Back to Black

Today's Music That Jason Probably Shouldn't Worry About But Couldn't Leave Alone is Back to Black, by Amy Winehouse. Before I talk about the music, I have to get this off my chest: 'Amy Winehouse' is a terrible name.

Now: I like this album! It seems strange to hear songs from this album getting play on so many radio stations, even the 'new music revolution we think we're alternative even though that label is pretty much dead and now we basically play wannabe limp bizkit crap and sometimes modest mouse stuff' stations. Amy's music seems to be fairly accessible and pretty good, which is rare though not unprecedented. (Note: I wanted to talk about the state of music as a whole, but it all came back to the same thing, namely how I won't ever take Justin Timberlake seriously.)

Back to Black is sort of a modern-day Motown album, the kind of music that I suspect The Supremes would have made today if modern singing groups didn't focus more on their dancing than their music. It's the dark side of Motown, the side that knows it has serious problems but doesn't really want to get better, something that has been in the darkness so long that it is comfortable there. Amy's voice is absolutely perfect for this music; a delicate and sweet voice would make the music too polished, but her rougher, scarred voice lends the music an authenticity that I don't think you'll ever see on American Idol. If my opinion isn't enough, then check out this link:
http://www.theonion.com/content/infograph/the_troubled_life_of_amy

In short, to paraphrase a line from Dig!: Amy Winehouse, you are bad news. You have more tattoos than an entire NBA team, and I suspect that if you met me, you would probably try to light me on fire and/or get me into drugs within the first hour. I don't expect you to live past 40, and I think you're a despicable person; I don't want you anywhere near me unless you're on stage. I'll still listen to your music though!