The Soul Sessions

Wisely avoiding iconic songs by the genre's biggest names, Stone and a production team that includes Wright opt for lesser-known tunes by the likes of Laura Lee, Joe Simon and the Soul Brothers Six--not to mention their digging out (with guest coproducer ?uestlove from the Roots) the great soul lyric in the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a (Boy)". Joss Stone occasionally misses a connection; her "Some Kind of Wonderful" is listless and when she develops a bit more subtlety, it'll be welcome. But The Soul Sessions has a spark beyond the album's obvious good taste. --Rickey Wright