Amy Winehouse — Back To Black

All twenty-something pop superstars should dream of being half as good as Amy Winehouse. Back To Black, the follow up to her Mercury Prize nominated album Frank, is one of the best pop albums of 2006. Winehouse writes all the songs and at times plays guitar on BTB — a funk-soul album with a vintage '50s and '60s girl group pop feel. And although she mines mostly kitschy influences from these eras, the record has a harder edge and timeless sound. Winehouse has a powerful voice and delivers honest and hilarious lyrics (see "Fuckery") with her smoke-scratched R&B voice. Nailed by the U.K. press after a few drunken incidents, the album's thundering first single, "Rehab," is a soul-clapping fuck off that leads perfectly into the Otis Redding "Tramp" style beats and horns of "You Know I'm No Good." BTB also brings in '50s-style soul back-up singers at times and some convincing lower tempo doo-wop confessionals. Old school beats, blues guitar and a feeling that Winehouse is the bad girl you shouldn't be allowed to love makes this album a must.