Joss Stone
Water For Your Soul
(Stone’d Records Ltd)

Soul singer Joss Stone is known for her expressive voice that incorporates shades of rock and pop while still covering universal themes of love, loss and longing. On her seventh project though, the reggae-inspired Water For Your Soul, fans might not be happy with the direction the artist aimed for.

Having followed Stone’s career since 2004’s Mind, Body & Soul, her sophomore release of funk, pop and soul that included the UK hit “You Had Me” and the sultry ballad “Spoiled,” I was expecting a change from the now 28-year old English songwriter. Seven albums in, artists tend to get creative. But upon first listening to Water For Your Soul, which is co-produced by Damian Marley – her bandmate from the ill-fated SuperHeavy, it’s hard to say if a different direction was a good idea. Though the voice is still Joss Stone, beautiful and smooth, the album itself is missing that heart and grit the singer is known for. Incorporating a hybrid of sounds, Water For Your Soul includes 14 tracks of lukewarm tunes, save for a couple of favorites at the outset, such as the roots-soul “Love Me” and “This Ain’t Love” as well as the Spanish-flavored “Let Me Breathe.”