BEST
2. AMY WINEHOUSE
Back to Black (Universal Republic)
Now infamously troubled, Amy Winehouse risks a total eclipse of the art. But come what may, Black will hold up as one of the great breakthrough CDs of our time. This synthesis of girl-group soul, doowop, and vintage Bond-theme music makes you feel like you've tapped into a ghost radio station...until you hear those often hilarious contemporary lyrics. Refusing ''Rehab''? Confessing to her man that those rug burns signify just what he imagines (''You Know I'm No Good'')? Then, bilking expectations, she gives us a timeless lament like ''Love Is a Losing Game.'' In the end, the singer's real-life heartache over her incarcerated spouse proves what's obvious from the grooves: When this lady sings about love, she means every word.