The Soul Sessions by Joss Stone

Pros: That voice is a thing of beauty. In five years, it'll be astounding.
Cons: She's not "ready" for some of this material yet.

Sometimes, you make an initial listen to an album, render a decision on it, and stick to your guns-period. Other times, a second or third listen will bring out things on the album that you didn't hear before-good or bad. When I first heard Joss Stone's ...

Pros: there are no flaws - i'm serious.
Cons: none of it is original - if you could call that a con

The first few listens to Joss Stone’s debut album ”Soul Sessions” left me with not much feeling about the English teenage singer. I shelved the album, unimpressed and promised myself that in time I would return and try to listen to it ...

Pros: Joss Stone's voice, songs, guest musicians.
Cons: None.

When you slip in Joss Stone’s debut Soul Sessions and the music begins the first thing likely to pop into your mind is something along the line of “damn, this woman can really sing!” As the album’s title suggests, this is a collection of great soul ...

Pros: Real music, by a real talent; beautiful spirit tinged vocals.
Cons: None

There was a time when musical artist actually had talent; you know they could play an instrument, or two, or three. In lieu of that, they could at least carry a tune without the help for an electronic voice, or other circuitry to create what God did not ...

Pros: gorgeous vocals, arrangements, sophistications, White Stripes cover is pretty cool
Cons: a bit stale, only ten tracks

When people look at an artist's CD cover, they automatically assume that they do a certain type of music. Depending on their race, gender and age, people can assume that the stereotypes the media tries to perpetuate are actually true. Recently in the ...

Pros: Her voice = amazing.
Cons: Doesn't show possible prowess in other areas.

The times are dark for pop music. I believe I can speak for fellow pop-enthusiasts in saying we are ashamed of our genre. We have dumb blondes (and their sisters) and well... Usher, dominating our charts. It's quite sad really. I can't tell you what's ...

Pros: Amazing vocals and strong interpretations.
Cons: Some song choices are predictable and lacking in spirit.

Sixteen-year-old English beauty Joss Stone captured the world's attention at the end of 2003 with an astoundingly soulful debut EP and a voice profoundly wiser than her young age would suggest. Rumor has it that she was set to record a debut anchored ...

Pros: amazing soul and voice, good musical accompaniment
Cons: all covers - no originals

Every year, I find a new recording artist who does something special and knocks my socks off with a new, amazing record. Last year, Norah Jones caught my attention with her amazing piano and jazz stylings; Avril Lavigne was also a great ...

Pros: Great musicianship. Joss is voice is great. Good debut album for a 16 year old.
Cons: Some better songs could have been covered here.

Joss Stone is on the way up. I actually found out about this kid on a local radio show. I was hearing “Super Duper Love” and thought what a feel good song. I am not usually found of young kids as performers because often they do not have the ...

Pros: required
Cons: required

Not a review of the entire album, but rather a review of its lead-off single, which epinions does not list. That guitar riff is pure Blues, and in a more sparse environment, it could possibly be cool and haunting as all Hell. But with the rest ...

Pros: Her Voice
Cons: None

She's blond, young, and can sing. And no I'm not talking about Christina or Britney. I'm talking about the new face in blue-eyed soul, a 16-year-old white girl from Devon, England by the name of Joss Stone. Soul Sessions was not suppose to be ...

Pros: The voice, the band, the soul
Cons: Perhaps she could have written a few of her own songs

I'm writing this as I listen to Joss Stone's debut album for the first time. It's super fresh. So I heard Fell in Love with a Boy, and I immediatly fell in love with it, just as everyone else did. Joss Stone breaks all the rules. She's white, she's ...

Pros: soul by the pound
Cons: can be repetitive, but can grow on you.

This is one of 2003's nicest by far. This CD is sure to please the soul-junkie. Quickly labeled as "the future of blue-eyed soul" by People magazine, Joss Stone a 16 year-old from Devon, England, is making noise in the industry. This is from an unbiased standpoint actually listening to this before knowing anything about the artist.

I do recommend this CD for all r&b/soul lovers. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Looks like Jewel. Sounds like Sarah Vaughn.
Cons: But can she survive the "Rick Astley" trap?

The sixteen year old voice that launched a thousand imitators: Looking like Jewel and sounding like Sarah Vaughn, she has made listening to soul standards like “Dirty Man” or the Isley Brothers’ “For the Love of You” cool again for the under-20 set. She makes the Stripes’ “Fell in Love With a Girl (Boy)” smolder. While her songs are a little past their primes to get traction on the pop charts, she sounds earnest enough her craft that she is worth a listen and a follow up.

The combination of her golden blonde looks, unexpectedly soulful chops, excellent vocal technique, and tasteful choice of material that is too cool for Pop Idol is sure to sell a few CD’s But she is being marketed in the wake of Norah Jones as the Next Big Thing. The trick is avoid being the next Rick Astley. Imitators like Madeline Peyroux, Amy Winehouse, and Jamie Callum have already made equally credible debuts by mining the same period materials.

Of course, she still has a ways to go before catching up with Diana Krall.

Pros: Wonderful wonderful wonderful
Cons: Cover material (but doesn't really matter)

I should preface this by saying I was raised on jazz music, both current and classic. So when I read a glowing review in the NY Times, I was definitely intrigued. This entire CD is wonderful, and you will never believe the voice is of a 17-year old British girl. I certainly look forward to her next album, which will be written by Joss herself. A DEFINITE buy if you like Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday.