Amy Winehouse: "Back to Black"

[Live Your Life]

This album is a classic, in my opinion. It's honest, raw, soulful and heartbreaking. She had such an amazing gift.

AllMusic gave the album 5/5 stars:

The story of Back to Black is one in which celebrity and the potential of commercial success threaten to ruin Amy Winehouse, since the same insouciance and playfulness that made her sound so special when she debuted could easily have been whitewashed right out of existence for this breakout record. (That fact may help to explain why fans were so scared by press allegations that Winehouse had deliberately lost weight in order to present a slimmer appearance.) Although Back to Black does see her deserting jazz and wholly embracing contemporary R&B, all the best parts of her musical character emerge intact, and actually, are all the better for the transformation from jazz vocalist to soul siren. With producer Salaam Remi returning from Frank, plus the welcome addition of Mark Ronson (fresh off successes producing for Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams), Back to Black has a similar sound to Frank but much more flair and spark to it. Winehouse was inspired by girl group soul of the '60s, and fortunately Ronson and Remi are two of the most facile and organic R&B producers active. (They certainly know how to evoke the era too; Remi's "Tears Dry on Their Own" is a sparkling homage to the Motown chestnut "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and Ronson summons a host of Brill Building touchstones on his tracks.) As before, Winehouse writes all of the songs from her experiences, most of which involve the occasionally riotous and often bittersweet vagaries of love. Also in similar fashion to Frank, her eye for details and her way of relating them are delightful. She states her case against "Rehab" on the knockout first single with some great lines: "They tried to make me go to rehab I won't go go go, I'd rather be at home with Ray" (Charles, that is). As often as not, though, the songs on Back to Black are universal, songs that anyone, even Joss Stone, could take to the top of the charts, such as "Love Is a Losing Game" or the title song ("We only said good bye with words, I died a hundred times/You go back to her, and I go back to black").

[Deleted]

One of my favorite albums of the past 10 years without a doubt. Played this on repeat when it was first released.

[someguy]

Love this album as well. "Tears Dry On Their Own" is still one of my favourite songs, possibly of all time.

[SHOOTER]

10 years old today!

[Linnethia Monique]

This album is perfection. Each week and month after it's release rewarded me with a different favorite track that became an obsession for me. Tears Dry on Their Own, He Can Only Hold Her, and Just Friends get weekly rotation from me because they present this spirit of the 60s and 70s that I just adore so much. If she were still of this Earth I would've loved to hear her and Jack Splash get together for something.

[Glove Slap]

I first heard this within the first month or two of its release before it really got rolling. It's somewhat bizarre to recollect it now after everything nearly a decade later, but I just really remember thinking that it was a really good album. And I'm honestly glad to have that memory without any added weight of history. Rehab will never sound quite the same, but despite what happened, I think it is absolutely hilarious and whip-smart. You Know I'm No good is probably my top track. I ended up buying the album twice, the regular, and then the deluxe released about a year later.

imo, this is without a doubt one of the most impactful albums of the new millennium, from opening the door to US success for that generation of British acts that essentially began right as this was winding down with Leona Lewis, Adele, Taio, Florence, Ed, Ellie, Sam, etc., to that damn slurring that's all over the airwaves.

[someguy]

It's always a great thing to experience an iconic album before it gets discovered by the general public. That's happened a few times to me too, and it really is nice to have been able to experience an album before it becomes a pop culture moment.

[ilikemusic]

This is the best album of the 2000's in my honest opinion. Like others mentioned, it opened doors for almost every successful British artist post-Amy Winehouse (the ones that aren't the manufactured popstar types)....

She really was a treasure. The combination of the classic, timeless melodies with her intricate lyricism makes the album one of those rare pieces of work that's a solid listen from start to finish. My absolute favorite track if I had to choose is a tie between You Know I'm No Good and Love Is a Losing Game. I consider her to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Such a shame that she handled the newfound level of fame poorly..... and the most important people to her were also the most toxic..... May she rest in peace. She's probably one of the few legendary people to come out of the 2000's.

[back2blk]

You only need to look at my username to know how I feel about this album. :o)