[rating=4.50]
On his fourth album, Mission Bell, Amos Lee decided to take his time to get it right. Though the previous two releases weren’t bad, Lee admits that they were rushed and were easily lost among a myriad of rootsy singers strumming an acoustic guitar. The result of that deliberation could be a career-defining album.
Mission Bell strays from the traditional singer-songwriter mold. R&B grooves, country twang and rock energy give the album a fuller sound without sacrificing any intimacy. Slide guitar and a marching beat give an appropriate road-weariness to “Windows Are Rolled Down.” The seductive rumba of “Hello Again” serves as an antithesis to the song’s message, as Lee croons “you used to be so beautiful, but now it’s easy to walk away” over romantic trumpets.
In an album filled with guitars, organ and pedal steel guitar, though, the best instrument is still Lee’s voice. Bob Dylan uses lyrics to weave complex narratives into this songs; Amos Lee can do the same by singing a single note. His soulful vocals are as soft and smooth as elegant silk. In “Jesus,” the blues rhythm and Lee’s gospel vocals maximize the track’s emotional punch.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Lee’s prowess is the fact that he is never overshadowed by the guest musicians. Lee is paired with some of the best troubadours in the business – Sam Beam on “Violin,” Lucinda Williams on “Clear Blue Eyes” and Willie Nelson on “Behind Me Now” – but manages to outshine them all. That accomplishment is a sign that Lee has transitioned from a folk singer with a Motown voice to a fully rounded musician.
