Amy Winehouse was always a little left of centre — some complained she was brazen and dishevelled, but to others, she was a sheer joy to observe when she was at her best.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures was released in December 2011 and showcases the 27 year old who broke boundaries and let loose a fire of emotion, raw innocence and a flurry of self-destructive tendencies that gave way to a fallible character: one that was surely not to go away quietly and disappear into thin air. The album hit number one on the U.K. charts and was warmly welcomed.

Winehouse was 27 when her body was discovered on July 23, 2011 in her own bed. Coroners stated alcohol poisoning was the cause — a substance that she routinely battled.

Winehouse's CD is a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Regardless, it showcases her ability to blend blues and jazz with a twist of R&B that doesn't come often enough in the music industry. She was unique, simply stated. No one can forget her beehive, her tattoos or her liquid eyeliner.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures is very honest and explores the issues that were dealt her way and her inability to manage her problems and success. "Tears Dry" is a relentless cry for help, asking why she pushes men away and yet breaks in their presence. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?," the original by Carol King, shows Winehouse's vulnerability and her vocal reach.

"Like Smoke" is a friendly duet with rapper Nas and exudes lyrical genius from both artists.

Unfortunately, at the point of the seventh song, "The Girl From Ipanema," Winehouse loses organization and deliberation. The next song, "Half Time," is equally poor and the underlying theme midway through is that love and rejection come expectantly to Winehouse.

Nevertheless, "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett gets her back on her toes and she delivers her sass with style.

Mark Ronson, an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records, worked with Winehouse on Back to Black and helped her write the hook to "Rehab." In the liner notes, he gravely questions why Winehouse fell off her path to success.

"I hate the fact that I will never get to make music with her (again). I feel like a part of my creative soul has been removed, never again to be recovered. But then I have to remind myself how lucky I am to have even got to work on one album with her."

"I think of her all the time and how she never, ever compromised herself in her music and her everyday life," he wrote.

For more information, visit amywinehouse.com.

Rating: 4 out of 5