Listen Up! Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black
I’d rather be at home with Ray (Charles)
I ain’t got seventy days
‘Cause there’s nothing you can teach me
That I can’t learn from Mr. Hathaway (Donny)
Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Amy Winehouse’s 2006 UK release Back To Black (released in the US in early 2007) has put the North London songstress on the map in North America. After 2003’s debut Frank, Winehouse disappeared for a bit, only to reappear with what many on Epinions are hailing as one of the best releases of the year. Winehouse’s soulful throwback vocals channel old era singers and the Motown-like sound is handled by producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, more known for their hip hop workings.
Reviewer Cletta1201 describes Winehouse as a once in a lifetime artist. She says, “Once in a great while an artist comes along that makes you sit up and listen. And not a tap your foot, nod your head listen to some flash in the pan artist who’s destined for obscurity - but something that stirs the soul a little and makes you happy that music is capable of evoking such sentiment.“. Chiliqueen adds, “If you love 1960s soul, Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” feels like a long-lost friend. “
Winehouse’s honest and at times, jaw dropping lyrics try to steal the show, but you can’t mistake that voice for anything other than one of the more powerful instruments in music today. The production by Remi and Ronson also compliments her raw talents so well. Kookytree says that with the title track (Back To Black), you have “a song dripping with menace” and “you won’t hear a finer single in 2007″. Producer Mark Ronson excels himself with an opulent pallet of sound, incorporating ethereal choirs of ooing Amys, sinister touches of spaghetti western guitar and what sounds like a full orchestra, whilst maintaining an elegant control.
Speeddemon531 loves the “swelling melody” on Tears Dry On Their Own. He adds, “Using a tasty sample of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, Winehouse creates a triumphant breakup anthem that you just have to sing along to.“
With six reviews on Epinions, Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black achieves a 5 star rating.
Ruben Studdard’s third solo album (he released a gospel album as his sophomore album) was supposed to be a return to what made him so good on the second season of American Idol when Gladys Knight called him the Velvet Teddy Bear. It is in fact, not that at all according to Epinions member 
It was a surprise last season on American Idol when Chris Daughtry was elminated before making it to the end. Fans had him pegged at least for the final two and the popular choice to win it all. But the joke is really on everyone else. Chris Daughtry (and his band) has one of the surprise albums of the year. It’s certified 2x platinum in just over 5 months after being released. Epinions reviewer 
Fantasia’s self-titled sophomore album is urban rock according to her. According to Epinions reviewer