Rating: NNNN
Amy Winehouse sounds a lot like Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige on her debut but mixes hiphop beats with mature jazz structures to come up with a stunning take on life in the big city. Sure, she grew up on the sweet sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Ray Charles, but these are different times, so instead of Cheek To Cheek, we get Fuck Me Pumps, and are all the better for it. Her songs will make the club-hopping womanizers think twice before striking, in much the same way as Fiona Apple’s Criminal. This is a street-smart girl who’d rip you apart for trying to pick her up but still take you home after kicking your ass at nine-ball.
