Joss Stone

The coming-of-age-young-urban-starlet is a wondrous thing to behold, isn't she? Well, no, not usually -- since in this day and age, we associate her with multiple piercings of her nether regions, embarrassingly out-of-it public appearances and a tendency to dry-hump everything in sight. Given all that, album number three for 19-year-old British vocalist Joss Stone is relatively sedate -- but only intermittently more satisfying.

It's hit and miss for Joss Stone, despite her big voice.

Related Content

• Smooth: 10 Definitive Neo-Soul Tracks
  February 9, 2012
• We Tell You Who Will Win Grammys So You Don't Have To Watch Them
  February 10, 2012
• Five '60s Soul Stars Jay-Z & Kanye West Should Hit Next
  August 10, 2011
• SXSW Aftermath: Black Joe Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Smokey Robinson
  March 20, 2010
• Smokey Robinson
  May 12, 2011

More About

• Joss Stone
• Raphael Saadiq
• Hip-Hop and Rap
• Soul Music

When she and producer Raphael Saadiq hit, they hit big, pushing tempos beyond hip-hop's usual BPM. Songs like "Put Your Hands on Me" and "Girl They Won't Believe It" draw direct links to Motown, even as they maintain a contemporary sheen. At those moments, Introducing sounds like it's the bridge between neo-soul and modern R&B. But over the course of these 14 tracks, the sex eventually outlasts the melodies, leaving Stone's big, boisterous voice with little to do.