Amos Lee

Bouncing back from a sophomore slump, Philly’s Amos Lee regains solid footing with his third release, Last Days at the Lodge. With a new producer (Don Was), and some new ideas, Lee finds himself in familiar but sonically alluring grounds. He’s a late bloomer of sorts, but it’s clear that music is in his blood and soul. Tapping into a variety of influences, Last Days is a musical palette of deep and rootsy folk filtered through a sweet soul and R&B intellect. Lee’s heroes are obvious – he channels Al Green with “Won’t Let Me Go,” there’s a lot of Bill Withers in the powerful “Street Corner Preacher,” and you can’t help but hear a continuation of the late Curtis Mayfield’s gentle political commentary on “Jails and Bombs.” Nary a weak track clutters the disc. And with great backing by Spooner Oldham, Doyle Bramhall Jr. and Greg Leisz, Lee has found his voice. Again. 4 Stars.