The Soul Sessions Vol. 2

Dear Music Appreciators,

And so, nine years after her hit debut THE SOUL SESSIONS, Joss Stone returns with a sequel.
In between the two records she has grown from an ultra talented teenager of just sixteen into an ultra talented woman with legions of loyal fans.

True to the original concept, this is an album of covers, and the song selections are both interesting and appropriate. For the most part these are songs that have enjoyed a life before Joss, but may not be instantly familiar to the average casual listener - and that's a good thing, because for now they belong to Joss Stone and will thus arrive without baggage on the ears of many listeners.

Joss burns up the scenery on "The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)." She injects a Broken Bells track ("The High Road") with a soulful power missing from the original, and helps us to understand James Mercer's cryptic lyrics just a little better. On "Pillow Talk" she smoothly plays the soulful sex kitten. While I'm not familiar with all the original versions of these songs, I still feel like she must have stamped them with her signature style - and perhaps that's the mark of a great covers album - when an artist owns the songs so confidently that the details of any previous recorded version cease to matter much.

But for those who are interested in the details of these covers, here are the writing credits for each of these tracks - in many cases the writers were also the original performers:

1. "I Got The..." - Labi Siffre
2. "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" - Eugene Record (of the Chi-Lites)
3. "While You're Out Looking For Sugar" - Ronald Dunbar, Edyth Wayne (AKA Holland-Dozier-Holland), written for and originally performed by Honey Cone
4. "Sideways Shuffle" - Tim Renwick
5. "I Don't Wanna Be with Nobody But You" - Eddie Floyd
6. "Teardrops" - Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
7. "Stoned Out of My Mind" - Barbara Acklin
8. "The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)" - Terry Callier, Larry Wade
9. "The High Road" - James Mercer (The Shins), Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) (AKA Broken Bells)
10. "Pillow Talk" - Sylvia Robinson, Michael Burton
11. "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - John D. Loudermilk

Bonus Tracks on the Deluxe Edition

12. "First Taste of Hurt" - W. Turbinton
13. "One Love in My Lifetime" - Terri McFaddin, Leonard Perry, Lawrence Brown (originally performed by Diana Ross)
14. "Nothing Takes the Place of You" - Toussaint McCall
15. "(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days" - B. O'Dell, Yvonne Williams

Sincerely,

Constant Listener

Joss Stone's 2012 release THE SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 2 is the follow up to her debut album, THE SOUL SESSIONS. This sequel of sorts carries a similar theme to Stone's debut: it's a collection of covers that were recorded live in the studio. Two important points about this album being recorded live: 1) it sound's just as polished as something that would have taken multiple takes and editing and 2), the live atmosphere brings a certain energy to the performance that is unrivaled in today's pop scene. It's taken 9 years for a proper follow-up to her debut, but it's been worth the wait.

THE SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 2 begins on a somewhat subdued note. "I Got The..." finds Stone restraining herself for the most part, but this only heightens the intensity of the following "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People." The opening track feels sly, and Stone's restraint pays off for (what is to me,) one of the albums strongest tracks. The second track revs up the volume, and we find Stone cranking up the funk for another one of the album's highlights. Lead single "While You're Out Looking for Sugar" is fine, but it feels like a safe choice to promote the SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 2. The song is remarkably faithful to the original, so fans of The Honey Cone's rendition are in for a treat. Similarly, "Teardrop" is also a pretty faithful arrangement of Womack & Womack's song from the 1980's, but the energy and production here make it arguably better than the original.

Joss Stone's rendition of Broken Bells' "The High Road" injects the song with an emotional power that was sorely missing in the original. Stone's cover feels more of a reimagining here than it does a tone-for-tone cover -- it maintains the same gloomy atmosphere, but the intensity she brings towards the end of the song completely changes the tone of the song. Likewise, the covers of Eddie Floyd's "I Don't Want To Be With Anybody But You" and the Dells' "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind" are given a shot of raw emotional power thanks to Stone's vocals. And speaking of Stone's vocals, they truly shine here. The vocalist is able to nail the softer arrangements ("Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye") but bring passion in the louder ones. She's pretty versatile on this record, and her amazing voice holds this collection of songs together as a cohesive album. Similarly, the musicians at work here are first-class.

In a time when most artists are retreating towards electronics for new inspiration (I'm looking at you Norah Jones), Joss Stone's treatment of these classics feels like an irony-free breath of fresh air. Thanks to a great selection of songs, top-notch production, and live performances, THE SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 2 is a lively, energetic, and passionate love letter to the songs that have inspired Stone through the years. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys soul, and especially those who enjoys 2003's debut. Essential tracks to sample/download: "I Got The...," "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People," and "The High Road." Be sure to not miss out on this (especially the Deluxe version).

(additional release information:)
The special deluxe edition of this album includes 4 bonus tracks: "First Taste of Hurt," "One Love in My Lifetime," "Nothing Takes the Place of You," and "(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days." For me, these songs didn't quite live up to those that made it on the album, but these tracks are by no means mediocre. Fans of Stone owe it to themselves to by the Deluxe edition of the standard version or at least seek these tracks out.

Joss Stone burst onto the music scene 9 years ago with "The Soul Sessions" which comprised obscure soul covers (as well as a White Stripes cover; "Fell In Love With A Boy") and displayed a maturity well beyond her then 16 years. Largely following her own self-penned path most of the time since then, she returns to the concept of her debut for album number 6.

The funky "I Got The..." opens the album with Stone giving a restrained performance until "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People" which finds her unleashing her inner Janis Joplin. Other standouts are the organ-sprinkled ballad "I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You", the incredibly groovy "Stoned Out Of My Mind", and the breezy "Pillow Talk" (which reminds me of The Isley Brothers' "For The Love Of You" and finds Stone giving a soft delivery).

My favourites are her smoldering cover of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops" (which slows down the tempo, building and almost brimming over in the chorus until the coda where she amps up the soul), the fiery ballad "The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)" (absolutely spectacular!), "The High Road" (the "Fell In Love With A Boy" of the album, a cover of Alt duo Broken Bells given a Blues/Dub/Funk treatment with some snarling guitar in the background), and closing cut, the stripped string/guitar "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" on which she displays tasteful restraint exuding pain and longing in spades. The song just tugs at the heart strings.

Of the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition, standouts are the Motown-style "One Love In My Lifetime", and the Do wop/Blues "Nothing Takes The Place Of You". Earlier in her career Stone tended to overdo the belting and emoting a bit, but on this album, she displays perfect emotional resonance, soft when needed, fiery when right.