The Joss Stone LP1 Review

In the bloody wake of Amy Winehouse‘s predictable death, we are salved and rejuvenated by Joss Stone’s newest album, LP1, that dropped yesterday.  LP1 proves what a real musical Jazz and Blues and Soul talent sounds like.

Where Winehouse never dared to risk her body and soul in her music — she instead embedded those earthly, celestials, gifts in drugs and booze — Joss Stone immediately engulfs us into the blistering, bitter, oil of a burning life, and we are changed by the experience.  We feel her rage and her passion and we are made better in the shadow of her terror.  Joss leaves nothing behind but her ashes.

Here is a captivating story about LP1 from Stone’s website:

About a year ago Grammy award winning singer Joss Stone was at home in Devon, England when a friend dropped by and mentioned his plan to head down to Spain to work on his boat. “I had nothing to do that week so I decided to go with him,” the singer says. “I got my van, which I call Janis, and we drove to Spain. Before I knew it, one week had turned into four months. We went everywhere! Now the van’s broken so we’re back home.” Joss’ freewheeling ability to act on instinct has led her to where she is in her career right now. At an age when most artists are just starting to prove themselves, Joss has already been a star for the better part of a decade. Now, with the formation of her own record label, Stone’d Records and the forthcoming July 26th release of her fifth album, LP1, jointly released by Stone’d Records/Surfdog Records, she’s finally in the drivers seat and ready to hit the road. A labor of love, Stone’d Records will release Joss’ future recordings as well as offer the gift of creative freedom to truly unique artists. “You know when people say, ‘I want to have a baby or I want to go traveling for a year or I want to build my house,’ but then say it’s just not the right time?” she asks. “I say: just do it. Just get in your van and turn the key. Everything else can work around that.”

This is my Spotify proof that had access to, and repeatedly listened to, LP1:

Stone is at her most magnificent early in the album.  “Newborn” is a savage song about being young, but not naïve — and the juicy lessons we take away from the rapture is to never underestimate the power of a brutalizing childhood.

Her song, “Karma,” while misunderstanding the meaning of the word, is a tremendously powerful experience with a driving bass line and a cutting hook.

“Somehow” is a certain pop hit, but the bounciness of the lyric undermines the spirit of the music.

“Landlord” and “Take Good Care” are both acoustic longings that ultimately define Joss Stone on this album. We can hear that fantastic, raspy voice over the stark guitar accompaniment underneath, and we know we have undeniable proof that we are in the company of a True SuperGenius artist.

Joss Stone is a big talent and we need to support her drive for artistic independence and we do that buy purchasing LP1 for ourselves and also buying extra copies as gifts for our friends and our enemies.