Music : Rockferry

Rating: - rhythm'n'shuffle
I don't know if Duffy is going to stick around or if it's just the next ex-next big thing, but this is a great album, with brilliant songs, hot arrangements with lots of groovy and rhythm'n'shuffle, and the most powerfull voice since the 60's soul songstress. I absolutely love Mercy, Distant Dreamer, Serious, Warwick Avenue... well, all of them really. The only slight disappointment are the lyrics, I think they could be a bit more smart and elaborate. But anyway an unmissable record.

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Rating: - Duffy is a bit Duff!
Every so often somebody with a rare talent appears and everyone goes wow! Especially considering the lack of real genuine talent in the last 20 years or so. Duffy is no exception and Rockferry I must say showed a lot of promise and I eagerly awaited it's release after hearing the excellent title track Rockferry which was very reminiscent of Sandie Shaw and The Walker Bros, capturing that big echoing sixties feel, and the Northern Soul like Mercy with it's instantly comparable Amy Winehouse styling. Sadly this is about it for great tracks. Anyone buying this album on the strength of Mercy would be very disappointed as the album never reaches the melodic highs of this track and instead seems to slumber in trudging ballad land which really doesn't show Duffy for what she is obviously capable of. The album does however end on a high with the haunting ballad Distant Dreamer which is just fantastic, but I can't help feeling that a lot of these songs were written around Bernard Butler's studio fiddlings and not really from the heart. That said i am sure there is more to be had from the Welsh songbird and with a voice this good let's hope there is more classics in the pipeline.

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Rating: - Sweet Welsh Soul
Occasionally, there comes an album, and an artist that just blows your mind away. Rockferry, the debut album from young Welsh singing sensation Ainee Duffy, or just Duffy as her promotion company want her known, is just such an album. All ten tracks can stand out on there own. They are as different as, in the way they are tied together, they are the same. Of course, everyone who listens to the radio has heard the haunting number one hit Mercy. But there is so much more to this album than that one track. Distant Dreamer has all the hallmarks of a sixties Phil Spector sounding track. Hanging On Too Long has the base guitar undercurrent that reminds me of Marvin Gaye "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". Delayed Devotion is yet another wonderful sixties sounding track that could have been recorded by one of the many female Tamla singers. This is a stupendously brilliant first album. Heaven knows how this lady is going to follow it up, but I hope she does. Go on, give your ears a real treat, go and buy this, it will knock your socks, and everything else off.

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Rating: - Stylish .... a cracking debut .... she's a star !
This is a masterpiece of retro soul with songs that are stylish, detailed and delivered with passion. Some songs are full of longing, some are bluesy, and some make you want to dance your feet off - e.g. "Mercy". If Duffy isn't already a star, I'm sure she will be on the strength of this cracking debut. Play it once and you're hooked. Songs stay with you for days on end straight after the first play, and you'll find yourself wanting to play it over and over again. This is one hell of an addictive album. No fillers here, every song counts and is a gem. An album full of well constructed songs delivered by a voice of natural soul. A great wall of sound, full of orchestra, strings and piano envelopes you and adds to the drama of such a soulful voice. This album, I'm sure, will become a future timeless classic. I can't wait for the follow up. For now though, this will do very nicely indeed. Terrific!

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Rating: - Reminds me of a past era and offers nothing new
I think Duffy is over-hyped in today's musical mediocrity. There is no doubt the lassie can sing but it doesn't make for a great album and I have heard music of this ilk from the 50s and 60s. Yes, she stands out in today's musical climate but it's just not anything new. Some will draw comparisons to other famous singers but she has a long way to go before she can draw the same praise. To compare her to Dusty Springfield is like comparing a button mushroom to a truffle. Also, the ululation on her hit single, Mercy, really irritates me after a while. Not a bad debut album but just not that great either.