Music review: Amos Lee – 鈥楽pirit鈥�
While recently driving home from Cincinnati after attending an electrifying show by Rob Thomas and a rain-delayed performance by the Counting Crows, I wisely decided to listen to the latest release from Amos Lee to help make the four-hour journey an enjoyable one.
鈥淪pirit,鈥� Lee鈥檚 first new studio album in three years, passionately blends elements of folk, pop, gospel and R&B into 13 inspiring tracks that highlight the singer-songwriter鈥檚 intimate lyrics and soulful voice.
鈥淣ew Love鈥� opens softly with a smooth piano introduction followed by gentle horns ushering in Lee鈥檚 velvet tone as he vividly paints a euphoric sense of excitement and promise brought on by a new relationship.
鈥淩unning Out of Time鈥� is a rousing gospel-flavored number about living life to its fullest as Lee sings, 鈥淟ord have mercy, because I鈥檓 running out of time.鈥�
The title track finds the Philadelphia native in a Cajun state of mind after encountering and personally feeling the 鈥渟pirit鈥� of a street singer in New Orleans.
The R&B and funk leanings of 鈥淰aporize鈥� and stylish orchestration of 鈥淗urt Me鈥� deliver the painful details of trying to escape the grip of a bad relationship.
On 鈥淥ne Lonely Light,鈥� Lee sounds almost Dylanesque as he presents a comforting message of reunion and conviction.
The heartfelt message of finding comfort during the loneliest of times tenderly engulfs 鈥淲ait up for Me鈥� with Lee assuringly asking, 鈥淲ait up for me/I鈥檒l be coming home so you don鈥檛 have to be alone.鈥�
Lee offers up a soulful dish on 鈥淭ill You Come Back Through鈥� and 鈥淲alls鈥� by easing out of his folk and pop mode only to transition into a pleasing falsetto.
鈥淲ith You,鈥� a beautiful ballad of hope, transformation and love, closes the set out with an elegant grace.
鈥淪pirit鈥� was produced by Lee and is also his first release for John Varvatos Records. It would appear that the renowned fashion designer and Lee have made a meaningful connection.
Lee鈥檚 latest work provides a true spiritual cleansing through its engaging messages of hope, transformation and love.
Can I get an Amen?
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.