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Joss Stone - Mind, Body & Soul
- In 2003, this soulful songstress from Devon, England released an album of
covers entitled The Soul Sessions. Stone proved herself by taking on the
challenging task of singing classic R&B songs from legends like Marvin Gaye
and Aretha Franklin. Now only seventeen years old, she has performed a
much-needed resurrection of soul music with Mind, Body & Soul; an album
she describes as her "real debut album".
The first time I heard Stone was on the Ellen Degeneres show back in
October 2003. I was in awe of her voice and wondered why she hadn't
already burst onto the music scene. I immediately purchased her album
and was fortunate enough to catch her live act a number of times. Having become an avid fan, I eagerly anticipated the release of her next album and was satisfied even after hearing the first track.
The CD definitely speaks for itself, curing musical cravings for the
mind, body, and soul. Stone has a way of handling R&B stylings and taking
the listener on a journey back to the hey-days of Motown. At the same time, she keeps things fresh and contemporary.
The first single that received radio play was "You Had Me", an anthem for all the ladies who’ve left their pathetic boyfriends. This song showcases her dynamic voice and is set to a funky musical backdrop, as are all the tracks on this album. Her vocal dynamics are highlighted on each track. "Don't Cha Wanna Ride", samples from the classic tune "Soulful Strut" and has the potential to become one of her more prominent singles. On more laid-back, jazzy tracks like "Jet Lag", one can't help but imagine her singing onstage in an intimate performance at a smoky bar. Every single track on this album is soulfully rich and contains many textures of jazz and R&B. She makes full use of piano, guitars and horns, which definitely works to her advantage.
Stone has surpassed the pop princesses of today and is climbing in the ranks of talented vocalists. Her youth is definitely not shown through her music, but
rather provides her with more years to grow toward legendary status. Judging from her latest release, popsters like Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson, and Jojo will be struggling to collect royalty checks in the future, while Stone will be enjoying her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Reviewer: Dino-Ray Ramos
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 8.00
Reader's Votes: 3
Added: 9-Nov-2004
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