Reviews (page 9 of 13)
I don’t understand the overwhelming hype for Amy Winehouse. I feel like her death at 27 overshadows much of this. She’s undeniably talented, and her songs are vibrant and creative, but her style falls flat at times for me considering she resides along other more awe inspiring musicians in the 27 club. I think it’s her vocal style that irks me. She seems to have a tinge of Mary J. Blige in there, but I like Mary J’s voice in its hip hop/R&B setting. Amy’s voice doesn’t seem to sound natural to her, but more like an intentional sarcastic sneer, which has only inspired an army of far less talented female singers to do similar things in the 22 years since this came out. These songs are definitely loaded with good to great sonic flourishes and the groove songs are phenomenal, but her voice doesn’t always measure up to that. This is a 3.5… not quite average of a three, and not quite a 4. It may grow on me over time. Highlights here are ”Stronger Than Me”, “Know You Now”, “Moody’s Mood For Love”, “In My Bed”, “Amy Amy Amy”, and “Brother”
This feels like pretty revolutionary sound for that era. Amy was doing something different and creating her own style. Some of this does feel a tad over dramatic for my taste, but she's in her feels, and that's all good by me. While there weren't any songs I really grabbed onto and loved, this had good energy, good vocals and good musical compositions. Fave song was Amy, Amy, Amy. She's a vibe.
An undeniable talent and a great breakthrough for jazz into pop. But it’s so lyric heavy that the melodies soon start to sound similar. I think I’ll enjoy Back to Black more whenever I get to it.
Not bad. I like the style of her voice and the songtexts. The best songs for me were "What is it about men" and "Help yourself". Maybe it is not exactly my type of music, but somehow, it is refreshing.
Soul, 2003 -> 3
3.5
Good but back to black is still better
I love it because it’s Amy, but it pales in comparison to Back to Black. Not nearly as dynamic. Favorites are in my bed and Amy Amy Amy.
I'm a little disappointed. I went in expecting to absolutely love this, but the album was just kind of annoying for about 50% of it. Not sure making it an hour was the right choice, because if you kept just the best tracks this is an easy 5. Her next album vastly improves on this though, and this album was half great so I'l give it a 3
Good voice. Not really my style
Just not mine but I can smell the good quality
First thing to say is that she was undeniably a generational talent. Having said that, while a couple of tracks managed to hit me in my jazz bone, in general it wasn’t to my tastes.
Glimmers of Back to Black, but that’s all
A generous review for the sake of the vocal and production for the time.
I listened to this many years ago, after first hearing Black to Black. I feel the same way now - it's a bummer that I listened to her albums in that order. If I hadn't heard the masterpiece that is Black to Black already, I think this album would have been intriguing and fun. A new artist with lots of potential. Knowing what she is capable of later makes this one feel unfocused and in need of a better producer. Lots of promise, but not an all-time album.
Great album! RIP
Raw and jazzy, a singer finding her voice and building up the sound she'd fully realize on Back to Black. This is less poppy and more rooted in neo-soul and jazz, with lots of blue notes, extended chords in complicated voicings, and more stripped down arrangements focusing on clean guitars and keys with deep electric bass and more sparing use of horns. Moody's Mood has some cool dub production. All of that puts her voice really front and center, highlighting her gritty timbre and remarkable control.
Fine I guess. It's not really for me, but there's an undeniable talent here?
I've been trying to think of how to describe this album. The best I can come up with is interesting but lacking. Combining vintage and modern sounds is interesting, but others have done it better than this. Songs about hooking up with the wrong guy are interesting, but not the whole damn album. Her voice is interesting, but lacking depth. You get the idea.
Solid album. Great voice. She had such a niche presence in the music world at the time.
She's a good singer and I enjoyed it but not really my style. 7/10
3/5
3/5
I think she is a fantastic singer. But still not my cup of tea. In this area maybe I prefer Katie Melua
One of the most phenomenally talented singers this century and of course it went horribly wrong. This is not her best album and shouldn't be here but still good to listen to.
decent album
1. Intro / Stronger Than Me – Oikein kiva aloitus, Svengaava ja kuulostaahan Amy aika mageelta. 2. You Sent Me Flying / Cherry – Hell yeah, Kyllähän se vaan toimii. Jammailu on taattu. Toinen osa oli vähän heikompi. 3. Know You Now – Ihan ok. Jotenkin vähän liikaa itseään toistavan kuulonen. 4. Fuck Me Pumps – Meh. Vähän tylsä. 5. I Heard Love Is Blind – Jotenki huvittavat sanat. Niin ihan hauskis kuuntelu. 6. Moody's Mood for Love / Teo Licks – Ihan jees. Teo Licks oli aika hauskis. 7. (There Is) No Greater Love – Sweet sweet eli jooh 8. In My Bed – Ihan jees sveng. 9. Take the Box – Ihan ok, hidas kibal. Joo. 10. October Song – Kivasti menevä kappale. 11. What Is It About Men – Tää oli hyvä. Tykkään täst soundista ja sanoist. 12. Help Yourself – Kivan kepeä ja ilmava kappale. Jotenki tosi kiva kuuntelu. Leijaileva. 13. Amy Amy Amy / Outro - Amy oli aika Amy. Ihank tyksin. Outro oli indeed outro lol. 14. Brother - Ihan jees. Kepeähkö. 15. Mr magic - Ihan fine. Ei ihan säväyttäny mut ei se mitään.
11/25/24. Good listen and a classic at this point by Amy. Well thought out songwriting and lovely vocals.
Sounds very much like a debut album, all the pieces are there but not quite put together properly.
I finally figured it out. See, I actually really do like both Amy Winehouse's style and voice .I like her deeply personal and honest lyrics, and love the jazzy, exceptional quality of her voice. BUT... I don't like Amy Winehouse all that much. But why? I think I can't disconnect between her absolute train-wreck of a real life and her music. See, when she "puts it out there" and literally tells us she is going to be picky, judgemental, and hard on everyone, and even, allow her own addictions and faults to exist (NOT) acknowledge them as problems per se, but as just facts, I can't any longer separate how she drank herself to death, with how it destroyed my ability to take any of her deep and meaningful lyrics to heart precisely because she couldn't herself! Maybe I am just angry. Life, despite hope, optimism, even outright "wins" IS rather hard a lot of the time. For ALL of us. I suppose I am disappointed that she, at 27. drank herself to death on a bender... She never realized she was part of all of us and her lyrics and skills could have made a difference. Every time I hear one of her songs there is that "yeah, but she drank herself to death" attached to it so it sort of sucks for me.
Wenn man sich drauf einlässt so gut. Man muss sich eben nur drauf einlassen, das geht nicht immer.
прикольно, но песен новых не добавила. слушала пока играла в игру, на фоне
I enjoyed the second album of hers, so was interested to listen to this. It was enjoyable to listen to, but nothing ouststanding. Would I listen again, probably not
This was a very mid album. All the songs sounded the same.
I hadn't listened to any of Amy Winehouses debut before and enjoyed the slow jazzy soul influenced songs. Standouts: In My Bed, Know You Now and You Sent Me Flying/Cherry.
Great vocals, Great vibe on this album. Not my favorite type of music. Great background music for me.
This was way better then I thought it would be. The vibe is good and her is still something. The lyrics were not as great though…
A generational voice, gone too soon.
This one was interesting because I've never listened to Winehouse before and have maybe only ever heard one or two of her songs. She's definitely got a sense of soul and jazziness to her singing approach. She would have done justice to an album of traditional standards. This album was a different animal with many signals of the dark path that lie ahead of her. I don't know that I would seek this out but it was an enjoyable listen and I wouldn't object to hearing it again.
Fav song: In My Bed SUPER classy production on the entire record - really reminds me of east coast hip hop on a lot of the tunes with the sampled drums and the instrumentation having that resampled quality to it, reaching from a lot of the same influences like Bossa and Jazz. Some of the instrumentals give me that Nujabes feel. Amy Winehouse is FAR from my favourite singer (I often imagine she's one of the biggest contributing factors to the 'singer's accent/baby voice' that modern pop singers do now) but man she absolutely KILLS it, she has this versatility that really shines through on this album.
Better then back to black
Gorgeous singing, an effect ruined by such mean-spirited songs
Stronger Than Man speaks to me a bit too personally. No Greater Love is nice - might be a best contender - only halfway through the album though. In My Bed is pretty groovy - another best contender. Oh my gosh- Take the Box - something about that. ANOTHER contender!
Docking multiple stars due to being the template for Meaghan Trainor. It's pronounced "curb" not "coyarb"
3.5
(6.6) ★★★
Not my favourite music genre, it is done well, but not my thing, and her voice grates on me after a while. 3 stars
I like when she mixes in more modern production elements, but when she doesn't, it kind of sounds like it's trying too hard to be this retro throwback thing. Some of her vocal mannerisms are a bit over the top too. 3 stars
i love her voice and her lyrics are so funny but i admit that i find the lounge lizard style / bossa nova tempo pretty tedious after a while when i listen to it all as one album. i wish all of the songs sounded more like “amy amy amy”… idk i wanted to like it more but i think i prefer to hear the songs individually. i’m sorry women!!!! fav tracks: amy amy amy; what is it about men; in my bed
While I like this album, it isn't my favorite Amy Winehouse album. That said, I appreciate the 50s crooner sound with a modern feel and Amy's signature overt trashysexy lyrics. 3.75 I miss her presence in the world.
Not as good as back to black
It was good, i think doing this has allowed me to better understand my music preferences. I just want something that sounds like frank ocean or sza 😔
A good first album. Really like the jazz vibe, but wore on me a bit.
I loved "Back to Black" when it came out and still listen to several songs from it. I never really got into "Frank" and haven't listened to any of these songs in years. It was nice to revisit this debut. The overall sound is good, certainly unique from a young pop singer in 2003 and a preview of Amy's potential, but it mostly just made me want to listen to her later music.
Top
Was okay
Mice
Tonally gorgeous, great production, but the songs are just a bit shit.
It’s fine. It’s not her later or live stuff, which is phenomenal. I think it’s higher than 3 stars, but 4 feels like too much.
Ehh it's fine. Feels a little forced at times.
Due to the classic status of her second album, this debut feels underwhelming. Great voice, great effort, but the 00s jazzy voice doesn’t make for great tunes in my opinion. A couple of great songs but not a classic album
Jazzy. Pop. Beautiful voice.
I liked this! Think I prefer Back to Black but this was good. 3.5/5
Not usually my style of music but it was a decent album and her artistry was impressive to write and record this at only 19/20 years old
Feels like I’m in a slutty coffee house filled with people who have too many piercings.
Pretty good, but uneven. I still have a hard time fully appreciating jazz, and much of this felt jazzy to me. 3.2
Okay, so I got another Amy Winehouse album a while ago and it was beautiful. This one is a bit more mid-tier. Nothing too exciting, it's okay to play in the background though. It is one of the few post-2000 albums that we get on here but it is a little bit not too exciting.
Přišlo mi že písničky se opakují. Nic nevyniká, nic není neposlouchatelné. 6/10
Real throwback record. Feels like something from the 60s.
Quality Jazz album. Crazy to believe Amy had such a powerful voice at such a young age.
Solid. Not my favorite I've heard by her but a good listen.
Hmm. I liked the general “jazziness” of this album, but apart from that, it didn’t resonate with me and I was a bit disappointed by it. 2.5 rounded up
as amy’s debut, i admire this album. her vocals, even at this stage in her career, are very established, and in my opinion, her voice works perfectly with the style. i don’t believe this record is as strong as back to black - and i think the majority of people would agree with me there. some of the songs on this album seemed a bit out of place, whereas back to black flows better.
Aika leppoisaa soundia. Tällä levyllä ei ollut yhtään kappaletta mitä mä tiedän. Itestä tuo Amyn ääni ei ole niin hyvä. Parhaat: You Sent Me Flying / Cherry, Help Yourself
Wasn’t sure what to expect but it was a decent album. Will probably listen to it again.
The leap in quality from this to Back to Black is breathtaking This is fine A low 3
Amy's unique voice, getting ready for the amazing Back to Black album.
Amy has an incredible voice, I loved the story telling in the songs. Some of it was too slow for me so wouldn't reach for it again but I am glad I heard it.
i didn’t enjoy as much as i thought i would
It’s fine. The albums just kind of blends into one long good jazzy time, but no stand outs.
Never really got the fascination with Amy, but Fuck Me Pumps is a bop.
This is a good r&B album but nowhere near the highs of back to black
Not sure what or how to rate this.... It's her debut. From today's ears, 21 years after its release, it's less impactive to me now than I'm sure it was to others back then. These vocals are raw, jazzy, vulnerable, hint at the weaknesses that will eventually and tragically consume her.... Even though I didn't find this album enjoyable from a personal point of view, and was surprised at the acoustic-ness of thos album compared to her later works, it strikes me as important and as potentially impactive as Billie Holiday's songs were back when she emerged on the scene.... Having just discovered Raye's music, but then realizing how far she's grown since her first (and only to date) album release (and knowing that I would have likely panned that first album had I heard it)...I can acknowledge the value and necessity of this album for Amy Winehouse's career..
I had never listened to this album even though it was just released when I moved back to the uk. When back in black was released, I fell in love with her voice (as everyone else did) and loved the Motown infused songs combined with her London grit. This album isn’t as gritty and at some points feels almost like a Sarah Vaughan album. But the seeds are there that would germinate into what she would later become, which ultimately led to her downfall. If she had stayed at this level, who knows where she’d be. Loved the song ‘in my bed’ and that they sampled Apache. The bass drum sounds deep and almost like massive attack. A good album but whenever I feel like listening to Amy, I’ll always choose back in black.
An intense voice like Cindy Lauper. I can only listen to them for some time before it gets too much
Her voice had really something special to it... quite pleasant in the background but I wouldn't seek it
3.5 really
very soul, is everything just blues?
Nothing about it was particularly bad, but outside of one or two songs it topped out at okay. The singing and the compositions were all fine, maybe could've been a little shorter.
Wonderful! It's interesting to hear her voice when she was so young.
Interesting instrumentals and powerful vocals. I like the laid back vibes of the instruments for most of the album. I did prefer Back To Black, but this album is still quite good, especially for a debut. Enjoyable to listen through. I wouldn’t listen to everything again though. Highlights: Know Me Now F Me Pumps Amy Amy Amy
There were some good songs here, good first album, but I think her next one was better
imma be frank this sucks
First time listening to this artist. Very nice voice and acoustics
You see, this is one of those albums that would only be on the list in 2005. My guess as to why this album was chosen initially 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, one 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've seen a lot of praise for that album, but not as much for Frank. 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 I view that as more of the sign of a concept rather than laziness. The writing is quite personal and honest though, and I like that. This album is pretty long though. Overall, this is a solid album that makes me excited to get to Back to Black eventually. High 3/5.
Im not sure what this adds when we already have back to black on this list. It's good tho. Dislike the lyrics tho, especially in the first song like some other reviewer pointed out.
It's cool that she names all her albums after The Pixies frontman, but their influence seems to be missing... Fly in paradise little birdy, fly... fly...
Definitely enjoyable to listen to, but not really my style.
Fine for a while. Her vocal talent is undeniable but the production wears a little thin. Nothing terribly memorable.
i loved a lot of the songs but the latter half of the album lacked substance in my opinion. i thought it was really cute though!
2.5 - tough to rate. I didn't like it after one song. Her voice grates on my nerves, but I see how people love her.
Winehouse had a fantastic voice, and she really knows exactly how to use it on this album. She's always a lot, and never too much. The instrumentation is groovy and leaves a lot of space for her performances. The tactful pacing also makes the listening experience quite enjoyable. My favorites were the more laid back "Cherry" and "Help Yourself". I also appreciated the humor in songs like "Fuck Me Pumps". No big duds or criticisms, really. But there's similarly not much that elevates the album beyond "enjoyable".
I like Amy Winehouse. But this feels like the unrefined act that would become the perfect Back to Black album. Some good songs. But there’s something missing that I can’t quite put my finger on. 3/5
The OG cursive singer
Great voice, album was just okay though.
Thought I would like it more than I did. Not a big fan of her voice.
Haven't heard before. Good album, and an impressive debut. "I can't help but demonstrate my Freudian fate"
Low three, not a bad album but it pales in comparison to back to black
I had never heard this album before but had heard the follow up Back to Black like the rest of the world. This one is a lot more jazzy and you can tell right away the talent that she had just waiting to burst through.
If you come looking for Back To Black style stuff, you'll be disappointed. There are hints of the future, but its all oversexed, after party vibes
A little inconsistent. “Mr. Magic” is the best track 🔥🔥🔥. Her voice is spectacular.
Nice listen. Didn't know any of the songs, a different style of her.
Not as good as Back to Black but still good
La voce e il sound sono davvero pazzeschi, ma purtroppo sento di non essere entrata in connessione con la musica. E mi dispiace, perché so che Amy Winehouse è un’artista incredibile. Sarebbe un 3.5/5.
This is interesting to listen to, knowing the material that broke though. I worked in a Camelot Music jazz section for a few years and I'd hear a lot the stuff that came out from 1993 - 1996. And there were certain albums that had just enough talent to scrape together an album. Nothing embarrassing about it but also not something that left a mark. This feels like those. A little better than those. I Heard Love Is Blind kicks off a pretty good run of songs, for sure. A little torn on this one.
Made me feel like I was walking down rows of shops in England... Nice feel to it, but her voice honestly took me out of it sometimes. It sounded a bit shaky and unable to find the right note. Lots of the songs weren't that impressive, either. I will say this, though. 'Fuck Me Pumps' was hilarious.
its got a style to it that i like, though it feels like that takes the place of substance
Oh, I’m a bit disappointed with this. I always assumed I was an Amy Winehouse fan but this album is doing very little for me. I thought I’d recognise at least a couple of the singles but no. I don’t really like her crackley vocals and the production is OK. I expected more.
Enjoyable jazzy album tinged in tragedy.
Talented for sure, not really my kind of music
I liked it overall
Decent album, very jazzy not usually my style but some good tracks. 7/10
Helt ait
realy nice
Not a fan of her voice on this one. She also improves in the songwriting department on her next one, excited for when I get to it. What I will give her is that this oozes with personality and attitude, it gets infectious. So infectious that I started to really vibe with the back half.
Not great, not terrible. No songs grabbed me, but the overall sound is pleasant enough
I like the rough cd 2 more
Hadn’t actually listened to her debut before. Cool to see where it all started, though I didnt like it quite as much as her other stuff. Enjoyed the clear jazz influences though.
A last goodbye
Qué bien cantaba, pobrecica .... El álbum, correcto, pero no me ha entusiasmado.
Mixed bag. Enjoyed FMP, In my Bed, Amy Amy Amy
I can haz soul jazz about bad relationships.
Listened to all of it but was pretty distracted throughout the listen- good stuff, but not my favorite!
Shelby and I just listened to Back to Black a day or two before this, so I was really excited for this! I love Amy's vocals, obviously, but this album fell flat in comparison. I like the more stripped down, raw atmosphere of Back to Black. I am also biased towards albums that feel like a cohesive piece, which at moments this album does but largely just feels like a series of songs. I enjoyed Frank well enough, but I kept thinking "Do I really need to have heard this before I die?" Without the context of Back to Black, I don't think so. Still, a fine album from a talented singer. Stand outs: In My Bed, Take The Box
Comparing this album with "Back to Black" sounds a bit unfair, but I can't see how much evolution is palpable when listening to this one after listening to "Back to Black" some months ago. It's still easy to see Amy's powerful voice and qualities along this release, but the production is so over that sometimes it masks her quality behind a wall of synthetic sounds. It's a great album, but it looks like what it is: a debut from a potential star (later confirmed).
There’s good stuff here, and Amy Winehouse had a great and unique voice. But there’s also signs of struggling to figure out what works for her. A big voice needs big songs.
Music is typical, she’s got a great voice tho
Frank by Amy Winehouse is a bit of a mixed bag. The music itself is fantastic, with some truly superb songs that showcase Winehouse's songwriting talent. Tracks like F**k Me Pumps and Help Yourself are standouts, featuring catchy melodies and soulful grooves. However, I can't ignore the fact that Winehouse's voice can be quite grating at times. Her raspy tone and occasional vocal inconsistencies are a bit of a distraction. Despite this, there's no denying her raw talent and honest songwriting. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 0 STAND OUT TRACK - None
A good listen, already familiar with Amy from back to black. First time listening to this. Her vocals carry this and it would need several listens to fully appreciate.
Not quite back to black but ok
- A good vibe but not terribly my thing - Know You Now has a great beat - Obviously her voice is fantastic
- her voice is so great - not a strong as Back to Black
Was alright
she wears it well
Not as good as the previous entry. Amy's voice kinda did me in on this one and I found it less appealing but I think thats mostly due to production choices. Aside from that she still showcases her talent, just wish it were a better album
Not nearly as good as her other album on here but still pretty enjoyable. Lounge music over hip hop beats must have been pretty groundbreaking back in the day!
3/5
That Rehab song was my only reference going into this. More to AW for sure. Dig the beats. Estelle vibes.
It was pretty good, I didn’t love it, but it was good.
Debut offer from everyone’s favourite dead smackhead. Crisp, tight sound with lyrics made of syrup and razor blades. Disliking this record is probably a criminal offence these days since Amy’s elevation to National Treasure.
I’m not one for crooner type stuff, male or female lead. And most of this seemed pretty traditional and nothing very inspiring. I’ll bump it up a mark though for Fuck me pumps which was very funny/bitchy.
I like Amy, but not necessarily her music.
Musical arrangements are good. I like the bossa nova guitar parts. Vocals are good. Lyrics are honest but annoyingly immature. The jazz composition does a lot of heavy lifting and it's a better album if you don't pay attention to what she's saying and just vibe out to the music.
Meh…dated
"Frank" is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Jazz, R&B, soul, hip hop and bossa nova are the listed genres. I heard all that throughout the album. The album title was named after one of Winehouses' influences, Frank Sinatra, and alludes to the nature and tone of the lyrics. There were a host of producers including Commissioner Gordon, Jimmy Hogarth, Salaam Remi, Matt Rowe and Amy herself. Commercially, it hit #3 in the UK and #33 in the US. It had generally positive reviews and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. The album opens with Amy scatting which goes into "Stronger than Me." There's a slow hip hop beat and jazzy with the guitar and horns. She's frustrated with her partner who's not in control. Hand claps start "Fuck Me Pumps." This is sliding into R&B territory with a piano and organ. Amy is poking fun at women who go to clubs looking for guys. "In My Bed" really brings the kitchen sink. What sounds like congas, a guitar and a flute. Layered vocals. This song crosses into hip hop, jazz and bossa nova and is my favorite on the album. "Take the Box" is slower. There's a piano and female back-up singers. A R&B and soulful vibe. The album closes with a string of songs. "Amy Amy Amy" has an interesting beat and is sultry. She can't resist the evils of a man? Record company? Both? "Mr. Music" brings the jazz and dance beat. Interesting combo. The first thing you notice is the uniqueness of Amy's voice. The album slides into many different genres - jazz, R&B, hip hop and soul. I don't think I'd call it fusion but, regardless, Amy's easily sings in all those styles. I don't know if I completely understand the songs which change into another song midway through. This is a decent album; she would obviously take it up a notch with her next and last album but this is worth a listen.
Legendary voice, but nothing compared to Back In Black
I remember back in the early 2000’s when (seemingly) everyone was raving about Amy Winehouse, what a great singer she was, how dramatically good her music was…. I didn’t hear anything that really rocked me at the time, and most of what I saw seemed to revel in her addictions and self destructive behavior. She seemed intent on destroying herself, and succeeded after releasing only 2 albums in 8 years. What a waste. So, what about the music? “Frank” is ok, gets credit for being different, for not following in the Beyoncé/Christine Aguilera/Missy Elliott/Jennifer Lopez mold of the day. But this jazz/crooner influence makes me long for the real thing…. I’ll take the real Frank (Sinatra) any day. There’s not any really memorable songs, though it’s all benign. Winehouse’s vocal stylings are nicely different, but the baby-girl overtures don’t really work for me. I think she was certainly a competent singer, but not outstanding. I suspect her popularity may have been based on her ability to stand out, though it seemed to be centered on the Heroin Chic look of the 90’s. Anyway, it’s fine. Points for breaking from the crowd. Most of what I read says that her next album is the brilliant one, which makes me wonder why this one made the list. Anyway, 3/5
This album did the opposite of what I was expecting, by starting off really quite badly, and seriously picking up steam towards the end. It’s not hard to see why Amy Winehouse is so revered, although admittedly not usually for this album. She certainly has a great voice, I’m just not sure I like it as much as everyone else seems to. It’s used to great effect in the latter half, where In My Bed and Help Yourself rescue this album from an ‘unfavourable’ rating. The epilogue isn’t half bad either. In fact if this album skipped the first seven tracks and started at In My Bed, it’d be good. Still not something I’d choose to listen to, but good nonetheless.
Amy is such a force! Amazing voice and style.
Great album.
Loved her melodies, but didn’t connect with the words
Pretty good, not bad.
Strange
Unique voice but every song sounds the same after a while.
2.5
A neo-soul record with amazing vocals. Winehouse is always smooth, jazzy and just slightly sleazy. It sounds classic while remaining modern. There's a nearly unanimous feeling that 'Frank' is the lesser album compared to 'Back to Black', but it's nice to hear this out as the showcase of young potential, as opposed to the tragic later days of a tortured soul. Amy Winehouse was definitely a talent and cut through much of the mass produced music of her era.
If Mona Lisa Saperstein wrote music for Nora Jones
Highlights: Fuck Me Pumps, I Heard Love Is Blind, No Greater Love, Take The Box, Help Yourself, Amy Amy Amy. In a nutshell: the cis-female Millennial's companion to love, loss and desperation. Ethereal high notes (the end of Take The Box, wow!). Smart and crushing lyrics about shitty relationships ("But you made me cry, where's my kiss goodbye? I think I love you"). A vocal style that flirts with ska, soul, hip-hop and R&B. The reuse of tweeting birds got old quick, as did the split songs (Intro, Cherry). It's not perfect. It doesn't need to be. It's as rough, tough and vulnerable as Amy was. Overall: 6/10
I don’t like Amy Winehouse, but I didn’t hate this as much as the singles I knew going in, so it gets a 3.
I give it 3/5 but it feels like some of the lyrics are outdated and... sad, in retrospective.
Some great songs, and a great talent, but none of the hits of Back to Black.
Почему старушка открестилась от этого альбома мне вполне понятно - сыроватые аранжировки, пресноватые местами, не отполированный звучок. А я так скажу - несмотря на минусы, все вполне антуражно - на крепкую троечку, учитывая че там дальше у неë будет
3.5/5 - amazing vocals and good instrumentals and lyrics, some songs fall flat
She has a good voice, but doesn't show a whole lot of range on this. It gets a bit repetitive.
Really nice
Sounded great. Not as produced as Back To Black but sometimes that's OK. The lyrics, the themes though .... difficult. I don't think I'll be returning to this one.
I’m not really into the slow, smooth style of most of the songs on this album, but there were a couple that I was able to get into (“In My Bed”, “Amy Amy Amy”). I really still don’t get all the Amy Winehouse hype though.
"feel like a lady and you my ladyboy" there's something queer about that, amy. 3.5
It's a good album but I'm not sure I would listen to a lot of it again
It's alright, I'd have to be in the mood for it
💖 amy amy amy 🗣️ 6️⃣
Nice beat, great voice. A pleasure to listen although there are no hit singles on it.
Solid debut.
Smooth, sexy, enticing even when not the most identifiable wine house songs
Starts strong but fades in the second half
I can appreciate the talent, even if the album isn't quite my vibe
Not bad, ninice to chillax to
Very similar songs, easy listening, smooth but not a huge fan of her
Intro / Stronger Than Me 3 You Sent Me Flying / Cherry 3 Know You Now 3 Fuck Me Pumps 2.9 I Heard Love is Blind 3.3 Moody's Mood for Love / Teo Licks 2.8 (There Is) No Greater Love 2.5 In My Bed 3 Take the Box 3.1 October Song 3 What is it About Men 3.4 Help Yourself 3 Amy Amy Amy / Outro / Brother (Hidden track) / Mr. Magic (Through the Smoke) 3.1 Score: 3.007692308
It’s obvious she has an incredible voice and at such an age it’s shocking. I’m not familiar with any of songs so it was nice not having a sort of bias while listening to her, but there’s no denying she has much talent. It’s not my favourite and a lot of the vocals is the only focus but I would listen again.
One of the massive dividing lines I discovered upon becoming a parent was how utterly and completely you don't know what tf is happening in many parts of the outside world. It's one ginormous blind spot for about a decade. Prime example: not only did I completely miss Amy Winehouse, I'm not convinced I had even ever heard her before she passed away. OK this is the spot where I'm going to gush over how my late discovery of her changed everything blahblahblah.... I can't remember if I feel this way about her singing on the next album Back to Black (and I know that's coming here soon so I'll get there) and she had a great talent but man, sometimes her vocals grate on me. It's in the ending of some of her phrasings - the multi-syllable-izing (?) of the end of words. It's an annoying habit that *thankfully* she doesn't do on every song but it's enough to be off-putting. Maybe that was a youth-thing. Maybe I can blame the producer (which a quick check shows 4 of them. ...another generic critique: too many cooks in modern music) The music is generally refreshing; different and obviously-intentional to throwback to lounge/jazz music but with a very modern flair and mix (even if those crackles on "Know You Now" and "No Greater Love" are obviously added after-the-fact.... eh it's still neat). It gets a little stale by the end of the record for me. TL;DR: I retroactively apologize to all my older relatives when I mocked them in the 80s for not hearing of X, Y, Z. I get it. As for the album, it's *ok* - i like the sound, the music... in small doses. And those songs where Amy isn't sounding so affected. 5/10 3 stars.
this is so much better than Back To Black. This makes me want to re-rate Back to Black at a much lower score. I would give this album a 3, and B2B as a 2. It feels way less produced, and way more on point. Better flow, music better suited to the host. Just better in every manner, even if B2B has Tears Dry, which is a much better 'single' that anything on this record.
Frank is a good album but feels more like a taste of what's to come than the kind of classic I'd expect on this list. There isn't really anything that stands out to me like her later work.
She’s slick with it
Amy Winehouse's second album, Back to Black, cemented her as a powerhouse. This album is more like her training wheels. It's perfectly fine for what it is, but goes on far too long and has some dated lyrics. There are certainly glimmers of the star here, but for the most part, this is a kid finding her footing.
gay bad implications Lyrics strange at times She is direct sure Maybe black music influence Album flow weird Has good stuff w/ more energy
Ok
Enjoyable listen but not something standout I plan to listen to again soon
Jazzy and soulful, with incredibly trashy lyrics. I completely didn't know what to think.
Cool. Typical Winehouse vibe.
Beats are great, Amy is so so
I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my jam.
When everyone and their dog liked Amy Winehouse back then, so did I. Or, well enough. Listening to this album today, here's a little thought I can't shake now: "Frank" is the rowdy, dark twin of Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me" that I had earlier this month. It's about 19 times more interesting, but still firmly in the same safe and trifling genre of 'Rehashing X for People Who Don't Like X'. It's... good at what it is, and my mouse hovered over "Add to Playlist" on two, three songs but ultimately, I would probably end up skipping them.
Her voice and the music is so magical, but the lyrics are very hit and miss. Sometimes the lyrics go too edgy and grimey that it really takes away from the song overall. Great debut album, but shows as a debut, she really built on this later in her career.
The emotions expressed in this album were intricate and layered. Humans are complex beings.
Great to hear this debut which I’d not heard before.
Of course her story precedes her, but I’ve never really listened to Amy Winehouse before this list. After listening, I can see why she’s held in high regard. I’m not the target audience, but I can certainly appreciate that she had some serious talent. Not an album I’ll come back to, but glad I heard it.
Most definitely not something I’d usually listen to, but it’s the first day of this project so we’ll see how it goes. But yeah… I’ve heard worse? Not sure I’m gonna be much of a soul fan. The end of most of the songs seemed a bit nicer-sounding. Potentially just paying less attention by the end though? I Heard Love is Blind and (There is) No Greater Love seemed nicest of the bunch (so far) in terms of sound. For some reason it only seems to sound good when I stop paying attention to it. Not exactly meant in a bad way, just an interesting observation. Progressively getting more into it! Turns out to be rather a chill album. I rarely pay attention to lyrics so this is not much of a deal, but I’m not sure if I’m a fan of the nature of the lyrics, particularly in Amy Amy Amy. Generally a very nice introduction to the 1001 albums project! I think I warmed up to Amy Winehouse a little in the end after all.
I don't think she should have been allowed to do the new York accent on all these songs
Standout track: In My Bed Boring at times.
Good vocals by Amy.
A great album but not one I’d want to listen to again
Prefer her hits to this one
Wasn't super into it
A good introduction to Amy but not as epic and influential as Back To Black
Really great sound and blend of old and new aesthetic. Also her voice is obviously a huge draw. I don't think I'm about the a lot of the lyrics though, and I think I was waiting for more of something. Still a good experience to listen to it.
God this woman's voice - don't find Frank to be have the showstoppers that her later albums do, but fun to listen to how she develops as a singer and artist.
I understand why people like her now, a very interesting voice. It's jazz, which isn't my thing, unfortunately for this album. My dad would probably like it. It was OK. Likely won't pick it up.
I still like the Jazzy/pop sound, but her cadence on a few songs put me off a little. Still some good ones though.
I like her voice and all, but these songs and style don’t carry an album as long as this one. The songs all blur together. Meh.
Not nearly as good as Back To Black, though there are a few good songs on here. Way longer than that one, too
Didn't dislike it as much as I thought it would.
•Not owned: Streaming •I tried. I could not get into this album. I have nothing positive or negative to say about it. •3/5
Maybe goes on a bit too long, especially since a lot of the songs sound similar, but still sad she was gone too soon.
Not a fan of her voice. The music was not that exciting either.
Jazzy and I like her voice, but a bit too long in my opinion. It felt a bit monotonous by the end
6/10 Liked this well enough but it really felt like a debut. Excellent songwriting, Frank is a good title. Insightful & occasionally witty lyrics Production on the basic side: hip-hop/R&B beat + bass + jazzy instruments. Made it a little monotone at points The identity of Winehouse was clearly not fully developed, felt like a good set at a jazz club (in fact the outro presents it as that) and maybe had a bit too much filler Second half stronger I have a preference for her work with Mark Ronson later on Best: Fuck Me Pumps
I found most of the songs pretty forgettable
This smokey, old soul, chanteuse, version of Ms. Winehouse is good. Back to Black is better.
Good music, great voice, brilliant vibes, but the lyrics are a bit cringeworthy at times.
bella voce di amy. misto jass-soul, carino ma non proprio il mio genere
Good
Eine gute drei: Ein Werk mit Potential aber eben für mich kein Masterpiece
Oh gosh, this 5 star rating system is so frustrating. Another one I want to give 3.5. I love Amy and her voice and attitude but this goes on for too long and there are not enough standout tracks for me
Still showcases the strength of her voice, even if the early-2000s-style production isn't as arresting as her other albums more throwback style.
Feels like someone tried to wedge Amy's style into a Norah Jones shape and it doesn't work - but you can see hints of how amazing she would be on 'Back to Black.'
Sounds like its out of a different era. Amy's unique voice adds so much to what are pretty mundane songs but it can start to irritate by the end of the album.
I love this Amy album. It has a lot of energy and desire to create and some musical virginity or something. Amy's voice sounds very fresh and the lyrics are full of passion. There is not that tiredness and emptiness that starts to appear later. This trait makes it special and turns it on.
Fast "zu brav" für Amy. Sehr entspanntes Album, mir gefallen ihre späteren Werke besser. Man merkt allerdings, dass sie da noch glücklich war :(
Solid. Not my face or everyday listen
Amy is real rap. But this album didn’t have the stand out tracks. Just cool to listen to
Slaps but wasn't my thing
Amy was a vocal powerhouse and she proves that on this strong debut. However I'm just not that into the whole jazz thing
A fun listen with an amazing vocal performance makes this album great in my eyes. It’s roughness around the edges and odd writing choices and messages though keep it from being a higher score. All in all, high 3.
She's got a great voice, but the song writing is immature at this point and her lyrics even more so
Gorgeous voice, forgettable album. You can hear that her voice had an impact on future female singers. As someone who liked Billie Holiday's voice I really enjoy the similarities but in a modern style. The most boring part is the more generic R&B style of most songs. The more Jazzy songs resonates with me more. Still a pleasant album but nothing i will remember.
It was a fine background album, not as good as her other album but I wasn't hating listening to it.
Didn’t add any songs to playlists but wasn’t in a sleazy mood either.
Amy has great voice and great beat. But the album’s not my type.
I see why its a classic, but a couple songs were not for me
Not a girls girl
3/5
Just good
Not for me but her voice is spectacular
Enjoyed it but will revisit this one.
It's OK. Not really my thing, but isn't hard to listen to.
Oula un peu en retard avec toutes les fêtes, j’ai écouté le début c’était bien
A good vibe, I like her back to black album better Top tracks: Amy Amy Amy, Mr Magic (Through the Smoke)
Pretty decent album, essentially a female Frank Sinatra album which is alright by me.
You should be stronger than me is a stand out. Enjoyable listen overall :)
Made me more a fan of her, nice ambience n vocals
What a voice. Very different than her subsequent work. 3 stars
3.2/5 - The music itself is nostalgic and an fun reminder of the early 2000s, while being a similar relief that that kind of music stayed in the earliest years of the millennium. Her lyrics are rather amiss on myself, and i cannot totally relate however a few songs are still catchy. The main point of brillance in Amy is, of course, her harrowing and majestic voice. Her voice has an incredible ability to fill me emotions i have not felt in a long time.
En ehkä okskaan päässyt niin sisään artistin musiikkiin. Hieno ääni toki, mutta musiikillisesti ei kovin kiintoisaa joskaan ei erityisen huonoakaan. Varmaan tästä nyt 3 tulee.
the piano sound on you sent me flying is driving me up the wall. so annoying and it just repeats and doesn't ever change. So far the production is legit so terrible I cannot understand. Fuck me pumps is stupid this production is unreal. it's mixed so badly its really fucked up. why is the guitar so loud on I heard love is blind. She sounds high out of her mind, it's an aesthetic i guess. It just doesn't feel particularly coherent. Why is that stick so loud. it sounds like. gunshot going of. Moody's mood for love seriously. what the fuck. okay now i get why jazz voice people love her. There is no greater love, this is the first one I get. I just wish that the session musicians were better, they don't deserve her. They don't support right. She deserves so much better than a midi keyboard and a guitar strumming the same pattern on repeat. I love the audio effects though. They work but you can find middle ground with the mucisians though. They don't need to take up so much space that you can't play with the sound but still be doing more than they are as of right now. in my bed is too loud, they should put her higher and the backgrounds lower. take the box, this one is fire
Rating: 7/10 Very good debut album. Really enjoyed Amy Winehouse's vocals and the production. She sings with so much charisma and emotion, has a very unique voice and style. The album was slightly one-note but well done nonetheless. Favorite songs: Stronger Than Me, Fuck Me Pumps, What Is It About Men, Amy Amy Amy. Worst song: Cherry.
Not the Amy Winehouse album that I would have picked, but it's interesting to hear her earlier stuff. Some of these lyrics are a real mess. 3.4.
Music is great. Lyrics are clearly by a 19 year old. Doesn't remotely touch Back to Black, but most things don't.
Expecting more.
Certainly an enjoyable album by a talented lady that carefully updates blue-eyed soul. It was music for a certain generation which hadn't been in contact with the soul music of old. Winehouse gives a helpful introduction. Her own music was always a good gateway but nothing I'd consider it too special.
The music is mediocre; Winehouse's vocals pull it to 3 stars.
Second Winehouse album on the list and second time I've ever actively listened to her music. Her voice is very good. But in terms of actual songs, I vastly prefer the original offerings of the classical style of jazz-infused soul that she draws so heavily from. Some of the tracks were kind of painful to listen to, such as the atrocious Fuck Me Pumps. Most of it was absolutely fine/pleasant though.
Hard to separate from the tragic story of Winehouse's career, this one's still a great showcase for her voice and vulnerability.
Back to Black is better imo, but this is still great RnB 7/10
5/15, 33%
Fuck Me Pumps early contender for mest bitchy sang i dette årtusinde. Enkelte bangers (moody's mood for love, in my bed, help yourself) men synes sangene og produktionerne er lidt for samey
Synes det blev ved for længe, men pissegod stemme og lyden var fed. Nogen af teksterne har godt nok aget som yogurt efterladt ude i solen. Første nummer var bare "du er en mand så det er meningen du skal være stærkere end mig og det er du ikke og du viser følelser! er du bøsse eller hvad? er du en lille mandedame?". Fuck Me Pumps var "jeg er ikke ligesom de andre piger for de andre piger er alle sammen nogen ludere". yikes
It was good if not a little sad she couldn’t have more control
Soulful and gritty, but makes me think of emotional women having had a couple of glasses of Char too many in the mid-00s. Sorry.
Other than Rehab I've never actually listened to an Amy Winehouse song... Really sounds like an old timey lounge singer.
I regretfully admit this isn't the worst album I've ever heard, it's quite a juxtaposition hearing some of the lyrics against the musical style.
An enjoyable album for me. I wish she didn't die so we could've had more tracks.
You’re my LADYBOY!!! Amy Winehouse has a lovely voice but she does sound like every hotel singer singing with a piano for cocktail hour. “I was thinking of you when I came” she was saying this wasn’t cheating on her man because she was thinking of him- romantic! The background music is really nice and super jazzy. I did grow up listening to some of her songs, so I don’t dislike her but her lyrics are a lot. 6/10
I like when se pulls away from tradition but I think lyrically the songs are weak and her vocal gyrations are impressive but no strategically emotional and its like someone riffing to impress because they can and not because they have a specific goal for the song.
As I sit sipping my glass of vintage red wine, jamming to the tunes of Amy Winehouse.
OK Album, but not exceptional as Back to Black
Ça a des vibes de ménage un dimanche matin en hiver - printemps quand il fait froid mais sec et que les fenêtres sont ouvertes... C'est très précis mais j'ai hâte de passer l'aspirateur sur cet albums Peut être un peu long pour écouter en une traite ? 3.5
J'aime que 4-5 chansons d'Amy Winehouse. Il y en avait aucune sur cet album 😬
Wasn’t familiar with this album. Pretty good.
Jazzy!!!
DNF but amy winehouse has such a cool voice
her voice is so fucking good. gets a 3 bc the album was just her singing ab men the entire time lol. Was nice to listen to another album by her that’s not back to black
Enjoyed this. Lovely, soulful vocals and laid back arrangements that are easy on the ears. The approach to lyricism is frank (pun not intended) and emotionally honest, if a bit structureless and overly free associative. As a result you have a really great sound with songs that are somewhat unmemorable on their own. Fave Songs: What Is It About Men, Know You Now, Mr Magic (Through the Smoke), (There Is) No Greater Love, Stronger Than Me
Soulful, downright sexy at times.
Sorry Amy, not feeling it
Honestly inoffensive jazz fusion.
Surprised by how much I liked it. I didn't know really what to expect. Only knew her song 'Rehab' and I did watch the documentary Amy. I think this would grow even more on me over time. Will be checking out her other album. Strong 3. Would be a 3.5 if the option.
We tried to send Mike v to rehab and he said no no no
Ive never listened to a full Amy Winehouse album! it was alright, i kept thinking each song was about to be a Christmas song, and boy were they not
i know this is a very unpopular opinion, i liked this album, i didn’t love