Stone cold stunner

Welcome to the big kids table, Joss Stone. On her third album, Introducing Joss Stone, the 19-year-old with golden pipes takes the songwriting reins and creates an outstanding record. The album is filled with soul, R&B, hip-hop, rock and enough Motown overtones to make the listener wonder whether Berry Gordy woke up one day and decided to produce a new album.\nStone, who has emerged as one of the best female voices on the music scene, is backed by the beats of producer Raphael Saadiq on the disc, and the two do a great job of bringing a ton of energy to each track. However, like any novice songwriter many of the tracks include themes of love and sexuality, with lyrics such as "Baby I'm hungry/ I want and I need/ Bring me your sugar/ And pour it all over me baby."\nThe album's single, "Tell Me 'Bout It," features girl group-style harmonies that only bring Stone's voice further to the forefront. The track serves as a perfect example to demonstrate how so many different music styles were combined to create a fresh pop sound. "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now" features hip-hop great Common. The track is a duet about a couple and is highlighted by Common rhyming a verse and Stone delivering in the chorus. Lauryn Hill is also featured on the track, "Music," a song in which Stone does a great job of describing her passion for her art.\nThis album, which is a long way from Stone's two previous albums, does a great job living up to its title. This is what we've all been waiting for: the girl with the booming voice showing the world what she's made of. The disc has the 'wow' factor necessary for an artist's third release, telling the world that Joss Stone is here and going to stay for a long, long time.