Amy Winehouse - Lioness (Hidden Treasures)
It doesn't take a lot to make me cry, but upon hearing the news of Amy Winehouse's death last year, I was sent into a fit of tears. The list of musicians who've had that effect on me only contains one other name (Michael Jackson). She was one of the first musicians that really tore me away from pop sensibilities and made me aware of (at least some of) the history of soul and blues music. In amongst all of the spite from the dark corners of the internet (fuelled by thoughtless posts like "this is hardly surprising" as though death should be measured by how jaw-dropping it is), there came some touching tributes, though, and the optimist in me says she'll be remembered as a fantastic talent. The other side to the story, however, and it is a story, because her father keeps insisting on thrusting it into the tabloid-readership's faces, is that Lioness is a rushed, half-arsed cash scheme. There's a saddening lack of dignity displayed by Mitch Winehouse - but...