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BUY THE CD
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The first time I heard a clip of Joss Stone on MTV, I stopped and
took notice. “Now there’s a woman with a voice,” I told myself. But Joss
Stone is no woman—she’s a sixteen-year-old girl with a powerful, soulful voice that’s way
beyond her years.
I was immediately enthralled by “Fell in Love with a
Boy,” her cover of the White Stripes’ 2002 hit, “Fell in Love with a Girl,” and couldn’t
wait to get my hands on The Soul Sessions. I definitely wasn’t
disappointed.
In a time when teenage girls want to be just like Britney
Spears, it’s surprising (and refreshing) to hear from a girl who wants to be more like
Aretha Franklin—a young artist who’s got more talent than flash. From beginning to end,
Joss’s voice never falters. The album, recorded in just a matter of days—a “side
project” from Joss’s “real” first album, which is still in the works—is full of soulful
covers (including that surprising cover of the less-than-soulful White Stripes song).
Most are slow and bluesy, but even when she speeds things up a bit for “Super Duper
Love,” it’s clear that this girl can sing. In fact, in that song, she reminds me
a bit of early Mariah Carey—back before she picked up the hip-hop thing—only better.
Sometimes, while listening to this album (something I’ve been doing
almost constantly for the last week), I’ll stop and realize that this is just a kid
singing these songs. She isn’t really old enough to understand most of the stuff that
she’s singing about—but she still does it so well (and so convincingly, too).
Despite the fact that the album tends to drag a bit toward the end (the
last three songs get a little sleepy), I was blown away by Joss Stone’s talent. And you
will be, too. Don’t miss this album—and keep your eyes peeled for Joss’s real
first album. I’m sure that it, too, will be something you won’t want to miss.
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