Amos Lee

It doesn’t hurt to have friends. People listening to Amos Lee’s self-titled debut CD will immediately hear Norah Jones playing on the first cut. This album is all about friends and feelings. Mostly though, it’s about the songs.

For those of you who need comparisons, there are plenty to come by. Amos’ deft vocals, tight songwriting and expressive guitar work will evoke anyone from Van Morrison to Keb’Mo to Bill Withers. But once you get past trying to put a label on him, you will hear some delightfully soulful music.

Produced (except for the final song) by Lee Alexander (there’s the Norah Jones connection again – he plays bass in her band), the musicians at work here shine at letting the song take center stage. Flash is passed over for substance – not a single guitar riff is wasted or self-absorbed. Songs like Arms Of A Woman, Colors or Black River, which, in less capable hands, could easily turn into cliches, become stunning with their stark arrangements.

Kudos go to Adam Levy (again from Norah Jones’ band) for demonstrating yet again that the best guitarists let the song dictate the guitar part and that space is not the lost art that many would think.

And Amos is no slouch in the guitar department, either! His haunting rhythmic playing is a delight, especially when it carries a song like the closing All My Friends.

While the feeling here is truly laid back, there are so many interesting undercurrents and influences at work that you hear new things each time you listen. It will be very interesting to see what musical steps Amos Lee will take in the future. Hopefully he will have more friends along for the ride!