Amy Winehouse "Back To Black"

A powerhouse of talent and trouble, Amy Winehouse burst into the mainstream with a mix of vintage flair -- as well as vintage problems -- that made her a must-watch artist.

Her mainstream debut album, Back to Black, is one of the most confessional albums of the 21st Century so far -- and one of its best, period. It's a mix of throwback arrangements and Winehouse's undoubtedly inebriated vocals.

"Back to Black" is the album's centerpiece, a sensational cocktail of lust for a man and the drug-filled void she admittedly falls into when things eventually go wrong with him (over and over).

Unlike most British singers, Winehouse did not try to hide her British accent, giving the album an extra layer of authenticity. She also displays a range of emotions in her voice, going from vulnerable to strong and demanding in the span of a few notes.

While she was alive -- but even more so since her death -- Back to Black's producer, Mark Ronson, championed Winehouse as the groundbreaking singer she was but also the fragile, reclusive person should could be. That story is expected to play out in its entirety in an upcoming biopic that has gained Ronson's approval.

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