Water for Your Soul

Water for Your Soul
Studio album by
Joss Stone
Released31 July 2015 (2015-07-31)
Recorded2012–2015
Studio
Genre
Length64:10
LabelStone'd
Producer
  • Joss Stone
  • Jonathan Shorten
  • Steve Greenwell
Joss Stone chronology
The Soul Sessions Vol. 2
(2012) 		Water for Your Soul
(2015) 		Never Forget My Love
(2022)
Singles from Water for Your Soul
  1. "Stuck on You"
    Released: 11 May 2015[3]
  2. "The Answer"
    Released: 12 June 2015[4]
  3. "Molly Town"
    Released: 11 September 2015[5]

Water for Your Soul is the seventh studio album by English singer and songwriter Joss Stone, released on 31 July 2015 through her own label, Stone'd Records.[6] It marks her first studio album of original material since LP1 (2011), following the release of the covers album The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 (2012). Musically, it incorporates reggae and hip hop with influences from many different genres, including soul, R&B, world, gospel, Latin and some Indian and Irish influence. The art design was crafted by Irish designer Aoife Hastings, who won a competition launched by Stone through social media which gave fans the opportunity to create her new album cover art. This exposure propelled Aoife's career forward, enabling her to work on renowned brands such as Coca-Cola, Heineken, Diageo, Mondelēz and Pepsi, among many others. [7]

Background

[edit]

In 2008, Stone launched a legal battle in a bid to leave her record label, EMI, and free her of her current three-album deal with the record label.[8] After EMI delayed the release of Colour Me Free!, originally scheduled for April 2009, the album was ultimately released on 20 October 2009.[9] Stone said that her record company also fought her about the original cover of her new album, calling it "offensive", but by late August 2010, it was reported that Stone had parted ways with EMI.[10] In January 2011, she launched her own independent record label, Stone'd Records.[11]

Stone partnered with Surfdog Records to release her fifth studio album, LP1, on 26 July 2011, through her own label Stone'd Records.[12] Stone also joined the supergroup SuperHeavy which was formed by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, together with Dave Stewart, Damian Marley (the youngest son of Bob Marley) and Indian musician and producer A. R. Rahman.[13] The group's self-titled debut album was released on 20 September 2011 by A&M Records. Additionally, Stone released her sixth studio album, The Soul Sessions Vol. 2, which saw Stone return to her original label, S-Curve Records, who released the album jointly with the singer's Stone'd Records.

Recording

[edit]

Stone decided to record a reggae album after working with Damian Marley on SuperHeavy in 2011. In an interview with the Official Charts Company, she stated: "Damien actually said to me, 'Joss, you have to do a reggae album!' I'm not crazy enough to know that a reggae album from me would be a very weird thing to do, but the songs we've created are heavily rooted in that sound. That's the style of the album. There's also the Irish fiddles, the Sarod, the tablas, the gospel, flamenco guitar..."[14]

Stone began to work on a new record as soon after launch her sixth album The Soul Sessions Vol. 2. She revealed to the newspaper La Vanguardia in July 2012 that she would work on a reggae album. She stated that it would be recorded and produced by herself and Marley. In March 2014, she elaborated that the new album would be a little bit different and "more eclectic" with a "little bit more hip-hop and reggae".[15]

The sounds and artistry direction of album was adapted and developed through four years that followed until the finished product, even putting songs written by her a long time ago. "The creation of the album has been going on for a while and I certainly had no idea what was getting myself into when I started it. [...] The songs on the album 'Wake Up' and 'Underworld' I wrote ages ago, with no real plan of them going on a record. Then I met Damien Marley when we were working on the Superheavy stuff and we started writing songs in the spare time we had between the sessions. I developed such a strong love for reggae music."[14]

In 2014, Stone also worked with the Urban Folk Quartet members Joe Broughton and Paloma Trigas, who provided string parts for the album. Band member Tom Chapman said how the collaboration began: "Joss watched our gig at Green Man festival last year and came up to chat afterwards. She's really lovely and since then she's stayed in touch and come to see us on tour. When she needed something a little different for the strings on her new record she invited Joe and Paloma down to her studio where they had a great time making music".[16][17]

Release and promotion

[edit]

Stone signed deals with three different label services for the album release. The album was released via Stone's own label, Stone'd Records, in conjunction with Essential Music & Marketing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Kobalt handled distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia, South America, Japan and China, while Membran was in charge for Europe and Africa. Essential's Stuart Meikle said: "Essential are absolutely delighted to be a part of the ongoing development of Joss's musical adventure."[18]

In addition to the album's release, Stone embarked on a proper "world tour" with the intention of playing a gig in every country on the planet.[19] The Total World Tour began on 29 March 2014 in Casablanca, Morocco[20][21] and concluded on 3 July 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.[19]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic62/100[22]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboard[23]
Boston Globe[29]
Entertainment WeeklyB[24]
Exclaim!7/10[25]
The Guardian[26]
The Independent[27]
Paste8.3/10[2]
PopMatters[28]
Uncut[22]

Water for Your Soul received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 62, based on 14 reviews.[22]

At The Guardian, Caroline Sullivan wrote: "the pro-weed track 'Sensimilla' will prompt mass eye-rolling because of her decision to sing part of it in patois, and Harry's Symphony likewise (her accent – 'If you want to get 'igh, bring your own supply' etc. – turns it into Stone's own 'Dreadlock Holiday', which probably wasn't the intention)." Concluding her review on a more positive note, Sullivan suggested: "this album is definitely worth an unbiased listen."[26]

Shaun Connors of Trucking magazine wrote: "Hideous. Stone's previous soulful wailings were bad enough, but this tangential slide into pop-reggae is even worse. Bland and with no sense of genuine style or direction." Concluding a one star out of five review, Connors added: "This 'I'll do what I want release' is suited to no more than beach-bar background music on a Death In Paradise-style Caribbean island."[30]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Water for Your Soul debuted at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 4,615 copies in its first week.[31] As of December 2015, the album had sold 29,000 copies in United States, becoming the best-selling current reggae album of 2015 and, so far, the second largest overall.[32]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love Me"
5:06
2."This Ain't Love"
  • Stone
  • Jonathan Shorten
4:28
3."Stuck on You"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
4:18
4."Star"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
5:07
5."Let Me Breathe"
5:15
6."Cut the Line"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
4:06
7."Wake Up" (featuring Damian Marley)
  • Stone
  • Shorten
  • Marley
  • Reeves
4:44
8."Way Oh"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
  • Marc Cyril
  • 'Level' Neville Malcolm
  • Richie Stevens
5:49
9."Underworld"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
  • Malcolm
  • Stevens
  • E. 'Kenya' Baker
4:08
10."Molly Town"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
3:34
11."Sensimilla"
4:17
12."Harry's Symphony"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
3:54
13."Clean Water"
  • Stone
  • Cyril
4:30
14."The Answer"
  • Stone
  • Bovell
  • Shorten
4:46
Target exclusive edition and Japanese edition bonus track[33][34]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Water for Your Soul"
  • Stone
  • Shorten
  • Reeves
4:34
Amazon exclusive deluxe edition bonus disc[35]
No.TitleLength
1."Way Oh" (dub) 
2."Love Me" (dub) 
3."Harry's Symphony" (dub) 
4."Sensimilla" (dub) 
5."Molly Town" (dub) 
6."Underworld" (featuring George Clinton) (dub) 

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Water for Your Soul.[36]

Musicians

[edit]
  • Joss Stone – vocals (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 7–9)
  • Richie Stevens – drums (tracks 1, 3, 7, 13)
  • Pete Iannacone – bass (tracks 1–6, 8–11, 14)
  • 'Level' Neville Malcolm – bass (tracks 1, 9); guitar (tracks 2, 6–8, 10–12, 14); electric guitar (track 5)
  • Jeff Scantlebury – congas (tracks 1, 3); percussion (tracks 2, 7, 12, 13); drums (track 3)
  • Stanley Andrews – guitar (tracks 1, 3)
  • Leon Mobley – percussion (tracks 1, 3, 5–9, 11, 12, 14)
  • Jonathan Shorten – piano (tracks 1, 3, 6–12, 14); keyboards (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6); Wurlitzer (track 2); organ (tracks 3, 9, 12); Rhodes (track 5); Hammond (tracks 7, 8, 10, 14); melodica (tracks 8, 9); clavinet (track 13)
  • Jeff T. Watkins – saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 10, 12); horn arrangements
  • Ian Smith – trumpet, trombone (tracks 1, 3, 10, 12)
  • Artia Lockett – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6, 10, 13, 14)
  • Ellison Kendrick – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6, 10, 13, 14)
  • Antonia Jenae' – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6, 10, 13, 14)
  • Ricardo Jordan – drums (tracks 2, 4–6, 8–12)
  • Alan Weekes – guitar (tracks 2, 4, 6, 9–14); electric guitar (track 5)
  • Wil Malone – string arrangement (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8)
  • Tony Stanton – copyist (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8)
  • London Session Orchestra – strings (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8)
  • Damon Bryson – tuba (track 4)
  • Lakehouse Music Academy[b] – children's choir (track 4)
  • Nitin Sawhney – nylon guitar (track 5)
  • Orphy Robinson – vibraphone (tracks 6, 11)
  • Dennis Bovell – bass (track 7); backing vocals (track 14)
  • Janet Ramus – backing vocals (tracks 7, 9, 13)
  • Michelle John – backing vocals (tracks 7, 9, 13)
  • Damian Marley – additional vocals (track 7)
  • Steve Down – guitar (track 10); acoustic guitar (track 13)
  • Ashwin Srinivasan – bansuri flute (track 11)
  • Aref Durvesh – tabla (track 11); dholak (track 12)
  • Marc Cyril – bass (tracks 12, 13)
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson – vocal sample (track 12)
  • Jonathan Joseph – drums (track 14)
  • Ponciano Almeida – berimbau (track 14)
  • Joe Broughton – violin (track 14)
  • Paloma Trigas – violin (track 14)
  • Sarah Harrison – violin (track 14)
  • Judacamp Choir – gospel choir (track 14)
  • Jules "Juda" Bartholomew – choir direction, choir arrangement

Technical

[edit]
  • Joss Stone – production
  • Jonathan Shorten – production, engineering
  • Steve Greenwell – production, engineering, mixing
  • Brian Nelson – executive production
  • Tommy Williams – additional engineering
  • Jay Auburn – additional engineering
  • Chris Athens – mastering
  • Eddie Ward – additional engineering
  • Robert Hall – engineering assistance
  • Erik Romero – engineering, engineering assistance
  • Tim Tannella – engineering assistance
  • Andre "A-minor" Johnson – choir engineering
  • Jon Bailey – string engineering
  • John Prestage – engineering assistance

Artwork

[edit]
  • Aoife Hastings – art design
  • Rod Cousins – additional art design, layout

Charts

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Additional recording
  2. ^ Christina Olson, Ava DiLouie, Broke Lichthardt and Luke Bonenfant.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Water for Your Soul – Joss Stone". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b Gleason, Holly (14 July 2015). "Joss Stone: Water For Your Soul Review". Paste. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Stuck on You – Single by Joss Stone". iTunes Store. Germany. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. ^ "The Answer – Single by Joss Stone". iTunes Store. Germany. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Molly Town – Single by Joss Stone". iTunes Store. Germany. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Water for Your Soul by Joss Stone". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. ^ Ryan, Ali (14 November 2014). "Irish designer Aoife Hastings wins competition to design Joss Stone's new album". Goss.ie. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Joss Stone Begins Battle To Leave EMI". Starpulse. 21 April 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2008.
  9. ^ Collis, Clark (29 September 2009). "Joss Stone's new single, 'Free Me': Hear it now!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  10. ^ "downloads". JossStone.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Grammy-Award Winning Performer Joss Stone Launches New Label; Joss Stone, Yes Sir Boss Sign With Stone'd Records". Stone'd Records. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Joss Stone Announces Release of New Album, LP1, on July 26". JossStone.com. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  13. ^ Greene, Andy (20 May 2011). "Mick Jagger Forms Supergroup with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone and Damian Marley". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  14. ^ a b Copsey, Rob (12 May 2015). "Joss Stone interview: "I've got it wrong so many times, but I'm proud of what I've achieved"". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  15. ^ McBride, Paul (11 March 2014). "Joss Stone: Soul Sister". Scenestr. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. ^ Freak, Dave (28 April 2014). "Interview: Urban Folk Quartet". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  17. ^ Broughton, Joe (April 2015). "New UFQ album, Fairport, Joss Stone, MFY artist in residence..." JoeBroughton.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  18. ^ Williamson, Coral (7 May 2015). "Joss Stone signs three label services deals for new album". Music Week. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  19. ^ a b Moore, Peter (27 June 2013). "Joss Stone's Every-Country-in-the-World tour". Wanderlust. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Joss Stone's Total World Tour Locations Announced!". Stone'd Records. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  21. ^ "UK singer Joss Stone makes her way to SA". Mail & Guardian. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  22. ^ a b c "Water for Your Soul by Joss Stone Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  23. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (28 July 2015). "Joss Stone Falls Flat With Reggae Experiment 'Water for Your Soul': Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  24. ^ Vain, Madison (17 July 2015). "Water for Your Soul by Joss Stone: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  25. ^ Bauer, Matt (29 July 2015). "Joss Stone: Water for Your Soul". Exclaim!. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  26. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (30 July 2015). "Joss Stone: Water for Your Soul review – poor choices on a listenable album". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  27. ^ Gill, Andy. "Joss Stone, Water For Your Soul - album review". The Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  28. ^ Horowitz, Steve (23 July 2015). "Joss Stone: Water for Your Soul". PopMatters. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  29. ^ Morse, Steve (30 July 2015). "Joss Stone, 'Water for Your Soul'". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  30. ^ Connors, Shaun (November 2015). "Review: Water for Your Soul". Trucking. Cudham, England. p. 36.
  31. ^ Jones, Alan (7 August 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: The Maccabees's Marks To Prove It takes No.1 albums slot". Music Week. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  32. ^ Caulfield, Keith (22 December 2015). "How Joss Stone Earned the No. 1 Year-End Reggae Album of 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  33. ^ "Joss Stone – Water For Your Soul – Target Exclusive". Target. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  34. ^ "Water For Your Soul : Joss Stone". HMV Japan. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  35. ^ "Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul (Amazon Exclusive Deluxe Edition)". Amazon. United States. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  36. ^ Joss Stone (2015). Water for Your Soul (liner notes). Stone'd Records. STONE001.
  37. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  39. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Joss Stone Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  41. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  42. ^ "Lescharts.com – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  43. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  44. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Joss Stone – Water for Your Soul". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  47. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  48. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  49. ^ "Joss Stone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  50. ^ "Joss Stone Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  51. ^ "Joss Stone Chart History (Reggae Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  52. ^ "Joss Stone Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  53. ^ "Reggae Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  54. ^ "Reggae Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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