Early in her new album, "Mind, Body and Soul," Joss Stone [ tickets ] croons, "I'm feeling wings, though I've never flown."

The lyrics aren't particularly surprising, as the British singer is just 17 years old. But this young-person's sentiment comes out in a voice so soulful and rich, you would never match it to the petite blonde songstress it came from.

Following the unexpected success of her first album, "The Soul Sessions"--a collection of cover songs--this new work is totally original, though helped by a handful of music-industry veterans. But even in collaborations, the personality in Stone's voice--which truly gives new meaning to the phrase "having an old soul"--shines through, especially in tracks like the opener, "Right to Be Wrong," that couples her fresh voice with old, keyboard-and-guitar blues.

More gems include "Don't Cha Wanna Ride," sampling the 1968 Young-Holt Limited hit "Soulful Strut"; the reggae-infused "Less is More"; and the closing "Sleep Like a Child," that brings to mind classic soul ballads like "Dark End of the Street."

In other songs, Stone goes with a more contemporary R&B style (in "You Had Me," she sounds like all of Destiny's Child rolled into one)--and these tunes are less memorable. It's when she puts her deep, worldly vocals to tunes that can stand the test of time that she truly makes her magic.