Booze and blues.Booze and blues Back to Black * Amy Winehouse * Universal Records A my Winehouse doesn't give a damn Verb 1. give a damn - show no concern or interest; always used in the negative; "I don't give a hoot"; "She doesn't give a damn about her job" care a hang, give a hang, give a hoot about her reputation. In fact, the 23-year-old British singer has always embraced her problems, openly discussing her addictions and eating disorders eating disorders, in psychology, disorders in eating patterns that comprise four categories: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, rumination disorder, and pica. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation to avoid obesity. with the U.K. press. None of which would matter if she didn't also address these issues on her stateside state·side adj. 1. Of or in the continental United States. 2. Alaska Of or in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. adv. Informal 1. debut, Back to Black, in which she sings about her preoccupation with pot and the battle with the bottle that landed her in the headlines--and at the top of the charts--back home. "They tried to make me go to rehab. I said, 'No, no, no,'" she sings on the opening "Rehab." It's a testament to Winehouse's talent, however, that her album is compelling regardless of the real-life drama. With help from producers Mark Ronson and Salaam sa·laam n. 1. A ceremonious act of deference or obeisance, especially a low bow performed while placing the right palm on the forehead. 2. A respectful ceremonial greeting performed especially in Islamic countries. tr. Remi--who've worked with Christina Aguilera and the Fugees respectively--she's crafted a soulful blend of vintage R&B and girl-group pop that makes Aguilera's similarly retro-tinged Back to Basics sound garish in comparison. Understated and classy, Winehouse's arrangements seamlessly fuse Motown beats, Stax-style horns, and harmonies worthy of the Shangri-Las. Then she uses the old-school pastiche pastiche (păstēsh`, pä–), work of art that combines themes and styles from various sources in such a way as to appear obviously derivative. as a backdrop for such stark confessions as "I'm gonna lose my baby, so I always keep a bottle near." Fortunately, Back to Black isn't as dire as one might expect of an album about booze and blues. With a voice that uncannily evokes Lauryn Hill, Winehouse may wrestle with heartbreak, infidelity, and substance abuse, but on much of the album--particularly the brash, brass-driven "Tears Dry on Their Own"--she turns her struggles into truly uplifting personal anthems. With or without the tabloid backstory back·sto·ry n. 1. The experiences of a character or the circumstances of an event that occur before the action or narrative of a literary, cinematic, or dramatic work: , Winehouse is simply the best new artist to emerge in years. |
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