Customer Reviews
Relaxing 
2007-01-12
I cannot say enough good things about Joss Stone. To be so young and to have such a soulfull voice...
Too Raw? 
2006-08-07
I enjoyed this CD, BUT because of her raw sound...sometimes the throaty breathing/rasps do rub the wrong way and if you have the volume up way loud (like I usually do with this quality of voice), you can occasionally hear her smacking, maybe before she takes a breath...it's slightly unnerving. I'm looking forward to more albums to come though!
She's Fantastic! 
2006-06-14
I can't believe some of the reviews here. When I first heard Joss I was blown away by her beautiful, soulful voice. I don't hear anything screetching about it at all and in fact it is very smooth. I also don't think she is trying to imitate anyone. She's got her own style and she's is better than anyone out there right now in my opinion. Certainly much, much better than Brittany Spears who I believe has very little talent and her voice sounds tinny and immature. Also, I don't care if Joss is black or white. She's extremely talented....period. I have this CD and Mind Body & Soul. I listen to them over and over again and I can't wait until she comes out with a new CD.
Not Bad For A White Chick 2006-06-12
So, there's this British teenage white girl who sings like a classic 60's or 70's soul singer. Big deal, right? What keeps this from just being classic soul night on American Idol? Betty (Clean Up Woman) Wright, that's who. She keeps the right simmer going under the pot so the sauce don't stick. Timmy(Why Can't We Be Together) Thomas brings his slow burning organ playing and members of The Roots form the rythm section and Angie Stone sings backup. It's all cover songs but they are impeccably chosen including a slow motion version of The White Stripes
" Fell In Love With A Boy" and a nice version of Laura Lee's "Dirty Man" and Joe Simon's "The Chokin' Kind". The album sounds like a lost classic from the golden era of soul, yet somehow modern and current without hi tech production or any trace of trendy hip hop bull@!#. Amazingly, I find myself ranking this with the recent Solomon Burke and Betty LaVette releases. This level of soul simply cannot be faked and Betty Wright wouldn't have wasted her time if Joss Stone wasn't the real deal. Well worth your time.
Jealousy Runs Rampant !!! 2006-01-15
I took a look at the "lowest rated" reviews of this album and had to laugh at all the stewing sourpusses on this forum. "Highly marketable white girl with blonde hair . . . the kind of voice that's a dime a dozen on American Idol . . ." None of those nasty quibbles change the fact that this is first-rate, upbeat, funky old-school-style soul music.
I bet if most of these whiners heard her voice, and had no clue she was a 16-year-old British girl, they would believe she was a seasoned vocalist at least twice her age. She's a fantastic singer that sings with real soul. Those who insist they can't detect a world-weariness in her voice like a Nina Simone or a Koko Taylor should still be able to appreciate her voice for what it is or just leave it alone and go listen to something that speaks to them. These people who claim Joss Stone sucks are only exposing their own pettiness. I sincerely doubt that people like Betty Wright or ?uestlove (drummer from The Roots) would bother working with her if they didn't think she had something special.
Every song here is great, but my least favorite is "All the King's Horses," simply because I don't care much for updated nursery rhymes in my music. My favorite is the bluesiest one, the stunning "Dirty Man" with stellar guitar performances by Angelo Morris on electric and Jimmy Farkus on acoustic.
Top notch, gorgeous, soaring, highly enjoyable music and highly recommended!
JOSS ROCKS 2008-06-18
JOSS ROCKS - SHE IS AN OLD SOUL IN A YOUNG GIRLS BODY...AND CAN SING !
A wonderful introduction to one of the music industry's brightest stars... 2008-03-28
Not many 16-year-olds can carry this kind of tune. Sure, you have your Christina Aguilera's who have proved at a very young age to have the `Mariah Carey' pipes, but Joss Stone is a different breed of singer. Stone is much more than belting lyrics and showing displays of vocal range; Stone is pure, unadulterated soul. At the ripe old age of 16 this British bombshell (I can say that now that she is `legal') dropped this beautiful compilation of lesser-known soul classics on the unsuspecting public, and while I much prefer her showier work that followed you can't help but realize her blessed talent. Compared to greats like Aretha Franklin and Betty Wright, Joss Stone is probably one of the freshest and more talented faces in the music industry today.
`The Soul Sessions' finds Stone maneuvering with grace through some soul classics. While I'm not a fan of every track on the album there is no denying the fact that she sounds impeccable on each and every one. When I think of Joss I immediately think of her infectious and piercing vocals, and so it's songs like `Super Duper Love' (which she NAILS) and `Fell in Love With a (Boy)'. When I hear that beat set in and her voice elevating the music I just get shivers. It's like being in the presence of greatness. Joss has such a mature and controlled voice it's hard not to be taken aback by its power. `Fell in Love With a (Boy)' (a cover of a `White Stripes' track) may very well be the best track on the album. It just has the perfect vibe and Joss' silky smooth delivery is marvelous; the way she says `fleeting' alone makes my mouth water with excitement.
Probably the most recognizable cover here is `Some Kind of Wonderful'. This is a good and bad thing. It's a good thing in that many first time listeners will immediately start bobbing their heads and getting into the groove because they know the lyrics; but it's a bad thing in that almost everyone will immediately start making comparisons and pitting the original against Joss' version, and sadly for some weird reason this track just doesn't stack up. It seems a little too laid-back, a little too slow and tempered. I would have expected Joss to really take off with this one. It ends on a good note, but it takes a while to get there.
The opening track `Choking Kind' is masterfully done. It shows the listener right off the bat what they are to expect from this beauty. She has the goods to back up the hype; that's for sure. The way her voice deepens when taking on the slow jam is as seductive as it is reassuring. She really has a genuine talent. Her voice is `wise beyond her years' so-to-speak. You hear the term `old soul' thrown around when considering singers of Joss' talent; a young star who possesses a fire that is stronger than the majority her age.
`I've Fallen in Love With You' is classic in every sense of the word. Joss sounds amazing, the band sounds amazing; the track is amazing. `All the King's Horses' follows the same structure, that funky vibe, and works well also.
The balance of the album consists of ballads; `Victim of a Foolish Heart' and `Dirty Man' being the better of the four. `Victim of a Foolish Heart' really emphasizes the maturity of Stone's vocals and serves as a delightful sneak peak of where this star is headed. `For the Love of You' seems to drags on a bit too long. Like I've said, Joss sounds flawless, but the song itself falls a little flat. `I Had a Dream' is short and sweet and while not a favorite of mine it manages to leave an impression.
In the end `The Soul Sessions' is a wonderful way to get to know Joss Stone. From these humble beginnings she only grew and became even more phenomenal, if that's possible. Her sophomore album `Mind, Body & Soul' is one of the best overall albums I've ever heard and even her latest album `Introducing Joss Stone' is marvelously done. Stone is definitely one the most talented young singers out today, and I can't wait to see her talent get brighter and brighter; she deserves it.
JOSS STONE 2007-08-27
LOVED THE FAST SERVICE CD WAS IN GREAT SHAPE THANKS SO MUCH I WILL ORDER FROM YOU AGAIN
Skill way beyond her years 2007-05-31
I am a Joss Stone fan. I didn't purchase her first two albums until recently, after buying her current release. To hear her voice and the feeling she adds to the old soul covers on this album makes you think she came up in the 60's or 70's.
The guidance of Betty Wright (The Clean-Up Woman) can be heard throughout the album, particularly on Super Duper Love. Her rendition of For The Love of You is something made for candlelight and wine. All in all this was one hell of a debut album. Please check out her other releases to notice her development.
The real deal! 2007-01-17
I've been a longtime fan of this wonderfully talented Brit for some time now, and have reviewed her album of original material but have as of yet to write my thoughts down for her debut cover album. First of all, before one can even say a word about her musical selection one must mention the fact that this young girl was merely 16 when recording this album so when one first hears the maturity and sincerity in her voice from the start there's an extra layer of admiration for this talented artist. She's not some manufactured beauty displayed in navel bearing shirts and hip-hugging jeans in order to send teen boys into overdrive and teen girls into frenzy but has no actual talent besides the ability to act ten years older than she should.
No, Joss actually has the vocals, the devotion and the maturity to outsing and outperform some of the more powerful voices in the music industry today. Oh yeah, and she is utterly gorgeous, but that my friends is just a perk! `The Chokin Kind' and `Fell in Love With a Boy' are two standouts from the get-go, but she shines on every track here. `Dirty Man' retains all the greatness of the original while `Super Duper Love' seems to surpass its predecessor. This is highly recommended, but if you want a real treat pick up `Mind, Body & Soul' for it showcases everything that makes this genuine talent so utterly brilliant!
