Joss Stone

On her third effort, Stone says the sound of her album finally reflects her musical vision -- hence the title Introducing Joss Stone. Not that you'd really notice. Sure, producer Raphael Saadiq has laid down some funky, downright contemporary-sounding beats, but like her other two albums, it's how effortlessly the soul flows from this nineteen-year-old -- and how easy and joyful she makes it all sound -- that you notice. With envy. The first single, "Tell Me 'Bout It" could be Aretha's "Rock Steady" for a new generation, and you can't get a better compliment than that.

Joss Stone is a nineteen-year-old Brit with a huge voice that packs grit and diva-tude
beyond its years. There are a couple of moments on Stone's third album when she
clobbers a melody with enough showy vocal oomph to make even Christina Aguilera fans
squirm. But for the most part, Stone employs her remarkable instrument with focus and
nuance on Introducing, and the result is an album full of solid pop-wise R&B. War... More >