AMG Review of Introducing Joss Stone

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Joss Stone defiantly titled her third album Introducing Joss Stone, dismissing her first two albums with one smooth stroke. Stone claims those records were made under record label pressure, but as a young adult of 19, she's free to pursue her muse in her own fashion. However, Introducing Joss Stone isn't radically different from what Stone has done before. The professional in-the-pocket grooves have been replaced by drum loops, the warm burnished sound has been ditched in favor of crisp, bright sonics, Harlan Howard covers are pushed aside for cameos by Common and Lauryn Hill. It's a cosmetic change that works: Introducing does sound brighter, fresher than her other two albums, pitched partway between Amy Winehouse and Christina Aguilera, yet sounding very much like Texas at their prime.