Joss Stone - Colour Me Free! (EMI)

Joss Stone has grown up, to the extent that she's reportedly willing to forfeit on £2million to leave record label, EMI, who appear to be annoyed that Stone, now 22, isn't doing as she's told as she did when she broke through as a 16-year-old wonder kid on The Soul Sessions. EMI even called the artwork for Colour Me Free! "offensive" and changed it in the US. The two years-plus leading up to this album have hardly been smooth. Stone's third, R&B-style album, Introducing Joss Stone, got mixed responses and there was the backlash following Stone's peculiar speech at the 2007 Brit Awards.

It's difficult to say Stone's cultural currency has fallen when she can call upon Jeff Beck, Nas and retro soul maestro Raphael Saadiq, even if the performances of the former two aren't the finest. Beck draws out a flimsy funk like and generic classic rock solo on 'Parallel Lines', while Nas' verses on 'Governmentalist' sound phoned in (although, he's one of the few rappers to rhyme "dude" with "genetically modified food").

'Governmentalist', a deep funk number with nods to Stone's namesake Sly, is a stick out track rather than standout one, with explicit anti-war lyrics rather than Stone's typical words about boyfriends being great/rubbish and peace-and-love hippyology. Trouble is, the message is lost among vocal acrobatics and the "thou shall not kill" line clangs.

It's on the summery funk of 'Free Me' and 'Incredible' when she's not being an X Factor-style, note-perfect diva that Stone has the most attitude and clarity in her voice. While on '4 And 20', her huskiness complements the dreamy, lounge bar swing perfectly. Unfortunately, there are too many dull moments: an unadventurous cover of Ray Charles' 'I Believe It To My Soul' (the nu-gospel reworking of 'You Got The Love' is great though); a break-up song devoid of any angst on 'Could Have Been You'; and a 14-minute jam called 'Mr Wankerman', which makes Eamon's 'Fuck It (I Love You)' appear a subtle put-down.

Stone's voice, though, is always her own. She never tries to ape Dusty or Amy, as those who have followed her and Winehouse's success have done. It's just a shame the feistiness she's shown in standing up to EMI and after the accent debacle at the Brits doesn't appear on record.

Rating: 2/5

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08/11/2009
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Joss Stone - Colour Me Free! (EMI)
Joss Stone is undoubtedly a great singer, and has the guts to stand up to her (very major) record label, but Colour Me Free! doesn't capture the character of its creator.

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Joss Stone is to release Colour Me Free at the beginning of November.

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Joss Stone's official website
http://www.jossstone.com

03/09/2010
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