Frank

This is the album that made me fall in love with Amy. May her soul be at peace. I love this album. Take the box , In my bed you sent me flying/Cherry. This album gave that r&b feel.

çöp amk

I didn’t know she had another record outside of Back to Black. I knew this album existed but the shops have plenty of Amy Winehouse records so I thought Frank was another bootleg. Riveting information to share in a review. As for the album, it just feels like a less poppy Back To Black, probably due to the lack of Mark Ronson. I always felt that Amy’s sound was gimmicky. We already have Sharon Jones doing this much better. I wonder how her career would have progressed if she had not died so young. Would her sound evolve? Would she have a Stevie Nicks or Madonna phase? Unfortunately we will never know. The album was fine. Songwriting felt like a lot of role-playing. The production was solid. 3 stars

Got a bit bored tbh

Beautiful vocals on Moodys Mood for Love. Many great songs on this one.

A WOMAN

Hlas jedinečný, ľahko rozpoznateľný, ak sa niekto do tohto hlasu zamiluje, je jedno, ako znie melódia tej ktorej piesne. Mňa jej hlas až natoľko neohúril, takže nie som veľký fanúšik. Ale ak náhodou počúvam komerčné rádio a pustia niečo od Amy,, tak som vďačný...

You can think “this is fine and I’m not the target audience for this” that’s where I am Here.

Safe to say that I enjoy her debut album more than her critically acclaimed and commercially successful follow up album Back to Black.

Not mine

she's alright i spose... kind of homophobic in some of these??

Fine

It's certainly no Back to Black, but you can clearly hear the potential.

Deee doo doo dwoooo Dow Dow dowwwww

I think I liked this more than Back to Black. Just a great combination of old and new.

It's a little more raw, unrefined, and a step down compared to Back to Black. But with the composition and her voice, it doesn't really matter

accessible R+B for white people. Not bad, pretty pop adjacent

This is an album I should love, really. A lot of bossa nova beats and funky basslines with some jazz mixed in, and Winehouse’s powerhouse vocals are impossible to resist and the good ones are really damn GOOD - but it definitely feels like a debut album, and in some parts a bit unfinished. She’ll go onto greater things, but she’s still cooking. Top Three: - Help Yourself - What Is It About Men - Stronger Than Me

Surprised me. I wasn't looking forward to listening to it but I lay on my sofa after a week of work and it sounded pretty damn good. Laid back, groovy and melancholy.

Amy Winehouse is just a phenomenal singer. I know that's not a bold statement, but she just has this effortlessness to her. With most other singers, even ones like Adele, you can here they really have to push and strain to get into their upper register, but with Amy it's like she's not even trying. Not every song on here is amazing, but there are a lot of really solid tracks. I especially loved In My Bed for a bit of a darker and more experimental track.

I'll have to listen to Back to Black again, because I don't remember it sounding like this. I remember it having far more of a throwback sound, whereas Frank feels more timeless? Either way, both are good, but I prefer Frank. Nothing in particular stood out to me, but as a whole it was really enjoyable.

She’s so damn talented

Lacks the peaks of Back to Black, but you know it's nice listening. Definitely too long because it feels like much of a muchness towards the end. Oh Amy x

It's fun. I like Amy Winehouse. I'm not obsessed, but it's fun.

Eu tinha um receio com a Amy por achar que ela fosse mais pop, mas seu album de estreia superou minhas expectativas. Uma classe sem tamanho, música chique, adoro o estilo big band, e não é a toa que o album carrega o nome do lendário Frank. Sua voz poderosa faz com que cada faixa seja cheia de personalidade, e este album é uma experiencia marcante, com certeza irei ouvi-lo inteiro por mais vezes.

I don’t like her voice… not even a little bit. I’m sure this puts me in the minority and probably makes me a bad person somehow. But the nasal whiny tone is off putting from the start. She sounds like a contestant on those Idol shows where everyone fawns over her the first episode for such a unique voice. But by episode three she’s gone because the gimmick is old and her range is zero.

amy winehouse the woman that you were. Would I listen again: definitely Deserves to be on this list: definitely 4.6

i'd never heard her debut before, and it's remarkable. back to black may still be her best, but frank is a treasure for sure. RIP amy

Good stuff

Getting both Amy Winehouse back to back days is a pleasant surprise! Own this album on vinyl so very familiar with this one already. Unpopular opinion but I prefer this one to Back to Black, prefer the jazzy sound of this one to the 60s girl group sound on her follow up

Ja sorry, ik ben gewoon echt niet zo een fan van jazz.

I think I will like Back to Black better

Not as good as the second album in my opinion

좋아요 거의4점

It's okay but it's not her best stuff.

The voice is amazing, but the songs seem too similar to one another.

Favourite Track(s): Fuck Me Pumps What Is It About Men

kind of interesting hearing her on more modern (at the time) production rather than the more traditional rnb and pop soul shes famous for. so good this and back to black are such excellent records. RIP

Beautiful neo-soul but it's no Back to Black. More croon, less funk. I prefer my Winehouse with a side of boogie.

I did not get it at the time and still don't really get it. She had a great voice and a very tragic end but jazzy pop noodlings not my bag.

Frank I didn’t find this to be quite as engaging or indeed as great as Back to Black, but I still enjoyed it. It definitely feels like a debut album in that there are a handful of very good songs, but much of it does feel like she is trying to find a sound and a style that truly suits her. When the Tony Bennet/Billie Holiday/Frank Sinatra influences mesh well with the jazzy hip inflections it you get excellent songs like Fuck Me Pumps, and What Is It About Men or the other great singles in Stronger Than Me, Take the Box of Help Yourself. I also like the woodwind assisted I Heard Love is Bind and In My Bed That same Tony Bennet/Billie Holiday/Frank Sinatra influence can sometimes weigh a bit heavy though, the excessive jazzy syllabary and the hip hop/contemporary accents can feel a bit unsure and unsteady, particularly on You Sent Me Flying, which tends to replace melody with jazz yeah yeahs and jazz noises and October Song, which feels a bit fillery. Back to Black obviously courted a more commercial sound, with a broader set of influences alongside the jazziness, and is more successful for it, feeling much more assured and focused (and with more better songs), as opposed to the slightly cautious feel this has. It’s still a good album, and her charisma is undeniable, but it doesn’t ever feel fully satisfying, which means it just falls short of a 4. 🍷🍷🍷 Playlist submission: Fuck Me Pumps

This is a ridiculously accomplished record for a debut, starting off with some jazz scatting and then straight into that Billie Holiday meets London style of singing. All of the building blocks for Back to Black are here - the voice superb, if a little squeakier at this point; smooth brass and clipped soul guitar; and a relaxed vibe. There's a big jazz-soul sensibility, and a clear crossover with Erykah Badu. Still, it doesn't have anything close to the big tent-pole tracks of Back to Black. Were it not for the voice some of the songs would border on bland such as 'Teo Licks'; others are more aligned with modern RnB gloss, such as 'In My Bed'. The album is certainly bloated at almost an hour vs its successor's concise perfection of 34 minutes, and a spot of editing wouldn't have gone amiss. But I was surprised how decent the album is, as it seems to have been completely overshadowed by Back to Black. As a debut it's highly assured and the talent obvious. Just gets to 4.

She was an amazingly talented vocalist. For whatever reason, these songs just didn’t connect with me.

Fine. Not really my thing and way too long but 2 would feel harsh.

Decent.

Not my thing

Tight lyrics; cool sound.

No es mi favorito, pero me gusta mucho ella. Divertido, pero no tanto como otros. Lo escucharía de nuevo igualmente, tiene temones.

It’s fine, but I don’t love it as much as Back To Black even if some of the songs/beats are catchy.

Uniquely talented voice and a real character. But this is a real chore to listen to. Very very boring. I'm not a fan of this style of music at all. Dinner party music. This best thing about it is that Valerie is not on this album. I bloody hate it. 1/5

To be fair. I only gave Back to Black a 4. So I can't in good conscious rate this as high as that one.

🫤

Back in Black is better, but this was a very good starting point for what should have been a promising career

I'm only familiar with Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" song because it was there during my prime radio-listening years. This album came before that song, and it's quite powerful just the same. The music is a mix of jazz and r&b, and paired with her deep, soulful, expressive voice, it works. I liked the smooth grooves in this. "In My Bed" was my favorite song, but I did like her honest lyrics throughout the whole album.

Obviously talented but just not for me.

ik hou van Amy, maar hier hoor je dat ze nog haar weg aan het zoeken was... toch 3 sterren voor de poging

Winehouse has a great voice but this album is pretty rough around the edges. I’m not sure why it’s on here when Back to Black is all this list really needs

first time i've listened to amy w.. not bad.

So so good.

What a voice! I haven't listened to this one as much as Back to Black, but it's very good. Compared to the record I know better, the songwriting isn't quite as locked in, and the production and arrangements are maybe not quite as interesting - or maybe that's just nostalgia speaking. This is still an album I'd always be happy to throw on.

RIP

Love you forever, Amy.

The production is much more varied compared to Back To Black, though I do prefer the bombast of that album. 3.5/5.

Have to admit I was surprised by how good her vocal range is and how interesting the songs where and the mixture of influences. Having only known the singles before I really enjoyed the quality from start to finish of this album.

I don’t really like Amy Winehouse. I came looking for a house with wine and found nothing but profound mediocrity.

I'm impressed by her versatility and vocal ability as she jumps between genres in one album, but none of those genres are really for me especially when flavored with her particular tone

Incredible vocals, everything else is a little too poppy for me

Not a fan of her voice, or this style of R&B + jazz.

Incredible. Hadn't listened before. Bliss!

She’s clearly talented, and i get why her modern lyrics about the realities of being a young woman in the kind of working poor underground and introspective look at her own demons resonated with a lot of people. Unfortunately I’m not one of those people.

I quite enjoyed it i can see the appeal but i also do prefer back to black

This was a very good album. It has such a classic early sixties sound with aggressive lyrics and modern sensibilities. Beautiful!

2,2/5

Pretty cool

Removed

610 It was a nice listen can’t say any of the songs stuck out for me but I didn’t dislike any of them. Obviously not the best album she released but a good start!

7.5/10 = actually very fun! i always liked in my bed but dont know the rest as well, i like her more jazz stuff than the later stuff tbh would probably be more inclined to relisten to this than those, liked her julie london-esque influence, instrumental for in my bed still so good

Special voice, I can't really understand the lyrics and maybe it's for good looking through the reviews

RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: You Sent Me Flying LOWLIGHT: Amy Amy Amy

I haven't heard this before. Amy was clearly a talented singer however has song writing lacks a great deal. This record has a good jazz vibe to it but the actual songs lack focus or direction.

It's good. The combination of smooth jazzy music with sleazy confessional lyrics is pretty compelling. Bit shocked by the homophobia and internalised misogyny in some songs though.

Day959 - i’m only vaguely familiar with amy winehouse and i didn’t know any of these songs. she ls so talented and such a shame the way it turned out

Incredible voice, good to discover she wrote (or co-wrote) most of the songs - a proper youthful self-aware revelation...

It seems unfair to give this short of a 5 because it's not the best _Amy Winehouse_ album, when it's clearly a masterpiece. The voice, the vibe, the artistry, and always the realest. I am giving it a 4 though because I think this is her becoming, and when she gets there, it's 5 city.

Nipples

Fantastic album again. Not as good as Back to Black, but as a first album this is incredible. Some eclectic mix of soul, R&B, Jazz, and poppy stuff. Absolutely a blast to listen to.

rym 3.61 Neo-Soul/Vocal Jazz 从第一个音我就知道我迎来了一位乐坛天后，却没想到同时也是一位27 club成员。低沉沙哑而浑厚，生来适合演唱这样复古的曲调，真是天妒英才。 pick：Take the Box, Mr Magic (Through the Smoke), Intro / Stronger Than Me

Like it. Jazzy and hip hop and bossy nova and ska in there. Lots of fun

Her talent is amazing. And you can hear the genius that’ll lead to her brilliant second album.

Much slower than "Back to Black" and a tier below in my opinion

What an amazing talent Amy was. The album here though just isn't my taste. I can't get into corners no matter how contemporary their sound. I respect the talent here, but not my thing

I liked this better than I thought I would, based on the few songs from her second album that I've heard but never listened to very closely. I listened to this album a few times and Back to Black once or twice as well over the last few days. During that time, my impression of her has shifted from a pop singer being used to promote an R&B revival dreamed up by someone else to a talented musician, singer, and songwriter trying to create her own musical style rooted in jazz, 60s R&B and soul, and hip-hop. Focusing on Frank, she clearly takes inspiration from the classic jazz vocalists like Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, but the overall feel of the album is post-Weather Report fusion incorporating hip-hop and pop influences. There's a bit of a mismatch between the "frank" sentiments expressed in the lyrics and in the expressiveness of her singing on the one hand and the overly slick production that the songs, some more than others, are buried under, on the other. It's my understanding that she wrote most of these songs herself but more and more producers kept adding to them (gaining writing credits along the way of course). The productions are not bad, they're mostly quite nice, but they overwhelm and deaden some of the songs. The stripped down versions on the deluxe version of the album and a video I saw online of her playing Take the Box that was just her singing and playing guitar are much more appealing to me and suggest this could have been a very different album that I would have liked a lot more. Not to blame all the missteps on others: sometimes her vibrato is over the top and distracting (although I have a lower tolerance for this than a lot of people). And sometimes her delivery is mush-mouthed and her enunciation is slurred in a way that must be an aesthetic choice but a baffling one to me. Mostly she uses her vocal techniques in ways that serve the music and add to the overall expressiveness of her singing, but once in a while it's just like a needle scratch. I don't know who advised her to put "I Have Daddy Issues, Part 1" and "I Have Daddy Issues, Part 2" as the first two tracks on her debut album, but the fact that it might have actually been her daddy is a little disturbing. It's hard to separate the idea that her songwriting is so direct and honest about her difficulty in getting what she needed from the people in her life, and in particular from the men in her life, from the appearance that this presentation of her to the public as a "beautiful disaster" was encouraged by some of those same men. Frank seems to me to be the result of her having a lot of skill as well as confidence in her own artistry, wanting validation while loudly proclaiming that she doesn't need anyone's validation, deferring to producers who think they know best how to present her art, and making some artistic choices along the way that seem more like the result of insecurity than confidence. I'm rating this album as a 3 simply on enjoyment but it's interesting and I can imagine that it will grow on me over time. Essential listen: yes, even if it's flawed I think it's more than worth a listen Desert island disc: no

Buen album, es cra la loca para mi es medio lento

Just not my jam. The songs all sound the same to me, with the same cadence. Lyrics are mostly about being an oversexed young woman with substance abuse disorder, so not exactly relatable. I wish she’d gotten help. Rest in peace.

Highlights: Mr Magic, What Is It About Men 3.2

Probably closer to 3.5 but rounding up because it was a good listen and I generally like the genre.

Superb, raw vocals. Incredible production and good variety between the songs. Problematic lyrics from the get go. A very influential album by an influential artist.

A lovely surprise! I weirdly got Lauryn Hill vibes from the first few songs?

Her debut album and liked her opening track the best. I really enjoyed about 4 songs and just enjoyed her voice on the rest. It was good to hear her start as you usually hear Back to Black.

27 club merchant I hate to say it. Nothing and I mean nothing stands out to me. This sounds like a copycat of genuinely so many other artists before her. Like she can totally sing, and the production is on point. But I think my issue is nothing here sets her apart. Nothing here screams Amy Whinehouse. There’s no substance. Nothing memorable, and nothing (to me) that sets her apart from the others of this time. It’s just super forgettable easy listening shit that’s vibey but I’ll never remember it. I really don’t get the glaze.

Amy does something here that would push her into stardom, she was herself. You can feel the energy and love within every song and Amy had been wronged before and was fed up with loving so deeply and hard and yet she is still able to sing. That concept is so fun the idea that we are listening to the Amy Winehouse show and also having to hear her distrust of men while also loving them so much. So many times we are hurt and hurt by love and sometimes it takes a long time to get past that and Amy tries that here with some rnb songs and an amazing intro I think it starts to fall samey towards the middle of the record where Amy is still singing beautifully but nothing truly stands out. I think this is a perfect springboard to her final record where she comes into her own and we get to see her take the criticism of finding her own voice to heart and wears it more on her sleeve but here it sounds like she is still unsure and for good reason it’s only after her death that we can truly see her vision here and how it all led to some of the greatest love songs ever written.

Back to Black is just a much more focused album. This has spots of brilliance and spots of meh.

I wish she was still with us. ;-(

Anita baker for white people

Absolutely not for me. Her voice is grating, every song sloppily combines hip hop and jazz in a way that fails to succeed at either one.

Just crazy that this album would be followed up by one of the best female artist albums. A wonderful album but it’s got some holes in it.

Einer der besten Alben die ich jemals gehört habe??? Warum habe ich nicht Amy völlig durchgehört?

Beauty and pain

Really makes you think of what could have been. She had such a voice!

She's the best

This album, for lack of a better/more original descriptor, "is a vibe". Just soulful grooves, light but also melancholy, and mixing a wide range of influences. Amy was special and its pretty much evident right away.

Looser and lighter than "Back to Black" but not as deep emotionally.

Great songs and what a wonderful voice she had

It was kinda funny

Me gusta

Love it.

Grooviges Amy Winehouse Album. Nicht ganz so viele Banger wie Back to Black - trotzdem gut (4,5 Sterne)

Very cool

I knew about the tragic legend, but almost nothing about the music, so I went in with zero preconceptions. It was an excellent surprise - a beautiful and creative neo-soul / vocal jazz album with a wide range of styles and a lot of heart. It's hard to believe Amy Winehouse was barely 19 at the time ; she's got more musical maturity than anyone has the right to have at that age, and her voice is mesmerizing. The production is also impeccable. A couple of songs have an R&B vibe that I dislike, but a lot of the other songs are really smooth and soulful. Overall, she really manages to modernize the genre with an almost trip-hop take on it, without ever disrespecting or bastardizing it. This is exactly the kind of album I would never have listened to on my own initiative, but am glad to have discovered through the list. I'm clearly adding this to my rotation. 7/10

I’m not quite sure what to say about this one. From the very first notes, the production sounds great and promising. I’d never listened to this debut before, but my feelings remain pretty much the same: her soul style and vocal delivery often feel a bit overdone to me, and eventually become tiring. The talent is undeniable, though. I think I prefer her second and final album: less sax, more punch. In the end, I wasn’t particularly excited by this one, and spent most of the album trying to figure out which classic each song reminded me of. 3 stars for songs like *In my bed* which sounds the best with her youth and style.

Somehow this is an album without songs. I know there are tracks, but there is no structure, singing more like scatting and left no positive impression at all. Wanted to give some positivity to Amy who grew up in the same part of north London but as things progressed, it got worse.

Fantastic! I really like back to black, but had never listened to this one. It wasn't as interesting I guess, but really enjoyable.

Favorite track(s): Intro/Stronger Than Me, You Sent Me Flying, Fuck Me Pumps, In My Bed, Take the Box, What Is It About Men?

Honestly I thought I was gonna like this a lot more than I did, I'm a big fan of Back to Black so I was hoping that this would just be more in that sound. But honestly I was pretty disappointed, I didn't love a lot of the stylistic stuff here. It still feels like it's trying to harken back to an older time in music, but I think the way it does it feels a lot more modern and inauthentic. It feels like someone now trying to make an album from then, instead of just feeling like the sound of then. Favorites: Fuck Me Pumps, October Song, Amy Amy Amy

Great voice

I think I might have only heard the big hit song off the second album, but I know that her work has been getting a bit of a critical reevaluation. Overall, I thought this was a pretty solid record. The neosoul influence was pretty significant, but there is also quite a bit of a more traditional jazz influence at times as well. Winehouse's vocals feel like they have a bit of a Billie Holiday influence, but it also feels like it would be a bit unfair to reduce the work to that. Lyrically, it feels fairly contemporary, but in a way that captures the spirit of a lot of older blues work. I'm not sure if I will revisit this, but I don't regret the listen.

First time I've actually listened to Amy Winehouse. Hot take, don't love her voice. It's quite impressive in moments and then a bit grating in others. Don't hate it, don't love it. Some songs would be a 1/5, some are closer to a 4. The less she scats the better.

Honestly, pretty irritating. She might be fine in small doses, but a whole album is a rough listen.

Изначально хотел поставить 5/10, но когда поймал расслабленный вайб - понравилось больше. 6.5/10 Приятный женский вокал в объединении с джазом. В сравнении с тем же альбомом Боба Марли, попавшемся ранее - не так хорошо для фона. По трекам - You Sent Me Flying и Take The Box.

Дослушал с большим трудом, ни один трек переслушивать не стал. Лучшие части песен - те, где она не поет. Голос и манера вокала не вызывают ничего кроме отторжения. Интонации только раздражают. Тексты песен примерно на уровне вокала. Во многих треках у инструментов явно есть потенциал, но к сожалению фокус каждой песни - на ее голосе, который не даёт им раскрыться и оставляет их исключительно на фоне ее кривляний. Лучшие треки выбирать не стал, их нет. Не мое.

I can’t separate art from artist with this album and listening to it makes me sad on multiple levels.

She can sing, but what is she singing? Lyrically, Stronger Than Me is almost as bad as Korn's All In The Family, which stands out as being the worst song this project has foisted on me. We all know Back To Black is where she came into her own (for better or worse), and this is really just a practice session shaking out the kinks. And there are a lot of them - the lyrics are bad, the beats are usually pretty bad, and if they're not, they're barebones. The jazz is just...tones? Nothing going on. The less you listen to it the better it is, which reveals it to be more vibes-based than anything else. Empty album with some solid style and pipes. Not as bad as the two I'm giving it, but not on even enough ground to get the three.

Oh wow, this is even jazzier than her big breakthrough record I had quite recently. Very enjoyable stuff, she celarly grew up listening to old soul and jazz singers, you can just feel the great influence of Ms Holiday and Ms Fitzgerald. Great stuff, probably can also go up to 4 stars. At least 3.5 on RYM.

A very tragically perverse album by 19-year-old Amy, who believed psychological problems could be solved with sex and substances. Strong jazz influence (hello, Frank Sinatra), fewer experiments than on the later Back to Black. Pleasant to listen to, but it doesn't particularly grab you.

Got through about a minute of the first song and out comes the homophobia. Shut up you dumb bitch.

con tan sólo escuchar su voz se me eriza la piel. se te extraña amy <3

More less.

increíble

If I’m being frank this does not belong on this list . I lover her voice but this is just so meh

Not great, but better than I expected.

The music brings modern funk together with bluesy brass, woodwind and guitar in a really cool way. Her voice is powerful and soft when it needs to be with a unique and beautiful tone.

It's alright I suppose

Frank is the sound of New York in the early 00's. Greyish, blue modern and promising NY. It's an obvious but homogeneic mix of Blues, reggae, jazz, hip-hop, Baker and Holliday, all in an interesting format of a live concert at a 'midnight dinner club'. The saddest part was to read at the end of the review on my boook, edition from 2006, how they writer hoped Amy a longer life than her Idols.

Dober dober👍🏼

Amazing first album, a bit raw and some lyrics and chord changes are sophomoric, but still amazing. Frank would have been proud.

Amy Winehouse takes the jazz female singer songwriters heroines of hers and filters them through a dull hip hop and dance lense of lo-fi beats. I'm not sure it works too well.

I've never heard a full Winehouse album. I'm liking this. Just great music. You should be stronger than me?? Really?? I mean naturally it's a product of the time and the culture but I hate that sentiment you're not a waif dude you're and adult act like it. This is probably not the proper medium to express this but it fucking annoys me when competent women act helpless around their partners so that he can save them or whatever like you have a brain dude. That's literally just a guy why are you treating him like he's the smartest guy in the world do you think you're that stupid?? Do you have such little faith in your own abilities?? Grow up dude. Deal. Ok back to the music. This is quite good actually. I'm really enjoying it. Favourite: Take The Box Least favourite: Amy Amy Amy

# Amy Winehouse's *Frank*: A Debut of Unflinching Honesty Released in 2003, Amy Winehouse's debut album *Frank* arrived as a breath of fresh air in a music scene dominated by polished pop. While it would later be eclipsed by the global phenomenon of *Back to Black*, this record stands as a remarkable achievement—a fearless, genre-blending introduction to a singular talent who was wise beyond her 19 years . ## A Confessional Tapestry of Love, Heartbreak, and Wit At its core, *Frank* is a deeply personal and unapologetically honest diary set to music. The title is a direct reflection of Winehouse's lyrical approach: frank, candid, and cutting . She navigates the complexities of young adulthood and relationships with a voice that is both world-weary and sharply witty. ### Key Themes and Tracks **The Vulnerable Diarist** Winehouse doesn't shy away from portraying the messy, often unflattering sides of love. In **"Take The Box"**, arguably one of the album's strongest moments, she delivers a raw, gut-wrenching account of a breakup, packing up an ex-lover's belongings while grappling with mixed emotions . Similarly, **"You Sent Me Flying"** captures the ache of rejection with a poetic precision far beyond her years, painting a vivid picture of heartbreak and vulnerability . This confessional style extends to her own flaws, as seen on **"What Is It About Men"**, where she explores the destructive cycles inherited from her family and examines her own tendencies toward bad relationship choices . **The Sharp Satirist** Alongside the poignant ballads, Winehouse showcases a devastatingly sharp wit. **"Fuck Me Pumps"** is a hilarious and biting social commentary on women who frequent clubs with the sole aim of landing a wealthy man, delivered with a sarcastic punch that is both funny and painfully accurate . In **"I Heard Love Is Blind"**, she uses clever wordplay to defend an act of infidelity, proposing that sleeping with a man who looks like her boyfriend isn't *really* cheating . **Gender Dynamics and Power** A recurring theme on *Frank* is the examination of gender roles and expectations. The opening track, **"Stronger Than Me"**, immediately sets this tone as she laments a partner who is not emotionally or mentally strong enough to meet her needs, openly questioning his masculinity and demanding he "live up to his role" . This isn't a passive narrator; it's a young woman who knows what she wants and is frustrated when she doesn't get it. ## A Jazz-Infused Soundscape with Hip-Hop Roots Musically, *Frank* is a stunning fusion of genres, effortlessly blending jazz, neo-soul, R&B, and hip-hop . This distinctive sound was primarily shaped by producer Salaam Remi, who, along with other producers like Commissioner Gordon and Jimmy Hogarth, helped create a backdrop that was both classic and contemporary . ### The Production The album's production allows Winehouse's incredible vocal ability to take center stage. Her voice, rich, smoky, and overflowing with emotion, glides over **jazz-influenced arrangements**, including covers of standards like **"Moody's Mood for Love"** and **"(There Is) No Greater Love"** . Simultaneously, the record is firmly rooted in modern sounds, incorporating **hip-hop beats**, most notably on **"In My Bed"**, which cleverly samples a beat from Nas's "Made You Look" . This blend of styles creates a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. As described by one critic, the music is a "glossy admixture of breezy funk, dub and jazz-inflected soul" . ## Influence and Legacy While *Back to Black* cemented her as a global icon, *Frank* established Winehouse as one of the most original and promising new voices in British music. The album earned critical acclaim, a Mercury Prize nomination, and an Ivor Novello Award, proving that her success was "based on pure talent rather than good producers or gimmicks" . Its influence is felt in the generations of artists who have embraced its blend of classic soulfulness with contemporary, confessional storytelling. The album is a reminder of Winehouse's immense potential before she became a tabloid fixture . It shows her as a creative spirit full of life and optimism, a stark contrast to the tragic figure she would later become . In 2019, *Frank* was named one of the greatest albums of the 21st century by *The Guardian* . It's fascinating to note, however, that Winehouse herself was deeply dissatisfied with the album, criticizing its marketing and feeling the production didn't fully represent her vision—she even claimed to never listen to it . ## Pros and Cons of the Album | **Pros** | **Cons** | | :--- | :--- | | **Unflinching, Intelligent Lyricism**: Wry, sarcastic, honest, and deeply personal lyrics that set a high bar for confessional songwriting . | **Bloat and Pacing Issues**: At nearly an hour, the album's length, particularly with bonus tracks, can lead to a sagging second half . | | **Genre-Bending Production**: Unique and engaging fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B that sounds fresh and timeless . | **Occasional Overproduction**: At points, production choices, like the synthesized strings Winehouse despised, don't match the raw emotion of her voice . | | **Superb Vocal Performances**: Displays her incredible range, control, and emotional depth, establishing her as a powerhouse vocalist . | **Uneven Quality**: While the highs are spectacular, some tracks like "October Song" or "Know You Now" can feel like lesser filler . | | **Establishing a Unique Voice**: Perfectly showcases her persona: a brash, vulnerable, and witty young woman from day one . | **Living in *Back to Black*'s Shadow**: Often unfairly seen as merely a 'warm-up' to her more polished, commercially successful sophomore album . | ## Conclusion *Frank* is more than just a promising debut; it's a complex, vibrant, and deeply human work of art that announced the arrival of a once-in-a-generation talent. It showcases a young artist operating at the peak of her creative powers, unafraid to be witty, vulnerable, and brutally honest. While not without its flaws, and despite Winehouse's own reservations, the album is a classic in its own right. It captures a moment of unbridled potential, an artist on the precipice of greatness, making her mark with a voice and perspective that was entirely her own.

catchy tunes, sad it had to be so sexist

Amy Winehouse was a very talented singer and artist. Her work was significant in reimagining jazz sensibilities and applying them in a context that appealed to a generation that would otherwise not notice the incredibly rich musicality in jazz-oriented music. That said, it's not really my thing. If I had to condense my reason why, I would say that she should be called Amy Winer, not Amy Winehouse. I just can't relate to where she's coming from in most of her songs - self-imposed situations that she's resentful about. Yeesh. Nevertheless, the album is an easy, enjoyable listen. If I was an angry young woman, maybe I would give this five stars. Since I'm not. It gets four.

Better than Coldplay

Surprised that Frank made it to the list - I was expecting Black to Black instead This is fine, but I'm not a fan of this one I didn't care for it 23 years ago, and I still don't really want to listen to this now Meh . . .

Musically great but not my thing.

Nicht so gut wie der Nachfolger, aber man erkennt ihre Qualität hier schon sehr. Ich meine, die war 20 auf dem Album. Das darf man nicht außer Acht lassen.

Stabil gut, aber kein Vergleich mit "Back To Black", von dem ich sehr hoffe, dass es hier in der Liste ist.

good

It was okay. Overproduced Jazz and R and B vocals are really not what I like to listen to on a daily basis.

4/10 - It’s an album that made the list because it’s the debut of someone who got much more interesting over time. It feels very safe in sound compared to her later work. It feels sleepy, slow, and it lacks intrigue.

Not nearly as interesting as her next album but I can't really complain about hearing Amy Winehouse sing. 6/10

A pretty impressive debut for a 19 year old!

Not as good as the second album, but my god that voice.

Its hard for me to listen to this and not think about how Adele is the cleaner version of this, but it saddens me that we don't have both of them in the world. I would have loved to have seen how that played out. 2 Female British Soul and Blues singers??? What a world. I think the main difference here is that she really place with R&B over Pop. It certainly has its pop elements, but its through the lens of soul, blues and r&b. And she it with soul too. This woman has the bluuuuues. I think I called this out on the last Amy Winehouse album, but she really does fuze genres in an interesting way. She's definitely ska or reggae curious, because she kind of plays with those sounds throughout.

Absolutely lovely no words to describe her voice is 😩

#8. I got bored of it halfway through. I think her music is just not for me.

Inte riktigt min sorts musik, inte dåligt men inget jag slår på igen. 2.5/5

It's hard to divorce her life from her music, especially since it was the 15th anniversary of her death a few days ago. 15 years since that circus of tabloid headlines, drugs, and chaos reached it's inevitable end. Time flies. She was a talent, even evident on her debut. Very enjoyable, fun, jazzy album. Her bratty irreverence, as well as her smoky voice and knack for a good hook in this album showed a lot of promise which was eventually fulfilled by her more refined and mature sophomore effort. A decent first effort and a tragedy that this album is half of her discography.

She was great even before she hit it big.

The uptempo stuff laid over hip-hop beats was fun and diverting. Her voice is a super-cool throwback, but nothing in here gripped me in the same ways, as, say "Rehab." The slower, brooding stuff did less for me. She was a real talent, but this is pretty down the middle.

Her first two albums were astonishing. It hurts my heart that she wasn't able to live to enjoy her immense success in sobriety.

My favorite women vocalists are the ones that just lean into it and belt them notes out. Let me hear it ladies. The old smoking room jazz influences are right there on the sleeve, mixed with 2000s pop ideas, its just a winning combination. There's a lot of influence from 90s trip hop or even acid jazz, like half these songs remind me of Jamiroquai but that's honestly a good thing.

To be frank, this is cringe inducing juvenalia only on this list by virtue of it's vastly superior successor.

Increíble, era una genio.

Is het raar als ik deze beter vind dan back to black?

Like a fusion of Lauryn hill, Lily Allen, Frank Sinatra, Tom waits, Tim Buckley. So much going on here I really liked it. I could def see it moving up to a 4 in the future

Jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop, bossa nova.

First listened 11th July 2024. Favourite songs are Intro / Stronger Than Me and You Sent Me Flying / Cherry. I prefer Back to Black.

This isn't really the sort of thing I'd listen to normally, and it didn't suddenly change my mind. That being said, Amy's voice was so amazing and interesting that I still have trouble rating this lower than a 4

Pretty good, I liked the Lullaby of Bird-land allusion.

I think Amy Winehouse has a beautiful voice, but this album was just okay. Her newer albums are better. Out of all the songs, I only enjoy one.

Debut album and her recordings only get better. Love her vocal styliings.

More raw and authentic than back to black

I mean, It's a pretty good album, but when you think about some of the albums that aren't on this list, I just really wonder if this one was necessary. Back in Black? Absolutely. This one? I don't see the point.

Nice Debut, not so polished like Back to Black, which is nice.

I get why this is here, but I mostly wish I was listening to Back in Black

Unique en son genre, une grande artiste

Ce n’est pas mon préféré mais c’est une bonne introduction pour découvrir la voix qu’elle a et ses influences jazz / soul Je l’aime de toute façon

Amy Winehouse c'est banger. Voilà

I’m no expert on R&B and soul, and I’d never presume to offer a detailed analysis of this music. However, Amy Winehouse’s extraordinary talent as a songwriter and singer is clear for all to see. Her skill was immediately apparent. Her debut album "Frank" presented a hopelessly old-fashioned sound that was delivered with such conviction that it effortlessly cut through the perfect, artificial world of the boy and girl bands of the early 2000s. Finally, class and personality were back. The big hit singles were still two or three years away, but her true talent was already fully formed. What a tragedy to have lost her so soon.

ohhh amy <3

puta de mierd

2.6/5

mooi album maar gewoon niet mijn soort muziek.

no private session used for Spotify. I enjoyed this album, I like her voice and its a nice change from other main stream oughts albums. I don' t know when I would listen to this again, though.

Yo en serio quiero que me guste Amy winehouse, yo intento, hay canciones que me parecen chéveres. Pero este álbum... Meh

Not a fan of this style.

I didn't realize there was another Amy Winehouse album on this list. I reread my review of Back to Black (#284 and I'm now on #397). I gave it two stars and had a long write up about how I just don't care for her music even though it's a style I generally like, and it came down to feeling like she's very affected in her singing. Listening today I felt much the same way, but a bit less so. I still can't put my finger on exactly why, but I liked Frank a bit better. It's not like any songs stood out for me (there were none I'll be saving or ever replaying), but I tolerated it a bit better. Thinking this will get three stars.

Meh me gustó más el otro

This album is growing on me. It’s no Back to Black but I’m enjoying it more with every listen

Never have listened to a full album. I like the more “modern” songs than her more traditional takes.

Generational talent, but her style of singing was never for me.

me realizing amy winehouse wouldve been kind of a pick me girl not a fan of the almost cursive singing either

What a fantastic talent.

I have always thought of the title of this album as a man’s name. It was not until this morning that I realized it could be read as the adjective. The songs meet that description. Looking now at the Wikipedia page, I can see maybe both are correct.

一直在念，适合失眠当课听

What a beautiful album! I really loved this one, and her voice is amazing. Gone way too soon, such a shame 5 ⭐️

8/10 Buen algum, me gusto bastante. Muy buena voz y una instrumental tranquila que pega excelente

a lady who's music wasn't good or bad enough to justify how weird people are about her. 3/5

3, but in the most non-average-3 way. I like her, but other songs not on this album more. *shakes fist*

i would not choose to listen to this again. sounds like it would be in a Macy's commercial around Christmas time man, i still have like 7 songs left :sigh: acid jazz

Es una genia. Alta voz tiene y los temas están muy buenos. Gran disco que nunca había escuchado ni un tema.

Pretty good, I wasn't expecting anything but came out pleased.

This is a pretty good album, but not one I plan to come back to even if I felt like relistening to jazz. Also lacks any standout tracks, so it doesn’t quite make 4 stars.

Such a unique artist. Perhaps not the strongest lyricist, the 2000s jazz backing and raw vocals were really enjoyable.

Bad takes on gender just hit different when they're coming from a female singer. I like Amy Winehouse, but I like her other work better. 3.5 stars, rounded down.

love her but this was underwhelming i thought.. still enjoyable to listen to but i'll stick with back to black like the normie i am

Wow, coming in early with bald faced sexism. Inflexible, toxic gender roles hurt everyone. I can't believe I'm hearing this girl bitch about a guy wanting to have an emotionally mature relationship and asking him if he's gay for wanting to talk things out. What do you want, lady? Someone that hits you? Yikes. You lost me on the first track and things did not improve after. I will give credit for the honest, self-reflection on "What is it About Men" (+1, contextually). So, one redeeming track. Kinda' sad, really. Grats on the pipes; great voice. Pass.

What an incredible experience. The emotion in this album is phenomenal. The writing is incredible, both the lyrics and the instrumentation. Amy Winehouse will always be missed.

What a voice! Amy was one of a kind. Gone too soon. Funny to hear her timeless voice also sound very 2003. I didn't know her til back to black so these songs were all new to me though I'd heard about f me pumps. She's cool I like her

Very good album. I very much enjoy listening to Amy. It's still very sad that she couldn't sustain and made the choice to what ended her life, like many celebrities and musicians.

And so an entire micro-industry of North London jazzy neo-soul singers was born. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Amy Winehouse’s voice - she’s good but it just doesn’t hit my ears right, and I’ve spent more than enough time time hearing it since 2006 to be sure of it - but it fits really nicely in here with the laid back production that keeps some nice movement between different contemporary sounds as well as the jazz-y soul core. It feels of a place and time, good and bad, in a way that she lost working with Marc Ronson. Bold debut for a 20 year old to make, even if it runs too long and the lyrics all skewing heavily to “here’s my troubles with men” in that youthful way both sit as problems for me.

My problem with albums like this are that obviously she's an incredible singer, but I'm never sure how actually involved in the whole thing the artist is. This one is easy. Turns out she wrote everything, right down to the dash of horns. Damn.

Listened on the beach, in a small southern town. Who knew that New York swagger would translate so beautifully to the sand?

Talent, nice voice. Nice debut.

neosoul

She was such an amazing artist. This album is good - but for me it lacks that special spice that her next album has

Solid songs, I didn’t hear anything special on this album.

nice :3

Soothing modern jazz-soul. Its charm is how it's less polished. In paying homage to Frank and other legendary crooners, this album accomplishes to sound both modern and old. There are elements of R&B throughout the decades. What I do like are the more modern tracks that have the groove (like Mr Magic and Pumps) And "Teo Licks" is such a good interlude. What a Persona 5-adjacent track (3.5-4).

I tried. I just cannot stand her voice

I wasn’t that impressed by this album. Many of the songs are similar and one is all about how she got drunk and purposefully cheated on her partner, but it’s ok because it’s Amy Winehouse. Gimme a break dude.

I only know “Back in Black,” so this was an interesting new listen. It’s like she takes all the boring late-50s ballads and puts an edge on them. Not my favorite style of music, so I doubt I’ll listen to it again, but her singing style is very compelling, so I enjoyed this listen at least.

Great artist. OK album 🤷‍♀️

super, je l'ai pas fini mais il faut que je continue

I had almost forgotten that Amy sang RnB. The voice started to be really annoying to me around the 9th song, also not a fan of the wind section, quality like it's probably a 5/5 but a 2 for me.

I liked this quite a bit. Definitely will come back to this and her other album.

Ok

Просто хороштй поп. Хороші вокали. Хороші інструментали. Але не знаю, немає тут чогось особливого. Хз. Оцінка: середня-висока 6

An amazing voice, and astounding potential, but the songs just aren’t doing much for me.

Good album, great artist

It is more of a collection of songs than a coherent album, but what is on here it’s pretty damn good. I get the hype and it is much more complete than her last album.

Compared to imperial-phase Amy this has less tattoos, less arch sensibility, more "sultry" jazz crooning and by-the-numbers r&b melisma. Feels a bit like 1950s cosplay (the "Frank" of the title is Sinatra), except there are so many tells--the bari sax lines with their modern, post-funk, post-rap conception of rhythm (which obviously has its place, but while the instrument's timbre sounds okay when you're hearing it, the licks in question sound banal and boring when you sing them yourself); the "crackly vinyl" effect with the too-loud, too-crisp drums over it; the lyrics about having fun gay and trans friends, the point of which seems to be to establish that Amy has fun gay and trans friends.... "Fuck Me Pumps" is a no-longer-timely takedown of football WAGs that starts out singing "F me pumps" (why?); the final line keeps catchily coming back at me in the form "Fuck me in your fuck me pumps," which is nicely polymorphous, but ... that's not the actual line. Overall, this makes me think of the time when I was 21 I tried to change my email address to aportraitinflesh@hotmail.com (it's a David Bowie line, if you must know) and my very sweet and good but very square friend immediately emailed me like "Ooooh, nice new email, sexy, I like it! Gotta go with the attitude" and I grimaced very hard and never used that email again (Amy being Carol in this scenario); or once when we were at karaoke and the very wholesome blonde kiwi girl my girlfriend worked with sang "Sexual Healing" dead straight, and Heidi couldn't handle the cringe and dragged me up to sing "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood ("Relax / Don't do it / When you wanna cum"), because "It's the same as what she just did to us!" (Amy being poor horrified New Zealand Amanda). It's not as detached OR as messy as her later work and comes across as performative yet bland, despite her talent.

This album definitely does not hot the highs of her later work, but there is definitely foreshadowing of the greatness to come.

Very talented singer, but a few of these songs were surprisingly monotonous. There were plenty of sweet moments, though, for me mainly being I Heard Love is Blind and Moody's Mood For Love.

Kom meg aldri på Amy-hypetoget.

Dama var rå. Liker kanskje viben bedre enn låtene (om det gir mening), men denne kan jeg fort sette på på terrassen en varm julidag.

God stemme og utfordrende tekster, men ingenting sitter som et skudd på denne plata. En unik artist som på dette stadiet virker skuffende ordinær.

I liked the lyrics for the most part, liked the style except maybe the intro was a bit iffy now Overall nice Except personally would prefer less scatting

A very witty honest and insightful album for her age. Not as musically mature as Back to Black, but for me the lyricism and frankness still put it at 5. Lives up to it's name.

Nah, didn't much care for this. Of course she was a talent but neither the style nor most of the content is appealing to me.

Talented singer, but boring material.

Joyous album. One of only 2 released by Amy in her lifetime but this is the best. Hard to single out any songs when they are all so good. Know you now is seductive, fuck me pumps is incredibly funny, October song is one which creeps up on the listener but never fails to raise a smile. Take the box is probably the highlight but its hard to choose one. Possibly the album of the century so far

Ersatz jazz and delivery lacking any subtlety- 1001 albums to avoid anyone?

I really wish I liked Amy Winehouse more. Clearly one of the most talented singers to ever do it, and I *like* all of her music, but I’ve never found myself *loving* it. Glad to have listened to this though; I can now say I’ve listened to all of her (tragically small) discography.

Loved it

Yeah this is good

I liked the instrumentals. I think that's the good point of her album. it's just not something I'd fully listen casually again I do like some songs and would listen to them casually... if I happen to be in the mood I wish she'd stop singing at some point to enjoy the instrumentals and sto the lyrics about men. Which while some are kinda interesting, get kinda boring at some point, and the album isn't even that long

That's really good. The vocals are pleasant, there's a fairly wide range of emotions, and the music is excellent.

A terrific album. Not as polished as Back to Black but a very worthwhile listen that established Winehouse as someone to watch.

Its a no for me, dog.

day 5 — Frank — Amy Winehouse (2003) genre: neo soul runtime: 54 min rating: 3.5/5 fav track: know you now thoughts: maybe unpopular opinion cuz i see a lot of ppl dislike this album 😭 this is my favorite album of hers. the jazz influence is so strong and these songs are just great. i think for a debut album this is some of her best work

When to listen: cooking a steak with a glass of wine. Amy Winehouse is iconic and I love her deeply but this isn’t her best album, the songs feels a bit repetitive but it’s a repetition of something highly enjoyable.

This selection feels early and less refined, more true to jazzy freak flag

So it was totally news to me that there was a prior album to Back to Black. I know a lot of rock stars died young, especially at 27, but something about Amy (maybe the recentness?) just makes the whole thing kind of sad, even when it's otherwise a very solid album.

I know it's good, but it's also just not my thing. Gave it two listens and couldn't really get into it. Even still, doesn't feel worthy of less than three stars.

I remember the take on this album being that it paled in comparison to Back to Black—good if a kind of typical musically in that jazzy, Norah Jones-adjacent way. Having now listened to Frank, I think that's mostly true. But Winehouse's voice is like no one else's, and her personality—and demons—are way more engaging than Norah Jones. Even if the music isn't my thing, I'd probably listen to Amy Winehouse sing anything.

Debut album, Amy herself isn't the biggest fan either

This lives up to the hype. Definitely a vibe and easy to groove to.

I just couldn't get into this album. I like some of her other work but this one just didn't click. 2/5

She’s an icon for a reason - the sound on this album is entirely her’s and entirely something unheard at the time. Only Amy Winehouse could have made this music.

SIGH.... It was ok. Nothing too crazy. Hope I get something better soon, been serving me mid the last week or so

This is a good album. Especially for someone who was only 19 at the time. It's not Back To Black, that album is a masterpiece. But this is a super solid first record for sure. She had such a great voice, although I don't feel like she really showed it as much on this album. It's a little overproduced at times and some songs left me wishing for a little more of a raw and simple record. But even still, I really like this one and wouldn't hesitate to pick it up and play it now and again. 3.75/5.

4/5

So good

Beautiful!

Nothing grabs me from her debut. 'Back to Black' was quite a lot better, as you might expect. Maybe it needs another listen but can I be arsed? Nah...

You can tell it’s the precursor to Back to Black. It’s like it has the ingredients but just doesn’t hit. It’s ok. It’s just a bit generic sounding. Can tell she was still finding her style.

Yeah arguably great but just not for me. Clearly not as good as back to black. Can see shes still finding her feet

Whatever you think of her you cant deny she was super talented and a great jazz singer! A great debut 👏

This is like a demo of what Back To Black becomes. Shes clearly got the talent but the songs are shite. And the music doesnt help. And they clearly told her less is more with her Mariah Carey esque yoping. Went down classical sound route for Back to Black. Right decision. Bury this album.

Never heard this one but I liked it. She has a very good voice. What a talent she was

Nice

A good introduction to Amy Winehouse’s music

classic but not for me

pass

What a voice. Not as musically exciting as Back to Black, but nothing wrong with this album.

British…? All of the songs are so sick.. my favorites are Intro/ Stronger Than Me You sent me Flying / Cherry Know You Now Fuck Me Pumps There is No Greater Love In My Bed Take The Box October Song Soo good 88/100

Great stuff Amy #gonetoosoon

I recently watched the Amy documentary, and it really adds perspective as to all the shitty things about her life. She was a product of her environment which molded her views on relationships/life which influenced the themes in lots of her songs. Overall, not as much pull as Back to Black, but still a very good listen. Likes: Stronger Than Me; You Sent Me Flying; Fuck Me Pumps; I Heard Love Is Blind; No Greater Love; October Song

I much prefer Back to Black.

Put on your fuck me pumps and listen to this

Very good throughout. Great voice.

I like this, though maybe not enough to listen to regularly. She's got a beautiful jazz vocal style.

2/5 Favorite Song: What is it About Men

Very good

She’s just not quite there yet. 19 years old. 2

Masterpiece

Not my usual music but from time to time I get the want to listen to Amy.

She does have a great voice, but I'm just not a fan of the jazz-like singing. It's decent background music.

I wish I loved this more, she is so so talented. Something annoys me though. Still good

A more consistent and, for me, enjoyable listen compared to the second album.