Reviews (page 7 of 14)
I was super excited to dig into this one, because I know her big radio hits and have loved her voice, but never really dug much deeper. Thoughts are this -- she had a fucking incredible voice, but boy can you hear the life dissatisfaction in her lyrics that presumably led to her substance abuse. I love the jazziness, but there are a lot of gender assumptions and gender role acceptance that doesn't work for me in almost 2023 as it probably would have twenty years earlier. Stand outs for me: You Sent Me Flying, Fuck Me Pumps (which is very musically repetitive and catty as hell, but I like it in spite of that), and (There is) No Greater Love. Also, the UK version of the album has a cover she did of Someone to Watch Over Me, which is STELLAR.
Amy has such a unique character to her voice and lyrics. An incredible album for a debut and her oeuvre only improves on the next one.
3.5 Good but a little stale as it goes on. Like her later stuff more, for sure, but this was good.
Take as a given that Winehouse had a voice like no other - powerful sound, fragile frame and a personality which cast a spell. Read between the lines here and its a pretty bleak record, though, despite the upbeat soulful / jazz sound. She sings of toxic relationships and addiction cycles and to look back now one wishes we could have helped Amy get the support she needed. One fears a lot of enablers and exploiters in her life made matters much worse. I hope you're at rest now, Amy.
Voice has all of the ability that it does later, production is nowhere near what Ronson adds. Enjoyed the lyrics and the cheek, insane that she was 20.
Here we go, embarking on this challenge! First up, Amy Winehouse's debut, Frank. I love Amy Winehouse, hadn't ever heard this album all the way through before so I'm glad I got to listen to it! I feel like I should 100% be rating this higher but it is what it is. I just feel it in my gut to give this 8.5. Amy Winehouse's debut album is very strong. I'm a huge lover of this type of music, and she takes a lot of inspiration from jazz conventions. A particular highlight for me is October Song, her requiem for her bird Ava, and how she quotes the melody of Lullaby of Birdland in the chorus. Are you fucking kidding me?? Amazing. Amy's a powerhouse. What Is It About Men is one of my favourite songs of hers, was great to hear it in the context of this album. Overall I feel like I like Back in Black a little better than this record but this is still extremely solid and really fucking good. Fav tracks: Cherry, Know You Now, I Heard Love is Blind, October Song, What Is It About Men
oh Amy, why'd you have to do it?
overall 8.75/10 favorite track- fuck me pumps/october song
Très bien, même si je ne connaissqis aucune chanson!
Excellent album, unique, groovy lyrically raw and exciting, often incorrect in a way that appears honest or vulnerable. The music prefaces the new move to neo-soul but has some more guys behind it. The production is slightly dates now but wasn't it always? Her story is interesting and summons up a distinctive moment I history, and like with all real life tragic heroines highlights how the machinery of modern capitalism will commercialise your weaknesses until they eat you up. Still - very very good, if not wholly my bag.
Great album.
Personality: ++ Vibes: +- Songs: +- Overal good but misses : IT
Goated
Girlboss
This is not my cup of tea, but a few things I enjoyed about this album: the cilled-out vibe. You can relax with this on in the background. There are some reallly cool textures to the music. Amy has amazing control over her voice and the emotion is raw and powerful. Unfortunely I cannot stand the articulation of the words themselves, and this is present in so much of pop singing that feels like it began in these early-2000s, but is still going strong today. Strong album overall, even if it's not my thing.
Loved much of it, and particularly “In My Bed.”
Love how bluesy and jazzy this album is compared to Back to Black. So much potential.
I was avoiding trying Amy Winehouse’s first album for years. TF for? I don’t mind it’s not Back to Black; it’s still great! There’s some gender keeping and homophobia in the first track that’s pretty cringy. Otherwise good stuff.
This didn't get enough recognition at the time. A fantastict album, you could just sense the talent and knew that she was destined for great things.
So warm, cozy, and soulful. Like a glass of wine in the solitary comfort of one's home. In short, it's Winehouse.
4 Good
I enjoyed this album. I've never really listened to Amy Winehouse so I feel like this was a good introduction to her music. Catchy and a little jazzy. Favorite song: In my bed Worst song: Fuck me pumps
favourite song: fuck me pumps least favourite song: take the box very very good.
Was able to listen to this again without thinking about everything good and (very) bad that came after. It was clear that Amy was a real talent, and I was looking forward to much more from her. A good album, but not a great one.
A beautiful voice that was quieted too soon. It's sad to listen to the emotion and biographical nature of this album and knowing how the story ends. Frank is a great album and would probably get a 5 from me in some alternate universe that Back In Black doesn't exist in. 4.5/5.
This album was a great listen! Amy had a beautiful voice, and was gone too soon!! A beautiful artist, with the ability to meld jazz with pop in a cohesive manner. The lyrics to the song Help Yourself ring true sadly: "I Can't Help You If You Won't Help Yourself". Favourite songs: Mr. Magic (Through the Smoke), Amy Amy Amy, Help Yourself, October Song, Fuck Me Pumps, You Sent Me Flying/Cherry Least favourite songs: Know You Now, I Heard Love Is Blind 4/5
Beautiful voice, jazzy beats and beautiful, genius lyrics.
I had never heard this one before - only her other hits. So this was quite the ear-opener. Now I see why so many consider her legendary.
Pretty good. No good is my favourite
Only Amy can make an album full of one song reorganised into several different and make say "You go girl"
4/5 Good jazz / funk album that I enjoyed a lot. She has a great voice and the vulnerability she puts on display throughout the album makes it feel very from the heart.
Nunca le había puesto atención a Amy, fuera de un par de canciones famosas y llegué a un par de conclusiones: es bastante mejor de lo que pensaba, la pude haber escuchado mientras estaba viva y tampoco me arrepiento de no haberlo hecho. Un disco que suena viejo y nuevo a la vez, secuencias y arreglos agradables hechos para que brille una gran voz. Sólido 4.
Un discazo que para mí muestra lo que pueden hacer los productores que de otro modo hacen pop muy plástico, cuando se juntan con un talento más completo como el de Amy. Quizá me gusta aún más el otro disco, pero también ese tiene menos rolas propias y mucho más peso del productor (Mark Ronson). En cambio en Frank, todas las rolas tienen algo de su autoría.
Really listen-to-able
Immediately I notice that this album plays into masculinity of a man and how often the men Amy sings of do not fit into this dynamic that she expects. Which, she often then has to fill herself. It’s a bit uncomfortable to listen to as society has moved on from these tropes, but I do think the transcendndence of this phenomenon can be seemed to stem from men not fulfilling the role for her specifically. It gets into sex and sexuality in a way that is for self pleasure and is a satisfying listen. Cherry is probably my favorite song.
Amy is great. Everyone knows that. But this is her debut, and that says something. It’s her right out of the gate, her best foot forward, and it’s spectacular. Absolutely incredible. Forever in our hearts.
One of a kind voice. Beautiful blend of jazz and soul.
Her voice is just so good. A mix of some dance and older style music but her range is just so good.
I loved the jazzy feel and her vocal abilities. I closed my eyes and felt like I was in a jazz lounge. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a sucker for brass instruments so that definitely didn't hurt.
Spoko, ale Back to Black lepsza
I enjoyed returning to this old album, reminding me of who she was before superstardom destroyed her
Such a beautifully intimate record, and by that, I mean so real. It’s so real. I missed out on her for the most part, but this is telling me that I DID miss out.
After all the controversy and the headlines of this artist I never really paid attention to Amy Winehouse. Apparently this was a quote from her about this album... Some things on this album make me go to a little place that's fucking bitter. I've never heard the album from start to finish. I don't have it in my house. Well, the marketing was fucked, the promotion was terrible. Everything was a shambles. It's frustrating, because you work with so many idiots—but they're nice idiots. So you can't be like, "You're an idiot." They know that they're idiots". Not sure if she is right here, because if this was an album made by idiots, those idiots did a pretty damn good job.
This album shows off the potential for Amy Winehouse and leads to her artistic peak of Back to Black. Frank leads with a classic jazz sound, but it makes my wonder how Amy would feature on more contemporary hip-hop tracks. Too bad she left us so soon. Best Songs: Stronger Than Me, Know You Now, Take The Box Worst Songs: October Song
Ah Amy Winehouse. Ofcourse I have heard a lot of tracks from back to black. So it was really cool to listen to her debut. I enjoyed it a lot with the combination of jazz,soul and her vocals. 3.5/5
Amazing album. Not the biggest fan of her style but so genuine and real.
- I like Stronger Than Me musically, even though lyrically it's... the opposite of feminism - Vocally beautiful, like the trumpet break - You Sent Me Flying has amazing vocals - Fuck Me Pumps is a good song except if you listen to the lyrics. Slut shaming at its finest - I quite like the sound but I kind of hate her as a person now - I Heard Love is Blind is like "why are you mad I cheated on you, it's no big deal" - Monody's Mood For Love is nice, I like the saxophone (don't need Amy to sing) - I kinda like October song
I was aware of Amy Winehouse, but never really listened to any of her music. The album had a very jazzy feel to it and sounded like it would have been performed in a quiet lounge late at night. There were elements of R&B and hip hop throughout and Amy's voice was very captivating. She had an interesting vocal register, being a bit lower than a lot of other female vocalists and having almost smoky quality. This isn't the kind of album I would have sought out on my own, but I did enjoy listening to it.
Soul. Rhythm and blues.
7/10. Solid album, but I still don't quite like her singing style.
Quite good but there were a few misses/snoozers. Still love her voice and the general vocal jazz + R&B combo. 8/10
A very jazzy album from a talented voice and songwriter. Some great music on this album but my main issue is the Alicia Keys-like drumcomputer in some songs like You Sent Me Flying. Lots of songs could have shone a lot more with a better production. But I know that happened on the next album!
Amy's debut album compared to her follow up features a more contemporary R&B sound with trip hop influences, but there is still plenty of classic nuances present as well. Amy's voice sounded incredible even on here, and overall the album's a great time. Favorites: "Stronger Than Me", "You Sent Me Flying", "(There Is) No Greater Love"
Daydreaming about skull fucking Amy Winehouse is one of the best things you can do with your weekend. In many way it's easier now she's dead. I imagine her singing whilst I cum in her. She sounds heavenly.
Such an incredible talent with such a unique and powerful voice. Taken from us way too soon.
4.25
Her Back to Black album seems to get all the attention, and in fact I don't think I had listened to this one - but damn it cooks!
Amy's voice is the big seller here. This album was a harbinger for the true greatness that was to come with the next album, but this album holds its own as very good. 3.5/5
I first heard Frank in a wine shop. Which makes me sad. Not the booze and stuff, but because I was trying to become domesticated at the time (I failed), and for a while this became semiotic cue for all the things I foolishly wanted to be at the age of 30 whatever. I guess it was actively disliking Back to Black (I've gone back somewhat on this over the years) that nudged me into listening to this a little more carefully. Winehouse's voice here was subtle, delicate, abrasive, plaintive, brash...I wonder what a different set of producers might have made of her?
I don't know anything about Amy Winehouse and I must say this is a pretty impressive debut. Faves: You Sent Me Flying / Cherry, Fuck Me Pumps, In My Bed
Great
4 le faltaba producción
Girl that first song… 😒
04/21/2022 Pretty good
Liked it - 4 stars
Surprisingly jazzy! Not what I expected at all - I guess I only know her from her later stuff.... An engaging and enjoyable listen! Fave track - "Fuck Me Pumps" was great, and I guess the only one of these I'd heard before. Also enjoyed "In My Bed" and "Amy Amy Amy"
Having never heard a performance by Winehouse, I was kind of pleasantly surprised.
4/05/2022 Today's Album: "Frank" by Amy Winehouse - This is a fairly solid early 2000s singer song-writer and R&B record by the legendary Amy Winehouse, whom I had only known prior through a few hits. I think her voice is probably the best thing about this record. Not only does she have incredible technical ability in tonality and range, but she also brings a lot of personality to every line she sings. I like a lot of the bass and guitar grooves that are sprinkled across this album, with only a few songs feeling either boring or simply off/underdeveloped. I think my overall problem with listening to this is that Channel Orange was such a solid introduction into R&B music and although this album can be no considered bad, it just doesn't stack up within the R&B pop genre as anything less than a predecessor. Ironically, "Frank" (Ocean) ended up outdoing her. That being said, this is no album to simply shrug at and there is a lot of great material on this project. I like the sweet love song (There Is) No Greater Love and I think Cherry is a really funny interlude track where she confesses that she has feelings for another to her partner, but then admits the other person is her new guitar. I like the very fun and bouncy Amy Amy Amy and all of the other highlights listed are worth checking out if you like some great R&B and even greater vocal performances. Check this one out if Amy Winehouse has ever interested you before or you simply liked other R&B projects and want more. Score: 7.5/10 Pretty good, but dated by comparison Highlights: Stronger Than Me, Cherry, Fuck Me Pumps. No Greater Love, In My Bed, Take The Box, October Song, Amy Amy Amy, Brother, Mr. Magic
I'm glad she's in this journey! Have been curious what style she is... she could have been the Brit Lady Gaga!
Damn, she’s got swagger. The strength of this album isn’t really in the songs but her performance. Her voice is an elastic band and it’s fun to hear her play with it and riff on these melodies. She’s clearly having a lot of fun. On her next album, she’ll dial back the riffing a smidge and record some truly great songs. But this album captures her raw and unfiltered, doing some loose and jazzy numbers about love, sex and nightlife. The production oozes cool, balancing retro and modern styles, and provides a perfect stage for her to do her thing. Song after song she lets it rip and it’s a blast to listen to.
Pros: - One of the most evocative and romantic voices in popular music - This album is less in-your-face than Back to Black, and while I like in-your-face music, I appreciate the contrast in the two albums. This one is more romance from a positive light. - Lots of different \"feels\" on this album which I really appreciate. Cons: Misc: - The only con for me when listening to Amy is that I can't think of her without thinking of the word \"tragic\". I'm cursed. I think/hope in the future that will go away because I completely adore her and her music. To me it's like being a kid on Christmas day and getting the most fun video game console and a few games, but then after a week or so there aren't any new games released for that console. It's still new! It's still amazing and powerful and brings you so much joy! But you have this sadness that there won't be any new games. I don't recall any other artists that I feel this way about who have passed.
It's Any Winehouse! 'Nuff said.
This is her best album.
Alltid fantastisk, bara en 4 för att hon har bättre plattor
Based as fuck
I liked this a lot! I was a fan of Amy Winehouse before, but like a lot of artists I haven't ever listened to her albums all the way through, I just listened to individual songs. I was really able to hear the Frank Sinatra influence on the album, particularly on Moody's Mood For Love and No Greater Love. There were some much more boring tracks, but overall solid album.
What a generational talent. What Adele wishes she could be.
What a talent she was. This type of music doesn't get me going, but she did it so well.
Really nice blending of styles, from soul to blues to jazz to indie rock. Wild that this is her first album.
Better than I remembered but too long and not as good as BtB.
schon sehr starkes album, hat mich positiv überrascht
Frank is the debut album of Amy Winehouse. This album shows that Amy is not only a hype due to her tragic life and death, but that she was indeed a great singer performing with a great personality. She really elevates the mostly old compositions to another level.
first song strong as FUCK cool and funky but not her best 4.5
Volim jako Amy i njen glas koji bi mogla i a capella slušat, nije bas album kojeg bi stavila u favorite favorita ali sviđa mi se osjećajnost i besramno izražavanje ljubavnih jada, we all can relate
A lot of same-ish sounding tracks, but "Amy Amy Amy" rocks and is the most female-gaze song I've ever heard. I'm surprised more of these tracks don't show up on playlists/mixed tapes, but I couldn't tell you which ones I'd go for besides that "Amy Amy Amy"
Solid album. She has an incredible voice and works with very talented musicians. Really like the jazz and soul vibe.
Amy winehouse made awesome music. Her unique modern r&b and jazz combo is super good. It’s not as good as back to black but it’s still full of bangers. Fav: you sent me flying
Just a solid album all around. She was taken from us too soon :(
Voice is five plus stars, but the songs are a four minus.
Great Album. Back to Black gets a lot of the love, as it should, but this isn't one to sleep on.
Liked ut
Ну такое
No takeaways from me, but it was a pretty enjoyable listen. I'd have to say 3.5? It was fun, she has a great voice, the music is good, but it's not something I'd be seeking out to listen to. This isn't even her most popular album, though, so I'm sure she has other great stuff as well.
Intro/Stronger Than Me - 3.5/5 You Sent Me Flying - 3.5/5 Know You Now - 3/5 F**k Me Pumps - 3/5 I Heard Love is Blind - 3/5 Moody's Mood for Love - 3/5 (There Is) No Greater Love - 3/5 In My Bed - 3.5/5 Take the Box - 3.5/5 October Song - 3/5 What Is It About Men? - 3/5 Amy Amy Amy/Outro - 3/5 Winehouse wrote this at 19, which was a good preview of what she was to become in her limited time on Earth, though that praise can go the other way. Most of the songs sound a little bit same-y, and there really isn't a true standout like there was on Back to Black (which there were several!). It's a good start, but nothing on here really blew me away. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Stronger Than Me, You Send Me Flying
Mark Ronson really helped Amy make a Back to Black a classic. This sounds like a demos album in comparison. Shout out to #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie for once again overrepresenting an artist who definitely deserved one entry but absolutely not a second. There are so many great artists who aren't represented at all of the list. 3 Stars.
There's no question Amy Winehouse had a fantastic voice, or that the story of her life and the legend she left behind are as much a part of her legacy as her music. The fact of the matter is that all of that notwithstanding, I just don't like the songs that much and wouldn't choose to listen to it. Personal preference pure and simple. I'll be generous and go down the middle with a 3 so as to remain as neutral as possible. Thank you and next please.
Very good, couple great songs. Something about it doesn’t totally click for me. Some of the jazz and hip hop influences seem to be competing rather than working together, maybe. What a voice, tho, huh?!
A few good tracks but this is an album best broken up into short sessions for me.
Okay. Amy Winehouse, lightning in a bottle. Aber auf dem nächsten Album. Dieses ist okay-gut, aber nicht anders, nur nicht ganz das Niveau von Back to Black. Als solches hat es auf der Liste eigentlich nichts verloren. Buh dafür.
Not nearly as good as Back to Black in my opinion, but man, you can already hear the potential. Amy was only 19 when this came out and her voice already sounds completely lived-in. The phrasing, the jazz influence, the way she bends a line around the beat, all of that is already there even if the songs themselves aren’t quite as strong yet. There’s a looser, more jazz-heavy feel here than on Back to Black, and I liked that in spots, but the album as a whole didn’t grab me the same way. It feels more like hearing somebody figure out exactly what they’re capable of. The saddest part for me actually came from the book. My edition only goes through 2004, so the contributor talks about Amy in the present tense and writes about hoping there’s a lot more to come from her. Knowing how everything turned out made that pretty heartbreaking to read.
I really wonder what her mature voice would’ve been.
Man I thought i would like Amy based on her hits. I don't. Lounge music is only so good, and adding basic RB vibes isn't enough.
I really enjoyed Frank. It’s a great debut and you can immediately hear how unique Amy Winehouse was as an artist. Her voice is incredible, but what stood out to me even more was her songwriting. There’s a lot of honesty and personality in the lyrics, and she has this way of talking about relationships, heartbreak, and her own flaws that feels both funny and painfully genuine. I especially liked songs like “Stronger Than Me,” “You Sent Me Flying,” and “Take the Box.” They have that jazzy, soulful sound that became such an important part of her identity, while still feeling quite different from what she would do later in her career. Frank also feels more raw and playful compared to Back to Black, which I think gives it its own charm. That being said, I still think Back to Black is the better album. Frank sometimes feels like Amy was still figuring out exactly what she wanted her sound to be, whereas Back to Black feels much more confident and cohesive. The songwriting, production, and overall atmosphere on Back to Black are just on another level, and it has some of her most unforgettable songs. Still, Frank is impressive considering it was her debut. You can already hear the talent, personality, and emotional honesty that would eventually make Amy Winehouse so special. It feels like a glimpse of an artist who was only going to get better. Overall, I really liked Frank, but Back to Black remains the clear winner for me. Frank is the beginning of the story, while Back to Black is where everything comes together.
Very strong debut from Amy, whose great vocal range is on display throughout the album. While there are fewer standouts than in her magnum opus, the album is very consistent throughout, offering a very satisfactory listen. 8/10 [KEEP]
Listening to Amy Winehouse as I relapse (back into a WoW habit) is maybe too on the nose. WoW FOREVER, what a threat.
An okay jazz pop record that's not half as good as "Back to Black". Her voice is amazing for her and, yes, but get singing can get annoying on this far too long album. And the lyrics, well... They are clever and funny at times, but also monothematic and depressing.
Well this was the first time to sit and listen to a whole album of hers. And to tell the truth, I had to stop it twice. So, three times to get through one album. That's not good. The last listen was from Amy Amy Amy, and to the end, and was a good set of songs that I really enjoyed. Here's something telling from Amy herself: In a 2004 interview with The Observer, Winehouse expressed dissatisfaction with the album, stating: I've never heard the album from start to finish. I don't have it in my house. She named the album FRANK, from her admiration of Frank Sinatra. Ya think she would have sung a couple of his songs on this.
Strong intro, impressive song. The album kind of dies half way through. Still very enjoyable. 3 stars
very much music I could see playing in a very fancy hotel lobby. Tbh I was kind of suprised that I didn’t like this more, she has a lovely voice but I don’t think this style of jazz is really for me ig. I still think it was pretty good though, just not something I would return to unless I was really drunk and feeling super good about myself, other than that I don’t think I would listen again. Pretty good, but not for me unless a second listen really changes how I feel. 3.000001/5
Great voice and sadly a somewhat tragic life. Not a go to album for me but I appreciate what she is doing. ❤️
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
It's certainly no Back to Black, but you can clearly hear the potential.
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
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.
Ja sorry, ik ben gewoon echt niet zo een fan van jazz.
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.
Beautiful neo-soul but it's no Back to Black. More croon, less funk. I prefer my Winehouse with a side of boogie.
Fine. Not really my thing and way too long but 2 would feel harsh.
Decent.
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.
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.
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.
The production is much more varied compared to Back To Black, though I do prefer the bombast of that album. 3.5/5.
I don’t really like Amy Winehouse. I came looking for a house with wine and found nothing but profound mediocrity.
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!
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!
Special voice, I can't really understand the lyrics and maybe it's for good looking through the reviews
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.
Nipples
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
Highlights: Mr Magic, What Is It About Men 3.2
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.
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.
Anita baker for white people
It was kinda funny
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.
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.
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.
I can’t separate art from artist with this album and listening to it makes me sad on multiple levels.
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👍🏼
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
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.
Not nearly as interesting as her next album but I can't really complain about hearing Amy Winehouse sing. 6/10
Not as good as the second album, but my god that voice.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Never have listened to a full album. I like the more “modern” songs than her more traditional takes.
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
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*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ok
Просто хороштй поп. Хороші вокали. Хороші інструментали. Але не знаю, немає тут чогось особливого. Хз. Оцінка: середня-висока 6
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.
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
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.
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
SIGH.... It was ok. Nothing too crazy. Hope I get something better soon, been serving me mid the last week or so
A good introduction to Amy Winehouse’s music
I much prefer Back to Black.
Put on your fuck me pumps and listen to this
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
Frank was not the album which catapulted Amy Winehouse into the public consciousness. Even after she achieved fame you’d rarely hear songs from the debut on the radio despite stations spinning cuts from Back to Black and her Zutons cover almost non-stop. Frank is definitely the lesser of her two records, mostly because of lack of single power, but it absolutely has its place. It is vibier, more atmospheric and a more cohesive whole than the follow up.
Solid 3 for Frank for me, all sounds good, nice arrangements, great voice, but none of it particularly moves me and its not my style/genre
Good vibes, really struggled with the lack of good hooks. Can see how she got to Back to Black, but she isn't there yet with this one.
When Amy is fully locked in and truly in her jazz element, it's clear why she was such a revered singer. She's absolutely stunning in those moments, weaving her trademark sultry style with tender, saccharine moments. The problem is she's also a pop singer, and the pop songs just don't have the maturity that the standards do. It's clear what a talent she would have been if the industry hadn't hit her with a sledgehammer and she could have been protected from her addictions. As it is the album is messy, uneven, but indicative of real, beautiful talent that was destined to inspire lackluster imitators.
While like most people, I'm more familiar with Amy Winehouse's second album Back to Black rather than this, her debut is very strong. Her voice is incredible, especially for someone who was a teen at the time, and there are some strong neo-soul/jazz tracks on here, there's nothing quite as powerful as the singles from her second album. It's a listening experience I would characterize as "pleasant."
This album was ok, Amy winehouse has a very distinct but good voice and I enjoyed the sort of jazzy atmosphere. The album was a bit long for my liking and there was no real standout songs to me.
I love Amy and honestly am a bit disturbed by the creepy, borderline misogynistic reviews here (and on other parts of this site). So what if the content is about her relationships. Isn't that what, uhhh, MOST OF POP MUSIC IN HISTORY IS ALL ABOUT?? Is moderating reviews simply not cool anymore?? This album shows that she was already greatness in the making, at the age of 19. A crooning voice made in heaven, with eclectic jazzy and trip-hop ideas already at the forefront. Too bad the production is bogged down by "experimentation" that is atmospheric at best and lazy and pointless at worst. In her words: "I've never heard the album from start to finish. I don't have it in my house. Well, the marketing was fucked, the promotion was terrible. Everything was a shambles. It's frustrating, because you work with so many idiots—but they're nice idiots. So you can't be like, "You're an idiot." They know that they're idiots." Hilarious! Can't argue with that! Still gets a 3 for her efforts, too bad it's too spotty. They should have just put Back to Black on the list. Since she's from the UK, I guess both had to be on there. Thanks, Dimery. Post-script: it appears that this has already been taken off the list in new editions. Agreed, sadly.
Amy Winehouse, patron saint of that friend you’ve known forever who you’re constantly worried about. I haven’t listened very deeply to her stuff and I was caught just a little off guard by how mean spirited some of her songs are lol. She is a very talented performer with great accompaniment, though her lyrics leave something to be desired. Her death was a tragedy for many reasons, and one among them is the fact that we’ll never get to see what her work would’ve been like if she had been able to grow and mature through a longer career. Anyway, I don’t think this is representative of her best work but I wouldn’t argue with anyone who feels differently.
This was fine. Amy Winehouse is a blind spot for me and unfortunately I don't have the will to dig into her discography anytime soon.
I enjoy the juxtaposition of Amy’s lighthearted and superficial lyrics with the classic jazzy music.
Some great tunes that forecast what was to come. Some less focused or youthful stuff that doesn’t hold up as well.
solide 3.5+/5
She could really sing.
Better than the last one, which surprised me. But there's still something missing for me with her stuff. Sadly.
I totally understand why this is on this list. Winehouse’s singing voice is really good, but her vocal affectations are annoying. That's why it's only 3/5.
This is not bad but it's definitely lacking something vs. Back to Black.. I guess Mark Ronson's production helped to elevate Winehouse to pop royalty. The songs on this are fine, some of the lyrics haven't aged very well (toxic masculinity?!) but the follow-up is better
First time listening to a full Amy Winehouse record, with my previous experience being the single Rehab. She really does have an amazing voice, and I get the sense of combined lost that was felt at her death.
It was alright. Not really my genre but Amy Winehouse is such a great singer.
Better things to come. Some very weak drum sounds and basic production
I’ve always liked her voice, even though I had never spent much time exploring her music in depth. Listening to Frank, I was struck by how natural and effortless she sounded, and her voice remained the highlight throughout the album. It also brought back memories of seeing her perform at a festival in 2008.
Rally enjoyed the chilled vibe of this. Listened to it after a long day and it helped me feel relaxed
Liked this one immediately. Hard to listen to for obvious tragic reasons. Glad it exists.
I need to be frank, need some wine after this one. I don't even drink.
I didn't get anything out of this album.
Album #168 Amy Winehouse: Frank This doesn’t have the highlights of Back to Black, and truthfully, I really only love the highs of that album; yet, for some reason, I can’t bring myself to call this album worse. Despite being quite a bit longer and with far fewer hits, Frank manages to almost surpass its successor in being a coherent listen. Maybe it is because the album has fewer sappy ballads and more infectious pop-soul. This is definitely Amy at her rawest, and she is quite vulnerable on a lot of the tracks; though the subject matter of some songs does reflect on her youth and Back to Black certainly feels like a more mature album. Overall, though it normally isn’t my thing I have garnered respect for Amy Winehouse’s music through listening to her two albums, and I am quite pleasantly surprised to learn that she was a lot more than just a one hit wonder. Best Songs: Stronger Than Me, October Song, In My Bed Worst Song: Amy Amy Amy Score out of 10: 7
Yeah, her earlier doo-wop Chiffons-type songs. Before she got into hardcore. It’s good, she sounds young and fresh. She found a way to renew an old sound with some modern energy. Amy would have killed in the actual 60s. Anyway I don’t like it as much as “Rehab” Amy, but I’d listen again.
Amy Winehouse has one must listen an album and it is back to black. This one isn’t bad but I wouldn’t say it’s a must listen..
6/10
Love Amy Winehouse’s voice and Back to Black is like Bruce’s Born in the USA, in that it feels like a greatest hits album, it blends old school soul with fresh contemporary lyrics and beats. Oh where was I? Back to Frank, this was excellent, more Jazzy than its follow-up album, and includes a Jazz standard, but surprised this is on here when couldn’t you just have Back to Black.
I didn’t really like the lyrics but musically this was some of her best work.
Definitely has some great tracks, but as a whole it's a lesser album (but way longer) than Back to Black.
Not bad but not quite as good as the other one.
Not as good as the album with the Dap Kings. Still good though.
This was decently good! Not too original or anything, but there's some good soulful pop songs in here. I'll probably return to a couple songs from this album. Favorites: Intro / Stronger Than Me, Fuck Me Pumps, I Heard Love Is Blind, October Song
Vähän ehkä särähti korvaan jotain "aikansa tuotos" lyriikkaa tai muuta cringeä. Hyvältähän se kuulostaa, mutta Jazz "dibudubi babab badoobi" välillä veti irti hyvästä vibasta - ei uppoa itselle. Levy oli päällisin puolin oikein hyvä, vokaalipainoinen minimaalisilla taustoilla (ihan syystäkin), mutta pidemmän päälle kävi kyllästyttämään.
Tunes were nice but did not stick particularly
this was good the lyrics are dated but she has an undeniable voice - high 3
Her first album is smaller than her big hits, but I like the stripped down sound, I can hear her once in a generation voice better.
Uneven first album, but what a voice.
3.5
I grew up with Amy Winehouse but I've realized that I never listened to a complete album. I still find the story of her life and death so tragic. Her style and talent was extraordinary. This album was so chill, I really enjoyed just having it on. I listend to is back to back. It's not without some songs that I still didn't vibe with on that second listen. "What is it about Men" being the biggest stand out.
it's good, as expected from amy winehouse. nothing jumps out as much as back to black or valerie or rehab, but it's still a solid hour of her singing, and that's pretty great
fuck me pumps
i've always admired her but didn't really tune into her music. this record is a bit too sleepy for me but i will continue to NEVER play about amy as a person. the fact that she released this at only 19 is both astonishing and depressing these days i see people trying to crown amy winehouse daughters by saying that every rising pop girl who does even slightly jazzy music is "like amy." but now that ive finally given one of her albums a full listen i understand how ridiculous that is. not even close girl..... fave track: in my bed
It's a debut record and I can't help but compare this one to Fiona Apple's debut. Apple's first record was uneven but had overall better songs. Frank displays all of Amy's influences but lacks focus at the same time.
Yunno, ok to middling, not ground breaking
I’d listen to some of these songs stand alone but I don’t know about the whole album. 6/10
chille vibes album gwn niet supppeeerr uniek ofzo
5 - AVERAGE
Such a talented woman, her music and voice are so unique. Fav song is ‘Fuck Me Pumps’.
147. nice
Amy on todella taidokas laulaja. Tältä ei oikein mikään biisi noussut esiin, aika tasalaatuista tavaraa.
more of the same. but I liked the first one more
Stronger than me was quite a vibe very enjoyable. The rest were kinda easy to overlook but still groovy.
It’s pretty good, nothing crazy tho.
It’s quite ok 3.3
I’ve never really listened to amy winehouse. I obviously knew who she was, but damn she’s got an incredible voice. Not really my type of music, but I can definitely appreciate it.
6/10
enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i would. i can see why this shook the industry. never been an amy head but i get it and - she was sincere and she was great. it's much more trip hop-y than i ever knew.
Amazing vocals. Sounds a lot like Lauryn Hill at times.
Hyvää settiä ja miellyttävää kuunneltavaa ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Most were ok, don’t like some. Liked Amy Amy Amy.
Overall Rating - 3.46/5 (6.92/10) Smooth, jazzy tunes which are definitely in my wheelhouse, though with a very modern sensibility.
Seguro que su trabajo siguiente es mejor. Pero como debut muy bien. Nota: 3.1
It certainly was a choice to open this album with a song complaining about a man being too emotionally open and accuses him of being gay for it. I enjoyed the album and it’s definitely better than others on the list, but there are definitely better albums that aren’t on here. Maybe it was groundbreaking at the time or something, but it’s just fine to me. 3/5
Let's get the obvious out of the way, Amy Winehouse had a killer voice, and really impressive control over it. Although, I am kind of learning that having a great voice is not particularly important to me. I am more of the " All My Favorite Singers Couldn't Sing" school of thought. But regardless, her jazzy throwback pop meets alternative sound is pretty compelling. I don't think this is the sort of thing that I really get though. It's enjoyable, but as someone who appreciates her voice more intellectually than emotionally, I don't think these songs really carry this past "pretty good". Also, I saw a lot of reviews making this album about the men in Winehouse's life more so than about her. And I think a lot of them are being excessively mean, but this album is, admittedly, pretty centered on the men in Winehouse's life. I don't terribly mind it usually, it's honest and her character does show. But there are a couple songs here that are pretty frustrating. The "Dude, why are you so sensitive, are you gay or something" addittude on Stronger Than You has aged *horribly*, and as the first song here, this album kind of starts on a really bad foot. I also find Fuck Me Pumps a little frustrating. It is a song putting down women who go to men for validation, in the middle of an album largely about the men that Amy Winehouse seeks for validation. I will say that she was 19 here, and that kind of re-frames this sort of thing as a lack of maturity. But being thrust into international stardom as a 19 year old doesn't exactly give you a chance to mature in a healthy, emotionally grounded way, and Amy Winehouse did kind of pay the ultimate price for it. In short, I can't really hold it against her, but a few of these songs are non-negotiably frustrating. Although, October Song, about her dead pet bird is the moment here where I find Amy Winehouse a little more personally relatable here.Despite my significant qualms here and there, these songs are at least servicable delivery systems for her incredible vocals, and Frank does end up enjoyable, but it also doesn't fully make me understand Winehouse's legacy.
A pretty good album of neo-jazz/pop and her voice is always in fine form. But I began to tune out as it went on with nothing really standing out or catching my attention. It's more bare-boned and minimalist than "Back to Black" and just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
I thought I was going to like this, but the style of all these songs were so similar that it got boring after a while. And her voice can wear you down at times. Three stars on the low end.
Gotta be honest didn't love this. Maybe only one listen through wasn't enough but it all sounded the same to me. Not bad by any means, just not a favorite.
Great!
I somehow made it all the way through my life without knowing a single Amy Winehouse song There’s some pretty cool ideas in here, that fusion of genres (Jazz/Pop/R&B) works pretty well and is definitely a new sound to me. There’s some good variety and I really do like the transitions between different genres, surprisingly smooth. Great vocalist as well. I don’t vibe with the lyrics much, some of the more self destructive lyrics coupled with her tragic story are just kinda sad when to me they were intended to be more humorous. I don’t feel too bad hating on this considering Winehouse herself really didn’t like this album much lol. I also think there’s just something missing, some tracks sound fine and other tracks feel like there’s a layer that’s not there and makes them feel kinda flat I’m not too surprised this is one that got removed from future editions of the book considering none of the tracks from this album are the ones she’s really known for, but considering how much influence she had on female vocalists going forward I can’t blame it too much for being on here
Good music
I like her vocals, they’re very nice and strong. This type of music is not for me, I couldn’t really enjoy the album fully. I also really just wanted the album to be over so I’m mixed on this album.
This is one of those albums that would only be on the list in 2005. My guess is that in 2005, someone working on this book (probably from the UK) was looking for a more modern jazz-adjacent artist to put on this list. There, that person found this album, which saw modest success, and put it on the list. Of course, Amy Winehouse would become a much more iconic artist as a result of the success of her 2006 album Back to Black. Because of that, this album was apparently removed from the list and replaced with Back to Black, a decision that I totally understand. I kind of went into this album totally blind. As for how I feel about it? It's good. It's not my favorite, but it's still good. Amy Winehouse's singing is phenomenal. There's no going around it. It's easily the best part of this album. The sound is also quite pleasant. The writing is certainly interesting. I feel that it's maybe a bit lyrically repetitive, but it's more of a style choice than lack of creativity. The writing is quite personal and honest though, and I like that. Overall, this is a solid album with no glaring issues, and compared to the success of Back in Black, it almost feels like a hidden gem.
She didn’t just sing the words in italics, she laid them flat on their side and made sweet love to them while Sarah Vaughan played in the background.
Amazing voice and songwriting. She died before she could have been so much more. Here and gone too soon. Too many demons.
Amy Whinehouse. J'en ai tellement entendu parler sans jamais l'écouter. C'est maintenant chose faite. Un album à écouter en soupant au chandelle. Une musique que je considère ''lounge''. Elle avais vraiment du talent. Une artiste que j'aimerais définitivement découvrir plus
This was a pretty good debut effort. You can hear that bluesy potential in her voice. We lost a potential superstar way before her time.
Objectively a great album from a talented singer but one I owned back in the day and always struggled to warm to.
What a terrible loss Amy Winehouse was. To me, this record was all about Amy's potential. She dabbles in about 12 different genres, most often in this "Sarah Vaughan meets rap soul" thing that works better on her successor album. That album, too, really hits the big choruses often where this one is not as melodic.
good… but I can tell she hasn’t fully peaked yet
As with her other album, I recognize her talent, but this is just not my cup of tea.
The sound of this album is great. Instrumentation and vocals are on point. The subject matter though, especially the first song, remind me of the social toxicity of the 2000s.
No está mal. Me gustó el estilo y la voz, para algo que no había escuchado antes me pareció bien
I love Amy! I think back to black is a much better album, but this one is good.