A Guide To All The Singers in the Post-Winehouse Era

While searching the internets for new music to uncover, discover and recover from, I come across so many singers who are benefiting from the success of A.W., and unfortunately, the eventual lack of productivity that comes from Winehouse's breakdown.

You'll hear her name dropped so many times with these artists you'd think music journalists are being paid by the mentions. Then the singers have to defend themselves in interviews saying that they were into Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield and The Shangri-las before Winehouse broke-out. Well, that could be true, they must admit that the attention they are getting is based on labels finding the replacement Winehouse. It happened with Gwen Stefani, which beget Lily Allen, which beget Katy Perry.

Anyway, here's a quick guide to who's who. Despite the packaging by the labels as the anti-Winehouse (doesn't opening smoke crack, can speak in complete sentence, etc.), I actually enjoy most of these singers. The music is glossy, heavily produced, but it makes me happy, thus it will make you happy.

Name: Duffy (Aimee Duffy)

Album: Rockferry

Best Song: Warwick Avenue

Production: Bernard Butler, Jimmy Hogarth

Thoughts: She's the blonde one in the bunch in case you get confused. I'm truly enjoying the album after multiple listens, except for the hip-hop tinged hit song "Mercy." That just smacks of some record exec. saying, "We need a radio hit for the kids. Add some hip-hop beats."

Name: Candie Payne

Album: I Wish I Could Have Loved You More

Best Song: I Wish I Could Have Loved You More

Production: Simon Dine

Thoughts: This is the singer I dig the most. It's the most 60s British psychedelic sounding with those funky drums and spooky organs swirling around.

Name: Adele (Adele Adkins)

Album: 19

Best Song: Chasing Pavements

Production: Jim Abbiss

Thoughts: The best pure singer in this group, and also the least Winehouse sounding. She's more mellow and in the torch song vein. Look for her in the Mercury Prize announcement in a few weeks.

Name: Sharleen Spiteri

Album: Melody

Best Song: All the Times I've Cried

Production: Sharleen Spiteri, Bernard Butler

Thoughts: Looks like Bernard Butler is the new Mark Ronson of 2008. Sharleen is the lead singer of Texas, venturing out on her own for the first time. She's also the veteran of this group, and who has a vast knowledge of the 60s soul singer era. The album is a large effort with expansive string arrangements and moments of true heights.

Name: Gabriella Cilmi

Album: Lessons to Be Learned

Best Song: Save the Lies

Production: Xenomania

Thoughts: She's 16, cousins. Yes, I'm thinking what you're thinking and it's wrong. She's the one who's the most blatant Winehouse packaging. She comes from Australia where she has a huge following. From the bits and pieces that I could heard of her album, it sounds mainstream and easy to digest -- not too challenging. It was put together by the Girls Aloud hit masters, who, it must be noted, that Franz Ferdinand were working on for album No. 3, but eventually scrapped.

Comments

[bill p]

Candy Payne is my favorite of the bunch, though I like Adele too. I'm pretty sure at least one song on CP's album was produced by Mr. Ronson.

[My hmphs]

I had been avoiding these gals, seeing them as Winehouse knock-offs. But now that I've had just about enough of Amy, I need to give them a try. Thanks!

[Tan The Man]

Gabriella has a surprising sound for someone her age.

[Fiona]

Sharleen may be "post Winehouse" in the timeline from the point of view of launching a solo career, but it'd be a huge mistake to assume she's jumped on Amy's bandwagon and I hope that's not the inference. She's a massive presence in her own right and I'm sure didn't need Amy Winowarehouse for inspiration!