Mind, Body & Soul
These days, it seems anyone can make an R&B; album. However, recording a soul album takes that special intangible element. The 17-year-old Devon, England, native first proved that she has it withThe Soul Sessions, a collection of rare soul grooves. She does it here again withMind, Body & Soul, her first album of original material. For those who thought that Stone could only interpret vintage ballads, witness the midtempo attitude of "Jet Lag." Backed by a thumping backbeat, Stone tells of a love of so all-encompassing that it is physically draining. On lead single, "You Had Me," Stone takes the persona of a woman done wrong with biting edge and a funky wah-wah guitar introduces her "get lost" sentiment over an infectious hook.Mind, Body & Soulalso features a host of moving ballads that are reminiscent of the more downtempo fare characteristic ofThe Soul Sessions. The choir-backed "Security" is an organ-touched tale of love and support in the wake of tragedy. "Spoiled," a song Stone wrote with the legendary Lamont and Beau Dozier ofDozier-Holland-Dozier, is a romantically lush offering in which Stone's alto caresses the piano-driven arrangement. OtherMind, Body & Soulhighlights include the hypnotic "Snakes & Ladders" and the roots reggae vibe of "Less Is More." WhileThe Soul Sessionsintroduced Stone to the world, this album will make her placement in the soul canon undeniable. --Rashaun Hall