I Learned the Hard Way Daptone***

Sharon Jones and the sharpsuited band who have her back have always had soul to burn. Now they’ve also got a bit of a profile, thanks to nixers on releases by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson. There’s a greater awareness about these retro-soul troopers and their note-perfect primetime soul and funk. But it’s Jones who separates them from other nostalgia freaks. She’s the real deal, a tough, worldwise soul-shouter, once

a guard at Sing-Sing prison, who shakes up her band’s dusty grooves with a radiant, swaggering vocal performance. Over swinging brass and funky breaks, Jones tells her tales of heartbreakers, cheats and good love gone bad. The lyrics may come straight from the soul playbook, but you can’t fault the performance. See sharonjonesandthedap kings.com

Download tracks:Mama Don't Like My Man, If You Call