Joss StoneIntroducing
Since the release of her soul cover album a few years back, the jury has been out on young singer Joss Stone. Some praised her young talent while others cobbled her with kindred buzz-artists like Nikka Costa and more recently, Corinne Bailey-Rae--fresh-faced artists who kick up soft, pillowy soul for moms "in the know." Going a step further than her 2004 outing Mind, Body & Soul, Introducing manages to satisfy the mother demographic while (finally) opening the door to a few new possibilities, in style and in substance.
Swaggering out the gates is "Girl They Won't Believe It," a track with drums that thump with a heavy snap and vocals that hearken back to the sound Tamla-era Motown. Stone's biggest asset, even more than her unmistakable voice, is the sparkling production, courtesy of R&B luminary Raphael Saadiq. The light-scratching and honeyed layers of "Baby, Baby, Baby" complement Stone's timbre to a T, juxtaposed by "What Were We Thinking," a slow-burning ballad that showcases Stone's considerable range.
