Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2011 22:33:46 GMT -5
This is her debut album originally released in 2003 in the UK and later released everywhere else due to the success of her sophomore release Back to Black. It contains 4 singles: 1. Stronger Than Me 2. Take The Box 3. In My Bed/You Sent Me Flying 4. F**k Me Pumps/Help Yourself What I really like about her debut is that he voice feels so light, graceful and very soulful compared to her more raspier follow-up. Both records are great though.
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Post by tearsdryontheirown on Jul 26, 2011 11:32:37 GMT -5
This is a stellar album. I got it shipped to the US in 2004 and was blown away. Initially I had only hear the Frank sampler. This is a beautiful rendition of beat driven jazz than is effervescent, modern, and beautifully delivered. Take the Box is one of the greatest ballads recorded hands down. Her wit and range really shine through on this album with a range of subjects, moods, and dynamism. The bonus tracks here are particularly captivating. Mr Magic is sublime. What makes the album so good is the delivery. She never feels the need to knock you over the head with hazy runs and vocal acrobatics. Instead, there is a maturity in her control and a respect to musicianship and a real drive behind her art.
It pains me that some people have not heard Frank or Back to Black for that matter. Instead they make assumptions based on Rehab. It hurts that people judge her performances based on what the press throws in front of them. Reality is she was one of the greatest live performances from 2003-2007 and produced some of the most incredible live moments in music with effortless runs reminiscent but transcendent of her idols like Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2011 13:07:02 GMT -5
It's an excellent album. Nowhere near the level of Back To Black, but it also doesn't pale in comparison like you might expect. The absence of a lot of the things that make me love Back To Black (a more cohesive musical identity, the inspiration her addictions and life experience provided) are, perversely, reasons I love Frank (there's more variety, innocence gives the album a lighter touch and sense of humour). The singles are definitely the strongest points.
I also love that it's named after her dog.
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Post by tearsdryontheirown on Jul 27, 2011 7:41:04 GMT -5
It's an excellent album. Nowhere near the level of Back To Black, but it also doesn't pale in comparison like you might expect. The absence of a lot of the things that make me love Back To Black (a more cohesive musical identity, the inspiration her addictions and life experience provided) are, perversely, reasons I love Frank (there's more variety, innocence gives the album a lighter touch and sense of humour). The singles are definitely the strongest points. I also love that it's named after her dog. Its named after Frank Sinatra and also just the word "frank". "nowhere near the level of Back to Black" is one of the biggest misconceptions about the album. I think the problem with the success worldwide of Back to Black immediately leads to these ideas that Frank was just not as good, when in reality it is extremely highly regarded and won numerous awards as well. Amy said it best when she said that jazz is maybe more of an elitist genre and therefore somehow less accessible or predictable than Back to Black, but it is just different. Jazz itself is improvisation. Im not trying to light up a debate but I think people read way too many articles and just regurgitate what they read. Most of what they read is the same. People who didnt know who she was before Back to Black and then heard "Oh theres a first album, I had no idea" and then dismiss it because its not like Back to Black. I too give the edge to Back to Black when next to Frank, I am not trying to declare Frank is as masterful but her performance on both was masterful and to pay attention to what singles there were seems too mainstream an approach that is too often used on this board. Its all about the singles, sales, and awards on here. With that you lose so much more.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 12:07:16 GMT -5
Nobody really knows if it's named after Sinatra, just the idea of being frank or her dog. Different sources say different things. The fact that the dog's on the cover and neither Sinatra or a concept could be in a box ("Frank's in there and I don't care") make me think it's probably named after the dog, but I also suspect it's purposely ambiguous. I listen to jazz, knew who Amy was before "Rehab" and had seen her live before Back To Black, am certainly not easily swayed by other people's opinions, own the album on CD and have listened to it countless times (but still think the singles are its high points), and am one of the last people on this board you could claim only listens to music because of how much it sells. "Nowhere near as good as Back To Black" isn't a misconception, it's my opinion, one the critics and even you apparently agree with. Trying to tell other people what their opinions should be when you don't have any idea what you're talking about or who you're talking to just makes you look like a fool. Please don't do it again. Thanks!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 12:18:29 GMT -5
It's a good album. It's been a long time since I've listened to it though. I've always been more interested in Back to Black.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 12:53:41 GMT -5
I've always heard this line is in reference to a Frank Sinatra CD (i.e., something that her ex might have bought for her along with the Moschino bra; now she longer wants it because it reminds her of him and keeping it would be too painful). Regardless, I agree that the title is likely ambiguous on purpose.
I also agree that the things that I love about Back to Black, are what I love Frank for not being. It's just interesting to contrast the "lighter" Amy vs. the one weighed down by her demons, and even with the dichotomy you still get two really amazing albums.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 12:57:47 GMT -5
I picture her dog sat in a box. lol. Now I'm picturing Frank Sinatra in there!
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HolidayGuy
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Post by HolidayGuy on Jul 27, 2011 13:51:08 GMT -5
Have to give this a listen soon- been a while.
"Rehab" is a pretty great track, so there are worse things for people to judge her talent by. :)
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halo19
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Post by halo19 on Aug 3, 2011 15:31:45 GMT -5
Not as consistent as Back in Black, but there's a lot of good songs in here.
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Agent Yoncé
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Post by Agent Yoncé on Dec 13, 2011 14:42:47 GMT -5
I enjoyed this album a hell of a lot more than "Back To Black."
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