed are derivative, though I think the Winehouse does actually offer a songwriting credit for one of the more obvious lifts. I don't mind derivative if I like it; but outside of a cover on Dap-Dappin', it sounds like something James Brown deserved to have his name on at least half, or more, of. And, again, the songs just weren't there, at least compared to the Amy Winehouse rec. I'll keep my ears open, but while I would've been happy to look at things a bit differently, I still don't hear it & I stand by what I felt about the rec I do have from when I first heard it about 3 years ago.

Sorry.

[Worf101]

I wouldn't pay to see her either, Worf, and I'm not quoting this to pick on you, just trying to generally address the thread.

I listened to the first SJ & the D-K's rec last night, the one from 2002. It's at least as derivative as the Amy Winehouse rec. Sounds like a bunch of recycled riffs & ideas mostly from James Brown, with a couple of others thrown into the mix as well (Wilson Pickett here & there, one or two that recall some of the less poppy moments on non-Motown soul), but the best thing I think can be said about it is that if you didn't know it wasn't recorded in the late 60s or early 70s, most people would be easily fooled. I would. I hadn't heard this since I got it but I don't feel any differently that I'd rather listen to the originals. They're just more interesting.

And the Winehouse rec is more interesting to my ears. Sure, Sharon Jones would by far be a more fun gig, it would seem, no contest. But I admitted not having heard the new Sharon Jones rec, so it could well be much better than this, and could be much better, who knows? I trust the opinions of folks here. But how many people have heard the debut, which is all I have to go on at present? I took a look on AMG & they assign four stars to each of the three albums, for what it's worth.

All of the recs I listed are derivative, though I think the Winehouse does actually offer a songwriting credit for one of the more obvious lifts. I don't mind derivative if I like it; but outside of a cover on Dap-Dappin', it sounds like something James Brown deserved to have his name on at least half, or more, of. And, again, the songs just weren't there, at least compared to the Amy Winehouse rec. I'll keep my ears open, but while I would've been happy to look at things a bit differently, I still don't hear it & I stand by what I felt about the rec I do have from when I first heard it about 3 years ago.

Sorry.

We've no beef, no reason to apologize for anything. Your opinions are at least well thought out and well written. Vive Le Difference I say, long as its passionate yet civil.

Da Worfster

[3-LockBox]

I listened to the first SJ & the D-K's rec last night, the one from 2002. It's at least as derivative as the Amy Winehouse rec. Sounds like a bunch of recycled riffs & ideas mostly from James Brown, with a couple of others thrown into the mix as well (Wilson Pickett here & there, one or two that recall some of the less poppy moments on non-Motown soul), but the best thing I think can be said about it is that if you didn't know it wasn't recorded in the late 60s or early 70s, most people would be easily fooled. I would.

I have to agree with you on this one. I've heard the latest from Sharon Jones and while a fun listen, its everything you just described concerning the last one. I felt the same way about the Winehouse stuff even before she went on her benders. Not that I'm opposed to revisiting styles (I am into prog afterall), but there does seem to be a painstaking effort to make these albums sound as retro as possible. I guess if you can have a dozen or so indie/garage bands aping The Beatles, The Zombies, Velvet Underground or Led Zepplin, you may as well throw Motown in there too.