Amos Lee

iTunes Review

Amos Lee has an uncommonly smooth soulful voice, and the first track, “Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight,” could describe this entire album. Primarily acoustic and down-tempo, the songs are set to light guitar with subtle organ, piano, spare percussion and strings added for texture in spots. The slyly funky “Give it Up” and “Bottom of the Barrel,” an infectious folk ditty that pays homage to John Prine, pick up the pace a notch without interrupting the mellow flow. Lee is backed by some of the same musicians that Norah Jones (who plays piano on two tracks) worked with on Come Away With Me, and his album shares a similar low-key, moody vibe. A talented songsmith who fits snugly into in the classic 1970s singer/songwriter continuum, Lee sings about life, loss, and love in a rich voice that ranges from a gentle croon to a Curtis Mayfield-like falsetto. His melodies are organic and unforced and his lyrics are thoughtful and heartfelt. Well-deserved praise has been heaped upon Lee from critics and fellow musicians alike, and he has opened shows for legends such as Bob Dylan, B.B. King, and Mose Allison.