Duffy

12.07.07

I don't quite know what to make of Duffy, Rough Trade + Universal's one million pound attempt to channel the spirit of Dusty Springfield into a 22-year old Welsh waif. She's got Carol White's bleach blonde + adorable looks, but her opening slot at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday night wreaked of mega-bucks, an awkward slickness, and the hard fact that everyone at a major label is scrambling to find the next Amy Winehouse. On the surface, Duffy fits the bill perfectly--she's proper blue-eyed soul and her producers McAlmont & Butler ensure that Dusty In Memphis + Stax 45s are studied diligently. But there's little depth in her trebly yet powerful voice, which starts to grate after three songs. And to think that an artist + money + a '60s pop collection can make Amy Winehouse #2 is to miss the essence of Amy entirely. "Rockferry" is a fine track, "To Sir With Love" meets Dusty and bound to please adults missing their childhood pop. But that's just it. Like the Pipettes, Duffy defines the word "retro" and there's nothing I dislike more than an artist of today trying so desperately to sound like yesterday. I've already got my Ronettes records, thank you. I'll probably buy the Duffy album, love a couple of the tracks, and then forget about it a month later. Whereas I'm still listening to Back To Black.

Sheila

Posted by Sheila at 07:47 AM