Rockferry (Mercury): A-
The Amy Winehouse comparisons are unavoidable: Duffy is another young, white chick from the UK whose music comes steeped in a retro ’60s vibe. But instead of sass and swagger, Duffy is all vulnerability, evoking memories of both Motown queen Mary Wells and English soul queen Dusty Springfield. The 23-year-old Welsh lass excels on a set of mostly broody ballads aided by hooky arrangements from the likes of Suede guitarist Bernard Butler; check out “Syrup & Honey,” a stripped-down nod to Otis Redding. The best example of the pop smarts of “Rockferry” is the sole up-tempo cut, the single “Mercy,” the track to download since you’ll want to hear it again as soon as it’s over.
