Back to Black - Albums of 2000s

There's no objective way of saying which is the 'best' album, but I'm glad critics are looking beyond the tabloid stories and remembering the music.

Alan, I'm sorry to hear that the Guardian article, their ranking of Back to Black, or more especially this journalist seem to have upset you so much. I think it was the 'F.U'. that surprised me.

I thought it was a postive piece that was actually quite refreshing to read given that 99% of articles on Amy over the last 2 years have done nothing but trash her completely.

Like the writer, I happen to like Oasis (early) and Spiritualized very much, and I also like Amy very much. Go figure. He may like those bands, and lean towards that type of music, but that doesn't mean that his appeciation of Back to Black is insincere, or that he's parroting others opinions, as you mentioned.

As Tara said, these lists are at best subjective, and at the very worst, totally meaningless. Anyway, I won't be posting any more articles, either positive or negative.

I agree that these music list are mostly subjective, but.... I did get piss with Pitchfork's review for B2B. The journalist didn't even seem to listen to the album and went off with what the tabloids claimed. They were harsh to Amy and basically called her another Joss Stone.
I was surprised by their review, since they pride themselves for being open to new sounds and for their knowledge of music. Goes to show that they can be just as ignorant as any other outlet.

i don't know, i suppose if i picked the article apart and chose to focus on a few things i might be irritated. but i dug the article overall. it's an opinion worthy of discussing like we always do!
thanks for posting it lainey.

If I were a critic, and we all are, but only some make money off it, then I'd say: Amy has soul, depth of soul, and she is soul, a troubled soul, 'cause having depth of soul, and having creative talent, always comes at a high price; but it's prize is pure gold, soul-gold, laboriously derived from the deep, rich, perilous mines of life itself, an endeavour that borders on madness, like it always does with a talent that profound, and it takes courage. And that is why she has a heart of gold.

I really like this site - it's fun, and I love people who go to the trouble of researching such things - and who take time to replicate the material - so I don't have to!

http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/

It just shows you how utterly daft lists can be, when you look at prior years and wonder - 'where are they now'?

In 2006, Q magazine reviewed B2B and awarded it only 3 stars out of 5. The album didn't even make Q's 100 best albums of 2006 list.

By contrast, Mojo magazine gave B2B a 4 star review, and ranked it # 7 in Mojo's list of 50 best albums of 2006.

Q may be more the more 'hip' of the two magazines, but the Mojo writers really know their stuff (they're a bit older and more knowledgeable, imo).

ANYWAY, point being. Q didn't think much of B2B in 2006, but NOW they're listing it as album of the decade. I bet they feel a bit foolish about that 2006 list now. Especially since Iron Maiden were on there!

Great! thanks for posting.

Q may be more the more 'hip' of the two magazines, but the Mojo writers really know their stuff (they're a bit older and more knowledgeable, imo).

Likewise, the NY Times & NPR both have hipper-than-thou music critics who didn't "get" B2B as well as fuddy-duddy Time Magazine. I doubt young people have experienced the appearance of any really revolutionary new artists like Elvis or the Beatles, and many critics lived to regret their reviews of them. Good for Q to finally get it - better late than never!
(Did Q have any explanation of their choice?)

from rocksbackpages...(and they are tough critics!!)
[THIRTY VOTES: RBP'S ALBUM OF THE DECADE]

AMY WINEHOUSE: Back to Black (2006)
"This little slip of a Jewish street princess comes over 100% credible, customizing her soul and ska influences to fit her fucked-up persona. Someone said Winehouse's lyrics read like pages from a drunken teenager's diary, but they're more than that: they're piercingly believable, achingly sharp, rid of all cliché..."

http://www.rocksback...ArticleID=15383

Edited by kevd7, 08 December 2009 - 04:19 AM.

from rocksbackpages...(and they are tough critics!!)
[THIRTY VOTES: RBP'S ALBUM OF THE DECADE]

AMY WINEHOUSE: Back to Black (2006)
...they're piercingly believable, achingly sharp, rid of all cliché..."

http://www.rocksback...ArticleID=15383

beautifully expressed...

from rocksbackpages...

AMY WINEHOUSE: Back to Black (2006)
"This little slip of a Jewish street princess...

Great line.

A "proper" list: http://www.spinner.c...2000s-part-two/

1. 'Back to Black,' Amy Winehouse (2006)
We may never see her likes again -- heck, we may never see her again. With the album just three years old, we're already nostalgic for its spot-on nostalgia.

Likewise, the NY Times & NPR both have hipper-than-thou music critics who didn't "get" B2B as well as fuddy-duddy Time Magazine. I doubt young people have experienced the appearance of any really revolutionary new artists like Elvis or the Beatles, and many critics lived to regret their reviews of them. Good for Q to finally get it - better late than never!
(Did Q have any explanation of their choice?)

Q did not explain the choice as such, but rather what they did with the top 100 albums was have a musician (or other 'celeb') describe why the thought their chosen album was one of the best of the decade.

For B to B, 3 people described why they thought it should be album of the decade. Nick Clegg (leader of the Liberal Democrats), David Gray and (the GREAT) Tom Jones. Tom got to say the most.

Tom Jones: "The greatest album of the century has to be Amy Winehouse's Back to Black. she really does have the whole thing going on for me: there's that amazing voice and a terrific production that makes her sound like both the 60s and the 21st century all at once. It's an incredible record, and she has an incredible voice. But you've got to be careful with a voice like that - you can only push it so far. I'm always drawn to voices in music and what is so great about Amy's is that it's unique. You can tell that, even though she can sound like some of the old jazzers - people like Billlie Holiday, for example - she is not trying to copy anybody else at all. It's clear she has listened to a bunch of old records religiously, but then she has gone away and completely done her own thing. which is great, I love that.

My favourite song is Rehab. Every time I hear it, I'm blown away again. She's troubled - everyone can see that. But I hope she pulls through.

Edited by Lainey, 10 December 2009 - 02:51 AM.

A "proper" list: http://www.spinner.c...2000s-part-two/
Quote:
1. 'Back to Black,' Amy Winehouse (2006)
We may never see her likes again -- heck, we may never see her again. With the album just three years old, we're already nostalgic for its spot-on nostalgia.

And that is spot on for me: I am already very nostalgic about Amy Winehouse! Frank is like 20 years ago to my nostalgic mind, and B2B like 10. And I'm alright with it, as long as our elusive songbird comes out with a new album, and then my nostalgia will be trippled! Amy has certain powers, that much is clear.;-)

couldn't have put it better myself, Tom...