Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way

Label: Dap-Tone

At the beginning, when she emerged on the scene early last decade, Sharon Jones was “just” (not to be dismissive) a good soul singer with an interesting back story. Upon the arrival of her fourth album, I Learned the Hard Way, the former corrections officer at Riker’s has clearly transcended her (admittedly cool) influences; instead of playing within a style mapped out by past greats, Jones and the band she’s grown alongside, The Dap-Kings, have now become great artists in their own right, thoroughly retro for the modern age and with high-test songwriting to match the chops they’ve always shown. They really haven’t done anything but be good, and play a lot, with themselves and plenty of others (the Dap-Kings quietly made Amy Winehouse‘s breakthrough album, Back to Black, so great, for example), on their path to defining themselves as more than just excellent stylists. You won’t find a dud here, but everything that makes I Learned the Hard Way the first necessary album of the warm season can be found on the title track. (Vinyl includes digital download and there’s a free 7-inch with each purchase while supplies last.) (M.L. Thrope)