Amos Lee: Last Days At The Lodge

Amos Lee's third album Last Days At The Lodge will be released on June 24th by Blue Note Records. Produced by Don Was, the album often has a more serious tone than Lee's previous effort Supply And Demand. That signature organic sound is still very present, but is now refreshingly simmered with a heavier dose of blues and Southern rock.


now they got me here at the county with his blood still on my fists. well the boys in blue, they don't play no games. all the sheriff said to me was this...you better tell me the truth, son
The foreboding intensity of "Listen" opens the album, showing a broodier side to Lee. The mood suddenly shifts into a seductive r&b groove with "Won't Let Me Go" and "Baby I Want You", and "It Started To Rain" is a soulful post-breakup rumination.

The true stunners, though, are the jailhouse blues and Southern swagger of "Truth" and especially "Street Corner Preacher". Lee has most certainly progressed as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

street corner preacher with the angry face.
he got two years off for good behavior,
back in the neighborhood working for the savior.

Amos Lee - Ease Back (mp3)

Amos Lee Official Site
Amos Lee MySpace

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Amos Lee: Supply And Demand

In this post male singer-songwriter boom, Amos Lee is one of the good ones. The strength and sincerity of his voice combined with lovely melodies and poetic lyrics make for a very pleasant listen. His latest album, Supply And Demand, was released on Blue Note Records last year and contains his usual mix of mellow acoustics and blues sensibility.



"Shout Out Loud" begins the album with a soft acoustic sound that builds slightly into a pop-rock chorus. "Sympathize" has a touch of the blues to it, along with pretty mandolin and piano. "Freedom" is a poetically political tune with a heavier beat and backup vocals by Lizz Wright.

"Careless" slows it down for a soulful ballad about lost love and the betrayal of a close friend. The music fades a bit to showcase Lee's rich vocals on "Skipping Stones". Next up is the lyrics heavy "Supply And Demand". The music of the title track blends several genres, including but not limited to blues, soul, and country.

The swaggering jazz beat and ukulele on "Sweet Pea" call to mind Leon Redbone. "Night Train" blends bluesy vocals and lyrics with an acoustic melody. "Southern Girl" almost sounds like a Gavin DeGraw song with throaty vocals that have a slight lilt to them.

"The Wind" adds pedal steel to the mix for a somewhat melancholy sound, and is probably Lee's best vocal performance on the album. The pedal steel remains on the album's bittersweet finale, "Long Line Of Pain".

I was not granted permission to share an mp3 here, but you can stream songs from the album at the links below.

Amos Lee's Official Site
Amos on MySpace

Buy the album