Colour Me Free!

When this album was released last Fall in the States, it was sort of unceremoniously dumped on an unsuspecting public...it was only available at one "super store", the artwork was atrocious, and there was next to no publicity. This would have been bad enough in any other/normal situation, but both Stone and the album had basically been held hostage for almost a year due to record company politics. One, two, three strikes....you're out!! And that's too bad, because COLOUR ME FREE! is one of Joss Stone's strongest efforts to date. Yes, I'm still waiting for her to stretch into other areas (rock, pop, country), and she still needs to learn how to rein things in at times, but there's enough growth here to say that she's once again moving forward, a statement that couldn't be made after 2007's disappointing INTRODUCING JOSS STONE. Things open with the slammin', stingin' "Free Me." Be it a relationship or a record contract, it's clear that A) Stone is no longer a little girl, and B) she's not to be messed with. Anchored by a wailing lead vocal, a percolating arrangement and defiant lyrics ("Something that you don't see every day/A little girl who found her way/Through a world that's designed to break/All of your dreams"), this is the perfect way to get things started. "Could Have Been You" is my favorite track on the disc. With it's twinkling piano and shimmering backing vocals, there's an amazingly cool retro groove going on, but you can also picture any number of other contemporary acts covering the song. Wisely, Stone keeps it low key and understated for most of the cut (proving you don't always have to hit the big note!), which allows her to just SING. In a just world, "Could Have Been You" would well be on it's way ~ or already achieved! ~ major hit status! Sheer perfection. "Parallel Lines" has a nice 70's soul feel to it, sort of a lost Stevie Wonder or Roberta Flack track. Stone's vocal is sultry, yet authoritative, while the arrangement is brilliantly bolstered by Jeff Beck's sizzling guitar and Sheila E.'s popping percussion. Another very nice piece of work! There's a slow burn to "Lady" that get's under your skin and stays there. Stone's vocal swoops and soars, and when she sings "See, it's o.k. to be sassy/But I'll never be trashy/It's o.k. to be nasty/But you gotta keep your classy now" you know EXACTLY what she's talking about! "4 And 20" is one of the biggest leaps forward on COLOUR ME FREE!...there's a classic jazz appreciation going on here, and Stone pulls it off without a hitch. Her vocal is spot-on, while the instrumentation is relaxed and easy-going (Special mention has to be made of Hollie Farris' sinewy, seductive trumpet playing). "Big Ol' Game" is my other favorite cut on the album. Buoyed by a KILLER bass line, it just has an amazing groove to it. Part rock, part soul, all sexy attitude, this is the type of song that has you moving to it from start to finish, no matter how many times you've heard it. Toss in a captivating lead vocal and hot horns and you have another massive "Should've-Been-A-Hit." LOVE it!! Things take a bit of a 180 with "Govermentalist." While everything flow naturally with most of the previous cuts, it all seems a tad bit forced here. It's as if Stone is TRYING to "say" something...vs. just saying it! Nas' rap also seems calculated and tacked on, resulting in a cut that, while not bad, just doesn't measure up to the rest of the disc. Things get back on track with the energetic "Incredible." With an arrangement that is just smoking, this is a dance hit just waiting to happen. My only complaint? Stone's lead vocal. Instead of ALWAYS taking things to 11 ~ we know you can belt it out, Joss! ~ I would have liked to have seen her modulate things a bit more, offering up a bit more of give and take, push and pull, belting...and holding back. Still, another great track! The disc takes a slight (but noticable) dip at this point. "You Got The Love" is an inspirational number that is completely lacking in true inspiration. The lead vocal is by the numbers and rote, while the arrangement is standard and unoriginal; this is soul faith 101. Four albums into her career, Stone shouldn't be stumbling backwards like this. "I Believe It To My Soul" is only slightly better. Yes, the horn arrangement just stuns on this Ray Charles classic, but Stone's vocal performance is the aural equivalent of a kareoke showdown. Totally over the top, it's all image over content, attitude over substance. A prime example that, at just 23, Stone still has a lot to learn. Far better is the disc's purest piece of pop, the lovely duet "Stalemate." Romantic and emotional, this mid-tempo ballad just pulsates with pained heat. The cut's only problem? It almost sounds more like a Jamie Hartman track with a guest vocal from Joss Stone, instead of the other way around. You should NEVER be perceived as the support act on your own disc! However, even with this minor flaw, this is still one of my favorite tracks. "Girlfriend On Demand" is the perfect album closer...a lush ballad, it sports a heartfelt, sincere lead vocal, crisp, clean, uncluttered instrumentation and gut-wrenching lyrics ("You whisper that you love me/Ooh, but you won't say it out loud/You act like you're ashamed to be with me/I want a man who's proud"). One of Stone's best moments to date. The import version of COLOUR ME FREE! has the added bonus track "Mr. Wankerman", which, to be honest, is nothing more than a fourteen minute jam that goes on for eleven minutes longer than it should. Once again, we're treated (?) to more attitude than substance, resulting in a cut that just falls flat, coming across as self-indulgent and shallow. And that's too bad, because both Joss Stone and COLOUR ME FREE! are so much more. Yet as strong as COLOUR...is ~ and it just might be her strongest release yet! ~ there's a lot Stone can still learn. What she needs to do now is broaden her palette and paint with some new COLOURS. C'mon, Jossy, I know you can do it! (As with all my reviews, I'm giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics).

Wow! I have been listening to this CD most of the day. It is so good. When was the last time you bought a CD and it was good enough to play 5 times over and over and you did not get tired of it? It is absolutely awesome! Joss is back to her bluesy, awesome, original style and voice. Two songs toward the end of the CD are chill-inducing heartfelt ballads that she just wails and nails!!!! The import has an extra song that is great and fun. Joss is back after years of being forced to join with rappers with crappy music and singing pop songs. She is so much better than they allowed her to be. "Introducing Joss Stone" her last CD was not good because of the producers and suits who forced her to sing what they thought people wanted to hear. This new CD -- Colour Me Free - is awesome!!!!! The only bad part is the rapper who sings on Governmentalist. Stalemate and Girlfriend or Demand are the best songs on the CD. Give this woman grammy after grammy for this jewel.

This is an Excellent Cd. Joss Stone is Amazing. Just got this today and loved it on the first listen. This Import Edition includes a bonus 13 minute song "Mr. Wanderman". The bonus track is not listed on the back of the Cd case...But it is on the Cd itself. I almost didn't open it as it only had 12 songs listed on the back, but it does include the song on the disc. This Import Version has the Original Cover Art on it. There was a big controversy about the Original Cover and changed it in the U.S.. So Happy that I took a chance and bought this Cd. Love It!!!

Took so long to arrive I had forgotten about itCd itself good quality, great tunes by Joss. Sealed package

I love how soulful she is. You can sit back and actually listen to this album. It's sad that true soul and R&B is fading.

Old style Joss. 13th track after long wait. Patience will be rewarded!

Love, Love, Love, this CD. Will order 2 more of them.

I LOVED THIS CD , BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE THE BONUS TRACK: EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND!!! OTHER THAN THAT I LOVED IT!!!!!!!

Fourth album from Joss Stone; I wasn't keen on this initially, but subsequent listenings eased me into it – most of the songs were co-written by Stone with Jonathan Shorten and Connor Reeves; it`s perhaps a little uneven in places, but still a good album.The arrangements are impressive; some big ensembles backing her up with nice instrumental details – and the guest appearance by David Sanborn on "I Believe It to My Soul" gets my approval.There are several different editions of this CD available – mine has a playing time of 69.20 minutes and the black and white “cage” photo on the cover which wasn`t released in America – there`s also a cool 13-minute “hidden” bonus track on the UK edition only – she clearly had fun recording this one!

I must say that after I heard Introducing Joss Stone I thought that I may have bought my last album by her. Its combination of cringy lyrics and a black guy in the background shouting 'uh-yeah' every so often was a total turn off for me.When Colour Me Free! came out on Spotify and the news that Joss wanted out of her EMI contract, I gave the album an audition. I have to say that within a few tracks I thought 'Joss's back'! I then heard 4 And 20 and I was once again blown away by this girl's talent.It's not to say that there's not the odd occasional misstep on Colour Me Free!, but these are few and far between and the energy and loose feel of the album show that gentle guidance rather than interference is the way to make this girl shine.My very favourite tracks on Colour Me Free! would have to be Free Me, 4 And 20 and the hidden track Mr W*****man (which may offend some, but to me is a giggle).

Oddly my copy of the CD has track 12 lasting an extra 3 minutes.. of complete silence. Thought it was just the rip I did (I rip all my CDs to PC), so checked on an actually CD player in the HiFi.. nope, it's definitely got 3 minutes of silence on the end ?!

Joss Stone has a brilliant voice, and I enjoyed this album very much. I particularly liked her version of You Got The Love. This collection is as good as her first two albums.

Kind seller professional.  Watch out for the customer!Quick to contacts and answers.Recommended to all friends and relatives.greatlisten & listen