Joss Stone, Introducing Joss Stone

For those who saw Joss Stone as the saviour of rhythm and blues (As opposed to 'R&B') on the strength of her first album, and to a certain degree its follow up, this album is a tragedy. Apparently it represents what she actually wants to do, which her first two albums didn't. To emphasise this point Stone appears naked on the album cover and insert which has long been artist shorthand for 'This is me laying myself bare to you all'. Personally I find it hard to believe that her one ambition in music was to make an album with Raphael Saadiq, but that appears to be it. Track after track this sounds more and more like a Saadiq album than Stone's. All the R&B cliches are here. The pointless scratches added for effect rather than because they belong, the guest rappers makin' it real, the bass drum processed to sound as though it's overloading your speakers no matter how much you turn down the volume. Somewhere there must be an instruction manual on how to churn out this stuff.

Once upon a time Joss Stone was the great British hope, I regret to say that after listening to this offering I think Charlotte Church is a better bet...

It's already available at cut-down price, so if you do decide you want it, do not pay full price.

I'm going to be honest: I'm a fan. I've been waiting for this album for about three years, since "Mind, Body & Soul". And if you're waiting for such a long time, expectations are high. Very high. Joss does deliver, however. I got the CD a few days prior to the official release date, and I've listened to it a couple of times now. Joss has matured, and so has her music. My personal picks would be the single "Tell me 'bout it" and the cooperation with Lauryn Hill, "Music".

I can't think of a single real bad point about this CD. To me, Joss' music is pretty much what I want to listen to when I want to relax...(although this music doesn't keep you still, it's catchy and makes you want to dance).