The 2007 Best Artist You've Never Heard Of is... Amy Winehouse.

The 2007 Best Artist You've Never Heard Of is... Amy Winehouse.

Already a hit in the UK, I stumbled upon her by following a link that listed jazz singers influenced by Gospel singing, and I was just bowled over when I found her.

Her voice is equal parts Eryhak Badu, Nina Simone and melted butter. Her gospel influence is readily apparent in the single "Rehab", my early pick for Best Song of 2007. The music is Motown produced by Phil Spector, and only the fidelity of the track would convince you that it wasn't some passed-over gem from 1968.

(ARRANGEMENT AND PRODUCTION ANALYSES FOLLOW: THIS COULD GET BORING.) The song opens with the chorus (a la "Help" or "Ticket to Ride") with double handclaps on the 2 and 4 beat. Because of their positioning in the song, you are led to believe that these are the verses: You eventually realize that these "verses" have no lyrical or key change. Obviously written on a guitar, the song stays in C Major throughout, with a progression of C G C F C, standard in every Hootie and the Blowfish song and about eleventy jillion others. It is the bizarre Verse progression that builds ungodly tension. The E - Am [five half-steps apart] to F - Ab [5 half-steps apart, 1/2 step higher] to G creates a "Chopsticks"-like simultaneous ascension-descension that, maddeningly, never resolves. The song's cold ending, perfect for radio, leaves you feeling like you do when a rollercoaster ride ends earlier than you expect: Loving the experience but wanting more.

WRITE IT ON A ROCK: I GUARANTEE SHE BECOMES HUGE. Seek her out.