English soul songstress breaks hearts, strives to mend her own

With the melancholy mystique and sassy soul of the jazz songstresses from the 1950s and '60s, a fresh face has emerged and smashed her pointy heel on the faces of the pop divas of today. Amy Winehouse has become a powerful sensation in Britain and is starting to make a mark stateside.

Her debut album 'Frank' hit stores in 2003, a jazz album with hip-hop influences that got her dubbed a modern Billie Holiday.

Her second album, "Black to Black," is an incredible juxtaposition of intimate and heartbreaking lyrics, boozy ballads and a classic orchestration of authentic Motown soul.

The 23-year old songbird from London is back with a fiery new Ronnie Spector-like look, with her big, black, Aquanetted beehive held perfectly still above her pretty little head. Her songs are fueled by her dipsomaniacal self-hatred, the fear of losing her man due to her infidelity, and her stubborn refusal to attend rehab.

"Me & Mr. Jones" is a tribute to doo wop, with a touch of vulgarity and humor, "What kind of f--kery are you/Side from Sammy you're my best black Jew," Sammy being Sammy Davis Jr. The pop sounds on "Tears Dry on Their Own" mimic a Supremes hit, but her sultry, smoking voice is reminiscent of Lauryn Hill or Sarah Vaughn. Title track "Back to Black" is an epic soul masterpiece of lost love featuring haunting vocals and the chiming of funeral bells; the album's best work.

Although it seems Winehouse may be on her way to self destruction, the ill-fated combination that damages her health may be the key ingredient to her musical genius. "Back to Black" is a brilliant, instant classic that pours out the heartache like "Dusty in Memphis."

RIYL: Lauryn Hill; Dusty Springfield's "Dusty in Memphis"; Etta James

Amy Winehouse

"Back to Black"; Republic
4 stars

-- Alexis Gray, Reno Gazette-Journal