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Album reviews Music

Allen Stone

ALLEN STONE hits the Opera House Wednesday (November 14). See listing. Rating: NNN


Amy Winehouse recorded her debut album a decade ago, and the throwback soul sound she popularized is still going strong. Twenty-five year old Allen Stone is the newest contender trying to strike gold by reviving a style that was popular over a decade before he was born, and there’s significant buzz building behind the young singer. You can hear why: he’s got the pipes to pull off Stevie Wonder-style crooning, and the production is warm and classic enough to ward off the inevitable Jamiroquai comparisons.

He’s nailed what he’s trying for, but we wish he’d set his sights a bit higher. Innervisions was cutting-edge and futuristic when it was released, so you’d hope that someone so heavily influenced by it would try harder to resist the temptation of going full retro. Instead, he’s a very good version of the tribute acts that can be found pretty much anywhere. Nevertheless, his skills are formidable, and now that he’s got a label behind him and a growing fan base, Stone just might surprise us with something more adventurous next time.

Top track: Unaware

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